- Outrageous Fortune (TV series)
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For other meanings, see Outrageous Fortune (disambiguation).
Outrageous Fortune 
The Season 6 title cardFormat Comedy drama Created by James Griffin
Rachel LangDeveloped by South Pacific Pictures Starring Robyn Malcolm
Antony Starr
Siobhan Marshall
Antonia Prebble
Frank Whitten
Kirk Torrance
Grant Bowler
Tammy Davis
Nicole Whippy
Shane Cortese
Brian Sergent
David Fane
Craig Hall
Elizabeth Hawthorne
Sophie HendersonOpening theme Gutter Black, Hello Sailor Ending theme Gutter Black, Hello Sailor Country of origin 
New ZealandNo. of seasons 6 No. of episodes 107 (including 2-hour movie) (List of episodes) Production Executive producer(s) James Griffin
Rachel Lang
Simon BennettRunning time 42 mins. (approx) Broadcast Original channel TV3 Picture format 576i (SDTV),
720p (HDTV)Audio format Stereo Original run 12 July 2005 – 9 November 2010 External links Website Outrageous Fortune was a New Zealand comedy/drama television series, which was created by James Griffin and Rachel Lang and was produced by South Pacific Pictures. It finished airing its sixth and final season in New Zealand on 9 November 2010, making it the longest-running drama made in New Zealand.[1]
The central plot is that a family of criminals decide to go straight after the patriarch is jailed. Like the show itself, episodes take their names from Shakespeare quotations. The main characters each walk a fine line between right and wrong according to their respective values - the law, the criminal code of honour, loyalty to family, and respectability.
Contents
Cast and characters
Main article: List of Outrageous Fortune charactersMain
- Robyn Malcolm as Cheryl West: The family matriarch who, after husband Wolf gets imprisoned, decides to make her family go straight.
- Antony Starr as Jethro and Van West: Identical twins with contrasting personalities. Jethro is a lawyer and entrepreneur while Van is a mentally restricted slacker.
- Siobhan Marshall as Pascalle West: A dimwitted blonde with a heart of gold. The embodiment of a 'westie chick'.
- Antonia Prebble as Loretta West: The youngest of the West family and also the smartest. Loretta is manipulative and rarely remorseful.
- Frank Whitten as Ted West: Wolf's retired safe cracker father who is eccentric to the point of foul.
- Kirk Torrance as Detective Sergeant Wayne Judd: Initially the West family's nemesis, later one of the family.
- Stella King (seasons 3-6) as Jane West: Loretta's daughter with Hayden Peters.
- Grant Bowler (starring seasons 1-2, 4; guest; 3, 5) as Wolf West: The criminal patriarch of the family. He does not approve of Cheryl's new way of life.
Recurring
- Tammy Davis as Munter: Van's best friend and co owner of business, 'The Tool Guys'.
- Nicole Whippy as Kasey: Cheryl's best friend and eventual wife of Munter.
- Roz Turnbull as Rochelle: Cheryl's other best friend and mother of two children and owner of two dogs.
- David Fane as Falani: The West family's mechanic.
- John Leigh as Sparky: The West family's drug riddled electrician.
- Hori Ahipene (seasons 5-6) as Angel: A transgender prostitute who works at Loretta's brothel.
- Claire Chitham (seasons 2-3) as Aurora Bay: Van's fiance whom he dated at high school.
- Katrina Browne (seasons 1-2) as Caroline Darling: Jethro's teacher who he started an affair with when he was 15.
- Aidee Walker (seasons 1 - 2, 3, 6) as Draska Doslic: Van's manipulative fiance who is best friends with Pascalle and enemies with Cheryl.
- Scott Harding (seasons 2-6) as Lloyd Draper: The trusty mobile banking manager of West Auckland and wedding celebrant.
- Brian Sergent (seasons 1-2, 5-6) as Eric: A slimy associate of the West family who was once friends with Wolf.
- Charles Mesure (season 5) as Detective Sergeant Zane Gerard: A corrupt policeman and short term boyfriend of Pascalle.
- Karl Willets (seasons 3-6) as The Gooch: Aaron Spiller's dedicated sidekick.
- Craig Hall (seasons 4-6) as Nicky Greegan: The corrupt gang affiliated gym owner and two time fiance of Pascalle.
- Tyler-Jane Mitchell (recurring seasons 4-5, guest; 3, 6) as Sheree Greegan: The psychologically damaged women Wolf dates as a substitute to Cheryl.
- Rohan Glynn (seasons 1-3) as Glen Hickey: The policemen sidekick to Judd with stalker tendencies.
- Trevor Sai Louie (seasons 1-3) as Mr. Hong: Van's employer and grandfather of his child.
- Michelle Ang (seasons 1-2) as Tracy Hong: Mr. Hongs daughter and Jethro's long time girlfriend.
- Josephine Davison (seasons 1-2) as Suzy Hong: Mr. Hong's wife and mother to both Van and Jethro's children.
- Kate Louise Elliott (seasons 1-4) as Monica Judd: Judd's ex wife and co worker.
- Elizabeth Hawthorne (guest season 3, recurring seasons 4-6) as Ngaire Munroe: Ted's past rival and eventual wife.
- Shane Cortese (seasons 2-6) as Hayden Peters: The slimy son of a past West associate and father of Loretta's daughter Jane.
- Aaron Jeffery (season 3) as Gary Savage: The criminal property manager who shares a secret with Wolf.
- Wesley Dowdell (guest season 3, recurring 4-6) as Aaron Spiller: The neo nazi ex school rival of Van and Munter who soon befriends them.
- Sophie Henderson (season 6) as Bailey Wilson: Cheryl's lawyer and Jethro's girlfriend.
Ratings
Season Episodes Year Cost of Production Viewers 1 13 2005 $5.3 Million [2] 263,000 [3] 2 17 (Including Christmas Telemovie) 2006 $7.6 Million[2] 311,000 [3] 3 22 2007 $9.9 Million [2] 381,000 [3] 4 18 2008 $8.1 Million [2] 453,000 [3] 5 19 2009 $9.1 Million[2] 407,000[3] 6 18 2010 $8.6 Million[2] 520,000[3] Season synopsis
Main article: List of Outrageous Fortune episodesSeason one (2005)
When career criminal Wolf West is jailed for four years for assorted criminal acts, his wife Cheryl makes the decision that the family will get honest employment, instead of continuing to embark on their life of crime. Wolf is not pleased about this, but there's not much he can do from jail. Cheryl is initially disillusioned by her attempts at earning a legal living, but she and a couple of her friends start a business called "Hoochie Mama" making and selling sexy underwear, all the while resisting the newly found attraction from policeman Wayne Judd. The West children Jethro, Van, Pascalle and Loretta all struggle to cope with the new found rules in their own ways, while Ted struggles to come to terms with his late wife.
Season two (2006)
In Season two, Wolf has been released on home detention. He has no intention of keeping to Cheryl's new rules on life. Judd is determined to tear him away from Cheryl, and attempts to entice Wolf to break his parole so that he is returned to prison. Wolf escapes home detention and Judd moves in, much to the horror of the children. Pascalle starts to date Indian doctor Bruce, Van finds the love of his life Aurora and Loretta starts to date much older man Hayden. Jethro shocks his mother when he reveals he is still a criminal and only doing law to learn how to break the law more successfully. The season ends on Wolf framing Judd for a robbery he committed.
Outrageous Fortune: The Movie (2006 telemovie)
This one off two hour TV movie followed on from season 2.
The West family, as well as Aurora, Eric and Munter go camping at Tutaekuri Bay, a magical place where they have gone camping every year at Christmas. Tutaekuri means "dog shit" in Māori.[4]
Season three (2007)
The third Season sees Cheryl still battling to keep her family on the straight and narrow. Both the men in her life are inside – Wolf after turning himself in to the cops as part of his master plan to frame Judd; Judd because he fell in love with the wrong woman - Wolf’s woman. She borrows money from Gary Savage to pay for a lawyer for Judd, which results in his release but the debt causes a strain in their relationship. Pascalle breaks up with Bruce after he sees her porn movie and Aurora dies in a road accident, spiraling Van into depression. Loretta is devastated when Hayden edits their film for commercial gain, breaks up with him and burns down his house, only to discover she is pregnant. Jethro finds love in Danielle, a solo mum and ex wife of Gary. Ted becomes suspicous of Gary and tracks down Wolf, only to find Gary is Wolf's half brother. Over the season Munter develops a relationship with Kasey and marries her in the final.
Season four (2008)
A fourth season of the show was confirmed on the show's official site, with 18 episodes commissioned. TV3 began screening an advertisement in May 2008. The season premiered on Tuesday 17 June 2008 at 9:30pm on TV3.
The family is brought together when Cheryl talks Loretta out of adopting out her baby, which she names Jane. Cheryl having broken up with Judd, starts to feel towards Wolf again, who is in a rocky relationship with much younger Sheree. Sheree's dodgey brother Nicky arrives and falls for Pascalle, who has married a millionaire named Milt. Milt dies, leaving Pascalle a fortune, that Nicky attempts to steal by dating Pascalle. Jethro is forced to run away when he is blamed for Nicky's drugs being destroyed and Van starts an affair with Sheree. Loretta and Jethro set Wolf up for burglary and Cheryl returns to Judd, becoming pregnant. Sheree also becomes pregnant, either to Van, Wolf or Jethro. Hayden returns to care for his child and Ted marries the scheming Ngaire. Pascalle becomes engaged to the dodgey Nicky much to her family's disbelief.
Season Five (2009)
New Zealand On Air allocated NZ$9,107,650 to produce Season Five of Outrageous Fortune, which ran for 19 episodes. Season Five premiered at 9.30pm on Tuesday 2 June 2009.
Zane Gerard (Charles Mesure) fires three shots at Cheryl and Pascalle in a dramatic cliffhanger finale.
New policemen Zane Gerard becomes a fixture in the West's lives, due to his past involvement with Sheree and Nicky. Van is pressured into narking, infuriating Sheree when she finds out. Loretta's past feelings for Hayden return and Jethro starts up a party pill business. Nicky truely falls for Pascalle, enraging Sheree who makes off with Pascalle's millions and attempts to murder Van. Pascalle breaks up with Nicky and dates Gerard while Cheryl loses her baby. Loretta gets back together with Hayden and the two decide to marry as so they get custody of Jane. Ted ends up in prison for robbery and is helped out by Nicky, causing he and Pascalle to get back together. The season ends with Gerard trying to arrest Pascalle for assault, only to be stabbed in the neck by Cheryl and turning round to fire three bullets in her direction.
Season Six (2010)
Season 6 returned on 13 July 2010 at a new time slot of 8.30pm. John Campbell appeared as a news reporter in a small cameo.[5] The season is the last for the series,[6] and will reach its hallmark 100th episode. Ten-second promos started airing for the show on 14 June. The West family house set will be on show in Auckland Museum for six months after the series ends.
Pascalle takes a bullet but survives, while Gerard dies and Cheryl is imprisoned for murder. Van starts to see his lawyer Bailey, only to learn she is dating Jethro. Loretta opens up a brothel while Nicky escapes prison and tries to take Pascalle with him. The two break up and Sheree reveals where her children are, with Van becoming a part time father to them. Judd and Pascalle develop feelings for eachother and start an affair, disgusting Ted. Cheryl's charges are dropped and she is devastated to learn about Judd, finally forgiving him in the season finale. Pascalle and Judd leave, while Van marries the Russian Elena. Loretta, Hayden and Jane continue to be a happy family and Jethro fulfills his mother fixation. The series ends on Cheryl realizing how her rules have changed the family and how much better they have become.
International broadcasts
Australia
- Outrageous Fortune is shown weekly on the Pay-TV channel W.
- It was shown on the Nine Network during the summer non-ratings period.
- Season 5 did screen on Network Ten at 21:30 on Friday nights over the summer period in early 2010 but was cancelled half way through. In an interview with Andrew Mercado in April, Robyn Malcolm confirmed that this was because New Zealand-produced shows count against the quota of Australian-made shows that networks can show and series 5 was used as a filler during the non-rating season. Series 5 will again show on ARENA in November 2010. Network 10 has continued series 5 from 21 June 22:00 Monday nights.[7]
- Australia Network broadcasts Outrageous Fortune to a wide Pay-TV audience in the Asia/Pacific Region.
Ireland
- TV3 Ireland showed the first series during 2006 and started showing the second series in March 2007 (22:00 Thursdays).
Canada
- Began airing in 2007 on Super Channel.
Italy
- Outrageous Fortune was aired on SKY TV in Italy in March 2008.
UK
- Shown on LivingTV in the United Kingdom starting on Tuesday 6 March 2007 at 10 PM.[8]
Finland
- The show began airing on TV Viisi in February 2009.
Estonia
- Season 5 began airing on ETV2 in September 2010.
DVD releases
Series One
Outrageous Fortune – Series One Set details Special features - 13 Episodes
- 3-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Behind the Scenes
- Cast and Crew Photo Slide Show
Release dates New Zealand
Australia8 December 2005 1 March 2008 Series Two
Outrageous Fortune – Series Two Set details Special features - 17 Episodes
- 3-Disc Set (NZ) / 4-Disc Set (AU)
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Xmas Telemovie
- Blooper Outtakes
- Photo Gallery
Release dates New Zealand Australia15 March 2007 3 May 2008 Series Three
Outrageous Fortune – Series Three Set details Special features - 22 Episodes
- 4-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Loretta's Blog
- Photo Gallery
Release dates New Zealand Australia25 March 2008 4 August 2008 Series Four
Outrageous Fortune – Series Four Set details Special features - 18 Episodes
- 4-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Audio Commentaries
- Outtakes
- Photo Gallery
Release dates New Zealand Australia13 November 2008 30 June 2009 Series Five
Outrageous Fortune – Series Five Set details Special features - 19 Episodes
- 4-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Audio Commentaries
- Photo Gallery
Release dates New Zealand Australia15 October 2009 12 May 2010 Series Six
Outrageous Fortune – Series Six Set details Special features - 18 Episodes
- 4-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Audio Commentaries
Release dates New Zealand Australia17 November 2010 11 May 2011[9] Other
Outrageous Fortune – The Choice Series 1-3: Limited Edition Set details Special features - 52 Episodes
- 11-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Behind the Scenes
- Xmas Telemovie
- Blooper Outtakes
- Photo Galleries
- Loretta's Blog
Release dates Australia3 November 2008 Outrageous Fortune – The Complete Series 1-5 Set details Special features - 89 Episodes
- 19-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Series 1
- Behind the Scenes
- Cast and Crew Photo Slide Show
- Series 2
- Xmas Telemovie
- Blooper Outtakes
- Photo Gallery
- Series 3
- Loretta's Blog
- Photo Gallery
- Series 4
- Audio Commentaries
- Outtakes
- Photo Gallery
- Series 5
- 3 Audio Commentaries
- Photo Gallery
Release dates Australia13 October 2010 Outrageous Fortune – Serial Offenders - The Complete Collection Set details Special features - 107 Episodes
- 25-Disc Set
- 16×9 (1.77:1) Aspect Ratio
- Languages:
- English (Dolby Digital Surround 2.0)
- Bonus disc titled "Cock-ups and other stuff raided from the West family vault."
- Interviews with Creators/Executive Producers Rachel Lang and James Griffin; Executive Producer/Director Simon Bennett; Director Mark Beesley; and Actor Robyn Malcolm.
- Bloopers entitled “Down-trou moments”
- Pascalle’s “Best Bag Ever” advertorial
- Rita & Ted Home Videos
- Crane timelapse
- Tamcam – behind the scenes with Tammy Davis
Release dates New Zealand17 November 2010 Music
Main article: Outrageous Fortune SoundtracksTwo compilation soundtracks have been released for the show, and both draw on New Zealand music. The title track for the series is Hello Sailor's "Gutter Black".
Awards
- The show cleaned up at the New Zealand TV Awards for 2005 winning Best Drama, Best Actress : Robyn Malcolm and Best Actor: Antony Starr, Best Director Mark Beesley, Best Script Rachel Lang & Best Editing Nicola Smith
- TV GUIDE Best on the box: Best Drama & Best Actress Robyn Malcolm
- Woman's Day Reader's Choice: Favourite Female Personality Robyn Malcolm
- Air NZ Screen Award 2006:Best Drama Series & Best Drama Programme for episode 4
- At the Air New Zealand Screen Awards for 2007, the series won six awards, including Best Drama Programme. Robyn Malcolm won Best Actress, Antony Starr won Best Actor, and Frank Whitten won Best Supporting Actor.[10]
- The Show also cleaned up at the 2008 Qantas Film and Television Awards winning 8 awards including Performance by an Actress in General Television: Robyn Malcolm, Performance by an Actor in General Television: Antony Starr, Performance by a Supporting Actress in General Television: Antonia Prebble, Performance by a Supporting Actor in General Television: Tammy Davis, Best Script - Drama/Comedy Programme: Rachel Lang, Sony Achievement in Directing - Drama/Comedy Programme: Mark Beesley, Achievement in Editing - Drama/Comedy Programme: Bryan Shaw.[1]
Adaptations
Versions of the series have been produced in the United Kingdom and United States. The UK remake, "Honest" was produced for ITV by the independent production company Greenlit. The first episode aired on 9 January 2008, and the show ran for a single season.
The US remake, titled Scoundrels, premiered in June 2010 to mixed reviews. A previous adaptation developed by Rob Thomas, entitled Good Behavior, failed to be picked up for broadcast by any networks.[11] After its initial 8 episode run, Scoundrels was not picked up for another season.
References
- ^ a b Official Outrageous Fortune Website
- ^ a b c d e f "New Zealand on Air Funding". NZ On Air. August 2009. http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/funding/fundingsearchpages/fundingsearchtvprograms.aspx?. Retrieved August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f "Outrageous Fortune ends with highest ratings (graph)". Throng. November 2010. http://www.throng.co.nz/outrageous-fortune/outrageous-fortune-ends-with-highest-ratings-graph. Retrieved June 2011.
- ^ "Outrageous Fortune - Christmas Special". NZ On Screen. http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/outrageous-fortune-christmas-special-2006. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ "John Campbell's day on the Outrageous Fortune set - Video". 3 News. http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Campbells-day-on-the-Outrageous-Fortune-set/tabid/367/articleID/119279/cat/221/Default.aspx. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "Outrageous Fortune – The official site » The confirmation you’ve been waiting for…". Outrageousfortune.co.nz. 3 June 2009. http://www.outrageousfortune.co.nz/2010/06/the-confirmation-youve-been-waiting-for/. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
- ^ Outrageous Fortune: Missing In Action
- ^ Outrageous Fortune to premiere in the UK | Outrageous Fortune | News | Throng
- ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/818306
- ^ Hunkin, Joanna (2 August 2007). "Six awards - it's outrageous". New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10455300. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
- ^ Outrageous Fortune - The official site » Outrageous Fortune to be adapted for the USA
External links
Categories:- 2005 television series debuts
- New Zealand drama television series
- New Zealand comedy television series
- 2005 in New Zealand television
- 2000s New Zealand television series
- 2010s New Zealand television series
- Titles derived from the works of William Shakespeare
- TV3 (New Zealand) programmes
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