The Librarians (2007 TV series)

{{short description|Australian television comedy series (2007–2010)}}

{{Infobox television

| image = The Librarians Title Card.png

| caption = The Librarians title card

| genre = Situation comedy

| creator = Wayne Hope
Robyn Butler

| director = Wayne Hope
Tony Martin

| developer =

| presenter =

| starring = Robyn Butler
Roz Hammond
Heidi Arena
Stephen Ballantyne
Keith Brockett
Bob Franklin
Wayne Hope
Nicole Nabout
Kym Gyngell
Josh Lawson

| voices =

| narrated =

| theme_music_composer =

| opentheme = "A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie

| endtheme =

| composer = James Black

| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_seasons = 3

| num_episodes = 20

| list_episodes =

| executive_producer =

| producer =

| editor =

| location =

| camera =

| runtime =

| company = Gristmill

| network = ABC TV

| first_aired = {{start date|2007|10|31|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{end date|2010|12|1|df=y}}

| related =

}}

The Librarians is an Australian television comedy series which premiered on 31 October 2007 on ABC TV. In the Republic of Ireland, the show aired on RTÉ Two. The series is produced and written by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope who are also the principal cast members. Hope is also the series' director. The first series comprised six half-hour episodes. The second series with another six episodes began airing on 5 August 2009 and was filmed at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds.

The series centres on the trials and tribulations of Frances O'Brien, a devoutly Catholic, sexless, inept, humorless, blithely racist, self-important and insensitive Head Librarian. Her life unravels when she is forced to employ her ex-best friend, Christine Grimwood – now a petty drug dealer who needs a character reference – as the Children's Librarian. Frances must do all she can to contain her menacing past and concentrate on the biggest event of the library calendar – Book Week.

Filming on a third and final series took place in early 2010[http://blogs.abc.net.au/abc_tv/the_librarians/ Filming starts on series 3 of The Librarians] – ABCTV Blog, 29 April 2010. and aired on ABC1 later that year.

The theme music for The Librarians is an upbeat variation on the popular jazz tune "A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie.

The Librarians was rated M in New Zealand for offensive language, sexual references and drug use.

Episodes

=Season 1: 2007=

class="wikitable sortable"
Episode ! Title ! Original airdate ! Viewers ! Nightly rank
style="text-align:center" \| 1 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Should old Acquaintance be Forgot?" \| style="text-align:center" \| 31 October 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1292000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/10/ratings-week-44.html\|title=Ratings Week 44\|date=28 October 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 5
style="text-align:center" \| 2 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Repeat Offender" \| style="text-align:center" \| 7 November 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1084000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-45.html\|title=Ratings Week 45\|date=4 November 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 14
style="text-align:center" \| 3 \| style="text-align:center" \| "4 Kilos to Book Week" \| style="text-align:center" \| 14 November 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1006000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-46.html\|title=Ratings Week 46\|date=11 November 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| N/A
style="text-align:center" \| 4 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Unholy Matrimony" \| style="text-align:center" \| 21 November 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1040000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-47.html\|title=Ratings Week 47\|date=18 November 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 13
style="text-align:center" \| 5 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Amnesty" \| style="text-align:center" \| 28 November 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 988000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-48.html\|title=Ratings Week 48\|date=25 November 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 12
style="text-align:center" \| 6 \| style="text-align:center" \| "And Nothing but the Truth" \| style="text-align:center" \| 5 December 2007 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1001000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/12/week-49.html\|title=Week 49\|date=3 December 2007}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 10

class="wikitable sortable"

Episode

! Title

! Original airdate

! Viewers

! Nightly
rank

style="text-align:center" | 1

| style="text-align:center" | "Should old Acquaintance be Forgot?"

| style="text-align:center" | 31 October 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 1292000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/10/ratings-week-44.html|title=Ratings Week 44|date=28 October 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | 5

style="text-align:center" | 2

| style="text-align:center" | "Repeat Offender"

| style="text-align:center" | 7 November 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 1084000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-45.html|title=Ratings Week 45|date=4 November 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | 14

style="text-align:center" | 3

| style="text-align:center" | "4 Kilos to Book Week"

| style="text-align:center" | 14 November 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 1006000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-46.html|title=Ratings Week 46|date=11 November 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | N/A

style="text-align:center" | 4

| style="text-align:center" | "Unholy Matrimony"

| style="text-align:center" | 21 November 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 1040000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-47.html|title=Ratings Week 47|date=18 November 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | 13

style="text-align:center" | 5

| style="text-align:center" | "Amnesty"

| style="text-align:center" | 28 November 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 988000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/11/ratings-week-48.html|title=Ratings Week 48|date=25 November 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | 12

style="text-align:center" | 6

| style="text-align:center" | "And Nothing but the Truth"

| style="text-align:center" | 5 December 2007

| style="text-align:center" | 1001000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2007/12/week-49.html|title=Week 49|date=3 December 2007}}

| style="text-align:center" | 10

=Season 2: 2009=

class="wikitable sortable"
Episode ! Title ! Original airdate ! Viewers ! Nightly rank
style="text-align:center" \| 1 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Just Returned" \| style="text-align:center" \| 5 August 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1053000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-32-2.html\|title=Week 32\|date=2 August 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 11
style="text-align:center" \| 2 \| style="text-align:center" \| "This Little Piggy" \| style="text-align:center" \| 12 August 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 1028000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-33-2.html\|title=Week 33\|date=9 August 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 13
style="text-align:center" \| 3 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Cut to the Quick" \| style="text-align:center" \| 19 August 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 843000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-34-2.html\|title=Week 34\|date=16 August 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 19
style="text-align:center" \| 4 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Romeos And Juliets" \| style="text-align:center" \| 26 August 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 877000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-35-2.html\|title=Week 35\|date=24 August 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 17
style="text-align:center" \| 5 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Deliverance" \| style="text-align:center" \| 2 September 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 827000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-36-2.html\|title=Week 36\|date=30 August 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 16
style="text-align:center" \| 6 \| style="text-align:center" \| "My Rock" \| style="text-align:center" \| 9 September 2009 \| style="text-align:center" \| 936000{{cite web\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/09/week-37-2.html\|title=Week 37\|date=7 September 2009}} \| style="text-align:center" \| 15

class="wikitable sortable"

Episode

! Title

! Original airdate

! Viewers

! Nightly
rank

style="text-align:center" | 1

| style="text-align:center" | "Just Returned"

| style="text-align:center" | 5 August 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 1053000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-32-2.html|title=Week 32|date=2 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 11

style="text-align:center" | 2

| style="text-align:center" | "This Little Piggy"

| style="text-align:center" | 12 August 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 1028000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-33-2.html|title=Week 33|date=9 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 13

style="text-align:center" | 3

| style="text-align:center" | "Cut to the Quick"

| style="text-align:center" | 19 August 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 843000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-34-2.html|title=Week 34|date=16 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 19

style="text-align:center" | 4

| style="text-align:center" | "Romeos And Juliets"

| style="text-align:center" | 26 August 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 877000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-35-2.html|title=Week 35|date=24 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 17

style="text-align:center" | 5

| style="text-align:center" | "Deliverance"

| style="text-align:center" | 2 September 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 827000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/08/week-36-2.html|title=Week 36|date=30 August 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 16

style="text-align:center" | 6

| style="text-align:center" | "My Rock"

| style="text-align:center" | 9 September 2009

| style="text-align:center" | 936000{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/09/week-37-2.html|title=Week 37|date=7 September 2009}}

| style="text-align:center" | 15

=Season 3: 2010=

class="wikitable sortable"
Episode ! Title ! Original airdate ! Viewers ! Consolidated Viewers ! Nightly rank
style="text-align:center" \| 1 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Mother Pearl" \| style="text-align:center" \| 13 October 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 726000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 788215 \| style="text-align:center" \| 15
style="text-align:center" \| 2 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Quid Pro Quo" \| style="text-align:center" \| 20 October 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 541000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 596098 \| style="text-align:center" \| 26
style="text-align:center" \| 3 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Tsukiji" \| style="text-align:center" \| 27 October 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 595000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 661706 \| style="text-align:center" \| 25
style="text-align:center" \| 4 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Dark Before Dawn" \| style="text-align:center" \| 3 November 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 582000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 642233 \| style="text-align:center" \| 20
style="text-align:center" \| 5 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Kerching Kerching" \| style="text-align:center" \| 10 November 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 572000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 615530 \| style="text-align:center" \| 24
style="text-align:center" \| 6 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Milk, Not Cheese, Moon" \| style="text-align:center" \| 17 November 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 534000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 564685 \| style="text-align:center" \| 25
style="text-align:center" \| 7 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Pearl of Wisdom" \| style="text-align:center" \| 24 November 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 489000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 520072 \| style="text-align:center" \| 25
style="text-align:center" \| 8 \| style="text-align:center" \| "Power and the Passion" \| style="text-align:center" \| 1 December 2010 \| style="text-align:center" \| 658000 \| style="text-align:center" \| 710174 \| style="text-align:center" \| 19

class="wikitable sortable"

Episode

! Title

! Original airdate

! Viewers

! Consolidated Viewers

! Nightly
rank

style="text-align:center" | 1

| style="text-align:center" | "Mother Pearl"

| style="text-align:center" | 13 October 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 726000

| style="text-align:center" | 788215

| style="text-align:center" | 15

style="text-align:center" | 2

| style="text-align:center" | "Quid Pro Quo"

| style="text-align:center" | 20 October 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 541000

| style="text-align:center" | 596098

| style="text-align:center" | 26

style="text-align:center" | 3

| style="text-align:center" | "Tsukiji"

| style="text-align:center" | 27 October 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 595000

| style="text-align:center" | 661706

| style="text-align:center" | 25

style="text-align:center" | 4

| style="text-align:center" | "Dark Before Dawn"

| style="text-align:center" | 3 November 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 582000

| style="text-align:center" | 642233

| style="text-align:center" | 20

style="text-align:center" | 5

| style="text-align:center" | "Kerching Kerching"

| style="text-align:center" | 10 November 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 572000

| style="text-align:center" | 615530

| style="text-align:center" | 24

style="text-align:center" | 6

| style="text-align:center" | "Milk, Not Cheese, Moon"

| style="text-align:center" | 17 November 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 534000

| style="text-align:center" | 564685

| style="text-align:center" | 25

style="text-align:center" | 7

| style="text-align:center" | "Pearl of Wisdom"

| style="text-align:center" | 24 November 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 489000

| style="text-align:center" | 520072

| style="text-align:center" | 25

style="text-align:center" | 8

| style="text-align:center" | "Power and the Passion"

| style="text-align:center" | 1 December 2010

| style="text-align:center" | 658000

| style="text-align:center" | 710174

| style="text-align:center" | 19

Cast

=Main cast=

Robyn Butler as Frances O'Brien
Roz Hammond as Christine Grimwood
Heidi Arena as Dawn McConnichie, in a wheelchair, thanks to Frances' inattention
Stephen Ballantyne as Matthew Bytnskov
Keith Brockett as Ky Lee
Bob Franklin as Neil Slider, attracted to Christine
Wayne Hope as Terry O'Brien, in love with his wife, who ignores him
Nicole Nabout as Nada al Farouk, a smart Muslim lady and target of Frances' intolerance
Kim Gyngell as Father Harris, irritated by Frances' religiosity
Josh Lawson as Lachie Davis (Series 1)
Fiona Harris as Jane (Series 2 and 3)
Victoria Eagger as Pearl O'Leary (Series 3)

=Guests=

Grant Piro as Piero (Series 1)
Stephen Curry as Life Coach (Series 1)
Kate Kendall as Jacinta McSweeney (Series 1)
Greg Stone as Premier Carter (Series 1)
Molly Daniels as Bridget / Bernadette (Series 1 and 2)
Noni Hazelhurst as Midwife (season 2)
Marty Sheargold as Paolo (seasons 2 and 3)
Hamish Blake as HD News Journalist, Jake Jackson (season 2)
Lesley Baker as Christine's Aunt (season 2, 1 episode)
Vince Colosimo as Adrian Green, Head of the Australian Library Association (season 2)
Tony Martin as Gene, Adrian Green's boyfriend (season 2)
Angus Sampson as Xavier Fisher (season 3)
Tony Moclair as Bingo (season 3)
Justin Hamilton as Biscuit (season 3)
Lachy Hulme as Hasan, Nada's ex-husband (season 3)
Peta Brady as Marzena Stovic (2 episodes)
Peter Garrett as himself (season 3)
Hannah Gadsby as Carmel (seasons 2 and 3)
Celia Pacquola as Indigo (season 3)
Patrick Brammall as Stuart (season 3)
Amanda Muggleton as Rose McConnichie (season 3)
Toby Truslove as Dave

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable" width=80%
Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominee ! Series ! Result ! Ref
align="center"\|2009 \| Australian Film Institute Awards \| Best Performance in a Television Comedy \| Robyn Butler \| Series 2 \| {{nom}} \| align="center"\|{{cite news\|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/10/2009-afi-awards-nominees.html\|title=2009 AFI Awards: Nominees\|last=Knox\|first=David\|date=28 October 2009\|work=TV Tonight\|publisher=TV Tonight\|access-date=16 April 2012}}
align="center"\|2011 \| Equity Awards \| Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series \| Cast \| {{center\| —}} \| {{won}} \| align="center"\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/awards/equity-awards-2011-winners-announced.html\|title=Equity Awards 2011: Winners announced\|date=29 April 2011\|access-date=16 April 2012\|work=Equity Foundation\|publisher=Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA)}}

class="wikitable" width=80%

Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominee

! Series

! Result

! Ref

align="center"|2009

| Australian Film Institute Awards

| Best Performance in a Television Comedy

| Robyn Butler

| Series 2

| {{nom}}

| align="center"|{{cite news|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2009/10/2009-afi-awards-nominees.html|title=2009 AFI Awards: Nominees|last=Knox|first=David|date=28 October 2009|work=TV Tonight|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=16 April 2012}}

align="center"|2011

| Equity Awards

| Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

| Cast

| {{center| —}}

| {{won}}

| align="center"|{{cite web|url=http://www.equityfoundation.org.au/awards/equity-awards-2011-winners-announced.html|title=Equity Awards 2011: Winners announced|date=29 April 2011|access-date=16 April 2012|work=Equity Foundation|publisher=Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA)}}

Series 1 DVD & Blu-ray release

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

| colspan="3" | The Librarians

rowspan="6" align="center" |

| width="300" align="center" colspan="1"| Set details

| width="400" align="center" colspan="1"|Special features

valign="top"

| colspan="1" align="left" width="300"|

6 Episodes
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Subtitles: Yes
English (2.0 Stereo)
Total running time: approx. 172 minutes

| colspan="1" align="left" width="400"|

Audio commentary by Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope
Photo board
ABC promo interview
Alternative ending for Episode 4
Deleted scene from Episode 6

colspan="3" align="center" | Release date

colspan="3" align="center" | Region 4 5 December 2007

Series 2 DVD & Blu-ray release

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

| colspan="3" | The Librarians Series 2

rowspan="6" align="center" |

| width="300" align="center" colspan="1"| Set details

| width="400" align="center" colspan="1"|Special features

valign="top"

| colspan="1" align="left" width="300"|

6 Episodes
16:9 Aspect Ratio
Subtitles: Yes
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Total running time: approx. 223 minutes

| colspan="1" align="left" width="400"|

Audio commentary by Robyn Butler, Wayne Hope, Roz Hammond and Heidi Arena
The Making of The Librarians
Frances' unheard library opening speech
Christine's Ante Natal Classes
Neil's Online Assignments
Deleted scene
Outtakes

colspan="3" align="center" | Release date

colspan="3" align="center" | Region 4 1 October 2009 (Series 1&2 Blu-ray also released)

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20130602102119/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/librarians/ ABC TV – The Librarians]
{{IMDb title|0934744|The Librarians}}
Lallo, Michael: [http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/fun-between-the-covers/2006/12/25/1166895234791.html/ Fun between the covers, The Age]
[http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/media/s1797967.htm Media release]
[http://tvweek.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=311030 TV Week]
[http://aso.gov.au/titles/tv/librarians-series-1-episode-1/ The Librarians – Episode 1] at Australian Screen Online