Blue Heelers (season 1)

Infobox tvseason
season_name = Blue Heelers - Season 1
headercolour = cedff2


caption = Original cast of "Blue Heelers"
dvd_release_date = November 2, 2005
dvd_format = 6-disc boxset
country = AUS
network = Seven Network
first_aired = 18 January, 1994
last_aired =
22 November, 1994
num_episodes = 45
next_season = Season 2The "first season" of the Australian police-drama "Blue Heelers" premiered on the Seven Network on 18 January 1994 and aired on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM. The 45-episode season concluded on 22 November 1994.

The show was a success, and by the end of its 45-episode first season the PJ-Maggie shippers had quickly amassed.

Casting

Main cast for this season consisted of:
* John Wood as Sergeant Tom Croydon ["full season"]
* Julie Nihill as Christine 'Chris' Riley ["full season"]
* Martin Sacks as Detective Senior Constable Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham ["full season"]
* Lisa McCune as Constable Margaret 'Maggie' Doyle ["full season"]
* William McInnes as Senior Constable Nicholas 'Nick' Schultz ["full season"]
* Grant Bowler as Constable Wayne Patterson ["full season"]
* Ann Burbrook as Roz Patterson ["episode 1-30"]
* Damian Walshe-Howling as Constable Adam Cooper ["episode 34+"]

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.IMDb. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108709/trivia Blue Heelers trivia] . Retrieved 1 April, 2008.]

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".IMDb. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108709/trivia Blue Heelers trivia] . Retrieved 1 April, 2008.]

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.

Semi-regular cast members for this season include:
* Peta Doodson as Inspector (formerly Senior Sergeant) Monica Draper
* Beth Buchanan as Susan Croydon
* Michael Isaacs as Clancy Freeman
* Suzi Dougherty as Dr. Mel Carter
* Axl Taylor as Len the barman
* Dennis Miller as Ex-Sergeant Pat Doyle
* Nick Waters as Inspector Ted Faulkner
* Helen Trenos as Celia Donald
* Dale Stevens as Senior Constable / Detective Senior Constable Rose Egan
* Jennifer Botica as Detective Senior Constable Hilary Edmunds

Notable guest stars for the season included Radha Mitchell,cite episode|title=A Woman's Place|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-01-18|season=1|number=1] Gerard Kennedy,cite episode|title=Wives|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-02-08|season=1|number=4] Kate Keltie,cite episode|title=Apprehended Violence|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-02-22|season=1|number=6] Anne Phelan,cite episode|title=Life After Death|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-03-01|season=1|number=7] Petra Jared,cite episode|title=Diary Entry|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-03-15|season=1|number=9] Charles 'Bud' Tingwell,cite episode|title=Reunion|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-03-19|season=1|number=14] Lois Collinder,cite episode|title=Meat Is Hung, Men Are Hanged|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-05-10|season=1|number=17] Raelee Hill,cite episode|title=Day in Court|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-07-12|season=1|number=26] Libby Tanner,cite episode|title=Nowhere to Run|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-07-19|season=1|number=19] Lois Ramsay,cite episode|title=Old Dogs, New Tricks|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-08-30|season=1|number=33] Ian Smith,cite episode|title=Labour of Love|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-09-06|season=1|number=34] David Wenham,cite episode|title=The Folly of Youth|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-09-27|season=1|number=37] Rex Huntcite episode|title=A Matter of Trust|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-08-02|season=1|number=29] and Janet Andrewartha.cite episode|title=The First Stone|series=Blue Heelers|serieslink=Blue Heelers|airdate=1994-11-01|season=1|number=42]

Plot

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 Mt. Thomas. At Mt. Thomas police station we also meet the officer in charge, Sergeant Tom 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 Nick Schultz, a sarcastic and yet good-hearted cop, and Senior Detective Patrick 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 Mt. 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 Mt. Thomas and returning to her home in Melbourne. This marriage dissolution is a result of many pressure 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 Mt. 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 offenses. 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 Mt. Thomas. Maggie also finds romance in Mt. Thomas with 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 tragic car accident. This is revealed to be the reason Nick joined highway patrol and the reason for his stance against vehicle offenses such as speeding and drink driving.

Production

Reception

Awards

Episodes

DVD release

References

;General
* Zuk, T. [http://www.australiantelevision.net/bh/series1.html Blue Heelers: 1994 episode guide] , Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 1 August, 2007.
* TV.com editors. [http://www.tv.com/blue-heelers/show/3333/episode_guide.html?season=1&tag=season_dropdown;dropdown;0 "Blue Heelers" Episode Guide - Season 1] , TV.com. Retrieved 1 August 2007.;Specific