Acropolis Now was an Australian sitcom set in a Greek cafe in Melbourne of the same name that ran for 63 episodes from 1989 to 1992 on the Seven Network. It was created by Nick Giannopoulos, George Kapiniaris and Simon Palomares, who also starred in the series. They were already quite well known for their comedy stage show, Wogs out of Work. The title is a play on the film Apocalypse Now. Each episode was 30 minutes in length and filmed in front of a live audience. Jim's father asks him to run the family business, the Acropolis café, when he suddenly leaves Australia to return to his homeland Greece. The series centres around the activities of the cafe staff. Greek Jim Stephanidis, is the immature owner and his best friend, Spaniard Ricky Martinez is the sensible manager. Memo is the traditional Greek waiter, Liz is the liberated Australian waitress. Skip is the naïve new cook from the bush and Manolis is the stubborn cook from the old cafe. 'Hilarity' prevails from the clash of cultures and beliefs. Jim's hairdresser cousin Effie, played by Mary Coustas, became a hugely popular and enduring character during the run of the show. Coustas later reprised the role for several TV specials and series including Effie, Just Quietly, an SBS comedy / interview show, and Greeks on the Roof, a short-lived Greek-Australian version of the British talk show The Kumars at No. 42.
CreatorsSimon Palomares, George Kapiniaris
Old Bar, New Bar
Aug 9, 1989
Kostas leaves Cafe neo acropolis in his son Jim's hands and heads home to Greece after 23 years in Australia for a well deserved holiday.Kostas asks Jim's friend Rick to look after the finances.When Kostas leaves Jim changes the quiet cafe to a happening place for young people.On opening day, Manolis the cook gets drunk & passes out, so Jim has to find a replacement cook fast. In walks Gavin 'skippy ' Thorpe fresh from the North Queensland canefields where he was a cook for the cane cutters. Jim hires him When Manolis awakes,he finds a new cook in his kitchen & chases him around the cafe. Jim also hires Liz, as a waitress.
The Proxy Blues
Aug 16, 1989
Manolis the chef doesn't like the new chef Gavin 'Skippy ' Farrell. Memo is still being rude to the customers,& Jim is spending all the profits. Jim gets a call from his Mum to tell him that he's getting married & sends his proxy to meet him.Jim's not keen on getting married until he sees the proxy. Stella & Jim go out Jim has arranged for Skippy to get the suits for the wedding already. Liz speaks to Stella & asks her what she thinks about arranged marriages. Stella tells her she didn't come here to marry Jim,she came to visit her cousin & have a holiday. She shows Liz a picture of Elvis & asks where she can find Memo. (her cousin) Jim is relieved sort of when he finds out. Later Stella goes home to Greece.
The Martinez Inquiry
Sep 27, 1989
Rick puts a stop to Jim's 'freebies'. He's giving away too much free coffee and the business is suffering.
The Trouble With Mothers
Oct 4, 1989
It's the day of the prestigiuos Waiters' Race, the one day of the year Memo has been looking forward to. In the past he's come third, second, BUT never first, always losing out to Alexander the Great, the feared Macedonian waiter. But this year's going to be different. This year Memo is going to win!
It's Academic
Sep 20, 1989
Jim tries to arrange a double date with Ricky, but he's not interested, Jim thinks Uni has ruined Ricky. A lady customer walks in & Jim & Memo try to chat her up. Ricky recognises her & yells at her to leave. It seems she is an old girlfriend of Ricks who broke his heart. Sarah comes back into the cafe & wants to talk to Rick, they kiss & make up & then Ricky says that he & Sarah are making a move to Queensland. Liz recognises Sarah as her teacher from Uni & tells the boys that she doesn't think she is going to Queensland because she is taking another course at Uni that Liz is enrolled in. Rick is upset again & Jim tells him that they need him at the Acropolis,so he stays.
It's Not Unusual
Sep 13, 1989
Jim books famous Greek heart throb Con Jones to perform at the cafe.Memo recalls the time when there were 2 singing waiters at the cafe neo acropolis & he was one of them. He could have been the next (Greek)Elvis, if he hadn't come down with food poisoning.Memo always suspected Con (his partner)who performed solo that night & went off to Greece to fame & fortune. The cafe is full of adoring fans,but where's Con.? Memo locked him in the toilet as payback. Jim lets him out & while Con's singing Memo tries to interupt his performance.Later Con apologises to Memo & they perform together once more.
The Key to Her Heart
Sep 6, 1989
Liz is going to a Fabien society meeting & Jim wants to come because he's a big fan of Fabian. After embarasing Liz at the meeting,they return to the cafe to get something and Jim locks his keys outside. Liz starts to panic & confesses to being a little claustrophobic. They ring Memo,Rick & Skippy but they're not home.! Jim suggests they try to get some sleep when a noise at the back door startles Liz. A crook is trying to break in & Jim asks him to go around the front to let them out! The crook thinks it's a trick, so Liz & Jim have to spend the night locked in.!
Easter Greek Style
Aug 23, 1989
Easter is coming up & the time of fasting is upon them.That means no meat, cheese, alcohol,sex. Memo is finding it difficult to abstain from all these things. Manolis is betting on the horses and losing. Jim has been saving Manolis' money & not putting his bets on. Effie wants Rick & Jim to take Sophie & herself to church. Jim gets a tip from a bookie but Liz won't let him place the bet.The horse comes second,so Jim tells Manolis & gives him his money. After church Memo is so hungry he rushes to the cafe for the feast with his candle, but the flame goes out so he has to go back to the church to re-light it. Then everyone arrives & Effie has a plan to get a kiss from Rick, they tap eggs & Effie wins, but then drops it on Ricks foot.
Three Skips and a Joey
Oct 11, 1989
Liz bets Jim $10 he can't 'pick up' a girl in the cafe. Jim tries the first girl he sees & starts to 'chat her up'. When she stands up though, she's heavily pregnant.! Liz wins the bet.! Memo starts talking to the girl (Margot) who tells him she's looking for Gavin'skippy'Farrell.! Skippy introduces Margot to the staff & tells them that he & Margot are going to be married.! Skippy & Margot have to save money for the wedding & the baby so Liz asks Jim to give Margot a job in the cafe. Liz later finds out that, Skippy & Margot haven't seen each other for 5 years so Skippy can't be the father, but he's going to marry her anyway. Andy (skippy's brother) arrives & Skip confronts him.(he's the dad.) Margot sees him & goes into Labour. Ricky calls an ambulance & Memo helps deliver the baby. Later Andy decides to accept his responsibility.
Bucklovers
Aug 30, 1989
Jim has to organise a buck's night for his cousin but has never done it before. He doesn't recognise him when he & his fiance Gina arrive at the cafe.While he's organising the bucks night, Liz decides to have a Hens night for Gina. Effie arranges a stripper for all the girls,but Liz wants to play boring games like 'Ethical pursuit'and I spy.! Gina spies Carlos the stripper & he starts dirty dancing with her when Bill & the boys return.! The wedding is off ! Bill thought Gina was shy,but she's a rager.! Liz arranges for the couple to patch up their differences and they kiss and make up.
Writers Block
Oct 18, 1989
Jim gets his picture in Vibrations Discos magazine & Liz wants to go there to see what it's like. Epsilon walks in to the cafe & Sophie & Effie swoon. Liz has a look & falls head over heels for him. After talking to Epsilon for a while, Liz learns he's a famous greek poet. Jim knows all about him too, they went to school together but then Epsilon was known as Themmy Parkyakarkas. Memo wants E's opinion on a poem he's written & Jim is ready to take Liz to Vibrations,But now Liz wants to go with Epsilon. Next day Jim learns E has asked Liz to go to Greece with as his personal assistant. Jim tries to tell Liz that E's a fake & is interested in more than work.Memo is listening to the radio & hears Epsilon reading his poem & claims he wrote it.! When E comes to get Liz for their trip top Greece she sends him away.
