Phoenix (Australian TV series)

Phoenix is an Australian crime drama television series broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1992 to 1993. It was created by Alison Nisselle and Tony McDonald.[1]

Phoenix
Created byTony McDonald
Alison Nisselle
StarringPaul Sonkkila
Sean Scully
Andy Anderson
Peter Cummins
Simon Westaway
Nell Feeney
Susie Edmonds
Tony Poli
Stuart McCreery
David Bradshaw
Jennifer Jarman-Walker
Vikki Blanche
Country of originAustralia
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes26 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerJill Robb
ProducerBill Hughes
Running time50 mins
Release
Original networkABC
Original release13 February 1992 (1992-02-13) –
3 June 1993 (1993-06-03)
Chronology
Followed byJanus

The first series recounts the investigation of the bombing of the Victorian state police headquarters, loosely based on the real life Russell Street Bombing in 1986. It was followed by a second series, Phoenix II, based on a series of violent aggravated burglaries ("ag burgs") against wealthy senior citizens.[2]

The series was filmed in Melbourne, Victoria and was characterised by its dark, noir-ish visual tone and non-linear editing,[3] reminiscent of the ABC crime dramas Scales of Justice, Blue Murder and Wildside, which all also dealt with corruption in the police force.[4]

The show was lauded for its realistic depiction of police investigation techniques, aided by extensive research by the show's writers. It won several Logie Awards, including Most Outstanding Miniseries Logie in 1993 and 1994, as well as several Australian Film Institute Awards, and the Television or Film Theme of the Year Award at the APRA Music Awards of 1993.[5]

The series spawned the 1994 spin-off Janus, with Simon Westaway reprising his role as Sergeant Peter Faithful.

Cast

Phoenix (1992)

Starring[6]

  • Paul Sonkkila as Jock Brennan (13 episodes)
  • Sean Scully as Ian "Goose" Cochrane (13 episodes)
  • Andy Anderson as Lochie Renford (13 episodes)
  • Peter Cummins as Superintendent Wallace (13 episodes)
  • Simon Westaway as Sergeant Peter Faithful (13 episodes)
  • Nell Feeney as Megan Edwards (11 episodes)
  • Susie Edmonds as Carol Cochrane (12 episodes)
  • Tony Poli as Lazarus "Laz" Carides (10 episodes)

Also starring

  • Kevin Summers as Colin Toohey (8 episodes)
  • Dominic Sweeney as Wheels (9 episodes)
  • David Bradshaw as Senior Detective Andrew "Fluff" Saunders (5 episodes)
  • George Vidalis as Mick (12 episodes)
  • Todd Telford as Dennis (5 episodes)
  • Patrick Ward as Blazo (4 episodes)
  • Nicholas Politis as Nick (9 episodes)

Phoenix II (1993)

Starring

  • Simon Westaway as Sergeant Peter Faithful (13 episodes)
  • Stuart McCreery as Senior Sergeant Adrian Moon (13 episodes)
  • David Bradshaw as Senior Detective Andrew "Fluff" Saunders (13 episodes)
  • Jennifer Jarman-Walker as Senior Detective Cath Darby (13 episodes)
  • Peter Cummins as Superintendent Wallace (13 episodes)
  • Vikki Blanche as Chris Faithful (9 episodes)
  • Susie Edmonds as Carol Cochrane (9 episodes)
  • Sean Scully as Ian "Goose" Cochrane (13 episodes)

Also starring

  • Peter McCauley as Inspector Lew Murdoch (12 episodes)
  • David Roberts as Detective Robert Howie (10 episodes)
  • Keith Agius as Docket (13 episodes)
  • Bob Halsall as Boomer (13 episodes)
  • Russell Fletcher as Kermie (6 episodes)
  • Greg Scealey as Fish (7 episodes)
  • Paul Sonkkila as Jock Brennan (3 episodes)

Episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
113February 13, 1992 (1992-02-13)April 30, 1992 (1992-04-30)
213March 14, 1993 (1993-03-14)June 3, 1993 (1993-06-03)

Phoenix (1992)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
11"Top Quality Crims"February 13, 1992 (1992-02-13)
22"Christmas in July"February 13, 1992 (1992-02-13)
33"A Bunch of Big Girls"February 20, 1992 (1992-02-20)
44"On the Edge"February 27, 1992 (1992-02-27)
55"A Dog's Life"March 5, 1992 (1992-03-05)
66"Out in the Cold"March 12, 1992 (1992-03-12)
77"Old Rules, New Game"March 19, 1992 (1992-03-19)
88"Fond Memories"March 26, 1992 (1992-03-26)
99"Shaking the Tree"April 2, 1992 (1992-04-02)
1010"Blessed are the Peace Makers"April 9, 1992 (1992-04-09)
1111"Hair of the Dog"April 16, 1992 (1992-04-16)
1212"Paradise Tomorrow"April 23, 1992 (1992-04-23)
1313"Hard Ball"April 30, 1992 (1992-04-30)

Phoenix II (1993)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleOriginal air date
141"Victims Forever"March 4, 1993 (1993-03-04)
152"Deal or Pay"March 11, 1993 (1993-03-11)
163"Married to the Job"March 18, 1993 (1993-03-18)
174"The Return"March 25, 1993 (1993-03-25)
185"Inside Information"April 8, 1993 (1993-04-08)
196"Safe as Houses"April 15, 1993 (1993-04-15)
207"Aladdin's Cave"April 22, 1993 (1993-04-22)
218"In on the Joke"April 29, 1993 (1993-04-29)
229"Give a Dog a Bone"May 6, 1993 (1993-05-06)
2310"Shuffling the Deck"May 13, 1993 (1993-05-13)
2411"Under Siege"May 20, 1993 (1993-05-20)
2512"Snow Job"May 27, 1993 (1993-05-27)
2613"Hit, Shit and Scatter"June 3, 1993 (1993-06-03)

Home release

The series was released in 2009 by the ABC on DVD in two volumes, each containing 13 episodes across 4 discs. However, it has since gone out of print.

See also

References
  1. "ABC Content Sales - Television, Online and DVD program catalogue of Australia's national broadcaster". Archived from the original on 26 October 2004.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927091958/http://www.propaganda.com.au/phoenix/archive.html
  3. "Curator's notes Phoenix – Top Quality Crims (1991) on ASO - Australia's audio and visual heritage online".
  4. "A different beat - cop shows that broke the mould". 10 July 2003.
  5. "1993 APRA MUSIC AWARD WINNERS". APRA AMCOs. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  6. "Australian Television: Phoenix".
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