East West 101 is an Australian drama series airing on the SBS network. The series was produced and created by Steven Knapman and Kris Wyld, the team behind other drama series such as Wildside and White Collar Blue. It ran for three seasons between 2007 and 2011.
East West 101 is set around the Major Crime Squad in metropolitan Sydney. It was based upon the experiences of actual detectives in a crime unit in Sydney's western suburbs.Knapman Wyld Television homepage. It was filmed on location, in Sydney suburbs such as Auburn, Bankstown, Redfern, Chinatown and Maroubra.
The series was made by SBS with the Film Finance Corporation of Australia and the New South Wales Film and Television Office. It has been sold to Israel and other countries in the Middle East. The second season finished airing on 24 November 2009, and a third season was announced and filmed in 2010. It began airing on SBS One on 20 April 2011. The DVD of the third season was released on 4 May 2011.
Cast
Main Don Hany as Detective Zane Malik Susie Porter as Detective Superintendent Patricia Wright Aaron Fa'aoso as Detective Sonny Koa Daniela Farinacci as Detective Helen Callas Renee Lim as Constable Jung Lim Matt Nable as Detective Neil Travis (season 3, credited as Matthew Nable)
Supporting Lucy Abroon as Yasmeen Malik Serhat Caradee as Oscar Catas (season 2) Richard Carter as Mick Deakin (season 2) Richard Cawthorne as Sterling (season 3) George Fayed as Amir Malik Dimitri Giameos as Ali El Babb (Season 1) Gyton Grantley as Craig Deakin (season 2) Taffy Hany as Rahman Malik Gerald Lepkowski as Agent Richard Skeritt (season 2) William McInnes as Detective Sergeant Ray Crowley (season 1) Irini Pappas as Mariam Malik (season 1) Tasneem Roc as Amina Malik Costa Ronin as Gregorovich (season 2) Damian de Montemas as Zimmer
Guests Aaron Jeffery as Hunter (3 episodes) Aaron Pedersen as Adam King (1 episode) Alyssa McClelland as Vesna Popov (1 episode) Daisy Betts as TV reporter (1 episode) Damian Walshe-Howling as Tony Caruso (1 episode) Denise Roberts as Janet Miller (1 episode) Firass Dirani as Talai (1 episode) Jacek Koman as Roman (2 episodes) John Brumpton as John Hunt (3 episodes) Josef Ber as Agent Doug Ford (6 episodes) Leon Ford as John Duff (1 episode) Malcolm Kennard as Edward Kirkbride (1 episode) Michael Denkha as Akmal Fahd Myles Pollard as John Woodhouse (1 episode) Nicole da Silva as Lily (1 episode) Osamah Sami as Latif Kazi (2 episodes) Richard Carter as Mick Deakin (5 episodes) Robert Mammone as Oliver Troy (6 episodes) Tammy MacIntosh as Sally Wilson (1 episode) Thom Green as Seth Rawlins (1 episode) Tony Nikolakopoulos as Omar (2 episodes) Tory Mussett as Karen Keeda (1 episode) Victoria Haralabidou as Helena Tadic / Saja (3 episodes)
Plot
Season one The first season centered around two detectives, Zane Malik (Don Hany), a Muslim and Ray Crowley (William McInnes), an Anglo-Australian, who are pitted against each other in a struggle for respect. They try to balance work with their own cultural and religious beliefs, which results in tension between cultures, egos and workmates.SBS’s East-West 101 bridges the cultural divide . IF.com. Recurring stories throughout the season include Malik's search for the man who shot his father and Crowley's struggle with his son's death. The cast also included Susie Porter as Inspector Patricia Wright, Aaron Fa'aoso as Detective Sonny Koa, Daniela Farinacci as Detective Helen Callas and Renee Lim as Jung Lim. Zane's father, Rahman Malik, is played by Taffy (Toffeek) Hany, the real life father of Don Hany.East West 101 . Knapman Wyld Television Pty Ltd.
Season two In season two, detective Malik is caught up in the aftermath of a car bomb which has killed two men, and heralded the arrival of NSO Agent Richard Skeritt (Gerald Lepkowski). The attack seemingly has links to a Muslim terrorist threat that they work to uncover. Meanwhile, Patricia Wright navigates her tumultuous relationship with her family, including her unpredictable brother, Craig (Gyton Grantley) and father, Mick (Richard Carter). Helen Callas, heavily pregnant, Sonny Koa and Jung Lim also return, investigating crimes that cross cultural boundaries in Sydney's multicultural inner west.
Season three Following a deadly armoured bank transport robbery by a highly organized team, Malik's wife Amina and son Amir are involved in a seemingly unrelated car accident. After Amir dies of an undetected aortic dissection, Malik takes the accident investigation personally.
Reception
Australian ratings
Season Timeslot Season premiere Season finale Viewers 1st Thursday 8:30pm 6 December 2007 10 January 2008 331,300East West 101 Series 1 Episode Guide (Ratings). Australian Television information archive. 2nd Tuesday 8:30pm 13 October 2009 24 November 2009 153,400East West 101 Series 2 Episode Guide (Ratings). Australian Television information archive.
Awards
AACTA Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2008 Best Telefeature, Mini Series or Short Run Series Best Direction in Television Peter Andrikidis Best Screenplay in Television Kris Wyld Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Don Hany William McInnes Best Guest or Supporting Actor in a Television Drama Taffy Hany 2009 Best Television Drama Series Best Direction in Television Peter Andrikidis Best Lead Actress in a Television Drama Susie Porter Best Screenplay in Television Michael Miller and Kristen Dunphy Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama Don Hany
Australian Directors Guild Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2008 Best Direction Television Mini Series Peter Andrikidis
Australian Writers Guild Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2008Television Mini Series - Original Kristen Dunphy, Michael Miller, Kris Mrksa, Michelle Offen and Kris Wyld 2009 Vanessa Bates, Kristen Dunphy, Michael Miller, Michelle Offen, David Ogilvy and Katherine Thomson
APRA-AGSC Screen Music Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2008 Best Music for a Mini-Series or Telemovie Guy Gross
Equity Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2011 Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Cast
Logie Awards Year Category Nominee Series Result Ref2008 Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie Full list of Logie nominees, The Daily Telegraph, 7 April 2008.Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Don Hany William McInnes 2010 Most Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or Telemovie Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Don Hany Most Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Susie Porter 2012 Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Don Hany
References
External links
Knox, David (27 November 2007). First Review: East West 101; TV Tonight. Knox, David (15 July 2009). Returning: East West 101. TV Tonight. East West 101 at Australian Screen Online