''Super City'' is a New Zealand television

comedy series Television comedy is a category of broadcasting that has been present since the early days of entertainment media. While there are several genres of comedy, some of the first ones aired were variety shows. One of the first Television in the United ...

starring

Madeleine Sami Madeleine Nalini Sami is a New Zealand actress, director, comedian and musician. She started her acting career in theatre before moving to television, where she created, wrote, and starred in ''Super City''. She co-wrote, co-directed, and starr ...

and directed by

Taika Waititi Taika David Cohen (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi ( ), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian. He is a recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award, and has received two nominations at t ...

. Season 1 premiered on the TV3 network in 2011. The series was picked up as a comedy presented by the American Broadcasting Company in 2012. The series opened with a healthy 24 percent share of the 25-54 age bracket, earning it 11th place on TV3's rating table for the week. The second season, directed by

Oscar Kightley Oscar Vai To'elau Kightley (born 14 September 1969) is a Samoan-born New Zealand actor, television presenter, writer, journalist, director, and comedian. He acted in and co-wrote the successful 2006 film ''Sione's Wedding''. Biography Kightley ...

, premiered on 26 July 2013.

Overview

In Season 1, Madeleine Sami transforms into five different characters, all living in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

. Pasha is an aging cheerleader clinging to her partying lifestyle; Azeem is an immigrant taxi driver embracing Maori culture; Jo is a gym instructor in love with her best friend; Linda is the runt of her "old girls" clique fostering impoverished artists and Georgie is a homeless girl whose freedom is unexpectedly interrupted. In Season 2, Madeleine transforms into young Levi Tutaima, a 20-year-old Niuean who's keen on making his way as a semi-professional rugby star but is concerned with getting his hair right and fitting in. Then there's 26-year-old Ofa Faka'apa'apa, a benefit case-manager who's got little sympathy for those who need state help and is always ready with some unorthodox advice. Next is Mary Dalziel who, at 45, might not be on the path to pop stardom anymore, but that won't stop her from awkwardly flirting her way around the local covers band scene. And then there's Ray Donaldson, a 62-year-old British

panel beater Panel beater or panelbeater is a term used in some Commonwealth countries to describe a person who repairs vehicle bodies back to their factory state after having been damaged (e.g., after being involved in a collision). In the United States an ...

who does his best to teach his immigrant employees while also supporting his bodybuilder wife Tiffany. Plus there are some excellent character roles from

Urzila Carlson Urzila Carlson (born 15 February 1976) is a South African born New Zealand comedian and actress, known for her stand-up performances as well as her appearances on television programs in both New Zealand and Australia. Carlson is a regular panelli ...

as Ofa's manager and Elroy Finn playing Mary's son.

Episodes

There are six episodes in the show's first season:

Awards

won Best Performance by an Actress at the

2011 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards The 2011 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards were held at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on the evening of Saturday 12 November, with the crafts awards presented at an earlier luncheon on Thursday 10 November. After previously b ...

(previously Qantas TV and Film Award). The series was a finalist in two other categories; Best Comedy, Best Script.

& Thomas Sainsbury also picked up Best Comedy Script for Episode 3 at the 2011 SWANZ awards.

Reception

"Madeleine has an extraordinary ability to flit from character to character… She uses it to explore and have a good laugh at various aspects of "being" Auckland. This is funny, this is funny, its smart and sharp." – Simon Wilson, Metro Magazine "Sami absolutely nailed these characters... Very cleverly layered. Its a very good mix of comedy and tragedy. I'm disappointed its a 6 episode season and we're halfway through. Its definitely definitely worth watching." - Sarah McMullan, National Radio "I applaud Super City, think it's very clever… Sami produces a medley of five very different Auckland stereotypes, obviously demonstrates her clever acting abilities and broad range." - Jane Bowron, Dominion Post "Have you been watching Super City? Well you should be. Its shows an Auckland like you never see on TV and have genius observations and characters, great lines and its surprising and fresh. And it is funny too. So, good." - Simon Pound

References

{{Reflist 2010s New Zealand television series 2011 New Zealand television series debuts 2013 New Zealand television series endings English-language television shows New Zealand comedy television series Television shows filmed in New Zealand Television shows funded by NZ on Air Television shows set in Auckland Three (TV channel) original programming