Embassy (TV series)

Last updated

Embassy
Genre Drama
Created byIan Bradley
Written by Shane Brennan
Denise Morgan
Directed byRichard Sarell
Kate Woods
Chris Langman
David Evans
Karl Steinberg
Starring Bryan Marshall
Jim Holt
Gerard Maguire
Janet Andrewartha
Alan Fletcher
Nina Landis
Frankie J. Holden
Lex Marinos
Jim Holt
Catherine Wilkin
Gerard Maguire
John Polson
ComposerPeter Sullivan
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes39
Production
Executive producers
ProducerAlan Hardy
Production locations Melbourne and Rippon Lea, Australia
Suva, Fiji
EditorChris Branigan
Running time50 minutes
Production companies
  • Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  • Grundy Motion Pictures
Original release
Network ABC
Release12 September 1990 (1990-09-12) 
20 August 1992 (1992-08-20)

Embassy is an Australian television series originally broadcast by ABC Television from 1990 to 1992. Three series were produced with a total of 39 episodes. The program is set in the Australian embassy of a fictional South-East Asian country called Ragaan, located half-way up the Malay Peninsula, somewhere between Thailand and Malaysia. It features stories about Australian ambassadors and their staff. [1]

Contents

Creation and production

Embassy was created by Grundy Television director Ian Bradley, producer of Prisoner , who first proposed the idea for a diplomatic series during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. [2]

It was produced by ABC Television with assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. [3] The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gareth Evans, was offered a cameo role. [2] The script and story consultant was Garry Woodward, a former ambassador to Burma and China.

According to Woodward, the name Ragaan was 'a bastardisation' of Pagaan, the ancient capital of Burma. [2] Producer Alan Hardy said the fictitious setting for the military dictatorship was 'based on about 20 countries'. [4] 'It's an accurate representation of the lives of diplomats and how they have to deal with situations.' [5]

The serial was filmed partly in Fiji. [2] Suva was selected by producers as an ideal tropical shooting location for Port Victoria, the imaginary, run-down former British colonial capital of Ragaan. [5]

Reception

Embassy earned modest domestic viewing figures in Australia. [6] It has been criticised as an example of Orientalism, and more specifically as 'an exercise in stereotyping as a confirmation of an Anglo-Australian cultural hegemony in which non-Anglo nationalities are reduced to a homogeneous, imaginary "other"'. [7]

The star of the third series, New Zealand actress Catherine Wilkin, defended the program-makers' approach: 'Even though you obviously get the Western viewpoint of things in this mythical Muslim country, every effort is made to bring the other point of view across as well.' [8]

Although Embassy was not broadcast in Malaysia, its production was one of a series of events in the late 1980s and early 1990s, chiefly involving Australian concerns over human rights and the environment, that in June 1990 led to a temporary freezing of relations between Kuala Lumpur and Canberra.

The show caused a diplomatic row between the two Commonwealth allies due to an assumption in Kuala Lumpur that the show's setting was a thinly-disguised depiction of Malaysia, and that ABC Television, which produced the show, was, as a state broadcaster, government-controlled. [3] [9] The Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, demanded that Embassy be taken off the air, complaining that it was an insult to his country and its official religion, Islam. [2] Malaysia also banned an issue of the Asian Wall Street Journal covering the controversy. [10]

In 1991 the second series of Embassy opened with the hanging of two drug traffickers, including scenes reminiscent of the hanging of two Australians in Kuala Lumpur in 1986, which the Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, had famously condemned as 'barbaric'. [11] In retaliation for the screening, TV3 in Malaysia showed a four-part news series about racism in Australia. [11] RTM also broadcast a discussion forum with journalists about anti-Asian media bias in Australia. [4]

The diplomatic downgrading damaged Australian investments and risked traditionally strong military ties with Malaysia. [12] [13] The Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans, expressed his government's regret for the offence Embassy had caused, but played down the spat as one of the 'bumps and grinds that occur in regional relations'. [10]

When Embassy was cancelled at the end of its third series, the ABC blamed declining ratings and denied its decision to end the controversial program had been influenced by outside pressures. [6] Nevertheless, suspicions were voiced by Australian media and academia that diplomatic tensions had been a contributing factor in the cancellation. [7]

Cast

Guests

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Malaysia</span>

Malaysia is an active member of various international organisations, including the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Non-Aligned Movement. It has also in recent times been an active proponent of regional co-operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV1 (Malaysian TV network)</span> Television channel

RTM TV1 is a Malaysian free-to-air public television channel owned and operated by Radio Televisyen Malaysia, a broadcasting department of the Malaysian Government. Launched on 28 December 1963, TV1 is the first and oldest TV station in Malaysia. The channel features mostly news, talk shows and documentaries and some in-house, local and international kids, drama and sports programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TV3 (Malaysian TV network)</span> Malaysian private television channel

Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad, operating as TV3, is a Malaysian free-to-air television channel owned by Malaysian media conglomerate, Media Prima. TV3 is the third oldest TV station in Malaysia. It was launched on 1 June 1984 as the country's first and oldest private television channel. As of October 2021, TV3 remains to be the most-watched television station in Malaysia with about 17% of its viewing share among other Malaysian television stations, followed by TV9 with 15% of its viewing share, making two of them become the second most-watched television station in the country, despite the declining viewership of 3 free-to-air television channels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 in Malaysia</span> List of events

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1985, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

Hajdar Muneka was an Albanian journalist and diplomat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High commissioner (Commonwealth)</span> Senior diplomatic position

In the Commonwealth of Nations, a high commissioner is the senior diplomat, generally ranking as an ambassador, in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another. Instead of an embassy, the diplomatic mission is generally called a high commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamish Macdonald (broadcaster)</span> Australian broadcast journalist and news presenter

Hamish Macdonald is an Australian broadcast journalist and news presenter. As of 2023 he is a presenter on the TV panel show The Project on Network 10, and on ABC Radio National's RN Breakfast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bilateral ties between Malaysia and the United States were established upon Malayan independence in 1957. The US was, and still is one of the largest trading partners for Malaysia and is traditionally considered to be Malaysia's oldest and closest ally in military, economic and education sectors. Malaya was the predecessor state to Malaysia, a larger federation formed through the merger of Malaya, North Borneo, Sarawak and Singapore in 1963. Immediately before the merger, the latter three territories were previously part of the British Empire. But the US has had consular and commercial presence in Malaya since the 1800s. US merchants, especially Joseph William Torrey together with Thomas Bradley Harris also had commercial interests in north western coast of Borneo in the 19th century as well, where they established the American Trading Company of Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Netherlands relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–Netherlands relations refers to interstate relations of Malaysia and the Netherlands. Netherlands has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in The Hague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Sweden relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–Sweden relations refers to foreign relations between Malaysia and Sweden. Sweden has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Stockholm. As of 2009, 90 Swedish companies are present in Malaysia and about 450 Swedish citizens live in Malaysia. The number of Swedish citizens visiting Malaysia in 2011 was 44,138.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Vietnam relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–Vietnam relations date to at least the 15th century. Malaysia forged diplomatic ties with the modern-day Vietnamese state on 30 March 1973; as of 2015, these ties are still in existence. During the late 1970s and 1980s, the countries' relationship became strained as a result of the Cambodian–Vietnamese War and the influx of Vietnamese boat people into Malaysia. The subsequent resolution of these issues saw the cultivation of strong trade and economic ties, and bilateral trade between the countries grew strongly, with an expansion into areas including information technology, education and defence. Both countries are members of APEC and ASEAN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Syria relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–Syria relations are foreign relations between Malaysia and Syria. Syria has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur whilst Malaysia's embassy in Damascus was closed since August 2012, due to the Syrian Civil War. Malaysia has an honorary consulate in Damascus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finland–Malaysia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Finland–Malaysia relations are foreign relations between Finland and Malaysia. Finland has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Helsinki.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–North Korea relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia–North Korea relations were once strong but deteriorated following the 2017 assassination of Kim Jong-nam in Kuala Lumpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malaysia–Mexico relations</span> Bilateral relations

The nations of Malaysia and Mexico established diplomatic relations in 1974. Both nations are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Forum of East Asia–Latin America Cooperation and the United Nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Embassy of the Philippines, Kuala Lumpur</span> Diplomatic mission of the Philippines in Malaysia

The Embassy of the Philippines in Kuala Lumpur is the diplomatic mission of the Republic of the Philippines to Malaysia. It is at 1 Jalan Changkat Kia Peng in central Kuala Lumpur, near significant city landmarks like the Kuala Lumpur City Centre and Bukit Bintang.

References

  1. Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 159
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bruce Jones, 'TV Series: Hawke Calms Malaysia Fury', Sun-Herald (Sydney, 21 October 1990), p. 2.
  3. 1 2 'KL freeze on ties with Australia to be reviewed', Kalimullah Hassan, Straits Times, 20 March 1991, page 16
  4. 1 2 Robin Oliver, 'TV Embassy Locale Just a Myth, Says Producer', Sydney Morning Herald (9 July 1991), p. 2.
  5. 1 2 Margo Date, 'Diplomacy Rules', Sydney Morning Herald (27 May 1991), p. 1.
  6. 1 2 Robin Oliver, 'Mythical Ragaan Embassy to Close', Sydney Morning Herald, (22 June 1992), p. 3.
  7. 1 2 Tony Mitchell, 'Orientalism in Ragaan: Embassy's Imaginative Geography', Meanjin, Vol. 52, No. 2 (Winter 1993), pp. 265-276.
  8. Brett Thomas, 'The New Ambassador', Sun Herald (Sydney, 21 June 1992), p. 11.
  9. Kalimullah Hassan, 'Evans "may seek talks to resolve diplomatic row"', Straits Times (Singapore, 9 July 1991).
  10. 1 2 'Embassy spoof upsets Canberra's diplomatic ties with KL', South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, 27 April 1991).
  11. 1 2 Kalimullah Hassan, 'TV3 screens series on racism in Australia in tit-for-tat move', Straits Times (Singapore, 10 June 1991).
  12. 'Malaysia: Australian businessmen complain of discrimination', Straits Times, (Singapore, 30 May 1991).
  13. Lindsay Murdoch, 'Making Up With Malaysia May Not Be Easy Twice', The Age (27 November 1993), p. 18.