Top 10 TV picks: November 10-16

COMING TO TOWN: Episode three of Mad Men coincides with creator Matthew Weiner being in Wellington.

Related Links

Best films on the box: November 10-16

Relevant offers

TV

Charlie Sheen out of rehab Dream role for Matylda Buczko Gabourey Sidibe joins TV show Masterchef contestant returns Police called to Neighbours set Apprentice admits 'rookie mistake' Bringing Letterman to New Zealand Rachel Smalley: late night correspondent A hero you can relate to TVNZ slammed over Samoa report

Television critic Philip Wakefield chooses the best shows on the box this week, for Tuesday, November 10 to Monday, November 16.

1. Mad Men: Episode three coincides with creator Matthew Weiner being in Wellington to address the annual Screen Production and Development Association conference.
Prime, 9.35pm Sunday

2. Royals: A Queen for All Seasons: This three-part series about the House of Windsor opens with a portrait of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch since Queen Victoria. Royals’ debut coincides with the DVD release of historian David Starkey’s excellent documentary series, Monarchy.
Documentary Channel, 8.30pm Wednesday

3. The Tudors: Ending its six-week rein is this racy Royals soap. Expect Henry VIII to start looking fat and debauched in the fourth season and although TV One didn’t screen it in high definition, the third is due to be released on Blu-ray (and DVD) in about a month.
TV One, 8.30pm Sunday

4. True Stories: Captive for 18 Years - The Jaycee Lee Dugard Story: Documentary about the 18-year abduction of the schoolgirl who bore two children while imprisoned in a sex offender’s backyard.
Prime, 8.30pm Monday

5. Inside New Zealand: The Truth About Asian Crime: Pam Corkery shows how China is the source of New Zealand’s P trade and investigates whether dealers are Triad members or members of the business community.
TV3, 9.30pm Wednesday

6. Line of Fire: The final of this series about the Armed Offenders Squad reveals what it was like to stalk and shoot Aramoana mass murderer David Gray.
TV One, 8.30pm Monday

7. Plain Old Greed: Continuing TVNZ7’s Spotlight on the Economy season is this 2008 American documentary about the global financial meltdown that’s described as part-economic thriller, part-social horror movie. (A Back Benches special on the economy screens two hours later.)
TVNZ7, 7.10pm Wednesday

8. The Listener: From Canada comes the latest in loony high concepts - a crime-solving, telepathic paramedic. Worth a look for its novelty value.
Prime, 9.30pm Monday

9.What a Difference a Day Made: Doris Day Superstar: 90-minute German documentary about the '50s and '60s singing and screen sensation whose last role was in The Doris Day Show (1968-1973). Despite her girl-next-door image, the 87-year-old has strong and surprising views.
Documentary Channel, 9.30pm Sunday

10. Silent Witness/Judge John Deed: The veteran whodunit franchises resume, the former from season 12, which aired last year in the United Kingdom, and the latter from the fifth, which was made in 2005.
TV One, 11pm Wednesday/Prime, 8.35pm Saturday

Newest First

Oldest First

fan   #11   08:19 pm Nov 10 2009

Entourage is easily the best show not on tv, have to watch it on the net to keep up.

titus pullo   #10   06:14 pm Nov 10 2009

Mad Men - I think season 3 is oh so slow. First 2 seasons are good but I think the show is getting a bit up itself. The mystique about Don Draper's past is what keeps my interest as well as the 60's designs (those glass tumblers remind me of my parents' old wedding presents in the cabinet back home!)

cole cash   #9   05:56 pm Nov 10 2009

meh, none of these rate that high, wait till you see the tv show Sons of Anarchy then you'll know what makes a great tv show

Pat   #8   03:41 pm Nov 10 2009

C'mon James-don't be so elitist and precious-the reason shows like Outrageous are so popular is because.....lots of people like them. Of course to be really good shows need to be Chinese and sub-titled eh? Personally I think the top 10 picks area mixture of almost good, bad and indifferent. And I admit it-I love Wipeout

Andrew   #7   03:17 pm Nov 10 2009

Entourage, easily the best thing on TV.

James   #6   02:10 pm Nov 10 2009

Mad Men is basically the only decent show on TV.

It's unbelievable how popular shows like Outrageous Fortune are. A Rock-sponsored soap opera. I've tried to watch that show twice and just can't get past the over-annunciated acting and lamely "funny" scenes thrown in for comic-relief. For instance, the classic scene of two guys waking up after sleeping on the same couch. Haha. "Ohhh maaate!"

Horses for courses I guess.

Thalia   #5   01:49 pm Nov 10 2009

Maybe hes just taking it for granted you're going to watch it anyway and is taking the moment to show you the other options.. which are by the looks of it slim picking..

Lauren   #4   01:48 pm Nov 10 2009

I agree!! Thank goodness for TV on Demand otherwise I would miss out. I thought Glee took a while to warm up but the musical numbers at the end will be awesome!!

Jennifer   #3   01:45 pm Nov 10 2009

It was included in last weeks list for the pilot, just because it's the hottest thing on TV I don't expect it to be listed EVERY week.

Although the gleepeat on c4 is new this week ;)

Nathan   #2   01:29 pm Nov 10 2009

I agree.

Glee has to be the hottest new show on our screens.

can't wait for teh next episode.

Ad Feedback