Acropolis Now
Acropolis Now #WengerOut | |
---|---|
Genre | Situation Comedy |
Starring |
Nick Giannopoulos George Kapiniaris Simon Palomares Mary Coustas |
Theme music composer | George Kapiniaris |
Country of origin | Home media: Australia |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of seasons | 5 |
No. of episodes | 63 ([of episodes]) |
Release | |
Original network | Seven Network |
Original release | 9 August 1989 – 4 November 1992 |
External links | |
Website |
Acropolis Now was an Australian television sitcom set in a fictional Greek cafe in Melbourne of the same name that ran for 63 episodes from 1989 to 1992 on the Seven Network. It was created by Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris and Simon Palomares, who also starred in the series. They were already quite well known for their comedy stage show, Wogs out of Work. The title is a play on the film Apocalypse Now. Each episode was 20 minutes in length and filmed in front of a live audience.[1][2][3]
Jim's father asks him to run the family business, the Acropolis café, when he suddenly leaves Australia to return to his homeland Greece. The series centres on the activities of the cafe staff. Greek Jim Stefanidis (Giannopoulos), is the immature owner and his best friend, Spaniard Ricky Martinez (Palomares) is the sensible manager (who ended up leaving in Season 2). Memo (Kapiniaris) is the traditional Greek waiter, Liz is the liberated Australian waitress. Skip is the naïve new cook from the bush and Manolis is the stubborn cook from the old cafe. 'Hilarity' prevails from the clash of cultures and beliefs.
Jim's hairdresser cousin Effie, played by Mary Coustas, became a hugely popular and enduring character during the run of the show. Coustas later reprised the role for several TV specials and series including Effie, Just Quietly, an SBS comedy/interview show, and Greeks on the Roof, a short-lived Greek-Australian version of the British talk show The Kumars at No. 42.
Acropolis Now helped popularise the term "skippy" or "skip" to refer to Anglo-Celtic Australians and others of European but non-Mediterranean descent. This term became popular with Mediterranean-Australians, and to a lesser extent non-Mediterranean people, especially in Melbourne.
The program was produced by Crawford Productions which is now owned by WIN Television.
Starring
- Nick Giannopoulos – (Jimako) Dimitrius "Jim" Stefanidis
- George Kapiniaris – Agamemnon "Memo" Aristotele Hatzidimitropoulos
- Simon Palomares – Ricardo "Ricky" Martinez
- Tracey Callander – Elizabeth "Liz" Maloney
- Mary Coustas – (Efthimia) Francesca "Effie" Stefanidis
- Simon Thorpe – Gavin "Skip" Farrell
Other cast
- George Vidalis – Manolis
- Sheryl Munks – Sophie
- Nick Carrafa – Alfredo
- Nicki Wendt – Suzanna Martin
- Georgie Parker – Despina Hatzipapadopoulos
- Simon Wilton – Lars Larson
- Katerina Kotsonis – Julia
- Evdokia Katahanas – Aphrodite (Aphroula) "Afro" Costadina Afiyenya Hatzidimotropoulos (Memo's Sister)
- Russell Crowe – Danny O'Brien (Soccer Star)
- Anthony Brandon Wong – Guido Mazzio (Italian-Asian; Guido Rosi's cousin)
- Warren Mitchell – Kostas "Con" Stefanidis (Jim's Father)
- Kris Karahisarlis – Harry (The Bouncer)
- Zlatko Kasumovic – Vlad (Harry's Brother; the bouncer)
- Lawrence Mah – Colin (Chinese Green Grocer)
- Tony Poli (S03E07) & Joe Perrone (S04E02) – Vinnie Vincenzo (Owner: Vinnie's Bistro, Jim's long-time rival)
- Gerry Connolly – Larry (Wheel of Language Host)
- Vince D'Amico – Don Santo (The Italian Godfather)
- Di Adams – Michael "Mike" (Female Masculine Chef)
- Fotis Pelekis – Dimi Stefanidis (The Kid; Jim's Identical teenage year 10 wagging school Cousin)
Awards
The show itself did not win any awards, but Mary Coustas won the 1993 Logie for Most Popular Comedy Performer for her role as Effie.
Home media-DVD release
Acropolis Now has been released as a complete series boxset by Crawfords Online Store. The boxset contains all 63 episodes on a 15 disc set, along with episode synposes and out-takes from episodes as a special feature.[4]
Filming location
Although the Acropolis cafè/hotel was filmed in HSV-7 Studios the exterior is still standing and looks almost identical to the show. It is located on 251 Brunswick Street, and corner of Greeves St, Fitzroy, Melbourne Victoria Australia. [5]
See also
Notes
- ↑ "Acropolis now : Season 1 [DVD]. - Version details - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
- ↑ "Acropolis now - Details - Trove". Trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
- ↑ "Pandora Archive". Pandora.nla.gov.au. 23 August 2006. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
- ↑ "Acropolis Now on DVD | Crawfords Online Store". Crawfordstore.com.au. Retrieved 2013-06-04.
- ↑ https://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=251+Brunswick+St+%26+Greeves+St,+Fitzroy,+Melbourne,+VIC,+Australia.&ie=UTF-8&ei=aI7kUqMPhIWQBcL5gcAO&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ
External links
- Acropolis Now at the Internet Movie Database
- Acropolis Now at TV.com
- Crawfords
- Acropolis Now at the National Film and Sound Archive