‘Audiences love New Zealanders here’: Dominic Bowden talks to Alex Casey in LA

Two years ago, Alex Casey climbed into the on-set trailer belonging to Dominic Bowden – then Dancing With the Stars US backstage host, now host of The Bachelor NZ – to talk live TV, Kiwis vs Americans, and making it in Los Angeles. Just as all roads lead to Rome and all Suzukis lead to … Read more

Is the Bachelor NZ falling victim to our reality TV’s second season syndrome?

The first season of The Bachelor NZ was arguably the greatest of any localised reality import. Unfortunately the second is thus far a disaster. Duncan Greive asks if we have any right to expect otherwise. A long time ago, before HD and broadband and snackable content, there was a little sitcom that went by the … Read more

Summer Reissue: Hex Factor – Watching Willy Moon and Natalia Kills Flee New Zealand

After the terrifying tirade that made our top TV moment of 2015, we thought it would be fitting to revisit Don Rowe’s report from Auckland airport as he watched Willy Moon and Natalia Kills leave the country.  Like great dark bats they swooped through Auckland International Airport. He wore leather and she sheltered beneath a … Read more

Summer Reissue: Remembering Our Extensive Spinoff Investigation Who Sold the KillsMoon Dirty Bedsheets

Not only were WIlly Moon and Natalia Kills electric TV talent, they also were involved in one of the strangest TradeMe auctions of the year. Alex Casey tracked down the man who tried to sell their used sheets, towels and hotel feedback form on TradeMe. Notwithstanding the furore enveloping ex-con Slim Shaedy, there was far more … Read more

Television: Counting Down the 50 Best New Zealand TV Moments of the Year (#20-11)

The fourth in our week-long series, counting down the greatest New Zealand television moments of the year. Click here to catch up on the first, second and third instalments. Contributions by Alex Casey, Calum Henderson and Duncan Greive. 20) Dadbod wins DWTS When he first strode out sheepishly onto the Dancing With the Stars dance floor Simon … Read more

Music Monday: Could You F*** to this? A Review of X Factor NZ 2015 Winner Beau Monga’s Album

The morning after the X Factor final a workmate told me he was on his way to interview Beau Monga. “Oh yeah?” I said. “What’s Boh been up to?” “Uh… winning X Factor?” Ah shit. Why had I assumed he was talking about Boh Runga, who fronted the band Stellar* 15 years ago, rather than … Read more

Music Monday: Will Life Imitate Art? A Musical Update on the Romance of Modern Times

In April this year, we published a very public declaration of love by Paul Williams for Lilli Bayliss, the undeniable pop princess of X Factor NZ. “A girl with snow-white hair had done the impossible. Not only had she made me not hate the song ‘Rude’ by Canadian reggae band Magic!, she had made me love … Read more

Music Monday: Industry Realism, Band Tensions and How Popstars Had the X Factor

In the wake of the X Factor NZ finale, Claire Adamson rewatches Popstars – and discovered much more compelling insights into the world of manufactured superstardom.  The weird thing about rewatching Popstars – the Kiwi show that started it all – is the fact that it’s not a reality tv show as we know them today. It’s … Read more

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week 14 – Jelly Wrestling, Advice for Beau and Burying the X Factor Corpse

In the final Group Think for X Factor NZ 2015, the Spinoff writers assemble one last time to express their frustrations, pitch future projects and remember the good times many KillsMoons ago. Jack Riddell on Advice for Beau Shot Beau, na, straight up g, you were fuckin’ sik and way better than Stevie Tonks. Thanks to … Read more

X Factor NZ: After the Factor Podcast – Hey Now, Hey Now, Don’t Dream it’s Over

The brave final three Nic Sampson, Joseph Moore and Eli Mathewson dissect the finale of X Factor NZ, and celebrate the triumphs of beatboxing Beau. Topics covered include the darker message behind Beau’s winning single, how the series has changed them and their facial hair, and how the X Factor is like global warming. Looking towards … Read more

X Factor NZ: Power Rankings, Week 10 – A Nation Decides…

Duncan Greive forces out a final Power Rankings, ending this dreadful season of X Factor NZ with a reflection on what turned a once-enjoyable show into an epic, endless waking nightmare. When this season of X Factor NZ first entered this world, blind, tearful and covered in blood, New Zealand was a very different nation. … Read more

X Factor NZ: Fight, Shred and Slap Your Way to the Top in Our X Factor Game

After the final of X Factor NZ, Joseph Harper creates an interactive game that promises to be more challenging, fun and have higher production values than the competition itself. It’s been a long season of losing judges, murderers and clear winners as X Factor NZ slowly disintegrated week to week. But finally – here’s something … Read more

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week 13 – Finding True X Factor Bliss and Rearranging Shelton’s Jellybeans

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

My Life in TV: Hilary Barry on Early Starts and Paul Henry’s Second Banana

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

X Factor NZ: Group Think, 12 – Broad Truths, Industry Hats and Crying Doppelgangers

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

X Factor: After the Factor Podcast – No Longer Lovin’ It

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

X Factor NZ: Power Rankings, Week Eight – Inside the Sausage Fest

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

The X Factor NZ: Power Rankings, Week Seven – Let’s Just Get the Spice Girls to Decide the Winner

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

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week Eleven – The Milky Bar Broad, Demi and the Vibes and Buff Times

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

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week 10 – Mel Blatt Lust & Shirtless Hatbeard Disgust

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

X Factor NZ: After The Factor Podcast – Boating, Voting and Dom Doing the Counting

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

X Factor NZ: Power Rankings, Week Six – Celebrity Death Watch

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

X Factor NZ: After the Factor Podcast – Fare Thee Welling Joe, Finlay and All Hope

A DOUBLE elimination this week! Joe and Finlay are gone! And with them go all the things we thought we knew about this show and what it stood for. Where are we going? Why are we here? Why can’t we just let Mae Valley win? Former The Wireless X Factor commentator Matthew McAuley and Tumblr … Read more

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week Nine – Broad Strokes and Ir-Vines

The Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to discuss week nine on X Factor NZ, featuring the shock elimination of Finlay and Joe. Calum Henderson on 50 Shades of Broad I love the Invercargill sexyman Steve Broad. I love his damp charisma, his done-in confidence, the fact that X Factor is the third(!) reality singing show he has … Read more

Music Monday: How One Young X Factor Fan Accident-Lili Fell In Love

Paul Williams takes us on a heartfelt journey through his ongoing online courtship of Lili Bayliss from The X Factor NZ. // Episode 13 of the second season of X Factor NZ will widely be remembered for one thing: Natalia Kills firing up at Joe Irvine for wearing a suit and combing his hair. While … Read more

X Factor NZ: Power Rankings, Week Five – Double Down

Double elimination. Two words, either heavenly or horrific. They sounded so sweet to us at home, carrying with them the promise of a shorter show, relieved of two more can’t-winners from this cursed season. To the performers they were a chill wind blowing through their mansion, a reminder that their dreamy existence – fame, coaching, … Read more

X Factor NZ: Group Think, Week Eight

The Spinoff knights meet at the television roundtable to discuss week eight on X Factor NZ: One Hit Wonder edition.// Robyn Gallagher on Pleasing the Older Woman In week two, the show theme was “Biggest Records Right Now” and Twitter was filled with 30-somethings having existential crises because they didn’t recognise any of the music. It’s been easier since, … Read more