E-Street screened on Australian television between 1989 and 1993, when it was axed by Channel 10 (the network which screened it). Channel 10 repeated some episodes around 2002-3, but I never watched these, and am thus going on my memory of seeing them 'the first time around'. And a long time ago, that was! That my memory of these episodes is so vivid only goes to show that the show (whatever its faults - and there were many!) definitely left an impression.
E Street began as a social commentary/slice of life program, dealing with such issues as single parenthood, drug addiction, sexual violence, suicide, safe sex. Quickly, however, it
disintegrated into something else. Something entirely different. 'Social realism' disappeared from the program, to be replaced by a string of serial killer story lines, dream sequences, gangsters, and - at one point - a werewolf.
These 'fantasy' elements were often ridiculous, and the acting ranged from the ordinary to the banal. And yet, it's these elements that allows the program to play again in my memory. I giggle as I remember the mind games played between Sheridan Sturgess (that name sounds like something from a black and white 1940s melodrama!) and the uber-sadistic Mr Bad. I laugh out loud as I recall Rev Bob's death scene, complete with a religious angel and rays of light pouring into the church.
Put simply, E Street was a dreadful show. Yet this dreadfulness, the utter tackiness of the program was (in hindsight) one of
its great qualities. The show certainly managed to rise above the banality of so many other 'soapies' (i.e. Neighbors), and
is a strong contender for a cult following - if it doesn't already have one.
