Rafferty's Rules

Last updated

Rafferty's Rules
Genre Legal drama
Created by Ben Lewin
Starring John Wood
Simon Chilvers
Arky Michael
Terry Serio
Andrew McFarlane
Catherine Wilkin
Katy Brinson
Lisa Crittenden
Mouche Phillips
Country of originAustralia
No. of episodes86
Production
Running time50 minutes
Original release
Network Seven Network
Release12 February 1987 (1987-02-12) 
2 February 1991 (1991-02-02)

Rafferty's Rules is an Australian television drama series which ran from 1987 to 1991 on the Seven Network.

Contents

The producers of the series were Posie Graeme-Evans (1987–1988), and Denis Phelen. The directors were Graham Thorburn, Mike Smith and Russell Webb. The writers were David Allen, John Upton, Tim Gooding and David Marsh. [1]

Rafferty's Rules was one of the first programs undertaken by the Seven Network’s then new in-house drama unit, going into production in May 1985 as "a 15-part courtroom drama". The program had started out as a pilot episode, recorded in early 1984 with the actor Chris Haywood in the lead role. When the pilot episode was remounted later in 1984, Chris Haywood wasn't available and the lead role was re-cast to John Wood. This second recording was eventually broadcast as the program's first episode. Initially it was hoped that the program would make its debut during the 1985 ratings season and there was an option to extend the series to 26 episodes if the initial response was positive. [2]

By mid-1986, the media was asking questions as to why the series, "which had more pilots than TAA", had yet to appear. On Sunday 15 June 1986, The Sun-Herald TV Guide said, "The series was made last year and scripting of a new series has almost been completed". [3]

Rafferty's Rules eventually debuted on the Seven Network in February 1987.

The series was also shown in New Zealand on TV3 in 1989, and in the UK on Satellite channel Lifestyle in 1991. In New Zealand, it was shown Fridays at 9:30 p.m. In the UK, it was shown daily at 14:00.

In Australia, the series was last replayed nationally at 3 p.m. weekdays in 2006 on the Seven Network, although not entirely. Prior to that, Seven broadcast the series at the 10–11 a.m. weekday timeslot in the late 1990s. More recently,[ when? ] the series was available on the 7plus "on-demand" service.

Awards

John Wood received the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor in both 1988 and 1989, and Catherine Wilkin received the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actress in 1988. [4] [5]

Rafferty's Rules was named Best Drama Series at the 1988 Penguin Awards, while Peter Carroll won Best Actor in a Series and Michael Cove won Best Scriptwriter for Drama Series. [6]

Plot

Michael Aloysius Rafferty, who is a stipendiary magistrate, drives to work in an old blue VW Kombi van. He owns a cat named Rhubarb.

Rafferty is separated from his wife, with whom he had two children (a son and a daughter).

Rafferty also has an older daughter, Rebecca Browning, who is in her early twenties—and of whose existence he was unaware until she contacted him after she had grown up. (Rebecca's mother is a woman who Michael Rafferty had known before he met his wife, and who he had not seen since his marriage.)

Rafferty also has a brother, Patrick Rafferty, who is a state Member of Parliament.

Cast

Main / regular

Recurring

ActorRoleEps.
Andrew McFarlane Sgt. Gibson, Police Prosecutor10 episodes
John Gregg Baraclough6 episodes
Lisa Crittenden Sandra Frangellomini5 episodes
Paul Chubb Patrick Rafferty3 episodes
Richard Carter Detective Sgt. Brown21 episodes
Rhondda Findleton Sue Gibson4 episodes
Terry Serio Bomber Clayton, Police Prosecutor4 episodes

Guests

ActorRoleEps.
Abigail Michelle Dobbs1 episode
Alan Lovell Police Constable Evans / Sam Rankin2 episodes
Alistair Duncan Rex Jacoby1 episode
Alister Smart Robson1 episode
Alwyn Kurts George Bradstock1 episode
Amanda Muggleton 1 episode
Angela Punch McGregor Christine Stanton1 episode
Anna Hruby Di Mulroney1 episode
Anna Maria Monticelli Diana Newby1 episode
Anna Volska Frieda1 episode
Anni Finsterer Narelle Grimes / TV Publicist2 episodes
Annie Byron Christine Clarke1 episode
Arna-Maria Winchester Rose Willis1 episode
Ben Oxenbould Dodger / Young Bank Customer2 episodes
Benita Collings Magda1 episode
Bob Hornery Reg Dwight1 episode
Brett Climo Peter Becker1 episode
Brian Rooney Tommy1 episode
Brian Vriends Lance Dewitt1 episode
Bruce Barry Malcolm Farrer1 episode
Bruce Spence Emmanuel Triggs2 episodes
Bruno Lucia Franco Scali1 episode
Carmen Duncan Stella Samuels1 episode
Carol Raye
Danielle Spencer Toni Moller1 episode
Danny Adcock Mick Robbins / George Henty2 episodes
Danny Roberts Eric Blake1 episode
David Nettheim Dr Turpin1 episode
David Wenham Matthieson / Thug 12 episodes
Deborah Kara Unger Jill Bennett1 episode
Deborah Kennedy Miss Herron1 episode
Debra Byrne Sally Edwards / Tricia Rogan2 episodes
Deidre Rubenstein Peggy Guest1 episode
Denise Roberts Babysitter1 episode
Dennis Miller Ronald Harvey1 episode
Derryn Hinch TV Newscaster1 episode
Dinah Shearing Vera Grey1 episode
Doc Neeson John 'Jacko' Corrigan1 episode
Ed Devereaux Det Sgt Updike1 episode
Ernie Dingo Wayne Williams1 episode
Esben Storm Norm Angstrom1 episode
Frank Gallacher Louis D'Oering1 episode
Frank Lloyd Mr Fisher1 episode
Frankie J. Holden Quiz Compere1 episode
Genevieve Lemon Julie1 episode
Geoff Cartwright Carl Jensen1 episode
Geoff Morrell Alan TillamanSeason 4, episode 9
George Spartels Stefan Bosnjak1 episode
Georgie Parker Lucy1 episode
Gia Carides Sally1 episode
Gillian Jones Paula Brent1 episode
Glenn Shorrock Ray Aston1 episode
Gosia Dobrowolska Maz1 episode
Graeme Blundell Billy Wiley1 episode
Greg Stone
Henri Szeps Uncle Aniello2 episodes
Ivar Kants Father Phelan1 episode
Jan Adele Mrs Gunning1 episode
Jeanie Drynan Carol Taylor1 episode
Jeff Truman Hartnell1 episode
Jennifer Hagan Nadine Karsky1 episode
John Clayton Harry Grant / Briggs2 episodes
John Ewart George Burwood / Halliday2 episodes
John Hamblin Tom Herman1 episode
John Polson Garth Manson1 episode
John Sheerin Bill Blake1 episode
Jon English David AnsonSeason 2, episode 2
Jonathan Biggins Angus MacLean2 episodes
Jonathan Coleman Brandon1 episode
Jonathan Hardy Mr Linnehan1 episode
Joy Hruby Dero Lady / Mrs Barnes2 episodes
Judi Farr Rhonda White1 episode
Julian McMahon Police Witness1 episode
Julie Nihill Cathy Gregory2 episodes
Justin Rosniak Hamish1 episode
Kate Sheil Joy Finlayson
Kerry McGuire Irene Doonan2 episodes
Kris McQuade Pamela Gordon1 episode
Les Dayman Sergeant Davis1 episode
Lois Ramsey Miss Mitford1 episode
Lorna Lesley Connie Apps1 episode
Lorraine Bayly Gwen Forster / Audrey Shepherd2 episodes
Lucky Grills Darryl Hayes1 episode
Lynette Curran Dr Curlewis1 episode
Maggie Dence Vanessa Pearce1 episode
Marina Finlay Emma1 episode
Mark Strickson Gavin Keyes1 episode
Marshall Napier Alex Reid1 episode
Martin Vaughan Bill Coglan / Jackie Blythe2 episodes
Matt Day Jeff Wilson1 episode
Max Cullen Mr Lee1 episode
Max Phipps Vern O'Connor1 episode
Melissa Bell Angela Griffin1 episode
Michael Caton Joe Fletcher1 episode
Michele Fawdon Narelle Saxon1 episode
Michelle Pettigrove Libby Carroll1 episode
Miles Buchanan Evan Fairchild1 episode
Monica Trapaga Andy Martinez1 episode
Mouche Phillips Mary Brent1 episode
Nancye Hayes Sheree Martin1 episode
Neil Melville Banks1 episode
Nick Enright Captain Lewis1 episode
Nico Lathouris Kevin Grumley1 episode
Nina Landis Jan Mondale1 episode
Norman Coburn Constable Skeggs / Doug2 episodes
Norman Kaye Harold Messenger1 episode
Norman Yemm Phil Newman1 episode
Normie Rowe Geoff Wirrell1 episode
Owen Weingott Karl Becker / Samuel Spink2 episodes
Pat Bishop Mrs Annie Hartnoll1 episode
Patrick PhillipsYoung Solicitor1 episode
Patrick Ward Ian 'Freddy' Frogmore1 episode
Penne Hackforth-Jones Sinclair / Danielle2 episodes
Peta Toppano Dana Coldrick1 episode
Peter Fisher Ritchie McMahon / Robbo2 episodes
Peter Greenwood Robert Guthrie, football thug1 episode [7]
Peter Hayes Peter Booth
Peter Carroll Percy Eliot1 episode
Peter Hosking Gavin Courtney1 episode
Peter Kowitz Bernie Manders1 episode
Peter Phelps James Frederick1 episode
Peter Whitford Harmon / William Walker2 episodes
Phillip Ross Tom Daley1 episode
Queenie Ashton Mrs Capra1 episode
Ralph Cotterill Ken Parker1 episode
Ray Meagher George1 episode
Rebecca Rigg Rebecca Browning2 episodes
Rebecca Smart Jackie Rogan1 episode
Richard Moir Geoffrey Sole1 episode
Ritchie Singer Mr Yilmaz / P.C. Falco2 episodes
Robert Coleby David Andrews1 episode
Robert Mammone Brad / Craig Hill2 episodes
Robert Taylor Constable Hanks1 episode
Rod Mullinar Harry Bartle1 episode
Roger Ward Albert Potts2 episodes
Ron Graham Frank White1 episode
Ron Shand Sid Clutten1 episode
Ross Newton James1 episode
Roy Billing Reg Markham1 episode
Russell Crowe Bobby Jarvis1 episode
Sandy Gore Helen Hawthorne2 episodes
Sarah Chadwick Ms Finnegan1 episode
Sarah Lambert Rudi Apps1 episode
Sheila Florance Mrs Patterson1 episode
Simon Westaway Vincent Paul Vincent1 episode
Steven Vidler Barry Baxter1 episode
Stuart Wagstaff Scott Hopkins2 episodes
Ted Hamilton Snowy White1 episode
Tiffany Lamb Liz1 episode
Tim Robertson Mervyn Starkey1 episode
Tina Bursill Erica Jamieson2 episodes
Vince Sorrenti Joe Szabo1 episode
Vincent Ball Mathew1 episode
Wayne Pygram Bathgate1 episode
Wendy Playfair 1 episode
William McInnes Craig Farner1 episode
Willie Fennell Jim Stevens1 episode
Wynn Roberts Matt Keegan1 episode
Zoe Carides Janine Tate / Mardi2 episodes

[8]

Series location

The series is based at a Magistrates' Court in Manly (a Sydney beachside suburb), over which Rafferty presided.

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References

  1. Harrison, Tony (1994). The Australian Film and Television Companion. East Roseville, NSW: Simon & Schuster Australia. ISBN   0731804554.
  2. "Rafferty's Rules is a triumph for John Wood – TV star and now writer!". The Sydney Morning Herald . 27 January 1985. p. 57. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  3. "Nine romps home in ratings". The Sun-Herald . 15 June 1986. p. 122.[ dead link ]
  4. "Logie Award Winners, 1988". TV Week . Archived from the original on 14 February 2006.
  5. "Logie Award Winners, 1989". TV Week. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011.
  6. Hook, Barbara (21 November 1988). "Doogue aside, Penguins look good". The Age . Retrieved 4 February 2021 via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  7. "Peter Greenwood (I) (1962–2021)". IMDb.
  8. "Australian Television: Rafferty's Rules".