At Home with Julia

At Home with Julia
GenreSitcom
Starring
Country of originAustralia
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
ProducerCarol Hughes
Production companyQuail Television
Original release
NetworkABC1
Release7 September (2011-09-07) –
28 September 2011 (2011-09-28)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

At Home with Julia is a four-part Australian sitcom television series, created and written by Amanda Bishop, Rick Kalowski and Phil Lloyd, which debuted on 7 September 2011 on ABC1. A re-run of the series aired on ABC2 in April 2012. The series ran in syndication in the United States on the Vibrant TV Network.

The series depicts a fictional representation of the relationship between Julia Gillard, the actual Prime Minister of Australia (played by Amanda Bishop), and Gillard's real-life partner, Tim Mathieson (played by Phil Lloyd). Fictionalised versions of actual Australian politicians and media personalities are portrayed throughout the series. Much of the action takes place at The Lodge, the Prime Minister's official residence in the national capital of Canberra.

Although the first episode was received either relatively well or neutrally by the media, many critics responded negatively to the series' end. Some saw At Home with Julia as defying previous boundaries in political satire and political parody, with its emphasis on a female politician's personal life rather than her politics and public life.[1] In particular, the media, viewers, and politicians were scandalised by the notorious "flag scene" from Episode 3 ("The Leaker")—in which the Prime Minister and partner Tim Mathieson were depicted apparently naked and post-coital under the Australian flag.[2]

The series was a 2012 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards nominee for Best Television Comedy Series.[3] Criticised by several social commentators as inappropriately disrespectful to the office of Prime Minister,[4] the show nevertheless proved very popular both with television audiences – becoming the most watched Australian scripted comedy series of 2011[5] – and with television critics.[6] According to media reports, international versions of the series were in development in the United Kingdom and Europe.[7] None of these shows were commissioned.

The series was sold to the United States for broadcast in 2012 and can be viewed on Hulu.[8]

In February 2013, the notorious "flag sex-scene" from Episode 3 ("The Leaker") was featured in the ABC1 series Shock Horror Aunty!, a compilation of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's most controversial broadcast comedy incidents.

A second series was not produced due to the uncertainty regarding the real Gillard's tenure as Prime Minister.[9] Amanda Bishop did reprise the role of Gillard for Wednesday Night Fever, however the real Gillard was ousted as Labor Party leader and thus Prime Minister just prior to the show's debut on ABC1.[10]

In an atmosphere of budgetary cuts to the ABC and severe criticism of its use of political satire, no follow-up series has been produced about Tony Abbott, or any subsequent Prime Minister.[11]

  1. ^ Stevenson, Ana (2013). "Making Gender Divisive: "Post-Feminism," Sexism and Media Representations of Julia Gillard". Burgmann Journal. 2: 53–66.
  2. ^ "MPs angered over Gillard satire sex scene". ABC News. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Inaugural Samsung AACTA Awards Nominees" (PDF). Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  4. ^ Craven, Peter (8 September 2011). "At Home With Julia: inane drivel of the most idiotic kind". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Packed to the Rafters and Underbelly are 2011′s top local dramas | Encore Magazine". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  6. ^ Knox, David (1 December 2011). "Critics' Choice: The Best of 2011". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  7. ^ Knox, David (4 October 2011). "At Home with David Cameron next?". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  8. ^ Idato, Michael (5 July 2012). "Networking: Julia finds a home in the US". The Age. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  9. ^ Knox, David (28 September 2011). "No decision on at Home with Julia – TV Tonight". Tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  10. ^ Knox, David (27 June 2013). "Wednesday Night Fever rewrites after Labor spill – TV Tonight". Tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Nocookies". The Australian. Retrieved 20 July 2018.