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{{Short description|Television series}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2011}}
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{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
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{{refimprove|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| show_name = Taurus Rising
| image =
| image =
| caption =
| caption =
| genre = [[Soap opera]]<br>[[Drama]]
| genre = [[Drama]]<br>[[Soap Opera]]
| creator = [[Reg Watson]]
| creator = [[Reg Watson]]
| developer =
| developer =
| writer =
| writer =
| director =
| director =
| opentheme =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| endtheme =
| composer =
| composer =
| country = [[Australia]]
| country = [[Australia]]
| language = English
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 21
| num_episodes = 21
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer =
| producer =
| producer =
| editor =
| editor =
| location =
| location =
| cinematography =
| cinematography =
| camera =
| camera =
| runtime =
| runtime =
| company = [[Reg Grundy Organisation]]
| company = [[Reg Grundy Organisation]]
| network = [[Nine Network]]
| distributor =
| first_aired = {{start date|1982|7|27|df=y}}
| network = [[Nine Network]]
| last_aired = {{end date|1982|12|17|df=y}}
| picture_format =
| related =
}}
| audio_format =

| first_run =
⚫
'''''Taurus Rising''''' is an Australian [[soap opera]] produced by the [[Reg Grundy Organisation]] for the [[Nine Network]] in 1982. Originally intended by the network to be a replacement for ''[[The Sullivans]]'', the series was one of a number of attempts to provide an Australian alternative to the glossy American supersoaps ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'' and ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' and featured two wealthy [[Sydney]]-based feuding families, the Brents and the Drysdales. To this end, it represented something of a stylistic departure for Grundy's. Unlike most other Australian soap operas which were recorded on [[videotape]], ''Taurus Rising'' was shot entirely on film. The series began at 8.30pm time-slot in a two hour movie pilot and continued for a couple of weeks on Tuesday nights. Due to a decline in ratings it was delegated to Friday nights at 10pm by the time of the finale during 1982. ''Taurus Rising'' has never screened on Nine Network since the original screening.
| first_aired = 27 July 1982
| last_aired = 1982
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| related =
| website =
}}{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2012}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2012}}
⚫
'''''Taurus Rising''''' is an Australian [[soap opera]] produced by the [[Reg Grundy Organisation]] and Dixie Normus for the [[Nine Network]] in 1982. Originally intended by the network to be a replacement for ''[[The Sullivans]]'', the series was one of a number of attempts to provide an Australian alternative to the glossy American supersoaps ''[[Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'' and ''[[Dynasty (TV series)|Dynasty]]'' and featured two wealthy [[Sydney]]-based feuding families, the Brents and the Drysdales. To this end, it represented something of a stylistic departure for Grundy's. Unlike most other Australian soap operas which were recorded on [[videotape]], ''Taurus Rising'' was shot entirely on film.


It cost $2 million to make.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43740516 |title=For 'Taurus Rising', success is in the stars. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=11 August 1982 |accessdate=14 July 2013 |page=26 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
It cost $2 million to make.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43740516 |title=For 'Taurus Rising', success is in the stars. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=11 August 1982 |accessdate=14 July 2013 |page=26 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


''Taurus Rising'' proved to be an expensive failure after it failed to win an audience and was cancelled after 21 episodes. The series did later prove popular in international markets and was subsequently sold to American cable television, marketed as a 21-part "[[miniseries]]".
''Taurus Rising'' proved to be an expensive failure after it failed to win an audience and was cancelled after 21 episodes. The series did later prove popular in international markets and was subsequently sold to American cable television, marketed as a 21-part "[[miniseries]]".

==Background==
The project originated in 1979 at Channel Nine by Michael Pate and Tony Morphett. It was originally envisioned as a short quality series about two rival family business dynasties. Morphett wrote the early drafts. Over 18 months of development the series evolved and was outsourced to Grundy Productions. Grundys made a pilot which was viewed by Channel 9 in January 1982.<ref>{{cite news|title=Taurus Rising has two jobs to do|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 July 1982|page= 36}}</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
{|class="wikitable"
{|
! colspan="2" style="background-color:silver;" | The Brents
! colspan="2" style="background-color:silver;" | The Brents
|-
|-
Line 64: Line 59:
| Faith Drysdale || [[Betty Lucas]]
| Faith Drysdale || [[Betty Lucas]]
|-
|-
| Keith Drysdale || [[Andrew Sharp]]
| Keith Drysdale || [[Andrew Sharp (actor)|Andrew Sharp]]
|-
|-
| Phil Drysdale || [[Damon Herriman]]
| Phil Drysdale || [[Damon Herriman]]
Line 84: Line 79:
| Marie || [[Jessica Noad]]
| Marie || [[Jessica Noad]]
|}
|}

==Reception==
In 2020, Fiona Byrne of the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' included ''Taurus Rising'' in her feature about "long forgotten Australian TV dramas that made viewers switch off."<ref name="Byrne">{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A632926541/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=fde4ac46|title=Truly terrible TV shows that flopped|last=Byrne|first=Fiona|date=19 August 2020|work=[[Herald Sun]]|access-date=4 October 2024|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]|url-access=subscription}}</ref> She described the show as "an ambitious, expensive but unsuccessful attempt by Channel 9 to create a super soap for Australia like the American hit ''Dynasty''."<ref name="Byrne"/> Byrne went onto write "The name of the show, which caused no end of confusion with many viewers thinking it was a series with zodiac links, referred to the Taurus building that the families were trying to build. The show launched to lower than expected ratings in July 1982 and it was all downhill from there. Its name and ratings made references such as 'Taurus flopping' irresistible."<ref name="Byrne"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>
{{refbegin}}
* Mercardo, A., 2004, ''Super Aussie soaps''. North Melbourne: Pluto Press.
* {{cite book|title=Super Aussie Soaps|last=Mercado|first=Andrew|year=2004|publisher=Pluto Press Australia|isbn=978-1-86403-191-1}}
{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Australian television soap operas]]
[[Category:Australian television soap operas]]
[[Category:Nine Network shows]]
[[Category:Nine Network original programming]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New South Wales]]
[[Category:1982 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1982 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:1982 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:1982 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s Australian television series]]
[[Category:Australian English-language television shows]]
[[Category:English-language television programming]]
[[Category:Television series produced by The Reg Grundy Organisation]]
[[Category:Television series produced by The Reg Grundy Organisation]]


Latest revision as of 04:32, 4 October 2024

Taurus Rising
GenreSoap opera
Drama
Created byReg Watson
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes21
Production
Production companyReg Grundy Organisation
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release27 July (1982-07-27) –
17 December 1982 (1982-12-17)

Taurus Rising is an Australian soap opera produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Nine Network in 1982. Originally intended by the network to be a replacement for The Sullivans, the series was one of a number of attempts to provide an Australian alternative to the glossy American supersoaps Dallas and Dynasty and featured two wealthy Sydney-based feuding families, the Brents and the Drysdales. To this end, it represented something of a stylistic departure for Grundy's. Unlike most other Australian soap operas which were recorded on videotape, Taurus Rising was shot entirely on film. The series began at 8.30pm time-slot in a two hour movie pilot and continued for a couple of weeks on Tuesday nights. Due to a decline in ratings it was delegated to Friday nights at 10pm by the time of the finale during 1982. Taurus Rising has never screened on Nine Network since the original screening.

It cost $2 million to make.[1]

Taurus Rising proved to be an expensive failure after it failed to win an audience and was cancelled after 21 episodes. The series did later prove popular in international markets and was subsequently sold to American cable television, marketed as a 21-part "miniseries".

Background

[edit]

The project originated in 1979 at Channel Nine by Michael Pate and Tony Morphett. It was originally envisioned as a short quality series about two rival family business dynasties. Morphett wrote the early drafts. Over 18 months of development the series evolved and was outsourced to Grundy Productions. Grundys made a pilot which was viewed by Channel 9 in January 1982.[2]

Cast

[edit]
The Brents
Jennifer Brent Annette Andre
Mike Brent Andrew Clarke
Harry Brent Gordon Glenwright
The Drysdales
Ben Drysdale Alan Cassell
Faith Drysdale Betty Lucas
Keith Drysdale Andrew Sharp
Phil Drysdale Damon Herriman
Elizabeth Drysdale Marina Finlay
Isabella Drysdale Georgie Sterling
Other characters
Alice Blake Linda Newton
Sam Farrer Michael Long
Libby Hilton Diane Craig
Malcolm Adams Vic Hawkins
Marie Jessica Noad

Reception

[edit]

In 2020, Fiona Byrne of the Herald Sun included Taurus Rising in her feature about "long forgotten Australian TV dramas that made viewers switch off."[3] She described the show as "an ambitious, expensive but unsuccessful attempt by Channel 9 to create a super soap for Australia like the American hit Dynasty."[3] Byrne went onto write "The name of the show, which caused no end of confusion with many viewers thinking it was a series with zodiac links, referred to the Taurus building that the families were trying to build. The show launched to lower than expected ratings in July 1982 and it was all downhill from there. Its name and ratings made references such as 'Taurus flopping' irresistible."[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "For 'Taurus Rising', success is in the stars". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 11 August 1982. p. 26. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Taurus Rising has two jobs to do". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 July 1982. p. 36.
  3. ^ a b c Byrne, Fiona (19 August 2020). "Truly terrible TV shows that flopped". Herald Sun. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via Gale.
[edit]


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