Offspring (TV series)

{{Short description|Australian comedy-drama television series}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}}

{{Infobox television

| image = Offspring Logo.jpg

| caption = Offspring title card

| genre = Comedy drama

| creator = Debra Oswald
John Edwards
Imogen Banks

| starring = Asher Keddie
Kat Stewart
Don Hany
Deborah Mailman
Eddie Perfect
Linda Cropper
Richard Davies
Matthew Le Nevez
Lachy Hulme
John Waters
Jane Harber
Ido Drent
Ben Barrington
Patrick Brammall
Alexander England
Alicia Gardiner
TJ Power

| narrated = Asher Keddie

| theme_music_composer = Thao & the Get Down Stay Down

| opentheme = "When We Swam"

| endtheme = "When We Swam" (instrumental)

| composer = John Lee

| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_episodes = 85

| list_episodes = List of Offspring episodes

| executive_producer = Rick Maier
Rory Callaghan

| producer = John Edwards
Imogen Banks

| location = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

| camera = Nicholas Owens

| runtime = 45 minutes

| company = Endemol Australia (Then branded as Southern Star Entertainment) (series 1–5)
Endemol Shine Australia (series 6–7)

| network = Network Ten

| first_aired = {{Start date|2010|08|15|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2017|08|30|df=y}}

| related =

| num_series = 7

}}

Offspring is an Australian television comedy-drama program that aired Network Ten from 2010 to 2017. Offspring is centred on 30-something obstetrician Nina Proudman and her family and friends as they navigate the chaos of modern life. Filmed in Melbourne's inner north,{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/07/three-way-drama-tussle.html |title=Three way drama tussle? |date=22 July 2010 |publisher=TV Tonight |access-date=6 May 2014}} the series mixes conventional narrative drama and comedy with flashbacks, graphic animation, and fantasy sequences.{{cite web

| title = Credits

| work = Offspring

| date = 6 July 2010

| url = http://ten.com.au/offspring-credits.htm

| publisher = Network Ten, Film Victoria, Southern Star

| access-date = 5 August 2010}}

Series overview

{{Series overview

| color0S = #D279A7

| link0S = Offspring (season 1)Offspring (season 1)

| linkT0S = Pilot

| start0S = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|8|15}}

| color1 = #D279A7

| link1 = Offspring (season 1)#Episodes

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|2010|8|22|df=y}}

| end1 = {{End date|2010|11|21|df=y}}

| color2 = #3FB6EE

| link2 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 2 (2011)

| episodes2 = 13

| start2 = {{Start date|2011|5|16|df=y}}

| end2 = {{End date|2011|7|20|df=y}}

| color3 = #B2C917

| link3 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 3 (2012)

| episodes3 = 13

| start3 = {{Start date|2012|4|18|df=y}}

| end3 = {{End date|2012|7|11|df=y}}

| color4 = #F1D43A

| link4 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 4 (2013)

| episodes4 = 13

| start4 = {{Start date|2013|5|22|df=y}}

| end4 = {{End date|2013|8|14|df=y}}

| color5 = #E7A73D

| link5 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 5 (2014)

| episodes5 = 13

| start5 = {{Start date|2014|5|14|df=y}}

| end5 = {{End date|2014|8|6|df=y}}

| color6 = #ED97B9

| link6 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 6 (2016)

| episodes6 = 10

| start6 = {{Start date|2016|6|29|df=y}}

| end6 = {{End date|2016|9|14|df=y}}

| color7 = #ACE5EE

| link7 = List of Offspring episodes#Season 7 (2017)

| episodes7 = 10

| start7 = {{Start date|2017|6|28|df=y}}

| end7 = {{End date|2017|8|30|df=y}}

}}

Cast

{{main|List of Offspring characters}}

= Main =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
rowspan="2" style="width:14%;" scope="col"| Actor

! rowspan="2" style="width:14%;" scope="col"| Character

! colspan="12" | Season

scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 1

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 2

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 3

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 4

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 5

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 6

! scope="col" style="width:7%;" | 7

Asher Keddie

| Dr Nina Proudman

| colspan="7" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Kat Stewart

| Billie Proudman

| colspan="7" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Deborah Mailman

| Cherie Butterfield

| colspan="7" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Richard Davies

| Jimmy Proudman

| colspan="7" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Linda Cropper

| Geraldine Proudman

| colspan="7" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Eddie Perfect

| Mick Holland

| colspan="5" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

John Waters

| Darcy Proudman

| colspan="4" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Don Hany

| Dr Chris Havel

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#ddf; text-align:center;"| Guest

| colspan="5" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Alicia Gardiner

| Kim Akerholt

| colspan="6" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Lachy Hulme

| Dr Martin Clegg

| colspan="3" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="2" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Jane Harber

| Zara Perkich-Proudman

| colspan="4" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="3" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

Matthew Le Nevez

| Dr Patrick Reid

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="3" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="2" style="background:#ddf; text-align:center;"| Guest

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Ido Drent

| Dr. Lawrence Pethbridge

| colspan="3" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#ddf; text-align:center;"| Guest

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Ben Barrington

| Thomas Buchdahl

| colspan="4" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="2" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Patrick Brammall

| Leo Taylor

| colspan="4" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

Alexander England

| Harry Crewe

| colspan="5" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

TJ Power

| Will Bowen

| colspan="5" style="background:#ececec; color:gray; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center;" class="table-na"|

| colspan="1" style="background:#fdd; text-align:center;"| Recurring

| colspan="1" style="background:#dfd; text-align:center;"| Main

=Supporting cast=

Production

Debra Oswald wrote the series with John Edwards and Imogen Banks producing with Southern Star Entertainment.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/02/offspring-springs-into-series.html |title=Offspring springs into series |date=17 August 2010 |publisher=TV Tonight |access-date=6 May 2014}} Offspring was originally conceived as a two-hour telemovie for Ten, but was spun off into a 13-episode series after television executives were impressed by the quality of the telemovie. The second season began on 16 May 2011 with a double episode premiere.

On 3 October 2014, shortly after the fifth series finale aired, John Edwards confirmed that Offspring would not return for a sixth series due to Ten's cost-cutting measures in its production division.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/oct/03/offspring-cancelled-asher-keddie-plays-beloved-character-for-the-last-time|title=Offspring cancelled: Asher Keddie has played beloved character for last time|date=3 October 2014|work=The Guardian|access-date=3 October 2014}} In 2015, the series was picked up for another series, with production commencing on 25 April 2016 and running through to June 2016.{{cite web|url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2016/04/offspring-to-film-from-april-25.html|title=Offspring to film from April 25|date=15 April 2016|access-date=16 April 2016}} Most of the original cast returned alongside new cast members.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/tv/offspring-in-production-without-key-star/ar-BBsrLpL?ocid=spartanntp|title='Offspring' in production without key star|website=MSN|date=30 April 2016|agency=Australian Associated Press|access-date=30 April 2016}} The seventh series filmed in Melbourne from March 2017{{cite web|url= http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/asher-keddie-and-kat-stewart-are-back-as-filming-begins-on-offspring-season-7/news-story/5efec0e46996554d410dd0ba4efe4cee|title=Asher Keddie and Kat Stewart are back as filming begins on Offspring season 7|date=23 March 2017|publisher=heraldsun.co.au|access-date=23 March 2017}} and premiered on 28 June 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/television/channel-10-announces-when-season-seven-of-offspring-will-start/news-story/aebb103ecf063e02180767397adfa046|title=Channel 10 announces when season seven of Offspring will start

|date=11 June 2017|publisher=Herald Sun|access-date=12 June 2017}}

In November 2017, Network Ten chose not to renew the show as part of its 2018 season, although did not officially cancel the program.{{cite web|url= https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/tv/tv-shows-not-returning-2018-42632|title=Offspring, Love Child and House Husbands not returning in 2018|date=10 November 2017|publisher=nowtolove.com.au|access-date=10 November 2017}}

The series was filmed in Melbourne's inner-north around the suburb of Fitzroy and was produced by John Edwards and Imogen Banks, who also co-produced Tangle. John Edwards was responsible for such successes as Police Rescue, The Secret Life of Us, Love My Way, and Dangerous - also produced with Imogen Banks - and Rush for Seriously Ten.

''Offspring: The Nurses''

{{main|List of Offspring: The Nurses webisodes}}

A web series titled Offspring: The Nurses began in 2010 on the official Offspring website.{{cite web|url=http://ten.com.au/video-player.htm?vxSiteId=cb519624-44a2-4bf7-808b-3514d34e96e4&vxChannel=offsp_webisodes# |title=Home - Network Ten |publisher=Ten.com.au |date=5 January 2014 |access-date=6 May 2014}} It follows nurses Kim (Alicia Gardiner) and Zara (Jane Harber) from the original series, and also stars Benedict Hardie, Julia Grace, Laura Gilham, Carl Nilsson Polias, Jodie Sheehy, and Matthew Heyward as fellow staff members of the hospital. Some cast members from the original series have also starred as well.

A second web series follows Zara (Jane Harber), and this time Justina Noble as Nurse Tyra. Series 2 also starred Benedict Hardie, Harry Milas, Josh Price, Natalie Kaplan, Sonja Kowanjko, and Kate Hopkins, while Richard Davies and Lachy Hulme also made guest appearances.

Awards and nominations

=Australian Film Institute Awards=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%;"
scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Nominee

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Result

scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2010

| Deborah Mailman

| Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama

| {{won}}

John Waters

| Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama

| {{nom}}

=TV Week Logie Awards=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%;"
scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Nominee

! scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Result

scope="row" rowspan="7"| 2011

| Asher Keddie

| Most Popular Actress

| {{won}}

Offspring

| Most Popular Drama Series

| {{nom}}

Don Hany

| Most Popular Actor

| {{nom}}

Eddie Perfect

| Most Popular New Male Talent

| {{nom}}

Richard Davies

| Most Outstanding New Talent

| {{nom}}

Asher Keddie

| Most Outstanding Actress

| {{nom}}

Kat Stewart

| Most Outstanding Actress

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan="6"| 2012

| rowspan="2"| Asher Keddie

| Most Popular Actress

| {{won}}

Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian TV

| {{nom}}

Eddie Perfect

| Most Popular Actor

| {{nom}}

Offspring

| Most Popular Drama Series

| {{nom}}

Kat Stewart

| Most Outstanding Actress

| {{nom}}

Offspring

| Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan="6"| 2013

| rowspan="2"| Asher Keddie

| Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian TV

| {{won}}

Most Popular Actress

| {{won}}

Matthew Le Nevez

| Most Popular Actor

| {{nom}}

Clare Bowditch

| Most Popular New Female Talent

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2"| Offspring

| Most Popular Australian Drama

| {{nom}}

Most Outstanding Drama Series

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan="6"| 2014

| rowspan="2"| Asher Keddie

| Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian TV

| {{nom}}

Most Popular Actress

| {{won}}

Matthew Le Nevez

| Most Popular Actor

| {{nom}}

Asher Keddie

| rowspan="2"| Most Outstanding Actress

| {{won}}

Kat Stewart

| {{nom}}

Offspring

| Most Popular Drama Program

| {{nom}}

scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2015{{cite news|last=Willis|first=Charlotte|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/awards/heres-the-full-list-of-2015-logies-nominations/story-fn8cjmx5-1227273521488|title=Here's the full List of 2015 Logies nominations|publisher=news.com.au|date=22 March 2015|access-date=23 March 2015}}

| rowspan="2"| Asher Keddie

| Gold Logie for Most Popular Personality on Australian TV

| {{nom}}

Most Popular Actress

| {{won}}

Offspring

| Most Popular Drama Program

| {{nom}}

=Equity Ensemble Awards=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%;"
scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |Category

! scope="col" |Recipients and nominees

! scope="col" |Result

scope="row"| 2013

| rowspan="4"|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

| Series 1 cast

| {{Nom}}

scope="row"| 2012

| Series 2 cast

| {{Nom}}

scope="row"| 2013{{cite news|url=http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/equity-news/3rd-equity-ensemble-awards-winners-announced.html|title=3rd Equity Ensemble Awards - Winners announced!|date=3 May 2013|publisher=Equity Foundation (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance)|access-date=3 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416215702/http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/equity-news/3rd-equity-ensemble-awards-winners-announced.html|archive-date=16 April 2015|url-status=dead}}

| Series 3 cast

| {{Nom}}

scope="row"| 2014{{cite news|url=http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/equity-news/equity-ensemble-awards-2014-voting-now-open.html|title=Equity Ensemble Awards 2014 - Voting Now Open!|date=1 April 2014|publisher=Equity Foundation (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance)|access-date=3 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415105231/http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/equity-news/equity-ensemble-awards-2014-voting-now-open.html|archive-date=15 April 2014}}

| Series 4 cast

| {{Nom}}

Series viewership

class="wikitable"
style="text-align:center;"

! style="width:115px;"| Season

! style="width:115px;"| # of Episodes

! style="width:115px;"| Season
Premiere

! style="width:115px;"| Season
Final

! style="width:115px;"| Average
Audience

(millions)

! style="width:115px;"| Drama Rank

style="text-align:center;"

| 1

| 14

| 15 August 2010

| 21 November 2010

| 1.071{{cite web|url=http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/fact-finders/television/australian-content/top-drama-titles/first-release-series|title=TV Ratings: Average Audience|publisher=screenaustralia.gov.au}}

! #4

style="text-align:center;"

| 2

| 13

| 16 May 2011

| 20 July 2011

| 1.072

! #6

style="text-align:center;"

| 3

| 13

| 18 April 2012

| 11 July 2012

| 1.014

! #8

style="text-align:center;"

| 4

| 13

| 22 May 2013

| 14 August 2013

| 0.954

! #9

style="text-align:center;"

| 5

| 13

| 14 May 2014

| 6 August 2014

|1.027

! #9

style="text-align:center;"

| 6

| 10

| 29 June 2016

| 14 September 2016

| 0.921{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2016/11/seven-wins-2016-ratings.html|title=Seven Wins 2016 Ratings|date=30 November 2016 |publisher=TV Tonight}}

! #10

Episodes

{{Main|List of Offspring episodes}}

DVD releases

The entire series of Offspring has been released on Region 4 DVD via Madman Entertainment. The first and second seasons were released in 2010 and 2011 respectively in box set packaging. In 2012, both sets received a re-release in standard-case packaging, which became the norm for each subsequent season set. Multiple season sets have additionally been made available from Madman Entertainment.

class="wikitable" style="width:99%; text-align:center;"

!colspan="2" rowspan="2"|DVD Title

!rowspan="2"|# Episodes

!rowspan="2"|# Discs

!colspan="1"|Release date

!rowspan="2"|ACB rating

!rowspan="2"|Notes

!rowspan="2"|Ref

Region 4
style="background:#d279a7;"|

| The Complete First Season

| 13 (+ Telemovie)

| 5

| 1 December 2010

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 725 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0
  • Re-released in standard-case packaging (1 August 2012)
  • Special features:
  • Original feature-length telemovie
  • Offspring: The Nurses (Series 1 webisodes)

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-1/304327/| title=Offspring - Season 1| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#3fb6ee;"|

| The Complete Second Season

| 13

| 4

| 14 September 2011

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 616 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0
  • Re-released in standard-case packaging (1 August 2012)
  • Special features:
  • Offspring: The Nurses (Series 2 webisodes)

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-2/304331/| title=Offspring - Season 2| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#b2c917;"|

| The Complete Third Season

| 13

| 4

| 1 August 2012

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 546 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-3/304335/| title=Offspring - Season 3| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#F1D43A;"|

| The Complete Fourth Season

| 13

| 4

| 4 September 2013

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 570 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-4/438840/| title=Offspring - Season 4| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#E7A73D;"|

| The Complete Fifth Season

| 13

| 4

| 17 September 2014

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 570 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-5/587257/| title=Offspring - Season 5| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#ED97B9;"|

| Season Six

| 10

| 3

| 2 November 2016

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 456 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/...tv-shows.../offspring-season-6/974669/| title=Offspring - Season 6| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

style="background:#ACE5EE;"|

| Season Seven

| 10

| 3

| 8 November 2017

| M

|

{{Hidden|{{align|left|Features}}|

  • 439 minutes
  • 1.78:1 (16:9)
  • Dolby Digital 2.0

}}

| {{cite web| url=https://www.jbhifi.com.au/movies-tv-shows/movies.../offspring-season-7/460241/| title=Offspring - Season 7| publisher=JB Hi-Fi| access-date=3 April 2018}}

International distribution

Offspring has been broadcast in several countries, including New Zealand, where it was screened from 2010 on TV One on Sundays at 8:30pm.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10702178 |title=New season TV: Offspring |date=27 January 2011 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=1 November 2011}} In 2012, it appeared on the GNT network in Brazil and both HOT VOD and HOT3 in Israel, while it was included on Netflix in the United States in 2017.{{cite web| url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80118289| title=Offspring| publisher=Netflix| access-date=3 April 2018}}

In 2011 it was picked up by Sony Entertainment Television in Spain, under the title "Descubriendo a Nina", AXN White in Portugal, as "Descobrindo Nina", and by the TLC network for Norway, Netherlands in July, Russia, screening on Sundays, and Sweden, where it was aired on Thursdays at 9:00pm, while in 2012, it debuted on RTÉ One and was available in Ireland in a late Sunday night time slot, 2013 on YLE TV2 in Finland Mondays at 10:05pm, and additionally, it appeared in the United Kingdom on Netflix in 2017.

References

{{Reflist}}