Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Free the Street

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  • Russell Brown,

    Just getting this on the System radar ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Well, I never watched it in the past. And, now without Sky (I dumped them on the weekend, figuring watching only 2 programmes a week (not including Maori tv) for $48.00 a month was a fucking ridiculous waste of $$$) I cant watch this evening's episode-
    not that that really bothers me! Enjoy, the rest of youse-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    I guess that familiarity can lead to neglect...or even contempt...but SS has been an important part of our family life for the last 20 years (and the reason we seldom see Closeup or Campbell). I really like how it takes multiculturalism and all other kinds of identities as unremarkable and just part of life in Aotearoa....and good villains to hiss at!
    It was fun doing research on it in the 1990s, when Tony Holden was in charge (he wanted to know more about its younger audience),

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Islander,

    do you still need Sky or Freeview to get TV2 on the Coast?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Sacha,

    Yep.
    You basically need Sky or Freeview to get anything in this paticular area-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    Is this the right time to say I've never watched an episode of Shorties? Is it any good?

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • TracyMac, in reply to James Butler,

    With you there, James. I don't seem to have the soapie gene, so I think I've seen less than an ep's-worth, all up.

    But good on them for proving it can be done here, and even better in some ways (the early diversity Russell alludes to) than countries with much bigger audiences.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to James Butler,

    runs rings around the Aussie equivalents, I tells you

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to James Butler,

    Is this the right time to say I've never watched an episode of Shorties? Is it any good?

    Same, James. Licensed music to it many times, so I'm grateful it exists (and provides solid employment) but I've not seen more than 10 minutes of it in a sitting.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I can recommend watching a few episodes every year to see a useful cultural snapshot.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    @ James & TraceyMac & Simon.

    You sick sick people. Fancy not watching SS.

    I often wondered what it is like to watch.......

    Join ya. Sick.

    Phew.

    Edit: But I do have 10% of Gareth Williams.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sacha,

    runs rings around the Aussie equivalents, I tells you

    You know, back in the 90s you could could just about add that claim to Fred Hollows' list of the three things that every expat NZer tells you*.
    While SBS did run Shortie for a while, Australians seemed bemused that anyone would watch a hospital soap, as they'd already kind of been there done that. Around the same time SBS screened the toweringly camp 80s Mexican Den of Wolves, which totally creamed SS as an exotic soapie import.

    *1. I was an All Black trialist.
    2. My grandmother was a Maori princess.
    3. I was just helping that sheep through the gate.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Ooo, I might even see if I can watch the 20th anniversary special. Haven't watched it for years, but put in some bursts as an extra way back in the day (i.e. probably about the same time you wrote that editorial).

    Things I learnt as an extra:
    - Craig Parker and Angela Dotchin were snobs, but Temuera Morrison and Rene Naufahu weren't. 'Course, by snobs, I mean "ignored extras as though we were self-propelled props, rather than talking to us as people", which is a pretty narrow definition. They may be perfectly lovely in other settings.
    - Andrew Binns was much hotter in person than he was on screen.
    - There's no glamour in a 6am start on the North Shore when you live in Kingsland and don't drive.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Around the same time SBS screened the toweringly camp 80s Mexican Den of Wolves, which totally creamed SS as an exotic soapie import.

    Those Latin American supernatural soaps are the bomb. Used to have them on in Indonesia with the (completely surplus to requirement) audio off.

    The Indians do a pretty fine range in these too, all flying shivas, wicked stepmothers and talking beasties.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    There's no glamour in a 6am start on the North Shore

    you could safely omit the middle of that statement :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Simon Grigg,

    The Indians do a pretty fine range in these too, all flying shivas, wicked stepmothers and talking beasties.

    Eat your heart out Lars von Trier :)

    When I returned to live in NZ a bit less than a decade ago I watched Shortie with some folks who were into it. There was just one character I recognised from the early episodes, who'd played an angsty youth back then. When I was told that he'd evolved into an accountant it kind of killed my interest.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I once drunkenly approached "Lionel" on Ponsonby Road and asked if he was going to marry "Kirsty". I was probably about 19. But I haven't really watched it since the mid nineties. I feel a bit bad that we lost touch and now my soapy loyalties all lie with Coro St.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Just attended the Wellington meeting of Save TVNZ7 earlier tonight. And it looks like there's a proper blueprint this time round - local MP Grant Robertson has proposed the formation of a Campaign for Public Broadcasting to unite the Save TVNZ and Save Radio NZ attendees. Not to mention some interesting options from VUW's Dr Peter Thompson for financing a new TVNZ7-type organisation.

    And I recorded a question I asked Clare Curran about the LawCom Media report and its distant relatives, the Leveson & Finkelstein Inquiries.

    SoundCloud/YouTube clips TBA.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • chris, in reply to Russell Brown,

    doesn’t the diaspora deserve a break just this one time

    Woohoo! You beauty!

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • jb,

    Attachment

    doesn’t the diaspora deserve a break just this one time

    Stuff “Shortland Street” – I want “GC”

    a.small.town.in.germany • Since Jan 2007 • 86 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Danielle,

    I once drunkenly approached "Lionel" on Ponsonby Road

    whereas years later I was approached by him seeking directions to a liquor outlet in New Lynn.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Sacha,

    I once drunkenly approached "Lionel" on Ponsonby Road

    whereas years later I was approached by him seeking directions to a liquor outlet in New Lynn.

    Clearly he was still seeking solace over the one that got away...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    My question to Clare Curran @Save TVNZ7 Wellington now on Soundcloud. More to come.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    My teenage daughter inflicted Shortland St on us all last year, it would fill up the PVR (in HD no less) so her friends could avoid missing an episode and we were forbidden to delete it, this year she's a Uni student and "so over that", our PVR has room again

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Here's last night's episode -- local viewers only for the time being.

    It was really pretty good, and the discovery of the old nurses' uniforms was a nice touch. I was surprised at how many of the characters I recognised -- although I'm given to understand that the entire Jefferies family is back specially.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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