Farewell to the Neighbors: Jason Herbison: “How do you end a beloved television show?” | Television tonight

Neighbors executive producer Jason Herbison wrote a note to fans:
and the thought process behind the final creative decisions.

How do you end a beloved television show that has ended before?

How do you top a finale that was filled with nostalgia, not to mention all the superstar names that had ever appeared on the show?

That was the dilemma we faced when trying to finalize Neighbors a second (or is it the third time?), after the recent ‘Amazon’ era. We knew we couldn’t repeat our 2022 ending or try to improve on it, but we couldn’t ignore it either. With this in mind, viewers saw a new conclusion for the residents of Ramsay Street – similar in sentiment, but different in tone – and still with a glimmer of hope for the future.

Déjà vu was very much the feeling when we filmed the final episodes in July. We’ve been here before, right? But this time there was an extra emotion in the air. Unlike the situation in 2022, our iconic Nunawading studios were packed around us. Sets were disassembled, key items were donated, and the backlot days were numbered. It was very clear that if the show ever returned, it would be in a different form.

So that became the inspiration for the new finale.

The ‘highway plows through suburb’ storyline isn’t new, but it felt timely to revive it, this time with a twist.

In recent episodes, Ramsay Street was facing demolition and Paul Robinson and Shane Ramsay were locked in a classic battle as they tried to lure residents to their new competing developments. Paul wants everyone to move to Robinson Towers, a high-rise hotel and apartment complex in the city. Shane tries to find buyers for Ramsay Hills, a new motorway-accessible suburb that’s causing all the trouble. The argument over Ramsay in Robinson verses is a throwback to the show’s early years and it’s a treat to have both Stefan Dennis (Paul) and Peter O’Brien (Shane) on screen together, forty years after they started out as original cast members.

Of course, not everyone is happy with such alternative possibilities for the future. When you have Jackie Woodburne as Susan Kennedy in your cast, it’s a travesty not to have her make us cry one last time. With husband Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Paul by her side, Susan brings us home again in the show’s final moments, touching us deeply as only she can. It seems fitting to have the trio gather alone on the street in the final scene, surrounded by ghosts of the end of 2022. If you listen closely enough, you might even hear a balloon burst.

Why can’t the residents move somewhere else? That could be possible, but then we wouldn’t have a show, right? Make that two new shows. In a way, ‘Robinson Towers’ and ‘Ramsay Hills’ are backdoor spin-off ideas. It would be nice to revisit the residents in a new environment, perhaps in a shorter run or in a limited series. In production terms it is an opportunity to create a leaner model that is not tied to a precious heritage site. Maybe one or both shows will happen at some point? Or perhaps it’s a return to Ramsay Street, if it’s still standing? Or another new chapter – Christmas movie, anyone?

Or maybe this really is the end? In any case, I hope viewers see this as a satisfying finale that is respectful of the past but also hopeful for the future. There are returning faces and nostalgia, but this time the film focuses on characters who lived through the Amazon era. There was also a bunch of recent stories to wrap up. Can I have another week to tie up these loose ends, please? Sorry – the clock is up after 9363 episodes.

Thanks to all our loyal viewers and everyone who contributed to the show. Thanks to Amazon and 10, who continued to support us in this latest chapter. Neighbors is an icon and no matter what happens in the future, we will always have our memories. As we said in 2022 and the theme song reminds us, together we have been the perfect blend.

Jason Herbison
Neighbors executive producer.