| Toadfish Rebecchi | |||||||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Ryan Moloney | ||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Elizabeth Packett | ||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1995– | ||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 8 February 1995 | ||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Current, regular | ||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 11 December 1979 | ||||||||||||||||
| Home | 30 Ramsay Street | ||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Student at Erinsborough High (1995–97) The Coffee Shop Assistant (1997) Barman (1999–2001) Eden University Student and Disc Jockey (1998–2002) Lassiter's Hotel Staff (2002) Lawyer (2003–) |
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Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi (commonly known as Toadfish or Toadie) is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995.
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The character of Toadfish was created by writer Elizabeth Packett.[1] Ryan Moloney was cast in the role after previously auditioning for the role of Brett Stark and appearing as a minor character called Cyborg who vandalised the Willis family's property.[2] Moloney was initially scheduled to play Toadie in one scene, but he went on to become a recurring character.[3] Toadie proved to be very popular with the Neighbours viewers and he was asked to continue on the show full time.[3][4] By 2003 Moloney said he had remained grounded and surpassed the "big-headed stuff" that comes with being in a soap opera.[5] Moloney celebrated his 15th year on Neighbours in 2010. Moloney said: "Fifteen years on the show is quite an achievement in my eyes."[4] During an interview with entertainment website, Digital Spy, Moloney said "Like Toadie, I've literally grown up with Neighbours. Since I started out as a tearaway teenager in the series, I've experienced many transformations."[4]
Moloney told What's on TV that he plans to stay in Neighbours until the producers decide to they no longer require his service. He also added "It's just the best job in the world. I turn up, I muck around, tell a few jokes and then go home."[6]
Toadie's nickname was derived from the toadfishes of Australia. The serial's official website described a young Toadie as "fun-loving, mischievous and the class clown."[7] TV Week branded Toadie "another troubled-teen-turned-good" who was "fond of a practical joke".[8] Soap opera reporting website, Holy Soap, said he was "initially a bit of a layabout" that "got his act together and qualified as a lawyer."[9] He also observed him as coming in "as a rough bloke and now he's a nancy."[5] Toadie is portrayed as an "unlucky in love character". He would often played as the "third-wheel" along side Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer), who was more popular with female characters. In 2003, Moloney said: "Billy always got the chicks and it annoyed me because I wanted a chance at pashing someone... and now it's all making up for lost time."[5] Moloney said when Toadie is "not in love and when he's not heartbroken" he has the ability to do anything he wants.[5]
Toadie's persona is similar to Moloney's in the sense that they both "mess around". He further added, "In fact he is me, seeing how much fun and frivolity I can get away with."[3] Molony documented Toadie changing from "a bit of a bad boy" into a "lawyer who’s supposedly a responsible member of the community." He felt that to begin with Toadie was not a good lawyer, because many his clients would receive prison sentences. On Toadie's professionalism, Moloney said he is the type of lawyer that "probably likes to take his pants off behind the desk."[3]
Toadie's image has changed repeatedly during his tenure. He first appeared in 1995, he had long-hair.[10] He used to style a mullet similar to Scott Robinson's (Jason Donovan) hairstyle. Moloney jested that it appeared as though a possum was on his head.[3]
In one storyline Toadie and Connor O'Neill (Patrick Harvey) decide to take part in local wrestling, where he meets Genevieve Doyle (Lulu McClatchy). Moloney was required to train and learn wrestling routines in preparation for his scenes. He found it "physical and hard" to perform the stunts, without bringing any harm to himself or colleagues.[3]
Toadie begins a relationship with old friend Steph Scully (Carla Bonner). Their relationship develops after Steph's marriage to Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt) falls apart.[11] During an interview with What's on TV, Bonner said they have been friends for years, "but it’s never extended beyond friendship until now."[11] Bonner thought it was "inevitable" because they spent so much time together and he fitted into her life. She concluded "Toadie’s been a fantastic support to Steph, there every step of the way."[11] They later become engaged. Describing the developments in Toadie and Steph's relationship during 2008, Dan Bennet speaking for Newtwork Ten stated: "Steph has already agreed to a long engagement with Toadie, but she's not ready to marry. This relationship will reach a massive fork in the road early in the new year. Toadie will force Steph to decide what she wants from this relationship."[12] Moloney said that considering Toadie's ill fated association with weddings, he "should stay single forever. It's safer that way."[3] Executive Producer Susan Bower said Toadie and Steph would always be "soul mates." Although she opined they did not have real love between them and there were other characters more suited to Steph.[13]
In 2008, viewers saw Toadie trying to adopt an East Timorese orphan, after claiming that he had lived in Indonesia for 12 months.[14] Producers decided to stop the storyline at the last minute and they introduced Callum Jones (Morgan Baker) for Toadie instead.[14] Of the axed storyline, Moloney said "I thought was just ridiculous. And it was just to spite Steph! I was like, 'What are we doing?'"[14] To begin with Toadie is more of a brother figure to Callum. Moloney said this was because Toadie "has no idea what he is doing with kids and constantly gets angry and shouts at him first. He then thinks about his actions and tries to think how he can get through to him better."[4] Bower was pleased with their progression. She said Toadie was "working incredibly well with Mini Me" Callum.[13] Toadie becomes close to Callum's teacher, Kelly Katsis (Katrina Milosevic). Though they date and kiss, nothing more happens between the pair.[4] Moloney said that Toadie's new found parental role had to come foremost to his own feelings. Moloney added "He's new to fatherhood and it's like baptism of fire." Though he did feel that Kelly would have been a good character to keep in Toadies life. Callum started emulating certain characteristics of Toadie, Moloney said that he was like a young version of his character.[4]
Toadie meets Sonya Mitchell (Eve Morey) and they begin a relationship. Moloney told Holy Soap that Sonya is Toadie's "someone special" and that she is perfect for him.[15] Of Sonya, Moloney said "She's funny and a little bit zany and really accepting and loving as well."[15] However, their relationship ends when Toadie reveals that he is back together with Steph.[16] Toadie leaves Sonya is "heartbroken", though he keeps the fact it is a sham a secret.[16][17] Toadie becomes torn when Sonya tells him she loves him, but he carries on the lie.[17] Of the situation, Moloney said "Toadie is in love with Sonya, but he's had to give up the chance to follow his heart. Now we see that he really wants nothing more than to be able to tell her he loves her and that he wants to be with her – but he just can't."[18] Toadie realises that Sonya still loves him when he notices she is still wearing the bracelet he gave her.[18] Toadie becomes jealous of Sonya's new boyfriend David Foster (Ben Ridgwell).[19] Sonya discovers that the wedding is a sham and the baby is not Toadie's. She agrees to wait for Toadie, but Steph's secret is revealed early and Sonya and Toadie decide to start their relationship over.[16]
Callum wins tickets for a tropical cruise and he decides to give them to Toadie and Sonya.[20] Toadie meets Eli Baker (PJ Lane), Sonya's ex-boyfriend, on the trip. Eli brings "out an inferiority complex" in Toadie and he feels challenged by him.[20] Toadie and Eli compete in a karaoke competition.[20] The scenes for the cruise storyline were filmed in late August 2010, around Darling Harbour and on board the Pacific Jewel.[21] The episodes marked only the second time Neighbours had filmed outside of Victoria.[20] The actors and crew took five hours to shoot on and around the Pacific Jewel's running track and circus arena on the top deck.[21] In February 2011, Morey revealed that she would like to see Toadie and Sonya have children together in the future.[22] Toadie discovers that Sonya is Callum's mother and Morey explained that Toadie's reaction is one of devastation. Toadie has to ask Sonya if she ever loved him or was only with him to get Callum.[22] Dieter Brummer joined the cast as Sonya's ex-boyfriend, Troy Miller in March 2011.[23] Brummer told TV Week that Troy will cause waves between Sonya and Toadie.[24]
Toadfish is a practical joker at school and he soon becomes close friends with Billy. Toadie comes into conflict with Billy's father, Karl (Alan Fletcher) because of his behaviour and his mother Angie (Lesley Baker) later sends him to live with his aunt Coral (Denise Scott). A few months later, Toadie is sent back to Erinsborough and he decides to try to make a go of things at school. Toadie discovers that he has an above average IQ and is put into an accelerated learning class, but he keeps up his mischievous ways. Toadie becomes good friends with Hannah Martin (Rebecca Ritters) and Lance Wilkinson (Andrew Bibby). Toadie is horrified to learn that his mother and father plan to leave Erinsborough and he and Billy manage to persuade Karl and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) to let Toadie move in. Toadie passes his exams and begins studying law at Eden Hills University. He becomes a popular DJ on Uni FM, moves in with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver) and takes a job at Lou's Place. Toadie moves into Number 30 with Sarah Beaumont (Nicola Charles) and Joel Samuels (Daniel MacPherson). Toadie briefly becomes a guardian to his cousin, Tad (Jonathon Dutton).
Toadie and Joel meet Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) and she later moves in with them. Toadie is not happy when Geri Hallett (Isabella Dunwill) becomes his new Uni FM co-host and he plots to get her fired. His new co-host is Steph and Toadie develops feelings for her, but they decide to just be friends. Toadie is sacked from Uni FM, when he gives out some illegal advice. He is charged with inciting a crime and he decides to defend himself. Toadie becomes friends with law student, Maggie Hancock (Sally Cooper), and she helps Toadie win his case. A romance develops between Toadie and Sheena Wilson (Zoe Stark), but when he tells her that her mother keeps coming onto him, Sheena dumps him. Toadie gets a job with corporate law firm Stewart, Whitehead & Moore and becomes involved in Karl and Susan's divorce. Toadie later goes to work for Tim Collins (Ben Anderson). He falls in love with Dee and the couple get engaged. Shortly after they wed, Toadie drives their car off a cliff into the sea and Dee goes missing. This leaves Toadie devastated.
A while later, Toadie falls for Sindi Watts (Marisa Warrington) and they start dating. With his friend, Connor, Toadie becomes a wrestler. He meets Genevieve and they begin a relationship, but it ends when she goes on tour. Toadie is left a bikini store by client and he runs it with Connor for a while. Connor goes missing and Toadie believes he has been killed by Robert Robinson. Connor later sends Toadie some gifts and proves he is still alive. Toadie is shot in the back by Guy Sykes and he almost dies. Steph tells Toadie that she loves him, but she goes back to her husband. Toadie dates Abby Stafford (Louise Crawford), but their relationship ends when he realises that he is still in love with Steph. Toadie and Steph begin dating and Toadie proposes to Steph. However, on their wedding day, Toadie realises that Steph does not love him and he leaves her to go travelling.
Steph introduces Toadie to Callum and Toadie invites Callum to stay with him after his grandmother is taken to hospital. Toadie sends Callum to live with Robyn Lovell (Patricia Pitney), but after a short stay, Callum comes home and Toadie becomes his legal guardian. Toadie briefly dates Callum's teacher, Kelly. Guy Sykes returns and holds Toadie and Callum hostage. Toadie helps Callum escape and wrestles Guy to the ground, before the police arrive. Toadie discovers that Bob has cancer and has to have him put down. Toadie, Callum and their neighbours scatter his ashes at the lake. Toadie gets Callum a new dog called Rocky and they train him to be a guide dog. During Rocky's training, Toadie and Callum are visited by Sonya. Toadie asks her out, but she turns him down. Toadie and Elle Robinson (Pippa Black) believe Sonya and Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) are seeing each other, but Sonya reveals she is his Gamblers Anonymous sponsor. Sonya and Toadie then begin a relationship.
Toadie agrees to help Steph cover up the fact she is pregnant with Daniel Fitzgerald's (Brett Tucker) baby. They tell their family and friends that they are back together, which ruins his relationship with Sonya. Toadie and Steph decide to marry. He becomes upset when he learns that Sonya is moving away. At the wedding reception, Toadie asks Sonya to wait for him and she agrees. Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) discovers Toadie and Steph's secret and Paul blackmails Toadie. Paul reveals Steph's secret and Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) is devastated. Toadie tells her about his part in the cover up and Karl and Susan tell him that he is no longer part of the family. Callum also becomes angry with Toadie, but Sonya gets them talking again. Toadie and Libby later make up.
Toadie is devastated when Steph is sent to prison for accidentally killing Ringo Brown (Sam Clark). Sonya moves in and Toadie and Callum go on holiday. Callum decides to find his real mother and Toadie supports him. Callum has an accident and while he is in the hospital, he identifies Sonya as his mother. Toadie is angry with Sonya for lying to him and asks her to leave. Lucas convinces Toadie that Sonya really loved him and Toadie calls Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) for help. Callum's father, Troy Miller (Dieter Brummer), arrives and Toadie allows Callum and Troy to spend time together. After they both attend Harold's wedding to Carolyn Johnstone (Paula Duncan), Sonya and Toadie get back together. Troy is not happy and he punches Toadie, before leaving. Toadie overhears a conversation at the police station about Mark Brennan's (Scott McGregor) death. He is saddened by the news and eventually tells Sonya.
Toadie takes a job with Simmons & Colbert, so he and Sonya can get a loan to purchase the community garden. Toadie begins representing The Hamilton Group, who want to build a new shopping complex in Erinsborough. Toadie tries to keep this a secret from his friends and neighbours, but is forced to reveal he is representing the company at a public meeting. Toadie is forced into relocating the development's car park or risk being fired by Peter. Toadie offers Lucas, Lou and Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) money for their businesses, so the car park can be built in their place. Lou accepts the offer on Kyle's behalf, while Lucas declines it. Peter start putting pressure on Toadie to get Lucas to sell. Lucas declines all of Toadie's offers and blames him and the law firm for sabotaging his garage. Peter gives Toadie a permanent position at Simmons & Colbert. Following her separation from Karl, Toadie invites Susan to move in with him and Sonya.
"Who could be a better friend and neighbour than "Toadfish" Rebecchi? Since 1995 he's been a great comrade and a veritable rock to Bill, to Joel, to Sarah, to Amy, to Lance, to Drew ... Toadie has been the very incarnation of the listening ear and the supportive hand. The writers rewarded him by having the lovely Dee become his girlfriend. While Toadie is physically no great bargain, glamorous Dee confesses that it is his integrity and capacity for loyal friendship that attracts her."[25]
For his portrayal of Toadie, Moloney was nominated for a Rose d'Or award for 'Best Actor in a Soap' in 2004.[26] In 2010, Moloney won the very first "Best Daytime Star" award at the Inside Soap Awards.[27] Moloney won the award for a second time in 2011.[28]
In 2008, men's magazine Zoo Weekly placed Toadie on their annual Top 50 People We Hate List.[29] Zoo editor Paul Merrill said "Toadie has just been on the show for too long, he's not a great character and we wish he wasn't on the show."[29] Though, in a survey carried out by Yahoo! to find viewers favourite Neighbours character of all time, Toadie came joint second with Harold Bishop with 15 per cent of the votes.[30] Stephen Moynihan writing for The Age said Toadie is one of the "most enduring and popular characters" in Neighbours.[5]
The Herald Sun's Siobhan Duck included Toadie and Dee's wedding day tragedy on a list of "Top 6 Neighbours moments".[31] Whilst Duck's colleague Darren Devlyn said it was one of Neighbours' most memorable weddings.[32] Herald Sun readers also voted the wedding as the third "most memorable" moment in Neighbours' history.[33] Daniel Kilkelly and Ryan Love of Digital Spy also shared Devlyn's sentiment. They said the wedding caused "a whole flood" of tears to the eye and said the ceremony was like a "fairytale". They concluded "as for Toadie, his luck when it came to weddings never did get any better…"[34]
In 2010, to celebrate Neighbours' 25th anniversary Sky, a British satellite broadcasting company profiled 25 characters of which they believed were the most memorable in the series history.[35] Toadie is in the list and describing him they state: "Toadie – or Jarrod, to his bogan mother – has taken the mantle from Harold of looking after the Ramsay Street flock, ending his time as the errant child of the Street. After all, he entered the show as a bad influence on pretty boy Billy Kennedy, and there was that weird period when he ran a bikini store, Bounce, with House of Trouser co-member Connor. There's something a little Ian Beale about the character – he's slightly annoying, it's difficult to care about his plots and you dread the day he's going to attempt a sex scene, but the show just wouldn't work without him."[35] They also describe his most memorable scenes as the death of his wife Dee; looking after Callum; on-off relationship with Steph.[35] Holy Soap also described Dee's death scenes as his most memorable.[9] Roz Laws of the Sunday Mercury said Toadie and Callum shared an "unlikely love" for wrestling. She also wondered if he was actually up to the challenge of looking after Callum full time.[36]
Jaci Stephen writing for the Daily Mail has often been critical of Toadie's eating habits and professionalism. Stephen was unimpressed by the fact he takes on so many legal cases. She jested "as far as I can tell he runs Australia's entire legal system (even though he never opens a book)."[37] Stephen also said Toadie was as "ubiquitous a lawyer" as Rachel Armstrong from Home and Away is a doctor. Then proceeded to ask "Are they short on training places down under?"[38] Stephen passed comment over Toadie's tendency to be shown consuming large amounts of Pizza.[38] She said it was a pity he does not watch what he eats.[39] She has also said she could not imagine Toadie and Callum joining Weight Watchers or never eating pizza again.[40] Stephen criticised Toadie's sham marriage to Steph, because it wasted nine months of Toadie and viewers lives alike. She also felt the story had the custom to drag on and feel like "nine years".[41]
Natalie Craig writing for the The Sydney Morning Herald said Toadie was always destined for greatness. She said as a teenager he was a "major ratbag with a major mullet to match", but a genius at the same time. Craig opined many "memorable Toadie moments" occurred when he shared his home. She cited her favourite ever scene as being one in which Toadie, Joel and Lance had a stand-off over the washing up.[42]
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