Episode 523 (Neighbours)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Episode 523"
Neighbours episode
Episode no. Season 3
Episode 523
Directed by Rod Hardy
Written by Ray Harding
Featured music "Suddenly"
by Angry Anderson
Original air date 1 July 1987 (1987-07-01)
Guest actors
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Episode 522"		 Next →
"Episode 524"
List of Neighbours episodes

"Episode 523" is the 523rd episode of the Australian soap opera Neighbours. It premiered on Network Ten on 1 July 1987. The episode was written by Ray Harding, directed by Rod Hardy, and executively produced by the serial's creator Reg Watson. "Episode 523" focuses on the wedding of popular couple Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue). The storyline was devised by the producers after some viewers became outraged by the idea of an unwed couple moving in together. They also believed that the wedding would be "the perfect climax" to the character's long-running relationship and an instant ratings hit.

The episode was filmed in secrecy and with a limited budget three months before it was broadcast. The wedding ceremony was filmed in the nave of The Holy Trinity Church in Doncaster. "Episode 523" is one of only a few Neighbours episodes to include the entire cast. A new romantic style wedding dress made from ivory silk, organza and chantilly lace was made for Minogue's character. The ballad "Suddenly", which was written and sung by Angry Anderson, was chosen as the theme to the episode. Prior to its broadcast, Minogue and Donovan promoted "Episode 523" by making several appearances at shopping centres.

"Episode 523" became one of the most watched soap opera episodes upon its broadcast in Australia. When it aired in the United Kingdom in November 1988, it attracted an audience of 19.6 million. The episode was well received by critics and viewers. Network Ten's head of drama thought it was "a major turning point for Neighbours", while Sarah Megginson from SheKnows stated that the wedding was "practically the defining episode of what Neighbours was all about in the 80s." The wedding has been voted one of the most memorable soap moments and is often included in lists of the greatest television weddings of all time.

Plot

The episode opens with Hilary Robinson (Anne Scott-Pendlebury) bringing breakfast to newlyweds Paul (Stefan Dennis) and Gail Robinson (Fiona Corke). She is surprised to find that they have spent the night in separate bedrooms. In order to hide the fact that they only married for business purposes, Gail tells Hilary that she and Paul had an argument the night before. Hilary demands that they sort things out and she tends to the bouquets. At the Robinson house, Scott (Jason Donovan) begins to panic about getting married, while his father, Jim (Alan Dale), and best friend, Mike Young (Guy Pearce), set up tables for the reception. Meanwhile, Lucy Robinson (Sasha Close) tries to find her pet mice. Over at the Ramsay house, Scott's fiancée, Charlene (Kylie Minogue), is getting ready. Her mother, Madge (Anne Charleston), is asking Henry Ramsay (Craig McLachlan) not to race up the altar with his sister, when Hilary brings in the wedding bouquet. Charlene's friend and bridesmaid, Jane (Annie Jones) arrives at the house. After receiving a blue garter from Edna Ramsay (Jessica Noad), Charlene declares that the wedding will be the best. Scott is then seen arriving at the church with Mike, Paul and Jim. He is greeted by a group of his old school friends and Mike explains that he and Jane arranged for them to attend to make up for the absences of Charlene's family.

The guests take their seats and Scott starts to worry that Charlene will not show up, but Paul and Mike reassure him that she will be there. Reverend Sampson (Howard Bell) then invites everyone to stand as Charlene and Henry begin walking up the aisle. Scott and Charlene exchange their vows and Reverend Sampson pronounces them man and wife. At the reception, Jim tells Scott that he is proud of him and welcomes Charlene to the family. Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) finds Madge crying in the kitchen and he comforts her. They are interrupted by Mrs. Mangel (Vivean Gray) who informs them that the telegrams are being read out. Dan Ramsay (Syd Conabere) spots a mouse and tries to pick it up, but hits Mrs. Mangel's foot. She instantly accuses Dan of groping her and he protests his innocence, as an argument breaks out among the guests. Scott and Charlene go to his bedroom and Gail brings them a gift from her father. Jane comes to tell Charlene that it is time to get changed, while Paul takes the bags out to the car. Lucy tells Scott that she is going to miss him and he gives her his skateboard. Everyone gathers in the street to wave the couple off on their honeymoon. Charlene throws her bouquet and Mrs. Mangel catches it, as the couple drive out of Ramsay Street.

Production

Conception

Kylie Minogue (left) and Jason Donovan (right) portrayed Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson.

By 1987, Scott Robinson (Jason Donovan) and Charlene Mitchell (Kylie Minogue) had become a popular couple with Neighbours viewers, who dubbed them "TV's Romeo and Juliet" because they were from feuding families.[1] Following months of dating, Scott asked Charlene to move in with him. After "stuffier viewers" became outraged at the idea of the unwed couple moving in together, the producers decided that they should get married instead.[2] Donovan recalled that the producers thought a wedding would be "the perfect climax" to Scott and Charlene's long-running relationship, as well as an instant ratings winner.[3]

Speaking to James Oram, author of Neighbours: Behind the Scenes, Minogue thought the marriage would bring controversial subjects, such as pre-marital sex and HIV/AIDS, into focus. Donovan agreed, saying there was "a valid moral point behind it."[4] Executive producer Reg Watson noted how each character in the show expressed a different point of view about the wedding.[5] Some, like Scott's father Jim (Alan Dale), thought it was "stupid" for a couple just out of school to get married, while others, like Charlene's mother Madge (Anne Charleston), believed it was romantic. Watson believed the storyline would have repercussions for everyone.[5]

Filming

Ray Harding wrote the script for "Episode 523". Bruce Andrews from Charles Sturt University noted that it is one of only a few Neighbours episodes to include the entire cast.[6] The producers asked Rod Hardy to direct the episode, due to his experience of directing other television weddings.[7] Hardy believed that "the magic of the episode" is captured best in two close-up shots of Scott and Charlene. The director recalled "The image that stays with me is the close-up of Kylie as she arrives and then the close-up on Jason's face, and those two looks epitomised what the whole scene was about."[7] The episode was shot "in great secrecy" three months before it was broadcast on Australian television.[8] The shoot was initially delayed due to bad weather.[7] Due to a limited budget, there were very few extras on set and crew were asked to stand in at the church instead.[8] The scenes were shot in soft focus, creating "a halo effect" around Charlene as she walked up the aisle.[8]

The Holy Trinity Church in Doncaster was used as the location for the wedding.[2] The scenes were shot in the old nave of the church, which was surrounded by "rough-hewn sandstone and glowing stained glass windows."[2] Liz Guiver, the former vicar's secretary and administrator, revealed that many of the church's parishioners were excited at the prospect of seeing the actors on set.[9] Speaking to Guy Blackman from The Age, Guiver recalled "The person who played the vicar, and wore the vicar's robe, he smoked cigarettes, so we had to be careful that they were dry-cleaned before services on Sunday. Then we waited for months until the episode was aired, and most parishioners were glued to the set."[2] Scenes featuring the character's family homes and Ramsay Street were shot at the show's studio in Forest Hill and at Pin Oak Court in Vermont South respectively.[10]

Costumes and music

Charlene's new romantic style wedding dress was made in a Melbourne bridal salon, which a writer for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's website noted was "in keeping with Charlene's character as the suburban girl-next-door."[11] The dress was made from ivory silk, organza and chantilly lace.[4] When asked what made the dress memorable, fashion designer Alex Perry, stated "There are so many things going on that it's hard not to remember it! The see-through sleeves with a hint of lace, the romantic era-style shoulders, the high neckline and hem."[12] Because of how popular Minogue and her character were, Perry was sure that they would have been copied by viewers.[12] The bridesmaids wore peach taffeta dresses, while the groom and his ushers wore charcoal grey tails.[4][13]

Minogue was asked by the producers to choose a romantic song to be played in the episode and she chose "Suddenly" by Angry Anderson.[9] Anderson had written the song a long time before it was used in "Episode 523". He explained that it is about a man coming to a certain point in his life when he realises that he does not mind being vulnerable.[9] Minogue told Anderson that she loved the song and how the lyrics resonated with her.[9] She later revealed that she wanted the song played at her own wedding.[9] After "Episode 523" was broadcast in the UK, "Suddenly" reached number 3 on the Singles Chart.[14]

Promotion and broadcast

Network Ten's national publicity director, Brian Walsh, believed the wedding episode would be an ideal marketing opportunity.[8] He arranged for Minogue and Donovan to attend a wedding breakfast at the Park Royal Hotel in Parramatta and invited four hundred competition winners to join them.[8] Minogue and Donovan later made an appearance with the wedding cake at Westfield Parramatta.[8] Walsh recalled "I'd never seen anything like it; there would have been 6000 people. Security had to prevent any more going inside. It was as simple as Jason and Kylie and a wedding cake on stage. There was a speech and the cutting of the cake. Then there was this near riot. We had to stop the appearance at this point to prevent people getting crushed."[8] The actors made several more appearances with replica cakes in shopping centres throughout Sydney and Melbourne. They would cut the cakes and then hand out slices to thousands of fans.[12] The episode later become the main focus on covers of TIME Australia and TV Week.[15][16]

"Episode 523" was first broadcast in Australia on 1 July 1987.[17] Just over a year later, the episode aired in the United Kingdom on 8 November 1988.[18]

Home media

In 1989, Scott and Charlene's wedding was included on a VHS titled The Neighbours Wedding Collection.[19] In 2002, FremantleMedia included the episode on a DVD box set called Neighbours: Defining Moments.[20] The episode was also featured on the Neighbours: The Iconic Episodes Volume 2 DVD box set and the collector's DVD The Charlene Years - Volume 1 released in 2009 and 2012 respectively.[12][21]

Reception

Ratings

"Episode 523" was seen by two million viewers upon its broadcast in Australia, making it one of the highest rating soap opera episodes.[22][23] When it aired in the United Kingdom, the episode attracted an audience of 19.6 million, making it the third most watched programme in the country that year.[24]

Critical response

The head of drama at Network Ten, Rick Maier, stated "Scott and Charlene's wedding was the biggest television event of 1987. Who can forget (Angry Anderson's power ballad and wedding theme) 'Suddenly', the veil, and the kiss. Not only a major turning point for Neighbours, but a wedding that stopped a nation."[25] The Sydney Morning Herald's Michael Idato wrote, "Television loves a soap-opera wedding and Australians packed the aisles for the nuptials of star-crossed teenagers Scott and Charlene, played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue. The couple kissed, the nation wept and Angry Anderson sang 'Suddenly'."[17] Sarah Megginson from SheKnows included "Episode 523" in her feature on the 8 Most Memorable Neighbours moments. Megginson quipped "Scott and Charlene's wedding episode is practically the defining episode of what Neighbours was all about in the 80s. This episode featured the entire cast, and audiences loved watching the romance of off-screen couple Jason Donovan (Scott) and Kylie Minogue (Charlene) spill over on to the small screen. Their Wedding Theme, 'Suddenly' was performed by Angry Anderson, and subsequently become a Top 10 hit in the UK!"[26] Andrew Mercado, author of Super Aussie Soaps, called the episode "The biggest event ever in Aussie soap history."[27]

Elizabeth Day, writing for The Guardian, commented "For many, the quintessential on-screen wedding remains the 1987 marriage of Scott and Charlene in Australian daytime soap Neighbours. It was the apotheosis of a romantic teenage love story which brought together two feuding families – the Robinsons and the Ramsays – in much the same way as the Montagues and the Capulets, albeit with fewer deaths and more shoulder pads."[28] The Birmingham Post's Gemma Quade named the wedding one of her five most memorable Neighbours storylines, calling it a "tearjerker episode".[29] Josephine Monroe, author of The Neighbours Programme Guide, wrote that the episode showed the "soap wedding of the century!", adding "Teenagers Scott and Charlene tied the knot in a traditional and emotional church service".[30] During a feature on how to celebrate a wedding ceremony in the style of a soap opera, Tom Cole from the Radio Times said "Who needs Mendelssohn and Bach when you can process down the aisle to power ballad 'Suddenly' by Australian rocker Angry Anderson? Sounds unorthodox, but it put pep in the step of Scott and Charlene in Neighbours. Note to groom: we can't all swan around like we're Jason Donovan, so give the feathered mullet a miss."[31]

Impact and legacy

The Holy Trinity Church experienced a surge in interest after the episode aired, with some viewers holding their own weddings there.[2] Backpackers also visit during their holidays to see the nave where Scott and Charlene were married.[2] The church has since been used many times by Neighbours to film the weddings of Harold and Madge, Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) and Drew Kirk (Dan Paris) and Vanessa Villante (Alin Sumarwata) and Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major).[2][32] Charlene's wedding dress was donated to the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery by Grundy television in 1989, it has since gone on display in the Powerhouse Museum and travelled to Victoria and the UK.[33] A copy of the episode's script, autographed by Harding, fetched £2,000 when it came up for auction in London.[6]

In October 1997, the serial's longest serving character, Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy), was seen watching a video of Scott and Charlene's wedding day, before she died. Kathleen Morgan from the Daily Record commented "The wedding video brought back memories of the soap's golden years".[34] Footage of the wedding was later shown during the soap's 20th anniversary episode.[35] Charlene became an iconic bridal image and when Jane Turner and Gina Riley were writing the 2004 season finale of Kath & Kim, they asked Minogue to play the character of Epponnee Rae who was due to get married.[9] Executive producer, Rick McKenna, thought that it would be funny for Minogue to dress up as Charlene and the singer agreed. She appeared as "a futuristic Charlene" with a lacy dress and 80's style hair.[9]

In October 2006, Australia Post brought out five stamps celebrating fifty years of television. Network Ten's stamp featured Charlene and Scott in their wedding attire.[36] In 2007, Herald Sun readers voted Scott and Charlene's wedding as their top Neighbours moment.[37] A Herald Sun reporter said "No other wedding in soap history in Australia has captured the attention like Scott and Charlene's nuptials late in 1987."[37] The episode became FremantleMedia's seventh most requested television clip in 2008.[38] To celebrate the soap's 25th anniversary and its 6000th episode, producers decided to "recreate the magic" of Scott and Charlene's wedding with the marriage of Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) and Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie).[39] Robbie said "People are saying that my wedding is this generation's Kylie (Minogue) and Jason (Donovan) wedding - that's big shoes to fill."[39]

Scott and Charlene's wedding ceremony has often been included in lists about the best television weddings or soap opera moments.[40] It was voted the "Most Romantic TV Nuptials of all Time" and the top TV wedding of all time in a Radio Times poll.[41][42] The following year saw the wedding place ninth in a list of the most memorable soap moments.[43] In 2011, the wedding placed third in Channel 5's Greatest TV Weddings programme.[44] It also came third in Virgin Media's 10 best on-screen nuptials list.[45] Sky Living included the ceremony in their 2012 feature on the best TV weddings, noting that it is probably Neighbours' most iconic moment.[46] After including the ceremony in their list of best TV weddings, a writer for MSN New Zealand stated that "it set the standard up to which TV weddings (and terrible mullets) are held."[47]

References

  1. ↑ Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Blackman, Guy (8 October 2006). "Kylietown". The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 11 August 2012. 
  3. ↑ Donovan 2007, p.99.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Oram, James 1988, p.92.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Johnston 2005, p.11.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Andrews, Bruce. "A writer's lot". Charles Sturt University. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.8.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Lang, Jacqui (23 July 2000). "I was there". The Sun-Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 10 August 2012. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.9.
  10. ↑ "FAQs". Neighbours.com.au. Eleven. Retrieved 26 January 2013. 
  11. ↑ "Loved TMAG collection item featured in TV Week". Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Retrieved 21 January 2013. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.7.
  13. ↑ Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.5.
  14. ↑ "Angry Anderson". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 January 2013. 
  15. ↑ Dunn, Emily and Coleman, Kerry (21 November 2007). "Rewind Kylie and Jason". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 7 April 2010. 
  16. ↑ Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.4.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Idato, Michael (19 March 2001). "Back track". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 10 August 2012. 
  18. ↑ Simon, Jane (13 October 1996). 's+the+show+that+brought...-a061154021 "101 Neighbours Facts To Oz-tonish You!". The People (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 10 August 2012. 
  19. ↑ "Neighbours and weddings". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). 6 August 1989. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  20. ↑ Idato, Michael (30 December 2002). "Dvd Video Releases". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 10 September 2012. 
  21. ↑ Lowe, David (5 June 2009). "DVDs of the week". The Sun (News International). Retrieved 10 September 2012. 
  22. ↑ Southward, Jane; Browne, Rachel (8 June 1996). "Vow power". The Sun-Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 10 August 2012. 
  23. ↑ "Neighbours – Where it all began". TV Week. Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012. 
  24. ↑ "BARB Since 1981". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2013. 
  25. ↑ Te Koha, Nui (30 June 2012). "Scott and Charlene's 25th anniversary". Herald Sun (The Herald and Weekly Times). Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  26. ↑ Megginson, Sarah (14 October 2009). "Best of Neighbours". SheKnows. Retrieved 22 January 2013. 
  27. ↑ Mercado 2004, p.211.
  28. ↑ Day, Elizabeth (24 April 2011). "The 10 best on-screen weddings - in pictures". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 24 January 2013. 
  29. ↑ Quade, Gemma (9 February 2008). "Blue skies over Erinsborough". The Birmingham Post (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 24 January 2013. (subscription required)
  30. ↑ Monroe, Josephine 1994, p.7.
  31. ↑ Cole, Tom (21 June 2012). "Soapland's seven steps to wedded bliss". Radio Times. Immediate Media Company Ltd. Retrieved 24 January 2013. 
  32. ↑ Brygel, Jackie (10–16 November 2012). "Jilt & Run". TV Week (ACP Magazines) (45): 16. 
  33. ↑ Burfitt, Miller, Walker 2012, p.6.
  34. ↑ Morgan, Kathleen (2 April 1998). "All Helen wanted was a happy family". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 18 January 2013. (subscription required)
  35. ↑ Brooker, Charlie (15 October 2005). "Everybody needs good Neighbours". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 20 January 2013. 
  36. ↑ "Look at us – on a stamp!". The Age (Fairfax Media). 12 September 2006. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 "Wedding your No.1 moment". Herald Sun (The Herald and Weekly Times). 24 July 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  38. ↑ "Sex Pistols top TV clip requests". BBC News (BBC). 28 July 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2013. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Dramatic plot for Neighbours". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2012. 
  40. ↑ Laws, Roz (12 March 2006). "Neighbour from hell". Sunday Mercury (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 25 January 2013. (subscription required)
  41. ↑ Hilton, Beth (15 October 2007). "Kylie and Jason: A History". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 22 January 2013. 
  42. ↑ "Telly toppers". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). 30 March 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2013. (subscription required)
  43. ↑ Smith, Richard (27 September 2006). "Telly toppers". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). Retrieved 25 January 2013. (subscription required)
  44. ↑ "Greatest TV Weddings". 2 March 2011. Channel 5. http://www.five.tv/shows/greatest-tv-weddings/episodes/greatest-tv-weddings-2.
  45. ↑ "Greatest TV weddings". Virgin Media. Retrieved 25 January 2013. 
  46. ↑ "The Best TV Weddings". Sky Living. BSkyB. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2013. 
  47. ↑ "The best TV weddings". MSN New Zealand. Retrieved 26 January 2013. 

Bibliography

  • Burfitt, John; Miller, Erin; Walker, Lucy (7–13 April 2012). "One moment in time". TV Week (ACP Magazines) (14): 1–10. 
  • Donovan, Jason (2007). Jason Donovan: Between the Lines: My Story Uncut. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-726147-5. 
  • Oram, James (1988). Neighbours: Behind the scenes. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 978-0-207-16075-2. 
  • Johnston, Tony (2005). Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing. ISBN 978-1-876176-78-5. 
  • Monroe, Josephine (1994). The Neighbours Programme Guide. Virgin Books. ISBN 978-0-86369-831-6. 
  • Mercado, Andrew (2004). Super Aussie Soaps. Pluto Press Australia. ISBN 978-1-86403-191-1. 

External links

Characters
Crew members
Families
Locations
Storylines
Episodes
Music
Related articles
Neighbours characters
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.