Wikipedia

It's a Date (TV series)

It's a Date is an Australian ensemble comedy series which began screening on ABC1 on 15 August 2013. The eight-part series was written by comedian Peter Helliar and directed by Helliar and Jonathan Brough. The first series was produced by Laura Waters.[1][2] Each episode poses a question about dating—such as 'should you date a friend's ex?'—and follows two sets of people as they grapple with the question.[3]

It's a Date
GenreComedy
Created byPeter Helliar
Written byPhil Lloyd
Jess Harris
Ryan Shelton
Justin Hamilton
Tony Moclair
Lawrence Mooney
Steven Gates
Kate Langbroek
Directed byJonathan Brough
Peter Helliar
StarringAsher Keddie

Kate Ritchie
John Wood
Lisa McCune
Stephen Curry
Shane Jacobson
Peter Helliar
Poh Ling Yeow
Denise Scott
Ross Noble

Lawrence Mooney
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producersDebbie Lee
Brett Sleigh
ProducersLaura Waters
Andrea Denholm
EditorSteven Robinson
Running time23 minutes (excluding commercials)
Production companyPrincess Pictures
Original release
NetworkABC1
Release15 August 2013 (2013-08-15) –
4 December 2014 (2014-12-04)

Season 1 Cast

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Episode 1

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Episode 2

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Episode 3

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Episode 4

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Episode 5

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Episode 6

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Episode 7

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Episode 8

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Season 2 Cast

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Episode 1

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Episode 2

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Episode 3

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Episode 4

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Episode 5

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Episode 6

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Episode 7

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Episode 8

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Episodes

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Season 1

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No. Overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original air date
11"When Should You Abandon A Date?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Phil Lloyd15 August 2013 (2013-08-15)
Greg (Peter Helliar) goes on a blind date with the feisty Em (Lisa McCune), which quickly escalates as the night progresses. Meanwhile, Patrick (Dave Lawson) arranges a meeting with his parents and the parents of his girlfriend Jasmine (Poh Ling Yeow).
22"How Important Is Honesty on a First Date?"Peter HelliarPeter Helliar and Ryan Shelton22 August 2013 (2013-08-22)
Imogen (Sibylla Budd) is shocked when Kevin (Luke McGregor), the African American windsurfer she met on the internet, is actually a socially awkward redhead. Gwen (Denise Scott) decides that she and Rex (John Wood) should be 100% honest with each other.
33"How Important Is A Sense of Humour on a Date?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Justin Hamilton29 August 2013 (2013-08-29)
Verity's (Asher Keddie) boss, Jason (Stephen Curry), springs a surprise that fails to impress. Student, Richard (Louis Corbett), hosts a dinner for two with his crush, Lucy (Eva Lazzaro). It could be the perfect night if only his family don't interfere.
44"Do Opposites Attract?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Kate Langbroek5 September 2013 (2013-09-05)
A chance meeting at a bus stop allows country girl Jessica (Kate McLennan) to spend some time with Sri Lankan Muslim Ashraf (Nazeem Hussain). Meanwhile, happy-go-lucky Zara (Kate Ritchie) and strong minded Eve (Nadine Garner) struggle to find common ground.
55"Should You Date on the Rebound?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar, Tony Moclair and Steve Gates12 September 2013 (2013-09-12)
Single father Hugo (Shane Jacobson) reluctantly agrees to a blind date with his sister's nanny Camilla (Pia Miranda). Shopping centre workers Winston (Ronny Chieng) & Manda (Emily Taheny) may or may not be ready to move on from their previous relationships.
66"How Much Do First Impressions Count?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Jess Harris19 September 2013 (2013-09-19)
Wallflower Vicky (Sophie Lowe) finally lands a date with her work crush, the extremely confident Ben (Ryan Shelton). Health fanatic Virginia (Jess Harris) takes a chance with an extrovert and life of the party, Kane (Daniel Wyllie).
77"Should You Have Sex on a First Date?"Peter HelliarPeter Helliar and Lawrence Mooney26 September 2013 (2013-09-26)
Radio jock, The Pig (Lawrence Mooney), gets a shock when he meets a young fan (Sophie Cusworth); and octogenarian Josie (Jackie Kelleher) offers fellow retirement home resident Doug (Ron Jacobson) an unexpected proposition.
88"Does Age Matter?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Shaun Micallef3 October 2013 (2013-10-03)
Med student Alison (Heidi Valkenburg) tries to keep her expectations in check while on a date with fellow med student, Michael (Peter Rowsthorn). Will age spoil any chance of a relationship between Englishman John (Ross Noble) and widower Don (Ian Smith)?


Season 2

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No. Overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original air date
91"Do Set Up Dates Work?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Celia Pacquola16 October 2014 (2014-10-16)
Jen (Kat Stewart) was set up with Greg's (Peter Helliar) brother, but ends up on a date with Greg's father, Graham (Roy Billing). Radio news presenter Cynthia (Celia Pacquola) is set up on a date for a radio stunt with George (Matt Okine).
102"Is It OK To Date A Friend's Ex?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Lawrence Mooney23 October 2014 (2014-10-23)
Declan (Rove McManus) receives the go ahead from theatre performer Roland (Shaun Micallef) to date his ex-lover Tess (Adrienne Pickering). Sue (Veronica Milsom) tests her loyalty when a date to the cinema with Kane (Dan Wyllie) proves extremely revealing.
113"What's the Worst Thing that Can Happen?"Erin WhitePeter Helliar and Phil Lloyd30 October 2014 (2014-10-30)
Physio Amy (Justine Clarke) breaks her rule about not dating clients with Brad (Phil Lloyd). Manda (Emily Taheny) takes Winston (Ronny Chieng) out of their comfort zone to go camping for their 1st anniversary.
124"How Much Research Should You Do Before Dating?"Erin WhitePeter Helliar, Magda Szubanski, and Ryan Shelton6 November 2014 (2014-11-06)
Mary-Angela (Magda Szubanski) wants a big favour on a hen's night from stripper Rory (Lachy Hulme). Juzzy (Steen Raskopoulos) goes for a date with a Facebook friend, but ends up having drinks with childhood friend Abby (Tegan Higginbotham).
135"Should You Date Outside Your Comfort Zone?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar and Ryan Shelton13 November 2014 (2014-11-13)
Jocelyn (Susie Porter) needs a date for a swingers party to impress her husband, and takes along colleague Craig (Rhys Darby) for the ride. Ray (Sam Simmons) gets a "residential visit" from Paulina (Tasma Walton), who has a secret.
146"Should You Date on Impulse?"Jonathan BroughPeter Helliar, Luke McGregor and Eddie Perfect20 November 2014 (2014-11-20)
Joanne (Deborah Mailman) takes a chance on the man who saved her, Terry (Jimeoin). Freja (Amber Clayton) joins Jeremy (Eddie Perfect) on a search for his dog on her last night in Australia.
157"Should You Re-connect with an Old Flame?"Peter HelliarPeter Helliar and Roz Hammond27 November 2014 (2014-11-27)
Sharna (Bridie Carter) decides to have a booty call with her musician ex Harry (Vince Colosimo), and encourages him to take a new direction. Lizzie (Roz Hammond) discovers that her disastrous ex Matt (Aaron Pedersen) has become guru Arjuna.
168"Should You Take a Date to a Wedding?"Peter HelliarPeter Helliar and Steve Gates4 December 2014 (2014-12-04)
Siblings Mark (Tom Ballard) and Natalie (Malorie O'Neill) make a pact to take a date to their brother's wedding. For the recently out Mark, he chooses his grandfather's carer Tom (Joel Creasey) for their first date, while Natalie chooses "inspiring" uni rabble-rouser Nathan (Toby Wallace).


Reception

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Critical response was more positive than not. Rob Moran felt that It's a Date opted "for star power and broad gags" over quality,[4] but Debi Enkar felt that the series was warm,[5] and Kylie Northover wrote that "while some of the humour tends towards broad ockerism, there are some poignant moments and some acutely observed truisms."[6]

Spin-off

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Main article: How to Stay Married

A spin-off series based on characters Greg (Peter Helliar) & Em (Lisa McCune) will on air Network Ten in 2018. This series see them been married for 13 years but have lost their spark, as they try to work things out things happening around them make it more complicated.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "PressDisplay.com". PressDisplay.com. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  2. ^ "It's a Date". Australian Television. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  3. ^ Brookfield, Joanne (19 October 2014). "Stars come out for It's a date". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. ^ Moran, Rob (15 August 2013). "Upper Middle Bogan, It's a Date – TV review". The Guardian. London.
  5. ^ Enker, Debi (11 August 2013). "It's a Date: that crazy little thing called love". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ^ Northover, Kylie (29 August 2013). "Show of the week: It's a Date". The Sydney Morning Herald.
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