In Season 1, Madeleine Sami transforms into five different characters, all living in Auckland City. Pasha is an aging cheerleader clinging to her partying lifestyle; Azeem is an immigrant taxi driver embracing Maori culture; Jo is a gym instructorin love with her best friend; Linda is the runt of her "old girls" clique fostering impoverished artists and Georgie is a homeless girl whose freedom is unexpectedly interrupted. In Season 2, Madeleine transforms into young Levi Tutaima, a naive 20-year-old Niuean who's dead keen on making his way as a semi-professional rugby star but is a bit too concerned with getting his hair right and fitting in. Then there's 26-year-old Ofa Faka'apa'apa, a benefit case-manager who's got little sympathy for those who need state help and is always ready with some unorthodox advice. Next is Mary Dalziel who, at 45, might not be on the path to pop stardom anymore, but that won't stop her from awkwardly flirting her way around the localcovers band scene. And then there's Ray Donaldson, a bumbling 62-year-old British panel beater with a heart of gold who does his best to teach his immigrant employees while also supporting his bodybuilder wife Tiffany. Plus there are some excellent character roles from Urzila Carlson as Ofa's manager and Elroy Finn playing Mary's son.
Episodes
There are six episodes in the show's first season:
Episode number
Original air date
Awards
won Best Performance by an Actress at the 2011 Aotearoa Film & Television Awards. The series was a finalist in two other categories; Best Comedy, Best Script. Madeleine Sami & Thomas Sainsbury also picked up Best Comedy Script for Episode 3 at the 2011 SWANZ awards.
Reception
"Madeleine has an extraordinary ability to flit from character to character… She uses it to explore and have a good laugh at various aspects of "being" Auckland. This is funny, this is funny, its smart and sharp." – Simon Wilson, Metro Magazine "Sami absolutely nailed these characters... Very cleverly layered. Its a very good mix of comedy and tragedy. I'm disappointed its a 6 episode season and we're halfway through. Its definitely definitely worth watching." - Sarah McMullan, National Radio "I applaud Super City, think it's very clever… Sami produces a medley of five very different Auckland stereotypes, obviously demonstrates her clever acting abilities and broad range." - Jane Bowron, Dominion Post "Have you been watching Super City? Well you should be. Its shows an Auckland like you never see on TV and have genius observations and characters, great lines and its surprising and fresh. And it is funny too. So, good." - Simon Pound
