Is it the ultimate sin to say you dislike Alf in the early days?

[cymbaline]

This is the article which mentions it. I had the details slightly wrong - no mention of Frank in it.

I have my doubts about some of the finer details in this. The article refers to "...the time the Bobbys (Nicolle Dickson) and the Roos (Justine Clarke) were leaving" but that makes no sense. There's a gap of almost 4 years between Justine and Nicolle leaving. By the time Nicolle called it quits, the show was in a very different place to where it had been in the first couple of years. While Bobby being killed off was a significant event, it wasn't seismic. That's probably why I misremembered the story and named Frank instead. I'm inclined to think that if this actually happened, it was in the Frank & Roo/Frank & Bobby era rather than in 1993. 

https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/eddie-mcguire-rove-mcmanus-top-tvs-rich-list/news-story/39aaa1c5e52cd51b612dc6e6b9cbe3a0

 

[adam436]

I never knew about that! I knew Ray was one of the highest paid stars, but I didn't realise the negotiations started that early. I always assumed Ray's high salary only started after Judy and Norman left because he became more "valuable" as he became 1 of 2, and eventually the sole survivor. 

Interesting it says "among others" - aside from a young Kate Ritchie, they were the only original cast members still standing by the time Nicolle Dickson left. Given the discrepancy in exits (4 years between Justine and Nicolle), it's difficult to know whether this happened in early 1990s or the mid 1990s. If it's the former, I wonder if Roger and Vanessa were part of that and led to the exits of Roger and Vanessa if they weren't happy with the deal. If it's the latter, you would assume the "others" would be Debra and Dennis. They weren't original cast members, but certainly valuable as the central parent figures on the show. 

[c120701]

That group negotiation story is a new one on me, but I love it. No wonder Judy, Ray & Norman seemed such firm friends - Judy was laughing all the way to the bank, well paid, getting everyone else to cover Ailsa’s Diner shifts while she had her side hustle writing books.

[cymbaline]

Debra Lawrance has been pretty open about how good the pay on Home and Away was. I've heard her describe getting the job as "winning the lottery" and that Pippa "paid for the real estate". If you take those comments at face value, it looks like she and Dennis (presumably) benefitted from the better pay rates. 

[adam436]

  On 27/03/2025 at 21:38, c120701 said:

That group negotiation story is a new one on me, but I love it. No wonder Judy, Ray & Norman seemed such firm friends - Judy was laughing all the way to the bank, well paid, getting everyone else to cover Ailsa’s Diner shifts while she had her side hustle writing books.

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I imagine the 3 of them would have been laughing all the way to the bank given how little they all had in terms of storylines in the first half of the 90s. It wasn't until 1995 when Alf and Ailsa got their own storylines and Donald got involved with Marilyn that they were actually at the forefront again.

[cymbaline]

I wonder what the pay is like now? Are the older actors, in particular, still laughing all the way to the bank? They don't get much to do most of the time either.

[CaptainHulk]

  On 27/03/2025 at 22:58, cymbaline said:

Debra Lawrance has been pretty open about how good the pay on Home and Away was. I've heard her describe getting the job as "winning the lottery" and that Pippa "paid for the real estate". If you take those comments at face value, it looks like she and Dennis (presumably) benefitted from the better pay rates. 

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Well they got top Billing for 5yrs

[hapitoby]

  On 28/03/2025 at 12:19, CaptainHulk said:

Well they got top Billing for 5yrs

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Interesting...so with Irene leaving, will there be a bit more in the budget? I wonder what they'll do with that? More away trips..maybe more overseas ones...we got one in 98,201,2011,2014... I'd love if they did another - they were meant to go to NZ with the Parates..but covid..

[j.laur5]

But lot younger characters too didit get much to do at times in Early years Matt/Nick/Rob and Finlay towards end.