Sensationalistic Storylines Challenged
12th May 2008
Neighbours has attracted media critacisms over recent Australian paced storylines.
Neighbours remains on fairly shaky ground as fans continue to express displeasure with recent changes. These have seen a massive increase in cast turnover (which will see several big characters leave Ramsay Street in the coming months) and the introduction of sensationalist storylines in an apparent attempt to emulate Home and Away (which outperforms Neighbours on a daily basis in terms of Australian ratings).
The new storylines have seen an increase in angst as characters are injected with secrets and issues in an attempt to provide scope for the dramatic plotlines planned.
A byproduct of the new themes has seen Neighbours beginning to push its family friendly focus, a attraction to many fans which is enforced by Neighbours fairly early time slot which prevents adult topics from being broached. It appears that the increase in such storylines hasn't gone unnoticed however with various tabloids picking up on a current incest based storyline in Australia.
The Australian Family Association has accused Neighbours of introducing the storyline to capitalise on recent global news and attract viewers through controversy.
Whilst this has been quickly refuted by current Neighbours executive producer Susan Bowen, it appears that Neighbours is trying to boost it's flagging ratings through varying experimentation.
The usage of models and reality television contestants, who are known to the Australian public but have little or no acting accreditation seems to back the apparent attempt to encourage new viewers. So far however the injection of new cast and the several month old Neighbours revamp has done little to improve ratings.
