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Elusive Grundy disappointed by TV landscape

ACA had an inspiring interview with TV pioneer Reg Grundy on the state of TV and highlights from his long career.

What an inspiring interview with TV pioneer Reg Grundy on A Current Affair last night.

The 87 year old former Producer, who now resides in the Bahamas, didn’t hold back with his thoughts on the state of some television and shared memories from his long career.

“R.G.” told Tracy Grimshaw that Graham Kennedy was probably the funniest person who had worked for him. Kennedy was given free rein to have his favourite pals as panellists on Blankety Blanks, but Grundy had to be careful not to step on his toes.

“You had to be aware who he was and you didn’t want to step on his toe or he might become overly temperamental,” he said.

“He was a supreme comic, he got away with murder and we know and I think everybody loved him. Including me.”

He described Prisoner as a highlight, and the show that opened the doors to him in the US.

“It was an extraordinary show and we had some marvellous, marvellous performances from some of the women in the show.”

These days he is less enthusiastic about what he sees on the box.

“I think it’s changed. Shows are put on and taken off almost overnight,” he said.

“Doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t people with heart and instinct there, but I think that money is more important and it probably has to be because of the financial situations.

“I am disappointed … you (Grimshaw) are marvellous and so many other people on television are marvellous, but reality shows that are not reality,” he said.

“If they are very good, like Survivor is a marvellous example, but there are so many that are very poor.

“They are supposed to be in the wild all on their own and possibly the producer/director is whispering little things in their ears, what they might say, so the one thing they are not is reality.”

Grundy also said Kylie Minogue was reluctant to acknowledge Neighbours when her pop career was taking off.

“She went on to great success and I applaud that. But she said that we couldn’t use the tapes, because she didn’t want us to use them. And we said ‘No. We own the tapes,’ and she had to accept it,” he said.

“I think she felt as her career grew that she didn’t want to be remembered for being on a Soap. That’s understandable, I should think. But it did give her the break and I think now she acknowledges it.”

He was direct about one unnamed actor telling a story about how he told producers of one show to “get rid” of him.

“He was impetuous. There was nobody in the world but him. He was an ok actor. But he really wasn’t a star. And so eventually we did what we do in serials. He had a heart attack and died on camera.”

ACA then cut to a scene of actor Alan Dale having a turn as Jim Robinson on Neighbours.

Grundy even said he didn’t mind his name being part of the colloquial landscape as a euphemism for underwear.

His autobiography has now been published.

You can watch the interview here (complete with the Pete Smith voice over).

12 Responses

  1. what a great interview and reg looks amazing for 87
    @ John totally agree tracy is a great interviewer and yep her talent is wasted on aca

    @Andrew b it would be awesome if there was a channel dedicated to re running classic aus tv shows but i think you are right the royalties make the shows to expensive to re run

  2. I thought it was delicious when he mentioned about the “ok actor, but he wasn’t a star” after Tracey had asked about dealing with actors with egos. I thought we were going to be left wondering who it was. Then the shot of Alan Dale as Jim, having a heart attack. Ofcourse it was him.

  3. Grimface cannot interview…she just asks questions and does not respond the answers. Not one of he subjects looks relaxed and comfortable with her.

    Denton would be much better. Denton is much better.

  4. I think its been said before but Tracy is a great intervier should have her own talk show in the same style as Parkinson. She is being wasted on ACA. I agree with RG there is a lot of bad tv but there is some great tv still like Live Sport and the ABC.

  5. It is such a shame that many of these classic shows are not on TV in re-runs now. You could easily fill a full channel with content and it would rate quite well. Every time one of these new digital channels start, there are always people asking about Aussie classics.

    Unfortunately issues relating to royalties I believe drive up the costs of showing Aussie classics thereby ensuring networks go for cheaper imports. Still, have enjoyed watching many an episode of Blankety Blanks on the Comedy Channel.

  6. Alan Dale has come out publicly and admitted he did not have a happy time on Neighbours so yeah I guess Reg was referring to him but he did it in a nice way! It was a great interview and my partner and i both agreed 9 could have got an hour special out of that if they wanted to!! I wonder if he knows Neighbours is moving to digital? Bring back The Restless Years!!

  7. An amazing interview with a truely astounding man!
    He made Aussie TV a powerful force and his absence is clearly visible these days. I Totally agree with him about the current poor TV landscape we have … all the worse without him.
    Love how he mentioned “Class of 74” as one of his favourites … i loved that show too all those years ago, would love to see some of it again!

  8. Good to see Prisoner get a special mention, very few of our shows have made it so big not only here but overseas. But all of his shows were good; Neighbours, Sons & Daughters, The Young Doctors, The Restless Years, Richmond Hill etc. and all of his gameshows too. No wonder he’s disappointed with our television landscape at the moment, he just knew how to make them.

  9. Mr Grundy is right about the state ot TV today – hardly any shows are given the chance to stay on long enough to build loyal audiences.

    However behind every great Producer is a fine production team and it should be acknowledged that Reg Watson – who scripted many of Grundy’s hit dramas – Prisoner, Sons and Daughters, Neighbours, etc – deserves his accolades as well.

    I’ve said it a million times already – Reg Watson deserves a Hall of Fame Award!

  10. Yes, it was a fascinating iv with this iconic figure in the television culture and history. Joy was intriguing too, a tough character methinks. I was wondering about the shot of Alan Dale – was it him? why Dale if RG was not referring to him? Curious moment. Hope it rated well.

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