australian television information archive

The Weakest Link

Episode 1.01
NZ: September 22, 2004
Canada: November 08, 2006

After being run over by a bus, Valea suddenly becomes the brainiest boy in Morningside, and the boys stun the school by making it through to the televised finals of the national quiz show.

Performers: Teuila Blakely, David Fane, Anthony Farac, Oscar Kightley, Cohen Holloway, Mario Gaoa, Vela Manusaute, Shimpal Lelisi, James Peat

Special Guests: Prime Minister Helen Clark, Carol Hirshfeld, John Campbell, Robert Rakete, Scribe

Sionerella

Episode 1.02
NZ: September 29, 2004
Canada: October 25, 2006

Sione finally gets his chance to impress the girl of his dreams at the school ball, but his mother and his rival Rex Ruka do all they can to ruin his chances.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Vela Manusaute, Anapela Polataivao

Special Guests: John Campbell, Carol Hirshfeld, Michael Jones, Lucy Lawless

The Wong One

Episode 1.03
NZ: October 06, 2004
Canada: October 18, 2006

Wong from Hong Kong arrives in Morningside and Dad takes him in as a homestay visitor, but a case of mistaken identity sees Vale kidnapped in Wong's place by the legendary Grasshopper — a hot Asian chick with incredible martial arts skills.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley

Special Guests: John Campbell, Carol Hirshfeld

Get Rucked

Episode 1.04
NZ: October 13, 2004
Canada: October 11, 2006

It's the annual rugby match against the St Sylvester's Old Boys, but when the school 1st XV comes down with a terrible case of food poisoning, the boys have to play against a crack multi-code team featuring Joe Rokocoko, Tana Umaga, Stacey Jones, Henry Fa'afili and Awen Guttenbeil.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley

Special Guests: Awen Guttenbeil, Frank Bunce, Henry Fa'afili, Joe Rokocoko, Stacey Jones, Tana Umaga

A Maori At My Table

Episode 1.05
NZ: October 20, 2004
Canada: November 01, 2006

The boys go on a trip to Jeff's Marae, only to find an unexpected tangi going on. The mantle of leadership is suddenly thrust upon an unsuspecting Jeff.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Vela Manusaute

Special Guests: Keisha Castle-Hughes, Cliff Curtis, Niki Caro, Rawiri Paratene, Witi Ihimaera

Go Home, Stay Home

Episode 1.06
NZ: October 27, 2004
Canada: Oct 04, 2006 (APTN)

When Constable Bababiba discovers that Vale and Valea have been left home alone, he sends Vale to a bad boy's home and Valea to a rich white family in Parnell, but when Dad realises that he is no longer eligible for his benefit, he launches a bid to bring his boys back home.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Maka Makatoa, Vela Manusaute, Anapela Polataivao, Joshua Thomas

Special Guests: Alan Gibbs, Jenny Gibbs, Rodney Hide, Michael Jones

Zeelander

Episode 2.01 (7)
NZ: September 15, 2005
Canada: November 15, 2006

It's Morningside Fashion Week, and one of the world's top fashion designers discovers Jeff Da Maori and catapults him to international catwalk fame.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: John Campbell, Carol Hirshfeld, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Francis Hooper, Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, Rove McManus, Kate Sylvester, Karen Walter

Survival of the Fattest

Episode 2.02 (8)
NZ: September 21, 2005
Australia: October 09, 2006
Canada: November 22, 2006

The class sets out for a day in the bush, but the boys get lost and stranded in the wilderness. Sione starts to go mad, Mack suffers from constipation, Jeff is terrified of the 'bush spirits', Valea is homesick, and Vale films the action Survivor-style.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi

Special Guests: John Campbell, Michael Jones, Carol Hirshfeld

Honky the Wonder Horse

Episode 2.03 (9)
NZ: September 28, 2005

After Vale and Valea feel sorry for a racehorse who is about to reach its expiry date, they try and persuade Dad to let them train and race it.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere, Vela Manusaute

Special Guests: none

Touched by a Teacher

Episode 2.04 (10)
NZ: October 05, 2005
Australia: October 16, 2006
Canada: December 20, 2006

Mack tries to impress his mates by inventing a story about being abused. Brother Ken is thrown into jail and a witch-hunt ensues, led by the Minister and Mrs Tapili. Mack becomes a celebrity and is lauded for his braveness in coming forward and subsequently finds himself facing a major conundrum.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Vela Manusaute, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: [unknown]

Note: The "special guests" listed in the end credits are incorrent, they are for episode 2.01, "Zeelander". Lucy Lawless and Carol Hirshfeld are among those that should be listed for this episode

Half Caste-Away

Episode 2.05 (11)
NZ: October 12, 2005
Australia: October 30, 2006
Canada: November 29, 2006

The boys find a baby in the creek and try to bring it up , but struggle from sleep deprivation and the ordeal of nappy-changing until they have to search elsewhere for parents for the baby.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Vela Manusaute, Nathan Rarere, Janelle Bish, Joshua G. Thomas

A Chicken Roll at My Table

Episode 2.06 (12)
NZ: October 19, 2005
Australia: October 23, 2006
Canada: December 06, 2006

Joost's conservation-loving, zoo-keeping Dad invites the boys to the van Den Van Van's African-themed Morningside Shore home for a weekend cultural exchange, but an incident with a chicken roll turns the weekend into a weird kind of Whodunit.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Janelle Bish, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Mark Hewlett, Nathan Rarere

Morning Side Story

Episode 2.07 (13)
NZ: October 26, 2005
Canada: December 13, 2006

An incident of racial abuse inspires St Sylvester's to produce a multi-racial musical love story called Morning Side Story. Vale is director, Jeff in charge of music, Sione, Sina, Mack and Rex are the stars.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Janelle Bish, Bronwyn Bradley

Special Guests: Prime Minister Helen Clark, H. R. H. Prince Charles, Carol Hirschfeld, Chris Knox, Scribe

In My Mother's Den

Episode 3.01 (14)
NZ: September 27, 2006

Pepelo falls in love a concussed Canadian girl named Mary fascinated with the struggles of indigenous peoples. Vale and Valea are unimpressed until Mary starts feeding them. Meanwhile, Sione falls in deep lust with the Canadian.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere, Janelle Bish as Mary

Special Guests: Michael Jones

Know Me Before You Haunt Me

Episode 3.02 (15)
NZ: October 04, 2006

Halloween sees the boys trick or tricking, without luck. Rain forces them into an ancient home on the hill where a Maori ghost called Oma Kapiti enters Jeff's body. Whilst Jeff's performance in history class is greatly improved, his desire to burn the school down lands him in a spot of bother with a trip to the Morningside Psychiatric hospital. The boy's enlist the help of Temuera and Sir Howard Morrison to exorcise Oma from their friend.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Taungaroa Emile, Nathan Rarere, Madeline Sami

Special Guests: Sir Howard Morrison, Temuera Morrison

Upstairs Brownstairs

Episode 3.03 (16)
NZ: October 11, 2006

The exclusive Morningside Club is losing numbers and decides to do the unthinkable and let in a brown person to attract new members. However, when Pepelo Pepelo joins the club, they get more than they bargained for as he becomes the club's most regular visitor. Meanwhile, Valea falls for a beautiful rich girl. The only problem is his insistence that he is the Lord of Rumbatumba.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere, Madeline Sami as Caitlyn

Special Guests: Carol Hirschfeld, John Campbell

Go Ask Agnes

Episode 3.04 (17)
NZ: October 18, 2006

Sione's family can't make ends meet as Reverend Minister convinces Mrs Tapili to give more money to the church. She turns to the casino for help but when that backfires, Agnes turns to phone sex. Meanwhile, Valea's money elephant disappears…

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere, Madeline Sami as Janelle

Mack is from Mars, Sione's a Psycho

Episode 3.05 (18)
NZ: October 25, 2006

When Mack sees how bad the St Cardinal’s netball team is, he decides they need help from an expert. He disguises himself as a Muslim girl and impresses his teammates with his excellent skills! Mack discovers the joys of female company and becomes frustrated with his monosyllabic mates. Meanwhile, Sione falls for the new girl on the netball team.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Janelle Bish, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere, Madeline Sami

Special Guests: Carol Hirschfeld, John Campbell, Bernice Mene

I Still Call Australia Home… Oh

Episode 3.06 (19)
NZ: November 01, 2006

It’s the annual Polyfest — the secondary schools' cultural competition — and the boys are desperate to get into the glamorous Samoan group. However, when that doesn't work out (because Sione almost burnt down the stage the previous year), they decide to join Abercrombie's Australian group.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Bronwyn Bradley, Teuila Blakely

Special Guests: John Campbell, Prime Minister Helen Clark, John Clarke, Russel Crowe, Neil Finn, Carol Hirschfeld, Rove McManus, Steve Price, Scribe, Skippy

The Summer the Brazilian Came

Episode 3.07 (20)
NZ: November 08, 2006

Record temperatures force Morningside residents to the beach where Sione tries to surf, Valea falls for a Brazilian beauty, and Jeff da Maori charges taxes for use of the beach.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Bronwyn Bradley, Teuila Blakely, Luciana Camargo, Ant Farac, Marcela Gomes, Tim Mitchell, Greydis Montero, Nathan Rarere, Nicholas Short

Special Guests: John Campbell, Carol Hirschfeld, Jordan Luck, Roert Rakete

Sons for the Return Homo

Episode 4.01 (21)
NZ: Wed, Oct 11, 2007

Morningside's softest criminal, Motorcycle Boy, returns home from 'boarding school' just in time for his 21st. Motorcycle Boy trains the boys up to become staunch gang members — but Sione's big mouth soon has himself, his brother, and his own "gang" in deep trouble.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere, Ant Farac

The Artful Dadger

Episode 4.02 (22)
NZ: October 18, 2007

Valea becomes immersed in the art world, winning praise for his talent and unleashing the tortured artist within! However, bitter rivalry quickly ensues when Dad impresses the glitterarti and steals the limelight.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere, Madeleine Sami, Ant Farac, Reuben Simpson

Special Guests: Jenny Gibbs, Witi Ihimaera, John Pule, John Reynolds

A Miracle In Morningside

Episode 4.03 (23)
NZ: October 25, 2007

In an attempt to outdo his friends, Mack gives up food and water for Lent, and becomes convinced he is a descendant of Jesus Christ and Maria Von Trapp from The Sound of Music.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: Petra Bagust, Marc Ellis, John Campbell, Carol Hirschfeld

Yes Prime Minister!

Episode 4.04 (24)
NZ: November 01, 2007

A desperate Brother Ken insists that Vale represent St Sylvester's at Youth Parliament in Wellington. The boys travel to the capital city where they find themselves surrounded by fierce opponents in the dog-eat-dog world of politics.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Ed Lust, Nathan Rarere, Madeleine Sami

Special Guests: Prime Minister Helen Clark, Governor General Anand Satynand, Madam Speaker Margaret Wilson, Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Rodney Hide, Kim Hill, Pete Hodgson, Trevor Mallard, Winston Peters, Dr Pita Sharples, Nandor Tanzcos, Judith Tizard, Fat Freddys Drop

An Alien At My Table

Episode 4.05 (25)
NZ: November 08, 2007

Cliff Curtis organises a star-studded Matariki concert at Kia Ora Bay, but one by one New Zealand's finest musicians disappear — and Jeff gets the blame! Will Valea and Keisha rekindle their spark? Will Jeff get to sing with TrinityRoots? Is there anybody out there? And will this be the day the music died?

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere

Guest stars: Bic Runga, Boh Runga, Scribe, Trinity Roots, Anika Moa, Fat Freddys Drop, Cliff Curtis, John Campbell, Carol Hirschfeld, Keisha Castle-Hughes

I'm going to Limbo… I may be some time

Episode 4.06 (26)
NZ: November 15, 2007

Dad Pepelo's hard living lifestyle finally catches up with him, and while the boys maintain a bedside vigil, Dad embarks on a journey of the soul, where he must face the demons of his past.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: John Campbell, Carol Hirschfeld, Michael Jones, Robbie Magasiva, Sir Howard Morrison, Temuera Morrison, Robert Rakete

The Summer of Samson

Episode 5.01 (27)
NZ: Sun, April 19, 2009

When Sione catches his Mum and the Minister in a compromising position, he discovers that his brother Samson is the spawn of adulterers.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Bronwyn Bradley, Teuila Blakely, Nathan Rarere

A Vegetarian at my Table

Episode 5.02 (28)
NZ: Sun, April 26, 2009

After eating a mouse pie, the boys take a vow of vegetarianism! They are determined to expose the dodgy innards of the meat industry… but when the powers-that-be catch wind of their plan, Vale becomes the meat in the sandwich!

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Janelle Bish, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: John Clarke, John Campbell, Carol Hirschfeld

To Sam with Love

Episode 5.03 (29)
NZ: Sun, May 03, 2009

When world famous actor Sam Neill turns up to teach drama at St Sylvester's, the boys become his biggest fans!

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: Sam Neill, Oliver Driver, George Henare, Robyn Malcolm, Joel Tobeck

Apocalypse Ow!

Episode 5.04 (30)
NZ: Sun, May 10, 2009

Jeff's unhinged Uncle Murray returns from Afghanistan and takes the boys to a 'fun' camp… but before long everyone except Jeff realises that things are not what they seem! Will Jeff turn on his friends once and for all?

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: Jemaine Clement, Neil Finn, Tim Finn, Bret McKenzie

Lost in Cyberspace

Episode 5.05 (31)
NZ: Sun, May 17, 2009

Rakeesh converts his dairy into a Cyber Café and Valea soon becomes a 'War is Fun' master, but his obsession with the game starts to take over his life, and when the boys discover that he has been having a secret relationship, they realise it is crisis time!

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Teuila Blakely, Bronwyn Bradley, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: Che Fu, Michael Jones

So You Think You Can Dance Near The Stars?

Episode 5.06 (32)
NZ: Sun, May 24, 2009

When Dad is slipped an ecstasy tablet he gets all loved up and convinces Agnes to show the world her fancy footwork in a televised dance competition.

Performers: David Fane, Mario Gaoa, Oscar Kightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Janelle Bish, Bronwyn Bradley, Teuila Blakely, Ant Farac, Nathan Rarere

Special Guests: Carol Hirshfeld [uncredited], John Campbell [uncredited], Keisha Castle-Hughes, Lucy Lawless, Sir Howard Morrison, Robert Rakete, Scribe

Beach Boys: Ben Cullen, Stefan Kust, Zel Kust, Ray Mickelborough, Justus Rogers, Joshua Worthington