A week on the box: February 9-15

Reviewer James Croot checks out the best shows and films on New Zealand television screens for the week of Tuesday, February 9 to Monday, February 15.

Tuesday, February 9

Generation XXL
8.30pm, Living
Nearly a quarter of British children are already obese or overweight by the time they start primary school and this figure rises to a third by the time they go to secondary school. Airing just a month after its UK debut, this long-term Channel 4 observational documentary series aims to follow a group of seven obese children over the next decade.

Grey’s Anatomy
8.30pm, TV2
This two-hour Season 6 opener aims to answer all the questions left hanging at the end of the last series. Will Izzie and George pull through? Will the Chief cope with a shocking blow to his career? And will Meredith be able to stay happy with McDreamy? Rest assured – there will be tears before bedtime.

House
8.30pm, TV3
The voice of Mufasa, Darth Vader and CNN checks into Princeton Plainsboro this week. James Earl Jones plays a controversial African politician who falls ill and needs the help of Foreman and the team. American critics labeled this episode one of the series’ finest and most controversial.

Persepolis
8.30pm, Rialto

Excellent and stylish-looking 2007 French animated movie for adults that recounts an outspoken Iranian girl’s experiences of growing up in the country before and after the fall of the Shah. Nominated for an Oscar, this controversial film even drew protests from the Iranian Embassy when it screened in Wellington as part of the International Film Festival.

Wednesday, February 10

FlashForward
8.30pm, TV2
Debut of the highly-anticipated sci-fi infused drama series which boasts a premise as mind-boggling as Lost. An unexplained, cataclysmic event gives the world’s population a two-minute glimpse of their lives six months into the future. “Works just as powerfully as a domestic drama as it does as a mechanism of apocalyptic intrigue,” wrote The New York Times’s Ginia Bellafante.

Lost
9.30pm, TV2
It’s finally here. After five seasons of twists and turns, the mystery behind Oceanic Flight 815 will finally be revealed in just 18 episodes time. But first we need to find out just what effect that hydrogen bomb detonation had on events in the past, present and future. Followed by a new five part series of Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood (10.30pm).

Classic Albums: Queen
9.30pm, Documentary
One of the most expensive, expansive and creative albums of its time, 1975’s A Night At The Opera confirmed Freddy Mercury and the rest of the band as a global rock phenomenon. Mixing hard rock, pop, opera, music hall camp and traditional folk music, this is the record that gave the world the brilliant but barmy Bohemian Rhapsody.
 
Superhuman: World’s Tallest Children
9.30pm, TV One
2009 ITV documentary that follows the lives of schoolkids who have reached great heights, This includes a teen who towers over basketball players, the tallest family in England and a girl from Bangkok who is hoping to achieve a Guinness World record for her height.

Thursday, February 11

Sensing Murder
8.30pm, TV2
Packed to the Rafters’ Rebecca Gibney hosts the latest series of the hugely popular psychic investigation programme. Aussie Deb Webber joins Kiwi duo Kelvin Cruickshank and Sue Nicholson in attempting to uncover new leads in unsolved cases. First up, the prime suspect in a 30 year old murder enquiry hopes they can help him clear his name.

Sixteen Candles
8.30pm, Comedy Central

Comedy Central’s Thursday night movie season dedicated to writer-director John Hughes, who died last year, continues with this sweet but believable 1984 tale of teen angst. Hughes muse Molly Ringwald plays Samantha, a girl who is not only in love with the most popular boy in school, she also finds her ‘significant’ birthday forgotten  in the family excitement of her sister getting married.

Scott Walker: 30th Century Man
8.30pm, Rialto

Stephen Kijak’s 2006 documentary looks at a pop star who not only begrudged his fame, he purposefully defied it. A former '60s teen idol, Walker transformed into a ruthlessly avant-garde vocalist-composer. Features rare sit-downs with the artist himself and fascinating testimonies from British pop icons like David Bowie and Brian Eno.

Project Runway
9.30pm, TV3
This week the designers encounter a bump in the Runway that isn’t Heidi as they
are asked to create a pregnancy look for supermodel Rebecca Romijn who is carrying twins. She’s looking for something fashionable and easy to move in but also appropriate for her to wear out in public.

Friday, February 12

America’s Next Top Model
7.30pm, TV3
Cycle 12 opens with 34 gorgeous girls arriving at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Photographed as goddesses, the group includes a street preacher, a burns victim and a conspiracy theorist. Followed, appropriately enough, by the 2006 fashion-orientated movie The Devil Wears Prada (8.30pm, ).

Rugby: Super 14 Blues v Hurricanes
7.30pm, Sky Sports 1
The 2010 rugby season kicks off at North Harbour Stadium with an intriguing clash between two New Zealand rugby heavyweights. Last year the Hurricanes made the semi-finals while the Blues ended up languishing in ninth. In keeping with those positions, the Canes whipped the Blues 45-29 when they met at the Cake Tin. Replayed on Prime from 9.30pm.

Dragons Den
8.30pm, TV One
Entrepreneur, venture capitalist and multi-millionaire James Caan makes his debut as the superior UK Dragons return to prime time. Expect plenty of fireworks as he attempts to muscle in on the action normally controlled by regulars Deborah Meaden, Duncan Bannatyne, Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones, or destroy the hopes of would-be inventors. Follows a new series of The Hotel Inspector (7.30pm).

Leigh Hart’s Mysterious Planet
9.30pm, TV One
That guy from Moon TV returns in the guise of an explorer, archaeologist and cryptozoologist who sets out to solve the world’s greatest mysteries. Armed only with his questionable expertise, a healthy dose of scepticism and a credit card, he visits some of the most intriguing, remote, and physically challenging locations in the world. First up Stonehenge and Big Foot.

Saturday, February 13

XXI Olympic Winter Games
From 6am,  Prime & Sky Sport 4-7
Welcome to the brave new world of Olympics coverage. Not only are Sky dedicating four new channels to Vancouver 2010, they will also have comprehensive coverage of each day’s events free-to-air on Prime. There are even a few Kiwis competing. Screens daily until March 1.

Rugby: Super 14 Crusaders v Highlanders
7.30pm, Sky Sports 1
Southern pride and competition points are on the line at the new, improved AMI Stadium. While the Crusaders will be banking on taking home all five points the more intriguing question will be can the crowd top the near 20,000 that turned up to watch the Wellington Phoenix late last month.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
8.30pm, TV3
A Beautiful Mind duo Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany reteamed for this compelling 2003 sea-fearing drama. Crowe plays Captain Jack Aubrey the hero of Patrick O’Brien’s vast series of nautical novels. Producers hoped it would be the start of an adult-oriented franchise, sadly it wasn’t to be despite the best efforts of Aussie director Peter Weir.

The Dark Knight
8.30pm Sky Movies

Heath Ledger’s towering performance and tragic demise may loom large over director’s Christopher Nolan’s second Bat-film but to focus solely on that misses a whole host of other delights. Christian Bale is an effective straight man while Aaron Eckhart is the movie’s unsung hero as Gotham City’s high profile district attorney and potential new savior Harvey Dent.

Sunday, February 14

Doctor Who: The End of Time Part 2
7.30pm, Prime 
The bell finally tolls for one of the most popular actors in this iconic role. Yes, David Tennant bids farewell to the Tardis in this extended special which as last week’s episode revealed has him battling not only The Master (John Simm) but also the Time Lords themselves. Look out for cameos from many of your favourite characters from the last five years.

The Simpsons
7.30pm, TV3 
The annual Halloween special – Treehouse of Horror – celebrates its 20th edition with three more spooky tales that are usually not recommended viewing for kids. This time around there are homages to Alfred Hitchcock, zombie films and Sweeney Todd. Nominated for awards for its script, this episode also outraged the president of the Catholic League.

The Amazing Race
7.30pm, TV2
This 16th edition of the multi-Emmy Award winning reality series boasts one of the most grueling courses ever assembled with the contestants navigating 40,000 miles and nine countries in just 22 days. Rumoured destinations include Chile, France, the UK and the Seychelles.

Harold and Maude
8.30pm, MGM

A commercial flop on its original release, this unlikely 1971 romantic-comedy has now achieved a cult-like status. Harold (Bud Cort) is a wealthy, need, death-obsessed teenager who finds new meaning when he meets and falls for the vivacious 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon).

Monday, February 15

International Cricket: 1st Test NZ v Bangladesh
11.30am, Sky Sport
The Black Caps bizarre summer of cricket continues with this one-off test against a team who are regarded as cricketing minnows. However, with the Kiwis test record not being that flash they best be on their guard and more than just Captain Marvel Daniel Vettori will need to front up. Continues daily until Friday depending on weather and performance.

James May’s Toy Stories
7.30pm, TV3
New day and time for Top Gear Captain Slow’s six-part series which aims to bring classic toys back to the attention of the Playstation-generation. Stunts include building a full-size Lego house, the world’s biggest Airfix model and tonight, a Plasticine garden.

Desperate Housewives
8.30pm, TV2
Season 6 opens with the return of Susan’s daughter Julie, the arrival of a new family who appear to be on the run and the conundrum on which bride will Mike Delfino choose – Susan or Mike. Series creator Mark Cherry told Entertainment Weekly he changed his mind as to the bride’s identity after listening to fans.

Brothers and Sisters
9.30pm, TV2
The Walker family are hit by devastating news, in the season premiere of this award-winning drama series. Turbulent couple Kitty (Calista Flockhart) and Robert (Rob Lowe) face new challenges that may bring them closer together, while Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane) run into conflict as they contemplate becoming parents by surrogacy. Followed by a new season of Nip/Tuck (10.30pm).

- © Fairfax NZ News