It's called The Ridges but the show's namesake makes just one fleeting appearance as he crosses the street to avoid the show's stars - his ex-wife and daughter.
The anticipated show staring socialites Sally and Jaime aired on Wednesday night on TV3 but its success won't be known until Thursday when television ratings are revealed, however, the show was the most discussed topic on Twitter after it aired.
The heavily made up pair are introduced sitting on a bed going through old magazine photo spreads discussing the negative way they are often portrayed by the media and public.
PHOTOS: Jamie Ridge on the catwalk at New Zealand Fashion Week
"There is definitely more to me than meets the eye," Jaime said.
Sally adds: "I always get slaughtered, I should be Sally Slaughtered Ridge... I've had a lot of unnecessary garbage media of late".
Sally married former All Black Matthew Ridge when she was 18 - the same age their child Jaime is now - but despite the pair divorcing in 2001 she has kept her famous ex's name.
In 2003 Sally married former international cricketer Adam Parore but the pair divorced in 2010.
As the TV show progresses it is revealed that Sally doesn't get on with Matthew and he has no relationship with his daughter.
As the Ridges drink wine at a pricey Ponsonby restaurant with friends to celebrate Sally buying a new home they spot Matthew out for a run.
When he catches sight of the pair he crosses the road and dashes off. Quite possibly he was afraid of the cameras following Sally and Jaime's every move.
The rest of the show is dedicated to Jaime - who is a clean freak and says "clothes are my life" - being shown the run down flat Sally has bought which the pair plan to do up.
There is a lot of squealing and screaming.
The first discovery is clumps of hair in the bathroom which Sally tries to throw at Jaime.
In the kitchen the floor is covered in old food and bugs. A rat runs across the floor and there's lots more screaming before Jaime - shock, horror - storms off.
Jaime calls in ex-boyfriend, Junior Black Stick Dwayne Rowsell, who gets rid of the rat and the women get dolled up and are off to a ball.
They are shown hanging out with other Kiwi celebrities - aka Shortland Street stars - and have their photos taken on the red carpet leading to the event.
The following day the women are back at the house where Jaime tells her mother she's in it for the long haul. Whether the same goes for the show's viewers is another story.
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