New Zealand On Air (NZOA) has announced funding for two exciting television comedy series. A spin off of the critically acclaimed New Zealand vampire mockumentary, What We Do In The Shadow, and Māori sketch comedy, Only In Aotearoa, are expected to make their way to New Zealand screens next year.
Paranormal Event Response Unit is conceived by HBO’s Flight of the Conchords creators Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. The series will be a six-part spin-off of the pair’s critically acclaimed feature mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows.
After receiving $1.4 million in funding, Paranormal Event Response Unit will screen on TVNZ 2. The show will follow police officers Karen and Mike as they keep us safe from the supernatural.
“Comedy is serious business and notoriously hard to get right. We are delighted that Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi are bringing their talents to smaller screens in Paranormal Event Response Unit,” said NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.
Māori sketch comedy Only In Aotearoa will also be bringing some small screen laughs. Based on the web-series by the same name, Only In Aotearoa has received funding for eight thirty minute episodes. The show will feature short, sharp comedic skits from a Māori perspective.
Paranormal Event Response Unit and Only In Aotearoa are expected to hit New Zealand screens in 2017, alongside the return of the popular TV3 comedies Jono And Ben and 7 Days.
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