Martin Hall (TV series)

Martin Hall a Georgeland television drama series, which began airing on Channel 12 in May 2007. The series, created by Joe Starnes, centres around the recently elected President of Georgeland, Joan Tanner, played by Rebecca Jordan-Wiley. The series is described as a West Wing or Commander-in-Chief for the Georgeland marketplace.
The first episode, entitled "A Great Leap Forward", aired on May 12. The show recieved a total of 7 million viewers. Since then, she show's regular Friday-night timeslot has averaged around 4.7 million viewers, lower than expected but still high for that particular timeslot. The final episode, Meltdown, saw viewing figures of 8.5 million, the highest in the show's history.
After the first series of 13 episodes completed its run on August 4, 2007, Channel 12 announced that the show had been renewed for a second season. All major cast members have been signed for 13 new episodes. The second season of Martin Hall was due to begin airing in April 2008. However, on February 5, Channel 12 elected to begin the run early after the writers' strike in the United States disrupted the scheduled resumption of imported programming. The airdate for the first episode of Season 2 was moved from April 5 to February 16. Veteran actor Ross Rann and actress/comedienne Lucy Bishop will join the permanent cast for Season 2, playing the President's press secretary and parliamentary liason respectively.

Show concept

President Tanner, a new grandmother who has also been recently elected President (in a popular election, which Georgeland will hold in 2008 but has not held since 1954), will come into conflict with the Prime Minister, played by Mark Collins, and consent to a general election. Unfortunately, she gets more than she bargained for when Alan Wheatley (Kevin Bosley) emerges as the winner of the election; when he is appointed Prime Minister, he starts to conflict with Tanner even more than his predecessor.
Tanner and Wheatley struggle for control and influence, while Tanner tries to be a national figurehead and yet influence government without damaging the Presidency. She also must deal with her family life as well as the duties of Georgeland's head of state.

Characters

Major Characters

• Dr. Joan Tanner (Rebecca Jordan-Wiley) is a 56-year-old mother and grandmother from Long Island who, as the series begins, was elected President four months previously. Tanner is a former schoolteacher and later a professor of political science, and is therefore an expert in political matters. She will learn, through the series, that politics is different in theory than in practice. Highly intelligent and very devoted to her family, President Tanner is a consensus-builder, a political independent who dislikes partisan politics. She is not inclined to try to govern the nation, but she has her own ideas about what should and should not be, and this brings her into conflict with the elected government. Tanner tries to keep her family life and her political life separate, but things never seem work out that way.
• Alan Wheatley (Kevin Bosley) is Leader of the Opposition at the beginning of the series, but was sworn in as Prime Minister in Episode 1. Wheatley is charismatic and charming, but somewhat obsequious and patronising when dealing with President Tanner. Tanner and Wheatley are not on good terms, and their differing ideals is a central point of conflict. Wheatley's political party is kept vague and not explicitly stated. Small amounts of personal information about Wheatley has been revealed - he is a Roman Catholic, hails from Sergiocitta and is married with several children. There are signs, particularly towards the end of the series, that relations between Tanner and Wheatley are set to improve in the future.
• Robbie Dahl (Vijay Kanya) is President Tanner's Chief of Staff. He comes from a corporate background and is well-suited to the task of managing the President's affairs. He dislikes Wheatley intensely. Robbie is a jovial sort who makes light of almost everything, and in many ways is still a 'high-flier' and behaves like a wealthy corporate executive. He is slightly eccentric and can border on the manic sometimes, but is very good at his job and highly protective of the President.
• Ingrid Sutter (Amy Roe) is President Tanner's Executive Secretary. Ingrid is young and idealistic, and has a somewhat naive view of the world and of politics in particular. Ingrid and Robbie have an ambiguous relationship.
• James Tanner (John Riley) is the First Gentleman. A clinical psychologist, James still works actively and has little time for politics. He would probably have preferred his wife not to run for office, but he supports her when he can and acts as a sounding board.
• Luke Tanner (Colin Beach) is Tanner's eighteen-year-old son, and the only one living in Martin Hall with his parents. Luke is a teenage rebel, who, despite now being a legal adult, behaves like he is still in high school. His adolescent behaviour and delinquent tendencies will cause trouble for President Tanner and her staff.
• Charlie Dunlap (Ross Rann) is the Press Secretary to the President and the "number two" ranking member of Martin Hall's staff. Creator Joe Starnes has stated that the character of Charlie will be "introduced, but he's always been there", suggesting the character will retrospectively have been present during the events of the first series.
• Margaret King: (Lucy Bishop) is a newly-hired liaison to Parliament, acting as President Tanner's messenger and advocate to the legislature. Margaret will be introduced as a new member of staff in Episode 1 of Series 2.

Minor Characters

• David Walker (Mark Collins) is Prime Minister in the first episode until his replacement by Alan Wheatley. He conflicts with Tanner over draconian anti-terrorism legislation, but in the past had a good relationship with her and her predecessor. Walker also appeared in episodes 7 and 13. Producer Joe Starnes has implied Walker will have a greater role in Season Two.
• Cynthia Drummond (Wendy Frist) is the new Leader of the Opposition. She tries to manipulate Tanner as much as Wheatley, to the President's disgust. Drummond has appeared in four episodes to date, with substantial roles in episodes 3 and 4, and lesser roles in episodes 12 and 13.
• John Richmond (Eddie Bilson) is President Tanner's immediate predecessor, who served for eight years. Richmond is a counsellor and adviser to his younger successor, who time to time offers sage advice on how to deal with a hostile government. Richmond appeared first in Episode 2 and again in Episode 6 and Episode 12.
• Thomas Burgess (David Rothman) is Governor of West Mainland and has been in office longer than any other state Governor, making him Acting President when Tanner leaves the country in Episode 7. In that episode, Burgess effectively usurps power by rescinding some of Tanner's orders and signing legislation Tanner refused to assent to. Burgess also appeared in Episode 8.
• Benjamin Simons (Colin Kidd) is Governor of Delmago Island and the second-longest-serving state Governor. He acts as President in Episodes 12 and 13 when Tanner and Burgess are both out of the country. Simons is 74 years old and rather infirm, but mentally sharp and unwilling to let Wheatley ride roughshod over the Presidency.

List of Episodes

Season One

1. A Great Leap Forward
   Air date: May 12, 2007
   President Tanner conflicts with Prime Minister Walker over a counter-terrorism bill. The President's influence leads the bill to be defeated in the Senate, and Walker calls a general election. Wheatley wins the election, but after the campaign is over announces plans to pass the counter-terrorism laws after a pub bombing in Scoita. Tanner begins to realise that Wheatley may be worse than his predecessor as the two go head-to-head over who has a mandate to run the country.
2. A Time to Heal
   Air date: May 19, 2007
   Wheatley's new government has written Tanner's speech for the opening of Parliament, but she doesn't want to read it because she doesn't agree with it. The crisis begins to boil over as Robbie rewrites the speech and Tanner tells Wheatley that it is the speech she'll be reading and not the one his government has written. Wheatley urges the President to reconsider, and uses Tanner's daughter as leverage to get Tanner to comply.
3. Malconsensus
   Air date: May 26, 2007
   The new Leader of the Opposition, Cynthia Drummond, offers President Tanner help in creating a bipartisan policy forum, something Tanner has wanted for months, but Robbie doesn't trust her motives or her attitude. Drummond turns out to be just as manipulative and just as Machiavellian as Wheatley, giving Robbie little faith in politics. Meanwhile, Wheatley and his Treasurer have a very public feud over superannuation funds, and Tanner feels tempted to back the Treasurer's view.
4. The Origin of Species
   Air date: June 2, 2007
   A maverick MP from the religious Right introduces a bill to mandate the teaching of creationism in public schools. Initially opposed to the bill, Tanner finds the arguments somewhat compelling, and when Wheatley insults Tanner at a speech to a Catholic gathering, she decides to back the bill and embarrass Wheatley. Robbie argues with Tanner over the legislation, Drummond tries to get the President to switch sides while Wheatley is content to let Tanner shoot herself in the foot.
5. Gathering Storm
   Air date: June 9, 2007
   President Tanner faces her first military test after a Georgeland airliner explodes over Saudi Arabia. While Tanner urges a diplomatic solution and United Nations action, Wheatley flies a khaki flag and threatens military retaliation. Finding herself in conflict with Wheatley again, Tanner is heartened by overwhelming support for her position and forces Wheatley to bring the Saudis to the bargaining table, extracting promises to crack down on terrorism against foreign targets. The motivation for the bombing remains unclear, but Wheatley seems convinced it was Islamists, while Tanner's information points to Scoitan seperatists. Can they both be right, or is Wheatley deliberately keeping Tanner in the dark?
6. Luke
   Air date: June 16, 2007
   Tanner's son Luke is arrested for drug offenses, causing embarrasement to Joan and James. They find a surprising ally in Wheatley, or so they think, until the Prime Minister unveils a new anti-drug initiative which threatens to leave the Tanners high and dry. Wheatley might be persuaded to withdraw the legislation - but at a very lofty price. Tanner conflicts with Drummond over an opposition amendment to the education funding bill, while Robbie discovers a shocking secret about his parents.
7. Out of Town
   Air date: June 23, 2007
   President Tanner embarks on an overseas visit to Japan, where a meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister is disrupted by violent clashes between police and protestors. Tanner is embroiled in a scandal when the Japanese PM is accused of hiding his father's war atrocities. Meanwhile, Wheatley sees his chance to circumvent Tanner by using the acting President, West Mainland's Governor Burgess, to sign laws he knows Tanner will never agree to.
8. Welcome Home
   Air date: July 1, 2007
   President Tanner returns from Japan, but all is not well. Governor Burgess has signed a contraversial electoral law that helps Wheatley's future election chances, and it's too late for Tanner to do anything about it. Wheatley is smug in victory, and Burgess, unapologetic, initially refuses to leave Martin Hall. Meanwhile, Tanner's family problems escalate as Luke is picked up for public drunkenness and James is diagnosed as suffering from clinical depression.
   This episode air a day later than scheduled due to coverage of the general election.
9. Phone Home
   Air date: July 7, 2007
   Air Force radar picks up a UFO over Long Island, which is reported in local media by accident. Within hours, the country catches alien fever as the Air Force denies the UFO is an alien spaceship. The media frenzy grows and grows until it reaches Martin Hall, where Tanner takes the unusual step of going on TV to deny the aliens while Wheatley plays along with the country's national obsession with alien activity. The identity of the UFO is confirmed as terrestrial, but the country isn't satisfied. Meanwhile, the President and First Gentleman argue over what to do about Luke's self-destructive behaviour - Joan wants him to seek counselling, but James is convinced he needs to go to rehab - or even to jail.
10. Our Sons
    Air date: July 14, 2007
    When three FISIA agents are captured by rebels in the African nation of Enkidu, the President and the Prime Minister are forced to co-operate on a military plan to secure their rescue. When the revels launch a sudden counterattack, however, relations break down between Tanner and Wheatley, with Wheatley urging a decisive military strike while Tanner wants to negotiate a peace settlement. Meanwhile, Robbie finds himself attracted to Ellen, one of Wheatley's advisers.
11. Allies and Enemies
    Air date: July 21, 2007
    A fully-fledged civil war has sprung up in Enkidu, for which Tanner feels responsible. Despite Wheatley's strong objections, she plans a goodwill visit to the troubled African nation in hopes of helping to broker a peace deal between the warring factions. But Wheatley is determined for her not to go and sets out to sabotage the visit before it begins. Robbie goes on a date with Ellen, and boasts to her about his skill at covering up the activities of Tanner's family when they "go astray". When that information is leaked to the media, it creates a huge storm and threatens Tanner's entire Presidency as she is bombarded with questions about what her family get up to.
12. Save Our Souls
    Air date: July 28, 2007
    President Tanner begins her visit to Enkidu, but it's a harrowing experience for everybody. The civil war has reaped untold devastation on the country and its people, and when Tanner sees some of the horror first-hand she breaks down. At home, Wheatley again attempts to exploit Tanner's absence by rushing through a gerrymandering elections bill. Robbie, however, is ready for him and has already arranged for the senior State Governor to be overseas; the new Acting President, the Governor of Delmago Island, is much more willing to oppose Wheatley's plan. As Tanner recovers back at the Presidential Palace in Enkidu, the episode ends in a nightmare scenario - Enkidu rebels storm the palace and take Tanner hostage. The rebel leader puts a gun to Tanner's head and issues a demand - all Georgeland forces out of the country, or she dies...
13. Meltdown
    Air date: August 4, 2007
    As Tanner is held hostage by Enkidu rebels, Wheatley and Robbie run the War Room and attempt to reach a diplomatic solution. When the rebels shoot the negotiator, Wheatley opts for a military rescue, which puts Tanner's life in extreme danger. As footage of the crisis is broadcast worldwide, Wheatley's determination to end the crisis by force leads him into conflict with Robbie, ending with Robbie hitting the Prime Minister and being dragged off by the police. Wheatley agonises over his decision as the clock ticks down, and with time running out, makes his final decision after a conversation with James Tanner. Wheatley orders the troops to rescue President Tanner. The rescue mission succeeds, the rebel leader is killed but Tanner is injured in the process. Wheatley is left alone in the War Room in relief, but the next battle, between the President and the First Gentleman, is yet to come.
    

Former Prime Minister Campbell Rhodes made a cameo appearance in this episode, playing a reporter at Wheatley's news conference.

Season Two

1. New Beginnings
   Air date: February 16, 2008
   Three months after the events in Enkidu, President Tanner recovers from her ordeal, in the countryside attended by daughter Lisa, but notably not her husband, who remains at Martin Hall. Tanner seems little interested in the affairs of government, which prompts Wheatley into taking soundings about her possible resignation. Meanwhile Robbie has been released on bail for assaulting Wheatley but is under an injunction not to return to work until after his trial, meaning he is taking a forced vacation. He struggles with the idea of not working and constantly rings Ingrid to give advice which she is legally bound not to follow. With Robbie out of the office, there is no Acting Chief of Staff. When this allows Wheatley to pass amendments to electoral laws unchecked, Tanner reluctantly returns to work, has it out with Wheatley and appoints Charlie Dunlap as interim Chief of Staff until Robbie is either convicted or acquitted. She orders Charlie to hire a professional lobbyist to act as liaison to Parliament to prevent Wheatley getting the drop on them again.
2. Read All About It
   To air: February 23, 2008
   With Robbie still awaiting trial, Charlie, as acting Chief of Staff, interviews candidates for the position of Parliamentary Liaison. There are several good contenders, but the most outstanding is Margaret King, a divorced mother of two with a knowledge of parliamentary procedure and political reality to rival Robbie's own. Charlie recommends her appointment to Tanner and she agrees, but when Robbie finds out about her he develops a sudden irrational dislike without ever actually meeting her. Meanwhile, Wheatley's Foreign Minister makes a speech critical of Israel for which Wheatley rebukes him, but several cabinet colleagues side with the Foreign Minister and a potential rival for the leadership develops. As the rift grows, the press begin to smell blood and soon Wheatley is bombarded, both in parliament and elsewhere, about the incident. His leadership slightly tarnished by the affair, the only person who might be able to help him is President Tanner and her new Parliamentary Liaison.
3. Kill All the Lawyers
   To air: March 1, 2008
   

Robbie is finally standing trial for assaulting Wheatley, but even his lawyer doubts he can stay out of jail. With the prospect of her Chief of Staff being imprisoned very real, President Tanner prepares to advertise for a new one, with Charlie the prime candidate for the position. Meanwhile, Wheatley brings a new law to Cabinet which will create a constitutional referendum to increase the powers of the parliament to approve judges. Though he sells it as a democratic reform, Charlie and Margaret suspect that it is actually an attempt by the Prime Minister to remove the President's consultation powers. They team up to stall the reform, but there is overwhelming public support for it and Tanner dare not speak out. Fortunately, Tanner finds a surprising ally in former Prime Minister David Walker, who comes out against Wheatley - but Margaret suspects his motives are not pure. Robbie prepares himself for prison and writes a letter of resignation, though he does not sign it.

1. Best Served Cold
   To air: March 8, 2008
   With Wheatley overseas on an official visit, Tanner gets her own back as the Acting Prime Minister is greatly out of his depth. Robbie's trial continues but a last-minute plot by Wheatley's own Cabinet may save him from prison.
2. Twelve Months
   To air: March 15, 2008
   President Tanner and her staff celebrate twelve months since she took office, but Wheatley is determined to steal her thunder with a revolutionary reform to the parliamentary system.