| Don't Blame Me | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Don't Blame the Koalas |
| Genre | Children's Comedy |
| Written by | Geoff Newton Kym Goldsworthy Simon Hopkinson John Armstrong John Thomson |
| Directed by | Kevin James Dobson, Marcus Cole, Raymond Quint, Ralph Strasser |
| Starring | Liam Hess Hollie Chapman Basia A'Hern Shaun Loseby Henry Nixon Fiona Terry Anh Do |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Kris Noble Nick Wilson Noel Price |
| Producers | Noel Price Dennis Kiely |
| Production locations | Waratah Park, Australia |
| Running time | 24 minutes |
| Production company | Southern Star Group |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 6 October 2002 – 30 March 2003 |
Don't Blame Me is an Australian children's television program. In the United Kingdom, the show is known as Don't Blame the Koalas. The series was originally aired on the Nine Network and is also currently shown on ABC3 (the latter channel airing under the UK title).
Series overview
The show is set in Wallaby Park, an Australian wildlife park in the Ku-ring-gai National Park where the King family arrive from the United Kingdom to live with their Australian relatives after going bankrupt. Before they arrive they believe they have inherited a large cattle ranch, but on arrival are disappointed to meet a largely unprofitable, slightly run down wildlife park.
Most of the comedy in the series is slightly surreal in a Round the Twist/Driven Crazy style way. Special effects and sounds are used to convey the characters actions mixed in with slightly speeded up footage when walking. Many of the characters frequently break the fourth wall. Having to do whatever means to keep the wildlife park up to building code standards for visitor's, Vinnie – played by Anh Do – has a dark past that he must call upon his old friends still involved in the Golden Triangle to save the day.
Cast
- Liam Hess – Gregory King
- Hollie Chapman – Gemma King
- Basia A'Hern – Kate King
- Shaun Loseby- Mark King
- Henry Nixon – Chris King
- Fiona Terry – Gabrielle King
- Anh Do – Vinnie
- Wendy Playfair - Mrs. Smythe
- Rhys Wakefield - Brad
- Sophie Luck
- Celia Ireland – Schoolteacher
Season 1
| Episode No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | "Fate Steps In" |
| 2 | "All Kings Together" |
| 3 | "Gemma Makes Her Mark" |
| 4 | "Greg Scores A Goal" |
| 5 | "The Old Devil Music" |
| 6 | "A Snake In The Class" |
| 7 | "The Monster Of Wallaby Park" |
| 8 | "Animal Art" |
| 9 | "Guru Mark" |
| 10 | "Things That Go Bump" |
| 11 | "Happy Families" |
| 12 | "Suspicious Minds" |
| 13 | "The Dingo Made Me Do It" |
| 14 | "Best Foot Forward" |
| 15 | "The Burger Master" |
| 16 | "All For A Good Cause" |
| 17 | "Billy Cart Madness" |
| 18 | "Liar Liar" |
| 19 | "A Star Is Born" |
| 20 | "Dropped In It" |
| 21 | "Kate's Greatest Fan" |
| 22 | "Murder, Mystery, Mayhem" |
| 23 | "Hoop Dreams" |
| 24 | "Jinxed" |
| 25 | "Who's Who?" |
| 26 | "Justice For All" |
Production
Filming
Much of the filming for Don't Blame the Koalas was done on location in various parts of the Thirty Mile Zone around Los Angeles.
Unlike Malcolm in the Middle, studio filming for Don't Blame the Koalas took place on Stage 21 at Nine Network Australia, 1 Denison Street, North Sydney.
Like Malcolm in the Middle, hallmarks of the series' filming and structure, many of which heavily influenced later programs, included the following:
- A 1 and a half second whip pan as a transition from one scene to another.
- Frequent pieces to camera delivered by the King family.