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495:
in terms of "bad luck", and described it as "absolutely ghastly." Brough described working on the series as "such a horrendous experience", adding "I was so embarrassed by it, I had to go overseas." Both Brough and Todd claim the series was substantial in convincing them to leave New
Zealand and move
535:
initially aired at 7pm on
Sundays with the first episode ("Going, Going... Goner") aired on 2 April 1995. After being pulled from its Sunday night timeslot due to poor ratings, the series was moved to Saturdays at 7pm from 17 June to 26 August and then "stripped" five days a week, Monday to Friday,
341:
took place in a small studio at TV3's headquarters in
Auckland. The scenes were shot with three cameras and the footage was vision switched (compiled at the time of recording from the three camera shots provided) from an outside broadcast unit in the loading bay instead of the studio control room.
295:), a conscientious and mild-mannered travel agent attempting to rein in her wayward siblings while her mother is off on an archaeological dig in Malaysia. She is aided and abetted by Fiona (Susan Brady), her ditzy air hostess best friend; Brendan (
544:
In 2019, a comedy podcast about the creation of the sitcom titled "The Worst Sitcom Ever Made" was released by RNZ. Episodes were presented by creator Geoff
Houtman and featured interviews from the writing staff, crew and cast members.
519:
has been attributed to poor comedy writing, low budget production, miscast actors, and cultural incompatibility between the
American-style sitcom and the comedy that New Zealanders prefer. In the years since
330:
TV3 paid an
American television writer, John Vorhaus, to hold workshops in New Zealand, teaching hopeful writers how to script an American-style sitcom. This influenced the style of
892:
323:'s first attempt at a sitcom, and it was hoped the show would form one of a number of flagship productions for the station. They received $ 1,262,990 funding from
276:
Although it ran for a total of 40 episodes over two seasons in 1995 and 1996/97, it was neither a critical nor commercial success. It has been named one of the
457:. It has also become part of the lexicon within the Kiwi television industry to describe an unsuccessful sitcom; for example, "That show will be the next
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as Melody, a hard-working sibling guardian surrounded by a gaggle of eccentric friends and family. The series was structured in a similar manner to an
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went on to lead fruitful acting careers, while
Elliott O'Donnell is now known as Askew, a successful graffiti artist.
253:
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Due to the studio's size, there was no live audience so the laugh tracks had to be added during post production.
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308:. She had little acting experience and was known more for her sexy, outrageous on-screen persona.
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At the time, Todd was best known for her role as co-host of TV3's late news programme
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was poor, and it is considered in New
Zealand to be one of the
244:
401:"Tie a Yellow Chainsaw Round the Old Oak Tree" (22 July 1995)
508:" for its perceived low quality. Despite this, Brough and
337:
According to director
Michael Robinson, the recording of
573:. BFI Film & TV Database. 2010-06-17. Archived from
489:
both regret starring in the series; Todd compared it to
950:
Episode one of Melody Rules "Going, Going ... Goner"
645:"MELODY RULES: "GOING, GOING ... GONER" . EPISODE 1"
571:"BFI – Film & TV Database – MELODY RULES (1994)"
504:, respectively. The series has developed a "certain
820:
796:"On The Right: Quotas A Fancy Word For Censorship"
365:"Superstar: The Zoe Robbins Story" (30 April 1995)
609:
556:Television in New Zealand: Programming the Nation
467:, one of New Zealand television's "disasters" by
247:created by Geoff Houtman and Mihera Paterson for
956:
767:
712:"MELODY RULES: "THE DEVIL YOU KNOW" EPISODE 40"
598:. Kathyrn Rawlings & Associates. 2009-08-12
793:
389:"Here's to You, Misses Robbins" (24 June 1995)
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882:
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558:p23 Auckland, N.Z.: Oxford University Press.
413:"The Honourable Mr Robbins" (26 August 1995)
848:
846:
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615:
407:"Luck Be a Monkey Tonight" (12 August 1995)
965:1995 New Zealand television series endings
691:"MELODY RULES: "WE ARE FAMILY" EPISODE 35"
554:Horrocks, Roger & Nick Perry (2004).
970:1994 New Zealand television series debuts
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732:
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728:
670:"MELODY RULES: "INSIDE JOB". EPISODE 26A"
527:
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995:Three (TV channel) original programming
16:1995 New Zealand TV series or programme
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725:
714:. New Zealand Film Archive. 2008-06-14
693:. New Zealand Film Archive. 2008-06-14
539:
380:"Lost in the Masquerade" (3 June 1995)
377:"Gentlemen Prefer Babes" (28 May 1995)
855:"Captain Alan takes his time, Page 2"
852:
536:at 5pm during the summer of 1996/97.
444:
392:"Death of a Saleswoman" (1 July 1995)
356:"Going, Going...Goner" (2 April 1995)
985:Television shows funded by NZ on Air
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975:1990s New Zealand television series
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890:Nightline 20th Anniversary Special
821:Waikato Times Staff (2009-03-03).
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14:
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770:"Shooting stars across the Ditch"
371:"Fried Green Blobs" (14 May 1995)
359:"Maximum Security" (9 April 1995)
990:Television shows set in Auckland
672:. New Zealand Film Archive. 2000
616:Lang, Sarah (23 November 2009).
410:"Friendly Fire" (19 August 1995)
265:, containing elements such as a
915:
814:
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368:"Crayfish L'Amour" (7 May 1995)
980:New Zealand television sitcoms
768:NZ Herald Staff (2008-08-07).
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362:"Basic Insect" (16 April 1995)
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136:
1:
853:Lallo, Michael (2007-02-15).
794:Rennie, Philip (2000-04-10).
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398:"Brendanstein" (15 July 1995)
386:"Movin' On Up" (17 June 1995)
383:"The Fugitive" (11 June 1995)
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923:"The Worst Sitcom Ever Made"
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404:"Stop Press" (5 August 1995)
395:"Quality Time" (8 July 1995)
7:
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374:"Air Brendan" (21 May 1995)
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291:centred on Melody Robbins (
10:
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737:Lang, Sarah (2009-11-23).
319:was fledgling broadcaster
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823:"TV exec canned for jibe"
455:worst sitcoms of all time
278:worst sitcoms of all time
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449:Critical reception for
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900:(2010). Graham, Mark (
776:. APN News & Media
774:The New Zealand Herald
744:The New Zealand Herald
623:The New Zealand Herald
528:Scheduling and ratings
464:The New Zealand Herald
739:"3's company, Page 4"
473:, and "awful" by the
251:. It featured former
749:APN News & Media
429:"The Devil You Know"
540:Cultural references
432:"Gullibles Travels"
902:executive producer
895:2012-09-05 at the
445:Critical reception
243:was a New Zealand
189:Production company
163:Executive producer
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128:Original language
120:Country of origin
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651:. 2008-06-14
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575:the original
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533:Melody Rules
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517:Melody Rules
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510:Jodie Rimmer
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451:Melody Rules
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423:"Inside Job"
339:Melody Rules
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332:Melody Rules
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317:Melody Rules
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293:Belinda Todd
289:Melody Rules
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259:Belinda Todd
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240:Melody Rules
239:
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219:2 April 1995
215:2 April 1995
181:Running time
166:Geoff Steven
88:Iain Chapman
84:Jodie Rimmer
79:Belinda Todd
49:Geoff Steven
46:Developed by
23:Melody Rules
22:
506:cult status
483:Alan Brough
297:Alan Brough
267:laugh track
150:of episodes
123:New Zealand
103:Alan Brough
98:Susan Brady
64:Directed by
59:David Geary
959:Categories
870:2010-03-09
834:2010-05-14
807:2010-05-14
780:2010-05-14
754:2010-03-09
718:2010-09-10
697:2010-09-10
676:2010-09-10
655:2010-05-14
629:23 October
602:2010-06-17
581:2010-06-17
549:References
312:Production
271:vaudeville
184:22 minutes
158:Production
139:of seasons
54:Written by
29:Created by
498:Australia
440:Reception
325:NZ On Air
305:Nightline
254:Nightline
893:Archived
500:and the
418:Season 2
351:Season 1
171:Producer
112:Composer
72:Starring
943:at the
860:The Age
492:Macbeth
284:Premise
227: (
223: –
217: (
212:Release
202:Network
131:English
245:sitcom
801:Scoop
470:Scoop
257:host
908:and
631:2011
485:and
269:and
229:1995
225:1995
910:TV3
904:).
496:to
321:TV3
249:TV3
206:TV3
148:No.
137:No.
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