After a quarter of a century of loyal fandom, Jane Yee took a three-year hiatus from Shortland Street. Tonight she revisited Ferndale for the dramatic annual Christmas cliffhanger. Full disclosure, I’ve been off the Shorty wagon for about three years, save a couple of months during the first lockdown in which I brought myself up … Read more
Commissioners are among the most powerful and coveted roles in television. Suddenly, after years of little movement, there are five vacancies. Two stories hit players in the local television industry hard and in quick succession. The first came early in July when TVNZ announced the departure of its longtime head of scripted, Kathleen Anderson. Then, … Read more
They’re the two most important shows for TVNZ 2 and Three. And their ratings are changing radically, writes Duncan Greive. TV channels tell different stories about themselves depending on whom they’re talking to. When speaking to funding bodies, they emphasise the diversity of genres they air, and interest groups whose needs are met. When speaking … Read more
To many, Drew’s Christmas Holiday was a light-hearted, comedy filler to keep thirsty Shortland Street fans satiated during the long summer hiatus. To others, it was a terrifying descent into the empty soul of a confused and lonely man. Tara Ward finds out what really went on. All I know for sure about Drew’s Christmas Holiday is … Read more
Anyone debating the controversy around Shortland Street need to remember those with Downs are not some abstraction but real and important people, writes Sarah Paterson-Hamlin, whose day job involves running a charity for kids with Down Syndrome called the UpsideDowns Education Trust Shortland Street’s latest plotline has it all; pregnancy, medical drama, scandalised tones, hastily googled medical symptoms, unplanned sex, … Read more
From House of Cards’ sinister trumpets to The Fresh Prince’s iconic rap, TV theme tunes are powerful signifiers and also, just occasionally, standalone hits superior even to the show they prelude. Elizabeth Beattie examines five of New Zealand’s television theme songs to sift the cultural gold from the mud. We can tell a lot about … Read more
Shortland’s Street big blowout 25th anniversary might be over, but we’re still in the mood to celebrate. From births to deaths, with hostages, heists and cliffhangers aplenty in between, Tara Ward counts down the most-watched Shorty episodes EVER. There’s one more Shortland Street birthday tribute to make before we blow out the candles and take … Read more
The Spinoff and Spark proudly present Pod On The Couch, a weekly podcast exploring music and the people that make it. This episode: Henry Oliver talks to Johnny Barker. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to Johnny Barker a musician, actor (the Ferndale Strangler!), screenwriter and director, who under the moniker Barker, has a new album hot off … Read more
Five years ago, South Pacific Pictures responded to an online campaign from fans outside NZ and unblocked the 20th birthday special for a couple of days. A repeat, please, this time round, beseeches Gemma Gracewood from New York. Dear South Pacific Pictures, Five years ago when Shortland Street turned 20, your special 90 minute feature-length episode was … Read more
Jane Yee, Duncan Greive and Alex Casey have podcasted The Bachelor NZ, The Real Housewives of Auckland and Dancing With the Stars NZ. This year they hope to merge all reality coverage, bad NZ celebs and product reviews into one unholy rat king of a podcast. Introducing… THE REAL POD. Episode one of Real Pod … Read more
New Zealand is rightly proud of the multi-ethnic and -cultural society it’s growing into. But while Māori and Pacific representation has improved since the ’80s, our exploding Asian population remains near-invisible. Sonia Gray tries to find out why. Originally published May 17, 2016 Lately, I’ve been looking at the people around me and looking at … Read more
Tara Ward brings you her rankings for Shortland Street last week, including super-yacht surgery, love triangles, and the arrival of a brand new cocky doctor. 1) Drew: oh Captain, my Captain Talk about better work stories: “Kylie, remember that time we were cooking tenderloins and were suddenly taken hostage on that super-yacht? With the anaesthelogist who … Read more
Tara Ward brings you her rankings for Shortland Street last week, including Victoria’s annoying death and a classic Warner seduction. 1) Victoria dies a wooden death What the bloody hell, Shortland Street? For months we’ve trudged along the dark and boggy trail of the ‘Who Shot Drew’ storyline. We trusted you’d lead us out of the shitstorm … Read more
Tara Ward brings you her rankings for Shortland Street last week, including Vinnie’s fridge swear and Leanne’s fixation with workplace exercise. 1) Leanne ponchos above her weight Nothing will stop Leanne in her quest to reach 10,000 steps a day, other than her complete inability to reach 10,000 steps a day. Jogging on the spot, running in … Read more
Tara Ward brings you her rankings for last week, including Drew’s transformation into a vampire, Curtis’ love for Chickpea Casserole and Boyd’s peaking paranoia. 1) Don’t panic, Boyd – it’s probably just hormonal Boyd hit peak paranoia this week. He lost his bag and found it again, which can mean only one thing: Fentich are on to … Read more
Tara Ward brings you her Shortland Street Power Rankings for last week, including a Fentidge frenzy, Kate’s toast-on-toast banquet and Bella’s medical breakthrough. 1) Spurious George makes like a tree and leaves News just in: George has left the building. Take one last look at his miserable mug. Breathe one last lungful of his putrid air filled with lies, … Read more
New Zealand is rightly proud of the multi-ethnic and -cultural society it’s growing into. But while Māori and Pacific representation has improved since the ’80s, our exploding Asian population remains near-invisible. In part one of a two-part series, Sonia Gray tries to find out why. Lately, I’ve been looking at the people around me and … Read more