“Full of mystery”: True crime fans are going to want to know about this “absurd” new drama

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True crime fans should watch for the upcoming series, Small Town Scandal. It’s a new show based on the comedy podcast created by New Zealand actor and comedian Tom Sainsbury, who will also star as Toby Buchanan in the Sky New Zealand TV adaptation.

The story follows Toby, a journalist trying to rebuild his career with a podcast, as he looks into the strange death of his wealthy uncle back in his hometown. The uncle was killed by a robotic lawnmower, but as Toby investigates, he discovers that many of the town’s quirky residents are hiding something.

According to Deadline, Rose Matafeo from Taskmaster and Felicity Kendal from Rivals will be joining the cast. Matafeo will play Toby’s cousin Carol, and Kendal will play his mother, Sue.

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Morgana O’Reilly, known for her role in *The White Lotus*, will play Katie, and Alexander England, from *Black Snow*, will play Matt.

Sainsbury shared her excitement about adapting the podcast *Small Town Scandal* for television, calling it a dream come true. She loves the unique charm of small-town settings and praised the talented cast. The show is a funny, touching, and mysterious take on small-town life, blending satire with the current fascination with true crime.

Filming for the series is finished, and it’s scheduled to launch next year. Ghazaleh Gol, known for her work on *Shortland Street*, and Calvin Sang, from *Friday Night Bites*, directed the episodes.

The 2023 podcast is a comedy presented as a documentary, poking fun at the true crime genre. It’s not alone in using humor to explore this popular category.

Other satires to watch right now

While you’re waiting for the next episode of *Small Town Scandal*, here are three similar TV shows you might enjoy watching immediately.

Based On A True Story

This Peacock series, which ran for two seasons before being cancelled this year, follows a couple struggling with money who start a podcast about true crime.

The movie *Based On A True Story* features Kaley Cuoco (from *The Flight Attendant*) and Chris Messina (*The Mindy Project*) as the leads, Ava and Nathan. The cast also includes Tom Bateman (*Death on the Nile*), Priscilla Quintana (*Good Trouble*), and Natalia Dyer (*Stranger Things*).

According to Digital Spy, this series is full of delightfully silly and over-the-top shows, so viewers who enjoy that kind of entertainment are sure to find something they’ll enjoy.

Based On A True Story is available to stream on NOW.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

This 2022 series, aptly named, draws inspiration from psychological thrillers like *The Woman in the Window* and *The Girl on the Train*. It stars Kristen Bell as a woman who believes she’s seen a murder after a new, attractive neighbor moves in next door.

The cast of *The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window* includes Michael Ealy (from *Power Book II: Ghost*), Tom Riley (*The Nevers*), Mary Holland (*Nightbitch*), and Cameron Britton (*Mindhunter*). The show only has one season, which is currently available to stream on Netflix.

American Vandal

This Netflix mockumentary series centers around two high school students making a documentary about mysterious penis drawings appearing around their school. It gained a lot of praise when it first came out in 2017, and the second season-which unfortunately turned out to be the last-followed them investigating a disturbing incident at a Catholic school.

Tyler Alvarez, known from *Ghosts*, and Griffin Gluck, from *Cruel Summer*, star in *American Vandal*. Digital Spy included the show in a list of great series that don’t get enough attention, calling it funny, sad, and captivating.

American Vandal is available to stream now on Netflix.

Small Town Scandal will air on Sky in 2026.

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2025-09-24 13:50