Hitting it Big on the Small Screen: The TV Nominees for the L'Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards

Australian television audiences are loving local content this year and the TV nominees for this year's L'Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards suggest why. There’s an abundance of home-grown quality entertainment on the box right now, and it’s no wonder that many of the nominated shows attracted audiences of between one and two million weekly. Why not stay in the lounge-room when the shows are this enticing, exciting or intriguing? And they’re still, mostly, free-to-air.

A quick glance at the nominated programs tells us a lot about the current state of Australian television – what we’re making, and what we like to see:

• Criminals, cops and the country dominate Television Drama and Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series nominees. Our cities look dangerous and thrilling, packed with fast action, handsome lawmen, ruthless gangsters and classy brothels. On the other hand, the country is a place of redemption, natural beauty and slowly-built but strong community ties.
• Mockumentaries and music make us smile in the nominees for Best Television Comedy Series and Best Light Entertainment Series. Having a laugh is serious business, whether it’s a musical quiz show, an expose of advertising’s dastardly practices or a probing interview with a celebrity.
• A tradition of quality continues in this year’s Best Children’s Television nominees. Our kids are lucky to find magic and fun in the ocean; in the computer-generated land of make believe; or in a remote Aboriginal community.

To read our stories about the people and programs nominated for the L'Oréal Paris 2008 AFI Awards, click on the links below:

• For Television Drama, Telefeatures, Mini-Series and Short Run Series click here
• For Television Comedy and Light Entertainment Series click here
• For Children’s Television Drama click here

A full list of this year's television nominees can be found here.