Pugwall/Pugwall’s Summer

1 9 8 9 (Australia)
16 x 25 minute episodes
1 9 9 1 (Australia)
26 x 25 minute episodes

This children’s series from the Australian Nine Network starred thirteen-year-old Peter Unwin George Wall – aka “Pugwall” (Jason Torrens) – a suburban kid with a big dream. He wanted to be the guitarist in a successful rock band.

With his mates Bazza (Troy Beckwith) on keyboards, Orfo (Jay McCormack) on drums, Stringbean (Ricky Fleming) on bass, and Jenny (Rebecca Blomberg) on lead vocals, Pugwall formed a band called The Orange Organics.

Pugwall’s obsessive-compulsive mother, “Supes” (Louise Hall) – short for Superwoman, his estate agent father, “Herohead” (Ken James) and his annoying younger sister, Marion  – aka Marmaloid (Emma Snow) because of her ginger hair – loved him very much. Still, they could make his life very difficult sometimes.

Pugwall was constantly tormented by Con Tarcopolis (Peter Tzefrios) and Wazza (Anthony Engelman) and regularly harassed by Daniella Valentina (Marcela Toro) who wanted to sing in the band. She worked in a fish and chip shop and often bribed band members with free food.

When director John Gauci created the original 16 episodes in 1989, he assumed the show would be shown weekly. Instead, Channel Nine chose to run the episodes daily at 4.30 pm, and the series was virtually over before most of the young audience had found it.

By the third week, though, it was rating highly, and Nine ploughed over $1 million into 26 more episodes, broadcast as Pugwall’s Summer.

The series was filmed at Greythorn High School in North Balwyn (Victoria, Australia) after the school had been closed down and before the land was sold. Some big-name Aussie TV personalities guested, including Elspeth Ballantyne, Bud Tingwell and Maurie Fields.

Pugwall aired in the UK on Channel 4.

Peter Unwin George ‘Pugwall’ Wall
Jason Torrens
Yuri ‘Orfo’ Orfonsinski
Jay McCormack
Stringbean
Ricky Fleming
Jeremy ‘Bazza’ Bazlington
Troy Beckwith
Frank ‘Herohead’ Wall
Ken James
Margaret ‘Supes’ Wall
Louise Hall
Marion ‘Marmaloid’ Wall
Emma Snow
Jenny Fleet
Rebecca Blomberg
Con Tarcopolis
Peter Tzefrios
Wazza
Anthony Engelman
Hughsey
Gareth Morley
Bashem
Roy Edmunds
Uncle Harry
Maurie Fields
Dr Pongerton
Frank Bren
Melissa
Aimee Robertson
Daniella Valentina
Marcela Toro
Aunt Annabelle
Elspeth Ballantyne
Carrie
Kylie De Giorgio
Emmie
Lucy Robertson
Pammie
Sharon DiGorgio
Mr Orfonsinski
Maciej Staniewicz
Anastasia Orfonsinski
Julie Day
Francie
Dior Deumer
Summerbum
Jennifer Jarman-Walker
Rochelle
Simone Robertson
Basil Pongerton
Eamonn Kelly
Jimmy Bazzlington
Brent Hutchinson

Episodes

Enter Pugwall | Hospital | Jenny | Hollow Drums | Of Apples and Bulls | Blast Off | Outing | Heroes | The Race | The Local Show | Tins and Labels | The Holiday | Marmaloid Marches | The School Camp | The Talent Quest | The Final || Back to Earth | Goals | Skeletons | The Hand of Fete | Take the Rap | Five Kids & A Baby | Decibelles | Orange Crush | Rebellion | Christmas Hocking | Heat Rash | Duelling Divas | Breaking Out | The Great Guitar Robbery | Home Hits | Struck Oil | Save the World: Part One | Save the World: Part Two | King of the Paper Round | Mr Humble | Torture Test | St Valentina’s Day | Extra-Terrestrials | Thumbs Up | Organics Incorporated | Go for Gold

Video