Love My Way
TV Week
TV Week
by Fiona Rae
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 17
All New Simpsons (TV3, 7.30pm). Reports emerged last year that Amy Winehouse was going to be a guest during The Simpsons’ 19th season, but given Winehouse’s sorry, drug-addled lifestyle, reported with such glee by the UK tabloids, Matt Groening may be regretting his request. Other guest stars include Stephen Colbert, Placido Domingo, Jon Stewart, godfather of graphic novels Alan Moore, and actor Matt Dillon, who appears in tonight’s episode as a tow-truck driver.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 18
The Office (C4, 9.30pm). At last a place has been found for the US version of The Office, which, against all odds, has become a show in its own right. Much is due to the brilliance of Steve Carrell, whose Michael Scott is only slightly less pathetic than Ricky Gervais’s David Brent. The show is a little warmer than its UK progenitor, too. In tonight’s episode, the final episode to screen on TV3 last year, Jim throws a barbecue but doesn’t invite Michael, except that Michael has been monitoring the office emails and he knows … he knows.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 19
Westpac Halberg Awards (TV1, 8.30pm). Our sporting heroes get into their best bib and tucker for their version of the Oscars. Categories include top sportsman, top sportswoman, top team, the Halberg Award and the lifetime achievement award. Entertainment includes popera star Will Martin and chart-toppers Op Shop. The presenters include Simon Dallow and Pippa Wetzell.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20
Cricket (Sky Sport 1, 10.30am). We’re in that strange crossover time of the year when you can catch a one-day cricket international on Sky Sport 1 on Wednesday – the fourth ODI between the Black Caps and England, live from Napier – and then check out the Super 14 rugby on Friday. Meanwhile, TV3 has coverage on Saturday and Sunday (from 1.00pm) of the NZ PGA Championship, live from Clearwater in Christchurch. Do you feel lucky, sports fans? Well, do ya?
Oprah (TV3, 2.00pm). Good grief, when Sean Penn appears on Oprah, you know she’s more powerful than God. Guy’s gotta eat, I guess: he’s promoting his latest directorial effort, Into the Wild.
Lost (TV2, 8.30pm). Now that Lost’s executive producers, Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, know how many episodes they’ve got to wrap up their cryptic creation (48 spread over three seasons), we should be seeing a more concise supernatural drama and maybe some gosh-darn answers. If the writers’ strike ever ends, that is. There are eight episodes made so far, better than some productions (24, for example) that haven’t even started. Tonight’s second ep is scarily entitled “Confirmed Dead”.
Dirty Sexy Money (TV2, 9.30pm). Oops. Under the sheer, crushing weight of all the new season programming, we got our times wrong a couple of weeks back – after all, with such a titillating title, Dirty Sexy Money could only be primetime. This “drawing-room farce writ marvellously large”, as Entertainment Weekly described it, takes a trip into Italian wine country this week in an episode entitled “La Chiavennasca”, which is, wine geeks may know, a type of grape. Watch out for a guest-starring role from Blair Underwood, once Miranda’s squeeze in Sex and the City, as a billionaire suspect in the death of Nick’s father.
NZ Doco: Gang Kids (Maori, 8.30pm). What it’s like growing up as children of gang members. Four youngsters tell of the good times, tough times, parties, going to school and dealing with outsiders’ fear of gangs. They also elaborate on why they chose different paths for themselves.
Real Crime: Beyond the Darklands (TV1, 9.30pm). There’ll be a few old Auckland reprobates glued to this one: the life of Terry Clark, otherwise known as Mr Asia, who amassed a fortune in the 70s from drug dealing.
The Knights of Prosperity (TV2, 10.30pm). An ill-fated sitcom about six schlubs who decide their financial situation will be greatly improved by robbing Mick Jagger. It has its moments, but possibly the most interesting thing about it is that Jagger’s “luxury apartment” is really Auckland’s Metropolis, filmed when the Stones toured here.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 22
Love My Way (TV1, 11.15pm). It is officially too late to start watching this fabulous Australian show, as series two ends tonight. Can we suggest DVDs? Illegal downloading? Anything?!! A third series was made; we’ll be waiting.
Cast lists are available online at www.listener.co.nz
