The Worst Sitcom Ever Made

RNZ Originals
  • 4.3 (31)
  • COMEDY
  • COMPLETE SERIES

Geoff Houtman was part of the team that created the worst sitcom ever made. It's haunted him for 25 years. Now he's on a quest to see what lessons we can learn about failure in general.

Season 1

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

4.3
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Geoff Houtman was part of the team that created the worst sitcom ever made. It's haunted him for 25 years. Now he's on a quest to see what lessons we can learn about failure in general.

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