That’s an impressive weekend of music content only interrupted by Lotto and The Cosby Show.
1 Like
Hi! Do you have more airdates for “Audrey and Friends” saw someone find a airdate for June 14th, 2003 for this show! So is there any more air dates for it? Currently a whole community is looking for the show, so anything would be greatly appreciated!
Today’s TV: Monday 23 August 1976
from the NZ Listener
TV One
11.30am Play School (Rpt)
Noon Lunchbox
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 Today at One
1.30 Days of Our Lives
1.50 Crown Court
2.15 Crossroads
2.35 Gizago / Play School
3.10 Sesame Street
4.25 Inch High, Private Eye (Rpt)
4.50 The Jensen Code (Part 3) (Rpt)
5.15 Ready to Roll
5.40 Apple’s Way
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Close to Home
7.30 Lord Peter Wimsey - The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Part 3)
8.15 Other People’s Boats
8.35 The Inventors
9.00 It Ain’t Half Hot Mum
9.30 Tonight
10.00 Donald McIntyre: A New Zealander at Bayreuth
10.45 News and Weather
10.50 Closedown
TV2 South Pacific Television
1.00pm Dr Simon Locke
1.25 Dinah!
2.15 Search for Tomorrow
2.35 Chicaboom!, including:
2.35 Rainbow
2.50 Romper Room
4.00 Here’s Andy, including:
4.00 Here’s Lucy
4.25 Freewheelin’
4.35 The High Chaparral
5.30 I Dream of Jeannie
6.00 News at Six
6.30 Mister Roberts
7.00 …And Mother Makes Five
7.30 Mission: Impossible
8.30 Are You Being Served?
9.00 Starsky & Hutch
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 Closedown
All programmes in colour unless otherwise specified
Today’s TV: Thursday 23 August 1979
from the NZ Listener
TV One
Noon News
12.05 The McLean Stevenson Show
12.35 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 Good Day
1.20 The Onedin Line (Rpt)
2.15 Crown Court
2.55 Play School
3.20 Ragtime
3.35 Jackanory Playhouse
4.00 Heyyy, It’s the King!
4.20 Holiday Matinee - Lassie: The Road Back (1970)
6.00 Happy Days
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 The Kenny Everett Video Show
8.00 Pride of Place
8.30 The Sweeney
9.30 News
9.45 Pennies from Heaven (Part 5)
11.05 Closedown
South Pacific Television (SPTV)
3.00pm Chic Chat, including:
3.00 Romper Room
3.30 Bugs Bunny and Friends
3.40 Rainbow
4.00 Good Time Show with Tracy, including:
4.00 Jeannie (Rpt)
4.30 The Monroes (Rpt)
5.30 Welcome Back Kotter (Rpt)
6.00 News at Six
6.28 Weather
6.30 Superkids
7.00 The New Fred and Barney Show
7.30 Emergency! (aka “Emergency One”)
8.30 A Week of It
9.00 The Upchat Line
9.30 Eye Witness
10.00 News at Ten
Includes Focus and tomorrow’s weather
10.30 Thursday Movie - Sea Wife (1957)
12.00am Weather Outlook and Goodnight Kiwi (Closedown)
All programmes in colour unless otherwise specified.
1 Like
Today’s TV: Friday 30 August 1974
from the NZ Listener
NZBC TV (AKTV2, WNTV1, CHTV3, DNTV2)
2.00pm Headline News and Weather (C)
2.05 Love on a Rooftop (C)
2.30 Transtel Sports Magazine
2.45 Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law (Part 1) (C)
3.35 Sesame Street
4.32 George (C)
4.56 Max, the 2000-Year-Old Mouse (C)
5.04 Inch High, Private Eye (C)
5.27 The Daily Fable
5.32 Headline News (C)
5.34 Here’s Lucy (C)
5.59 Story Theatre (Final) (C)
6.22 You Asked for It (C)
6.45 Gardening
Gardening with Eion Scarrow (AKTV2) (C)
In Your Garden with Richard Nanson (WNTV1)
In Your Garden with John Oliver (CHTV3)
Greenfingers with Charles Joye (DNTV2)
7.00 Network News
7.20 Regional Weather and News
Look North (AKTV2)
Newsview (WNTV1)
The South Tonight (CHTV3)
The South Tonight (DNTV2)
7.40 Thirty Minutes Worth (C)
8.06 1974 RATA (Recorded Arts Talent) Awards (C)
8.57 Newsbrief (C)
8.59 World Scene (C)
9.20 Sportscene
9.30 Hec Ramsey: The Mystery of the Yellow Rose (C)
11.04 Late News and Weather (C)
11.10 The Isaac Hayes Show (C)
Followed by Closedown
(C) = In colour, unless otherwise specified
Today’s TV: Friday 30 August 1985
from the NZ Listener
TV One
10.15am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of TV One’s scheduled programming
10.30 The Richard Simmons Show (Rpt)
10.55 Tai Chi (Rpt)
11.00 Sport on One Special - Netball
1985 Trusteebank NZ Netball Championships - live from Wellington
12.15pm News
12.18 See Here
12.25 Beauty and the Beast
12.55 One Day at a Time (Rpt)
1.35 Scarecrow and Mrs King (Rpt)
2.30 You and Your Child (Rpt)
2.40 Play School (Rpt)
3.05 Rainbow
3.20 Huckleberry Hound (Rpt)
3.45 Free Time, including (all times approx):
3.46 Famous Fairy Tales
3.55 Flipper
4.25 Around the World in 80 Days
4.30 Movie for Holiday Time - Tom Sawyer (1983, part 1)
6.00 Diff’rent Strokes
6.30 News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.25 Te Reo - The Language
7.30 EastEnders (Series premiere, double episode)
8.40 Te Māori - A Celebration of the People and Their Art
9.45 Barney Miller (Rpt)
10.15 Fourth Estate
10.25 The Week with One
10.35 Labour Party Conference 1985
11.05 Spy in the Sky
11.40 The Young Ones
12.20am News
12.25 12 O’Clock Rock - Rick Springfield: Best of the Drum
1.25 Closedown
TV2
11.45am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of TV2’s scheduled programming
Noon The Midday Movie - Diane (1956) (Rpt)
1.55 Dad’s Army (Rpt)
2.30 Love Sidney (Rpt)
3.00 Sports Special - Netball
1985 Trusteebank NZ Netball Championships - Auckland v North Shore; live from Wellington
4.15 WKRP in Cincinnati (Rpt)
4.45 Solid Gold (Rpt)
5.45 News
5.50 Te Karere
6.00 The Young Doctors
6.30 Dr Who - Mind of Evil (Rpt)
7.30 The Dukes of Hazzard (Final)
8.30 Crazy Like a Fox
9.30 Eye Witness News
10.00 The Friday Feature - Marathon Man (1976)
12.15am Closedown
EastEnders
On the evening of Tuesday 19 February 1985, British television witnessed a significant milestone as 13 million viewers tuned in for the premiere of the BBC’s newly launched serial drama, EastEnders.
This dramatic debut not only marked the beginning of an era for British soaps but also set the stage for a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate with audiences today.
The opening scenes were gripping and set a dark tone for the series. Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher), along with Ali Osman (Neijdet Salih) and the notorious “Dirty” Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), burst into the flat of Reg Cox, uncovering him on the brink of death.
This shocking revelation paved the way for the series’ initial gripping storyline which quickly evolved into an exploration of character complexities and moral ambiguities. Within weeks of the launch viewers learned that Nick Cotton (John Altman) was to be revealed as Reg’s murderer, establishing a serious tone that would reverberate throughout the show’s narrative arcs.
EastEnders was conceived by the creative minds of Julia Smith and Tony Holland, intended as a rival to ITV’s long-running Coronation Street. The series focused on the lives of the residents of the fictional London borough of Walford, particularly those surrounding Albert Square.
In an introductory feature in the Radio Times, Holland aptly described the core of the show, noting that ‘gossip, intrigue and scandal are high on the list of daily events’ in the lives of the characters, hinting at the multitude of storylines that would keep viewers engaged.
One of the hallmarks of EastEnders was its clever casting. While many actors were relatively unknown at the time, the series made bold choices which resonated with audiences.
For instance, the decision to cast Wendy Richard - previously famous for her glamorous role as Miss Brahms in the beloved BBC sitcom, Are You Being Served? - as the frumpy Pauline Fowler was both unexpected and refreshing. This trend continued with the inclusion of Dame Barbara Windsor, who brought her own unique charm to the role of Peggy Mitchell, further anchoring the series as a household staple.
Tragically, some of the show’s beloved cast members, including Wendy Richard and Dame Barbara Windsor, have since passed away, leaving behind a legacy which shaped the television landscape in Britain.
The impact of EastEnders quickly spread beyond the British borders. Within just six months of its debut, New Zealand became the first country to broadcast the series overseas.
At 7.30pm on the evening of Friday 30 August 1985, TV One (now TVNZ 1) screened the first two episodes, including the ‘Poor old Reg’ storyline, in a double episode format. Written by Gerry Huxham and Jane Hollowood, these episodes drew in us as New Zealanders familiar with the cliffhanging storytelling style reminiscent of British soaps.
Before the arrival of EastEnders, Coronation Street had dominated the 7.30pm slot in New Zealand on Thursday and Friday nights, screening twice a week in double episodes.
However, as EastEnders found its following, the landscape began to shift. Coronation Street was subsequently reduced to one double episode per week on Thursdays as New Zealand sought to align its screenings with British broadcasts - a reflection of how deeply the show had captured the audience’s hearts even thousands of kilometres away.
EastEnders stands as a significant pillar in the history of British television and is still Britain’s favourite soap.
With its gripping storylines, memorable characters and a commitment to realistic portrayals of life in London’s East End, the series not only entertained millions but also influenced the broader landscape of soaps worldwide. It is a testament to the power of storytelling and the lasting impact of a show that began with a bang and continues to thrive decades later.
Next year EastEnders will be celebrating 40 years on air.
3 Likes
EastEnders is an addiction of mine to this day 
. Great show, especially in those early years. It’s not quite as good today, but I still watch. There are even a few original cast members still there.
2 Likes
@Brianc68 Today, EastEnders is showing on BBC UKTV which is a subscription channel via Sky.
I recently created a mock ad promoting all three British soaps (including Emmerdale and Coronation Street which, in real life, appear on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ respectively) on my dream television network (PTV Network New Zealand) and one of its linear channels (PTV Gold), although this is off-topic and based on a ‘what if’ scenario such as:
“What if EastEnders made a welcome return to free-to-air television after more than 15 years?”
3 Likes
I’d love to see that! I’ve never forgiven ABC in Australia for dropping EastEnders. Now I watch on UKTV of course.
2 Likes
I still can’t get over that it removed from Prime (now Sky Open) schedules by the greedy UKTV as I started to enjoying it since EastEnders reflected the daily going on in the poor east end of London like I had my childhood growing up of my poor parents since it reflected us. I agree it is time to bring it back to free to air in both Australia and New Zealand
2 Likes
Today’s TV: Thursday 2 September 1976
from the NZ Listener
TV One
11.30am Play School (Rpt)
Noon Lunchbox
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 Today at One
1.30 Days of Our Lives
2.00 The Forbidden City (Rpt)
2.55 Gizago
3.00 Play School
3.30 Make a Wish
4.00 Huckleberry Hound (Rpt)
4.30 Gilligan’s Island
5.00 Bonanza
5.55 Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 University Challenge
8.00 M-A-S-H
8.30 Police Woman
9.30 Tonight
10.00 If You Can’t Beat ‘Em
10.30 News and Weather
10.35 Closedown
TV2 South Pacific Television
1.00pm Dr Simon Locke
1.25 Dinah!
2.15 Hudson & Halls
2.25 Search for Tomorrow
2.45 Chicaboom!, including:
2.45 Rainbow
3.00 Romper Room
3.30 Woolly Manor
4.00 Here’s Andy, including:
4.00 The Beverly Hillbillies
4.30 Daniel Boone
5.30 I Dream of Jeannie
6.00 News at Six
6.30 Batman
7.00 Dad’s Army
7.30 Chico and the Man
8.00 Thursday Star Movie - Gumshoe (1972)
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 Closedown
All programmes in colour unless otherwise specified
Today’s TV: Tuesday 2 September 1986
from the NZ Listener
TV One
8.45am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of TV One’s scheduled programming
9.00 Play School (Rpt)
9.30 The Wombles (Rpt)
9.35 You and Your Child (Rpt)
9.40 The New Ed Allen Show (Rpt)
10.05 Crossroads
10.30 Ken Hom’s Chinese Cookery (Starting today, part 1) (Rpt)
11.00 News
11.02 Lou Grant (Rpt)
Noon Angels (Rpt)
1.00 Private Benjamin (Rpt)
1.30 The Duchess of Duke Street (Rpt)
2.30 You and Your Child (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
2.35 Play School (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
3.00 Sesame Street
4.00 Free Time, including (all times approx):
4.02 Adventures of the Gummi Bears
4.34 The Video Dispatch
4.55 The Flintstones (Rpt)
5.25 Dr Who - The Time Warrior (Part 4) (Rpt)
6.00 Happy Days (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 EastEnders
8.00 Growing Pains
8.30 The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ (Part 5)
9.00 Tuesday Documentary - Route 66 (Part 2)
10.00 The Professionals (Rpt)
11.05 News
11.10 The Cleopatras (Part 7) (Rpt)
12.05am Closedown
TV2
11.45am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of TV2’s scheduled programming
Noon Petticoat Junction
12.30 Newsline
1.25 Beauty and the Beast
1.50 See Here
2.00 Crown Court (Rpt)
2.30 A Country Practice
3.25 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Rpt)
3.55 Fame (Rpt)
4.50 Animals, Animals, Animals (Rpt)
5.15 The Young Doctors
5.45 News
5.50 Te Karere
6.00 Sons and Daughters
6.30 The Love Boat
7.30 Mastermind (Final)
8.00 Murder, She Wrote
9.00 Cagney & Lacey
10.00 Eye Witness News
11.00 Police Woman
11.55 Closedown
Today’s TV: Monday 2 September 1996 (Free-to-air channels and some Sky channels and regional stations)
from the NZ Listener
TV One
6.00am BBC World, including:
6.00 BBC World News
6.20 Window on Europe
7.00 BBC World Headlines
7.05 Heathrow 50
7.55 Te Karere (Rpt)
A repeat screening of last Friday’s bulletin
8.05 eTV, including:
8.05 The National Business Review Report (First shown on HPTV)
8.35 Management: Everybody’s Business (Part 8) (Rpt, G)
9.05 Rumer Godden’s Last Passage to India (Rpt, PGR)
10.05 Infomercials
Noon Midday (News)
1.00 The Bill (Rpt, PGR)
2.00 Howards’ Way (Rpt, G)
3.05 Chatterbox (Rpt, G)
3.25 Johnson and Friends (Rpt, G)
3.35 The Black Stallion (Rpt, G)
4.10 Doctor in Charge (Rpt, G)
4.40 Te Karere
4.50 Give Us a Clue (G)
5.25 EastEnders (G)
6.00 One Network News
7.00 Holmes
7.30 Fair Go
8.05 RPA (PGR)
8.35 Dangerfield (AO)
9.40 Tonight (News)
10.00 False Memories (AO)
11.00 Matlock (PGR)
12.00am Infomercials
1.00 BBC World, including:
1.00 BBC World News
1.15 World Business Report
1.30 BBC Newshour Asia Pacific
2.30 Time Out - The Sky at Night
3.00 BBC World News
3.15 The Money Programme
4.00 BBC World News
4.30 Time Out - Tomorrow’s World
5.00 The World Today (Continues to 7am)
TV2
6.10am Video Power (Rpt, G)
6.35 The Hurricanes (Rpt, G)
7.00 Action Man (Rpt, G)
7.30 Sailor Man (G)
8.00 Samurai Pizza Cats (Rpt, G)
8.30 Barney & Friends (Rpt, G)
9.00 Here’s Humphrey (G)
9.30 Shortland Street (Rpt, PGR)
10.00 Good Morning
Noon The Young and the Restless (PGR)
1.00 Days of Our Lives (G)
2.00 Ricki Lake (PGR)
2.55 A Touch of Love (Rpt, G)
3.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (PGR)
3.30 Get Real (Rpt, G)
4.00 Animaniacs (Rpt, G)
4.30 Phantom 2040 (Rpt, G)
5.00 Dave’s World (G)
5.30 Home and Away (G)
6.00 The Simpsons (Rpt, G)
6.30 The Nanny (Rpt, G)
7.00 Shortland Street (PGR)
7.30 Ned and Stacey (PGR)
8.00 Almost Perfect (PGR)
8.30 Chicago Hope
9.30 Fire (PGR)
10.30 The Late Show with David Letterman
11.30 South Beach (Starting tonight, feature-length premiere) (PGR)
1.20am Silk Stalkings (AO)
2.20 The Beverly Hillbillies (Double episode) (Rpt, G)
3.15 Love & War (Rpt, G)
3.45 The Zone (G)
4.15 Face the Music (Rpt, G)
4.40 You Asked for It (Rpt, G)
5.10 All in the Family (Rpt, PGR)
5.40 Kenneth Copeland - Believer’s Voice of Victory (Continues to 6.10am)
TV3
6.30am Aunties Alphabet (G)
6.35 The Magic Box (G)
7.00 Treasures Parent Time (G)
7.05 You and Me (G)
7.30 Fraggle Rock (G)
8.00 Lost in Space (G)
9.00 Infomercials
10.00 Cucina Amore (G)
10.30 Love Connection (PGR)
11.00 Entertainment Tonight (PGR)
Noon The Oprah Winfrey Show (PGR)
1.00 Sally Jessy Raphaël (PGR)
2.00 The Love Boat (G)
3.00 Treasures Parent Time (G)
3.05 You and Me (G)
3.30 Pingu (G)
3.35 Disney Adventure Afternoon, including:
3.35 DuckTales (G)
4.00 Bonkers (G)
4.30 Gargoyles (G)
5.00 Blossom (G)
5.30 Family Matters (G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Beyond 2000 (G)
7.30 20/20
8.30 Monday Night at the Movies - She Fought Alone (1995) (AO)
10.30 Nightline
11.00 3 Sport - Mobil Motorsport Show
11.30 Herman’s Head (PGR)
12.00am ABC World News Tonight
12.30 Infomercials
1.30 Donahue (PGR)
2.20 General Hospital (PGR)
3.05 Generations (PGR)
3.30 Infomercials (Continues to 6.30am)
HBO
11.30am This Week on HBO
Noon The Burning Season (1994) (M)
2.00 The Brotherhood of Satan (1970) (R13)
3.30 Last Train Home (aka “Magic Hour: Tom Alone”) (1989) (PG)
5.00 The Directors - Mark Rydell
6.00 Mr Jones (1993) (GA0
8.00 HBO Behind the Scenes - The Making of “Eraser”
8.30 Sony Monday Night Action - Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) (RP16)
10.15 Guarding Tess (1994) (PG)
11.50 The Last Detail (1973) (R16)
1.30am Closedown
Orange
6.00am The Juice Music Television (Continued, free to air)
7.00 Just Juice (Free to air)
10.00 Rolonda
11.00 Vanessa
11.30 Designing Women
Noon Coronation Street
12.30 Brookside
1.00 On the Buses
1.30 Supermarket Sweep
2.00 The City
2.30 Prisoner (aka “Prisoner: Cell Block H”)
3.00 Jerry Springer
4.00 Leeza
5.00 Charles in Charge (Starting tonight)
5.30 Growing Pains
6.00 Full House
6.30 The City
7.00 Bewitched
7.30 Knight Rider
8.30 Guns of Paradise
9.30 Orange at the Movies - A Stranger Beside Me (1995) (PG)
11.00 Night Court
11.30 The Juice Music Television (Free to air, continues to 7am)
Horizon Pacific Television (HPTV)
ATV, Coast to Coast, Capital City, CTV, Southern
6.00am BBC World - BBC World News
CTV ONLY - Welcome to Canterbury (6-11am)
6.20 Window on Europe
7.00 BBC World Headlines
7.05 Heathrow 50
8.00 BBC World News
8.30 Time Out - The Sky at Night
9.00 BBC World Report
10.00 Infomercials
CTV ONLY - Infomercials (11am-noon)
11.30 Marketplace (Rpt)
Noon Midday (News)
A live simulcast of TVNZ’s midday news bulletin (with TV One)
CTV ONLY - Welcome to Canterbury (noon-3pm)
1.00 BBC World - BBC Newsroom
3.00 BBC World Headlines
3.05 The Money Programme
4.00 BBC Newsday
4.30 Happy Days
CTV ONLY - Marketplace (4.30-5.30pm)
5.00 Marketplace
5.30 Regional News
6.00 One Network News
A live simulcast of TVNZ’s 6pm news bulletin (with TV One)
7.00 BBC Newsday
COAST TO COAST & SOUTHERN ONLY - Farming New Zealand
7.30 60 Minutes: The Foreign Edition
8.30 Monday Documentary - Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood
9.30 The South Bank Show - Annie Liebovitz
10.30 Marketplace
CTV ONLY - Marketplace (10.30-11.30pm)
11.00 Holmes
A delayed broadcast of TVNZ’s 7pm current affairs programme (from TV One)
11.30 BBC World
ATV ONLY - Welcome to Auckland (11.30-12.30am) / BBC World (from 12.30am until 6am)
CTV ONLY - BBC World (11.30-11.55pm) / Welcome to Canterbury (from 11.55pm until 11am)
12.00am BBC World - BBC World Headlines
12.05 Correspondent
1.00 BBC World News
1.15 World Business Report
1.30 BBC Newshour Asia Pacific
2.30 Time Out - The Sky at Night
3.00 BBC World News
3.15 The Money Programme
4.00 BBC World News
4.30 Time Out - Tomorrow’s World
5.00 The World Today (Continues to 7am)
CRY Television, Christchurch
11.00am Paris Texas Green Zone (Rpt)
1.00pm Orange Zone - Snickers on the Edge
4.00 J & L Green Zone
6.00 Yellow Zone
9.00 Indigo Zone
12.00am Closedown
MAX TV, Auckland
6.00am MAX Music Videos (Continued)
3.00pm The Beat
4.30 The Word
5.00 McDonald’s Most Wanted
5.30 Libra Line
5.35 Steve & Co
6.15 TDK Back Trax
7.00 MAX Music VIdeos
9.00 Levi’s New Releases
Includes Export Gold Gig Guide at 9.10pm
10.00 MAX Music Videos (Continues through the night)
Includes Export Gold Gig Guide at 11.30pm
2 Likes
Today’s TV: Sunday 6 September 1970
from The Press
NZBC TV (CHTV3)
2.00pm Headline News
2.03 Sunday Matinee - A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)
3.25 Kitty Hawk to Paris: The Heroic Years
4.14 Buster Keaton Rides Again
5.07 Headline News and Weather
5.09 Rugby
NZ v South Africa - third test; full delayed coverage
6.45 Dialogue - The Press and the Clergy (Part 1)
7.00 Network News
7.10 Weather and Regional News
7.34 Civilisation (Part 3)
8.24 Oh, Brother!
8.54 Newsbrief
8.56 A Man of Our Times (Part 3)
9.47 The Night Sky
10.12 Workshop
11.05 Late News and Weather
11.12 Closedown
Today’s TV: Saturday 6 September 1980
from the NZ Listener
TV One
10.00am Turf Talk
10.30 The Muppet Show (Rpt)
11.00 Don’t Ask Me
11.25 Play Squash Jonah’s Way (Final)
11.50 Top of the Morning
Noon News
12.02 Saturday Matinee - In Old California (1942) (B&W)
1.35 Sport on One
Includes rugby league (NZ v The Rest - trial match; live), firemen’s competitions and netball (U21 tournament - live)
5.00 How’s That?
6.00 Ready to Roll
6.30 News
7.00 Radio Times
8.00 Lovey: A Circle of Children
9.50 Agony (Final)
10.25 M’Lord, Ladies and Gentlemen
10.55 LATER (The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts) (Starting tonight, hour-long premiere)
11.50 News
11.55 Closedown
TV2
Noon Search for Tomorrow (Double episode)
1.00 Bruce Forsyth and the Generation Game
2.00 Saturday Afternoon Movie - Little Women (1949) (Rpt)
3.40 Bryan Taylor: The First Time
4.05 Fantasy Island
5.00 The Brothers (Rpt)
5.55 News
Includes further headline bulletins at 7pm and 8pm
6.00 Sports Review
6.30 Laverne & Shirley
7.00 CHiPs
8.00 The Two Ronnies
8.45 Cribb
9.45 News
10.00 Saturday Late Cinema - 40 Carats (1973)
11.50 Closedown
1 Like
Today’s TV: Thursday 7 September 1989
from the NZ Listener and The Press
TV One
9.55am Teletext in Vision
10.10 Aerobics Oz Style (Rpt, G)
10.35 Play School (Rpt, G)
11.00 Rainbow (Rpt, G)
11.15 Alphabet Zoo (Rpt, G)
11.25 Chigley (Rpt, G)
11.40 Misterjaw (G)
11.45 Kōhanga Reo (Rpt, G)
11.55 Te Karere Headlines
Noon Network News at Noon
12.15 Santa Barbara
1.10 Days of Our Lives
2.10 All Creatures Great and Small (Rpt, G)
3.05 Butterflies (Rpt, G)
3.40 A Big Country (Rpt, G)
4.15 Too Close for Comfort (G)
4.45 Emmerdale Farm (G)
5.15 Te Karere
5.25 Sons and Daughters (G)
6.00 Network News at Six
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 Coronation Street (G)
8.00 The Bill (PGR)
8.30 Foreign Correspondent
9.30 EyeWitness News
10.00 Sportsnight
11.00 Return of the Saint (Rpt, PGR)
12.00am Closedown
Network Two (also known on air as Channel Two)
10.50am Teletext in Vision
11.05 The Young and the Restless
Noon Love Connection (G)
12.30 The Partridge Family (Rpt, G)
12.55 Highway to Heaven (Rpt, G)
1.55 Small Wonder (G)
2.20 After 2, including:
2.21 Play School (Rpt, G)
2.45 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
3.45 Live!, including:
3.50 Danger Mouse (Rpt, G)
4.15 Denver, the Last Dinosaur (Series premiere) (G)
5.15 Dr Who - Vengeance on Varos (Part 1) (G)
5.45 Newsbreak and Regional Programmes
Top Half (Auckland)
Today Tonight (Wellington)
The Mainland Touch (Christchurch)
The South Tonight (Dunedin)
6.00 M-A-S-H (Rpt, G)
6.30 Neighbours (Double episode) (G)
7.30 The Comedy Company (Series premiere) (PGR)
8.30 Paradise (PGR)
9.30 Hothouse (AO)
10.30 Newsbreak
Includes Māori news summary with English subtitles
10.35 Late Evening Movie - Massacre at Central High (1976) (Rpt, AO)
12.20am Closedown
The Comedy Company
@TelevisionAU Thursday 7 September 1989 marked a significant moment in New Zealand television history as the award-winning Australian sketch comedy series, The Comedy Company, made its debut on Network Two (now TVNZ 2) at 7.30pm. Just one year after its Australian premiere, the show was set to bring laughter and entertainment to Kiwi audiences and it did not disappoint.
Created by funnyman and cast member Ian McFadyen in 1987, The Comedy Company was born out of a request from Australia’s Network Ten to produce an hour-long weekly comedy programme at its Melbourne studios. The show premiered in February 1988 and quickly became the most successful comedy programme of the decade, consistently rating as the highest rated weekly television programme in Australia. Its success was largely due to its unique blend of humour and family friendly entertainment, making it a staple of Sunday night television.
The show boasted a talented cast, including Mary Anne Fahey as the lovable schoolgirl Kylie Mole, Kym Gyngell as the hapless Col’n Carpenter and Glenn Robbins as the bumbling Uncle Arthur. However, it was Mark Mitchell’s iconic character, Con the Fruiterer, that truly stole the show. The Comedy Company also featured Ian McFadyen as David Rabbitborough, a clever parody of British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough.
One of the show’s greatest strengths was its ability to attract high profile Australian celebrities as guest stars. Throughout its run The Comedy Company featured appearances by Julian Lennon, INXS, Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Annie Jones and Sigrid Thornton to name only a few. In one memorable episode, Con the Fruiterer even met the then-Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, showcasing the show’s irreverent humour and ability to poke fun at the establishment.
The Comedy Company’s arrival in New Zealand marked a significant moment in the country’s television landscape. Network Two, which would later rebrand as Channel 2, was eager to bring the show to Kiwi audiences and its debut was met with enthusiasm and excitement. The show’s success in New Zealand was a testament to its universal appeal and the power of comedy to bring people together.
As we look back on the history of The Comedy Company, it’s clear that the show’s impact extends beyond its original Australian audience. Its influence can be seen in many subsequent Australian and New Zealand comedy series and its legacy continues to entertain audiences to this day.
So, let’s raise a laugh and celebrate the arrival of The Comedy Company in New Zealand, a moment that brought joy and humour to our screens and cemented the show’s place in television history.
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Today’s TV: Thursday 8 September 1977
from the NZ Listener
TV One
11.30am Play School
Noon News
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 Today at One
1.25 Days of Our Lives
2.20 Rooms
2.45 War and Peace (Part 8) (Rpt)
3.40 Nice One
3.45 Paddington Bear (Rpt)
3.50 Play School (Rpt)
4.15 The Up and Down, in and Out, Round About Man (Final) (Rpt)
4.30 Bewitched (Rpt)
5.00 Here Come the Brides (Rpt)
6.00 Happy Days (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 Fair Go
8.00 Barney Miller
8.30 When the Boat Comes In
9.30 News
9.40 Prime Time
10.10 The Nearly Man (Part 4)
11.05 News, Weather and Ski Report
11.10 Closedown
South Pacific Television (SPTV)
1.00pm Town Cryer, including:
1.00 Search for Tomorrow
1.30 The Jimmy Stewart Show
2.00 Dinah!
2.30 The Bob Newhart Show
3.00 Chicaboom, including:
3.02 Romper Room
3.25 Chicaboom Special
4.00 Here’s Andy, including:
4.00 Gidget (Rpt)
4.35 Emergency +4
5.00 Batman
5.30 Mister Roberts
6.00 First Edition (News)
6.30 Opportunity Knocks
7.00 Dad’s Army
7.30 Chico and the Man
8.00 Thursday Star Movie - Danger Route (1968)
9.50 Late Edition (News)
Includes the nationwide Ski Report
10.10 After Ten
11.00 Indoor League
Followed by Closedown
Today’s TV: Tuesday 8 September 1987
from the NZ Listener
TV One
10.30am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of TV One’s scheduled programming
10.45 The New Ed Allen Show (Rpt)
11.05 Play School (Rpt)
11.30 Kōhanga Reo (Rpt)
11.40 Rainbow
Noon Midday News
12.15 The Woman in White (Part 2) (Rpt)
1.20 Kate & Allie (Rpt)
1.50 Murder, She Wrote (Rpt)
2.45 Warship (Starting today) (Rpt)
3.40 Against the Wind (Rpt)
4.45 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Rpt)
5.15 Emmerdale Farm
5.45 Te Karere
6.00 M-A-S-H (Rpt)
6.30 Network News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Hi-de-Hi!
8.00 Fair Go (Series return)
8.30 Life Without George (Starting tonight, part 1)
9.05 Tuesday Documentary - The Sword of Islam (Part 1)
10.05 The Two Ronnies (Rpt)
11.05 Survivors (Rpt)
12.05am Closedown
Network Two
11.45am Teletext in Vision
This programme is unlisted, even though it is shown for 15 minutes before the start of Network Two’s scheduled programming
Noon Love Connection
12.30 School Holiday Movie - Runaway Island (1983) (Rpt)
2.30 Play School
2.55 Sesame Street
3.55 After School, including (all times approx):
3.58 The Smurfs
4.31 Flintstone Frolics (Rpt)
5.00 Y.E.S.
5.30 Dr Who - The Horror of Fang Rock (Part 1)
6.00 Sons and Daughters
6.30 Scarecrow and Mrs King
7.30 EastEnders
8.00 Who’s the Boss?
8.30 Crossbow
9.00 The Bill (Series return)
10.00 EyeWitness
Current affairs, “WorldWatch” and a news update
11.00 The Untouchables (B&W) (Rpt)
12.00am Closedown
Fair Go
In April 1987 Fair Go, New Zealand’s longest running consumer affairs programme, made a brief switch to TV2 (now TVNZ 2) on 8pm on a Tuesday night, only to return to TV One (now TVNZ 1) six months later as part of the channel’s new season format.
The decision to move Fair Go back to TV One was made by Harold Anderson, the channel’s controller at the time, who aimed to establish a clearer identity for TV One. Anderson explained, “This is the first season in which I have had responsibility for the schedule and there has been a significant effort made to more clearly identify TV One’s future image as the ‘news and information’ channel.
“As a result, two high rating TVNZ productions, McPhail and Gadsby and Fair Go, will move across to One. This change is being made in the belief that both these programmes appeal to the news and current affairs audience, who will appreciate the resulting follow-up humour and information.”
Following Fair Go’s return to TV One, Chris Harrington took over as producer and editor, replacing Keith Slater. Harrington reported that the programme’s format and crew remained unchanged but the consumer champions, led by Philip Alpers, would then present from a new studio setting. The previous set, which had been used on TV2, was deemed too cold and clinical and Harrington opted for a fresher, more vibrant design that would better engage viewers.
The first edition of Fair Go, back on TV One, screened at 8pm on the evening of Tuesday 8 September 1987 (right after the classic BBC sitcom, Hi-de-Hi!, at 7.30pm).
Earlier this year Fair Go was axed by TVNZ after 47 years on air.