The Worst Sitcom Ever Made

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

'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

'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

'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

'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