History Series / TheNewsreader

* AspectRatioSwitch: Each Season 2 episode begins with an '80s-era VanityPlate of the Creator/AustralianBroadcastingCorporation in the 4:3 aspect ratio (which was the standard for television before the invention of [[Platform/HighDefinition HDTV]]), then it switches to 16:9 for the rest of its runtime.

* AspectRatioSwitch: Each Season 2 episode begins with an '80s-era VanityPlate of the Creator/AustralianBroadcastingCorporation in the 4:3 aspect ratio (which was the standard for television before the invention of [[UsefulNotes/HighDefinition HDTV]]), then it switches to 16:9 for the rest of its runtime.

''The Newsreader'' is an Australian series produced by Creator/TheABC which premiered on 15 August 2021. In TheEighties, Helen Norville (Creator/AnnaTorv) is the female anchor of the highly rated ''News at Six'' programme based out of Melbourne, navigating the continuing sexism of the period, office politics and a developing relationship with one of her reporters, Dale Jennings (Creator/SamReid). All this while reporting on major stories as they develop.

It's Creator/TheABC's most-watched drama program of 2021. At the 11th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, it received the most nominations and won in five categories, including Best Television Drama Series and Best Lead Actress -- Drama.

* AspectRatioSwitch: Each Season 2 episode begins with an '80s-era VanityPlate of Creator/TheABC in the 4:3 aspect ratio (which was the standard for television before the invention of [[UsefulNotes/HighDefinition HDTV]]), then it switches to 16:9 for the rest of its runtime.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When CEO Charlie Tate tries to rebrand the network, he relays to Dennis (who then relays to the others) that the vibe they are going for is "backyard barbecue." He goes on to list other foods that networks could be, and states that "Creator/TheABC is like a [[SelfDeprecation plate of veggies]]."

* BettyAndVeronica: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the love triangle between Dale, Helen, and Tim. At first brush, it appears that glamorous, career-driven, occasionally-unscrupulous Helen is the Veronica and sweet, conscientious camera operator Tim is the Betty. However, in a subversion of how this trope usually works, Dale (the Archie) is in a very loving and committed relationship with Helen, but briefly cheats on her with Tim. (Dale and Tim kiss twice after a particularly harrowing day; it seems likely that Tim would've been willing to go further than kissing if Dale hadn't put a stop to things.)

* BettyAndVeronica: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the love triangle between Dale, Helen, and Tim. At first brush, it appears that glamorous, career-driven, occasionally-unscrupulous Helen is the Veronica and sweet, conscientious camera operator Tim is the Betty. However, in a subversion of how this trope usually works, Dale (the Archie) is in a very loving and committed relationship with Helen, but briefly cheats on her with Tim.

* BettyAndVeronica: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the love triangle between Dale, Helen, and Tim. At first brush, it appears that ambitious, career-driven, occasionally-unscrupulous Helen is the Veronica and sweet, conscientious camera operator Tim is the Betty. However, in a subversion of how this trope usually works, Dale (the Archie) is in a very loving and committed relationship with Helen, but briefly cheats on her with Tim.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When Channel Six CEO Charlie Tate tries to rebrand the network, he relays to Dennis (who then relays to the others) that the vibe they are going for is "backyard barbecue." He goes on to list other foods that networks could be, and states that "Creator/TheABC is like a [[SelfDeprecation plate of veggies]]."

* NoNameGiven: The network is never named in dialogue or on-screen.

* TheEighties:

* ElectionDayEpisode: a majority of episode 2x01 centres around the News at Six coverage of the 1987 Australian national election, including a stressful interview by Helen with then treasurer, Paul Keating.

* {{Gaydar}}: Gerry (correctly) assumes not long after meeting him that Dale is "open to possibilities" (a.k.a. bisexual) just like he is.

** 1986 for the first season, covering the ''Challenger'' disaster through to Chernobyl.
** Season 2 is set in 1987.

* AlwaysCamp: Gerry is your stereotypical 80s talk show host, complete with a sparkly suit jackets, bedazzled back up dancers and a cover of Music/GeorgeMichael.

* BisexualLoveTriangle: Dale's two love interests are Helen, the feisty and talented lead newswoman, and Tim, the gentle, fun loving and openly gay cameraman.

* {{Gaydar}}: Gerry (correctly) assumes not long after meeting him that Dale is "open to possibilities" (a.k.a. bisexual) just like him.

* HappilyMarried: Gerry and Carla are an interesting take on this. They've been married for over a decade, and have a daughter. They truly support and love each other, there seems to be no problems with their marriage at all. But, as Dale points out, it's not a [[MyGirlIsASlut "conventional marriage"]]. It seems to work for them, though, and Carla is extremely supportive for Gerry's bisexuality and the fact he sleeps with men.

* MentorInQueerness: Gerry acts as this to Dale. He's more confident in his bisexuality than Dale, and having come to terms with who he is, he sets out in season 2 to help Dale explore who he is. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, this doesn't work out. At the end of season 2, Dale ends up drinking heavily just to work up the courage to sleep with a man, tells Tim to go to the press and deny that anything happened between them, and gets Gerry fired after Gerry is outed to the press]].

* MistakenForGay: In the second episode, Lindsay and Rob assumed that Dale was a "poof" (the British pejorative for a gay man), so they're very surprised that he's dating Helen. Dale is in fact bisexual.

* MentorInQueerness: Gerry acts as this to Dale. He's more confident in his bisexuality than Dale, and having come to terms with who he is, he sets out in season 2 to help Dale explore who he is. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, this doesn't work out. At the end of season 2, Dale ends up drinking heavily just to work up the courage to sleep with a man, tells Tim to go to the press and deny that anything happened between them, and gets Gerry fired after Gerry is outed as bisexual]].

* AlwaysCamp: Gerry is a talk show in the 80s, complete with a sparkly suit jackets, bedazzled back up dancers and a cover of Music/GeorgeMichael.

* BisexualLoveTriangle: Dale's two love interests are Helen and Tim.

* AlcoholInducedBisexuality: Subverted. Dale attempts to invoke this trope after he kisses Tim; he tells Tim that he only kissed him because of adrenaline from the bombing and a few drinks after the shoot. Tim is politely disdainful of Dale's excuses.
-->'''Tim''': It wasn't the shots, by the way. We never drank them.

* TheBogan: Rob is a sports broadcaster and former [[UsefulNotes/AustralianRulesFootball football]] player known for being somewhat uncouth, and though [[InnocentBigot well meaning]], can veer into racist and homophobic territory.

* FisticuffProvokingComment: Dennis has dealt with a lot of racist micro-aggressions as the only South Asian man on the news team, but [[spoiler:when Lindsay calls him a "piss weak, half arsed coffee boy in a bad acrylic vest", that's just a step too far, and Lindsay gets a punch right to the nose]].

* FourthDateMarriage: Gerry and Carla met on a cruise in the 1970s and Gerry states they were "basically married" by the time the cruise had ended.

* ImmigrantPatriotism: PlayedWith. Gerry Carroll is an Irish immigrant who has lived in Australia for over a decade. He's tasked with helping cover the 1987 national election and bicentennial of Australia's colonisation alongside the News At Six and is advertised as an "adopted Australian" during said coverage. He also makes jokes about Australian politics and pop culture on his show. But he also seems to have moved mainly to be with his wife, and isn't particularly patriotic off air. He isn't even registered to vote in national elections[[note]]Voting is compulsory in Australia[[/note]], which suggests he might not even be a citizen.
* InnocentBigot: Rob is well meaning, but he can say a lot of casually racist things, especially around his Korean girlfriend, Noelene. He's also used the word "poof"[[note]]a pejorative term for a gay/queer man[[/note]] to describe both Dale and Gerry.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When Channel Six CEO, Charlie Tate tries to rebrand the network, he relays to Dennis (who relays to the others) that the vibe they are going for is "backyard barbecue". He goes on to list other foods that networks could be, and states that "Creator/TheABC is like a [[SelfDeprecation plate of veggies]]".

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: When Channel Six CEO l, Charlie Tate tries to rebrand the network, he relays to Dennis (who relays to the others) that the vibe they are going for is "backyard barbecue". He goes on to list other foods that networks could be, and states that "Creator/TheABC is like a [[SelfDeprecation plate of veggies]]".