MovieChat Forums > The Almighty Johnsons (2014) Discussion > Is this show representative of New Zeela...

Is this show representative of New Zeeland television?

posted 10 years ago by RedRider_1
24 replies | jump to latest

"Okay fellas, we got a sword off Amazon.com, and we got a few hundred dollars, and Jerry here thinks he knows a guy who knows how to write a 'screen play', so crack open some Fosters, and let's get started, eh?"

New Zeeland produced Flight of The Conchords, so I'm willing to cut it a lot of slack, but this show lends new levels of meaning to the term "shoestring budget". I'm always willing to check out the various international shows that SciFi channel buys the rights to. Some of them are really quite good shows, with solid and interesting plots and decent acting. But this one seems to fall a bit short of the mark.

I WILL go so far as to say, when the poor ratings force SciFi to replace it on their schedule, for the sake of the handful of people who care, I hope they do a marathon of the episodes remaining in the season. Providing, of course, that such a marathon doesn't affect regular programming.

[–] purple_hayz 10 years ago

I think you will find that Fosters is not a NZ drink..

[–] RedRider_1 10 years ago

Is that the 'ONLY' part of my comment where you disagree? Yee-gads. The state of NZ television is even worse than I thought.

[–] purple_hayz 10 years ago

Its not the only part. I was just to lazy to address the whole comment.

[–] RedRider_1 10 years ago

Well, as I mentioned, I'm more than willing to cut NZ a lot of slack. They DID give us Flight of the Conchords -- MAN, I wish they'd lasted longer than just two seasons! -- and have provided the setting(s) of some films I've loved (and statistically speaking, there must have been other films shot in NZ that I've liked without realizing it was a product of NZ). Regarding The Almighty Johnsons, however, I'm going to stand by my "shoestring budget" remark.

(Said budget being reflected in everything from backdrops, to props, to writing. Even the extras used in the scenes I saw seemed to be a bit embarrassed to be there.)

[–] purple_hayz 10 years ago

Well The Almighty Johnsons was a show on tv3 and they have run into some issues with money recently. Im pretty sure Top of The Lake has been recognised world wide as a decent enough show, filmed etc. in New Zealand. A lot of films have been either made or edited in New Zealand but I'm just to lazy to start listing them.

[–] robbotnik2000 10 years ago

I wish you would list some of the New Zealand shows and films you find enjoyable. I haven't been to Poenamo for some time but I enjoyed my time there.

[–] shazzboy 10 years ago

NZ does not have the money to make a series on a budget level equal to the USA. They do not have the population base to support it. Demanding it is unfair and arrogant.

[–] RedRider_1 10 years ago

The idea that it's "unfair" and "arrogant" to expect quality television, even on a budget, it ridiculous. So is the thought that I'm "demanding" it.

So you don't have the budget for extravagant special effects. Okay.

So you don't have the budget for extravagant props. Okay.

So you don't have the budget for extravagant and/or exotic locations. Okay (but part of this excuse is just being lazy or complacent).

If you also don't have the budget for CAPABLE writers and CAPABLE actors, WHY BOTHER? That's just laziness and complacency on the part of the producers of the show. If you're persistent, and meticulous, you can find good writers. Same goes for actors with acting ability.

Nothing I saw on the pilot for this show indicated (to me) that much effort or thought went into it. And no, pumping money into a show doesn't equal pumping "quality" into a show. More to the point: You don't HAVE to have money to have quality. And quality is what this show seems to lack.

[–] Royalcourtier 9 years ago

Quality and budget are two entirely different things.

This series may well have been made on a small budget. But so what? That does not affect concept, writing, direction or acting.

TV shows do not need vast budgets. The idea of this programme is that it is very human and suburban. A low budget - if it was low - is irrelevant.

Generally New Zealand TV is pretty poor. Acting is often very bad, intelligence almost absent, and programmes often show a low moral code (or none at all).

I found TAJ well acted and intelligent. Much more so than usual for NZ TV. The typical TV sexuality and nudity was perhaps not inappropriate, given the topic.

Incidentally I thought Flight of the Conchords was pretty bad.

[–] ruapehu-116-340462 10 years ago

I know this is now a bit late, but in support of purple_hayz I have to say that, rather than being the only thing to disagree with, it actually demonstrates considerable ignorance about little old Enzed when you appear to be trying to demonstrate some knowledge (hand over mouth sniggering at that!).
Doesn't worry me and certainly doesn't upset me.
It is in fact humerus.
Laughingly so...
I hope that tickles your funny bone

[–] RedRider_1 10 years ago

I should check my email more often. I only just discovered this reply to a thread I'd completely forgotten about.

I know you'e speaking some form of English. I can read the words. I'm just puzzled about what you're actually trying to communicate. Is it possible that you're drunk, or high, or something? That might account for what little sense you seemed to make. I realize that it might also be some sort of "cultural thing" that I just don't seem to get... Not really sure how to take this... I see a play on words with "humerus" and "humorous", and then a reference to my "funny bone"? I'm wondering if this was an attempt at highbrow humor to insult me? Or an attempt to "be" highbrow that failed? Or if you're simply stoned.

Anyway. Hope you have a lovely day. I hope when your buzz wears off, you don't feel too horrible. Peace and love, and all that...

?

[–] CraigSmi 10 years ago

To be honest, I always thought the lack of budget was part of the charm... like in the non-animated TV show The Tick where all the bits that would require a budget (eg fights and special effects) conveniently happened off screen.

Aw well - is over now.

[–] CharWoman 10 years ago

I have no problem with the low-budget feel of this. It lets the show stand on its relatable characters and entertaining plot lines. Watching the first season here in the US and find it a refreshing change from American and even UK television. They work well within their limitations. I actually hope it *doesn't* get some mass infusion of cash and CGI. It just doesn't need that.

[–] sharimosier 9 years ago

Low budget or not it is imaginative & fun to watch, hope it returns for another season , looking forward to seeing them return

[–] calderone1921 9 years ago

i fell in love with this show and new zealand. i became attached to the actors. Anyway- try this link mate.
http://watchseries.lt/serie/the_almighty_johnsons
its better watching it un cut

[–] gambit924 9 years ago

Is this website pretty safe? I have tried a few others and my anti-virus doesn't like them, so just wondering because I like to avoid things like viruses and such. Does anyone else use it? Thank you!!
All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost

[–] kay_cee_d 9 years ago

I tend to prefer shows with better productive values (because I'm an artist/designer so the look of things is important to me) HOWEVER I personally would never fault a show for being low budget if it was a good show. I really like this show, its a bit silly and ridiculous but it is fun and has heart.

[–] kay_rock 9 years ago

As an American, I can say I've seen a number of movies and television shows from New Zealand that I enjoyed, including this one. To say any single show was representative of the entire country's television would be silly.

Saying that the original post in this thread was indicative of the education system in the US would be pretty accurate, sadly.

Movies are IQ tests. The IMDB boards are each person's opportunity to broadcast their score.

[–] Charlie_Runkle69 9 years ago

Surprised I'm the only person to mention that FOTC is not a New Zealand show. The lead actors and some of the writers are kiwis, but the show was produced by HBO and had a number of non kiwi actors and writers who added a huge amount to the show

[–] nzangell 8 years ago

It was written by two kiwis and one englishman. It was funded by HBO...yes...but the FOTC were around before that as a live act and a radio series. The original concept of FOTC was always and will always be Jermaine Clements and Bret McKenzies. And they are New Zealanders.

[–] Charlie_Runkle69 7 years ago

Still not a New Zealand produced show though. Has a very heavy kiwi influence, but it didn't win any NZ tv awards because it wasn't made or produced in NZ.

[–] nzangell 7 years ago

And that is all you can come up with? That it was 'produced' by HBO? Fact is nz doesn't have the budgets that America has to be able to produce such shows. Good thing that nz'ers are such a great talented lot, that Americans recognise this and are quite happy to pay to produce an original kiwi idea, written by two kiwis and a brit.Thanks America for giving your money to kiwi talent.

[–] Mustang (5230) 2 years ago

So far this is the only Kiwi show I liked.

[–] Mustang (5230) 2 years ago

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