New Series Puts Small Town New Zealand On The Map

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New Series Puts Small Town New Zealand On The Map

Putting small town New Zealand on the map is Gary McCormick's mission in a new series funded by NZ On Air.

NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall, said that the series, McCormick Rips, would bring local issues and the latest and greatest of local musical talent to our screens.

"The programme will show provincial New Zealand at its entertaining best.

"It will show our country and our people in all their diversity - not just from the perspective of metropolitan New Zealand. It will give a voice to people all over New Zealand to express themselves and their perspectives on community and national issues in both a light-hearted and serious way.

"It's an event, the town is on show and therefore on the map.

"In true McCormick style, the series will be both funny and insightful. It's the sort of comedy that, according to our recent research, New Zealanders want - ad lib and completely natural," said Ms Tyndall.

Research by Colmar Brunton for NZ On Air (released last month) found that New Zealanders felt that New Zealand humour worked best when it was ad lib or off the cuff, rather than situation comedy or skit shows.

The McCormick Rips series combines comedy, music, and social commentary from Gary McCormick and will be filmed in thirteen different towns - from Kaitaia to Invercargill.

Each episode will follow a similar format. McCormick will arrive in towns such as Hokitika or Palmerston North, and give a quick introduction to the place. Then there will be a quick musical tour of the town to meet the locals, grab the local issues, and stitch together a show for that evening.

McCormick Rips Producers, William Grieve and Bruce Morrison, describe the series as "a bit of Top Town and a bit of It's In The Bag".

NZ On Air has allocated $655,169 to Morrison Grieve Ltd to produce 13 half-hour episodes of McCormick Rips. The series will screen on TV One later this year.

ENDS

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