Playing for Keeps (TV series)


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Playing for Keeps is an Australian drama television series, which began airing on Network 10 on 19 September 2018. The series was created from a concept by the network's head of drama Rick Maier. It centres on the wives and girlfriends of the players at the fictional Southern Jets Football Club. Its ensemble cast includes Madeleine West, Annie Maynard, Cece Peters, Olympia Valance, Isabella Giovinazzo, and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor. Playing for Keeps was renewed for a second season, which premiered on 16 October 2019.

Playing for Keeps
GenreDrama
Created byRick Maier
Developed by
  • Claire Phillips
  • Christine Bartlett
  • Jaime Browne
Written by
  • Claire Phillips
  • Christine Bartlett
  • Ian Meadows
  • Ainslie Clouston
  • Mithila Gupta
  • Nicky Arnall
Directed by
Starring
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerRory Callaghan
ProducersPaul Moloney
Kerrie Mainwaring
Production locationsMelbourne, Victoria
CinematographyMartin Smith
Running time60 minutes[1]
Production companyScreentime
Original release
NetworkNetwork 10
Release19 September 2018 –
4 December 2019
Related
The Goss Boss
Sidelines

On 9 November 2017, the series was announced during Ten's upfronts.[2] It focuses on the women behind the men of an Australian rules football club.[3] The concept for the series was created by Rick Maier, the head of drama at the network.[4] Playing for Keeps is produced by Screentime, and has received investment from Screen Australia and Film Victoria.[5] The episodes have been written by Claire Phillips, Christine Bartlett, Ian Meadows, Ainslie Clouston, and Mithila Gupta, with Sian Davies, Scott Major, and Tori Garrett directing.[4]

In May 2018, it was announced Madeleine West, Cece Peters, Annie Maynard, and Olympia Valance, had been cast as the wives and girlfriends.[6] West plays Kath Rickards, who is married to the coach and acts as a "mentor and den mother."[6] Peters plays Paige Dunkeley, a high school teacher who follows her boyfriend to the city. Maynard was cast as Maddy Cochrane, a lawyer and a mother of two.[6][7] Valance is socialite Tahlia Woods, who is engaged to the captain of the Southern Jets. Of securing her role, Valance stated "When I read the script, I just knew that I had to play Tahlia. I was determined this character would be mine."[8] The following month, Isabella Giovinazzo was cast as Jessie Davies, a former footballer married to one of the club's players.[9]

Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Jackson Gallagher, Kevin Hofbauer, George Pullar, James Mason, and Ethan Panizza also joined the ensemble cast.[6] Taylor is the team's coach Brian Rickards,[7] Gallagher plays Tahlia's fiancé Connor Marrello,[10] Hofbauer is an "admired club veteran" Travis Cochrane, while Pullar, Mason and Panizza portray footballers Daniel Fletcher, Jack Davies, and Rusty O'Reilly respectively.[7] Paul Ireland was cast as Andrew Macleish, the president of the Southern Jets.[7] Of the casting process, Maier stated "This has been one of the most comprehensive casting calls we've done. The key roles dictate strong, independent, fascinating women. We think Nathan Lloyd and the team at Screentime have done a brilliant job securing a cast of this calibre."[3]

Filming for the show began on 4 June 2018 in Melbourne.[6] The eight-part series began airing on 19 September 2018 on Network Ten and WIN Television.[5] The first episode was available to view one week early on the catch-up service 10Play.[5]

On 14 November 2018, Network 10 announced the show had been renewed for a second season.[11] It began airing on 16 October 2019.[12] The first two episodes are directed by Major.[12] Season 2 is set six months after the season 1 finale,[12] and sees the club welcome a new player Liam Flynn (Ben Chapple) and his girlfriend Kendall Pereira (Jess Bush).[13]

The series was officially cancelled in February 2021 after failing to be picked up for a third season.[14]

  1. ^ The pilot episode received an early release on 12 September 2018.
  2. ^ Timeshifted ratings unavailable for Episode 5.

In September 2018, Network 10 launched a spin-off web series alongside the first season called The Goss Boss (or TGB) on TenPlay.[31] A new episode became available shortly after Playing for Keeps aired that week.[31] The Goss Boss is a fictional gossip show that covers the feuds and fashions featured in Playing for Keeps, and is hosted by Liv Phyland.[31] General manager of digital at Network 10, Liz Baldwin stated: "In addition to our regular behind-the-scenes cast interviews, we created a fun web series that explores the Playing For Keeps storyline in more detail, giving fans of the show the chance to see what it would be like in the real world for the characters on the show. It's a grandstand exposé into Playing For Keeps' real power players: the WAGs."[31]

On 30 October 2019, Network 10 launched a new web series for season two called Sidelines on 10 Play, which was sponsored by Volvo Cars. Each webisode follows the characters during different activities in a car ride.[32][33]

Jessica Multari of TV Week called the series "a new TV obsession".[34] Multari found that "there's more to Ten's new Aussie series than socialites swanning around in stilettos supporting their sports star husbands. Scratch the surface and you'll find secrets, betrayal, deceit and heartache."[34] Praising the character of Paige, Multari said she won the audience over with her country charm and stole all of the scenes she was in.[34]

Bridget McManus of The Sydney Morning Herald also gave the series a positive response, writing "This is the Aussie Rules WAG drama that was begging to be made. With a murder mystery blighting the start of the season and rumours and innuendo flying like the proverbial at the ceiling fan, it's a story that could have been lifted straight from a gossip site."[35]

The Age's Karl Quinn said the show's "most obvious comparison is Footballers' Wives, the hysterically over-the-top soapie about English soccer WAGs. But while it has its share of funny moments, Playing For Keeps is a far more sober – and certainly less snarky – affair."[36]

The first season of Playing for Keeps was released on DVD via Roadshow Entertainment.[37]

  1. ^ "Playing for Keeps (2018)". Screen Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  2. ^ Groves, Don (10 November 2017). "Ten unveils a new drama, comedies and pilots week". If Magazine. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b Lynch, Jessica (27 May 2018). "Playing For Keeps Is The Hot New Show You Need In Your Life". Ten daily. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b Groves, Don (24 August 2018). "Secrets, lies and scandals in Network Ten/Screentime's 'Playing for Keeps'". If Magazine. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Ten announces premiere date of new Aussie drama Playing For Keeps". Mediaweek. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Ten announce cast for new drama Playing For Keeps". DeciderTV. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Playing For Keeps: Meet the main players of Ten's sexy new drama". TV Week. TV Week. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. ^ Isrin, Kietley (25 May 2018). "Exclusive: Former Neighbours star Olympia Valance on exciting new role". TV Week. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Isabella Giovinazzo opens up about her big career move". TV Week. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  10. ^ Moran, Jonathon (29 June 2018). "From Summer Bay to the footy field, life after Home and Away for Isabella Giovinazzo". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  11. ^ Moustafa, Abi (14 November 2018). "Channel Ten confirms Playing For Keeps is returning for Season 2". Who. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Knox, David (28 September 2018). "Returning: Playing for Keeps". TV Tonight. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  13. ^ Hockey, Maddison (7 October 2019). "Meet the two new cast members joining Playing For Keeps season 2". TV Week. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  14. ^ Knox, David (3 February 2021). "Axed: Playing for Keeps, Trial by Kyle, Celebrity Name Game, One Born Every Minute Aus". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. ^ Knox, David (28 September 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 19 September 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  16. ^ Knox, David (6 October 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 26 September 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  17. ^ Knox, David (13 October 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 3 October 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  18. ^ Knox, David (21 October 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 10 October 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  19. ^ Manning, James (18 October 2018). "TV Ratings October 17: Nine wins by narrow margin primary and combined". Mediaweek. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  20. ^ Knox, David (3 November 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 24 October 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  21. ^ Knox, David (10 November 2018). "Timeshifted: Wednesday 31 October 2018". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  22. ^ Knox, David (16 November 2018). "ABC shows flows across Wednesday, Seven takes win". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  23. ^ Knox, David (17 October 2019). "Block, Gruen Win Wednesday Slots". TV Tonight. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  24. ^ Knox, David (24 October 2019). "Playing For Keeps Low, As Gruen Leads Slot". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  25. ^ Knox, David (31 October 2019). "Today Show Hits New 2019 Low". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  26. ^ Knox, David (7 November 2019). "Celebrity Name Game trails ABC". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  27. ^ Knox, David (14 November 2019). "Bachelorette Up, Love Island Down". TV Tonight. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  28. ^ Manning, James (21 November 2019). "TV Ratings November 20: Seven Worlds One Planet a winner". Mediaweek. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  29. ^ Manning, James (28 November 2019). "TV Ratings: ARIA Awards celebration of Australian music slips in ratings". Mediaweek. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  30. ^ Knox, David (5 December 2019). "Wednesday 4 December 2019". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  31. ^ a b c d "TEN launches web series delving deeper into the lives of those Playing For Keeps". Mediaweek. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Australia's Juiciest Drama Playing For Keeps Launches Sidelines: A Web Series Exclusive to 10 Play" (Press release). TV Blackbox. 30 October 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Sidelines". Network 10. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  34. ^ a b c Multari, Jessica (19 September 2018). "Opinion: Why we're obsessed with Ten's new drama series Playing For Keeps". TV Week. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  35. ^ McManus, Bridget (23 September 2018). "What's on TV: Wednesday, September 26". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  36. ^ Quinn, Karl (5 October 2018). "From Bogan to WAG, Annie Maynard is Playing for Keeps". The Age. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  37. ^ a b c "Playing for Keeps: Series 1". Big W. May 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.