QWhen will 'Hey Dad..!' be released on DVD?
AShock DVD has released two 'Best of' compilations in Australia: The Best of Hey Dad, a 2-disc region 4 set containing 13 episodes from Season 3, and The Best of Hey Dad Volume 2, a 2-disc region 0 set with a variety of episodes from later seasons. Shock has stated that due to poor sales, there will be no further Australian releases for this series. German DVD company Polyband has obtained the region 2 rights for the first 149 episodes, releasing a 5-disc set of Season 1 in October 2008, a 5-disc set of Season 2 in March 2009, a 6-disc set of Season 3 in September 2009, and a 3-disc set of Season 4 in March 2010. The only extras included are in the Season 1 set. They are the original unaired versions of the pilot and 'One for the Road', plus a 'Hey Dad..!' refridgerator magnet. Unfortunately for English speaking fans, only the DVDs for Seasons 1 & 2 contain the original English audio, while Seasons 3 & 4 have German audio only.
QWhat happens in the pilot?
ATired of the pompous, overbearing ways of his original secretary, Martin Kelly fires the dislikable Miss Stephens. He puts the call through to an agency, in search of a temporary replacement. But when Betty Wilson arrives unannounced on Mr. Kelly's doorstep from Walgett, he mistakes her as being sent by the agency, immediately putting her to work. Betty reveals their family connection, and is invited to stay as a guest until she can find her own flat. Meanwhile, Betty's luggage goes missing, and the police are called to investigate.
QWhy did the original Dad leave the show?
AIn a TV Week article dated 23 April 1994, Robert Hughes explained: "I was feeling stuck in the series - the same routine over and over and over again. 'Hey Dad..!' had been very good to me and it helped raise my profile as an actor. But it was time to move on. I was feeling really stale and it can be debilitating for an actor to be so closely identified with one character. I thought I had to make the break." The storyline explanation for his character's departure was that Martin was moving overseas to take on a high-paying job in Saudi Arabia. There have also been reports of a somewhat less-than-harmonious backstage working environment during the show's later years, with friction between certain cast members allegedly playing a part in Robert leaving the series. Robert has not participated in any 'Hey Dad..!' cast reunions. In March 2010, it was alleged by producer Gary Reilly and casting agent Liz Mullinar that Robert left the series after speculation that he was molesting the younger cast members. Liz stated on Today Tonight that they had to make him quit, while Gary says he and Robert had stand up rows about the allegations. When Robert left, Gary said he was relieved.
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