Michael McKenna (Shortland Street)
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Michael McKenna (Shortland Street)
Dr. Michael McKenna is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera, ''Shortland Street''. He was portrayed by Paul Gittins and was part of the original cast. Creation and casting Established actor Paul Gittins was cast, but struggled to keep up with the fast schedule. However, after crew realized Gittins performed better towards the end of the week, all his scenes were filmed late on Fridays. After settling into the role, Gittins highly enjoyed it and learned a lot from his younger co stars. Gittins soon became exhausted by the workload and wanted diversity, he quit and the character made his final appearance as a regular in 1995. Storylines Michael, the Director of Shortland Street, supported nursing manager, Carrie Burton (Lisa Crittenden) through her accusation of murder and the two got together. However, the power couple dissolved and Michael turned to heavy drinking. He was convinced to seek help and later dated a university student. The arrival of daughter Rachel ...
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Shortland Street
''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital, first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992. It is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 7,500 episodes and 30 years, and is one of the most watched television programmes in New Zealand. The show was originally screened as five half-hour episodes each week and initially receiving mixed reviews on its premiere. After its launch, it dropped in ratings and would have been cancelled if TVNZ had not ordered a year's worth of episodes in advance. TVNZ renewed the production in early 1993 when the show's rating had picked up, and it now has "long-term public enthusiasm". Today, it is one of New Zealand's highest-rated shows, frequently making AGB Nielsen Media Research's top 5 programmes of the week, achieving an average linear daily reach of 345,000 viewers (in the year up to June 2021) and is TVNZ's "most streamed show". ...
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NZ On Air
NZ On Air (NZOA; mi, Irirangi te Motu), formally the Broadcasting Commission, is an autonomous Crown entity and commission of the New Zealand Government responsible for funding support for broadcasting and creative works. The commission operates largely separate from government policy but must follow directions from the Minister of Broadcasting. NZOA is responsible for the funding of public broadcasting content across television, radio and other media platforms. It is also a major investor in New Zealand independent producers. NZ On Air is the operating name of the Broadcasting Commission formed in the Broadcasting Act 1989 alongside the Broadcasting Standards Authority, meant to encourage individuals to pay the historical Broadcasting Fee that funded public broadcasters. In 1999 the Broadcasting Fee was abolished, and NZOA now receives funding directing from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Activities NZ On Air's activities can be broken up into several areas: ...
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Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett (born 27 February 1976) is a New Zealand actor best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, ''Shortland Street''. Burnett was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on ''Shortland Street'' in 1992. The then Massey High School student had little acting experience, other than high-school drama classes, though after six years of starring on Shortland Street he had a part in the 1998 film ''When Love Comes''. He played the role of Nick Harrison from the show's second episode in 1992 until the character's departure in 2005, making Nick Harrison the original character to stay with the show the longest. Nick Harrison was originally intended as a drug-taking rebel, but after Burnett was cast, the role was developed into a more comedic and clumsy character. In 2005, after 13 years on the show, the character of Nick was axed by producers. Later in 2005, Burnett appeared in TV3's celebrity singing competition ''Sing L ...
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Nick Harrison (Shortland Street)
Nicholas John Harrison is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'' who was portrayed by Karl Burnett from the show's second episode in 1992 to 2005, making him the original character to stay with the show the longest in one stint. The character along with wife Waverley returned for the show's 25th anniversary that aired on 25 May 2017. Creation and casting Whilst creating the soap what was to become, ''Shortland Street'', Caterina De Nave decided to write teenagers into the show so as to draw in a younger demographic. It was decided to have two teenagers, one being Stuart Neilson – an articulate homosexual and the other Nick Harrison – a drug taking rebel. The two characters were set to be heart throbs and auditions were undertaken for the roles. Sixteen-year-old Karl Burnett whose only other experience was the 1991 film ''When Love Comes'' and high school drama classes won the role. Milan Borich got into the final stages of auditioning but ...
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Karl Urban
Karl-Heinz Urban (born 7 June 1972) is a New Zealand actor. His career began with appearances in New Zealand films and TV series such as '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. His first Hollywood role was in the 2002 horror film ''Ghost Ship''. Since then, he has starred in many high-profile movies, including as Éomer in the second and third installments of ''The Lord of the Rings'' trilogy, Vaako in the second and third installments of ''Riddick'' film series, Leonard McCoy in the ''Star Trek'' reboot film series, Kirill in ''The Bourne Supremacy'' (2004), John "Reaper" Grimm in ''Doom'' (2005), Judge Dredd in ''Dredd'' (2012), Gavin Magary in '' Pete's Dragon'' (2016), and Skurge in Marvel Studios' '' Thor: Ragnarok'' (2017). In 2013, he starred in the sci-fi series '' Almost Human''. Since 2019, he has starred as Billy Butcher in Amazon's superhero streaming television series '' The Boys''. Early life Urban was born in Wellington, New Zealand. His father, a German immigrant, own ...
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Jamie Forrest
Jamie Forrest is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street''. The character was portrayed by Karl Urban for a guest stint in mid-1993 before returning later in the year for a 6-month recurring stint. The character is remembered as the first openly gay character on the show. Creation and casting In 1992 ''Shortland Street'' planned for character Stuart Neilson to be gay however the plans fell through. Producers decided to break new ground by introducing the controversial character. The character appeared in a short guest stint before returning for a 6-month recurring stint. Storylines Jamie arrived to Shortland Street. After childhood friend Kirsty (Angela Dotchin) failed to attract Jamie, he revealed he was gay. He worked as a paramedic alongside Sam (Rene Naufahu) but was alienated due to his sexuality. The two made up and Jamie ended up leaving the hospital. He returned some months later and the teenage Jonathon McKenna (Kieren Hutchison) develope ...
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Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Robert Hutchison (born 9 October 1974) is a New Zealand actor. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Career Hutchison is best known for playing the roles of Jonathon McKenna in the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'', Andy Hargrove on ''One Tree Hill'', and Jake Preston on ''Monarch Cove'' (2006). He played Ernst Robinson on ''The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson'' (1997) and William Tell on '' The Legend of William Tell'' (1998). He is the creator of the YouTube channel "A Kid Explains History." As of 2022, it has 25,000 subscribers and over 4 million views. Personal life He is married to actress Nicole Tubiola Nicole Tubiola is an American actress. She is known for her role as Danielle "Dani" Davis on ''Wildfire'' (2005–2008). She has appeared in films ''Fired Up!'' (2009) and '' My Fake Fiance'' (2009). Private life Tubiola grew up in Bullhead City ... with whom he has a son. Filmography References External linksOfficial website* {{DEFAULTSORT ...
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Liddy Holloway
Elizabeth Brenda "Liddy" Holloway (27 March 1947 – 29 December 2004) was a New Zealand actress and television scriptwriter. Career Born in Wellington, New Zealand, the daughter of a politician, Phil Holloway, Liddy Holloway originally worked as a journalist. She switched to acting and had a long career in the theatre. She also acted in Australia in the early 1980s, with acting roles in feature films ''Squizzy Taylor'' and ''The Clinic''. She also acted on Australian television, appearing in guest roles in several episodes of soap opera ''Prisoner'', a series for which she also wrote some scripts. Holloway moved to Los Angeles briefly in 1990 to give Hollywood a try, but did not stay long. She eventually garnered international attention for her recurring role as Hercules' mother on the syndicated adventure series, ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', a role she played intermittently from 1995 to 1998. Holloway also found wide recognition in her home country through her 19 ...
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Alex McKenna (Shortland Street)
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'' in 1993, by order of first appearance. Rachel McKenna Rachel McKenna was the spoilt teenage daughter of CEO - Michael (Paul Gittins) and Alex McKenna (Liddy Holloway). She arrived in early 1993 as part of the McKenna family unit and has been portrayed by Angela Bloomfield for numerous stints. Leonard Dodds Dr. Leonard Ralph Carlton Rossi-Dodds was the love interest and eventual husband to Gina Rossi (Josephine Davison). He arrived as the eccentric new doctor in early 1993 and soon started to date the equally eccentric - Gina. However Leonard soon left and when he returned, was shocked Gina had moved on to Hone Ropata (Temuera Morrison). The two reconciled and were married, something Leonard's best man - Lionel Skeggins ( John Leigh) nearly put an end to. The couple bought a houseboat and after Leonard recovered from his sea sickness, the two tried for children. The at ...
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Angela Bloomfield
Angela Bloomfield (born 11 December 1972) is a New Zealand actor and director. Early life Bloomfield attended Massey High School in West Auckland, New Zealand. Career Bloomfield has starred in ''Shortland Street'' continuously on and off for 24 years, transforming Rachel McKenna from the school girl daughter of clinic boss into a university student, a Shortland Street clinic employee and CEO of Shortland Street Hospital. Bloomfield has also performed in a number of feature films including '' Bonjour Timothy'' and ''The Frighteners''. She has also appeared in smaller TV shows such as The Adventures of the Black Stallion, Betty's Bunch, Ride with the Devil and Power Rangers Ninja Storm in small roles. Acting took a back seat for three years when she became a mother of two but she kept her hand in directing for Shortland Street. Bloomfield has also been a contestant on the N.Z show, ''Dancing with the Stars'' and was voted as having New Zealand's best breasts for the Fayreform N ...
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Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden (born 1962) is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as ''The Restless Years'' (as Briony Thompson, 1981), ''The Sullivans'' (as Sally Meredith), ''Prisoner'' (as Maxine Daniels 1982–83), '' Sons and Daughters'' (as Leigh Palmer 1985–86), ''Rafferty's Rules'' (1988) and the New Zealand produced ''Shortland Street'' (as Carrie Burton 1992–93). She had 3 roles in drama Blue Heelers and also played a lead role in mini-series ''Whose Baby?'' and made a guest appearance as Gabrielle's mother Hecuba in '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. Personal life Crittenden has been married to Gary Moore, a freelance director of photography, since 1986. She currently resides in Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ..., A ...
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Carrie Burton
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'' in 1992, by order of first appearance. Marj Neilson Marj Neilson was the clinic's first receptionist and was portrayed by Elizabeth McRae. A religious busy body and gossip, Marj became a staple and iconic of the show, being the shows original matriarch and leader of the Neilson family unit. She stayed on the show until 1996 and still remains one of the most iconic characters, returning for several guest stints. Tom Neilson Tom Leslie Neilson was the husband of Marj and the show's original paramedic. Tom stayed on the show for a year and his story lines covered illness and the hugely famous missing person scenario where Tom left his family and went into hiding, then later died of a heartattack Sam Aleni Sam Aleni was the Samoan paramedic who appeared on the show for 4 years. The casting of Sam proved groundbreaking, placing a Polynesian in the occupation of param ...
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