Last Man Standing started in June 2005 and concluded in October of the same year. With the exception of an over-priced (and likely low-print run) DVD release, the show will likely disappear into the ether of Australian television series that will never be seen again. Unless a home is eventually found online or repeats broadcast on digital television, Last Man Standing will join the many forgotten Australian TV series that rarely get more than a single screening in their local marketplace.
And honestly, it deserves better. The show was witty, with solid production standards and a charming cast. It should be remembered. And so, here at Televised Revolution, we’re seeking to provide an archive of sorts for the program with a look at the show episode by episode.
Writer: Marieke Hardy
Director: Daniel Nettheim
Australian air date: 06/06/05
Plot Synopsis: Adam (Roger Corser), dealing with a hangover following a night out drinking with Boxy, joins his mates Cameron (Matt Passmore) and Bruno (Travis McMahon) at the wedding of their friends Mark and Charlotte.
Following the characters from the wedding to the reception, we see Cameron confronted with the return of his ex-wife Zoe (Miriama Smith), Adam confronted with the realization that his relationship with his long-term girlfriend Louisa is at its end, and Bruno confronted with the realization that he had experienced Cameron’s sloppy seconds when sleeping with bride Charlotte several years prior.
The episode concludes with an emotionally distraught Adam doing the unforgiveable by sleeping with best mate Cameron’s ex-wife Zoe.
Thoughts: In the context of the series as a whole, the episode has the show off to a solid start. In watching the episode in itself, having the majority of the episode take place at the reception was a mistake. As an entry point to the series, having the viewer feel as though they are the +1 at a wedding where they know none of the other guests very well did nothing but alienate the audience.
Bruno’s concerns about his past encounter with the bride serves is excellent comic foil for the first half of the episode, but by the time the audience has developed an investment in the lives of Adam and Cameron, Bruno’s schtick begins to serve as an irritant. It is obvious that the shows writer Marieke Hardy was keen to give him something to do in the episode, but unfortunately it served as detrimental to the episode as a whole.
Inspired Moment: Watching Adam come to the realization that his relationship is truly dead in the water and that he is now a single man, whether he wanted it or not, while trying to dance with his now ex-girlfriend to the tune of ‘Blister In the Sun‘.
Recurring: Kat Stewart (playing the role of Zoe’s friend Clare) is always a welcome sight on television. Most viewers will know her from her regular sketch work on Newstopia. Greg Fleet also manages to completely steal the show with his appearance as the hard-drinking friend Boxy.
Agree with you that LMS was a show that deserved a better life. I only discovered it once Seven bumped it to a later timeslot to play out its remaining episodes, because it wasn’t an immediate hit at 9.30pm. Pity Seven didn’t let the show develop more of a following.
Weird, I was just thinking about this show about 10 mins ago. One of these days I’m going to bite the bullet and buy the DVDs, it was total quality. And I’ve always been disappointed they didn’t release a soundtrack.