Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Free the Street

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Danielle,

    I once drunkenly approached “Lionel” on Ponsonby Road and asked if he was going to marry “Kirsty”

    And spurned, he had to go and be in a movie with Vin Diesel.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    I never really watched it, but my lovely friend Carol has watched it for all of these 20 years. And so, I have been trained never to ring her earlier than 7.30pm.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Sometimes a Great Notion...
    Imagine our cultural landscape if it had been Pukemanu that had captured the nation's long-term collective approval?
    There probably wouldn't have been so much trouble up t' mill, and central North Island might have still had thriving industries - but no!

    What came to me was sudden and visual. It was a road-side sign " ___ Welcomes You." There were six bullet holes in it. A group of three .303 and three 7x57. Mine. So I wrote what Bill wanted; series outline, character breakdowns, and storylines for three episodes. The first opened on the titles over "Pukemanu Welcomes You" complete with bullet holes. (Pukemanu was not the first name we came up with).

    Julian Dickon at NZ on Screen

    Years later David Lynch would drive a another series down this same road to a different destination, as usual our broadcasting masters couldn't see the wood for the trees...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Tim Michie,

    Hmm... unless it features someone going off the deep end and revealing themselves as an insane homicidal maniac I don't see how it can top my watching days...

    Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Tim Michie,

    Responsible plot drivers...

    unless it features someone going off the deep end and revealing themselves as an insane homicidal maniac...

    Gidday, Mate....
    Dave!*


    *may include oblique references

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Craig Young,

    Don't ask me. I haven't watched an episode for years, since they killed off their last lesbian character. And as for straightening out Jonathan Mackenna...grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report

  • Joanna, in reply to Craig Young,

    Maia's back, so there's one lesbian, one affirmed bisexual in the form of Nicole, and one girl Lana who is in love with Nicole, whose sexuality I do not care to label.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    It happened!

    SPP have just confirmed that the feature ep is unblocked for the next 48 hours. You can see it here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joanna,

    Maia’s back, so there’s one lesbian, one affirmed bisexual in the form of Nicole, and one girl Lana who is in love with Nicole, whose sexuality I do not care to label.

    Jay was back last night, so that's another lesbian.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    The Wikipedia list has six LGBT characters on Shortland Street, starting with Karl Urban's Jamie Forrest in 1993.

    Intriguingly, the Stuart Neilson founding character was supposed to be gay but apparently it didn't work out.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The Wikipedia list has six LGBT characters on Shortland Street, starting with Karl Urban’s Jamie Forrest in 1993.

    Has there been an Asian character in the Street - in fitting with the real life health system - since Li Ming Hu’s character was put on a bus to the afterlife? I believe Raybon Kan managed to joke about it last week during the Comedy Fest.

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

  • Joanna, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Dude, if Jay was back, that’d be a whole kinda crazy show, given that she was Joey’s second (?) victim in his serial-killing spree. I'm thinking you meant Maia, who Jay civil-unioned on Valentine's Day with a whole bunch of Serenity/Destiny protestors around.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Russell Brown,

    There was supposed to be an asexual character on SS, according to excited chatter on AVEN...never watched the relevant programmes so I cant comment.

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

  • Joanna, in reply to Islander,

    Gerald (who is currently undergoing a heart transplant) is the asexual character. But they also made him kinda anal and OCDish in his need to be clean, which is probably not a great portrayal of your average asexual person.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Joanna,

    In case it’s not very obvious, this post is so right up my street. I remember back in 1998 writing essays on how Shortland Street not only mirrors but creates society in New Zealand. (Now I’m feeling deja vuy. Have we talked about this before on here? ) A lot of it was me being, y’know, a first year media student, but I definitely think it helps society to see minorities being depicted as actual human beings. Although there were still lots of comments on Stuff (never read the comments!) about how Lana should get back together with Dan because being a lesbian is so immoral. Oh, and @deepred - no, there haven't been any Asian characters since Li Ming died, apart from Shanti, who was Indian, and who also died.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joanna,

    Dude, if Jay was back, that’d be a whole kinda crazy show, given that she was Joey’s second (?) victim in his serial-killing spree. I’m thinking you meant Maia, who Jay civil-unioned on Valentine’s Day with a whole bunch of Serenity/Destiny protestors around.

    Oh, hang on, yeah. I am confused. I meant Tania, who's Maia's sister, not ex.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joanna,

    Oh, and @deepred – no, there haven’t been any Asian characters since Li Ming died, apart from Shanti, who was Indian, and who also died.

    Li Ming was the actor, Li Mei was the (somewhat controversial in young Chinese circles) character.

    Li Ming returned to the show as a writer after the character was dispatched.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    I've never really been a soap watcher. I was simply never home at the same time every evening to watch something that regular. But I've watched a few episodes. Especially after I realised I knew one of the stars (Angela Bloomfield) - well I knew her when she was 6 :). I had to watch to make sure that the girl with that name that I knew was indeed a big time TV star, world famous in New Zealand even. New Zealand is small.

    I can totally understand why expats want to watch it. If I'd been able to when I was in the US I would have happily watched it. It's a slice of New Zealand. And while it may not be perfect it shows part of New Zealand culture. When you're far away from home those pieces of New Zealand become so very important.

    I may not watch it myself but I'm glad it exists.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joanna,

    In case it’s not very obvious, this post is so right up my street. I remember back in 1998 writing essays on how Shortland Street not only mirrors but creates society in New Zealand.

    The writers and storyliners I knew used to marvel at their unconscious ability to plan, months out, stories that hit the zeitgeist just as they screened.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Joanna, in reply to Russell Brown,

    I was about to call her Tze Ming even for some reason. Whoops!

    What never made sense about Tania is that I'm pretty sure that the woman who plays her is looks at least half Maori, yet Tania's parents on the show are both white, and there was never a suggestion she was adopted or anything.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report

  • GemmaG,

    Thanks Russell & Toby! I'm watching the feature right now. And I'll probably watch it another five times before my 48 hour grace period is up. I did a little blog about it. It's only little. I actually could have written for a whole month about all that I love about Shortland Street (and don't love... it's been a rocky relationship), but this will have to do for today. Cheers!
    Free The Street

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report

  • Venetia King, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Re "Lionel" (John Leigh)...

    And spurned, he had to go and be in a movie with Vin Diesel.

    Actually, it was "Leonard" (Marton Csokas) who was in xXx.

    (I used to watch Shortland St back in the day, haven't done for years.)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 117 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Venetia King,

    Re “Lionel” (John Leigh)…

    And spurned, he had to go and be in a movie with Vin Diesel.

    Actually, it was “Leonard” (Marton Csokas) who was in xXx.

    God, I'm hopeless with this now, aren't I? But yeah, you'll see John Leigh around Ponsonby to this very day.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Chris Waugh,

    Seems I've already lost 5 of the 48 hours... I was never a fan, well, actually kinda loathed Shortland St (siblings liked it, so I did actually have a reason for my opinion), but maybe sometime in the next 43 hours I might have a look, just for laughs.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 2401 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Joanna,

    I was about to call her Tze Ming even for some reason. Whoops!

    Believe me, that would've been whatever a faux pas is in Mandarin.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

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