Welkom op de fanblog van de Australische serie 'Neighbours'. Neighbours is een Australische soapserie, gestart in maart 1985.

Neighbours gaat over de belevenissen van de inwoners van 6 huizen in Ramsay Street, een doodlopende straat in Erinsborough, een fictieve voorstad van Melbourne. De binnenopnames gebeuren in de Global Television studios in Forest Hill. Voor buitenopnames trekt de crew naar Ramsay Street. Pin Oak Court is de echte doodlopende straat die sinds 1985 dienst doet als Ramsay Street. Alle huizen die je in de serie ziet, zijn echt en de crew mag er een paar dagen per maand op straat en in de voortuinen filmen. De bewoners van de huizen krijgen daar trouwens een mooie vergoeding voor. Lassiter's, de ontmoetingsplaats van de 'buren', met een hotel, pub en koffiehuis bevindt zich achter de studio's.
De gebeurtenissen spelen zich sinds het begin altijd in dezelfde huizen af (nummers 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 en 32). Dat is een groot verschil met andere soaps waar er regelmatig van set gewisseld wordt. De serie heeft ook een heel eigen stijl gericht op het hele gezin en is niet te vergelijken met de Amerikaanse soaps. De soap zelf heeft een eigen stijl gericht op het hele gezin en is niet te vergelijken met de Nederlandse of Amerikaanse soaps. Hilarische misverstanden, humoristische toestanden en gezonde concurrentiestrijd zijn aan de orde van de dag in Ramsey Street, maar ook wel de gebruikelijke drama's, slechte werkverhoudingen en affaires.
Een aantal bekende sterren hebben in Neighbours gespeeld, bijvoorbeeld Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Natalie Imbruglia, Alan Dale, Delta Goodrem en Guy Pearce. Ook Russel Crowe heeft ooit een klein rolletje in de serie gespeeld. Kylie en Jason vormden het meest populaire koppel ooit in Ramsey Street. Dat was in de jaren '80 maar nog voor Kylie en Jason als Charlene en Scott hun intrede deden, werd de serie door de Australische Channel 7 van de buis gehaald.
In Australië worden al ruim 6700 afleveringen uitgezonden. Ook het Britse commerciële Five en het Belgische één brengen de serie dagelijks. In Vlaanderen is ze bekend onder de titel Buren. De eerste aflevering werd op de toenmalige BRT uitgezonden op 31 oktober 1988.

zondag 1 mei 2011

Lou Carpenter



Tom Oliver As Lou Carpenter

Larrikin Lou Carpenter is a maverick and an incorrigible old codger. But beneath his rough exterior lies a genuine heart of gold.
Lou “Casanova” Carpenter had been quite the heartthrob in high school, so he never quite got over losing the battle for Madge’s affections. He went on to marry Kathy, have two children and become a wealthy entrepreneur, but he was never entirely happy and his marriage ended in divorce.
He headed to Erinsborough when news arrived that Madge was about to marry his high school rival Harold Bishop. Determined not to lose out to the nerdy vegetarian he liked to call “Jelly Belly”, he put up a valiant fight. However, Harold was the successful suitor and Lou beat a hasty retreat. Although he became very close to Madge in the days after Harold’s disappearance at sea, he realised that he would always be her second choice and never seriously pursued their relationship again. 
Despite the fact that maverick Lou isn’t often seen as responsible enough to look after himself, never mind children, he’s hugely proud of his son Guy and daughter Lauren. He was also delighted, if somewhat astonished, to meet Ling Mai, a daughter he had conceived during the Korean War but whose existence he had been entirely unaware of for many years. In addition to his biological children, Lou has been a surrogate father for other Ramsay Street residents such as Beth Brennan and Rick Alessi, not to mention Brett, Danni and Darren Stark, the children of his long-term partner Cheryl. 

However, it is his relationship with the Starks’ sister Louise (Lolly) that it the most complicated. Lou believed that he was Lolly’s father for many years, even offering Cheryl all of his assets in return for custody when they separated. Although they eventually agreed that Lolly would be better off with her mother, when Cheryl was killed, Lou was left custody of the little girl in her will. It was years later that DNA tests proved Lolly was not Lou’s daughter at all and she was taken away to live with her real father.

Not that the rest of Lou’s life has run much more smoothly. In business he has turned his hand to everything from selling used cars, to radio presenting, to running a pub, to property investment and has veered between being a self-made millionaire and being bankrupt. In love he faced old foe Harold again for the fair hand of Reverend Rosie Hoyland. He married Nina Tucker’s mother Trixie and invested heavily in her production of Hello Dolly. When the show flopped he lost his money and his wife.

Indeed, for all their rivalry, it is Lou’s relationship with Harold that endures. Amid the bickering they’ve shared a great deal and still remain good friends. Lou’s life has turned out very differently from what he expected; broke and living with his daughter Lauren and her family. Thankfully it hasn’t affected his cheery disposition. Now in his winter years, Lou is realizing the importance of family. Semi-retired, he earns a few bob as a male escort for lonely ladies. Lou uses his earnings to take off and visit his other far-flung children.

Tom Oliver

Tom Oliver has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 44 years, making him known not only to Australian viewers but audiences worldwide for his extensive body of work.
After traveling the world in the navy, Tom migrated to Australia from England in 1963 and two months later he was in New Guinea playing the lead in a television drama. And from there, Tom’s career took off.
Best known for his roles in the ground-breaking and much-loved serials, Number 96 and Bellbird, Tom has had roles in eight films, including Adams Woman, Colour Me Dead and High Country, and guest roles in literally dozens of television series including You Can’t See Around Corners, Dynasty, Prisoner and The Dismissal.
In 1990 Tom joined the cast of Neighbours as the lovable and mischievous Lou Carpenter and is among the most popular characters on the show. “It’s been fun watching the show evolve over the years and all the twists and turns the show has taken Lou on,” says Tom. “I still have the same dirty laugh though!”
Tom lives in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and among his many interests, he is passionate about gardening and has an impressive collection of elephant ornaments and memorbilia.
“Elephants are meant to be bring you luck and I’ve certainly had a very fortunate life and career so there must be some truth in the myth,” said Tom.