Commander Jack doll

item details

NameCommander Jack doll

ProductionTotally Frocked; maker/artist; Circa 1990; Lower Hutt
Hasbro; manufacturer(s); 1996

Classificationdolls, action figures

Materialsplastic, cotton, synthetic fibre

Dimensions140mm, 310mm

Registration NumberGH018026

Credit lineGift of Jenny Bain and Jan Tait, 2016

Overview

This doll was Commander Jack a character in Serial Stuff, a children’s television show that was part of the long-running What Now programme, shown on New Zealand television (TVNZ) since 1981. What Now is currently filmed in Christchurch by WhitebaitMedia.

Serial Stuff was an episodic comedy drama that aired in the 1990s and early 2000s. The show centred around the lives of a group of friends, with each character represented by a doll and a human actor. Inside the studio set they were dolls and when outside they became the human equivalent. It is thought that Commander Jack was played by What Now presenter Steve Joll.

The show was known for its whacky, hilarious plots that included drama, scandal, action and romance. Serial Stuff was hugely popular with children and adults, with content that appealed to all ages.