The Neighbours Thread

Has anyone else noticed that Neighbours has been getting progressively more risque in its storylines? Recently we've seen Lori getting pregnant after her implied one-night stand with Connor, Jack and Nina's build-up to their "first-time", as well as Jack and Izzy's implied sexual relationship through innuendo etc. Today Boyd was trying to buy condoms in the pub toilets (incidentally, did anyone else notice two men going into the same cubicle together!?), and talking about sex with Skye, and yesterday Max gave him "the talk". Next week the BBC is apparently now going to broadcast a scene in which Boyd and Skye get "caught in the act" by Max. Also, recently there seems to have been an influx of swearing in the show (although mild) - bugger, crap etc. have been said a lot more than previously. A few years ago it was rare to find the word "sex" mentioned at all in the show, and today it was mentioned three or four times.

The producers of the show are apparently making an effort to "sex-up" the show, to chase higher ratings and get rid of it's wishy-washy goody-tooshoes image.

Do you think it's even necessary, or a step in the right direction for the show?

Personally I don't mind it, in fact I'd say it's a good thing, and it does make for more interesting and gripping viewing (especially after the last few years of, in my opinion, boring, samey strorylines). Also I think today's episode was one of the best I've seen in a long time. On the other hand, it's going to put off quite a few parents from letting their young children from watching.

Also, feel free to use this thread to discuss any other aspects of Neighbours and episodes etc.

I noticed this. I thought it was quite odd, (not too much what they did, more the fact that if there is no story line associated with it, why show it).

I agree with what you were saying though, although i havent been watching for long, there do seem to be more reference to sex than there used to be.

I have definately noticed the use of language used recently. I think it adds realism to the show. Lets face it, not many people don't swear in the life do they.

Does anyone know if channel 10 have moved it to a later time so are allowed to show 'racier' storylines?

LoveTV

It's nothing new in Neighbours - I remember when Mel and Dani used the word "tosser", that must be about 1996, a good few years ago now...

No Neighbours is still shown at 6.30pm on Channel ten across Australia. Neighbours is finally moving with the times slightly more. Its progressed a hell of a lot in the last couple of years and is so enjoyable at the moment.

I just hope the BBC dont start cutting it to bits, that would be a shame. Its ratings have shown an increase too in the UK and Australia! Its still every students fave soap!

I thought that about the toilets for a sec, until I realised that you go from the corridor into the washbasin area, and the next door (that the men went through) leads into the urinal/cubicle area.

At least this referring to sex is less oblique than on Home and Away, where the teenagers vaguely refer to 'I think I'm ready' or 'do you ever do *it*' or (worst of all) 'I'm ready to go to the next level with him/her'
(mind you, at least they have one of the 16 year old girls going ont he pill as a mini-storyline).

Oh yes, it's all *very* brave of the Neighbours people, entertaining the possibility that people have sex.

Although, it seems, we're not ready to include homosexuals in their programme still -- or in fact, anyone outside of the white [christian] middle class. Hmm. I remember once a gay teacher on Neighbours years ago, got a bit of stick and hid in Susan's house for a bit [well where else would you go].

At least Shortland Street [yes I know, tut] has a more racially proportionate cast, especially given the politics of the two countries.

Coupled with people recovering from strokes and cancer within a fortnight -- as much as I've watched Neighbours for more years than is healthy -- the day the programme actually portrays anything in a remotely realistic way, seems a long way off.

To an extent, things have pushed the boundaries of reality in the past but with some of the current material, it's unfair to claim it's not even remotely realistic. With the Kennedy marriage breakdown, this story has been developing for months, a story of Karl having a mid-life crisis, which has always been hinted to in the past through various stories and now they're going for it entirely and as is often the case, he's left his wife as a result. Nothing unrealistic about that and the way they've handled it has impressed me. Harold's stroke mind you is an interesting one. Medically accurate as such a personality change is possible, but to a man who's already had brain damage before, the chances of lightening striking twice on the one person are slim I'd say!

As for the rest of the show, I too have noticed the language change and think the more confrontational nature of the characters makes for much more interesting viewing. The scraps between Lyn and Izzy, and yesterday, Susan and Izzy were very well written, much more sophisticated, adult language than the show would normally dare to script and I thought it really worked.



What about Aaron the mechanic? A semi-regular, last seen yesterday and who joined at the end of the last season. Or Gino, Lyn's boss at the salon? And as for those white middle class boundaries, how about Lil and Serena Bishop, both Serbian and their recurring guest grandmother, Svetlanka? Rocco is another semi-regular and he's Italian, as is his daughter, Carmella and Toadie Rebecchi is also of Italian origin.

In all, minorities do get reflected in Neighbours, just not in the obvious, painfully politically correct way in which other shows do when they add the obligatory black or gay character to the mix.

It does seam strange to hear sex mentioned or heavily referred to on Neighbours. It isn't really a good or bad thing, just a slightly different direction for the programme to move in. They run the risk of alienating an audience by changing so quickly, but maybe they are just adjusting to their audience [?].

they have done stuff about sex a while ago but the BBC Cut it out, Find more on www.perfectblend.net

I like Neighbours but I preferred Shortland Street, my fave was Matt the nurse, they also had several gay characters over the years but in the UK most of the scenes (inc 2 men in bed together) were cut byCarlton-Central.




The storyline with Steph's cancer was fairly long running. Although a lot of it is unrealistic there have been some good storys recently

I've been watching Neighbours since 1989.....


...I was 4 years old!

What would daytime TV do without Neighbours.