351:, who stayed on the soap for many years, becoming one of its most iconic characters. The family dynamics that were brought on by the McKennas, were later praised with the show receiving a makeover in 2001 to try and comply with the benchmark set by Michael and his family. The McKenna family disbanded in 1995 when Michael and Alex departed the show. Jonathon appeared in several more stints while Rachel stayed as a central character on the soap for many years. Gittins enjoyed the introduction of the family unit, stating; "I started off as a single character, and then the family was created. I really enjoyed the father-daughter relationship because I have a young daughter. The McKenna family was incredibly dysfunctional. I enjoyed that ... We were the totally '90s dysfunctional family: conflict between the husband and wife, rebellious daughter, gay son, a wife living close to the edge, alcoholism, workaholicism, and stress. It was more exciting – and made for good drama."
299:) from a group of homophobes. Suffering anxiety about aging and scared that Michael was having an affair, Alex underwent plastic surgery but reacted to the medication leading to many believing Michael had purposefully tried to kill her. When she finally woke from her coma, this was disproven. Subsequently, in 1995, the marriage ended and Michael suffered a heart attack, leading to him recovering away from Ferndale. Upon his return, he and Alex decided to make another go at things and Michael sold his share of the clinic. The two departed for a lifestyle block in the country side; however, just a year later, Alex returned and announced the marriage was once again over. Several months later she returned to Michael to attempt a reconciliation. Michael returned in 1997 when
307:) called him to help his daughter Rachel with her alcohol issues. Michael returned once again in late 1998 to inform Rachel of Alex's passing while overseas. He guided her on how to stop a takeover of the hospital but suffered several massive heart attacks and died in early 1999. In 2014, Rachel used her large inheritance from Michael to start a charitable surgery company named McKenna House in his honour.
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was cast, but struggled to keep up with the fast schedule. However, after crew realized
Gittins performed better towards the end of the week, all his scenes were filmed late on Fridays. After settling into the role, Gittins highly enjoyed it and learned a lot from his younger co stars. Gittins soon
327:, quit his role in the soap. Producers realized there would be a notable gap in demographics and the decision was made to expand on the already established character of hospital CEO, Michael McKenna. The McKenna family arrived to screens in early 1993. A writer of the show,
366:
journalist Fleur
Mealing named Michael as the fifth character she most wanted to return for the show's 25th anniversary, citing the possibility that he survived his death. She believed the return was necessary as he was the "father" of a generation of viewers.
347:. The character of Jonathon was written as gay and the storyline proved both controversial and groundbreaking, with Michael's reluctance to accept his son highly topical. The family unit also saw the introduction of Alex's niece,
267:) through her accusation of murder and the two got together. However, the power couple dissolved and Michael turned to heavy drinking. He was convinced to seek help and later dated a university student. The arrival of daughter
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The homosexuality storyline involving
Michael and his son, helped one man accept his own sexuality. Since leaving the show, Michael has left an archetype filled by many characters, being the "suave CEO". In 2017,
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has a constant thoroughfare of family units to help attract and widen the target demographics. In 1992 Adrian
Keeling who portrayed patriarch of the Neilson family unit,
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became exhausted by the workload and wanted diversity, he quit and the character made his final appearance as a regular in 1995.
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would often joke that she wrote her character the best lines. Also in the family unit were teenagers,
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638:"Ten Shortland St stars we hope make a comeback for the 25th anniversary"
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Michael, the
Director of Shortland Street, supported nursing manager,
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283:). Michael was shocked and disappointed when he learned his son
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480:(First ed.). Auckland: Macmillan Publishers New Zealand.
291:) was gay, but ended up saving him and his boyfriend
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478:Shortland Street – Production, Text and Audience
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450:Chalmers, Gill (1995). "The Boss bows out".
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1497:Television characters introduced in 1992
495:"All in the family for Shortland Street"
419:"Paul Gittins – from Doctor to Director"
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331:, was cast as Michael's estranged wife
16:Fictional character on Shortland Street
21:
476:Barbara Cairns; Helen Martin (1996).
417:Whiteside, Andrew (12 October 2011).
7:
452:Shortland Street Official Magazine
14:
636:Mealing, Fleur (17 April 2017).
503:. September 2011. Archived from
217:is a fictional character on the
40:
572:Cleave, Louisa (5 April 2001).
549:"The teens of Shortland Street"
606:"Shortie's old enough to vote"
527:"Liddy Holloway dies, aged 57"
1:
1507:Male characters in television
1502:Fictional business executives
574:"Shortland Street gets real"
1492:Shortland Street characters
604:Lang, Sarah (23 May 2010).
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103:Simon Bennett (1997, 1998)
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39:
29:
112:In-universe information
611:The New Zealand Herald
579:The New Zealand Herald
557:. 2010. Archived from
554:Television New Zealand
535:Television New Zealand
500:Television New Zealand
456:Television New Zealand
230:. He was portrayed by
311:Character development
67:First appearance
616:APN News & Media
584:APN News & Media
561:on 23 December 2011.
242:Creation and casting
234:and was part of the
77:Last appearance
19:Soap opera character
1181:Original characters
1000:Vinnie Kruse-Miller
215:Dr. Michael McKenna
1125:Scarlett Valentine
507:on 19 October 2014
246:Established actor
95:Introduced by
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1382:Original cast of
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273:Angela Bloomfield
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49:Portrayed by
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1451:Marjorie Neilson
1406:Meredith Fleming
1384:Shortland Street
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1115:Dominic Thompson
1020:Jonathon McKenna
940:Gabrielle Jacobs
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704:20th anniversary
689:Shortland Street
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537:. December 2004.
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345:Jonathon McKenna
321:Shortland Street
289:Kieren Hutchison
227:Shortland Street
185:Stratford Wilson
165:Jonathon McKenna
125:Shortland Street
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99:Caterina De Nave
62:1992–95, 1997–99
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32:Shortland Street
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1105:Lionel Skeggins
1035:Kieran Mitchell
1025:Michael McKenna
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121:Clinic Director
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89:Former; regular
80:21 January 1999
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714:First episode
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261:Carrie Burton
254:
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236:original cast
233:
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203:Eltham Wilson
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1150:Harry Warner
1140:Frank Warner
1130:Bruce Warner
1095:Huia Samuels
1080:Lucy Rickman
1065:Daniel Potts
1024:
1015:Sophie McKay
1010:Hunter McKay
970:Damo Johnson
965:Kane Jenkins
920:Adam Heywood
830:Emily Devine
805:Jay Copeland
800:Wendy Cooper
780:Leanne Black
759:Marty Walker
749:Chris Warner
709:Cliffhangers
687:
641:
631:
619:. Retrieved
609:
599:
587:. Retrieved
577:
567:
559:the original
552:
543:
530:
521:
509:. Retrieved
505:the original
498:
477:
451:
430:. Retrieved
423:NZ On Screen
422:
395:. Retrieved
388:NZ On Screen
387:
378:
361:
358:
333:Alex McKenna
320:
319:
316:The McKennas
305:Karl Burnett
258:
248:Paul Gittins
245:
232:Paul Gittins
225:
214:
213:
156:(until 1999)
154:Alex McKenna
53:Paul Gittins
30:
1441:Tom Neilson
1426:Steve Mills
1411:Hone Ropata
1165:Toni Warner
1160:Sass Warner
1135:Finn Warner
1090:Hone Ropata
1070:Sarah Potts
1055:Tom Neilson
1040:Steve Mills
985:Victor Kahu
930:Tama Hudson
910:Oscar Henry
880:Jack Hannah
850:Greg Feeney
785:Marj Brasch
643:stuff.co.nz
432:23 December
397:23 December
363:stuff.co.nz
219:New Zealand
136:May McKenna
71:25 May 1992
1486:Categories
1471:Gina Rossi
1145:Guy Warner
1100:TK Samuels
1005:Grace Kwan
925:Joe Hudson
900:Donna Heka
723:Characters
697:Storylines
621:5 December
589:5 December
511:5 December
371:References
297:Karl Urban
255:Storylines
222:soap opera
117:Occupation
1431:Sam Aleni
1421:Jaki Manu
1110:Zac Smith
980:Anne Kahu
775:Sam Aleni
427:NZ On Air
392:NZ On Air
355:Reception
171:Daughters
127:(1989–95)
35:character
531:One News
285:Jonathon
59:Duration
1174:By year
731:Present
337:Gittins
181:Nephews
142:Sisters
341:Rachel
191:Nieces
132:Mother
101:(1992)
293:Jamie
1336:2024
1331:2023
1326:2022
1321:2021
1316:2020
1311:2019
1306:2018
1301:2017
1296:2016
1291:2015
1286:2014
1281:2013
1276:2012
1271:2011
1266:2010
1261:2009
1256:2008
1251:2007
1246:2006
1241:2005
1236:2004
1231:2002
1226:2001
1221:2000
1216:1999
1211:1998
1206:1997
1201:1995
1196:1994
1191:1993
1186:1992
768:Past
623:2011
591:2011
513:2011
434:2018
399:2018
343:and
335:and
277:Alex
161:Sons
150:Wife
325:Tom
123:of
1488::
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486:^
464:^
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224:,
1374:e
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1360:v
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