{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{other uses|The Hollow Men (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox television | image = Thehollowmendvd.jpg | image_size = | caption = DVD cover | genre = [[Situation comedy]]-[[Television drama|Drama]] | creator = [[Santo Cilauro]]<br>[[Tom Gleisner]]<br>[[Rob Sitch]] | director = [[Rob Sitch]] | producer = [[Santo Cilauro]]<br>[[Tom Gleisner]]<br>[[Rob Sitch]] | presenter = | starring = | voices = | narrator = | theme_music_composer = | open_theme = "North by North" by [[The Bats (New Zealand band)|The Bats]] | end_theme = | composer = | country = Australia | language = English | num_seasons = 2 | num_episodes = 12 | list_episodes = | executive_producer = [[Working Dog Productions]] | company = [[Working Dog Productions]] | editor = | location = | camera = | runtime = | network = [[ABC1]] | first_aired = {{start date|2008|7|9|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|2008|10|8|df=y}} | related = }}
'''''The Hollowmen''''' is an Australian [[television]] [[comedy]] series set in the offices of the Central Policy Unit, a fictional political advisory unit personally set up by the Prime Minister to help him get re-elected. Their brief is long-term vision; to stop worrying about tomorrow's headlines, and focus on next week's.
''The Hollowmen'' was first broadcast on Wednesday, 9 July 2008, on [[ABC1]]. Each series comprises six half-hour episodes.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23830302-5012980,00.html | title=Working Dog starts rounding up the Hollowmen | date=8 June 2008}}</ref> On the eve of the first episode's national premiere, the series was approved by the ABC for a second series. The second series was screened right after the first, beginning on 13 September 2008.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23990107-5012980,00.html | work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London | title=New Tom Gleisner TV show The Hollowmen a hit unseen | date=9 July 2008}}</ref>
The comedy-drama satire is produced by [[Working Dog Productions]], which was also responsible for ''[[Frontline (Australian TV series)|Frontline]]'', ''[[The Panel (Australian TV series)|The Panel]]'', ''[[Thank God You're Here]]'' and ''[[Utopia (Australian TV series)|Utopia]]''. The music used during the opening credits is an edited instrumental excerpt of the 1987 song "North by North" by [[New Zealand]] band [[The Bats (New Zealand band)|The Bats]]. A special one-off presentation of ''The Hollowmen'' was created by Working Dog and played at Parliament House in Canberra on 11 March 2009, in support of the ABC's funding bid for 2009–12.
==Cast==
===Main=== * [[Rob Sitch]] as Tony, the Prime Minister's [[Principal Private Secretary]] * [[Lachy Hulme]] as David 'Murph' Murphy, Senior Political Advisor and Director of the Central Policy Unit * [[Merrick Watts]] as Nick, Senior Political Advisor * [[Neil Melville]] as Ian, the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]'s [[Chief of Staff]] *[[David James (actor, born 1967)|David James]] as Phillip, Secretary of the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]] * [[Stephen Hall (actor)|Stephen Hall]] as Warren, Departmental [[Undersecretary|Under-Secretary]] * [[Jacquie Brennan]] as Mel, Senior Media Advisor * [[Santo Cilauro]] as Theo Tsolakis, Head of Market Research * [[Nicola Parry]] as Holly, Unit Office Manager
===Supporting=== * [[Rob Carlton]] as Kenny Pratt, advisor to the previous PM * [[Graeme Blundell]] as Geoff, Party Director * Leonie Hemsworth as Dianne, Prime Minister's Secretary * Sacha Joseph as Vanmathy, Unit Office * Ben Chisholm as Josh, Unit Office * Sarah Arthur Young as Sarah, Unit Office Receptionist * Phil Pollard as Phil, Prime Minister's Security Guard * [[Brett Swain (actor)|Brett Swain]] as Talkback Caller
===Guests=== * [[Garry Who]] as Real Estate Agent
The Prime Minister is an [[unseen character]].
==Episodes== ===Series overview=== {{Series overview | seasonT = Season
| color1 = #7cb1db | link1 = <includeonly>Love My Way</includeonly>#Season 1 (2004–05) | episodes1 = 6 | start1 = {{Start date|2008|7|9|df=y}} | end1 = {{End date|2008|8|27|df=y}}
| color2 = #464646 | link2 = <includeonly>Love My Way</includeonly>#Season 2 (2006) | episodes2 = 6 | start2 = {{Start date|2008|9|3|df=y}} | end2 = {{End date|2008|10|8|df=y}} }}
===Series 1 (2008)=== {{Episode table |background=#7cb1db|overall=5 |season=5 |title=20 |director=15 |writer=24 |airdate=14 |country=Australian |episodes= {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 1 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Fat Chance | DirectedBy = [[Rob Sitch]] | WrittenBy = [[Santo Cilauro]], [[Tom Gleisner]] & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|7|9|df=y}} | ShortSummary = The Central Policy Unit must come up with a meaningful plan to combat obesity in schools in order to keep the Prime Minister's momentum rolling. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 2 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = The Ambassador | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|7|16|df=y}} | ShortSummary =A troublesome Senator agrees to leave politics behind if he gets a nice diplomatic posting. But, unfortunately for the Central Policy Unit, Phillip is about to give a speech outlining a plan commissioned by the PM announcing restrictions that mean only the most qualified people are eligible for appointment as ambassadors for the nation. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 3 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = A Time for Talk | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|8|23|df=y}} | ShortSummary =When conflict breaks out overseas, the Central Policy Unit must find a way to intervene without hurting the international relationships. Murph quickly finds that there is a lot of talk, but not much action. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 4 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Rear Vision | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|7|30|df=y}} | ShortSummary =The budget lacks an eye-catching "centrepiece" and Tony asks Murph to come up with a last minute policy which will give the PM the visionary public image he wants. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 5 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = Military Matters | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|8|6|df=y}} | ShortSummary =After an embarrassing incident at an air force base brings military recruitment into the headlines, the Central Policy Unit must make life in the uniform appealing to Generation Y. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 6 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = A Housing Crisis | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|8|27|df=y}} | ShortSummary =A report into the cost of maintaining [[Kirribilli House]] comes back to bite Ian. With Phillip in charge, the report looks set to embarrass the PM right before another interest rate rise, unless Murph can figure out a way to lower Kirribilli's price tag and make it less elitist. | LineColor = 7cb1db }} }}
===Series 2 (2008)=== {{Episode table |background=#464646|overall=5 |season=5 |title=20 |director=15 |writer=24 |airdate=14 |episodes=
{{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 7 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Title = Shared Interests | DirectedBy = [[Rob Sitch]] | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|9|3|df=y}} | ShortSummary = A scandal with a Junior Minister and poor fashion sense leads to a "blippy dip" in the PM's public image. Murph handles a government crackdown whilst Tony tackles pin-stripes and French cuffs. | LineColor = 464646 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 8 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Title = Edifice Complex | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|9|10|df=y}} | ShortSummary =The PM has recently opened several buildings commissioned by his predecessors, which starts him thinking about his own legacy. Unfortunately for Murph, legacy translates to a massive building somewhere in the parliamentary triangle. | LineColor = 464646 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 9 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Title = Wonder Drug | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|9|17|df=y}} | ShortSummary =Pressure mounts on the Government to fund an expensive new pill, despite evidence that it may not be worth funding at all. | LineColor = 464646 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 10 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Title = Vulnerable to Attack | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|9|24|df=y}} | ShortSummary =The PM's plans to increase spending on national security run into trouble when the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department]] starts talking about cost-cutting. Meanwhile the Unit ends up exploiting some eager High School students who have won a trip to Canberra. | LineColor = 464646 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 11 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Title = A Waste of Energy | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|10|1|df=y}} | ShortSummary =Global warming is hot on the agenda with the Unit taking up the government's new 'carbon challenge'. But a blindsighted promise to raise emission standards with China may cause some serious problems for international relations. | LineColor = 464646 }} {{Episode list | EpisodeNumber = 12 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Title = A Quiet January | DirectedBy = Rob Sitch | WrittenBy = Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner & Rob Sitch | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2008|10|8|df=y}} | ShortSummary =The second half of January has no news stories. But a surprise trip for the PM to Antarctica is soon devised to fill this space. | LineColor = 464646 }} }}
==Episode ratings== The first season premiered at 9:30 pm on Wednesday 9 July 2008. After episode 5, it was removed from schedule due to the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]]. The season finale aired at 9:00 pm on Wednesday 27 August.<ref>{{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|title=Bumped: The Hollowmen|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2008/08/bumped-the-hollowmen.html|date=3 August 2008|accessdate=2008-08-05}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" ! # ! Episode No. ! Airdate ! Time ! Ratings<br><small>(5 capital cities)</small> ! Timeslot rank ! Overall nightly rank |- | align="center"| '''1.01''' | align="center"| '''Fat Chance''' | align="center"| 9 July 2008 | align="center" rowspan="5"| Wednesday 9:30pm | align="center"| 1,185,000 | align="center"| 1st | align="center"| 13th |- | align="center"| '''1.02''' | align="center"|'''The Ambassador''' | align="center"| 16 July 2008 | align="center"| 1,040,000 | align="center"| 2nd | align="center"| 16th |- | align="center"| '''1.03''' | align="center"| '''A Time for Talk''' | align="center"| 23 July 2008 | align="center"| 950,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 18th |- | align="center"| '''1.04''' | align="center"| '''Rear Vision''' | align="center"| 30 July 2008 | align="center"| 996,000 | align="center"| 2nd | align="center"| 16th |- | align="center"| '''1.05''' | align="center"| '''Military Matters''' | align="center"| 6 August 2008 | align="center"| 816,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 24th |- | align="center"| '''1.06''' | align="center"|'''A Housing Crisis''' | align="center"| 27 August 2008 | align="center" rowspan=7| Wednesday 9:00pm | align="center"| 926,000 | align="center"| 2nd | align="center"| 15th |- | align="center"| '''2.01''' | align="center"| '''Shared Interests''' | align="center"| 3 September 2008 | align="center"| 931,000 | align="center"| 2nd | align="center"| 17th |- | align="center"| '''2.02''' | align="center"| '''Edifice Complex''' | align="center"| 10 September 2008 | align="center"| 1,044,000 | align="center"| 2nd | align="center"| 16th |- | align="center"| '''2.03''' | align="center"| '''Wonder Drug''' | align="center"| 17 September 2008 | align="center"| 941,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 19th |- | align="center"| '''2.04''' | align="center"| '''Vulnerable to Attack''' | align="center"| 24 September 2008 | align="center"| 906,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 15th |- | align="center"| '''2.05''' | align="center"| '''A Waste of Energy''' | align="center"| 1 October 2008 | align="center"| 877,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 16th |- | align="center"| '''2.06''' | align="center"| '''A Quiet January''' | align="center"| 8 October 2008 | align="center"| 931,000 | align="center"| 3rd | align="center"| 16th |}
== Production ==
It was partially inspired by Cilauro's 1996 documentary ''The Campaign'' about Paul Keating's failed election. They initially wanted to make a series about an independent politician, but decided that such people didn't really hold much power and wanted to explore the idea that politics is run like a corporation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/the_hollowmen/articles/capitalpunishment.html |author=Michael Idato |date=7 July 2008 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Capital punishment}}</ref>
== Reception==
Debi Enker from the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' described the first episode of ''The Hollowmen'' as using "low-key style [and] sandpaper-dry wit" to show the hollowness of the political newscycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/the-hollowmen-20080709-gdslcc.html|title=The Hollowmen|first=Debi |last=Enker|date=8 July 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
Opposition leader [[Tony Abbott]] used its premiere to criticise the government, claiming that the "Howard government didn't work like that", and that the series would not have made sense under a Liberal government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/hollowmen-are-rudds-men-abbott-20080711-gdslny.html|title=Hollowmen are Rudd's men:Abbott|first=Jonathan|last=Dart|date=11 July 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
It won the 2009 Logie for [[Logie Awards of 2009|Most Outstanding Comedy Program]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/2009-logies-the-winners-20090503-arh9.html|title=2009 Logies: The winners|date=3 May 2009|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-03/hollowmen-takes-top-comedy-logie/1670928|title=Hollowmen takes top comedy Logie|date=3 May 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref>
=== Accuracy === In 2008 the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' interviewed political advisors about the accuracy of the show. Political advisors noted that the characters were more cynical and amoral than them and their colleagues, and played to people's prejudices, but a few conceded that they knew people like [[Rob Sitch]]'s character, Tony. They found that pollsters were portrayed as having too much power in the show, and noted that senior public servants were not as innocent as they were portrayed.
In contrast they found larger themes of media driven policies, "arse-covering" and superficial treatment of complex issues were "remarkably accurate", noting that the Melbourne [[2am Lockout]] laws were a good example.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/hollow-truths-20080817-3wvp.html|title=Hollow truths|first1=Melissa |last1=Fyfe |first2=Josh|last2=Gordon|date=17 August 2008|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>
==Home media== Series 1 and 2 of ''The Hollowmen'' is available on DVD as a three disc box set.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadshow.com.au/village_product.asp?txtCatalog=DVD&txtCategory=&txtProductID=R-108744-9|title=Roadshow Entertainment catalogue listing}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of Australian television series]] * [[List of programs broadcast by ABC (Australian TV network)]] * ''[[The Thick of It]]'' * ''[[The Hollow Men]]'' * ''[[Frontline (Australian TV series)|Frontline]]'' * ''[[The West Wing]]'' * ''[[Yes Minister]]'' * ''[[Absolute Power (comedy)|Absolute Power]]'' * ''[[K Street (TV series)|K Street]]'' * ''[[Utopia (Australian TV series)|Utopia]]''
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/hollowmen/ The Hollowmen official website (ABC TV)] *{{IMDb title|id=1242819}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hollowmen, The}} [[Category:2008 Australian television series debuts]] [[Category:2008 Australian television series endings]] [[Category:2000s Australian comedy television series]] [[Category:Australian workplace comedy television series]] [[Category:Australian political comedy television series]] [[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming]] [[Category:Logie Award for Most Outstanding Comedy Program winners]] [[Category:Television shows set in Australian Capital Territory]]