Rush is an Australian television police drama that first aired on Network Ten on 2 September 2008. Set in Melbourne, Victoria, it focuses on the members of a Police Tactical Response team. It is produced by John Edwards and Mimi Butler for Endemol Australia, which was branded as the Southern Star Group during production of the series.
In late October 2011, text phrasing on the cover art of Entertainment One's DVD release of the fourth series first indicated Rush would not return for another series, meaning series 4 would be its last. Soon after, the production company, known at the time as the Southern Star Group confirmed with TV Tonight that a fifth series had not been commissioned. Network Ten did not issue any press releases stating the wrapping up of Rush. Executive Producer of Drama and Production at Network Ten, Rick Maier, issued a statement on the show's official Facebook page: "While we don't discount a return series, it is not on the cards at this stage – but we do intend to finish season four with a bang, literally."
Plot Rush follows the lives of members of the prestigious Tactical Response team (TR), which is based on the real life Victoria Police Critical Incident Response Team, a highly mobile unit that fills the operational gap between general duties police and the SWAT-like Special Operations Group. The team is seen responding to violent incidents such as carjackings, suicides and armed offences.
Most of the episodes involve at least one main plot, with one or two smaller subplots throughout each episode. In some cases, they will focus on one plot, while the personal lives tend to fall into the form of smaller subplots that span over a number of episodes. Usually the team is divided into two, one team per case, with the team taking the minor subplot meeting up with the major team at some stage throughout the episode. The usual six-person team is split between two vehicles known as TR01 and TR02.
In series four, the composition of the plot was revamped with only one large and extensive arc featured throughout the 13 episodes, as opposed to the story-line structure of prior series.
Production The pilot for Rush, originally titled Rapid Response, was filmed in 2004 and based on an earlier Police Rescue script.Knox, David. Rush – First Review, TV Tonight, 28 August 2008. The pilot featured several characters and cast who did not return for the series, including Matthew Le Nevez, Libby Tanner and Corinne Grant. The series was initially rejected but years later was picked up for production when the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike affected Ten's imported shows.
Sergeant Dominic "Dom" Wales, played by Josef Ber, was originally scripted to be killed in the first season, however during production Van der Boom asked to be released. Her US working visa had been approved and being a "Residency Visa", required her to move to the US. As such, the character of Grace was killed off instead. Jolene Anderson joined the cast for the second series, from 16 July 2009. The series is filmed in Victoria in both regional and metropolitan areas.
A third season of Rush was announced by Channel Ten on 25 September 2009. It premiered in the time-slot of 8:30pm on 22 July 2010.
A thirteen-episode fourth season was confirmed by Channel Ten's Executive Producer of Drama and Production, Rick Maier on 12 November 2010. He stated "Rush continues to deliver great stories, great stunts and some of the best performances on TV". Filming for the fourth season began on 6 May 2011.
Cast
Main cast Actor/actress Character Rank Past rank/s Tenure Episodes Rodger Corser Lawson Blake Senior Sergeant 2008–2011 01–70 Callan Mulvey Brendan 'Josh' Joshua Sergeant 2008–2011 01–70 Claire van der Boom Grace Barry Senior Constable 2008 01–11 Josef Ber Dominic 'Dom' Wales Sergeant 2008–2010 01–51 Nicole da Silva Stella Dagostino Senior Constable Constable 2008–2011 01–70 Ashley Zukerman Michael Sandrelli Senior Constable Constable 2008–2011 01-65 Samuel Johnson Leon Broznic Intelligence Officer 2008–2011 01-70 Catherine McClements Kerry Vincent Superintendent Inspector 2008–2011 01-70 Jolene Anderson Shannon Henry Sergeant Senior Constable 2009–2011 14–70 Luke Arnold Elliot Ryan Constable 2009 34–35 Kevin Hofbauer Christian Tapu Constable 2010–2011 36–70 Antony Starr Charlie Lewis Senior Sergeant 2011 58–70
Recurring Asher Keddie as Jacinta Burns; journalist and love interest of Lawson Blake (Season 2, 7 episodes) Camille Keenan as Audrey Khoo; police intelligence officer (Season 3, 15 episodes) Elena Mandalis as Anna Vargis; police minister (Season 4, 8 episodes) Ella-Rose Shenman as Minka Button; daughter of Tash Button (Seasons 3–4, 6 episodes) Emily Wheaton as Amber Cushing; niece and assistant of Leon Broznic (Seasons 4, 9 episodes) Ian Meadows as James Vincent; drug addict and son of Kerry Vincent (Seasons 3–4, 5 episodes) Jane Allsop as Tash Button; love interest of Brendan Joshua (Seasons 3–4, 12 episodes) Justin Rosniak as Tompkinson 'Tommo' (Seasons 3 & 4, 2 episodes) Kate Jenkinson as Nina Wise; love interest of Leon Broznic (Seasons 1–2, 4 episodes) Maia Thomas as Sandrine Wales; wife of Dominic Wales (Seasons 1–2, 4 episodes) Malcolm Kennard as Col Rainey; son of Doug Rainey (Season 4, 3 episodes) Mark Leonard Winter as Liam Rainey; son of Doug Rainey and brother of Col Rainey (Season 4, 3 episodes) Nathaniel Dean as Andrew Kronin; career criminal and nemesis of Lawson Blake (Seasons 2–3, 5 episodes) Nikki Shiels as Cleo Temple; journalist and love interest of Stella Dagostino (Season 4, 3 episodes) Paul Ireland as Boyd Kemper; brother of hit-and-run victim and love interest of Kerry Vincent (Season 2, 5 episodes) Peter Hardy as Doug Rainey; head of a notorious crime family (Season 4, 4 episodes) Rohan Nichol as Napthorn (Season 2, 3 episodes) Todd MacDonald as Connor Barry; husband of Grace Barry (Season 1, 6 episodes) Zed Ledden as Brian Marshall (Seasons 1–2, 3 episodes)
Guests Alicia Banit as Gemma Rose Parker (Season 1, 1 episode) Andrew Blackman as Geoffrey (Season 1, 1 episode) Anthony Hayes as Oliver Ginsberg (Season 3, 2 episodes) Blair Venn as Paul Duffy (1 episode) Brett Swain as Mr Osbourne (Season 4, 1 episode) Cameron Nugent as Tony Ellis (1 episode) Charlotte Gregg as Shay (Season 2, episode 12) Damien Fotiou as Zonneveldt (Season 3, 2 episodes) Daniela Farinacci as Rita (Season 1, 1 episode) Eliza Taylor as Madison Taylor Hume (Season 1, 1 episode) Elspeth Ballantyne as Edie (1 episode) Georgia Chara as Student (Season 2, 1 episode) Ian Bliss as Ollie Godard (1 episode) Jacek Koman as Anton (1 episode) Jack Finsterer as Michael Schmitt (Season 3, 1 episode) Jansen Spencer as Dimitrius / Gunman (Season 3, 2 episodes) John Brumpton as Charlie Thomas (1 episode) Kate Keltie as Abbie (Season 1, 1 episode) Lachy Hulme as Jacob White (Season 2, 1 episode) Lani Tupu as Pell Fisher (1 episode) Libby Tanner as Robyn Hume (Season 1, 1 episode) Lisa Aldenhoven as Jennifer (Season 2, 1 episode) Louise Crawford as Susie (Season 3, 1 episode) Louise Siversen as Raelene (Season 1, 1 episode) Marta Kaczmarek as Helen (Season 2, 1 episode) Martin Copping as Constable Young (Season 1, 2 episodes) Marty Fields as Ned Meribel (1 episode) Maude Davey as Donna (Season 3, 1 episode) Nell Feeney as Denise (Season 1, 1 episode) Nicholas Bell as Brett Cohen (Season 4, 2 episodes) Nick Carrafa as Carlo Lavilla (1 episode) Osamah Sami as Hazrat (1 episode) Paul Denny as Paul (1 episode) Peta Brady as Linda (Season 3, 1 episode) Richard Davies as Jerrod (Season 2, 1 episode) Simon Lyndon as Snuffy Wells (Season 1, 1 episode) Steve Mouzakis as Kreiser (Season 3, 1 episode) Tim Ross as Williams Caruthers (2 episodes) Tony Nikolakopoulos as Edward (Season 3, 1 episode) Salme Geransar (Season 3, 1 episode)
Episodes
Home media
Home media
TitleFormatDate released# of episodes# of discsSpecial featuresDistributors Season 01 DVD30 July 2009 13 4 Behind the scenesHopscotch EntertainmentSeason 02: Volume One DVD 3 December 2009 12 3 NoneHopscotch EntertainmentSeason 02: Volume Two DVD 1 April 2010 10 3 NoneHopscotch EntertainmentSeason 03: Volume One DVD2 December 2010 12 3 NoneHopscotch EntertainmentSeason 03: Volume Two DVD 3 March 2011 10 3 NoneHopscotch EntertainmentSeason 04 DVD 15 December 2011 13 3 NoneHopscotch EntertainmentThe Complete Series 1–4 DVD 5 December 2012 70 19 Behind the scenes (Series 1 only)Hopscotch EntertainmentThe Complete Collection DVD 4 August 2021 70 19 Behind the scenes (Series 1 only) Via Vision Entertainment
Online Streaming Original Broadcast on Tenplay (2008-2012)
Re-Release Broadcast On Tenplay (2019–Present)
TitleFormatEpisodes #Release dateStreaming StatusWeb ExtrasDistributors Rush: The Complete Season 01 Streaming 13 September - November 2008 6 September 2019 (Re-Release) Expired 2012 Current Behind The Scenes (Webisodes)
Rush Premiere Party (Ten News Video)
Photo Gallery Tenplay Rush: The Complete Season 02 Streaming 22 July - November 2009 6 September 2019 (Re-Release) Expired 2012 Current Behind The Scenes (Webisodes)
Photo Gallery Tenplay Rush: The Complete Season 03 Streaming 22 July - December 2010 6 September 2019 (Re-Release) Expired 2012 Current Behind The Scenes (Webisodes)
Photo Gallery Tenplay Rush: The Complete Season 04 Streaming 13 September - November 2011 6 September 2019 (Re-Release) Expired 2012 Current Behind The Scenes (Webisodes)
Photo Gallery Tenplay Note: The Rush Web Extras were NOT add back with The Re-Release on 10play.
Awards and achievements Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result2011Logie AwardsMost Popular ActorCallan MulveyMost Outstanding ActressCatherine McClementsMost Outstanding DramaRushMost Popular DramaRushScreen Music AwardsBest Music in a drama series or serialStephen Rae (for episode 3.16)2010AFI AwardsBest Television Drama SeriesRush – John Edwards and Mimi Butler2009AWGIE AwardsTelevision SeriesJohn O'Brien and Christopher Lee (for episode 1.04)Logie AwardsGraham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding New TalentAshley ZukermanMost Outstanding ActorCallan MulveyMost Outstanding ActressClaire van der BoomMost Outstanding Drama Series, Miniseries or TelemovieRush2008AFI AwardsBest Television Drama SeriesRush – John Edwards and Mimi ButlerBest Lead Actor in a Television DramaCallan Mulvey
International broadcasters
Country Channel Year Dubbed or Subtitled? FOX Crime 2009 – Dubbed RTÉ One 2009 – TV2 2009 – Subtitled AXN 2009 – Dubbed AXN 2009 – Subtitled AXN 2009 – Subtitled AXN 2009 – Dubbed AXN, TV4 2009 – Voice-over vtm 2009 – Subtitled FOX Crime 2009 – Subtitled MNET 2009 – & the Arab World MBC 4 2009 – Subtitled MBC Action Subtitled AXN 2009 – Subtitled AXN 2009 (Pilot)2010 (Regular broadcast) – Subtitled Television Tuvalu 2010 – NitroCuatro 2010 Dubbed TV One 2010 – IPTV di Telecom Italia 2010 – Dubbed Rai Premium 2012 – Fox Crime 2010 – Subtitled YLE TV2 2010 – Subtitled AXN 2011 – Dubbed IBA 3 2011 – Subtitled GMA News TV 2012 – Dubbed PTS Main ChannelHiHD 2012 – Subtitled IRIB 1 2013 – Subtitled Hulu, Tubi TV 2013 Entire series available for streaming on Tubi TV Numéro 23 2014 – Both AXN 2015 – Dubbed Alibi 2019 – Series 1–4 shown consecutively, daily, at 5:00pm from 4 February 2019 to 15 May 2019
See also List of Australian television series
References
External links Rush at the Australian Television Information Archive