TV One (TVNZ) - Public Eye (1989)

Get ready for a blast from the past! Public Eye, which was launched by TVNZ as an independent production in April 1988, drew inspiration from the British series, Spitting Image, known for its biting satire and latex puppets. The Kiwi version followed suit, using life size puppets to caricature topical personalities, mostly from the world of politics and pop culture. The wickedly grotesque puppets were based on drawings by renowned cartoonist, Trace Hodgson. A team led by special effects maestro Richard Taylor, who later founded Weta Workshop, brought these puppets to life. The result was a cast of characters which were both recognisable and ridiculous. Public Eye tackled a wide range of topics, from politics and social issues to pop culture and current events, throughout its two year run. Some notable recurring segments include "Ruatoria Rasta", "The White Way" and "Honky Tanga". These segments, along with various one-off sketches, showcased the show's ability to poke fun at the powers that be and challenge social norms. Public Eye was produced by the Gibson Group, a Wellington-based production house, in two 'sub-seasons' of six shows each during 1988 and 1989. A total of 24 episodes were produced over two years. The show initially screened on TV One (now TVNZ 1) at 9pm on a Monday with the second half of the 1989 season, as per a short promotional trailer, shifting to Tuesdays - except the evening of Tuesday 7 November 1989 when Crimewatch pre-empted it at 8.30pm. The show's voice cast included Katy Beasley, Gary Bowering, Warwick Burke, Georgina Christensen, Stuart Devenie, Catherine Downes, Danny Faye, Ross Jolly, Bruce Phillips, Perry Piercy, Brian Sergent, Patrick Smyth, Susan Wilson and Mark Wright. Writing credits went to Dave Armstrong, Arthur Baysting, Ken Duncum, David Geary, David Hill, Jim Hopkins, Kerry Jimson, Simon Morris, Danny Mulheron, Tom Scott, Dave Smith, Mark Walles and Lorraine Ward. This trailer offers a rare opportunity to revisit a piece of New Zealand's television history. Special thanks to a YouTube channel for the use of this clip.