NZ on Screen: 5 shows for TV3's 25th

The cast of Outrageous Fortune.

Opinion

In the week that marks TV3’s 25th anniversary, NZ On Screen Content Director Irene Gardiner picks five notable shows from the third channel’s first quarter century.

TV3 celebrates its 25th birthday this week. Like all networks, the channel has had its ratings ups and downs, ownership changes, and financial challenges. But it has also provided us with some fresh local commissioning and some Kiwi TV shows that have pretty much attained legendary status.

Perhaps TV3 viewers' favourite show of all time was the comedy-drama Outrageous Fortune, which ran for an almost unheard of six seasons, and is still widely loved and lauded. With a prequel series now in production, what better time to look back at episode one from the very first series.

You can see Outrageous Fortune - Episode One here:

While it was at the more cult appeal end of the spectrum than TV3's primetime shows, the long-running late night news show Nightline also reached legendary status for the channel. The wild Belinda Todd and Joanna Paul years are particularly fondly remembered. The show finally finished up at the end of last year. This special was made in 2010 to mark Nightline's 20th birthday.

View the Nightline 20th Anniversary special here:

TV3's most famous current affairs moment came in 2002, when John Campbell interviewed Prime Minister Helen Clark about the "Corngate" controversy. The fiery interview pre-dated Campbell Live, and screened as a TV3 News special.

You can see it here:

TV3 has also been an industry leader in the area of fresh and innovative programming for children and young people, with shows like The Early Bird Show, You and Me, Being Eve, and the quirky and much-loved Ice TV, which helped launch the broadcasting careers of Petra Bagust, Jon Bridges and Nathan Rarere.

Watch an Ice TV "Best Of" episode here:

And, last but not least, one of TV3's most famous shows - but this time not for being a big success, but in fact for being one of our most celebrated failures. The sitcom Melody Rules has become an affectionate favourite with NZ On Screen site visitors, despite the fact that it did not do well in its TV screenings. Here's your chance to watch episode one and make up your own mind.

View Melody Rules Episode One here:

You can see a more comprehensive selection of programmes from the first 25 years of TV3 here.

- nzherald.co.nz