The first season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 10 September 1993 and aired on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM. The 45-episode season concluded on 22 November 1994. It had an average rating of 2.5 million and going to 3.5 million at its peak.
Its main cast included John Wood, Julie Nihill, Martin Sacks. Lisa McCune, William McInnes, Grant Bowler, Ann Burbrook, and Damian Walshe-Howling.
Ann Burbrook was originally cast as Maggie Doyle and Lisa McCune as Roz Patterson but the two swapped roles to avoid being typecast in the future.[1] William McInnes was originally cast as PJ Hasham and Martin Sacks as Nick Schultz but the two swapped roles because McInnes "looked more like a Schultz".[1] Roz was written out of the show before season's end, because the producers thought that they could do more with another police character, rather than a civilian. This allowed for the introduction of Adam Cooper to the group.
At the start of the season, we meet young city constable, Maggie Doyle, who is arriving at her posting in the small country town of Mount Thomas. At Mount Thomas police station we also meet the officer in charge, SergeantTom Croydon, who runs "his" station with an almost grandfatherly watch over his co-workers. We also meet Constable Wayne Patterson, who we find had a short romance with Maggie while they attended the Victoria Police Academy together; much to Maggie's surprise, he is now married to Roz Patterson. We also meet Senior Constable Nicholas 'Nick' Schultz, a sarcastic and yet good-hearted cop, and Senior DetectivePatrick Joseph "P.J." Hasham, a charismatic and somewhat chauvinistic detective who soon found himself very interested in Maggie. At the local pub, The Imperial, we meet Chris Riley, a local woman who knows all the ins-and-outs of Mount Thomas.
During the season, we see Roz assisting the Heelers and later getting a job at the station as the administration officer. We also see the extent of Roz and Wayne's marriage problems which, when brought to a head when Roz witnesses a shooting over the telephone, results in the end of their marriage and Roz leaving Mount Thomas and returning to her home in Melbourne. This marriage dissolution is a result of many pressures which Roz and Wayne are placed under as a result of Wayne's dangerous job. This includes his being shot and left for dead by two criminals and Roz's somewhat intense jealousy for Maggie. Roz's absence opens up a place for ambitious and contentious young cop, Constable Adam Cooper, whose "breaking-in" at Mount Thomas is anything but smooth, particularly with Wayne who develops quite a disdain for him. Keeping with the theme of family problems, we see how Tom's family problems, including problems with his two daughters, develop. These are only made worse with the death of Tom's wife, Nell, as a result of a car accident. Tom, as a superior police officer, has to learn to deal to separate his personal and professional lives. He is increasingly finding it harder and harder when he has to deal with his friends and family when it is them that have committed offences. PJ has to deal with an old flame, Hilary Edmunds, when she arrives in town as part of the livestock squad, investigating farming issues in Mount Thomas. Maggie also finds romance in Mount Thomas with a shifty detective, Sean Neale, and she has trust issues when she discovers that her beloved boyfriend may, in fact, be a criminal. Maggie also discovers she has relationship problems with her father, Sergeant Pat Doyle. It is also revealed that Nick is carrying a huge secret: his wife and daughter, as well as half of his family, were killed in a car crash. This is revealed to be the reason Nick joined highway patrol and the reason for his stance against vehicle offences such as speeding and drink driving.
Reception
The show quickly had an average Rating of 2.5 Million and going to 3.5 million at its peak.
The writers and Southern Star didn't expect the show to go anywhere but it quickly amassed to being a #1 Hit series for a number of years up unto 2003-2004 where the drama shows were beginning to fall down in ratings because the CSI franchise became more popular than drama shows since 2001, which caused the cancellation of the show in 2006. The show had 510 episodes out of the thirteen seasons and 12 years since it aired.
Awards
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008)
Maggie Doyle, the new cop in town, convinces a local girl to press rape charges against her violent boyfriend.
First Appearances of Sergeant Tom Croydon, Christine Riley, Detective Senior Constable Patrick Joseph Hasham, Constable Margaret Doyle, Senior Constable Nicholas Schultz, Constable Wayne Patterson and Roz Patterson
2
2
"Doing It Tough"
Gary Conway
Peter Kinloch
25 January 1994 (1994-01-25)
Wayne experiences his first autopsy, and Tom is forced to press charges against a friend's daughter.
3
3
"Why Give People Rights?"
Paul Moloney
John Upton
1 February 1994 (1994-02-01)
Maggie and PJ lock horns when a local activist is shot dead.
4
4
"Wives"
Judith John-Story
Anne Brooksbank
8 February 1994 (1994-02-08)
Roz gives PJ information leading to the arrest of a client's husband and a retired cop looks set to become a permanent thorn in Tom's side.
5
5
"Waiting for Apples"
Alister Smart
Graeme Koetsveld
15 February 1994 (1994-02-15)
An annual racing event brings an array of colourful characters to Mount Thomas.
PJ meets his match when an old flame comes to town to solve a cattle duffing problem.
19
19
"Good Cop, Bad Cop"
Alister Smart
Tony Morphett
24 May 1994 (1994-05-24)
The Blue Heelers are worried that Tom may be transferred back to Melbourne.
20
20
"The Final Season"
Chris Adshead
Tim Gooding
31 May 1994 (1994-05-31)
Wayne's hero comes to Mount Thomas and finds it hard to live up to his reputation.
21
21
"Payback"
Steve Mann
Judith Colquhoun
7 June 1994 (1994-06-07)
Nick is destined to lose another relationship when his girlfriend knocks down someone and is accused of attempted murder.
22
22
"Sex, Lies and Videotapes"
Gary Conway
Patrick Edgworth
14 June 1994 (1994-06-14)
Tom's mate Charles Turner embezzles $10,000 from the football club's funds.
23
23
"Men in Her Life"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
Tony Morphett
21 June 1994 (1994-06-21)
When Maggie's reputation is on the line, her father comes to Mount Thomas to help sort it out.
24
24
"A Bird in the Hand"
Richard Sarell
Ysabelle Dean
28 June 1994 (1994-06-28)
The team discovers an animal smuggling scheme going on in Mount Thomas.
25
25
"Missing"
Steve Mann
Anne Brooksbank
5 July 1994 (1994-07-05)
Bill Mason follows up leads to the disappearance of his son, Paul, four years earlier.
26
26
"Day in Court"
Mark Piper
Justin Glockerla Stephen Measday
12 July 1994 (1994-07-12)
Maggie has her first day in court presenting evidence, and she's got butterflies.
27
27
"Nowhere to Run"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
Susan Hore
19 July 1994 (1994-07-19)
A young girl is found dead, and her housemates are suspected of involvement.
28
28
"Consequences"
Richard Sarell
John Upton
26 July 1994 (1994-07-26)
Inspector Faulkner investigates a local man who is selling inferior carcasses as quality meat.
29
29
"A Matter of Trust"
Steve Mann
Anne Brooksbank
2 August 1994 (1994-08-02)
Roz is personally involved in a domestic case.
30
30
"Necessary Force"
Mark Piper
Tony Morphett
9 August 1994 (1994-08-09)
Roz hears a shooting over the telephone and Wayne's marriage breaks down when Roz leaves to go back to Melbourne.
Final regular appearance of Roz Patterson
31
31
"Bitter Harvest"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
Justin Glockerla Alan Hopgood
16 August 1994 (1994-08-16)
When a rape occurs in Mount Thomas, PJ thinks he knows who the culprit is.
32
32
"Crazy Like a Fox"
Alister Smart
John Lord Tony Morphett
23 August 1994 (1994-08-23)
A brother and sister feuding, an antique store owner is accused of receiving stolen goods, and Nick is offered a bribe while on duty.
33
33
"Old Dogs, New Tricks"
Steve Mann
Rachel Lewis
30 August 1994 (1994-08-30)
Some strange things are going on at an old people's home and lead to an unexpected culprit.
34
34
"Labour of Love"
Mark Piper
Ysabelle Dean
6 September 1994 (1994-09-06)
Wayne Patterson and the new recruit, Adam Cooper, have a personality clash.
First Appearance of Constable Adam Cooper
35
35
"Escape Route"
Chris Martin-Jones
Judith Colquhoun
13 September 1994 (1994-09-13)
A car crash victim turns out to be a battered wife. Adam falls for Maggie.
36
36
"Adverse Possession"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
John Coulter Justin Glockerla
20 September 1994 (1994-09-20)
A farmer stands to lose his land due to an ancient law.
37
37
"The Folly of Youth"
Steve Mann
Susan Hore
27 September 1994 (1994-09-27)
Two missing girls cause suspicion to be placed in an unfair direction when looking for suspects.
38
38
"Face Value"
Mark Piper
Hugh Stuckey
4 October 1994 (1994-10-04)
A car accident involving a priest puzzles the team.
39
39
"Suspicion"
Chris Martin-Jones
Anne Brooksbank
11 October 1994 (1994-10-11)
A drug raid goes wrong, and suspicion is rife among the Heelers as to whose fault it was.
40
40
"Without Intent"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
Peter Gawler
18 October 1994 (1994-10-18)
A carpet shop is ram-raided, and a body goes missing from a funeral parlour during a B & S ball.
41
41
"Family Matters"
Steve Mann
David Allen
25 October 1994 (1994-10-25)
An overzealous young security guard's accusations lead to a much more interesting suspect than first thought, and a young girl comes into the station highly distressed.
42
42
"The First Stone"
Mark Piper
Tony Morphett
1 November 1994 (1994-11-01)
Nick is involved in a murder investigation that could spell the end of his career.
43
43
"Skin Deep"
Chris Martin-Jones
Ysabelle Dean
8 November 1994 (1994-11-08)
A stabbing proves hard for the Heelers to handle when racism becomes involved.
44
44
"Luck of the Draw"
Riccardo Pellizzeri
Cassandra Carter
15 November 1994 (1994-11-15)
Tom's wife, Nell, is killed in a car accident.
45
45
"Damage Control"
Gary Conway
Judith Colquhoun Michaeley O'Brien
22 November 1994 (1994-11-22)
Maggie's boyfriend is suspected of being on the take when a horse racing ring is discovered.
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