New Zealand television series
Short Poppies is a New Zealand 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.
Characters.
All of the "Short Poppies" characters David Farrier interviews are played by Rhys Darby.
Terry Pole.
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), is 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.
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.
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 &amp; 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.
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.
While Mary comes across as oblivious (her hairdresser, Alex Turnbull (played by Karl Urban), states he "loves cock" and she states that he "owns a chicken farm"), it becomes apparent that she is aware that Alex is, in fact, gay.
Bill Napier.
Bill is a Department of Conservation head ranger who may be too into nature, however he is very knowledgeable in New Zealand flora and fauna and even shows David a bear. He is in an estranged marriage to Linda and has two children, Flora (played by Rhys's niece, Lucy Coring) and Fauna (played by Rhys's son, Finn Darby), who have moved to Yellowstone National Park. He has a love/hate relationship with his brother-in-law, Tom (played by Cohen Holloway), who still lives in the town and intentionally goes out of his way to antagonize Bill. He leads a team of rangers. During a staff awards ceremony, he becomes obsessed with his missing coffee mug (the last gift given to him by his wife).
Louise Cooper.
Louise Cooper is a local artist who "won" a commission to create the town's centerpiece by changing a rejection letter into an acceptance letter. She works as a carpark attendant (at a carpark she has created) and is a single mother of a nine-year-old boy, Zeke (played by Flynn Allen). At the end of the series, she is dating Rhod and works at Georgina's crystal shop while Georgina is on maternity leave.
Rhod Gainer.
Rhod Gainer is a local lawyer who is the classic Kiwi bloke and loves cars, beer, the ladies and sexual innuendo. He has a sister, Linda (played by Darby's actual sister, Linda Darby-Coring).
Hayden Clarke.
Hayden Clarke is the producer of the show and a bit of a self-righteous narcissist. He and David work for NZTV.
References.
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