| # |
Title |
Original airdate |
Overall Total |
| 1 |
The Soufflé Rises |
May 9, 1994 |
1 |
| Frontline presenter Mike Moore (Rob Sitch) wants to shed his image as the nice guy of current affairs, and tries to raise his status by interviewing people perceived to be soft targets, such as Dr. John Hewson, (not long after the infamous Birthday Cake Interview). Meanwhile, reporters Brooke Vandenberg (Jane Kennedy) and Martin DiStasio (Tiriel Mora) attempt to deal with more important matters. |
|
| 2 |
The Desert Angel |
May 16, 1994 |
2 |
| When a beautiful young aid worker is found alive after a month missing in the desert, Brian (Bruno Lawrence) and the Frontline team get into a bidding war with Channel Nine for the interview. Elsewhere, Brooke's interview with Pat Cash has the team gossiping about their relationship. |
|
| 3 |
City of Fear |
May 23, 1994 |
3 |
| The Frontline team finds two stories about a murder and a kidnapping, with no likely connection, and decides to merge the two together claiming that there is a serial killer. Elsewhere, Mike grows confused by his fan mail, and Brian skews the opinions of Media Watch to ease Mike's burden. |
|
| 4 |
She's Got the Look |
May 30, 1994 |
4 |
| Brian hires Nicky Burke (Rachel Kennedy), an attractive female athlete, as a reporter - which offends the women of Frontline, particularly Emma (Alison Whyte). |
|
| 5 |
The Siege |
June 6, 1994 |
5 |
A gripping hostage siege becomes fodder for the media. Brooke attempts to interview the gunman's mother; Marty and his camera team attempt to break the police barriers; and Brian manipulates both the network and the audience. But Mike scores the big success when he finds himself negotiating with the gunmen on television.
- This episode is a thinly veiled reference to a highly controversial real-life incident, in which Mike Willesee interviewed gunmen and hostages on-air. [1]
|
|
| 6 |
Playing the Ego Card |
June 13, 1994 |
6 |
| In an attempt to gain credibility, Mike travels to Bougainville to do a week's worth of stories on a civil war. When the lacklustre nature of his story is discovered, however, Brian and Emma must attempt to spice it up. Meanwhile, the rest of the team enjoy his absence, while the network trial Brooke as anchor. |
|
| 7 |
We Ain't Got Dames |
June 20, 1994 |
7 |
| With the show losing female viewers, Brian and Emma attempt to tailor the show to a stereotypical women's market. Mike, meanwhile, attempts to get a serious story on migrant textile workers on the air, while also trying to have 'Friday Night Funnyman' Elliot Rhodes fired, and film a new promo for the network. |
|
| 8 |
The Art of Gentle Persuasion |
June 27, 1994 |
8 |
| The team must manipulate Mike - in one of his 'serious journalism' phases - to do a so-called exposé on table top dancing. And when a crocodile victim's husband won't give a story to the press, Marty goes to extreme lengths to get one. |
|
| 9 |
The Invisible Man |
July 4, 1994 |
9 |
Brooke uses hidden camera footage to do a story on female shoplifters, causing a media outcry and debate about journalistic ethics. And when Mike is dubbed "the invisible man of current affairs", he begins a variety of publicity stunts to raise his profile.
- Mike's musical attempts are considered a clear dig at Stan Grant[citation needed], who is an amateur musician.
It was claimed in the media at the time[citation needed] that Grant hated the show, was convinced that Mike Moore was a caricature of him.
|
|
| 10 |
Add Sex and Stir |
July 11, 1994 |
10 |
| When a woman is dropped from an (unnamed) Australian sport team, she thinks it is because she's not a lesbian. Brooke takes the story, and attempts to transform it into a hit, but in the process ignites hatred from the sporting community. Meanwhile, Emma attempts to get Marty to take his holiday time. |
|
| 11 |
Smaller Fish to Fry |
July 18, 1994 |
11 |
| After Media Watch criticises Frontlines small and easy target, Mike attempts to go for a big story that will take down some of the country's top businessman, but finds himself thwarted at every turn. |
|
| 12 |
Judge and Jury |
July 25, 1994 |
12 |
| Brooke does a series on a priest accused of rape, and Brian decides that Frontline needs to play up the moral outrage. Meanwhile, Marty is left with the low-quality news subjects when he and his team wipe out an entire genus of butterfly. |
|
| 13 |
This Night of Nights |
August 1, 1994 |
13 |
When a charity loses thousands of dollars, they ask the media to keep it quiet for the sake of their reputation. Brian and Marty, however, decide to go ahead with the story. Elsewhere, Mike and Brooke prepare for the Logie Awards, but Mike finds himself the only one without a date.
- This is Bruno Lawrence's last episode. He died before season 2 began filming. In the story it was explained at the start of season 2 that his character, Brian, had been fired off-screen.
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