Short Poppies
| Short Poppies | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Rhys Darby |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | |
| Starring | Rhys Darby David Farrier |
| Narrated by | David Farrier |
| Theme music composer | hedluv + passman |
| Opening theme | "The Future!" |
| Country of origin |
New Zealand United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | |
| Producer(s) |
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| Location(s) | New Zealand |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Distributor |
Augusto Productions Awesome International |
| Release | |
| Original network | TV One |
| Picture format |
480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original release | April 1, 2014 |
Short Poppies is a New Zealand/United States mockumentary TV series starring, created and written by Rhys Darby and directed by Jemaine Clement and Michelle Walshe.
It follows real-life entertainment reporter David Farrier as he talks to "extraordinary" New Zealanders who happen to live in the same small fictional town known as "The Bay". At the time of filming, Farrier worked for TVNZ's competitor, MediaWorks.
All eight episodes became available in New Zealand on 1 April 2014 through TVNZ On Demand and became available in the United States on 4 April 2014.
All of the "Short Poppies" David Farrier interviews are played by Rhys Darby.
Terry Pole is a lifeguard who enters and reclaims the title of "Best Legs" in the local competition. He has a one-sided soulmate relationship with Georgina (played by Georgia Hatzis), good friends with Policeman Mike (played by Jonno Roberts) and is picked on by the other lifeguards. He is oblivious to most things going on around him, unless it is to do with his legs, including Georgina telling him they are not a couple or that one of the lifeguards has a crush on him.
Steve Whittle is a ufologist and conspiracy theorist who runs an alien abduction workshop at the library. He lives with his musician girlfriend, Elise (played by Jackie Van Beek) and his mother, Tessa (played by Annie Whittle) who does not like Elise.
Ron Taylor is an amateur conservationist who loves the sea and establishes a whale watching company after spotting a whale in the bay. He used to work at the local fish and chips shop (Hook, Line & Thinker) for Colin (played by Dave Fane). After having his grandfather's boat impounded, Ron and Colin try and steal it back but are caught by Officer Mike. He is phoned by his father who states if he does not get the boat back, he is being relocated to Auckland. By the end of the series, Colin reemploys Ron to help him pay his fines and the two form a new whale watching company after Colin buys an actual boat.
Mary Ledbetter is a 63-year-old married woman who is the town "mover and shaker", a member of the Hillside Hat Collectors Club and the president of the Ladywalkers (a walking group for mature ladies who like to walk) who prides herself on her ability to criticise but she is more of a busy body, compulsive complainer, gossip and a bigot. Her husband, Brian (played by Ray Henwood), is quiet and takes the brunt of her criticism constantly. She lived in Australia for three weeks, which was only for her sister's wedding. She treats her dead stuffed cat, Mitzy, as though it is still alive and is social media inept (she thought Twitter was the name of a drug). She frequents the Blow n Wave Salon where she catches up on gossip and scandal.
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