50 Years of New Zealand Television: 3 - Let Us Entertain You

I had long hair and I spoke in a rough and ready manner. A lot of people were appalled, since they clearly thought that television was a sort of church service.

– John Clarke on the impact of Fred Dagg in the 1970s

Dancing with the Stars? One television programme has created more mail than my entire political career in local government.

– Tim Shadbolt

Everybody saw you on TV and that's why all of a sudden you became an instant hit in New Zealand. You could tour, and you couldn't walk down the street without being mobbed...

– Dinah Lee on the impact of television on pop success in the 1960s

That's the problem with Television New Zealand now...they don't have a dance troupe!

– Jeremy Wells reflects on the variety show heyday of the 1970s

It was the first time that we had zoom lenses. We went in for a lot of effects.

– Producer Kevan Moore on music show C'mon

We really had no fear because we didn't know what we were doing. We were all making it up as we went along. When we did see ourselves on the television it was with great excitement...

– Singer and actor Annie Whittle

I remember the horror on my father's face with Alastair Riddell on television.

– Flying Nun founder Roger Shepherd on seeing local glam rock on television

The contract between the audience and the show was that we will entertain you. And as a result of being entertained you will reward the charity by giving us some money.

– TV presenter turned TV executive Andrew Shaw on Telethon

It wasn't really a great planned production. It was just get some mates around, have a few beers and shoot what happens basically, and mime to the song, and that was about it.

– Verlaines singer Graeme Downes on making music videos in the 1980s