After weeks of power ranking from behind a computer, Alex Casey sits down with The Bachelor NZ‘s Art and Matilda. Together they sit a fool-proof relationship quiz, and talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. It was what dreams are made of: Art and Matilda, together in a room. Bachelor banners. A small … Read more
The huge ring has been given out, the fluorescent lights have been dialed up to 11 and Mike Puru has sunken into his enormous studded chair. It’s time for the After the Final Rose special of The Bachelor NZ. Jane Yee, Alex Casey and Duncan Greive pop a Lindauer and chat about the somewhat disappointing … Read more
Alex Casey grapevines through the Dancing With the Stars NZ lineup for 2015 and makes some early predictions. The full cast of Dancing With the Stars was revealed on X Factor NZ last night, exploding from inside a huge disco ball like spray tanned chicks hatching from the egg of their glittery mother, MediaWorks. And what … Read more
Greg Bruce interviews his Mum about her penchant for Seven Sharp‘s Mike Hosking over John Campbell. Mum came over last week to babysit my daughter and on arrival told me some story about something Mike Hosking had been talking about and, because this is a fairly common occurrence, I thought, ‘Why is my fundamentally decent … Read more
After a week of Mother’s Day tunes, number one hits and Bachelor cameos, our think tank meets again to discuss week 13 on X Factor NZ. Robyn Gallagher on The Vibesmums I can’t help feel ripped off that Steve Broad was eliminated the week before the Mother’s Day show. If he’d been around this week, he’d … Read more
Alex Casey talks to Hilary Barry about juggling Paul Henry and 3 News, watching X Factor and playing second banana. When I arrived at TV3 to meet Hilary Barry, I was deeply excited to find out that the interview would take place on the Paul Henry set. “It’s about the only quiet place left in the … Read more
As The Bachelor NZ contestants have been whittled down, so too have our Group Think contributors. In the final instalment, Art and Matilda’s wedding is envisaged and a brand new, very old, conspiracy is unearthed. Melanie Bracewell on The Rural Maid Matilda won! But I’ve done a little research that might shock you all. I was … Read more
Alex Casey delivers her (possibly) final power rankings for The Bachelor NZ. With a winner decided, it’s time to rank the greatest moments of the final week in paradise. We made it guys, finally tottering along the sandy shores of love to the finalé. And what a finale episode it was – like the producers … Read more
We celebrate the end of our quest for Forever Love with a Forever Podcast. Jane Yee, Alex Casey and Duncan Greive finally get their long-sought after Lindauer sponsorship, and drank it watching a landmark television event: the end of New Zealand’s first ever Bachelor franchise. It promised much and delivered more, from bad bottom animals … Read more
Joseph Harper uses his Playstation 2 version of The Sims to decide the final outcome of The Bachelor NZ. Speculation is rife going into the final week of The Bachelor NZ. All three remaining bachelorettes seem to have a crack at the title of Art Green’s girlfriend. Alysha has the nice accent. Matilda has a nice … Read more
The brave Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to discuss week 12 on X Factor NZ, including Steve’s real age, Shelton’s fake hat and Stan’s copycat tears. Robyn Gallagher on the Charity Single Remember the charity single? It was released only three weeks ago, but a very a strange thing is happening in the … Read more
Joseph Moore is joined by X Factor NZ warmer-upper Eli Mathewson and Lili fan Paul Williams to discuss the week of Kiwi classics. In a noisy Balmoral McDonald’s, they discuss meat ethics, Broad farewells and the controversial Tiki Taane backlash. Fresh from the live show, inside scoops include Steve’s set mayhem, Brendon Thomas and the Toilet … Read more
Last week I was in Ohakune for the X Factor NZ live show, hungover from a 40th the night before, and therefore in the perfect intellectual state to consume 1.5 hours of TV singing show. Around 5pm I turned on the rental bach’s hitherto unused television – an LG old enough that it was two … Read more
Sitting on the couch of scrutiny right next to the barbecue of trust, Alex Casey delivers her seventh power rankings in our weekly series. If you missed last week’s power rankings, click here. As visionary artisté Skylar Grey once sang, “I’m coming home, I’m coming home – tell the world I’m coming home” and this was … Read more
Jane Yee, Alex Casey and Duncan Greive gather again to the Fantasy Suite to discuss the hometown visits week of the Bachelor NZ, and farewell the wonderful Poppy, farted her way into our hearts all those weeks ago. We discuss Alysha’s big straddle, Dani’s doorway pash and Matilda’s adorable old dad Ken. It’s an emotional … Read more
After gorging himself on a strict diet of food television and cooking reality shows, Finlay Macdonald examines the skills required to be the perfect public eater. The announcement last week that “celebrity chef” Al Brown would be one of the judges on TV3’s forthcoming “reboot” of the familiar Masterchef format was big news for gob-watchers … Read more
With his predictions going hugely awry for the last few weeks, Duncan Greive decided to take some time out from the noble task of power ranking. Spending the long weekend in Ohakune, he meditated next to the giant carrot – hoping to gain the strength to be able to see anything promising in the dark … Read more
The weary few remaining Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to discuss week 11 on X Factor NZ Talia Smith on Milky Bar Broad I have finally decided who Steve Broad/Bored is and I am bloody happy because this mystery has been plaguing me for weeks. He is the grown up version of the … Read more
My Life in TV is a weekly feature interview with a member of the television industry. This week, Alex Casey talked to Anika Moa about tutoring on Maori TV’s Songs From the Inside, Ed Sheeran’s looks and why she likes to impersonate famous New Zealanders. Anika Moa is obviously chiefly known as an accomplished musician, but she … Read more
After the news broke of Paul Henry’s secret feature film The Desk, it is officially coming to New Zealand in the Documentary Edge Festival. Alex Casey went along to a preview screening to see what on earth is going on. Full disclosure: I don’t really know wtf I just watched. I just got home from a … Read more
Claire Adamson shares her arduous journey to watch a few precious episodes of the part Barbie, part human after-school series This is Serial Stuff, and celebrates the smart technicolour antics of the iconic kiwi kids show. I want you to cast your mind back to a time before you were cool – catching the bus home, eating all … Read more
In week six of The Bachelor NZ, some of the greatest minds in the country assemble to talk about Art’s dreamy leathers, school teacher woes and pure pash champions. Joanna Hunkin’s Alliterative Ode to The Bachelor Times are getting tough for Billy Big Balls. His weasel words may woo the weaker women but Caustic Chrystal … Read more
Rowing endlessly around The Bachelor NZ pond of love, Alex Casey delivers her sixth power rankings in our weekly series. If you missed last week’s power rankings, click here. This week The Bachelor NZ was about as juicy and satisfying as a face-sized burger eaten without a knife and fork because the Burger People didn’t have … Read more
Jane Yee, Alex Casey and Duncan Greive recap week six on the #TFSPod, returning to the sunny BOP to watch Art and his merry mistresses fly helicopters and planes, row boats and catch fish, and pash like animals. We start to get a bit too deep this week, talking directly to the Bachelorettes, and Art’s … Read more
Alex Casey watched the Sunday special on the escapees of Gloriavale, and explains why you need to don a bonnet and get involved in this bizarre ongoing story. What’s it about? Gloriavale is the name of a small religious community in Haupiri Valley, first established by a man called Hopeful Christian (yep) in 1969. The … Read more
The Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to talk week 10 on X Factor NZ. Topics include opportunities for cross-promotion, Israel Dagg’s music video debut and a general sense of apathy. Renee Church on The Blatt-Chelorette We can’t deny it anymore. Mel Blatt is a straight babe, and all males in association with the show (who would be/are in … Read more
After another baffling elimination, After The Factor turns to more important discussion: Do fish eat other fish? Will Stan and Dom ever play sqaush? Is Nic allowed to be mad if he doesn’t even vote? What was Chris Mac doing on a boat with Joe Cotton? Will Natasha’s evil plans for Dom come true? How does … Read more
A confession: Sometimes when I sit staring uncomprehendingly at the blinking cursor, trying to figure out how something which once brought me so much joy came to be such a chore, I lean back and think of the winter of 2013. It was very cold, my wife very pregnant and our house a building site. … Read more
In an all-new Bachelor group think, the Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to discuss dreaming of Art, praying for Mike and where the love story all began. Paul Williams on the Origins of The Bachelor A lot of people think The Bachelor franchise began in 2002 with season one of the American show. These people … Read more