All Saints (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = All Saints


caption = 2008 - present opening title
show_name_2 =
genre = Drama
format = Medical drama
creator = Jo Porter
Di Drew
MaryAnne Carroll
director =
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = John Howard
Judith McGrath
Tammy MacIntosh
Jolene Anderson
Wil Traval
Andrew Supanz
Virginia Gay
Jack Campbell
And
John Waters
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer =
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = Aus
language = English
num_seasons = 11
num_episodes = 449
(as at 7th Of October 2008, 2008)Zuk, Tim. [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/series11.html Season 11 episode guide] , [http://www.australiantelevision.net Australian Television Information Archive] . Retrieved 7 June 2008.]
list_episodes = List of All Saints episodes
executive_producer =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime = Approx. 1 hour
(with ads)
network = Seven Network
picture_format = 576i (SDTV),
1080i (HDTV)
audio_format = Dolby Surround
first_run =
first_aired = 1998
last_aired = present
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website = http://au.blogs.yahoo.com/all-saints/
imdb_id = 0163924
tv_com_id = 1541

"All Saints" is a Logie Award-winning Australian medical drama which airs on the Seven Network, and various international networks. The programme debuted on 24 February, 1998 and soon became one of Australia's highest-rating dramas. "All Saints" also achieved popularity overseas, particularly in Iran, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The series is set in a fictional Sydney suburban hospital, "All Saints General Western Hospital". Its stories originally focused on the lives of the nurses of Ward 17, which was also known as the "garbage ward" because it took the overflow of patients. In 2004, after a year of low ratings, producers drastically overhauled the series, shifting focus from Ward 17 to the Emergency Department. A new set was established, many old characters were dropped and many new ones introduced. With this change, the series also came to focus more upon the lives of the doctors, as well as the nurses as it had in the past.

"All Saints" has featured popular Australian actors and actresses such as John Howard, Georgie Parker, Libby Tanner, and Erik Thomson, as well as international actors such as Chris Vance and Natasha Beaumont. Judith McGrath, who plays nurse Yvonne Ryan, is the show's only remaining original cast member.

"All Saints" now airs at 9:30pm on Tuesdays an hour later than normal, replaced by Seven's new drama "Packed to the Rafters"; which stars former All Saints actor Erik Thomson.

Cast

Main cast

Present

Past

2004 revamp

In reaction to a ratings drop in 2003 and 2004, ever since the departure of Dr. Mitch Stevens, played by Erik Thomson, the producers decided to shift the focus of the series from Ward 17 to the emergency department (ED) of All Saints Western General Hospital. These changes first appeared on screens in April 2004. This relocation allowed the producers and writers to explore different and more adventurous storylines and allowed the introduction of additional characters. With the relocation, which was dubbed All Saints' emergency surgery [Enker, Debi. " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/extrememakeover.html All Saints gets an extreme makeover] ", The Age, February 19, 2004.] , the show also shifted its focus from the lives of the nurses to including the lives of many doctors as well. This revamp in 2004 proved a success and ratings increased considerably.

As a part of this substantial revamp, four of All Saints' regular main cast members were dropped from the show permanently. These included Jenni Baird, who played Nurse Paula Morgan, Martin Lynes, who played Dr. Luke Forlano, Fletcher Humphrys, who played probational paramedic Alex Kearns, and Henry Nixon, who played Nurse Sterlo McCormack.Byrne, Fiona. " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html Four All Saints stars dumped] ", Herald Sun, November 23, 2003.] " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html All Saints' transfusion] ", The Daily Telegraph, November 24, 2003.] Miller, Kylie. " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html Saints' emergency surgery] ", The Age, November 27, 2003.] Always Greener star, John Howard, was also introduced in this revamp as E.D. director, Frank Campion.Byrne, Fiona. " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html Four All Saints stars dumped] ", Herald Sun, November 23, 2003.] " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html All Saints' transfusion] ", The Daily Telegraph, November 24, 2003.] Miller, Kylie. " [http://www.australiantelevision.net/as/articles/fourstarsdumped.html Saints' emergency surgery] ", The Age, November 27, 2003.]

Awards

Over its long run, "All Saints" has received a number of different awards as well as being recognised as one of Australia's most popular dramas.

Logie Awards

The show has received numerous Logie Award nominations in both the popular and outstanding categories, the awards are: [ [http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/ ninemsn.com] , [http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/section.aspx?sectionid=1923&sectionname=logies&subsectionid=9698&subsectionname=logieawards TV Week Logie Awards Page] ]

Australian Film Institute (AFI) Awards

"All Saints" has won two AFI Awards from the Australian Film Institute and has been nominated for various others.

Broadcasting

flag|Australia: "All Saints" usually airs at 21:30 on Tuesday nights on the Seven Network.

Earlier episodes are also being repeated Monday - Thursdays at 14:00 on the Seven Network, although these do not air during the school holidays.Earlier episodes are also being aired on Foxtel television channel Hallmark, with double episodes screening on weekends.

flag|Ireland: "All Saints" airs at 20:00 Wednesday nights on the TV3 Television Network where it has proved to be a ratings winner, and has become one of the most popular imports on Irish television.

When TV3 initially purchased the show back in September 2001, it was broadcast from episode one at 14:35 Monday - Friday with an encore screening the following morning at 10:30. The show was in demand and proved so popular with audiences it was promoted to a prime-time slot in July 2003, it had also caught up with the Seven Network transmission at that time. TV3 are approximately 25 episodes behind Australia's broadcast.

flag|Belgium: "All Saints" airs every day at 16.25 on vtm in Belgium.

flag|Iran: "All Saints" airs every Tuesday at 22:00 and is repeated every Wednesday at 15:30, on Channel IRIB 1.

flag|Israel: "All Saints" airs every day (Sunday-Thursday) at 09:30 and is repeated every day at 19:50, on Channel 23.

flag|India: "All Saints" airs on the Australia Network at 20:00 on Saturdays.

flag|UK: "All Saints" aired from Monday 16 July 2007 every weekday on BBC One at 14:35 - 15:20 starting from Season 5 (Episode 169)." [http://soapworld.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103&Itemid=1 Episode Guide] ", "Soapworld". URL last accessed 2007-07-08] Although the BBC has bought the rights for the sixth series " [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a75962/bbc-acquires-sixth-series-of-all-saints.html BBC acquires sixth series of 'All Saints'] ", "Digital Spy". URL last accessed 2008-02-24] it has yet to confirm a broadcast date. The previous seasons were aired on Living in the early 2000s.

flag|Hungary: "All Saints" airs every day at 15:25 on TV2 until the 6th June.

flag|Gibraltar: "All Saints" airs every Monday night at 22:00 on GBC Television.

DVD release

"For further information on each individual DVD release, see its respective "

Currently, Seasons 1 to 5 have been released by EMI on DVD. The DVDs are released as complete seasons on 10 disc box sets (11 discs for season 2). In addition to the complete box set, Season 1 was released as a collection of 2 disc sets, each set containing 8 episodes.

EMI do not hold the DVD rights for Season 6 onwards. The Seven Network has declined to comment on future DVD releases.

Listings of each episode in each box set can be found at List of All Saints episodes.

ee also

*List of Australian television series
*List of All Saints episodes
*List of All Saints characters

References

External links

* [http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number%3A380669;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 All Saints at the National Film and Sound Archive]
* [http://australiantelevision.net/as/allsaints.html All Saints] at the Australian Television Information Archive
* [http://tviv.org/All_Saints All Saints] at The TV IV