View source for Moon TV

{{short description|New Zealand television series}}
{{For|the Finnish Free Cable Channel|MoonTV}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                =
| caption              =
| genre                = <!-- Must be reliably sourced -->
| creator              =
| developer            =
| writer               = [[Leigh Hart]]
| director             = Leigh Hart
| creative_director    =
| starring             = {{plainlist|
*Leigh Hart
*Matt Johnson
*Richard Thompson
*Joe Bennett
*Justin Shuttleworth
*Andrew Johnson
*Jack Hart
}}
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme            =
| endtheme             =
| composer             =
| country              = New Zealand
| language             = English
| num_series           = 6
| num_episodes         = 47
| list_episodes        = #episodes
| executive_producer   =
| producer             =
| location             = <!-- Nation the series was filmed in, if different from the nation of origin. -->
| cinematography       =
| editor               = Brent Spillane
| camera               = <!-- Either Single-camera or Multi-camera -->
| runtime              = 30 minutes<!-- Reliable source required -->
| company              = Moon Enterprises
| network              = [[Sky 5|Sky 1]] {{small|(2002)}}<br />[[TVNZ 2|TV2]] {{small|(2005–2010)}}<br />[[Three (TV channel)|TV3]] {{small|(2011)}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2002}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2010|10|27|df=y}}
}}
'''''Moon TV''''' is a New Zealand [[comedy]] television series. It is produced by Leigh Hart. In 2006 the show received [[New Zealand dollar|$]]176,324 in funding from [[NZ On Air]] for six half-hour episodes, to screen on [[TVNZ 2|TV2]].<ref>[http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/news_detail.php?pid=987&sid=800 NZ on Air 2006 News Release, 9 September 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001090954/http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/news_detail.php?pid=987&sid=800 |date=1 October 2006 }}</ref>
The show has run for five seasons, all available for purchase on DVD. The sixth season began on 25 August 2010.
==Episodes==
===Series 1===
Series 1 was screened weekly by Sky 1 in 2002. It consisted of 7 episodes.
===Series 2===
{{Episode table|overall=|series=|title=|airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 8
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Red Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|5|24|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 9
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Blue Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|5|31|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 10
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Yellow Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|6|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 11
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = White Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|6|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 12
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Black Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|6|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 13
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Static Episode
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|6|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
}}
===Series 3===
The theme for series 3 was Leigh Hart's trip across several countries.
{{Episode table|overall=|series=|title=|airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 14
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           =
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|10|31|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 15
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Peru
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|11|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 16
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = America
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|11|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 17
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Croatia
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|11|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 18
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Hong Kong
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|11|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 19
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Australia
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|12|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
}}
===Series 4===
The season's theme surrounds Leigh Hart and his crew's trip across New Zealand, titled the "Great New Zealand Road Trip". This season has also seen the return of Season 2's mini-shows (such as Hamsterman from Amsterdam and Bookzone), which were absent in season 3.
{{Episode table|overall=|series=|title=|airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 20
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Episode 1
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|3|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 21
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Episode 2
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|4|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 22
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Episode 3
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|4|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 23
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Episode 4
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|4|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 24
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Episode 5
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|4|25|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 25
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Episode 6
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|5|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 26
| EpisodeNumber2  = 7
| Title           = Episode 7
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|5|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 27
| EpisodeNumber2  = 8
| Title           = Episode 8
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2007|5|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
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}}
===Series 5: ''MTN: Moon Television Network''===
Series 5 (10 episodes) aired from 7 May to 2 July 2008.
===Series 6: ''Moon TV USA''===
Series 6 aired from 25 August to 27 October 2010. In this season, Moon TV goes to New York as the Late Night Big Breakfast is picked up by an American TV Network. However, it fails badly as no one interesting comes on the show, and it eventually gets cancelled. Also in this season, Speedo Cops go to New York on a police exchange with the NYPD and Hamsterman opens a new pet shop in New York, both of which go badly. Other Skits that appear are The Doctors (this time working in a gym calling themselves Bleep Doctors), BookZone and Speed Cooking.
===''Best of Moon TV''===
{{Episode table|overall=|title=|airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| Title           = Episode 1
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|1|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| Title           = Episode 2
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|1|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
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{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| Title           = Episode 3
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|1|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 4
| Title           = Episode 4
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|1|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 5
| Title           = Episode 5
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2011|2|4|df=y}}
| ShortSummary    = <!-- Don't add copyrighted text, e.g. from the show's website -->
| LineColor       =
}}
}}
==Recurring themes==
Each episode may contain some of the following recurring sketches.
===Speedo Cops===
[[Image:Moon TV - Speedo Cops.jpg|The Speedo Cops in their entirety|right|thumb]]
This section is a spoof of [[reality television|reality]] cop shows. The main characters are Constables Scott, Martinez, Taylor, Hernandez and more recently Chief Inspector Reeves who replaced Chief Inspector Creech after 2 seasons. These characters play [[police]] officers who wear [[Speedos]] (reminiscent of character Lieutenant Jim Dangle in [[Reno 911!]]), investigating serious crimes such as minor [[graffiti]], DVD [[Copyright infringement|piracy]] and shoppers exceeding New Zealand fishery quotas when purchasing seafood. The result of all of their investigations is to "call it in" or suggest that one of their colleagues "call it in". They are all grossly incompetent but seem unaware of this. They go on an "exchange" to New York (except Martinez) in Season 6 and appall their supervisor Lt Chicowski with their incompetence.
===Speed Cooking===
In this section Hart attempts to cook a complex three-course meal in less than two minutes, using original methods of preparing the food to try to get it done quicker. In reality he doesn't cook much but ends up causing great mess, and damage to the kitchen. He is sometimes accompanied by another person, such as [[Jo Seagar]], celebrity chef.
===The Doctors===
A spoof of [[medical drama]]s such as [[ER (TV series)|ER]]. Throughout the seasons the doctors move their practice to various out of the ordinary locations. The main characters are Doctors Chavez, Haaughn, Buttachikan, Waverwee, Bojangles, Fabio, Bernaise, Nurse Yee and the evil Ritt Parker. This segment involves scenes of exaggerated tension between the doctors, heightened by dramatic background music.
In Season 2, this segment was called 'Sea Doctors' and was set in [[Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium|Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World]], an aquarium in [[Auckland]], but the operation at Kelly Tarlton's was shut down after being caught running a takeaway shop after hours.
The clinic was then moved to the Paradise skating rink for seasons three and four. Here the doctors risk being demoted to skate hire and the evil Ritt Parker plots to kill Doctor Bojangles. This fails as Dr. Bojangles uses his male companion for 'warmth' in a manner parodying [[Brokeback Mountain]].
In Season five we find the doctors running an "Authentic Indian Restaurant" in the series "Naan Doctors". Here they must turn the failing business around and cure patients. It deals heavily with Dr Bojangles' survival of the harsh Antarctic winter and the tension between Dr Bojangles and Ritt Parker.
In Season 6, we find the doctors running a gym in the series ''Bleep Doctors''. It was originally going to be called ''Zumba Doctors'', but due to some controversy with the Zumba company they are not allowed to be called ''Zumba Doctors''.
===Bookzone: A Show About Books===
According to Hart, "it's a relaxed book show where, as you can see, I'm wearing my ''blue'' jeans, and it's where we talk to acclaimed writers and people like that."
On every episode, Hart interviews the same person—columnist [[Joe Bennett (writer)|Joe Bennett]]. He invariably fails to interview Bennett but talks aimlessly about himself and his own supposed writing career and they drink "Country Medium White" cask wine (Bennett from a wine glass, Hart from a large tumbler). As every show begins Hart makes the common error of introducing the show as "Booktime"—having to have Bennett correct him on all occasions until Episode 4 Season 6 where he says "Welcome to Booktime, Bookzone, Bookworld". Hart claims to have written a book about his time in the "Himalaya", ''Battling the Yeti and Alcoholism.'' It allegedly received mixed reviews.
===Outdoors, Outdoors, Outdoors===
A show on a fishing boat where conventional wisdom and Leigh's more unusual methods mix to produce drama.
===The Hamsterman from Amsterdam===
A spoof of the Lion Man, Hamsterman from Amsterdam revolves around Colin, an alcoholic pet shop owner from Takanini who has never actually been to Amsterdam. His wife is having an affair with a furniture upholsterer. The Hamsterman wears an iconic woolen jumper with green and black stripes matched with black stubbies and is rarely seen without a pottle of yoghurt, whose contents sticks to his thick moustache. The cameraman has great difficulty in getting him to talk about anything other than pellets, even though the shop also sells fish, birds and other mammals. When audited, the Hamsterman could produce no receipts as evidence of transactions because he had shredded them all for the hamsters cage linings. He moves to New York in Season 6 and doesn't have much luck there, mostly just making customers angry and being stupid
===MooN Explorer TV===
A series of mock documentary shows, including Deep Probe which investigates issues such as alien abductions and mock animal documentaries. A notable entry was The Hunt for Te Kaka. Amongst the cast of Bono O'Rielly and Salted Nuts McPherson are the two submersibles Chesney and Ronan on board the Te Aroha, which is on the search for the mythical sea beast Te Kaka. The hunt is a mixed bag until there is drama and Salted Nuts McPherson fires a shot and coincidentally but not relatedly the harpoon rope gets tied to the Auckland City Council wheelie bin rather than the pontoon.
===Buckchoi===
A surreal puppet show in which two puppets attack each other. It usually ends with the head of at least one puppet falling off. This segment was canceled in the fourth season with a farewell episode in which a gunshot causes the puppet's head to fall off.
==='It's Ray!'===
A man wearing a bright orange bodysuit and a name badge saying 'Ray' on it jumps out from various hiding places, while a voice announces, 'It's Ray!', while Ray makes various wheezing sounds. Ray appears in between the main skits.
===Chico===
Chico Roparty is a stand-up comic that fails to realize his comedic incompetence. He is introduced onto stage by New Zealand comedy persona Mike King. Chico makes jokes at 1 hour photo labs, cheese slices in the packets, (is anyone here from) Hastings, cell phones, e-mails, computers, shoes and other mundane everyday occurrences.
===Sniffing Murder===
A parody of the show [[Sensing Murder]]. This is a segment where "psychics" try to solve missing persons cases, using questionable methods, such as smelling women's underwear.
===Late Night Big Breakfast===
A parody of real life New Zealand breakfast programmes being filmed from the Target Furniture Hyper-mart on Dominion Rd, Auckland. This segment was based on Leigh Hart's concept of having a television network in a limited half-hour time slot, which is aired at night. The concept being: all good networks have a breakfast show, so why shouldn't MTN? Despite idealising leading news journalism, Leigh Hart concedes that the show discusses issues of no interest to non-everyday New Zealanders.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10505128">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1501119/story.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10505128 |title=That Guy: All-day breakfast extends into the night |date=20 April 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=26 October 2011}}</ref> The show was moved to New York in Season 6 and now is broadcast from the Oriental Marriott Hotel, New York
===Other One-off or Minor Segments===
One-off segments that were not a part of a series (such as MooN Explorer TV) included Homework, a house renovation show that saw the near destruction of a house. Another segment that debuted in Season 4 and was repeated in episodes 2 and 3 was a spoof of the TV3 Promo featuring [[Mike McRoberts]] and a landslide in the [[Philippines]]. The first episode featured an additional [[Close Up (TV programme)|Close Up]] promo spoof.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060116204833/http://www.moontv.co.nz/ MooN TV official website]
*[https://www.youtube.com/profile?user=Moontv YouTube MooN TV Page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070513005404/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/410965/554281 TV2 MooN TV Information]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moon Tv}}
[[Category:2002 New Zealand television series debuts]]
[[Category:2010 New Zealand television series endings]]
[[Category:New Zealand English-language television shows]]
[[Category:New Zealand comedy television series]]
[[Category:Television shows funded by NZ on Air]]
[[Category:Three (TV channel) original programming]]
[[Category:TVNZ 2 original programming]]