Hot comedy and explosive drama

Media Release for immediate distribution
6 March 2009

Hot comedy and explosive drama

Two brand new comedy series have the go ahead thanks to NZ On Air funding. Funding will also go to a new one-off drama, which is set to be a blast.

A Kiwi comic dream team will come together for a new series on TV3 In The Beginning There Was…..Nothing; a sketch style comedy show that should deliver plenty of laughs.

“The list of the show’s creators reads like an NZ comedy who’s who, and includes the Naked Samoans fresh from their final series of Bro’town; Oscar nominated Taika Waititi; and Grammy winner Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords),” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.

Sketches will range from the sublime to the ridiculous, featuring new characters as well as some better known faces. Amongst the skits, there will be Nightly with Kightley, The Untold Tales of Aotearoa and The Tapa’s Family Von Trapp Singing Band.

A new comedy on TV2 will feature successful comedians Eteuati Ete and Tofiga Fepulea’i, aka the Laughing Samoans. The short series follows the pair as they tour New Zealand and Australia. Laughing Samoans at Large will include sketches from their shows as well as the pair’s adventures on the road.

“Airing at prime time, this series will bring Pacific Island humour to mainstream audiences,” said Ms Wrightson. “It looks to be the year of Samoan comedy.”

On a more serious note, NZ On Air will also invest in one-off drama Volcano. Following the success of Aftershock – the drama about the aftermath of a huge earthquake in Wellington – Volcano explores what would happen in Auckland in the event of an eruption in the Waitemata Harbour.

“The drama focuses on a range of individuals as they try to deal with the event. The format worked well in Aftershock and we believe this drama will likewise have us on the edge of our seats,” said Ms Wrightson.

ENDS