Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Crownies
View on Wikipedia
| Crownies | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Legal drama Dramedy |
| Starring | Todd Lasance Hamish Michael Ella Scott Lynch Andrea Demetriades Indiana Evans Marta Dusseldorp |
| Theme music composer | Lanie Lane |
| Opening theme | What Do I Do |
| Composers | Sonar Music Antony Partos |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22[1] (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Carole Sklan Des Monaghan Greg Haddrick David Ogilvy |
| Producers | Karl Zwicky Jane Allen Lisa Scott |
| Production location | Sydney[1] |
| Cinematography | Bruce Young |
| Editor | Marcus D'Arcy |
| Running time | 55 mins approx |
| Production company | Screentime[1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC1 |
| Release | 14 July – 1 December 2011 |
| Related | |
| Janet King | |
Crownies is an Australian television drama series which was originally broadcast on ABC1 from 14 July until 1 December 2011. The series revolves around a group of solicitors fresh from law school, working with Crown Prosecutors, who are the public prosecutors in the legal system of New South Wales, working for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Production
[edit]ABC1 ordered Crownies for a twenty-two-episode run and it was produced by Karl Zwicky.[2] It was the first long-form drama format to be commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation since 2005's MDA.[3] Filming began in January 2011.[3] The location chosen for filming was Sydney, New South Wales. Many scenes were filmed in the business district Parramatta, more predominantly around the Parramatta Justice Precinct for the low financial cost and its accessibility.[2] Alongside the Parramatta river shops, churches and streets were used for location shoots. Every twelve days a Brazilian restaurant located on Church Street would be converted into the set of "Gar's Bar", which served as the "legal hangout" for the characters.[2] To cut costs, scenes requiring countryside settings were filmed a mere fifteen-minute drive away from Parramatta.[2] The series finished filming in September 2011.[4]
It is written by Greg Haddrick, Jane Allen, Kylie Needham, Tamara Asmar, Blake Ayshford, Chris Hawkshaw, Justine Gillmer, Pete McTighe, Stuart Page & Sam Miekle. It is directed by Tony Tilse, Chris Noonan, Cherie Nowlan,[3] Grant Brown, Lynn Hegarty, Garth Maxwell and Jet Wilkinson.
On 24 January 2011, Greg Hassall from The Sydney Morning Herald announced the casting of Todd Lasance, Hamish Michael, Marta Dusseldorp and Jerome Ehlers.[3]
Episodes
[edit]Cast
[edit]Main
[edit]- Todd Lasance as Ben McMahon
- Hamish Michael as Richard Stirling
- Ella Scott Lynch as Erin O'Shaughnessy
- Andrea Demetriades as Lina Badir
- Marta Dusseldorp as Janet King
- Indiana Evans as Tatum Novak
- Peter Kowitz as Tony Gillies
- Jeanette Cronin as Tracey Samuels
- Lewis Fitz-Gerald as David Sinclair QC
- Jerome Ehlers as Rhys Kowalski
Recurring
[edit]- Aimee Pedersen as Ashleigh Larsson
- Anna Lise Phillips as Sonya
- Chantelle Jamieson as Julie Rousseau
- Christopher Morris as Andy Campbell
- Daniel Lissing as Conrad De Groot
- Elias Joukhdar as Tariq Badir
- Heather Mitchell as Judge Walker
- Marcus Graham as Danny Novak
- Paul Moxey as Harry
- Petra Yared as Paula Corvini
- Ritchie Singer as The Honourable Mr Justice Rosenberg
Guests
[edit]- Amy Mathews as Vanessa Kenay (1 episode)
- Anya Beyersdorf as Rebecca (1 episode)
- Bob Baines as Dr Wally Kos (1 episode)
- Diane Craig as Carolyn Fletcher (1 episode)
- Ian Bliss as Inspector Red Bindall (1 episode)
- Fayssal Bazzi as Mustafa Al-Tikriti (1 episode)
- Lucy Bell as Ruth Steinberg (1 episode)
- Marina Finlay as Trudie (1 episode)
- Nathaniel Buzolic as Jesse Major (1 episode)
- Sarah Chadwick as Justice Stanton (1 episode)
- Tammy MacIntosh as Dr Amelia Ward (1 episode)
Spin-off series
[edit]Before the series finale of Crownies had broadcast, ABC1 Channel Controller Brendan Dahill revealed that he sought the creation of a spin-off and singled out Dusseldorp and Michael for their portrayals. He believed that there were many successful aspects of Crownies to build on and expressed his surprise that the show was not as popular as he had envisioned.[5] On 20 August 2012, ABC TV confirmed that it had commissioned an "8-part legal and political thriller" titled Janet King.[6] The spin-off went into production in early 2013 and featured various cast members from Crownies.[7][8] The first episode aired on 27 February 2014.[9][10]
Home media
[edit]Crownies was initially released on region 4 DVD in two separate parts. The first eleven episodes were released on 6 October 2011.[11] The remaining episodes were released on 1 December 2011.[12] The two box-sets were later released for region 2.[13][14]
Although the series has never been shown in the UK, it is available to view on the STV Player, the video on demand service owned by STV, the ITV affiliate in North and Central Scotland.
Reception
[edit]Critical analysis
[edit]Doug Anderson from The Sydney Morning Herald liked the show for the cast, "fresh" writing and good relationship between character. He believed anyone with intelligence could relate to the show. He praised the character of Tatum Novak for being the modern girl and branded the rest as fairly conventional characters, with personal issues blended in with cases.[15] But his colleague Craig Mathieson criticised the show stating "The show is struggling to find an even tone and at various times it's flirtatiously sexy, coolly cynical and blazingly emotional. The problem is that these diverse moods jarringly occur one after the other. It's somewhat messy."[15]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Awards[16] | 29 March 2012 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Crownies | Nominated |
| Logie Award[17] | 15 April 2012 | Most Outstanding New Talent | Hamish Michael | Nominated |
| Australian Directors' Guild Awards[18] | 11 May 2012 | Best Direction in a TV Drama Series | Jet Wilkinson | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Rosser, Michael (8 March 2011). "Target acquires Crownies". Broadcast. ISSN 0040-2788. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d Olding, Rachel (25 June 2011). "Lights, camera, action: Parrawood takes centre stage". The Sydney Morning Herald (First ed.). p. 14. Archived from the original on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d Hassall, Greg (24 January 2011). "ABC takes law into own hands". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Blake, Elissa (25 September 2011). "Motherhood out on a limb". The Sun-Herald. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Knox, David (25 November 2011). "ABC considers Crownies spin-off". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ Darren (20 August 2012). "ABC TV's Crownies Spin-off To Be A Political Thriller". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ Meade, Amanda (20 August 2012). "Crownies spawns Dusseldorp spin-off". The Australian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Knox, David (22 January 2013). "Cast confirmed for ABC's Janet King". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Vickery, Colin (16 December 2013). "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries under a cloud as ABC tries to broaden audience". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ Knox, David. "Janet King". TV Tonight. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "Crownies - Season 1: Part 1 (3 Disc Set) (DVD)". ezydvd.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "Crownies: Season 1 - Part 2 (DVD)". ezydvd.com.au. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "Crownies (Season 1 - Part 1) - 3-DVD Set ( Crownies - Season One Part One (Episodes 1-11) )". Amazon UK. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "Crownies - Season 1 - Part 2 - 3-DVD Set ( Crownies - Season One - Part Two )". Amazon UK. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ a b Mathieson, Craig (1 September 2011). "Craig Mathieson finds ABC's young prosecutors guilty of overseeing an uneven, lightweight mess". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
- ^ "The 2012 Equity Awards". Equity Awards. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
- ^ Byrnes, Holly (18 March 2012). "Karl Stefanovic nominated to win back-to-back Gold Logies as Australian television awards announced". Herald Sun. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Knox, David (16 April 2012). "Australian Directors Guild Awards: Nominees". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 24 September 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
External links
[edit]Crownies
View on GrokipediaOverview
Premise and setting
Crownies centres on five junior solicitors recently graduated from law school who join the Office of Public Prosecutions in New South Wales, tasked with preparing and managing criminal cases for trial while grappling with the demands of professional ethics, office politics, and interpersonal relationships.[2] The series depicts their immersion in a high-stakes environment where they assess evidence from police investigations, advise on charges, and confront the moral ambiguities of prosecuting on behalf of the state.[7] This setup highlights the tension between idealistic commitments to justice and the pragmatic realities of a overburdened public legal system.[8] The narrative unfolds in contemporary Sydney, with primary locations centred on the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecutions' office, reflecting the structure of Australia's adversarial legal framework where crown prosecutors represent the public interest in criminal proceedings.[9] Filmed across urban Sydney settings, including courtrooms, offices, and city streets, the show draws inspiration from actual procedures in the state's public prosecution service, such as initial case reviews and interactions with law enforcement, though dramatized for narrative effect.[10] This geographical and institutional anchoring grounds the story in Australia's common law tradition, emphasizing local jurisdictional nuances like state-specific criminal codes.[7] The premise integrates elements of workplace ensemble drama with procedural courtroom sequences, exploring how professional duties intersect with personal ambitions and romantic entanglements among the young lawyers, without resolving into simplistic moral binaries.[2] This blend underscores the fast-paced, pressure-filled milieu of entry-level public prosecution, where decisions impact real societal outcomes amid resource constraints.[8]Themes and style
Crownies examines ethical dilemmas inherent in public prosecution, such as conflicts between pursuing justice and personal beliefs, including cases involving battered women defendants, child sociopaths, and decisions over leaking sensitive files or handling IVF-related autonomy issues.[5] The series portrays the pressures of public service within the Office of Public Prosecutions, where young solicitors confront systemic realities that challenge their idealism, including the tension between legal duties and moral quandaries like prosecuting euthanasia or ensuring victim protection amid procedural constraints.[5][11] A recurring motif is the work-life imbalance faced by junior legal professionals, intertwining high-stakes courtroom preparations with personal turmoil, such as navigating modern single life, family obligations, and romantic entanglements that spill into the workplace.[5] This theme underscores the "endearing madness" of balancing demanding careers with interpersonal relationships, highlighting how professional demands erode personal boundaries for those in early-stage public sector roles.[5] Stylistically, the series employs fast-paced editing and dynamic ensemble storytelling to mirror the chaotic tempo of prosecutorial work, with characters often in motion during dialogues to convey urgency and interconnectivity.[5][12] It mixes procedural realism—drawing on actual criminal law principles and DPP operations—with serialized personal drama akin to soap opera elements, incorporating humor through witty banter among colleagues in tense settings.[5] Unlike barrister-focused legal dramas that emphasize courtroom theatrics, Crownies prioritizes the behind-the-scenes perspectives of solicitors, foregrounding character development and relational arcs over episodic case outcomes.[5]Production
Development and commissioning
Crownies was commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) as a 22-episode legal drama series produced by Screentime, marking a significant investment in original Australian scripted content. The project originated from Screentime's development of a narrative centered on the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), focusing on young solicitors navigating high-stakes cases, personal relationships, and workplace dynamics, drawn from authentic elements of Australian prosecutorial practices but dramatized for entertainment.[5][13] Development progressed through 2010, with production commencing in early 2011 in Sydney under the oversight of executive producers including Carole Sklan and Des Monaghan. The series was positioned as ABC's first long-form drama commission in several years, reflecting the broadcaster's commitment to bolstering local production amid ongoing discussions about Australian content quotas and outsourcing. The premiere was announced in June 2011, with the first episode airing on 14 July 2011 at 8:30 pm on ABC1.[13][11][14]Casting process
Marta Dusseldorp was selected for the pivotal role of senior prosecutor Janet King, providing a grounded authority to the ensemble's interpersonal and professional conflicts.[5] The junior solicitor positions, representing recent law graduates navigating high-stakes cases, were filled by emerging Australian performers including Andrea Demetriades as Lina Badir, Ella Scott Lynch as Erin O'Shaughnessy, and Hamish Michael as Richard Stirling, alongside Todd Lasance as Ben McMahon and Indiana Evans as Tatum Novak, actors with prior television exposure from series like Home and Away and H2O: Just Add Water.[5] Casting announcements for principal roles, such as Lasance, Michael, Dusseldorp, and Jerome Ehlers, were made public on 24 January 2011, reflecting a deliberate choice of talent capable of delivering rapid-fire legal exchanges and ensemble chemistry essential to the series' courtroom and office dynamics. This approach prioritized performers who could authentically embody the blend of ambition, inexperience, and ethical dilemmas faced by DPP staff, drawing from actors' demonstrated range in prior dramatic works to ensure believable portrayals without relying on high-profile imports.[5]Filming and technical aspects
Principal photography for Crownies occurred from February to August 2011 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, utilizing local studios and on-location sites to construct courtroom sets, Office of Public Prosecutions interiors, and urban environments reflective of the series' legal milieu.[15] Cinematographer Bruce Young oversaw the visual style across all 22 episodes, employing techniques that enhanced the dramatic intensity of procedural sequences through dynamic framing and mobility.[3] Production notes highlight the integration of practical locations with constructed sets to achieve authenticity in depicting Sydney's judicial infrastructure, though the narrative unfolds in a fictionalized state framework.[7] In post-production, editing processes focused on layering multiple case threads with personal subplots, maintaining a brisk pace suited to the one-hour episode format.[16] The original score, composed to amplify suspense during evidentiary confrontations and ethical dilemmas, featured contributions from Sonar Music collaborators, including Antony Partos, whose work underscored the high-stakes prosecutorial dynamics without overpowering dialogue-driven scenes. Standard television lighting schemes differentiated intense legal exchanges—often lit for stark realism—from softer, character-focused moments, aligning with conventional drama aesthetics while prioritizing narrative clarity over stylistic experimentation.[16]Cast and characters
Main cast
The main cast of Crownies centers on the ensemble of prosecutors at the Sydney office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, with Marta Dusseldorp portraying Janet King, the hard-hitting senior Crown Prosecutor who provides guidance to the junior team amid complex cases.[17][18] The five titular junior solicitors, recent law graduates handling high-stakes prosecutions while balancing personal lives, are played by Todd Lasance as the ambitious Ben McMahon, Hamish Michael as the confident Richard Stirling, Ella Scott Lynch as the determined Erin O'Shaughnessy, Andrea Demetriades as Lina Badir—a solicitor reflecting multicultural influences in the legal field—and Indiana Evans as Tatum Novak.[17][3] Peter Kowitz recurs as Tony Gillies, the Director of Public Prosecutions overseeing the office's operations.[17] These performers drive the series' blend of procedural legal work and interpersonal dynamics without delving into specific case outcomes.[2]Recurring and guest appearances
Peter Kowitz portrayed Tony Gillies, the Director of Public Prosecutions, who recurrently supervises the office's operations and intervenes in high-stakes decisions affecting the prosecutors' work.[17] This role underscores the hierarchical structure within the DPP, providing oversight and occasional conflict with the junior staff's approaches to cases.[17] Jeanette Cronin appeared as Tracey Samuels, a supporting solicitor in the DPP handling administrative duties and assisting on prosecutions across multiple episodes.[17] Lewis Fitz-Gerald played David Sinclair, another DPP figure contributing to case preparations and internal dynamics.[17] These recurring office colleagues illustrate the collaborative yet bureaucratic environment of public prosecution beyond the core team. On the adversarial side, Christopher Morris recurred as defense lawyer Andy Campbell, engaging in repeated courtroom clashes that highlight procedural tensions and ethical dilemmas.[17] Similarly, Daniel Lissing featured as Conrad De Groot, another defense attorney appearing in ongoing legal confrontations.[17] Guest roles enriched the procedural elements with one-off portrayals of judges, detectives, and witnesses, such as Ritchie Singer as Justice Eli Rossenberg and Heather Mitchell as Judge Walker, who influenced trial outcomes without tying to sustained character arcs.[17] Aimee Pedersen guest-starred as Ashleigh Larsson, adding personal context to professional lives through limited appearances.[17] These supporting figures collectively depict the wider judicial network, from bench rulings to investigative support, emphasizing systemic interactions over individual backstories.Episodes
Episode list and structure
Crownies consists of a single season comprising 22 episodes.[19] The series aired on ABC, premiering with back-to-back episodes on 14 July 2011 at 8:30 pm, followed by weekly Thursday broadcasts until the finale on 1 December 2011.[19][9] Each episode has an approximate runtime of 50-60 minutes.[20][21] The standard episode structure employs a hybrid format, centering on self-contained legal cases handled by the protagonists—reflecting procedural elements—while advancing ongoing serialized narratives involving interpersonal relationships, workplace dynamics, and character backstories.[2] Directors for individual episodes included Lynn Hegarty and others, with writers such as Pete McTighe contributing to specific installments.[22][5]| Episode | Original air date |
|---|---|
| 1 | 14 July 2011 |
| 2 | 14 July 2011 |
| 3 | 21 July 2011 |
| 4 | 28 July 2011 |
| 5 | 4 August 2011 |
| 6 | 11 August 2011 |
| 7 | 18 August 2011 |
| 8 | 25 August 2011 |
| 9 | 1 September 2011 |
| 10 | 8 September 2011 |
| 11 | 15 September 2011 |
| 12 | 22 September 2011 |
| 13 | 29 September 2011 |
| 14 | 6 October 2011 |
| 15 | 13 October 2011 |
| 16 | 20 October 2011 |
| 17 | 27 October 2011 |
| 18 | 3 November 2011 |
| 19 | 10 November 2011 |
| 20 | 17 November 2011 |
| 21 | 24 November 2011 |
| 22 | 1 December 2011 |
