Critical assessment of the best of Australian television series 'Home and Away', 'Breakers', 'Good Guys, Bad Guys', 'Blue Heelers' and 'Wildside'. Explores how the present writing systems evolved from the old Crawford's and Grundy's days, how shows are plotted and ideas developed, the script-editing process, different narrative styles, plots and production techniques, the differences between series and serial writing, and the influences of US and British systems. Includes appendices. Companion volume is 'Top Shelf 2: Five outstanding television screenplays'. Author is a scriptwriter and story editor who has worked on 'Home and Away', 'E Street', 'Sons and Daughters', 'Elly and Jools' and 'GP'. He is presently head of Screentime's drama department.