Alex Casey 
Today Women’s Refuge announced that MediaWorks has accepted their invitation to undergo domestic violence awareness training. This comes after one in a series of damaging instances of sexism on their radio stations, the latest of which occurred last week, when George FM’s Thane Kirby and Kara Rickard were suspended for naming and slut-shaming New Zealand women … Read more
The third episode of our weekly pop music chat for umusic, shot and edited by The Spinoff’s own José Barbosa. It involves two pop rookies – The Spinoff’s Alex Casey and bFM’s Joseph Harper – listening to state-of-the-art pop music and having a chat about it. Simple. This week they discuss Justin Bieber’s cool guy … Read more
Everyone is churning out snackable video content these days, from SCOUT in 60 Seconds leading 3 News every night, to TVNZ announcing that short entertainment videos will be available on demand by the end of the year. Feels like we could be at snack saturation point – something which may have been confirmed with the launch of … Read more
Last year the TVNZ new season launch was one of the most stunning onstage extravaganzas that I have seen in my piddly little life – and I’ve seen The Lion King. There were glowing lanyards a la Coldplay, there was flowing champagne a la rappers, there was Sam Wallace dancing in a pea costume a la … Read more
There’s a lot you can learn about hacking from Mr Robot, some of which might not be as complex as you think. Alex Casey lists some life hacks from the pilot episode. I watched the first episode of Mr Robot last night, the much-buzzed about cyber thriller that has hacked through the dark web all the … Read more
Today, SCOUTS New Zealand used their social media channels to actively distance themselves from Rachel Glucina’s new gossip website SCOUT. “The website scout.co.nz is not connected, associated nor authorised in any way with our positive youth empowerment organisation. We wish to distance ourselves and our strong, established brand from that site.” Well, colour me confused. … Read more
The last time I saw Donald Trump on television, he was on The Celebrity Apprentice and administering the tall task of painting New Era baseball caps to the eager celebrities. It was a challenge that would bring about the longest and loudest Meatloaf vs. Gary Busey screaming match that reality television has ever seen. That … Read more
Woah, busy alert! I see you, shuffling papers and scrolling through your calendar with a furrowed brow. Life is crazy, life is hectic. TV? Forget about it! What a nightmare! Lucky for you, we have had a scan of the week ahead and have got your five essential television appointments booked. Sit back, relax and … Read more
Today marks the launch of Scout, the new entertainment news site forged in MediaWork’s basement furnace by Rachel Glucina, the twisted firestarter of New Zealand gossip. Today she emerged: charred and smokey, holding Mike Hosking’s petite vacuum cleaner in her hands. Whatever you think of the website: there’s no denying that this is a moment in New … Read more
Alex Casey watches Ed Sheeran’s brief but powerful cameo on Home and Away. Home and Away’s Marilyn is fussing around, as always, trying to throw together a luxury dinner for her mystery muso guest. She’s got bruschetta, linguini and dessert. What rock star would would be gunning for this absolute beige rider, what kind of … Read more
On George FM this morning, Breakfast producer Noel resigned during the broadcast, one celebrating Kara and Thane’s fifth anniversary on air. “I quit: how’s that for your happy birthday,” he says live on air, “I’ve got nothing positive to say to you.” Thane responded by suggesting they get a refugee in on work experience to … Read more
I see a girl screaming in the supermarket. She’s stamping her chubby feet and pulling at the tulle of her tutu in rage. “WHERE ARE THE LITTLE SHOPS MUMMY,” she shrieks, red-faced through tears. I turn slowly to realise I am facing a mirror. The girl, it’s me. I’ve been a slave to the miniature ever … Read more
Alex Casey recaps week three of Rachel Hunter’s Tour of Beauty, where we travel to Greece and things get a little muddy. We are going to Greece this week for some much-needed chill out time. I’m tired, Rachel’s tired, so why not take a trip to the people live longer than anywhere else in the … Read more
Alex Casey watches the rollicking teaser video for The Block NZ: Villa Wars, and gives sound analysis on what some aspects we can expect from the competitive DIY show. You better swatch out, You better not ply(wood), You better not grout, I’m telling you why: The Block NZ is coming to town. Yesterday I introduced you … Read more
Before the final episode airs tomorrow, Alex Casey looks at the riveting Australian documentary series Struggle Street. What’s it about? Struggle Street is a three part Australian documentary series, examining life in poverty-stricken suburb of Mt Druitt, just west of Sydney’s twinkling lights and sharp business suits. Following various characters within the community, the camera observes … Read more
Jaquie Brown sits down with Leigh Hart to talk about his unhinged comedy show Moon TV. The conversation quickly gets derailed to topics including adult entertainment, sleeping in doggystyle and Leigh’s beautiful eyes. Click here to watch Leigh Hart’s manic creation Moon TV on Lightbox today This content, like everything we do at The Spinoff, is … Read more
The Block NZ: Villa Wars is jackhammering its way onto our screens soon, putting teams head to head as they restore villas to their former glory in Sandringham. The Block will see a fair few changes this season, with a new challenge host (ex-judge Shelley Ferguson), judges Bernadette Morrison and Jason Bonham, and – most exciting … Read more
Woah, busy alert! I see you, shuffling papers and scrolling through your calendar with a furrowed brow. Life is crazy, life is hectic. TV? Forget about it! What a nightmare! Lucky for you, we have had a scan of the week ahead and have got your five essential television appointments booked. Sit back, relax and let the … Read more
Alex Casey catches the Men’s Panel on Good Morning, where four men dish their tips on how to deal with grumpy women. “And coming up next on the Men’s Panel: taming the tetchy – our motley crew are going to share their advice for dealing with grumpy women” Jeanette Thomas says, as I sit bolt … Read more
Woah, busy alert! I see you, shuffling papers and scrolling through your calendar with a furrowed brow. Life is crazy, life is hectic. TV? Forget about it! What a nightmare! Lucky for you, we have had a scan of the week ahead and have got your five essential television appointments booked. Sit back, relax and let the … Read more
Alex Casey spends an afternoon time travelling with Freeview Plus, catching up on all of the extraordinary TV she’s missed out on from The Real to Who’s Doing the Dishes?. Time travel is real, in the here and now. You might not be able to travel 20 years into the future and see yourself flying … Read more
We’ve heard and seen a lot of crazy things during the radio survey period – break ups, benders and bird-themed hip hop tracks. But the pinnacle of the madness is here: Jono and Ben are sailing across Lake Taupo today, in a giant inflatable bouncy castle. We have sent our roaming reporter Don Rowe down … Read more
From France we fly to South Korea on this jowl-hating journey to combat the global pandemic of ageing and ugliness. Rachel is in Seoul, a city with the highest plastic surgery rate in the world. “You probably think I’m in Los Angeles – where I live – but I’m not”. The big takeaway here is … Read more
Our pick of the best new shows to hit Lightbox this September, including a slew of incredible nature documentaries and the final season of Lost Girl express from the US. Doctor Who Season Eight (out now) Doctor Who has been morphing, time travelling and regenerating since 1963, and shows no sign of slowing down. The … Read more
The first episode of our weekly pop music chat for umusic, shot and edited by The Spinoff’s own José Barbosa. It involves two pop rookies – The Spinoff’s Alex Casey and bFM’s Joseph Harper – listening to state-of-the-art pop music and having a chat about it. Simple. This week they discuss being drunk in a … Read more
Alex Casey chats to Ellen and Vince on the bFM breakfast show about the upcoming TV highlights for the week, including the launch of incredible lifestyle channel TLC (home of My Strange Addiction and Buying Naked).
Sky has launched TLC today, unleashing a great flood of jaw-dropping lifestyle content that we have only ever heard mutterings of. From big names like Toddlers in Tiaras to niche content like Gypsy Sisters and Craft Wars, there’s no shortage of fake-sounding shows that have to be seen to be believed. I looked through the TLC back catalogue … Read more
Alex Casey binge-watches The Ladies of NZ, the online webseries and offering to the radio survey gods by ZM. Sometimes I get really worried that, through some freak natural disaster, all of humanity is destroyed and all that remains of our existence are radio broadcasts from survey time, picked up by much more intelligent life … Read more
Alex Casey interviews Australian grand illusionist Cosentino about learning the tricks of the trade, being on a talent show, and whether or not a dog can learn hypnosis. The first time I ever saw Cosentino on television, I was incredibly hungover on a Sunday afternoon. His Australian TV specials have a habit of creeping up … Read more