McCormick chat show to return to screens

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 11

McCormick chat show to return to screens

Gary McCormick’s television chat show, “McCormick Country,” will return next month.

In response to positive reviews and climbing ratings for the first series (which finished on August 26), it has been decided to go ahead with another series as soon as possible. “It is definitely a coup for Gary McCormick,” says TVNZ’s acting commissioning editor, Jane Wrightson. “We fully intended to make another series next year but now we have decided not to wait and to go ahead while it is still fresh. "As far as we are concerned, for the first time this genre has worked, and it has worked exceptionally well.” When the prime-time Saturday night show began in July, reviewers around the country were quick to praise it. The producer, Finola Dwyer, attributes the show’s success to McCormick’s particular talent backed by an excellent team who collaborate on

possible guests and finetune the format. “The show is strengthened by the fact that we devise a structure for each programme so that it has a backbone to hook into and for Gary’s particular style this approach works really well. “I think what is important too is working out the guest dynamics — who you put with whom. It is not enough to just say, ‘Here are two good people and they could talk a bit about that.’ There has to be a purpose to why they are there.” Dwyer, a L.I.F.T.A. Award winner for her 1988 documentary “Raglan by the Sea,” also fronted by Gary McCormick, says that the format for the second series will be unchanged. Guests will still be invited into Gary McCormick’s living room, to chat and participate in his lifestyle with all its little niceties. “The guests often dictate the kind of thing that Gary will be doing,” says Dwyer. “We have a great time at our Monday meetings discussing what drinks we are going to give people.” Although not prepared to discuss guests for the next series, Dwyer concedes that visiting rock stars are a possibility, as well as Australians and expatriates. “Basically, they are only three hours away — as far away as Christchurch. We are interested in anyone who will keep the show stimulating. “But we don’t put just anyone on. We want people with a sense of humour who will rise to the challenge of the show."