Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby

Nearly $9 Million for Local Drama and Comedy - 9 September 2005. NZ On Air has announced plans to spend almost $9 million on locally produced drama and comedy as a result of decisions made at its August meeting. There are some exciting projects going ahead thanks to this funding, said NZ On Air's Acting Chief Executive Bernard Duncan.We're pleased to support a second series of Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby, following the critical and audience success of the first, Mr Duncan said. Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby Series 2 $1,247,560 7 x half hour Broadcaster: TV One Producer: Danny Mulheron, Tom Scott Direct Hit Directed by Danny Mulheron Writing credits (in alphabetical order) Dave Armstrong writer Danny Mulheron writer Tom Scott writer Cast (in credits order) David McPhail .... Mr. Gormsby Paul McLaughlin .... Mr. Dasent Jason Hoyte .... Steve Mudgeway Tandi Wright .... Fenn Partington Michele Amas .... Lauren Geraldine Brophy .... Marion Patterson Thomas Robins .... Mr. Morton Louis Sutherland .... Mr. Hakanui Joseph Moore .... Bastabus Michael Beran .... Woodwork Teacher Produced by Danny Mulheron .... producer Tom Scott .... producer Judith Trye .... executive producer Makeup Department Jayne Donaldson .... assistant makeup artist Kareen Donaldson .... makeup artist

This New Zealand gem of a comedy follows the horrible antics of old, grumpy school-teacher, Mr.Gormsby, as he sets about trying to discipline a classroom of unruly school children in the most unbelievable ways imaginable. The humour sometimes descends into uninspiring childish toilet humour, and it's not immune to getting laughs out of the mentally-challenged, but thanks to a priceless deadpan performance from David McPhail as the title character, this crude, dry and utterly hilarious take on New Zealand school life is wickedly un-PC comedy brilliance. We don't get much New Zealand television here in Australia, but this one's a gem. 8/10

Wonderful scripts with a cast of absolute misfits. The UNpolitically correct antics of this school will have you cringing and laughing throughout. Gormsby is a standout character as is Steve the Guidance Counselor - what a despicable person he is. Some side-characters could have had their backstories worked out a bit more. There are touches of sentiment but these only make the show more endearing. All episodes of both seasons are on YouTube. Enjoy.

Absolute Classic!! Accidentally found the first series of this one night after "At the Movies" on abc TV Australia and nearly wet myself laughing. Ended up watching the remainder of the series and then buying the DVD on mail order to see the episodes I missed.

With all the PC and Americanised crime dramas on TV, it's good to see something definitely Australasian on TV that's not afraid to bend the rules and deliver a few laughs at the same time.

Certainly could not be made in the US this stuff .... too much wit .... and sadly not sure us Aussies could either given the way our local television is going.

Hope to see series 2 on Aussie TV soon enough. BRING IT ON

The series is compact, the story lines and the comedy are free free flowing, and the characterisation is sharply focused and consistent.

Those who have found the individual performances poor, in particular one "Cranky Carrot," will be unable to enjoy the total production, which is a great shame, because the performances are actually very even and extremely well controlled by excellent direction and supported by first class script work.

Perhaps it helps to have lived and worked in NZ, but I had no problem associating with the character types and found great delight in the profoundly human elements of the story lines.

Here is a beautifully constructed piece of theatre, where comedy, drama and the truth about social politics meld, to create a satirical and sociological comment that all people should be able to grasp and appreciate, as it lampoons social politics; both the so called incorrect, and the so called correct.