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“Pete Boone, Private Eye” is an Australian television comedy series which has been shown on community television Channel 31 (Sydney) and Aurora (nationally). First broadcasted in 2002 by October 2008 the various episodes had been played over 500 times. The cult series revolves around the title character who is “Australia’s worst detective” (he never correctly solves a case).

Pre-history
Although first broadcast on television in 2002 “Pete Boone, Private Eye” is over a quarter of a century old. It’s writer/creator, David Murdoch (see profile ), began making his own films when, as a child of 8, he was given a movie camera by his father. He would show these films (along with rented commercial films) to family and friends in his parents’ living room. The character “Pete Boone” was created in 1980 and first appeared in “The Rick Ford Files” which was written by David Murdoch and starred his co-writer, Richard Ford. (The title being a play on the popular “Rockford Files”.) “Peter Boone” was “Rick Ford’s” understudy/assistant. When that series ended (a J.R. type ending!) the “Boone” character was spun off into its own show: “Pete Boone, Private Eye.” At this time the series was being made as a Super 8 Sound Movie. In 1988, it won the Australian Amateur Cine Society International Film Festival Best Video. (Episodes were even shown in the Bondi Pavillion at the world-famous Bondi Beach. ) The first “Pete Boone” was played by Peter Warner (who now plays the character of “Dirk Lombarde”). In the 1990’s Peter Book had a short stint in the role. Thus “Pete Boone, Private Eye” was first filmed on Super 8 and later on video. It is now filmed in HD and widescreen for national cable television.

“Pete Boone, Private Eye” on Television
In 2002, the ﬁrst 13-episode series appeared on Channel 31, Sydney Community Television. It starred Peter Attwood. (Attwood was approached at a local pub by (at that time a complete stranger) Strawberry James to play the role. Jamie McNeil (co-executive producer) and Strawberry James (producer, director, cinematographer, editor) were essential to the production of this series. The first episode, “Nutcherally” aired on Channel 31 on August 12, 2002. This series proved so popular that Channel 31, after repeating it, requested a second series. However, in 2005, “Pete Boone, Private Eye” moved to the national cable community channel Aurora (Foxtel/Optus/ Austar) – the first episode being televised in January 2006. Production of a new series, in HD widescreen format, was commenced (with a new team) in 2007. “Pete Boone” was played by yet another “Peter”, Peter Love. The series continues to be popular with Aurora requesting new episodes. The 500th televised episode aired on Aurora on Thursday 30 October 2008 (200 on Channel 31 and 300 on Aurora approximately). “Pete Boone, Private Eye” appears to have achieved “cult” status.

About “Pete Boone, Private Eye”
Aimed at late teens, “Pete Boone, Private Eye” has been described by the writer/creator, David Murdoch as “a cross between Get Smart and Inspector Gadget”, while Peter Love has stated it is “a mix of Get Smart, Mr Bean and Aussie humour”. The humour involved is for the most part word-play. There are two important aspects to the “Pete Boone” character. First is his personality. He a is a 20 year-old (he never ages!) dreamer who dreams of being a real detective. Unfortunately his knowledge of detectives is based on detective novels and movies – he believes being a detective is just like in the movies. If the series has a message it is here, as David Murdoch says: “if you are a dreamer like Pete Boone, you can make your dreams come true no matter how incompetent you are”. (A message of many Hollywood movies targeted at children – for example, Kung Fu Panda.) Yet, “Pete Boone” is Australia’s worst detective – he tries his best but has never actually solved a case. Second is his look. He has always had long blond hair, a blond moustache and goatee. His “uniform” is a light blue, short-sleeved shirt – white tee shirt underneath – navy tie and blue jeans.

“Pete Boone’s” office is in the fictional suburb of West Pennant Falls (the series is mostly shot in and about the Hills district in Sydney ) – it’s where he sleeps on his desk with a typewriter for a pillow. Regular characters in the series have been: “Dirk Lombard” (played by Peter Warner) who is a real detective and “Pete Boone’s” enemy; “Constable O’Flynn” (Peter Murkins); and, “Inspector Gravel” (Mark Pereira), whom “Pete Boone” drives crazy. Importantly, “Pete Boone; Private Eye” has provided experience for many young people interested in acting and film-making. Many actors come from community theatres, for example, the Castle Hill Players.<ref name="Hills Aug" Others are trying to break into professional acting and can be seen in television commercials and as extras in Australian soaps and other series.