Everyone knows that nostalgia is very heartwarming. And no one knows that more - apart from us of course - than those lovely people at Neighbours. Over the last few years, they've brought back a number of past characters who have had us going "Oh I remember them!" - not to mention references to characters and storylines of yesterday. And as the soap is due to end very soon, not only have they been amping up the nostalgia which has been a real treat for viewers, but there seems to be a crossover between fiction and reality which has led to a series of references that die-hard fans will get straight away.
A recent one that had us guffawing here at Nostalgia Pie was Harold Bishop's very powerful and bemused "Who?" when he heard that former resident Lisa Elliot had contributed to his Ramsay Street history book. True, Lisa and Harold never crossed paths due to having lived on the street at different times. But the joke was that while there are many memorable and iconic characters who have called Ramsay Street home at one time or another and have lived on in the hearts of fans long after they've left, there are also a lot of characters just like Lisa who are unfortunately long-forgotten and when mentioned have everyone scratching their heads and asking... 'Who?' And what made us laugh out loud was that Nostalgia Pie was actually planning a post about forgotten Neighbours' characters and Lisa Elliot was going to be one of them. Hold on - maybe she's not that forgettable after all!
And those very witty Neighbours' writers have from time to time very cleverly written in-jokes and special references which sharp eyed and eared viewers will spot straight away, and will understand the special historical and nostalgic significance to the show. We take a look at these little in-jokes and references that had us reminiscing, some of which started even before we knew that the end was nigh...
1. Karl and Susan's 25th Anniversary (2019)
When Neighbours introduced the Kennedy family back in 1994, nobody thought, during a time when most characters remained in the show for two or three years on average, that two of them would still be on the show just as Neighbours was drawing to a close...
Three years ago, viewers saw the show commemorate twenty five years since Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodbourne) first appeared on Neighbours with a very touching scene in which Karl presented Susan with a piece of jewellery. Dr. Karl, known for his cheapskate ways, gave his wife a beautiful locket which she was dismayed to find was already engraved with 'Happy 25th Anniversary.' As fans watched this scene, we already twigged what this was in reference to...
"Oh well, it's got to be twenty five years of something" mused Karl in the very cleverly written scene, and as the two characters shared a knowing smile, viewers knew it wasn't Karl and Susan they were watching... but Alan and Jackie!
We wondered if both characters would be on the show for another twenty five years but alas it was not to be...
2. Ned Willis Feeling Torn (2020)
Paige Smith was finally going to realize her dream of becoming Mrs. Mark Brennan but just hours before the wedding, her stepmother Therese handed her a list of songs, reminding her that she and Mark still hadn't picked a song for their first dance. As Paige reeled of a list of names including Ty Harper and Nina Tucker, viewers would have remembered that these were former Ramsay Street residents who were there long before the second generation of Willises moved to Erinsborough.
But it was Paige's brother, Ned, whose song suggestion really made fans chuckle:
"How about Torn? My mum used to sing it all the time!"
Ned's mum was Beth Brennan - his dad Brad's first wife. And she of course was played by the legendary Natalie Imbruglia who smashed onto the pop scene with her debut hit Torn shortly after leaving Neighbours.
However Paige wasn't very impressed by Ned's suggestion. "It's not exactly romantic," she said.
Perhaps someone should have thought of Especially For You...
3. Don't it make you feel good (2021)
Toadie's fundaraising lipsync battle was remembered for all the wrong reasons - Dipi and Amy's massive catfight fight!
But long time Neighbours' fans and eighties' pop aficionados will remember it more for Toadie and Dr. Karl's lip sync battle where they were really giving it all they had while performing a very familiar number...
It was Don't It Make You Feel Good, the first pop hit for Stefan Dennis who plays Paul Robinson.
And while Paul sat there watching the performance he was mulling over the catchy song that he hadn't heard for a while and was trying to think of who had originally sung it. A very amusing moment for Neighbours' fans!
4. Lucy Robinson's 'Makeover' (2022)
At a time when we're all feeling the love and the nostalgia, Harold Bishop's history book which has been written in by pretty much anyone who's ever in the street, has never been so significant. And while the Ramsay Street neighbours have enjoyed reminiscing about the um, Neighbours, past and present, it's also stirred up a lot of memories for long-time viewers too.
Who chuckled at Glen Donnelly's observation that his sister Lucy had had quite a transformation? "Wow, Lucy really likes a makeover, doesn't she!" exclaimed Glen as he flicked through Harold's book of memories. "She looks like three different people!"
For those of you who didn't get the joke, you clearly haven't been watching since the show first started. The role of Lucy Robinson has indeed been played by three different actresses, starting with Kylie Flinker when Neighbours first started, before Sasha Close took over to play the teenage Lucy. Close then passed the baton on to Melissa Bell in the early nineties who has played Lucy on and off ever since and has currently stepped back into Lucy high heels once again though sadly for the last time.
5. The Rodwell Family: An Official part of Ramsay Street History (2022)
This one is more a poignant reminder rather than an in-joke. As Wendy Rodwell signed Harold's history, she proudly announced that the Rodwell family now officially had their place in Ramsay Street history. That comment is very significant for the simple fact that a lot of fans feel that the Rodwells have been short-changed, coming into the show just as the axe fell on it. We will never get to see the Rodwells grow and develop and see which direction the family will go in. We can only wonder at the storylines that might have been. They've only been on the show for a short time but already they haven't disappointed especially with Sadie Rodwell's gradual transformation from fire-starting bad girl to a sweet girl with a good heart.
But the Rodwell family - and the actors who play them - are very much a part of Neighbours' history and will be remembered as the last ever family to move into the street and take residence at number 26, the home that was the residence of the iconic Robinson, Scully and Canning families. It's also highly poignant that it's the Rodwells who are responsible for a new history book being created after they accidentally ruined the old one, which marks the end of the old history and the beginning of a new chapter... though unfortunately it's one that viewers will never get to see.
Photos: YouTube
Blog graphics: Angel Noire
Now that Neighbours is coming back, I'm sure there'll be more of these in jokes!
I wish British soaps featured such jokes. Might lighten the mood in a lot of them!
In the final, Therese was sending something to a T. Oliver. I didn't get the special meaning at first until other Neighbours fans pointed out that it was a lovely tribute to Tom Oliver who played Lou as he was too ill to return for the finale. So lovely that they showed he was still very much remembered. ❤️
I said 'who?' at exactly the same time Harold did! LOL! I had no idea who Lisa was and after looking her up, I still don't! 😂I don't know why because it was during a time I was watching Neighbours. But I remember the quip Ned made about his mum singing Torn. I thought that was quite funny!