The Worst Sitcom Ever Made

RNZ Originals

4.8 (48)
COMEDY
COMPLETE SERIES

Geoff Houtman created the worst sitcom ever made. It's haunted him for 25 years

EPISODE 1

'I think of it like a cult'

Kiwi TV show 'Melody Rules' came out in the 90s and is widely regarded as one of worst sitcoms ever made. But just how bad was it? Geoff Houtman - one of the show's original writers - embarks on a quest to find out what went wrong. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

25 min
EPISODE 2

'What? You want us to write a kids' show?'

Geoff and some of the original writing group talk about the 'odd' way Melody Rules came to be chosen, and how micro-management from the outset set the course for sitcom-disaster. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

25 min
EPISODE 3

'Even I thought I was a terrible choice!'

Even a badly chosen idea and a micro-managed script needs someone to play it. And casting is crucial... especially with inexperienced actors. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

23 min
EPISODE 4

'Just f#&%ing stand there and say your line!'

Geoff tracks down the man who directed all 40 episodes of Melody Rules and hears about the challenges he faced: inexperience, arguments with the actors, news cameras on loan, making a sitcom in a broom closet. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

22 min
EPISODE 5

'The one-eyed man in the kingdom of the blind'

Geoff tracks down John Vorhaus, the sitcom guru. How did John get the job of training the young writers and what did he make of it all? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

24 min
EPISODE 6

'There was just... vitriol in the air'

Melody Rules is finally unleashed on a hyped-up New Zealand public and is greeted with virtual (and actual) hostility. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

21 min
EPISODE 6

'The Network would say, here's what we're going to do, blah blah blah'

What were the Network people thinking when they made Melody Rules? Geoff gets their - surprisingly positive - take on the experience. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

23 min
EPISODE 8

'I just want to go now'

So how did the failure that was Melody Rules affect the people involved? In this final episode, Geoff's on the road to find out and to discover what he's learned about himself and his perceived failure. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

21 min
EPISODE 9 BONUS

The mess, the 25 year old monkey and me

It's been a monkey on his back for 25 years. It's time to try to understand what happened to bring about such a monstrous failure. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

2 min

9 Episodes

4.8

out of 5

48 Ratings

The Most Successful Failure Ever Made

21/07/2020

JPL-Writer

Makes me want to go out and fail spectacularly at something and then relive it years later
Fantastic & engaging listen

09/06/2019

Em384928$

Wonderfully told insight into the process’ of NZ television. A great piece of history as well as a great what-not-to-do when creating anything at all!
Well worth listening to

19/05/2019

MDMA rid

This is a fun and interesting story and piece of recent NZ history. It is a very kiwi comedy of errors and a good look at what a failure is and how it can help us. Anyone who has had to deal with project management in New Zealand will be cringing and laughing at the same time.
So many laughs and lessons

12/05/2019

Abigirls

This is such a great story to tell, the lessons apply to so much more than the TV industry, and the honest telling of all the ‘players’ had me laughing along the way. Definitely recommending to my friends