Mediaweek: Recent Episodes
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Hear the latest from the world of TV, radio, entertainment publishing and more in the Mediaweek podcast. This series features regular interviews with the stars, movers and shakers of Australian media industry.
Treasure and Dirt (ABC iview, 6 episodes)Detectives Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan arrive in the outback town of Nulla to investigate the beheading of local miner Jonas McGee. They find themselves up against combative local police and a hostile community.
Believe Me (ABC iview, 4 episodes)The story of three victims of one of the most prolific sex attackers in British history, John Worboys, dubbed by the media as the ‘black cab rapist’ after preying on women under the cover of being a ‘respectable’ licensed taxi-cab driver.
Furious (Disney+, 8 episodes)The series follows an FBI agent Alice Black, brilliantly played by Emmy Rossum, on the hunt for a mysterious and calculating female serial killer, played by Lola Petticrew. Both walk their own paths toward justice, and as their lives start to intertwine, the line between right and wrong begins to blur.
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Lucky (Apple TV, 7 episodes)The Apple TV+ crime thriller series Lucky follows con artist Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy) who really is lucky.
She goes on the run after a multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong. Pursued by the FBI and a mob boss, she must track down the stolen cash and survive her own chaotic past. Also stars Annette Benning and Timothy Oliphant.
Ride Or Die (Prime Video, 8 episodes)The action-comedy (loads of action, not many laughs) series follows best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham).
Debbie believes Judith is a forensic accountant, but Judith is actually a secret elite international assassin. When a hit goes wrong and a figure from Judith's past emerges, they are forced on a high-stakes road trip across Europe running from dangerous criminals and law enforcement.
Also stars Bill Nighy.
The F Ward (Stan, 6 episodes)Australian comedy-drama follows a group of flawed medical interns sent to an underfunded coastal hospital for a last-chance program to save their careers.
Dan Wyllie is the best thing about The F Ward. Listen to Andrew Mercado drill down on the rest of the cast.
Second best thing is the scripts which offer up many laughs, but also some slow, awkward moments.
Worst thing is putting the hospital right on the beach. It gives it a Summer Bay feel at times.
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Little House on the Prairie (Netflix, 8 episodes)The series follows the Ingalls family as they establish their “new forever” home outside the small but quickly developing town of Independence. The foursome, along with their dog Jack, faces the often harsh conditions of 1800s prairie life, including fever, wolves, and fire — obstacles that longtime fans will recognise from the original novels or the original TV series.
As the Ingalls attempt to make a life on land they were told was “free,” they encounter Osage native Americans who have long called the prairie home.
Little House on the Prairie is the Show of the Week for Andrew and James.
The Bear (S5 Disney+, 8 episodes)The morning after Carmy tells his restaurant colleagues Sydney, Richie and Natalie about his retirement from the food industry, a major storm hits Chicago. Most of the final series takes place over one day. The Bear staff attempt to prepare for that evening’s customers despite challenges caused by poor cash flow and faulty plumbing.
The series wraps with a surprising love affair (there was not a lot of relationship exploration outside the workplace in The Bear), a changing financial situation, an unexpected restaurant rating, a new business opportunity which has been hinted at in the series for some time, and a plot twist for Carmy.
Elle (Prime Video, 8 episodes)A prequel to the Legally Blonde movie franchise. The series takes place six years before the events of the film and it explores the high school years of teenage Elle Woods (originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon), played here by newcomer Lexi Minetree. Prime Video has already renewed the series for a second season.
Five Star Weekend (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes)A food blogger, Hollis (Jennifer Garner) tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband Matthew (Josh Hamilton). Part of her therapy is organising a five-star weekend getaway at her house on Nantucket with four friends from different stages in her life:
Her childhood friend, Tatum – who is waiting on the results of a test for cancer (Chloë Sevigny), her college friend, Dru-Ann – who’s just been cancelled after online comments went viral (Regina Hall), her motherhood friend, Brooke – who suffers from low self-esteem, and is trapped in a stifling marriage with a husband who belittles and isolates her (D’Arcy Carden), as well as a new friend, Gigi (Gemma Chan) – a pilot for Delta, who she recently met online.
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At the halfway mark of 2026, Andrew Mercado and James Manning list their Top 10 shows of the first six months of the year.
There are just three shows that make the Top 10 for both:
Riot Women (SBS)
Love Story (Disney+)
Rivals (Season 2, Disney+)
On Andrew's list and just missing out on James' were:
Tip Toe (Binge/Foxtel)
Half Man (Stan)
Listen to the podcast for the full Top 10 from each co-host with explanations about programs they underrated at the time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Ms. X (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes)Ms. X is a six-part dramedy that tells a “good person gone bad” story, through the eyes of a suburban kiwi mum. A stay-at-home mother of two, Mia Bennett (featuring the return of Melissa George), suspects her husband is cheating. He arrives home after a night out apparently dining with clients and then sleeping in his car.
Mia enlists the help of an old high school friend, who is now an inexperienced private investigator who she reunites with after he crashes into her car, to find out what he is up to.
Andrew’s Show of the Week.
• Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max, 7 episodes)A sketch comedy limited series created by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. Produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the series takes an improvised, comedic approach to major events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The show consists of seven episodes, each containing approximately four historical sketches.
• After the Flood S2 (BritBox, 6 episodes)British police officers Jo Marshall (a wonderful performance from Sophie Rundle) and her police officer husband Pat Holman also featured in the first season of After the Flood where they were involved in an investigation into the death of someone who died in the flooded town. The series also revealed a web of crooked coppers including Jo’s dad who was also in the force. Orchestrating the bent coppers was DS Phil Mackie, who is again a key character in S2.
It’s a good watch whether you saw the first season or not.
James’ Show of the Week.
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The Killings at Parrish Station (Stan, 6 episodes)When a brutal massacre at a remote desert research station rocks 1987 Australia, Detective Georgia Cooke (Mia Wasikowska) and her partner, Michael Thorne (Xavier Samuel), uncover disturbing links between a delusional survivor, a mysterious text called The Bone Gospel, and the station’s eccentric benefactor, Callum Parrish (Nic English). As the case becomes more inexplicable and descends into the paranormal, Georgia’s grip on reality fractures—costing her career, her daughter Frankie’s (Grace Owens) trust, and ultimately her freedom. A “cosmic horror” drama from Mark Fennessy’s Helium Pictures.
Thirty-seven years later, Georgia (Heather Mitchell)—now institutionalised—is pulled back into the Parrish Station nightmare when a string of identical murders emerges.
Small Prophets (ABC iview, 7 episodes)A six-part British dark comedy-drama created and written by Mackenzie Crook. It follows Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley), a grieving man who has drifted through life since his partner, Clea, mysteriously vanished seven years earlier. Urged on by his eccentric, elderly father, Brian (Sir Michael Palin), Michael converts his garden shed into an alchemist's workshop to help find an answer to what happened to Clea.
The Four Seasons (Netflix, 8 episodes)Season 2 of The Four Seasons follows the surviving friend group as they navigate life, grief, and relationship changes following Nick's sudden death. With Nick's heavily pregnant girlfriend Ginny now part of their quarterly trips, the group struggles to redefine themselves and find meaning as they enter middle age.
Tina Fey and Will Forte return as Kate and Jack, along with Kerri Kenney as Anne, the show’s most complex and interesting character.
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Alice and Steve (Disney+, 6 episodes)Billed as a comedy-drama that follows the 25-year-long friendship between middle-aged Londoners Alice and Steve. Their bond devolves into an all-out, petty feud when Steve—a divorced celebrity hairdresser—begins dating Alice’s recently dumped daughter, Izzy. Casting of Nicole Walker and Jermaine Clement in the lead roles keeps you watching.
Andrew’s Show of the Week.
Star City (Apple TV, 8 episodes)A compelling, alternative-history sci-fi thriller that explores the space race from the Soviet perspective. A spin-off of For All Mankind, the series goes behind the Iron Curtain to reveal the paranoia, high-stakes espionage, and sacrifices of the cosmonauts, engineers, and intelligence officers. Brilliant performance again from Anna Maxwell Martin and a career high point for Alice Englert.
James’ Show of the Week.
I Will Find You (Netflix, 8 episodes)An eight-episode mystery thriller miniseries that follows David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), a man wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his young son. When his ex-sister-in-law (Britt Lower) brings him photo evidence that the boy may still be alive, David stages a desperate prison break to prove his innocence and find his child.
Also this episode, Andrew on:Michael Jackson: The Verdict (Netflix)
Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator (ABC iview)
Homework from James who has finally finished two series from May 12. Can he separate them to find a stand alone Show of the Week?
What was best – The Revenge Club or Widow’s Bay?
Then in a segment full of spoilers, Andrew and James debate the ending of Tip Toe.
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On this episode of TV Gold, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
Two Years Later (Paramount+, 8 episodes)Two Years Later is an Australian romantic dramedy created by Pete Bridges, starring Brenton Thwaites and Phoebe Tonkin. The show tracks thirty-somethings Ryan and Emily, who exchanged flirty glances on their daily commute prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. When they reconnect years later, Ryan proposes an unconventional experiment: they will go on exactly eight dates to determine if they are truly meant to be together.
Ground Up (ABC iview, 6 episodes)After years of trying, Tasmania has finally been given the green light to field a team in the AFL - but there's a catch. The locals have to build a new stadium. Given Tasmania has a housing crisis, and a health crisis… and two sizeable stadiums, not everyone thinks the 1.13 billion dollar taxpayer spend is the greatest idea. AFL administrator Hugh Shen (played by Sam Pang) has been sent from Melbourne, tasked with establishing the club. There's a divided public to win over, oppressive deadlines to meet, feisty protesters to handle and inoffensive mascots to employ. Not to mention the coach they employ who’s had an interesting past.
Cape Fear (Apple TV, 10 episodes)The TV remake of two classic movies follows married attorneys Anna and Tom Bowden, whose lives are upended when Max Cady, a notorious killer they previously defended and prosecuted, is released from prison and begins stalking their family in a twisted quest for vengeance.
Seventeen years ago, Amy Adams‘ Anna was a defense attorney representing Max Cady (Javier Bardem), a Savannah restauranteur accused of murdering his pregnant wife. Tom (Patrick Wilson) was the prosecutor. Soon after the trial ended with Cady pleading guilty and getting life in prison, Anna and Tom got married, which caused some tongues to wag since she was pregnant throughout the proceedings with a different man’s baby.
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A special episode of TV Gold this week with Andrew Mercado and James Manning joined by author Holden Sheppard, whose best-selling debut novel Invisible Boys was turned into a Stan series. All three have watched Tip Toe and talk about the series, the themes explored, the plot devices and how some critics have had problems with the storytelling.
The five-part series on Binge and Foxtel follows Leo and Clive who have lived next door to each other in Manchester for almost 15 years. But just as life should be settling down, the world around them is growing more tense. Words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbours become deadly enemies in a suburban thriller which challenges everything we consider to be safe. Alan Cumming plays Manchester bar owner Leo and David Morrissey is his tradie neighbour Clive. They are supported by a great cast playing lovers, friends, family members and work colleagues. Creator Russell T Davies has the viewer riveted from the chilling opening scene.
Picking Show of the Week was easy this week with just one program reviewed. The panel’s unanimous choice – Tip Toe.
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Shows reviewed by Andrew Mercado and James Manning this week on the TV Gold podcast:
A Woman of Substance (Binge, 8 episodes)Based on the best-selling novel by Barbara Taylor Bradford, A Woman of Substance is a drama spanning six decades, charting the rise of Emma Harte (Brenda Blethyn) from penniless Yorkshire maid in the early 1900s to apparently a powerful 1970s business mogul. Brenda Blethyn plays the grown up successful businesswoman Emma Harte, while Young Emma Harte – is played by Jessica Reynolds.
Dear England (Binge, 4 episodes)Dear England was an acclaimed stage play, and now a television drama, by James Graham that chronicles Gareth Southgate’s tenure as the manager of the England men's football team. It explores the psychological toll of elite sports, leadership, and the quest to cure "years of hurt". Joseph Fiennes is wonderful in the lead role as Gareth Southgate. Jodie Whittaker however doesn’t have much to do and is wasted as Pippa Grange, Southgate’s sports psychologist Pippa Grange)
Deli Boys (Disney+, S1 10 eps, S2 6 eps)After their father ("Baba") dies unexpectedly, brothers Mir and Raj Dar lose their trust funds and learn that their family fortune actually comes from cocaine smuggling. Plunged headfirst into the criminal underworld, they rely on their fierce and unfiltered aunt, Lucky, to help them learn the ropes, evade the authorities, and navigate rival gangs—all while attempting to wash the money and secure a normal future.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (Stan, S1 6 Eos, S2 6 eps)A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has returned for Season 2 with new episodes in the YA mystery series. Emma Myers is back as Pip, alongside Zain Iqbal as Ravi Singh, with the six-episode season picking up in the aftermath of the pair solving what happened to missing student Andie Bell (India Lillie Davies).
Life Is Short (Netflix, documentary)The acclaimed documentary about comedy legend Martin Short. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, the doco explores Short’s life, comedic resilience, and enduring friendships with intimate home movies and celebrity interviews. Wonderful interviews featured include Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, Paul Shaffer, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Steven Spielberg, plus archive footage featuring many including Mel Brooks, Johnny Carson, Goldie Hawn, David Letterman, and Conan O’Brien.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning review three new TV series this episode:
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed (AppleTV, 10 episodes)Paula (Tatiana Maslany) is a magazine fact-checker in the midst of a messy divorce from her ex-husband Karl which centres around the custody arrangements of their daughter Hazel. She begins paying Trevor, a webcam boy, for his time, during which she vents about her life and enjoys sexual experiences with him. One night, during one of their sessions, Paula witnesses Trevor being brutally attacked in his home. Reporting it to the Police, Detective Sofia Gonzalez believes it to be a scam. Co-starring are Murray Bartlett and Dolly De Leon.
The Boroughs (Netflix, 8 episodes)The Boroughs is a Netflix sci-fi series executive-produced by the Duffer Brothers. It follows a quirky, resilient crew of retirees in a seemingly idyllic retirement community. The story kicks off in a picturesque retirement community, where a grieving newcomer experiences a bizarre and monstrous encounter. Super cast including Alfred Molina, Geena Davis and Bill Pullman.
Kylie (Netflix, 3 episodes)Believe the hype, this really is an unfiltered look at the singer life including the major hits and plenty of revealing insights about and from her family and lovers. It doesn’t cover everything which would be a huge undertaking beyond the scope of this doco. There aren’t a lot of interviews but the director has secured the best with contributions from Pete Waterman, Jason Donovan, Nick Cave and sister Dannii – in addition to several sessions with Kylie on the couch.
Plus: Andrew also talks about a new Crawford Productions YouTube channel which is home to some classic Australian TV series. James sounds a bit excited about watching Keeley Hawes playing a nun in the forthcoming series Falling.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
Dutton Ranch (Paramount+, 9 episodes)Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their roles from Yellowstone as Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. They gamble everything on a new life in South Texas, with the promise of building a future far from the ghosts of Yellowstone. Also features Aussie actors Finn Little and Jai Courtney.
The complete Yellowstone universe so far (aka Duttonverse)
Yellowstone (53 eps)
1883 (10 eps)
1923 (16 eps)
Marshals (13 eps)
Dutton Ranch (9 eps)
5 series, 92 eps
Legends (Netflix, 6 episodes)A six-part British crime thriller based on the true story of ordinary Customs employees recruited by the government in the early 1990s. Handed new covert identities—their "legends"—these untrained civil servants were sent undercover to infiltrate and take down Britain's most dangerous drug gangs. Brilliant cast is led by Steve Coogan, Tom Burke, Hayley Squires and Tom Hughes.
Gary (Bonus episode of The Bear) (Disney+)Stars cast members Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie) and Jon Bernthal (Mikey) and was directed by series creator Christopher Storer. The episode is a flashback to early 2019, when Richie's pregnant wife Tiff (Gillian Jacobs) is close to her due date. Richie and Mikey get a job from Uncle Jimmy and take an emotionally charged road trip from Chicago to Gary, Indiana. In this episode, James asks Andrew: Is this an insightful exploration of two central characters from The Bear or a self-indulgent hour that doesn’t shed any light on the series?
Rivals (S2 Disney+, 12 episodes – 2 batches of six)The battle for the Central South West television franchise heats up as incumbent Corinium and newcomer Venturer continue their war. Tony Baddingham (David Tennant) seeks to destroy his rival which is led by former TV star Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner). In this 1980s setting, the personal lives of the Rutshire heroes fall into chaos, with marriages breaking under pressure, affairs causing trouble, and secrets emerging with consequences.The supporting case are all superb in this dramatisation of the late Jilly Cooper’s novels.
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TV series reviewed on the TV Gold podcast this week:
Widow’s Bay (Apple TV, 10 episodes)Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys) is a well-meaning but somewhat timid leader determined to transform his struggling, isolated town of Widow’s Bay into a bustling tourist destination. Despite warnings from eccentric locals—led by skeptical fisherman Wyck (Stephen Root)—that the island is cursed, Tom pushes forward, focusing on attracting a New York Times travel reporter who he hopes will brand the destination the new Martha's Vineyard.
Urzila (ABC iview, 6 episodes)
Urzila is an outrageous and ambitious sketch comedy, capturing Carlson’s fearless, no-filter approach to comedy in full flight. Each episode mashes up her stand-up with cheeky, fast‑firing sketches, many of them plucked straight from the wildly funny stories she riffs on during her live shows.
The Revenge Club (BritBox, 6 episodes)The Revenge Club is a six-part British darkly comic thriller following six members of a divorce support group who bond over shared trauma and pivot from healing to plotting revenge against their exes. What begins as petty pranks spirals into sinister "accidents" and murder, turning their unlikely alliance into a dangerous conspiracy.
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Half Man (Stan, 6 episodes)
The original six-episode drama from the multi award-winning Richard Gadd (Baby Reindeer) explores male rage, trauma, and identity over 30 years, starting with the childhood of two “brothers from another lover” and following them into adulthood. A tough watch for some, this is nevertheless an important series. The series explores their non-biological bond that turns toxic and destructive.
A TV Gold Show of the Week.
Bad Company (ABC iview, 6 episodes)
Comedian Anne Edmonds didn't just create and write Bad Company. She also stars in the six-part series as artistic director Margie Argyle, who's run her beloved "Papa's" avant-garde theatre into the ground in her six short years at the helm. With the future of The Argyle Theatre in peril, the board installs restrained chief executive Julia McNamara (Kitty Flanagan) to turn things around.
A TV Gold Show of the Week.
Apex (Netflix, movie)
The movie follows Sasha (Charlize Theron), an elite rock climber haunted by the death of her rock climbing partner during a tragic ascent in Norway. Seeking a form of penance and solitude, Sasha travels to the rugged Wandarra National Park in the Australian wilderness for a solo kayaking expedition. Her journey turns into a nightmare when she befriends a seemingly helpful local named Ben.
See which of our critics (Andrew and James) got it right.
Andrew: “Revolting torture porn”
James: “Edge of the seat climbing scenes”
Andrew also reviews the third season of Euphoria (HBO Max).
He is halfway through the series and yet to settle on his final review: “I don’t know if this is the best or the worst TV show in the world.”
James talks about the TV production sector in shock as networks and streamers cut back commissions. Although the numbers are down in all genres, Australia scripted drama, especially on broadcast TV, almost seems extinct.
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Margot’s Got Money Trouble (Apple TV, 8 episodes)Nineteen-year-old Margo Millet, daughter of an ex-pro wrestler and a former waitress, finds herself pregnant after a brief affair with her English professor. Defying everyone's advice to terminate the pregnancy, she decides to keep the baby. Needing cash fast, Margo launches an OnlyFans account under the name HungryGhost. Brilliant cast includes Elle Fanning as Margo, Michelle Pfeiffer as her mum and Nicole Kidman in a very surprising role. Series marks the first time Michelle Pfeiffer has worked with her husband, super-producer David E Kelley.
The Audacity (SBS, 8 episodes)The Audacity is being billed as a tech dramedy focusing on entrepreneur Duncan Park (Billy Magnussen), the narcissistic CEO of Hypergnosis, who exploits personal data to gain power. Would anybody do that? When a reckless mistake forces him into a chaotic redemption quest, he relies on his unethical therapist, JoAnne Felder (Sarah Goldberg), amid a toxic Silicon Valley landscape of bio-hacked tech bros and jaded billionaires. The show references tech giant Cupertino as an allusion to Apple, with characters referring to the CEO as Big Tim (referencing soon-to-depart Tim Cook).
Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair (Disney+, 4 episodes) AMThe sitcom revival centres on Hal and Lois's 40th wedding anniversary party. Malcolm, who has spent the last decade distancing himself from his parents and brothers to maintain a sense of sanity, is forced to attend when his parents make a surprise visit to his home. On the visit they discover a secret Malcolm been hiding a significant part of his life from his family.
Beef S2 (Netflix, 8 episodes)Set within the elitist world of the fictional Monte Vista Point country club in California, the second season follows two couples working at the club from different generations. The conflict ignites when the younger couple Ashley and Austin witness and film an explosive, violent argument between their bosses, Josh and Lindsay. What begins as a moment of accidental observation quickly spirals into a dark game of blackmail, coercion, and shifting alliances as the younger couple attempts to use the footage for professional leverage.
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Outcome (Apple TV, movie)Reef Hawk (Keanu Reeves) is an actor who has been sober for five years. He has taken a break from acting to build his new home, and he takes pride in his progress in life. However, when he receives a call from his crisis lawyer Ira Slitz (Jonah Hill), who reveals that someone is blackmailing him with a video of questionable content, his life is turned upside-down. Reef then sets out to make amends with those whom he has wronged in the past in order to figure out who the blackmailer is.
Andrew loved this, but James not so much!
The Testaments (Disney+, 10 episodes)This sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale is a dramatic coming-of-age story that finds a new generation of young women in Gilead grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.
The Miniature Wife (Stan, 10 episodes)Lindy (Elizabeth Banks) is accidentally reduced to a six-inch height by her scientist husband, Les (Matthew Macfadyen). Not many laughs in this long series. Nice cameo from Ronny Chieng though as Hilton Smith, a billionaire who is funding the miniaturisation project with his own agenda
Big Mistakes (Netflix, 8 episodes)Dan Levy stars, executive produces, and showruns his new series Big Mistakes. Two deeply incapable siblings, church pastor Nicky (Levy) and his school teacher sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega), find themselves pulled into the world of organised crime after Morgan steals a necklace from a store, intending it to be a gift for their dying grandmother. After their petty theft, Nicky and Morgan are blackmailed into a series of criminal assignments, all while their overbearing mother, Linda (Laurie Metcalf), is mounting a run for mayor of their suburban New Jersey community.
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This week TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
• Something Very Bad is Going to Happen (Netflix, 8 episodes)
The series follows Rachel (Camila Morrone), a cynical and anxious bride-to-be, and her fiance, Nicky (Adam DiMarco), a seemingly perfect, kind-hearted optimist. They arrive at the remote Cunningham family cabin in the snowy countryside for their wedding week. The atmosphere is immediately thick with tension, isolating the couple from the outside world.
Rachel is not just suffering from ordinary pre-wedding jitters; she is plagued by visions, eerie coincidences, and an intense, intuitive feeling that something catastrophic is going to happen. Eerie red-and-white motifs, including a dead fox, a "Sorry Man" story, and a creepy local custard vendor, surround her.
• Your Friends and Neighbours (S2 Apple TV, 10 episodes)
Jon Hamm reprises his role as Andrew "Coop" Cooper, a wealthy, disaffected financier who resorts to stealing from his neighbors after getting fired from his job. Amanda Peet as Mel Cooper, Coop's ex-wife who is a therapist with a mid-life crisis of her own.
• Crime 101 (Prime Video, movie)
Chris Hemsworth is Mike Davis is a meticulous, disciplined loner who pulls off sophisticated high-end jewel heists along the Pacific Coast Highway, specifically targeting couriers and deliverymen. His operations are clean—he leaves no evidence and, crucially, avoids harming anyone at the scene.
Meanwhile, Mark Ruffalo is Lou Lubesnick is a weary, veteran LAPD detective who has identified a pattern in the seemingly unrelated robberies. While his colleagues dismiss his theories, Lou is convinced a single, skilled thief is responsible. As he closes in on the "101 thief," his obsession with the case begins to strain his personal life.
• Patience (S2 ABC iview, 8 episodes)
Season 2 of the British crime drama Patience follows neurodivergent archivist Patience Evans (Ella Maisy Purvis) as she continues her work in the criminal records department of York Police, navigating new leadership, complex cases, and personal life changes. The eight-episode series features a major cast change, with Laura Fraser’s DI Bea Metcalf replaced by a new boss, DI Frankie Monroe (Jessica Hynes).
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Riot Women (SBS, 6 episodes)
Written by Huddersfield-born Sally Wainwright, the show follows five menopausal women who have come together to form a punk rock band to take part in a local talent contest.
The band consists of five main characters played by Joanna Scanlan (Beth Thornton - keyboards), Rosalie Craig (Kitty Eckersley - stunning as the singer), Lorraine Ashbourne (Jess Burchill - drums), Tamsin Greig (Holly Gaskell - bass), and Amelia Bullmore (Yvonne Vaux - lead guitar). Their is also an impressive supporting cast in this moving drama.
Bait (Prime, 6 episodes)
The story focuses on Shah Latif, a rapper-turned-actor based in West London (played by Riz Ahmed) who is on the cusp of his big break. While he is initially seen as an underdog with a "moderate" first audition, he lands the chance for a second screen test thanks to his determined agent.
Over four crazy days, Shah’s professional pursuit causes his private life to implode. The scrutiny leads to racist harassment as the series explores themes of identity, fame, and tokenism in the film industry. A unique character is a pig's head, which becomes a hallucinated "conscience" or "tough-love therapist" for Shah, voiced by Patrick Stewart.
Andrew also talks about new seasons of Heartbreak High and Paradise.
Then we review the best of the year so far. AS a reminder, our previous 2026 Shows of the Week are:
Goolagong (ABC)
Steal (Prime)
Mel Brooks (HBO Max)
Dog Park (ABC)
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max)
Love Story (Disney+)
Under Salt Marsh (Binge)
The Lady (Binge)
DTF St Louis (HBO Max)
Vladimir (Netflix)
Gone (Stan)
Homebodies (SBS)
The Other Bennett Sister (Binge)
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Crackhead (HBO, 5 episodes)
Drug-addicted party-animal Frankie has blown it all up - her inheritance, her relationships, and most recently, her sister's house. It's time to go to rehab. Creator and star Holly Hervey is outstanding in the lead role as Frankie in this New Zealand comedy. Also watch out for Sara Wiseman and Errol Shand who both work at the rehab centre Frankie arrives at.
The filmmakers really want to shock the Crackhead audience. Just minutes into episode one Holly’s character Frankie is on a wild night at a club. She ends up making out and vomiting into a toilet at the same time. That might draw a vidid picture for people trying to imagine that. Surprisingly in the show we get to see it in detail.
The Comeback (Series 3, HBO Max, 8 episodes)
The third and final season of the HBO Original comedy series The Comeback. Two decades years after its debut, the series returns with Lisa Kudrow reprising her Emmy-nominated role as actress Valerie Cherish. And what an awkward character she is.
Homebodies (SBS, 6 episodes)
This is a bold, surprising and heartfelt Australian family drama that explores the courage it takes to accept the ghosts (literally) from our past.
The series stars Claudia Karvan (Bump, Puberty Blues, Love My Way), Luke Wiltshire (Boyish and With Love, Lottie) and Jazi Hall (Playing Gracie Darling), and follows Darcy (Wiltshire), a trans man who reluctantly returns to his regional hometown to care for his estranged mother Nora (Karvan). Roxie Mohebbi is great too as Dee’s childhood friend who features in perhaps the short series’ most interesting storyline.
The Other Bennett Sister (Foxtel/Binge, 10 episodes)
The series features characters from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The story begins at Longbourn, the Bennet family home, where Mr and Mrs Bennet preside over a lively household of five unmarried daughters: Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia. As society’s pressures mount, the Bennet sisters navigate the glittering yet precarious world of Regency England, where marriage is both aspiration and necessity.
Andrew dismissed this as one of James’ standard British petticoat dramas…but guess what, he liked it too!
Watch this for Ella Bruccoleri is Mary Bennet, Ruth Jones is great as Mary’s mean mother and Richard E Grant excellent as usual as the befuddled father who sadly lasts only two episodes.
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This special episode of TV Gold looks at the Australian comedy Deadloch.
Podcast hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning review the second season of the hit Prime Video series and also included in the episode after our review is an interview with the stars Kate Box and Madeleine.
About Deadloch Season 2 (Prime, 6 episodes)
Detectives Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) are in Darwin to investigate the death of Eddie’s former policing partner Bushy. However, their plans are soon diverted when a body part is discovered in a remote town called Barra Creek. With the Northern Territory police force focused on a large-scale search for two missing backpackers, Dulcie and a very reluctant Eddie are tasked with identifying the John Doe.
Sticky, sweaty and juggling comprehensive thrush infections, the detectives find themselves embroiled in a world of crocodile-fuelled tourism, overstretched Indigenous rangers, cagey locals, and seven-metre prehistoric predators – all of whom call Barra Creek’s stretch of land, and water, their home.
As the humidity builds, and Eddie and Dulcie dig deeper, more questions arise for our duo – not only about the case, but the many secrets that lie beneath the surface of this small town.
Who’s in Deadloch Season2:
Returning to Deadloch are Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner.
Joining the cast for Season Two are Luke Hemsworth (The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Thor: Love & Thunder), Steve Bisley (The Great Gatsby, Mystery Road: Origin, Mad Max), Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires, Top End Bub and The Office), acclaimed writer/director Jean Tong in their acting debut, Genevieve Morris (Bloom, No Activity), Byron Coll (Time Bandits, The Luminaries), Nikki Britton (How to Stay Married), Anthony J Sharpe (Joe v Carole, Human Error), Blake Pavey (Urvi Went to an All Girls School), Damien Garvey (The Survivors, The Artful Dodger), Ngali Shaw (The Twelve, Ladies in Black), Bev Killick (Savage River, Jones Family Christmas), Ling Cooper-Tang (Troppo, Apples Never Fall, Nautilus), Ursula Yovich (Top End Bub, Mystery Road), Syd Brisbane (High Country, Stateless), Ines English (Last Days of the Space Age, Ghosts Australia), Lennox Monaghan (Windcatcher), Reiden Corpus and Storm Murgha.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast AM and JM review: Imperfect Women, Gone and Frauds.
Imperfect Women (Apple TV, 8 episodes)The series examines a crime that shatters the lives of three women in a decades-long friendship – characters played by Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss, and Kate Mara. The thriller explores guilt and retribution, love and betrayal, and the compromises people make that alter our lives. As the investigation unravels, so does the truth about how even the closest friendships may not be what they seem.
Gone (Stan, 6 episodes)David Morrissey plays headmaster Michael Polly who returns home one afternoon to find his wife Sarah missing. As the hours roll on, he finally reports her disappearance the next day to DS Annie Cassidy played b y the always brilliant Eve Myles. She is a no-nonsense detective who is immediately perplexed by the apparent stoicism of the headmaster. As the case escalates with the emergence of puzzling evidence, Annie is assigned the role of Family Liaison Officer for Michael and his daughter.
Frauds (ABC, 6 episodes)A new heist thriller stars TV Gold Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker as criminal colleagues Bert and Sam, whose intertwined past resurfaces in the setting of Southern Spain after a decade of separation. Bert convinces Sam to do just one ore headiest, but can they pull it off.
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The Madison (Paramount+, 12 eps)The Madison is new from Taylor Sheridan and stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, a ritzy New York City philanthropist and the matriarch of the successful Clyburn family. She seems intent to quit city living for the wilds of Montana after an event sees her questioning her life in New York.
Scarpetta (Prime, 8 eps)Nicole Kidman is forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta who returns to her position as Virginia's Chief Medical Examiner, where she investigates a murder with eerie reminders from her first big case decades ago. Scarpetta works alongside former detective Pete Marino (Bobby Cannavale) and her now husband FBI Agent Benton Wesley (Simon Baker) as they investigate a brutal strangling. Playing Kidman’s sister and Cannavale’s wife is Jamie Lee Curtis as a successful children’s author Dorothy who starts the series sharing a house with Scarpetta.
Vladimir (Netflix, 8 eps)Who would have thought – two comedies sent in literature classes in small US colleges in two weeks on the TV Gold podcast. (We reviewed Rooster last episode.)
Vladimir follows an unnamed, middle-aged protagonist (Rachel Weisz) who is a writer, professor, wife, and mom. As her life unravels, she becomes obsessed with a captivating new colleague, the eponymous Vladimir (Leo Woodall), at the small liberal arts college where she’s worked for decades. The cast are brilliant including John Slattery who plays the philandering college professor husband of Weisz’s character.
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DTF St Louis (HBO Max, 7 eps)A limited series about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise that leads to one of them ending up dead.
Jason Bateman plays Clark Forrest, a St Louis TV weatherman, who rides a recumbent bicycle everywhere he goes - even to a murder scene apparently which makes him a prime suspect.
David Harbour is sign language interpreter Floyd Smernitch who forms a bond with the weatherman after they narrowly avoid serious injury during an outside broadcast during a storm.
But the real star of the series just could be Linda Cardellini as Floyd’s wife Carol.
Rooster (HBO Max, 10 eps)A comedy set on a college campus about best-selling author Rooster (Steve Carell) and his complicated relationship with his daughter Katie (Charly Clive). A great supporting cast includes Phil Dunster as Katie’s estranged husband and John C McGinley as the president of Ludlow College. A comedy that delivers plenty of laughs.
Marshals (Paramount+, 13 episodes)Marshals is the first Yellowstone spinoff featuring characters from the series. Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone son Kayce Dutton (played by Luke Grimes) is facing life after the death of his wife Monica, a Broken Rock native. A former Navy SEAL colleague arrives at his farm and offers him a roll with the US Marshals. What will Kayce do?
Also this TV Gold episode, Andrew Mercado on the rebooted Scrubs (Disney+), and James Manning on the Paul McCartney doco Man on the Run (Prime).
Finally, both hosts look at the final episode of Under Salt Marsh (Binge/Foxtel) and report if the episode that promised so much made sticking with the series worthwhile.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast:
The Lady (Binge/Foxtel, 4 episodes)Produced by Left Bank Pictures (makers of The Crown), the series is a true-crime drama based on the life of Jane Andrews, a working-class woman who became the dresser and confidante to Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, but was later convicted of murdering her partner, Thomas Cressman, in 2000. Brilliant performance from Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane.
How to Get to Heaven from Belfast (Netflix, 8 episodes)The dark comedy-crime thriller series was created by Lisa McGee (Derry Girls) and tells the story of three lifelong friends in their late 30s who embark on a chaotic "odyssey" across Ireland to investigate the mysterious death of an estranged childhood friend.
The Walsh Sisters (Stan, 6 episodes)Set in Dublin, the series follows the chaotic, dysfunctional, yet deeply loyal Walsh family. The story revolves around five sisters—Anna, Rachel, Maggie, Claire, and Helen—as they navigate the complexities of adulthood in their 20s and 30s. Based on characters from the novels of Marian Keyes.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
Love Story (Disney+, 9 episodes)Another series from producer Ryan Murphy tells the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette and explores the chemistry, whirlwind courtship, and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.
Under Salt Marsh (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes)
Under Salt Marsh stars Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Pride & Prejudice) as Jackie Ellis and Rafe Spall (Trying, Life of Pi) as Detective Eric Bull in Under Salt Marsh, in a new crime drama is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen.
Lord of the Flies (Stan, 4 episodes)
Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash. In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group’s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy.
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TV Gold special: Ryan Murphy
This week’s episode of TV Gold is devoted to the prolific TV creator Ryan Murphy.
The podcast has regularly reviewed his prodigious output. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning don’t always love everything Murphy delivers, but it always gives the podcast plenty of talking points.
Over recent years Murphy’s creations have lived on Netflix and a recent deal has seen him find a new home at Disney which means in Australia his new series will be seen on their streaming platform Disney+.
The new Disney deal sees Murphy return to FX which is where he created many series including American Horror Story, Feud, and six seasons of Nip/Tuck.
The special TV Gold episode starts off with a look at the series The Beauty which is on FX.
In FX’s The Beauty, the world of high fashion turns dark when international supermodels begin dying in spectacularly gruesome and mysterious ways.
FBI Agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett (played by Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall) are sent to Paris to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection, but with terrifying consequences.
The Best of Ryan Murphy
Andrew Mercado’s Top 5Feud: Bette and Joan
Pose
Nip/Tuck
American Crime Story: Gianni Versace
Monster
James Manning Top 5Halston
The Watcher
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Andy Warhol Diaries
Glee
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story
It’s actually a top six!
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning this episode review more TV Gold.
Listen to the episode on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3CbytnyTdiQD0fEIauNJ09
Dog Park (ABC) 6 episodesWhen Roland(Leon Ford) and wife Emma (Brooke Satchel) separate, she leaves him with their teenage daughter Mia (Florence Gladwin) who barely notices him, and Beattie the dog he never wanted in the first place. Beattie disappears and turns up at the local dog park where he meets the unbearably optimistic Samantha (Celia Pacquola). More of a good relationship drama than a comedy.
Memory of a Killer (Stan) 10 episodesAngelo Ledda (Patrick Dempsey) lives two totally separate lives — a fearsome NYC hitman and sleepy upstate Cooperstown photocopier salesman and father. Both of them are threatened when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease he already lost his older brother to. Angelo lives a hard-to-believe Batman-like existence although he’s certainly not saving Gotham.
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max) 6 episodesA century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” two unlikely heroes meet in Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable friends.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast:
The Guest (4 episodes on BritBox)Eve Myles and Gabrielle Creevy star in this series about a cleaner taking a job in what seems to be a normal family home. Albeit in a very posh family home for a family with no children and a husband who rarely seems to be home. Although the cleaner is slowly welcomed in, tensions rise and boundaries blur. When one defining moment shatters the balance, the consequences ripple through the home.
Steal (6 episodes on Prime)James’ Show of the WeekA high-octane, heart-pounding thriller about the heist of the century. A typical day at London’s Lochmill Capital is upended when armed thieves burst in and force Zara (Sophie Turner) and her best friend Luke (Archie Madekwe) to execute their demands.
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man (2 episodes on HBO Max)*Andrew’s Show of the Week.Anchored by Judd Apatow’s candid conversations with Mel Brooks, the two-part documentary explores the life, career, friendships, and loves of legendary writer, director, producer, and performer. One of Hollywood’s most daring satirists from the early years of television sketch comedy through to his film and stage hits.
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Summer TV viewing
So much TV and so little time. The new year kicks off with this big first episode from TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning. Number of episodes of each show is in brackets.
Run - Binge (6)
Sunny Nights - Stan (8)
Imposter - Paramount+ (4)
Dear Life - Stan (6)
His & Hers - Netflix (6)
Red Eye S2 - Stan (6)
The Night Manager - Prime (6)
Goolagong - iview (3)
Run Away - Netflix (8)
Plus Andrew on Home & Away cliffhanger and Corriedale
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In the annual Best of the Year podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning list their highlights.
Just three shows made the list of both hosts:
Adolescence - Netflix
Outrageous - Britbox
Reckless - SBS
Shows that also featured on either one of the Best of the Year were:
Aussie DramaTop End Bub - Prime
Invisible Boys - Stan
The Newsreader S3 - ABC
RFDS S3 - Seven
Apple Cider Vinegar - Netflix
Reckless - SBS On Demand
Mix Tape - Foxtel/Binge
The Family Next Door – ABC
InternationalDying For Sex - Disney
Train Dreams – Netflix
All Her Fault - Binge
Paradise - Disney
Good American Family - Disney
Toxic Town - Netflix
Mr Loverman - Binge
Hostage - Netflix
Mobland - Paramount+
Etoile - Prime
Brian & Magie - HBO Max
Your Friends & Neighbours - Apple TV
Patience - ABC iview
(and … yes really …)
Monster: The Ed Gains Story - Netflix
ComediesSmoggie Queens - Binge
Mandy - Britbox
Amandaland - Stan
Such Brave Girls - Stan
South Park - Paramount+
Worst Shows of the YearStranded on Honeymoon Island - Seven
Chad Powers - Disney
All’s Fair - Disney
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The penultimate episode of the TV Gold podcast this week features reviews and previews of:
• Jay Kelly (Netflix movie)George Clooney plays Jay Kelly, a famous movie star who, along with his manager Ron (Adam Sandler), travels through Europe and is forced to confront his life choices, work and family relationships, and legacy. The film is a study of a man facing an identity crisis, grappling with the difference between his public persona and his private self.
• The Abandons (Netflix, 7 episodes)The Abandons is a gritty Western series on Netflix set in 1850s Oregon, focusing on a bloody feud between two powerful matriarchs: the devout, found-family leader Fiona Nolan (Lena Headey) and the ruthless mining heiress Constance Van Ness (Gillian Anderson).
• Amadeus (Binge/Foxtel, 5 episodes)The drama examines the rivalry between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Will Sharpe) and court composer Antonio Salieri (Paul Bettany) when Mozart arrives in 18th-century Vienna, focusing on his volatile genius, his romance with Constanze Weber, and Salieri's growing torment and jealousy as Mozart's talent overshadows his own.
Next week: Andrew and James present their Best and Worst of 2025
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In this episode of TV Gold, James Manning and Andrew Mercado review four new shows: Wild Cherry and Heated Rivalry both on HBO Max, plus Train Dreams and The Diplomat (S3) both on Netflix.
• Wild Cherry starts strong but soon reveals its trashy nature. Standout performance from Eve Best and it proves creator/writer/actor Nicôle Lecky is quite a talent. The show explores the toxic effects of social media on youth.
• Train Dreams offers a haunting portrayal of early 20th-century life and features Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th-century America. Orphaned at a young age, Robert grows into adulthood and finds work among the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest.
• Heated Rivalry is a slow-burn romance set in the world of ice hockey. The series chronicles the story of rival hockey players Shane and Ilya. Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie) are two of the biggest stars in Major League Hockey, bound by ambition, rivalry, and a relationship neither of them fully understands.
• The Diplomat Season 3 raises the stakes for Keri Russell as diplomat Kate Wyler and Rufus Sewell as diplomat Hal Wyler with political intrigue that starts with a plot twist you won’t see coming. Joining the cast this season are Bradley Whitford and Aidan Turner. Ride the series until the end with a plot twist as surprising as the one the series starts with.
TV Gold Chapters
00:00 Exploring Wild Cherry: A Trashy Delight
10:51 Train Dreams: A Haunting Journey
19:00 Heated Rivalry: A Slow-Burning Romance
24:58 The Diplomat Season 3: Political Intrigue and Cliffhangers
30:45 Wrap-Up: Show of the Week and Final Thoughts
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This week on TV Gold a father and son relationship goes right off the rails in The Death of Bunny Munro. A chase around Italy is related to cracking the code for top secret tech in The Iris Affair, and
David Duchovny is a very rich man whose perfect life is threatened by someone seeking revenge in Malice.
In addition to those reviews Andrew Mercado has thoughts about future of TV and the longest-running Australian drama.
- The Death of Bunny Munro (Foxtel/Binge, 6 episodes)
Following the death of his wife Libby (Bibi from Bad Sisters), sex addicted door-to-door beauty salesman and self-professed lothario Bunny Munro (Matt Smith), finds himself saddled with his young son, Bunny Junior, and only a very loose concept of parenting. A series based on Nick Cave’s novel with a guest appearance from Cave.
- The Iris Affair (Stan, 8 episodes)
When enigmatic genius Iris Nixon (Niamh Algar) cracks a string of complex online puzzles, she’s led to a piazza in Florence where she meets charismatic entrepreneur Cameron Beck (Tom Hollander). He invites her to come and work for him to unlock a powerful and top-secret piece of technology. Don’t miss Andrew Mercado’s thoughts on this series!!
- Malice (Prime, 6 episodes)
Adam (Jack Whitehall) is a charismatic tutor who charms his way into the life of the wealthy Tanner family while they’re on holiday in Greece. When the family’s nanny falls dangerously ill, Adam orchestrates his way in to their London home and his true vengeful nature begins to emerge…but will Jamie Tanner (David Duchovny) and his wife Nat (Carice Van Houten) wake up to what is happening?
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This week the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning reviews three series and a Netflix movie.
Listen to the podcast: https://pod.link/1106441089
Reckless (SBS, 4 episodes)Two feuding siblings are forced to work together to get away with an accidental hit and run murder that spirals wildly out of control in their hometown of Fremantle. Features a memorable performance from Tasma Walton.
The Beast in Me (Netflix, 8 episodes)A famous author is pulled into a twisted mind game with her rich, powerful new neighbour — who just might be a murderer. Claire Danes is back with what is arguably her best role since playing Carrie in Homeland. She stars alongside Matthew Rhys and Brittany Snow.
The Forsytes (ABC iview, 6 episodes)Inspired by John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy late Victorian stockbroking family near the turn of the 20th Century. From the makers of Poldark, this series again stars Eleanor Tomlinson with Jack Davenport co-starring.
Frankenstein (Netflix movie)Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary Shelley's classic tale of a brilliant scientist and the creature his monstrous ambition brings to life.
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Do we have a new contender for worst TV show ever made this week?
This week on the TV Gold podcast the creator of Breaking Bad is back with a new sci-fi series, Pluribus, on AppleTV.
Andrew and James also review two sitcoms – a musical on HBO Max, Happiness, and an Australian version of the successful Ghosts franchise on Network 10
Plus more from Ryan Murphy – high priced actors playing high priced divorce lawyers in All’s Fair on Disney+.
Pluribus (AppleTV, 10 episodes)What does a virus heading for planet Earth have to do with Carol Sturka, a fantasy romance author who has just completed a gruelling book tour? No spoilers here, but Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan delivers a gripping launch episode.
Happiness (HBO Max, 6 episodes)Ex-Broadway director Charlie is forced by circumstances to return to his home town of Tauranga, New Zealand where his mum makes him join her amateur theatre society. Rebecca Gibney stars as Charlie’s mum in this adventurous musical comedy.
Ghosts Australia (Network 10, 8 episodes)Young couple Kate and Sean are about to jump into the inner-city rental market, until Kate inherits a huge mansion in the country. Moving in together for the first time they are attempting domestic bliss, but unbeknown to them, the house is haunted by a collection of needy spirits who carked it in Ramshead Manor over the past 200 years.
All’s Fair (Disney+, 6 episodes)
A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice from creator Ryan Murphy. They navigate high-stakes breakups, surprising secrets and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and within their own ranks.
The cast includes Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close. Is it really as bad as some of the international press reviews have indicated?
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All Her Fault (Binge, 8 episodes)Sarah Snook stars in this thriller about a mother who is distraught after learning her son has disappeared from a supposed play date.
Down Cemetery Road (AppleTV, 8 episodes)All the elements are here – Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson star in a story from the writers involved with Slow Horses. Both series are adaptations of novels by author Mick Herron and share creative personnel, including writer Morwenna Banks, who also serves as an executive producer for both shows.
I Love LA (HBO Max, 8 episodes)A tight-knit friend group of young self-obsessed LA professionals gather after years apart, navigating the complexities of ambition, relationships, and how time has changed them.
PLUS
One More Shot (Stan, movie)In One More Shot, Emily Browning is about a woman named Minnie who discovers a bottle of time-traveling tequila on New Year's Eve 1999. Each shot sends her back to the beginning of the night, giving her multiple chances to try and win back her ex-boyfriend before the new millennium begins.
Son of a Donkey (Netflix, 6 episodes)Host Andrew and James couldn’t disagree more about the merits of this Netflix Australian comedy series. Andrew got plenty of laughs, James reckons he lost a few brain cells watching the first episode.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast four programs – three about different sorts of horror, and the other a romcom series.
• Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Foxtel/Binge, 8 episodes)
A horror story about America’s most notorious serial killer. But a TV series made without exploiting the actual crimes. It instead focuses on the impact on the victims families and follows closely the police investigation and the court case.
• Film Club (Foxtel/Binge, 6 episodes)
A quirky comedy from actor/producer Aimee Lou Wood who stars as Evie who runs a film club in the garage at her mother’s house. Mum is played by Suranne Jones who is not really known for her comedy skills. But it’s an intriguing premise and there is a nice cameo from Emmy-winning star of Adolescence, Owen Cooper.
• A House of Dynamite (Netflix, movie)
The much anticipated new movie from director Kathryn Bigelow. The film repeatedly tracks the 18 minutes that follow a missile being launched at the United States — first from the perspective of the White House Situation Room, then from the perspective of United States Strategic Command, and finally from the perspective of the President himself.
• Andrew’s Halloween special - It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)
A terrifying prequel series that goes back to 1962 to trace the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown. Based on the novel It by Stephen King.
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Audio update: The original episode upload had missing audio near the end of the podcast. A new complete version of the episode replaced the first upload late on Friday evening.
This week’s podcast features reviews of:
Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)
Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes)
Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes)
Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes)
Plus James on the new movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and Andrew on the Hollyoaks 30th anniversary specials and its Brookside crossover episode.
Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)
Mr. Scorsese is a film portrait of America’s greatest living director through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a a man who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends.
Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes)
Eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers — a talented oddball who walks onto the struggling South Georgia Catfish. The football star is played by Glen Powell. The series is being labelled as an American Ted Lasso by some.
Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes)
Inspired by former US Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the eight-episode series is an irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story. Set in the tough, unpredictable world of the 1990s US Marine Corps—when being gay in the military was still illegal—the series follows directionless, closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), the son of a decorated Marine, as they join a diverse group of recruits.
Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes)
Watching You centres on thrill-seeking paramedic Lina (Aisha Dee) and the fallout of a single decision which threatens to upend her life. Though apparently happily engaged to Cain (Chai Hansen), a chance encounter with mysterious stranger Dan (Josh Helman) triggers Lina’s desire and culminates in a passionate one-night stand in a WeStay property. In the aftermath, Lina discovers that the affair has been captured by a hidden camera and is blackmailed with the footage.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning there are reviews of:
King and Conqueror (SBS)
The Chair Company (HBO Max)
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)
Victoria Beckham (Netflix)
King and Conqueror (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes, two on launch and then weekly)
King & Conqueror epic eight-part series was filmed in Iceland and features James Norton (Happy Valley) as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as William, Duke of Normandy, two allies with no designs on the British throne who find themselves forced by circumstance to take up arms against each other.
The Chair Company (HBO Max, 8 episodes)
Cringe comedy – not a genre we enjoy a lot.
After an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Tim Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.
The embarrassing incident is a chair collapsing on him while onstage at a work function in front of a handful of people.
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)
While on a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Keira Knightly) witnesses a passenger tossed overboard late one night, only to be told that she must have dreamed it, as all passengers are accounted for. Despite not being believed by anyone onboard, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger. Also co-stars Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham.
No show has caused so much debate this year about the merits of this movie. Andrew and James both enjoyed it because it was all over in 90 minutes, but there’s not much else they agree on about this shipboard thriller.
Victoria Beckham (Netflix, 3 episodes)
A three-part documentary that follows Victoria Beckham's career, from her rise to fame as Posh Spice to her current status as a fashion designer and businesswoman.
The docuseries was produced by Studio 99, the production company founded by her husband, David Beckham. It was made following the success of his own 2023 Netflix documentary, Beckham, which featured some of Victoria's own viral moments.
Not a lot of insights about the Spice Girls, but a fascinating glimpse inside Victoria’s business empire.
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A monster trio of shows from Netflix this week plus a disaster movie and the return of an Aussie classic.
Andrew Mercado and James Manning choose different Shows of the Week but are pretty united on one of the others.
Reviewed this week:Monster: The Ed Gein Story
The House of Guinness
Wayward
plus
The Lost Bus
RFDS
Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix, 8 episodes)
First Jeffrey Dahmer. Then The Menendez Brothers. And now, Ed Gein. Could Ryan Murphy’s Netflix universe get any sicker?
Murphy’s latest monster instalment certainly lives up to the franchise title. The Ed Gein instalment of Monster is set in the 1950s, and Ed Gein (played by Charlie Hunnam) is haunting the frozen fields of rural Wisconsin, killing and desecrating the bodies of multiple women. His crimes went on to inspire multiple classic horror films, including The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. If you watch it with someone else make sure they are broadminded. And be prepared to see a TV Gold favourite, Lesley Manville, as you’ve never seen her before!
The House of Guinness (Netflix, 8 episodes)
A historical drama created by Steven Knight, inspired by the true story of the powerful Guinness brewing family in 19th-century Dublin, following their four adult children after their patriarch, Sir Benjamin Guinness, dies in 1868. The series explores the family's struggles to maintain their brewing empire, their relationships with each other, and their involvement in the politics and social dynamics of the time. Brilliant cast led by James Norton, Louis Partridge and the wonderful Emily Fairn who we loved in The Responder alongside Martin Freeman.
Wayward (Netflix, 8 episodes)
A small-town cop Alex (Mae Martin) and two teenage girls, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), uncover the dark secrets of a mysterious "troubled teen" academy in the picturesque town of Tall Pines. As Alex investigates the unsettling school, he works with the girls to expose its leader, Evelyn (Toni Collette).
Plus
The Lost Bus (AppleTV+, movie)
RFDS (7plus, 8 episodes)
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This week on the TV Gold podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review two very different crime dramas and a documentary screening on SBS On Demand.
Black Rabbit (Netflix, 8 episodes)
Jude Law and Jason Bateman play brothers Jake and Vince Friedken. Vince returns to the New York restaurant they launched together, but his presence triggers an endless succession of bad decisions that plunge the brothers and the business into trouble. The brothers’ family, friends and employees are also caught in the whirlpool.
Death Valley (BritBox, 7 episodes)
A Welsh cosy crime mystery series that follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between an eccentric national treasure John Chapel (Timothy Spall), a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective television show Caesar, and socially obtuse Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth).
The People Vs Robodebt (SBS, 3 episodes)
The series from Michael Cordell and CJZ follows the extraordinarily brave people who fought against the system after almost half a million Australians were hounded to pay back debts they did not owe. The documentary hears from Robodebt victims and their angry families, the crusading social media activists, the whistleblowers and investigative journalists, the tenacious lawyers, as well as the forgotten victims of Robodebt: the Centrelink workers who battled the system from within – their complaints falling on deaf ears.
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The Hack (Stan, 7 episodes)
Mystery Road: Origin (ABC, 6 episodes)
Outrageous (BritBox, 6 episodes)
In this episode, James Manning and Andrew Mercado review three television series: 'The Hack' on Stan, 'Mystery Road Origin' on ABC, and 'Outrageous' on BritBox.
They discuss the at times confusing dual narrative structure of 'The Hack', the challenges faced by the makers of 'Mystery Road: Origin' in maintaining its franchise quality, and the captivating real-life story of the Mitford sisters in 'Outrageous'. The conversation highlights the expectations, disappointments, and successes of the different series.
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This week on TV Gold, Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss four new series: Top End Bub (8 episodes, Prime), I Fought the Law (4 episodes, Stan), Morning Wars (10 episodes, AppleTV+), and Aka Charlie Sheen (2 episodes, AppleTV+)
• Top End Bub (8 episodes, Prime)
Miranda Tapsell has co-created an impressive sitcom spun off from her 2019 movie Top End Wedding.
• I Fought the Law (4 episodes, Stan)
A memorable performance (again) from Sheridan Smith, this time as Ann Ming in the inspiring real-life story of a mother who, driven by unimaginable grief, finds strength to challenge the centuries-old British Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter’s murderer finally brought to justice after a 15 year battle.
• Morning Wars (10 episodes, AppleTV+)
Following last season's merger between the UBA and NBN networks, there are more unhinged power grabs for the TV business, plus a plane crash unfolding live on air, unbelievable romantic liaisons, an unlikely story involving false imprisonment, a Russian oligarch and a night at the opera…and that’s just some of the plot lines that the cast led by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston take viewers on.
• Aka Charlie Sheen (2 episodes, AppleTV+)
With seven years of sobriety behind him, Sheen opens up like never before, tackling the rumours, scandals, and self-inflicted chaos that have always threatened to cut him down. The doco features revealing interviews with those who know Sheen best, from family and friends to Hollywood insiders — and even his former drug dealer! Interview guests include Denise Richards, Heidi Fleiss, Jon Cryer, Sean Penn, Ramon Estevez, Brooke Mueller, Chris Tucker and Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre.
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This week on TV Gold, mystery dramas set in London, Rotterdam and Philadelphia.
Your hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
The Girlfriend (Prime, 6 episodes)
Task (HBO Max, 7 episodes)
Safe Harbor (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes)
• The Girlfriend (Prime, 6 episodes)
Based on Michelle Frances' novel of the same name, The Girlfriend follows Laura (Robin Wright), a woman who seemingly has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her precious son, Daniel. Her perfect life begins to unravel when Daniel brings home Cherry (Olivia Cooke), a girlfriend who changes everything. After a tense introduction, Laura becomes convinced Cherry is hiding something. Is she a manipulative social climber, or is Laura just paranoid? The truth is a matter of perspective. Andrew called this “trash” and James objected!
• Task (HBO Max, 7 episodes)
Set in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Tom Pelphrey). From the creator of Mare of Easton, Brad Ingelsby.
• Safe Harbor (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes)Starring Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones), Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones) and Martijn Lakemeier, the crime drama is based around an Irish mob that are looking to make the most of Rotterdam’s drug-trafficking friendly port.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast, reviews of
The Paper (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes)
I, Jack Wright (ABC iview, 6 episodes)
Brian and Maggie (HBO Max, 2 episodes)
The Paper (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes)From the makers of the US version of The Office, a spin-off about a local newspaper in Ohio that has an ambitious new editor-in-chief (played by Domhnall Gleeson) who is saddled with a very small and unqualified staff.
I, Jack Wright (ABC iview, 6 episodes)A British drama that follows the events that unfold after Wright family patriarch Jack is found dead from a supposed suicide, leaving his family devastated over his death.
Th grief soon turns to confusion when it is revealed his wife and two sons have been left out of his will. An intriguing drama as his death is investigated and the brilliant cast face of against each other in court.
Brian and Maggie (HBO Max, 2 episodes)It’s 1989. Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher come together for their last ever TV interview. Little did they know they were about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time. The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and helped set in train a series of events that ended with Margaret’s resignation. Afterwards, they never spoke again…
Steve Coogan plays Brian Walden, the ‘much feared inquisitor’ and Harriet Walter plays prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, movie)
Hostage (Netflix, 5 episodes)
The Rainmaker (Stan, 10 episodes)
Alone Africa (Stan 10 episodes)
• The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, movie)
The much-anticipated film based on Richard Osman’s first crime novel. The four members of the The Thursday Murder Club are Helen Mirren as ex-spy Elizabeth, Ben Kingsley is ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim, Pierce Brosnan is ex–union activist Ron, and Celia Imrie takes on the role of ex-nurse Joyce.
• Hostage (Netflix, 5 episodes)
TV Gold favourite Suranne Jones stars as the newly elected British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, whose husband is kidnapped while he is working overseas. Julie Delpy features as the French president, Vivienne Toussaint, who is visiting the UK while grappling with her own political problems including being blackmailed over a sex scandal.
• The Rainmaker (Stan, 10 episodes)
Based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham. The plot features Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan), who is fresh out of law school. He gets an internship at a major law firm, but manages to get sacked on his first day after a run in with the boss (John Slattery). He can’t find work anywhere else except for a small time ambulance chasing law firm run by a woman called Bruiser (Lana Parrilla).
• Also mentioned this week is Alone Africa, as the American series of the franchise move from SBS to Stan.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast:
Playing Gracie Darling (Paramount+, 6 episodes)
Alien Earth (Disney+, 8 episodes)
Home and Away: Farewell Lynne McGranger (7plus)
And Just Like That: Farewell everybody (HBO Max)
Listen to the podcast here: https://pod.link/1106441089
Playing Gracie Darling (Paramount+, 6 episodes)
Playing Gracie Darling is an Australian supernatural crime drama about a missing girl, Gracie Darling, who vanished after a séance in 1997, and a second girl who goes missing 27 years later when local teens reenact the game of "Playing Gracie Darling". The series follows Joni, Gracie's former best friend, as she returns to her small hometown to uncover what happened to Gracie and prevent the history from repeating itself.
Created and written by Miranda Nation (Undertow) also writer Anya Beyersdorf (creator of Fake) and directed by Jonathan Brough (Rosehaven, The End),
Playing Gracie Darling features an international cast led by New Zealand’s Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus Season 3, Friends Like Her) as Joni, Dame Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso) as Pattie, and Rudi Dharmalingam (Wakefield, The Lazarus Project) as Jay.
The Australian cast includes Celia Pacquola (Love Me, Rosehaven) as Ruth Darling, Annie Maynard (Colin From Accounts, Upper Middle Bogan) as Anita, Dan Spielman (The Code, New Gold Mountain) as Peter, and screen icon Anne Tenney (The Castle, A Country Practice) as Moira Darling.
Alien Earth (Disney+, 8 episodes)
When a returning exploration space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in this sci-fi horror series.
Led by Sydney Chandler, the series showcases an international cast which includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, and Adrian Edmondson.
Home and Away: Farewell Lynne McGranger (7plus)
Irene Roberts, a beloved character on the long-running Australian television series Home and Away, departed the show in an emotional farewell episode. But could it have been better handled and who was missing from then show this week?
And Just Like That: Farewell everybody (HBO Max)
The conclusion of HBO series And Just Like That marks the apparent end of the Sex and the City universe on television, though fans and critics have expressed mixed feelings about the final season's "open-ended" resolution and overall quality. Andrew was along for the ride all the way, listen to his final thoughts.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
The Family Next Door (ABC/iview, 6 episodes)
The Hunting Wives (Stan, 8 episodes)
Wednesday (Netflix, Season 2, 8 episodes)
The Family Next Door (ABC/iview, 6 episodes)The mysterious Isabelle moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel.
Features great performances from a stunning cast woking with a wonderful script. That cast includes Teresa Palmer, Bella Heathcote, Bob Morley, Catherine McClements, Jane Harber, Daniel Henshall, Ming-Zhu Hii and Philippa Northeast.
The Hunting Wives (Stan, 8 episodes)Having recently moved from Boston to East Texas, Sophie and Graham O’Neil attend a party at the home of Graham’s boss, Jed Banks. Sophie has an unexpected bonding encounter with Jed’s wife, Margo, and is introduced to the hunting wives, Margo’s inner circle of affluent friends. A wild and saucy drama about what real housewives of Texas might get up to.
Wednesday (Netflix, Season 2, 8 episodes)Season 2 of the Netflix hit series from director Tim Burton. This series sees Wednesday’s parents Morticia and Gomez spend more time at the Nevermore Academy, as does her brother Pugsley. Joining the cast this season in guest roles are Joanna Lumley and Lady Gaga.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
• The Twelve (Binge, Season 3, 8 episodes)
• Chief of War (Apple TV+, 9 episodes)
• Mandy (Prime Video, Season 4, 6 episodes)
The Twelve (Binge, Season 3, 8 episodes)The cold case murder of two teens in 1968 becomes the focus of attention when an English teacher is murdered, whilst researching a book on the crime. The husband of a friend of barrister Brett Colby (played by Logie-winner Sam Neill), is charged with the current murder – but he swears he is innocent. Twelve jurors, who are sworn in for the trial, find their own lives are changed by the experience.
Chief of War (Apple TV+, 9 episodes)Performed by a predominantly Polynesian cast led by Jason Momoa, the series follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonisation of Hawai’i at the turn of the 18th century.
Mandy (Prime Video, Season 4, 6 episodes)Mandy - a hapless, jobless heroine whose daft adventures mostly end in disaster. She's got big dreams, but can she actually be bothered? Created by and starring Diane Morgan. With the fourth season about to drop in Australia, now is a good time to discover this series on Prime Video.
Plus Andrew updates on his trip – this week he has been in Belfast. He is also pretty annoyed about The Logies and one of its winners in particular.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning it is Keeley Hawes week with:
The Assassin (Stan, 6 episodes)The Assassin follows retired assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) as they are forced to flee an idyllic Greek island when Julie’s dangerous past catches up with her. With questions around Edward’s paternity and Julie’s past life as a hitwoman, the pair go on the run across Europe, working together in a fight for survival.
Miss Austen (ABC/iview, 4 episodes)Miss Austen is a story about the bond between two sisters, Jane Austen - one of our England’s most cherished novelists - and her sister Cassandra. Very little is known about Cassandra, who figured hugely in Jane’s life. What Gill Hornby did in her novel about the two is pull together many of the historical facts about Jane and her family set-up, and fashion it into this story about the two sisters and their importance to each other.
We also discuss six Keeley Hawes roles we have enjoyed the most.
PLUS
Outrageous (BritBox, 6 episodes)
A British drama about the Mitford sisters in 1930s Britain and the scandal that enveloped two of the sisters flirtation with fascism and a friend ship with Adolph Hitler.
Also Andrew has been watching a bunch of new British television episodes plus he updates on his visits to iconic British TV institutions.
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This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado is in Manchester on his global tour and James Manning is in the northern NSW TV Gold studio.
Listen here: https://pod.link/1106441089
Shows reviewed this week:
Untamed (Netflix, 6 episodes)Eric Bana and Sam Neill team up for this mystery set in California’s Yosemite National Park, yet filmed in Canada. Eric Bana reminds us what a talented actor he is as he investigates the death of a woman who seems to have been living in the park. He’s a cranky special agent, but as the series unfolds we learn why.
Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO, 2 part documentary)This is a lot of Billy Joel – close to five hours if you watch both parts. But you just might come away a much bigger fan of this talented singer/songwriter than you were previously.
Bookish (HBO Max, 6 episodes)London 1946 is the setting for series one, with viewers introduced to the appropriately named Gabriel Book (Mark Gatiss) who owns a bookshop in Archangel Lane. Book spends most of his time successfully helping police solve murders.
Sold (Foxtel/Binge, documentary)Comedian Mark Humphries goes on a journey to uncover why so many Australians are struggling to secure home ownership. He delves into the complex housing debate, looking at the current house prices, soaring rent, and the "Australian Dream" that feels more out of reach than ever. Guests include Alan Kohler and Ray Martin.
Other podcasts mentioned this episode that we recommend:
The Rest is Entertainment: https://pod.link/1718287198
Club Random with Bill Maher: https://pod.link/1613459129
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvgoldpodcast/
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Such Brave Girls (Season 2, 6 episodes, Stan)
Too Much (Netflix, 10 episodes)
Patience (ABC iview, 6 episodes)
also
The Bear (Season 4, Disney+, 8 episodes)
In this episode, James Manning and Andrew Mercado review two new comedies, Season 2 of Such Brave Girls and Len Dunham's Too Much, followed by a discussion on the crime drama Patience and Season 4 of The Bear. They explore the strengths and weaknesses of each show, highlighting themes of relationships, comedy, and the portrayal of neurodivergence in a TV crime drama.
Takeaways this episode:
• 'Too Much' is based on Lena Dunham's life experiences.
• The cast of 'Too Much' includes actors like Rita Wilson, Naomi Watts and Richard E. Grant.
• 'Such Brave Girls' is praised for its dark humour and relatable characters.
• The family relationship dynamics in 'Such Brave Girls' are central to its comedy.
• The portrayal of mental health in 'Such Brave Girls' is both humorous and poignant.
• 'Patience' features a neurodivergent protagonist solving crimes.
• The show 'Patience' is an adaptation of a French series.
• 'The Bear' continues to explore the chaos of restaurant life.
• The episode concludes with a preview of Andrew's upcoming trip to the UK.
Chapters
00:00
Introduction to new comedies
07:22
Exploring Such Brave Girls Season 2 and Too Much
18:05
Diving into Patience crime drama
24:49
The Return of 'The Bear and who some people have tuned out
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In this episode of TV Gold, hosts James Manning and Andrew Mercado discuss three shows: Families Like Ours (SBS On Demand, 7 episodes)
Enigma (HBO Max documentary feature)
The Backside of Television (Foxtel/Binge)
They delve into the emotional and societal themes presented in 'Families Like Ours', the intriguing lives of Amanda Lear and April Ashley in 'Enigma', and the historical insights provided by 'The Backside of Television'. The conversation highlights the impact of streaming services on viewing habits and the importance of cultural narratives in television.
Highlights include:
- 'Families Like Ours' presents a harrowing yet brilliant concept.
- The show explores the impact of climate change on families.
- Character decisions in 'Families Like Ours' lead to deep emotional responses.
- 'Enigma' reveals the hidden lives of Amanda Lear and April Ashley.
- The documentary highlights the struggles of trans individuals in the past.
- 'The Backside of Television' uncovers lesser-known stories of Australian TV history.
- Mitch McTaggart's research is commendable and insightful.
- The hosts emphasise the importance of representation in media.
- Cultural reflections in these shows resonate with current societal issues.
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This bonus episode of TV Gold delves into the revival of the iconic Australian television show Number 96, exploring its historical significance, production challenges, cultural impact, and the future of Australian classics in the streaming era.
Andrew Mercado shares insights on the show's groundbreaking themes, its reception, and the efforts to bring it back to audiences through the streaming service Brollie.
Takeaways from this special episode:
Number 96 was a groundbreaking show in the 70s.
The show tackled social issues like LGBT representation and domestic violence.
Andrew Mercado worked on a project to make all the episodes available.
The original tapes of Number 96 are degrading and need digitisation.
The show was a massive ratings hit, airing five nights a week.
Number 96 featured a mix of drama and comedy, appealing to diverse audiences.
The tabloid press played a significant role in the show's popularity.
The introduction of colour TV marked a turning point for the show.
Brollie is working with Andrew to revive and stream other classic Australian TV shows.
UK fans are using VPNs to access Brollie and watch Number 96.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This week on the TV Gold podcast.
Listen on Spotify, Apple and more…links here.
https://pod.link/1106441089
• Smoke (Apple, 9 episodes)Inspired by true events, “Smoke” follows an arson investigator who begrudgingly teams up with a police detective as their race to stop two arsonists ignites a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. Great cast includes Taron Egerton, Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine and Greg Kinnear.
• Hal & Harper (Stan, 8 episodes)Hal & Harper are codependent siblings (played by Cooper Raiff and Lili Reinhart) doing their best to navigate long-term relationships, friendships, and situationships. When their dad (played by Mark Ruffalo) makes a big announcement, the two are forced to consider the current state of their lives and their complicated childhood.
• My Mom Jayne (Max, movie)In her feature film directorial debut—and the first time she has delved into her mother Jayne Mansfield’s story—Mariska Hargitay searches for the mother she never knew almost six decades after the Hollywood legend’s tragic death. A must-see HBO documentary for people interested in Hollywood history and iconic movie stars.
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In this bonus TV Gold episode, Bay of Fires cast member Ilai Swindells (Sammi the tech expert) talks with Andrew and James about working on the hit ABC drama co-created by Marta Dusseldorp. We go behind the scenes to hear about the casting, filming on location in western Tasmania and how the cast were greeted by the locals.
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Reviews this week of two Australian productions, a US family saga and a British medical drama.
• Bay of Fires S2 (ABC iview, 8 episodes)
Season 2 of Marta Dusseldorp’s Bay of Fires sees her taking charge of the strange community that inhabits Mystery Bay.
• Little Disasters (ABC iview, 6 episodes)
This British psychological medical thriller explores female friendships and motherhood. An impressive ensemble cast is led by Diane Kruger and Jo Joyner.
• The Waterfront (Netflix, 8 episodes)
A US drama series from the creator of Dawson’s Creek about the fictional Buckley family. Set against the backdrop of coastal North Carolina, The Waterfront explores family dynamics and the lengths people will go to when their legacy is on the line.
• The Surfer (Stan, movie)
When a surfer (played by Nicolas Cage) returns to Australia to buy back his family home after many years in the US, he is humiliated in front of his teenage son by a group of local surfers who claim ownership over the secluded beach of his childhood. Being hailed by some as a cult classic, The Surfer was shot in a single location in Yallingup in Western Australia.
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Mix Tape (Binge/Foxtel, 4 episodes)
An Australian/Ireland co-production telling the story of a teenage romance in Sheffield which ends abruptly with some unanswered questions. Later in life the former lovers reconnect which impacts their current relationships. Young lovers Alison and Daniel steel the show.
Mr Loverman (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes)
Lennie James stars as Barry. The flamboyant dresser is a celebrity in Hackney, but he carries a secret none in the family or his community know about. Will revealing it cause pain for his family and friends?
Echo Valley (AppleTV+ movie)
Justifiably being billed as an “edge-of-your-seat thriller” starring Julianne Moore as Kate, who goes to extraordinary lengths to help her troubled daughter Claire, played by Sydney Sweeney.
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Four impressive series this week that all were in the running for TV Gold Show of the Week.
• The Survivors (Netflix, 6 episodes)
Producer Tony Ayres has crafted a murder mystery set in Tasmania that will keep you guessing until the final episode. Great cast led by Robyn Malcolm and Damien Garvey.
• Brassic (SBS On Demand and Netflix, 6 seasons)
Hilarious British comedy series set in Northern England which has somehow evaded TV Gold until its sixth season. More great performances here including co-creator Joe Gilgun and Andrew Mercado favourite Michelle Keegan.
• Dept Q (Netflix, 9 episodes)
Detective Carl Morck (played by Matthew Goode) isn’t particularly easy to get along with. Morck is a notorious figure in his adopted home of Edinburgh, Scotland, an English detective who gets under the skin of everyone around him. Watch it for Goode’s lead role, but stay for the brilliant work of co-star Chloe Pirrie.
• This City Is Ours (Stan, 8 episodes)
Sean Bean stars in this crime drama set and filmed in Liverpool, with additional filming in Spain. This City is Ours is the story of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce), a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime. Bean the the crime family patriarch and there’s lots of family drama playing out across the eight episodes.
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This week two dramas about sisters and the much anticipated movie from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong.
• Sirens (Netflix, 5 episodes)
Watch for the exploration of the relationship between working-class Buffalonian Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy) and her younger and somewhat more successful sister Simone (Milly Alcock). Stay for the husband and wife dynamics between socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore) at the lavish beachside estate she shares with her billionaire husband, Peter (Kevin Bacon).
• The Better Sister (Prime Video, 8 episodes)
A thriller that centres around Chloe (Jessica Biel), a high-profile media executive (think Anna Wintour), who lives a picturesque life with her handsome lawyer husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and teenage son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan) by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) struggles to make ends meet and stay clean.
• Mountainhead (Max, movie)
A story about four very nasty tech tycoons, good friends on the surface but cutthroat underneath, who gather for a poker weekend at the luxurious home of the poorest of them, the one who is only worth half a billion dollars!
Jason Schwartzman is Hugo, the host and creator of a meditation app, angling to get one of his friends to invest a billion or so in his business.
Steve Carell is Randy, the oldest of the group, whose contacts in Washington, DC can influence the military and the country's power grid. Diagnosed with incurable cancer, he can't believe money can't fix that, but hopes to cheat death by getting his friends to create an artificial intelligence able to upload a human brain.
Ramy Youssef is Jeff, whose company has a super-efficient AI, and who appears to be the most humane of the four (which isn't saying much).
Cory Michael Smith is Ben, the owner of a social media app called Traan, and the world’s richest man.
Also this week – James visits Clarkson’s pub which features in the new season of Clarkson’s Farm (prime Video) and Andrew has watched new And Just Like That (Binge).
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Nicole Kidman is back running her unconventional wellness retreat, we get to learn a lot about the life and times of Pee-Wee Herman and there’s a messy child mix-up in Playing Nice.
• Nine Perfect Strangers (S2, Prime Video, 8 episodes)
The new season relocates the action to the Austrian Alps and features nine new characters who have been lured to attend another unconventional wellness retreat led by Masha Dmitrichenko, portrayed again by Nicole Kidman.
• Pee-Wee As Himself (Max, 2 episodes)
Justifiably labelled as the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never before discussed personal life. Woven together from over 40 hours of interview footage filmed before Paul Reubens’ premature death in 2023, 1,000 hours of archival footage, and tens of thousands of never-before-seen photographs from his personal collections.
• Playing Nice (SBS, 4 episodes)
Two families, one devastating secret involving their young families. James Norton, Niamh Algar and Jessica Brown Findlay star. Lives unravel and loyalties are tested in the gripping thriller.
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Something for all tastes this episode from science fiction comedy to British drama, a cross-European road trip and an all-star comedy tribute.
• Bergerac, (iview, 6 episodes)
A reboot of the classic British 1980s drama this time with Damien Moloney in the lead role of Jersey detective Jim Bergerac. He gets great support from Zoe Wanamaker as his mother-in-law which is one of the series highpoints.
• Murderbot (AppleTV+, 10 episodes)
Alexander Skarsgård stars in this sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct (robot) who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. All it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out a place in the universe. A familiar dilemma many of us face.
• The Serial Killer’s Wife (Paramount+, 4 episodes)
Beth (Annabel Scholey) is shocked when her husband Tom (Jack Farthing), a village doctor, is arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer. His wife investigates with his best friend and more evidence emerges, forcing her to question if she really knows the man she married.
• Long Way Home (AppleTV+, 10 episodes)
The fourth instalment of a motorbike ride by best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman sees them travel on refurbished vintage motorbikes from Ewan’s home in Scotland to Charley’s in England — but rather than take the shortest route, they go the long way around Scandinavia visiting a total of 17 countries.
• Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Netflix special)
Through his work on the animated series The Simpsons, late-night shows (Saturday Night Live, Late Night, and The Tonight Show), podcasts, and more, Conan O’Brien has been making audiences laugh for 40 years. Now the Kennedy Center has recognised his contributions to comedy by presenting him with the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The special features appearances by Adam Sandler, Andy Richter, John Mulaney, Stephen Colbert, Nikki Glaser, Sarah Silverman, Bill Burr, Will Ferrell, Kumail Nanjiani, and David Letterman
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Just two major series, both UK dramas, are reviewed this episode and the Show of the Week vote is split! Plus Andrew catches up with Etoile.
The Teacher (8 episodes, 9Now)
The second season has little to do with the first series which starred Sheridan Smith. A new cast and a ramped up plot in S2 starts with promiscuous teachers on a school excursion. The first episode takes nasty turn when a student goes missing and the teachers are implicated in a murder investigation.
The Stolen Girl (5 episodes, Disney+)
Denise Gough is great playing a mother who realises her daughter won’t be coming back from a playdate one day after school. Strong performances too from Holliday Grainger as the abductor and Ambika Mod as a dogged journalist covering the abduction.
Andrew also hands in his homework – watching the series Etoile which was first reviewed a week ago by James. He was pleasantly surprised.
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Of the three new series this week, The Four Seasons is the only one Andrew and James have both seen.
Andrew also tuned into Duster and James was working his way through Étoile.
- The Four Seasons (Netflix, 8 episodes): New from Tina Fey who also stars alongside Steve Carrell and Will Forte. Three couples who spend a vacation together every year are tested when one of the couples splits.
- Duster (Max, 8 episodes) New from producer JJ Abrams it tells the story of the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate that goes from awful to wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful.
- Étoile (Prime Video, 8 episodes) New from the creators of The Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is this ambitious drama series about a partnership between the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre in New York and Le Ballet National in Paris. Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg star.
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Four TV series reviewed this week, just one of them brand new, the others are extra seasons of existing programs.
• Scrublands Season 2 (Stan, 4 episodes)
• Government Cheese (AppleTV+, 10 episodes)
• Big Boys Season 3 (iview, 6 episodes)
• The Last Of Us Season 2 (Foxtel/Binge/Max, 7 episodes)
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A slightly different episode for Easter. We review one new Australian drama series and then list our Top 5 shows of the first quarter of 2025.
• Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video, 5 episodes) has dropped with all five eps immediately available. The series tells the story of Australian prisoners of war in World War II who had to help build the Thai-Burma railway and the brutal conditions they lived under in a Japanese detention camp. Great performances from Jacob Elordi and Ciaran Hinds as the young and old Dorrigo Evans and Heather Mitchell and Olivia DeJonge as the young and old Ella Evans.
2025 Top 5 so far
From the 26 series reviewed so far in 2025 Andrew and James have listed their Top 5. There are nine series in all meaning they only agree on one show that featured on both lists.
Those nine series are:
Protection
Amandaland
Invisible Boys
Paradise
Smoggie Queens
Toxic Town
MobLand
Dying for Sex
Your Friends and Neighbours
Listen as the hosts debate their choices and mention several massive series that didn’t make the list.
TV Gold Homework
There was also some extra viewing required from the previous episode with debate around Your Friends and Neighbours, Dying for Sex and Good American Family. Were they all really worthy of Show of the Week status? After watching more episodes of all of them, do Andrew and James change their minds about any of them?
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Tough podcast episode to find just one series for TV Gold Show of the Week! Three very impressive American dramas to choose from. You are going to need access to Disney+ and AppleTV+ accounts to enjoy them all.
• Good American Family (Disney+, 8 episodes) A synopsis that starts "[a series] about the adoption of a child with dwarfism and the subsequent abandonment of the child" doesn't scream must-watch. But a cast led by Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplas make this a compelling watch.
• Dying For Sex (Disney+, 8 episodes) A comedy with a difference features Michelle Williams literally dying for sex. Half hour episodes fly by thanks in part to great supporting cast including Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney and Sissy Spacek.
• Your Friends and Neighbours (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) Jon Hamm turns in an acting masterclass in arguably his best role since Mad Men. And with a character not totally dissimilar to that series' Don Draper. Hamm leads a good life in finance markets, but he finds himself failing to make ends meet and he resorts to drastic measures.
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More Liane Moriarty and more Guy Ritchie this week, and the creators of Will and Grace are back with a new comedy.
• The Last Anniversary (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes)
The latest Liane Moriarty adaption for the small screen from the same team who also worked on Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. Filmed on the Hawksebury River north of Sydney with an impressive Australian cast plus Miranda Richardson.
• MobLand (Paramount+, 10 episodes)
Another British crime drama featuring two warring families. Created by Ronan Bennett who adapted the TV series The Day of the Jackal. Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren star with great support from Tom Hardy and Anton Boon among many others.
• Mid-Century Modern (Disney+) 10 episodes
Nathan Lane stars in this sitcom about three gay best-friends who move in together in Palm Springs. Created by Will and Grace’s David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, with veteran James Borrows directing. Lane’s co-stars are Linda Lavin in her final role before he death during production, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham.
We also have a look at new streaming platform Max and Andrew has returned to 80s classic Moonlighting.
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This week Andrew and James review a White House murder mystery, a dark drama about a drug haul and a satire about the movie business.
• The Residence (Netflix, 8 episodes) sees an eccentric detective sent to the White House to solve the mysterious murder of the chief usher. Loads of Aussie stars and references to the land down under.
• Boat Story (ABC iview, 6 episodes) An ultra-violent and ultra-dark tale about two dog walkers who stumble on a massive cocaine stash washed up on a British beach.
• The Studio (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) Bit controversial this one as our two critics are at loggerheads about this Seth Rogan satire about the movie business. Impressive list of guest appearances throughout, but we are divided on whether you will find many laughs!
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Plenty of debate on TV Gold this week as Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss:
Adolescence (Netflix, 4 episodes) starring Stephen Graham as the father of a 13-year-old accused of murdering a fellow student.
Long Bright River (Stan, 8 episodes) starring Amanda Seyfried as a Philadelphia police woman searching for her sister who is missing at the same time as a serial killer is at work in a rough neighbourhood where her sister lived.
Running Point (Netflix, 10 episodes) is being called the US Ted Lasso. But one of our critics thinks the comedy about Kate Hudson taking over as the President of fictional basketball team LA Waves is better than that!
Andrew also has a few comments about a special new Netflix documentary and two supersoaps that have both been celebrating their 40th anniversaries.
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Toxic Town (Netflix, 4 episodes) is the first of two series this week set in England. Jodie Whittaker stars as one of a group of women in Corby in the Midlands that gave birth to children with physical abnormalities. They subsequently took the local council to court in a battle over compensation to prove that neglect of toxic waste was the cause. Don’t miss a super performance from the wonderful Aimee Lou Wood.
Smoggie Queens (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) is a hilarious comedy about the group of LGBTQ friends in Middlesbrough, northern England. The series is written by and stars Phil Dunning as the unforgettable Dickie. He gives many of the best lines though to Mark Benton’s character Mam.
The White Lotus (S3 Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes) has finally turned up on the TV Gold radar. It has taken three seasons, but we are well and truly hitched to the wagon. This season is set in Koh Samui which coincidentally is where co-host James Manning was when this episode was recorded. Some hilarious characters this season led by Jason Isaacs as a wealthy businessman whose business seems to be spiraling out of control. His family includes Parker Posey as his wife and Patrick Schwarzeneggeras their eldest son. The most interesting couple are arguably Aimee Lou Wood and her older and richer partner Walton Goggins.
This episode also talk about the new streaming service Tubi which is ramping up in Australia and give co-host Andrew Mercado some homework for next week.
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This week we review two drama series featuring fictional US Presidents. And an Oscar winner!
Zero Day (Netflix, 6 episodes) features Robert De Niro in his first TV role as the former US President George Mullen who is called back to serve his country as he tries to track the source of a massive cyber attack. Lizzy Caplan plays the President’s daughter and Jesse Plemons is his political advisor. Good roles too for the great Joan Allan and Bill Camp.
Paradise (Disney+, 8 episodes) is a science fiction political thriller with James Marsden as a US President mysteriously murdered in his bedroom while secret service agents patrolled the property. Sterling K Brown plays the secret service agent who was the last person to see the President alive. But the real star of the series is Julianne Nicholson in a role we can’t really describe without a massive plot spoiler!
We also talk about the big Oscar winner Anora which is now also available to stream (AppleTV and Prime). The Best Actress Oscar went to Mikey Madison who is best known to TV viewers for her work on Better Things and Lady in the Lake and movie viewers for her work in Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood.
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Series reviewed by Andrew and James this week:
Invisible Boys (Stan, 10 episodes)
For Her Sins (BritBox, 4 episodes)
Pose (SBS On Demand, 3 series)
Plus they also talk about the end (again) of Neighbours and the 50th anniversary of colour TV in Australia.
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This week on TV Gold we look at the Stan comedy Amandaland with Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley.
The other main review in this Best of British episode is Breathtaking on 7plus starring Joanne Froggatt as an NHS nurse during the Covid epidemic in London.
Also up for discussion is the AppleTV+ thriller Prime Target starring Leo Woodall as a Cambridge maths student with a brilliant supporting cast including Sidse Babett Knudsen and Martha Plimpton. Plus Andrew has been watching the SBS documentary Saucy! Secrets of the British Sex Comedy.
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After a summer break from podcasting, Andrew Mercado and James Manning are back with their first episode of 2025. Two big shows reviewed this week are Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix) and Protection (Stan).
Andrew and James also have a long list of the best TV series they watched over their summer break. Andrew also has some programming advice for one of the TV networks!
For the complete list make sure you visit the TV Gold Facebook page. Leave us your comments too about what you've been watching.
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The TV Gold critics have delivered their Best of 2024 Lists. There are over 30 shows on the List.
Some of the programs Andrew and James both agree on are:
- Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix)
- Mr Bates vs the Post Office (7plus)
- Ripley (Netflix)
- After the Party (ABC)
- Thou Shall Not Steal (Stan)
- Rivals (Disney+)
Check the complete lists on the TV Gold Facebook page.
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This episode of TV Gold is largely about spies this week as we look at two major espionage dramas.
- Black Doves (Netflix, 6 episodes) features Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire in this expansion of the genre. Meet the Christmas spy thriller.
- The Agency (Paramount+, 10 episodes) This series takes viewers inside the CIA in a tale about its undercover agents working in Europe. Another all-star spy thriller with Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright and Richard Gere as high ranking agents.
- The Sticky (Prime, 6 episodes) A comedy-drama series about Ruth Landry, a maple syrup farmer who, in defiance of a heartless system, assembles a team to undertake the Canadian heist of the century. The target: the country’s multi-million dollar maple syrup surplus.
- Tsunami: Race Against Time (Disney+) The story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the deadliest in history. It follows the wave coast to coast as it spreads, with unseen archive video and stories of survival.
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Three TV series and three recent movies on offer this week.
- Landman (Paramount+, 10 episodes) The latest from Taylor Sheridan with Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore.
- The Madness (Netflix, 8 episodes) A political thriller about a CNN pundit framed for murder.
- Get Millie Black (Binge, 5 episodes) Another crime drama about an officer returning home, but wow is this one a little different.
- Movie bonus: Three new arrivals on Netflix – Laura Dern meets a Hemsworth in Lonely Planet, Lindsay Lohan’s latest Xmas movie and the massive box office flop The Fall Guy turns up on streaming.
- Reminder: Don’t miss last week’s Show of the Week – How To Make Gravy (Foxtel/Binge)
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Three programs reviewed this week – an Australian Christmas movie, and series from the US and UK.
- How to Make Gravy (Binge/Foxtel, movie) The much anticipated movie from Meg Washington and Nick Waterman. Brilliant cast including Daniel Henshall in the lead, another unforgettable Hugo Weaving performance and Meg Washington showing another side of her considerable skills.
- A Man on the Inside (Netflix, 8 episodes) Ted Danson has helped make yet another sitcom a major hit. Here he plays a retired professor moonlighting as a private investigator.
- Douglas in Cancelled (ABC/iview, 4 episodes) A mini-series about the news business and what might happen when you say the wrong thing. Stars Hugh Bonneville with a breakout performance from Karen Gillan as the news program anchors.
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special guest in the TV Gold studio this week as TV Tonight’s David Knox joins the episode.
Programs we review this week below. What will be the Show of the Week?
- Dune Prophecy (Binge, 6 episodes) A prequel to the two Dune movies. An ambitious storyline that has a flavour of Games of Thrones about it. The cast features five Australian actors including Travis Fimmel.
- Nuggett Is Dead (Stan) The latest Christmas movie from the streamer and two very different reviews from Andrew and James.
- Bad Sisters S2 (Apple TV+) A great cast tries to recapture the magic that was Season 1. And you haven’t seen that, forget Season 2 until you’ve enjoyed those episodes.
- Television Event (SBS On Demand) A documentary about the 1983 US telemovie The Day After which pulled a huge audience of people worried about the nuclear arms race.
- Countdown50 (iview) All three commentators this week agree this was a brilliant special. David Knox was in the audience and the TV Gold commentary was unanimous – more please ABC.
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We power through five shows this week – four new series plus the return of Yellowstone.
- The Day of the Jackal (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes) is the big show of the week with a stunning performance in the lead role from Eddie Redmayne.
- The Jury: Death on the Staircase (SBS ON Demand, 5 episodes) A re-enactment of a real manslaughter case, presented word-for-word with actors taking on the roles of the jury.
- Matlock (Paramount+/10) Kathy Bates is a lawyer in her 70s who rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and expose wrongdoing. One of our critics got the plot twist, the other one…well, not so much!
- A Remarkable Place to Die (Seven, 4 episodes) Rebecca Gibney features in this, but despite the publicity, she’s not the star. This murder mystery feels a little like Return to Paradise and it stars Chelsea Preston Crayford.
- Yellowstone (Return of S5, 6 episodes) At last Taylor Sheridan’s biggest hit is back. But without its biggest star. Just how do they tidy up that plotline?
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Andrew and James have seen five new series and a movie between them this week.
They have both watched just the same two though – the Netflix movie Woman of the Hour and the Disney+ series, Doctor Odyssey.
Meanwhile, Andrew has also seen Rescue High Surf (Binge) and It's Florida Man (Binge).
James has returned to the second seasons of two shows he loved the first time around – The Diplomat (Netflix) and Lioness (Paramount+).
Listen to what they both have to say including their Show of the Week.
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Four new series reviewed this week, three of them featuring Anna Torv!
- Territory (Netflix) is the series currently sitting at the top of the Netflix chart. Tells the story of a struggle to control the biggest cattle farm in Australia. Great cast and impressive photography.
- Before (AppleTV+) is a thriller starring Billy Crystal as a child psychiatrist with a patient who has a spooky relationship to the doctor.
- Nautilus (Stan) was shelved by Disney after they spent a fortune on filming it in Australia. Stan then picked it up. The fantasy tells the story of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
- So Long, Marianne (SBS On Demand) This Norwegian drama covers the years Leonard Cohen spent on the Greek Island of Hydra. The cast includes Noah Taylor and Anna Torv as Australian writers George Johnston and Charmian Clift.
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This week our search for the best dramas on TV looks at three new series:
- Rivals (Disney+) – The fascinating world of TV starring David Tennant and Aidan Turner in this bonkfest based on a Jilly Cooper novel. Plenty of posh people that can't keep their pant on!
- Four Years Later (SBS) – The latest drama from the TV hit factory (Easy Tiger). The series charts the lives of an Indian couple who relocate to Australia.
- Passenger (BritBox) – A British crime drama that investigates unnatural incidents in a close-knit community.
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Three Australian TV series this week.
Though Shall Not Steal (Stan) An amazing road trip across the Northern Territory in the 1980 starring Noah Taylor and Miranda Otto. Yet the series really belongs to the young road trippers Will McDonald and Sherry-Lee Watson.
The Office (Prime Video) The much-anticipated remake of the format that has proven to be such a hit in first the UK, and then later in the US. Get past the first episode and you might find the laughs come along with some very awkward situations.
Plum (ABC) It’s got Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie and has been made by John and Dan Edwards. Also a great supporting cast and a storyline that is very contemporary.
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Major drama releases from Australia, the US and the US via the UK this episode.
- Disclaimer (AppleTV+, 7 episodes) drama set in the UK and Italy. Few major reasons to watch – Cate Blanchett stars, series created by five-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón and Leila George is a major scene-stealer.
- Last Days of the Space Age (Disney+, 8 episodes) Two very different views on this series from Andrew and James. The ambitious period drama is set in Perth 1979 and features the return to Australia of Jesse Spencer. Don’t let the title mislead you, this tells the story of three families in the Perth suburbs dealing with a number of different challenges.
- Teacup (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes) Bit hard to talk too much about this horror show without hinting at what happens. Try this from the press kit: Humans like to think they're in control. But when something comes along and disrupts our carefully maintained sense of fabricated order, then the real terror begins. From Australian horror guru James Wan.
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Three series, one movie and a doco are reviewed this week.
Joan (Stan) is a major new UK drama with Sophie Turner in a real life story about London’s infamous diamond thief Joan Hannington.
Will & Harper (Netflix) is a very moving and very funny doco about Will Ferrell driving across the USA with longtime friend Harper Steele who came out as a trans woman recently aged 61.
Nobody Wants This (Netflix) is a comedy about the relationship that develops between Kristen Bell as an outspoken podcaster and Adam Brody as an unconventional rabbi.
The Franchise (Binge/Foxtel) follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe.
Salem’s Lot (Binge/Foxtel) is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 bestselling novel that reunites the producing teams behind the record-breaking horror franchises The Conjuring universe and the It films.
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Four shows reviewed on TV Gold this week:
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story (Netflix series, 9 episodes)
• La Maison (AppleTV+ 10 episodes)
• Wolfs (AppleTV+ movie)
• Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval (Netflix standup comedy special)
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A bonus episode of TV Gold this week with special guest Shaun Micallef.
He talks to Andrew and James about his new series Shaun Micallef's Origin Odyssey.
Episodes now available on SBS On Demand or watch on SBS Tuesday nights.
In the new series, Shaun Micallef joins six comedians as they undertake transformative journeys around the world, diving deep into their culture, history and identity.
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Three big series up for review this week – two from the US and one from the UK.
- A Very Royal Scandal (Prime Video, 3 episodes) Another production recreating the infamous Prince Andrew BBC interview with Emily Maitlis. This time Michael Sheen is Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson is Emily Maitlis.
- The Penguin (Binge/Foxtel 8 episodes) Andrew loved this straight away, but it took James until episode 2 to get on board. Find out why Andrew was an early adopter and what two things changed James’ mind. Colin Farrell is amazing, but we point out a scene stealer to watch out for.
- English Teacher (Disney+, 8 episodes) The surprise package of the week is this US sitcom about a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas. It’s not hard to fall in love with this and its cast led by Brian Jordan Alvarez (who also created the series) and the very funny Stephanie Koenig.
Tough pick for a Show of the Week. Andrew and James chose different programs. What was the unlucky series that missed out?
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Three crime dramas reviewed this week…but all very different crime stories.
The Perfect Couple (Netflix, 6 episodes) sees Nicole Kidman again playing a successful novelist. This time she is preparing for the wedding of one of her sons to something of an outsider to their Nantucket crowd. Don’t miss the excellent cast, an intriguing murder mystery, the dysfunctional family, a cult hit credit sequence and the best book launch you’ve ever seen.
Nightsleeper (Stan, 6 episodes) tells the real-time story of the virtual hijacking of a train travelling from Glasgow to London. Plot twists a plenty and enough cliffhangers to keep you engaged until the last minutes.
Suspect (S2, SBS 8 episodes) Anne-Marie Duff is marvellous as a therapist grieving the death of her daughter when she learns about an impending murder that no one seems willing to help her investigate.
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Two new Australian productions and an ambitious western are reviewed on TV Gold this week.
- Return to Paradise (ABC) 6 episodes. A spinoff from the dramas Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise. This new series explores the crime wave hitting sleepy Dolphin Cove.
- Human Error (Nine) 6 episodes. A look at Melbourne’s underworld in the suburbs as some of the Underbelly producers and writers are reunited for this thrilling crime mystery.
- Horizon (Stan) This three-hour movie was a flop in cinemas in the US and it has now lobbed on Stan. It looks great, but how engaging is the storyline?
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Three shows reviewed this week – a British drama, an Australian drama into its second season, and another great documentary on Netflix.
The Jetty (BritBox) 4 episodes. Jenna Coleman returns in a new series where she plays a detective in a Lancashire lakeside village. What starts as an arson investigation soon gets a whole lot more complicated.
The Last King of the Cross (Paramount+) 8 episodes. A second season of the series telling the story of John Ibrahim blending fact and fiction. This time the action moves from Kings Cross to Oxford Street, Darlinghurst.
Remembering Gene Wilder (Netflix) Documentary that tells the story of the Hollywood actor, writer and director. Great interviews with family and friends including the great Mel Brooks.
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Bit of a different TV Gold adventure this week as Andrew Mercado and James Manning start off with the reviews of two drama programs and then divert into reality TV.
The series and movies we look at are:
• Coma (9Now) 4 episodes
• The Instigators (AppleTV+) movie
• The Holdovers (Foxtel) movie
• Dating Naked UK (Paramount+)
• The Boyfriend (Netflix)
We finish off the episode with a chat about the TV Week Logies 2024 which includes the drama wins for Boy Swallows Universe. Andrew was unhappy about the length of the awards night and has a few suggestions for fixing it.
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This week on TV Gold we review:
• Bad Monkey (AppleTV+, 10 ep series) features Vince Vaughan as a wise-cracking Florida detective who takes work as a health inspector after being suspended from the force.
• What Remains (BritBox, 4 ep series) a mix of police procedural and gothic horror set in an apartment building in London.
• Find Me Falling (Netflix movie) features Harry Connick, Jr as a rock star taking a career break on Cyprus.
• The Promise (Stan documentary) features former ABC Newcastle radio host Craig Hamilton. In telling his story, Craig aims to spark a conversation, an action and a solution for mental health and suicide prevention.
• Also Great Australian Walks (SBS, 10 eps) and Made in Bondi (Seven).
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This week on TV Gold, Andrew and James review: Critical Incident (Stan), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Prime) and Rebus (SBS).
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This week Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (HBO Documentary on Binge & Foxtel) Features a newly recovered interview with Taylor and unprecedented access to the movie star’s personal archive.
Malpractice (7Plus, 5 episodes) A British medical drama with a memorable performance from Niamh Algar who has quite a few issues she’s trying to deal with.
Mr Bigstuff (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) A comedy that explores broken families, brotherhood, manhood and carpet sales. And Andrew explains the cult of Danny Dyer!
We also look at The Decameron (Netflix), the Presumed Innocent (AppleTV+) final episode and we farewell BBC First.
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This week Andrew and James review Lady in the Lake (AppleTV+, 7 episodes) and Those About to Die (Prime Video).
Andrew also reviews Brats (Disney+) and James has been watching Omnivore (AppleTV+).
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• The biggest series reviewed this week is the second season of The Twelve (Foxtel/Binge). Sam Neill is back as one of the defence team in the court case this season. He is joined by Frances O’Connor while the prosecution is headed by Fayssal Bazzi.
• Let the Canary Sing (Paramount+, documentary) tells the story of Cyndi Lauper in her own words with loads of her hits and insights from Cyndi, her first manager and a number of musical colleagues including Boy George and Patti Labelle.
• Fam Times (7Plus, 6 episodes) is a fascinating study of how a sitcom can go wrong. Made by Seven in 2019, the series has only now popped up on 7Plus. It’s not all bad though and listen to our viewing guide about how to get to the good stuff.
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Four new releases reviewed this week – two dramas, a documentary and a movie.
- Fake – (Paramount+, 8 episodes) Asher Keddie and David Wenham star in this drama about liars, cheats, fantasists and phonies.
- Faye – (Binge/Foxtel documentary) Academy Award-winning actress and multi-decade movie star, Faye Dunaway, recounts the triumphs and challenges of her movie career. The star of Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, plus the controversial Mommie Dearest, speaks honestly about Hollywood and reflects on criticism she has faced along the journey.
- The Bear – (Disney+, 10 episodes) Season three of The Bear follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the next level.
- A Family Affair (Netflix, movie) Don’t miss what Andrew and James make of this zinger! When Zara (Joey King) quits her job as the personal assistant to Hollywood heartthrob Chris Cole (Zac Efron), she unwittingly sets the stage for a chance encounter between Chris and her famous writer mum, Brooke (Nicole Kidman). And guess what happens next!
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Men Up (Britbox, movie) tells the story of the first clinical trial of the drug Viagra and the impact it had on the men and their partners.
Land of Women (AppleTV+, 6 episodes) stars Eva Longoria who suddenly flees New York for Spain with her mother and daughter.
My Lady Jane (Prime Video, 6 episodes) mixes period drama and fantasy in this story about Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for just 9 days.
The Responder (S2, SBS On Demand, 6 episodes) continues the story of corrupt Liverpool policeman Chris Carson as played brilliantly by Martin Freeman.
Otto by Otto (Stan documentary) is written and directed by Gracie Otto, celebrating her father, Australian theatre and film icon Barry Otto.
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The first of some TV Gold bonus episodes: TV Icons with Andrew Mercado. The first episode features Gaynor Wheatley.
Listen to the audio only version here.
Or watch Andrew on YouTube here
https://www.youtube.com/@TVSoaps-pv9su
Before marrying promoter Glenn Wheatley, Gaynor Martin was a huge TV star. She was first seen in 1979 on Crawfords' airport drama Skyways before then being relocated to Holiday Island. When that show bit the dust, Gaynor was snapped up by Sons and Daughters to play another rich bitch who locked horns with Pat the Rat. Her TV career was put on hold so she could raise three children with Wheatley, but when he died in 2022, Gaynor stepped up to complete a long cherished project of his. The documentary film John Farnham: Finding The Voice is now the highest grossing Aussie doco of all time as well as winning the AACTA Award for Best Documentary. A generation of soap fans, however, will never forget that amazing run on TV and here she finally talks about how that all happened.
00:00 - Start
01:30 - Skyways debut
05:05 - Carmen Duncan plays mum
09:00 - inspired by Universal's Airport movies?
12:30 - Bill Stalker
14:00 - NASA
15:25 - working with chroma key
18:20 - Skyways cast
21:08 - Holiday Island
30:22 - using her own wardrobe
31:45 - Bunney Brooke
32:38 - Crawfords crossover
34:30 - Hector Crawford
38:10 - Sons and Daughters
39:19 - Rowena Wallace
41:08 - those changing hairstyles!
42:18 - Glenn Wheatley
49:13 - John Farnham
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Two Stan dramas this week and an AppleTV+ remake.
Presumed Innocent (AppleTV+, 8 episodes) is a remake of the 1990 court-room drama movie of the same name starring Harrison Ford. In this TV version, Jake Gyllenhaal takes the lead role as he investigates the murder of a colleague.
Exposure (Stan, 6 episodes) tells the story of Jacs Gould (played by Alice Englert), a photographer, who is coming to terms with the death by suicide of her closest friend. While searching for answers her own buried trauma percolates to the surface.
Lost Boys and Fairies (Stan, 3 episodes) is about Welsh gay couple Gabriel and his partner Andy and the challenges they face trying to adopt a child.
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This week on TV Gold, a US docudrama with two Australian lead actors, a quirky UK comedy and a much-anticipated Australian drama.
Clipped (Disney+, 6 episodes) tells the story of the owner of the LA Clippers NBA team and the trouble he got into over secretly recorded racist comments. Playing the wife and the mistress of the Clippers owner are Aussies Jackie Weaver and Cleopatra Coleman.
The Cleaner (ABC/iview and BritBox) stars Greg Davies as a cleaner working on murder scenes after the police finish with the scene. The two series feature some notable guest stars including Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Lewis Jones, Harriet Walter and Zoe Wanamaker.
Ladies in Black (ABC/iview, 6 episodes) continues some of the storylines from the 2018 movie of the same name. The key cast is Debi Mazar, Miranda Otto, Jessica De Gouw and they are joined by newcomer Clare Hughes who has an impressive screen presence in her first professional role. A huge supporting cast includes Sascha Horler, Carlos Sanson Jr, Ngali Shaw, Todd McKenny, Krew Boylan, Gemma Ward, Hazem Shammas, and scene stealer Peter O’Brien as a flamboyant fashion photographer.
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Two Australian sitcoms and a major Netflix drama this episode.
Eric (Netflix, series) stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a talented yet troubled New York kids TV guru in this crime thriller. A great supporting cast, New York in the 1980s and a brilliant soundtrack.
Colin From Accounts (S2 Binge/Foxtel) continues the great work started by Harriet Dyer, Patrick Brammall and the talented creatives assembled by the Easy Tiger team in Season 1.
Austin (ABC/iview) features the talented Michael Theo working with British actors Ben Miller and Sally Phillips with a great supporting cast including Gia Carides and Roy Billing. Laughs galore.
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As the second series of the now iconic Australian comedy Colin From Accounts drops on Binge and Foxtel, TV Gold meets the makers. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk with Easy Tiger producers Ian Collie and Rob Gibson about their first meeting with Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall and how together they turned their idea into a global hit. In addition to Colin From Accounts, we also get an update on their production house that is also home to other TV hits including One Night, Scrublands and The Twelve.
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A comedy, a lifestyle show and a new drama this week.
Hacks Season 3 (Stan, series) is being labelled by some as the best series yet of the comedy about standup legend Deborah Vance.
Restoration Australia (ABC/iview, series) is a factual series James loves. The first episode of Season 6 is set in the Queensland capital. He and Andrew discuss how great a city Brisbane is.
Insomnia (Stan, series) is the premium drama reviewed this week. It stars TV Gold favourite Vicky McClure and just might be a trigger for you if you can't sleep!
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Shows Andrew and James are reviewing this week are:
After the Flood (BritBox, series) In the aftermath of a devastating Yorkshire flood, an unidentified man is found dead, and PC Jo Marshall (Sophie Rundle) becomes fixated on uncovering the truth behind the man's death.
Dark Matter (AppleTV+, series) Viewers are being promised a mind-bending thriller. Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton) is abducted into an alternate version of his own life. To get back to his real family, Dessen embarks on a journey to save them from the biggest foe imaginable: himself. Based on Blake Crouch's bestseller.
Bodkin (Netflix, series) Will Forte and Siobhán Cullen (Obituary) play true crime podcasters investigating a disappearance in a small Irish village. They investigate the nefarious goings-on swirling beneath the seemingly idyllic veneer of the titular small town in Ireland, where several mysterious disappearances occurred 25 years ago.
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Three major new series reviewed this week including a Donald Trump satire, a Tudor murder mystery and a drama about a Black Panther leader.
The Big Cigar (AppleTV+) is a drama that chronicles the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton’s escape to Cuba.
Shardlake (Disney+) is a 16th century murder mystery where Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell sends his lawyer to investigate a murder in a monastery.
A Man in Full (Netflix) stars Jeff Daniels is a satire about a Trump-like character who owes a mountain of debt to his bankers. Could getting elected be a way out for him?
We also talk this week about Clarkson's Farm (Prime) and its surprise sex scenes warning, The War on Disco (SBS On Demand) and Travel Guides (Nine).
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Four programs reviewed this week:
The Veil (Disney+, series) Elisabeth Moss stars in this thriller about an MI6 agent bringing in a suspected ISIS senior officer.
Red Eye (Stan, series) Richard Armitage plays a doctor who was framed for a murder in China. He spends all of the episode in the air trying to flee the country.
We Were the Lucky Ones (Disney+, series) – A Jewish family split apart during WW2 are determined to survive and reunite.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz (Stan, series) Holocaust survivor Lali, played by Harvey Keitel, tells his story of his time in a concentration camp and how he met his wife.
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Baby Reindeer (Netflix, series) is the latest hit series from the hottest streaming platform this year by a long way. Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story (Disney+, series) features interviews and archival footage with original band members including former guitarist Richie Sambora. After The Party (ABC iview, series) is a brilliant New Zealand drama starring Robin Malcolm which will keep you riveted until the final moments of episode six.
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The New Zealand drama After the Party has just launched on ABC iview where all six episodes are available to watch. TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado called it “one of the best dramas of the year”. Nine Publishing gave it 5 stars and called it a must-watch. TV Tonight called the series “an uncomfortable but utterly compelling ride” and give it 4 1/2 stars.
Robyn Malcolm joined TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning to talk about the Lingo Pictures series she co-created and stars in. Malcolm talks too about one of the best TV series of 2023 she also starred in – Far North. Don’t miss this special podcast episode.
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We start this episode with a very different love story, Alice & Jack (BBC First/Binge/Foxtel, series).
Swift Street (SBS, series) tells the story of petty crime in suburban Melbourne.
White Lies (Stan, series) is a crime investigation starring Natalie Dormer set in South Africa.
Sugar (AppleTV+, series) sees Colin Farrell playing LA detective John Sugar.
How to Poison the Planet (Stan documentary) is a brilliant documentary made in collaboration with The Sydney Morning Herald that tells a chilling tale about how we are impacted by poisons let loose by the chemical industry.
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This week’s TV goes from suburban Sydney to Saigon and Paris. Stars in the series include Robert Downey Jr, Sandra Oh, Angus Sampson and Michael Douglas
The Sympathizer (Binge/Foxtel, series) tells the story of a half-French, half-Vietnamese spy during the final days of the Vietnam War.
The second series of Heartbreak High (Netflix, series) starts with a school fire at the end of term. But it’s then back to the start of the school year.
Benjamin Franklin and his diplomatic efforts are the subject of Franklin (AppleTV+, series). Michael Douglas is the lead and the series details the years one of America’s founding fathers spent in France.
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Four very memorable pieces of television this week for very different reasons.
We start with the compelling British crime drama Truelove (BBC First on Fetch, Binge or Foxtel, series.)
Next is Ripley (Netflix, series) with a standout performance from Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley in a new version of the Patricia Highsmith novel The Talented Mr Ripley.
The sole Australian production under review this episode is White Fever (ABC/iview, series) which starts off at a furious pace with an episode you are not likely to forget.
Finally, we watch the TV movie Scoop (Netflix) with Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew.
It’s a dramatisation about how the BBC’s Newsnight managed to convince the Prince to be a guest and be interviewed by journalist Emily Maitlis.
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3 Body Problem (Netflix, series) is the much-anticipated new series from the creators of Game of Thrones. This is the first of 4 shows reviewed this week. One of the TV Gold hosts checked out immediately, while the other hung around.
A Gentleman in Moscow (Paramount+, series) is a stunning piece of television starring Ewan McGregor as a Russian count sentenced to spend his life inside one Moscow hotel after the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Steve (AppleTV+ 2-part documentary) chronicles the life of American comedian and actor Steve Martin.
Finally this week, the latest work from Sally Wainwright, the creator of Happy Valley and Gentleman Jack. Renegade Nell (Disney+, series) tells the story of a women who accidentally becomes a notorious outlaw with a magical spirit that protects her when needed. It might sound strange, but Wainwright makes this drama set in 18th century England work.
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Two new dramas set in the media and a series set at the end of the American Civil War.
Obituary (BritBox, series) tells the story of an obituary writer for a small Irish newspaper. She needs more bodies to keep her job. You’ll be surprised at her initiative.
The Girls on the Bus (Binge/Foxtel, series) is set on the campaign trail for a US election in what is an election year in the US. We meet four very different reporters who chase their stories in four different ways. Even though it is set in the current day, it manages to feature cameos from a character playing gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson.
Manhunt (AppleTV+, series) is a dramatic recreation about the hunt for the killer of American president Abraham Lincoln.
As an Easter extra, Andrew and James detail their greatest hits of the year so far with some viewing tips if you have time over Easter for catch-up viewing.
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The important, yet challenging to watch, story of Jimmy Savile is recreated in The Reckoning (Binge/Foxtel, series). Savile is played by Steve Coogan and the disc jockey manages to land a job with the BBC in the 60s on the then new music show Top of the Pops. The series explores the impact of his crimes and the difficulties faced by those who tried to raise the alarm.
Palm Royale (Apple TV+, series) features Kristen Wiig as an ambitious woman trying to become a member of the most exclusive club in Palm Beach at the end of the 60s. Watch it for the wonderful period recreation and the excellent supporting cast.
Our third series up for review this week is The Gentlemen (Netflix, series), from creator/writer/director/executive producer Guy Ritchie. It is really the surprise package out of these three series. It tells the story of a son who surprisingly inherits the family estate instead of his older brother. And wow, does he uncover a few surprises hidden in that family!
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High Country star Leah Purcell is the guest on this bonus edition of TV Gold. She join’s TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning to talk about her new series now on Binge and Foxtel. Set in the Victorian north east around Jamieson, Purcell talks about what drew her to the series and the wonderful location that is the setting for the 8 episodes.
In addition to talking about her character Andie Whitford, Purcell also discusses working with some of her acting colleagues including Ian McElhinney, Aaron Pederson and Henry Nixon. Listeners will also hear a scoop about plans to make a sequel to The Drover’s Wife. Purcell also discusses the possibility of a second season of High Country.
Make sure you follow the TV Gold podcast to get alerts about the regular weekly review episodes plus these bonus specials.
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Three series we are calling Australian dramas this week.
Starting with Apples Never Fall (Binge/Foxtel series, 7 episodes). Filmed in Queensland from an Australian author’s book is enough for us to claim it. Sam Neill and Annette Bening star in this family drama set in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Next up is Population 11 (Stan, series 12 episodes) which is another quirky comedy/thriller set in outback Australia. Filmed in Derby, WA, it tells the story of the US son of the local tour guide returning home to discover his dad has gone missing.
Finally, another powerhouse performance from Leah Purcell. This time in High Country (Binge/Foxtel series, 8 episodes) as a country police officer thrown into a missing person investigation.
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Three very ambitious dramas this week – two set in Europe and the third in 17th century Japan. Shōgun (Disney+ series, 10 episodes) tells the story of how a British sailor was captured in Japan after his ship ran aground. It’s a big budget, sprawling historical drama.
The Regime (Binge/Foxtel series, 6 episodes) brings Kate Winslet back to television in this satire about a Central European regime. After her brilliance in The Mare of Easttown, does Winslet bring the magic again?
Mary and George (Binge/Foxtel series, 7 episodes) is a British history drama about King James I and the male lover he takes after the young man’s mother hatched a plot to get him into the royal household. The series features some wonderful scenes with Julianne Moore facing off against Nicola Walker.
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A Netflix triple-play this week and a quirky New Zealand comedy.
The Netflix productions start with the Tyler Perry movie Mea Culpa with Kelly Rowland as an ethically-challenged criminal lawyer. The movie is already #1 on the Netflix movie chart. Next up is Can I Tell You A Secret?, a 2-part docudrama about a very creepy UK stalker and how he created chaos for many women and how they ultimately trapped him. Thirdly from Netflix is Loudermilk, 3 seasons of a Canadian sitcom overlooked on Prime and now getting a big crowd on its new platform.
Finally, this week we have another sitcom about two lesbians who get more than they bargained for when trying to have a baby – Double Parked (ABC iview, 8 episodes).
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A deeper dive on two very different dramas that do have connecting themes. First up for review is House of Gods (ABC/iview, series) telling the story of the Messenger Mosque and the ambitious family involved in its leadership. Next up is Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (AppleTV+, movie). James manages to find some connections with his favourite drama Billions. When it comes to Show of the Week, Andrew decides to choose another program not on the original running sheet! The hosts also talk about the launch of Hubbl and Andrew has been watching MAFS!
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Two major new dramas are reviewed this episode. The first is a real surprise package – Three Women (Stan, series). It features Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin starring in a story adapted from the book of the same name. We guarantee there’s a few scenes in those first two episodes you won’t forget in a hurry. The other new release is The New Look (AppleTV+, series). Ben Mendelsohn stars as Christian Dior and Juliette Binoche is Coco Chanel. The series starts with the story of how the fashion designers survived the Nazi occupation of Paris and then how their businesses grew after the war.
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You shouldn’t overlook the brilliant Mr Bates vs The Post Office (Seven & 7plus, series) which tells the tale of what is being called the worst miscarriage of justice ever in the British legal system. Also this week we look at the latest adaption of the David Nicholls’ novel One Day (Netflix, series). Also the Australian feature film Five Blind Dates (Prime, movie), a romcom from Goalpost Pictures that is set in Townsville and Sydney.
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Five new series reviewed this week. A brilliant cast is the reason not to miss the second season of Feud (Binge/Foxtel series), sub-titled Capote vs The Swans. Also this week is Griselda (Netflix, series) from the creators of Narcos. Three Little Birds (BritBox, series) from writer and producer Lenny Henry. Also Mr & Mrs Smith (Prime, series) and finally, the brilliant doco Nemesis, about the three recent Liberal Party prime ministers Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison.
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Three impressive dramas this week, all with good reasons to watch. It was a challenging week to pick a Show of the Week (at least for James…Andrew was decisive). First off Masters of the Air (AppleTV+, series) was under the microscope. The World War II airforce drama cost a bomb to make and you see where they money went the moment you start watching.
Next up is Maryland (Britbox, series) which features the brilliant Suranne Jones and Eve Best as estranged sisters dealing with a family tragedy.
Finally TV Gold reviews the Nicole Kidman-led drama about life in Hong Kong, Expats (Prime, series). It’s an impressive piece of work on-screen and off by Kidman, her production company and the cast.
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The new Australian drama Prosper (Stan, series) is a must-watch for many reasons. Especially for the great work of Rebecca Gibney, Richard Roxburgh and Ewen Leslie as family members running the U Star church.
Also this week we review True Detective S4 (Binge/Foxtel, series) featuring the work of Jodie Foster, Culprits (SBS On Demand, series), Role Play (Prime, movie) and Criminal Record (AppleTV+, series).
Don’t miss our separate episode on Stan’s Prosper, with special guest Rebecca Gibney.
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Andrew and James both nominated new Stan drama series Prosper as the TV Gold Show of the Week in the January 18 episode. In this bonus episode, they talk to one of the stars of the Stan series, Rebecca Gibney. In the Stan Original about an evangelical megachurch run by the wealthy and powerful Quinn family, Rebecca plays Abi Quinn, a pastor at the U Star church and the husband of the U Star founder Cal, played by Richard Roxburgh.
On the podcast, Rebecca talks about what
drew her to the character of Abi, her own experience with religion, and the amazing cast she co-stars with. She also discusses the main locations scouted by the team at Lingo Pictures –the U Star HQ and the Quinn family home which looks like a house that appears in another recent Australian hit drama series.
This is the ultimate TV Guide to Prosper.
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First show back for 2024 and there’s already a long hist of quality TV to watch.
We start this week with the Australian epic Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix, 7 episodes). Michelle Keegan and Joanna Lumley star in the UK crime thriller Fool Me Once (Netflix, 8 episodes). The incredible true story of the 1972 plane crash in the Andes is told in Society of the Snow (Netflix, movie).
More compelling Australian drama with an impressive cast joining Deborah Mailman and Wayne Blair in the third and final season of Total Control (ABC, iview, 6 episodes).
We also look at a sitcom with a difference, Ted (Binge, 7 episodes) and the sci-fi movie shot in Australia, Foe (Prime).
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There were so many great TV shows this year we have recorded two episodes listing them all. Joining Andrew Mercado and James Manning in both these episodes is TV Tonight founder David Knox.
There is a list of over 20 shows we all enjoyed including The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime), Scrublands (Stan), Bay of Fires (ABC iview) and While the Men Are Away (SBS On Demand).
See a complete list of all the shows we mention at mediaweek.com.au.
Don’t miss the other TV Gold Year in Review podcast episode which covers International TV.
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There were so many great TV shows this year we have recorded two episodes listing them all. Joining Andrew Mercado and James Manning in both these episodes is TV Tonight founder David Knox.
There is a comprehensive selection of over 40 international dramas, comedies and documentaries to choose from if you are catching up on the best of 2023. Those series include Stonehouse (Britbox), Beef (Netflix), The Sixth Commandment (Binge), The Long Shadow (Stan) and The Last of Us (Binge).
See a complete list of all the shows we mention at mediaweek.com.au.
Don’t miss the other TV Gold Year in Review podcast episode which covers Australian TV.
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Five big productions as the year draws to an end. The podcast starts with a review of Archie (Britbox, series), the dramatised life of Cary Grant and his relationship with Dyan Cannon. Then it’s our sole movie this week, the Australian-made horror film Talk To Me (Netflix).
Suranne Jones always gets plenty of time on a TV Gold podcast and this week we look at season two of the crime thriller Vigil (Binge/Foxtel, series), then there is a change of pace with the hilarious Smothered (Binge/Foxtel, series) and the very popular Australian comedy from John and Dan Edwards, Bump (Stan S4, series).
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Three big drama releases this week, all featuring strong female lead characters plus we have another Australian documentary original from Stan.
The three dramas are Asher Keddie as a character “inspired” by Mia Freedman in Strife (Binge, series); Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick as backpackers in The Royal Hotel (Binge, movie); and Jodie Whittaker, Bella Ramsey and Tamara Lawrence on the wrong side of the law in the second season of Time (BBC First, series).
Andrew also talks about the Australian original documentary Ben Roberts-Smith: Truth on Trial (Stan) and James has a preview of Archie, the dramatized biography of Cary Grant, a series they will be discussing next week.
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Three of this week’s shows under review are Australian dramas and the fourth is a UK documentary that owes much to Aussies. The dramas are Paper Dolls (Paramount+, series), The Artful Dodger (Disney+, series) and Baz Luhrmann’s reimagining of his movie Australia, now a six-parter, called Faraway Downs (Disney+, series).
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This week we examine the first four episodes of the final season of The Crown (Netflix, series). It’s all about Diana and Dodi, but there’s much more too as Queen Elizabeth and (then) Prince Charles are called on by their country. Other new shows this week reviewed are Fargo (SBS, series), A Murder at the End of the World (Disney+), Jones Family Christmas (Stan, movie) and Signora Volpe (UKTV).
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Stan has another Australian Original hit on its hands with Scrublands based on the novel by Chris Hammer. Also this week The Killer (Netflix, movie), 007: Road to a Million (Prime) and Robbie Williams (Netflix). A couple of quick mentions too for the movie NYAD with Jodie Foster and Annette Benning (Netflix) and the documentary The Lost City of Melbourne (SBS).
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The four TV series looked at this week live on just two streaming platforms. The fifth instalment of the NCIS franchise is reviewed this episode as NCIS: Sydney (Paramount+, series) launches in Australia before it debuts in the US on CBS. Also this week we look at World War II drama All The Light We Cannot See (Netflix, series), a time-traveling thriller Bodies (Netflix, series), and the patience-testing reality TV parody The Curse (Paramount+ series).
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That was awkward! Bit of sensitivity this week when one host’s choice for Show of the Week is slammed by the other host. What could it be? Andrew and James power through five programs this week: Milli Vanilli (Paramount+, doco), Boiling Point (BBC First, series), A Friend of the Family (7plus, series), Night Bloomers (SBS On Demand, series) and Australian Epic (ABC and iview, series).
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We start this episode with The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix series). No spoilers, but the Shows of the Week (two this week) come from these four programs – Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles (Prime doco), Fellow Travelers (Paramount+ series), Erotic Stories (SBS series) and Darradong Local Council (7mate and 7plus).
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Another busy week in front of the TV with some great recommendations. The Burning Girls (Paramount+ series) arrives in time for Halloween. Payback (BritBox series) is a British crime drama from Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio. Surviving Summer (Netflix, two series) is a family drama from Australian producer Joanna Werner. Never Let Him Go (Disney+ documentary) comes from ABC News in the US and Blackfella Films in Australia. Also this week The Burial (Prime movie) and Andrew talks about his visit to Broken Hill for a new documentary he is filming. James reveals his highlight of the week was Damian Lewis in a leather jacket and Slayer T-shirt as the metal band blazed away on the soundtrack in the third last episode ever of Billions (Stan).
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Three very different dramas on three different streaming platforms this week. Love is in the Air (Netflix movie) is a romcom starring Delta Goodrem about a Queensland airline serving the Whitsunday Islands. Bargain (Paramount+ series 6 episodes) is a dystopian drama from Korea that covers a lot of ground and many troubling issues – and that is just the first episode. The Long Shadow (Stan 7 episodes) is a stunning crime drama that takes a very different look at the investigation into the Yorkshire Ripper case where a killer was convicted of 13 murders and seven attempted murders.
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We start this episode with a detailed review of the new Stan Original CAUGH*T from creator and star Kick Gurry. Next up is the wonderful new drama While the Men Are Away (SBS) which details life in a country town during the Second World War. Lastly, Andrew has a look at the new season of Sex Education (Netflix). There is also discussion about what series we have recently finished, ads on SBS and Binge, we list our Show of the Week and tease some of the great TV coming in the weeks ahead.
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Our latest bonus episode features Andrew and James talking to the writer, producer and director of CAUGH*T, Kick Gurry. All episodes are now available to watch on Stan. Just how did Gurry get some of Hollywood's biggest stars, who appear alongside Australia's finest, to work on this Aussie independent production? The movie tells the story of Australian troops sent into a conflict zone. After their capture they make a hostage video that goes viral around the world.
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One documentary and three new dramas this week. The documentary is The Super Models (AppleTV+) which features the life and times of Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell. The dramas are Far North (Paramount+), The Other Black Girl (Disney+) and The Following Events Are Based on a Pack of Lies (BBC First on Foxtel & Binge).
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Three international dramas reviewed this week plus Andrew speaks about the first episodes of the relaunch of Neighbours.
The Changeling (AppleTV+) is a horror/fantasy series that starts well. Wilderness (Prime Video) is a six-episode suspense thriller with Jenna Coleman in the lead role. The Gold (Paramount+) is a drama about a massive British robbery in 1983 starring Hugh Bonneville.
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It's a special shows about TV week. Three new series this week all feature fictional TV programs. The Newsreader (S2 ABC and iview) returns with loads more drama from the eighties newsroom where Helen and Dale are TV's golden couple. Morning Wars (S3 AppleTV+) returns with Alex Levy still hosting breakfast TV and Bradley Jackson reading the evening news. Finally we look at The Lovers (Binge/Foxtel), a romcom about a TV current affairs host sent to Belfast to record his weekly series. So good is one of the stars in The Lovers it sent James back to her previous series for a reappraisal.
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It is Upfront time in TV land. This year Andrew and James are recording special episodes with each of the FTA network programmers after their Upfront events where they preview the year ahead. First up is Nine's Hamish Turner who talks about innovation at 9Now, why Nine doesn't have more drama series and the growth and subsequent challenge facing global streaming platforms and lots more.
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Two major drama series this week – a quirky action thriller from Spain & England, Who Is Erin Carter? (Netflix), then a new Australian drama about female relationships, One Night. Andrew talks about the unleashing of 50 new FTA FAST TV channels via Pluto TV and James details the subscriber numbers and how best to budget when it comes to streaming subscriptions. We also look at six classic movies new to Paramount+ this month. Remember to email us: comments@tvgold.au
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To coincide with the home entertainment release of the John Farnham feature length documentary, TV Gold has recorded a special episode dedicated to the Australian singing superstar. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by co-manager and long-time Farnham family friend David Wilson who reveals the lengthy discussions he and Glenn Wheatley initially had with John about making the documentary. David also discusses the highlights of John’s career as captured by the filmmakers. This is the perfect audio companion for the DVD release of the feature length doco.
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Vicky McClure stars in Without Sin (Seven/7plus), a truly gripping British crime drama where for a change of pace McClure is not portraying a police officer, but a taxi driver. Also this episode we review The Winter King (Stan) which tells the fictional story of King Arthur in fifth century Britain after his falling out with his father King Uther. Finally a movie for a bit of light entertainment – Red, White & Royal Blue (Prime Video) is a romcom with a difference starring Uma Thurman as the US President.
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Two big shows this week – first up is the reboot of Mother and Son (ABC/iview). Starring Matt Okine and Denise Scott, the Aussie sitcom created a debate in this episode with Andrew and James having very different opinions about its first outing. Next is a drama that the hosts expect to be amongst the best TV of the year. The Sixth Commandment stars Timothy Spall, Anne Reid and a what could surely be a BAFTA-winning performance from Eanna Hardwicke as the very creepy Ben. Don’t. Miss. This. Show.
Also on offer this week is Outback Farm (7mate/7plus) with narration by, wait for it, Jason Donovan. Finally, Andrew looks at a new drama about the opioid crises in the US, Painkiller (Netflix).
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What characteristic links the three returning dramas Andrew and James review this week? The shows are RFDS S2 (Seven/7plus), Only Murders in the Building S3 (Disney+) and Billions S7 (Stan). A new documentary reviewed is HBO’s Telemarketers (Foxtel/Binge). We also discuss The Inspired Unemployed Impractical Jokers (10) and the Catalyst special The Soundtrack of Australia ABC/iview). There are also a couple of series that make the Finished list with all episodes viewed.
Don’t forget to email us at: comments@tvgold.au
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After recording a bonus episode dedicated to The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart (Prime Video), Andrew and James give their own thoughts on how successful it is. (Spoiler: very) Also this week they review Justified: City Primevil (Disney+), Physical (S3 AppleTV+) and they look at the 2023 TV Week Logie winners.
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TV Gold takes you inside the biggest Australian drama of the year, Prime Video’s The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. Join Sarah Christie (Prime Video) and Jodi Matterson (series executive producer) as they talk about adapting the bestseller and finding the key cast members – from Sigourney Weaver and Leah Purcell to Asher Keddie and Alycia Debnam-Carey. They reveal all the wonderful Australian places where the series was shot and talk about the special effects that created one of the iconic locations.
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Four series under the microscope this episode: Two UK dramas on BBC First (Foxtel/Binge) – Fifteen-Love with Aidan Turner and Ella Lily Hyland, and The Catch with Jason Watkins and Poppy Gilbert. We also watch the return of Craig Reucassel in War on Waste S3 and look at the rebuilding of the Chicago restaurant featured in The Bear. Hard decision had to be made – what could be Show of the Week? There is also some great correspondence from two TV Gold listeners.
Please send your thoughts, criticism, praise, viewing tips to comments@TVgold.au.
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Three very different programs this week starting with a real surprise package – The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race from producer Andrea Keir on 10 and Paramount+. We also review producer Taylor Sheridan's new series Special Ops: Lioness (Paramount+) and the second season of Minx (Stan).
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This week we talk in detail about the success Marta Dusseldorp should have with Bay of Fires (ABC/iview) in which she stars. Also we review Full Circle (Binge/Foxtel), The Betoota Advocate (Paramount+) and Superpowered: The DC Story (Binge/Foxtel).
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Welcome to the Behind the Screens podcast, powered by Samsung Ads. In this series Mediaweek editor-in-chief James Manning talks to executives from the TV industry to examine the changing viewing habits impacting business models.
The second episode is called Are You Paying Attention? and our special guests are Mark Frain from Foxtel Media and Nick Thomas from EssenceMediacom.
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A bonus episode of TV Gold this week as Andrew and James interview Marta Dusseldorp, co-creator and star of Bay of Fires. She talks about another quirky mystery set in Tasmania, but the creators wanted to avoid the stereotypes. Marta also talks about moving the family to Tasmania and her life on the island state.
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Reviews this week of Limbo with Simon Baker, Rob Collins and Natasha Wanganeen (ABC, iview), The Last Daughter with Brenda Matthews (Netflix), Wham! with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley (Netflix), and Six Four with Kevin McKidd and Vinette Robinson (Britbox).
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The longtime Neighbours executive producer Jason Herbison is guest in a special bonus episode. He talks about his “suburban noir” drama Riptide (a TV Gold Show of the Week), and his stellar TV career writing and producing primetime FTA dramas. He also reveals the rollercoaster ride of emotions he experienced when Neighbours was first cancelled and then re-commissioned.
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This week’s key reviews cover Hijack (AppleTV+) with Idris Elba and Archie Punjabi, Gold Diggers (ABC/iview) with Claire Lovering and Danielle Walker, and No Escape (Paramount+) with Abigail Lawrie, Sean Keenan and Susie Porter.
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All Australian episode with three new productions. Warnie (Nine) is an entertaining dramatisation of the life and times of Shane Warne. Riptide (10) is a cracking whodunnit from producer Jason Herbison. Queen of Oz (ABC) features Catherine Tate in a return to form via a comedy from Lingo Pictures.
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Four intriguing programs from around the globe this week. The Crowded Room (AppleTV+) features Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried in a crime mystery that starts in 1979.
First Inventors (10/NITV) tracks the work of First Nations investigators who delve into over 65,000 years of invention and innovation.
Based on a True Story (Foxtel/Binge) is a comedy that parodies a true crime podcast.
The Swarm (Foxtel/Binge) is the most ambitious series this week. It's an eco-thriller about an underwater mystery that threatens the planet.
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The Idol is igniting debate about the merits of the sex soaked saga from HBO (Binge/Foxtel) just days after it replaced Succession in the schedule. Also on the show this week we look at the Bump spin-off, Year Of (Stan), and British period drama Funny Woman (Binge/Foxtel).
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A diverse slate of good shows this episode starting with Prime Video's feminist noir comedy Deadloch set in Tasmania. There's lots to like, but watch it for Kate Box. Stan has the Spanish drama about real life adult movie star Nacho Vidal. It's a sex-filled R-rated romp telling how Nacho went on to feature in around 700 porn movies. Finally we look at Hunt for Raoul Moat on Britbox which is a brilliant dramatisation of Britain's biggest manhunt for a very violent offender.
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A diverse slate of good shows this episode starting with Prime Video's feminist noir comedy Deadloch set in Tasmania. There's lots to like, but watch it for Kate Box. Stan has the Spanish drama about real life adult movie star Nacho Vidal. It's a sex-filled R-rated romp telling how Nacho went on to feature in around 700 porn movies. Finally we look at Hunt for Raoul Moat on Britbox which is a brilliant dramatisation of Britain's biggest manhunt for a very violent offender.
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Bonus episode: Andrew and James unwrap all the drama from the Waystar board vote in the final ever episode of Succession. In this bonus episode we also have a competition with a great Succession prize pack.
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The Clearing is the first Disney+ Australian original drama production. It’s well made with a great cast, but will audiences shy away from the subject matter? Also Rose Byrne is reunited with Seth Rogan on AppleTV+ in a relationship that is very Platonic. Then relive some great dancefloor classics and learn about the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer on Foxtel & Binge.
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There are a few thumbs up, a definite thumbs down and a couple of maybes in this week’s program list. The new episodes include Pete Davidson’s life exposed in Bupkis (Foxtel/Binge).
The new Australian series In Limbo (ABC/iview) balances between comedy and the sorrow of loss. High Desert and Silo are both biggish budget productions on AppleTV+ with one more successful than the other.
Finally we look at Air (Prime Video), the drama about Nike signing Michael Jordan that reunites Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Don’t miss the journey the hosts travelled to find the program of the week.
Give us your thoughts about these and other programs: comments@tvgold.au
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More excellent viewing tips this week from the new series Ten Pounds Poms (Stan) and Queen Charlotte (Netflix) to The Messenger (ABC) and A Town Called Malice (Foxtel/Binge). Plus listener emails, the return of Five Bedrooms, and Tim Ross with a must-watch series on Aussie homes. What will be the TV Gold Show of the Week?
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Another massive week of quality TV from Love & Death (Foxtel/Binge) with a murder in Texas, Citadel brings big budget spies to the smaller screen, two new series both called The Diplomat (Netflix & Foxtel/Binge), White House Plumbers (Foxtel/Binge) and great new Aussie dramas Safe Home (SBS) and North Shore (10). A lot to choose for show of the week.
Email Andrew and James at comments@tvgold.au
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Special Easter viewing episode featuring joint Show of the Week winners: Seven's The Claremont Murders and Foxtel/Binge comedy Dreamland. Also Paramount+ drama Rabbit Hole with Kiefer Sutherland and ABC's Aunty Donna's Coffee Cafe.
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In the first of our rebranded TV Gold episodes, Andrew and James watch the second seasons of Love Me (Foxtel/Binge) and Schmigadoon (AppleTV+). The biggest release of the week is arguably Celeste Barber in Wellmania (Netflix). They also watch Big Door Prize (AppleTV+) with Chris O'Dowd and James questions the hype surrounding The Night Agent (Netflix). One of the hosts reveals a new reality format addiction and the Shows of the Week are revealed. Don't forget to send us your opinions on these programs to comments@tvgold.au. We are also after comments from listeners about the final season of Succession and we ask should streaming platforms carry ads?
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Hurrah! The final season of HBO's Succession is landing this week plus we look at Extrapolations (AppleTV+), Lucky Hank (Stan), Close to Me (ABC), Class of 07 (Prime) and History of the World Part 2 (Disney+).
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New major ABC drama In Our Blood, Netflix telemovie Luther: The Falled Son, Babyteeth, Unprisoned, the Oscars and loads more.
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Rebecca Gibney back on FTA TV in Under the Vines, SBS On Demand screening CNN's Reframed: Marilyn Monroe doco with Alicia Malone and SBS compelling doco The Swap.
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Two major new series that will draw big audiences to Prime and HBO on Foxtel & Binge this year. Also this week The Consultant and more on Bad Behaviour.
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Two great viewing options this week – Sharper with Julianne Moore and Hello Tomorrow with Billy Crudup and Hank Azaria. Plus lots more and our Programs of the Week.
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Andrew Mercado has been working on a documentary series called Outrageous. Listen to him explain why he launched this new project and then learn all about how the kid working in travel became a soap opera and TV historian!
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Two massive new series are reviewed this episode. Which one of them will be voted "Show of the week" by James and Andrew – the UK drama from Russell T Davies or the authorised biopic of John Ibrahim?
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This episode Harrison Ford in 1923 and Shrinking, Poker Face and its great guest cast plus the Netflix features The Glass Onion, You People and Pamela: A Love Story.
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In the first episode for 2023, Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning dive into six big shows inc Stonehouse, Fleishman in Trouble and The Watcher.
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There’s been a lot of great series in 2022. Here is our guide for your best summer TV, over 40 binge-able series!
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Don’t miss Andrew’s list of TV to avoid. Life is too short for rubbish! Plus our guide to the best streaming platform original movies.
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Your weekly TV guide includes reviews of a cracking new Aussie comedy Colin From Accounts, Welcome to Chippendales and Tim Burton's TV series Wednesday.
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Another massive week of TV with Seven bringing back the celebrity roast format, the launch of a new season of Yellowstone, Emily Blunt in the revenge western The English + Dangerous Liaisons.
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Producer Carly Heaton joins Andrew Mercado & James Manning to talk about the Netflix reboot of Heartbreak High. She also speaks about some of her other great drama series for Foxtel & Fremantle.
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Andrew Mercado & James Manning have opposing views on season 5 of The Crown. They share similar views though on the odd couples in Upright and Chivalry. And what about those auctions on The Block!
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Top of new TV reviews this week is the Stanley Tucci/David Tennant drama Inside Man on Netflix. Also returning series of Doc Martin and Abbott Elementary.
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Marc Fennell's Stuff the British Stole, Raymond + Ray, Notre Dame burns, plus Andrew's Halloween TV guide...spooky!
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Shantaram (AppleTV+), Playlist (Netflix), Karen Pirie (BritBox), The Stranger (Netflix) and enough with the vomit scenes already!
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ABC has commissioned another cracking drama in Significant Others. We also look at Reboot on Disney+, Ridley on BritBox and lots more this week.
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What has Netflix done to Marilyn Monroe? Plus the brilliant Prime doco The Sound of 007 and Ben Wishaw at his best in This Is Going To Hurt.
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This England has arrived from BBC First just hours after it launched in the UK. Andrew and James also review Thai Rescue and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story from Netflix. Plus Sidney, Kath & Kim plus they revisit Sweet and Sour!
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One of the most important series this year is The Australian Wars on SBS. Also recommended by Andrew and James is Stan's Bali 2002 and Last Light.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning weekly TV podcast has three recommendations this week – the reboot of Heartbreak High, the TV version of the classic movie American Gigolo and the sassy period drama Serpent Queen.
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September is a huge month for new TV dramas and to help pick the best this week Andrew and James have been watching the very intense comedy/drama The Bear plus Murder in Provence, The Control Room, the brilliant The Last Movie Stars and the indie movie Darklands.
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The best of Australia and the UK this week with two great new dramas worthy of your time. Andrew and James recommend Marriage and Savage River. Enjoy!
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Differing opinions on House of the Dragon, brilliant new Australian productions 6 Festivals and Summer Love, a cracking British drama with a stellar cast in Sherwood and much more this week.
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Good reasons from Apple TV+ and Paramount+ to turn on the TV this week. Dramas Bad Sisters and Five Days at Memorial, home shopping comedy I Love That For You and reality series The Bridge.
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This week's major reviews are the ABC movie on iview, Here Out West, and the Stan series The Resort. We look at the success of Disney+ and Paramount+. James tells you why to keep the first weekend of September free, and Andrew pays tribute to Olivia Newton-John.
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Andrew has binged all of Uncoupled (Netflix) and James knocked off all five Candy (Disney+) episodes in one day. Other recommendations this week – the return of The Block and Nine’s new drama After the Verdict from the creators of House Husbands.
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Globally recognised Neighbours authority Andrew Mercado recaps the stars who helped celebrate the end of the super soap and James finishes a contender for series of the year. Plus some new release dramas.
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4 worthy dramas New TV to investigate: Persuasion and Midnight Mass (Netflix), The Rehearsal (Binge/Foxtel), The Old Man and Under the Banner of Heaven (Disney+).
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This week we look at Hunted (10), Aust Unmasked (ABC), Aftertaste (ABC), Ghosts (10), Black Bird (AppleTV+), Trump Unmasked (Foxtel), James May: Our Man in Italy (Prime) and loads more.
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The comedian and Drag Race Downunder judge joins us to talk about the second season of RuPaul's local franchise. We also review the new Kiwi movie Nude Tuesday and the UK cyber-attack drama The Undeclared War.
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Lots of great TV reviewed this week including this amazing Australian crime drama double from Bunya Productions – Mystery Road: Origin and True Colours. Plus Loot from AppleTV+ and Becoming Elizabeth from Stan.
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Hear exec producers Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey talk about making the latest series to feature police detective Jay Swan. From the incredible locations to the cast and plot that make this a candidate for the drama of the year.
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Foxtel's executive director of drama joins Andrew and James to speak about his new role, the growth of Binge and more. Andrew and Brian Walsh also have some big ideas on how to fix The TV Week Logies!
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A new episode of the now weekly TV podcast from Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning. This week the shows reviewed include Foxtel’s The Twelve, UK crime drama DI Ray on SBS, Britbox Original Magpie Murders + sneak peek at BBC First’s Sherwood.
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Don't miss this special episode with the former CEOs of Nine and Endemol Shine Australia talking about their new TV production business Dreamchaser. They are interviewed by Mediaweek's James Manning.
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The Midwich Cuckoos, Everything I Know About Love, the outrageous sex scene in The Boys and the best screening in Pride Month.
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Two shows from Disney+ lead our reviews this week – the Star Wars TV series featuring Ewan McGregor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, plus the Sex Pistols drama from Danny Boyle.
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A special episode this week where we are joined by special guest Patrick Walters, executive producer of The Essex Serpent and Heartstopper for See-Saw Films.
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A diverse collection of TV reviews this week from Celebrity Apprentice and Housos: The Thong Warrior to Night Sky. Lots of crime with Lincoln Lawyer, Clark and Million Dollar Murders
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Andrew Mercado & James Manning talk TV: Conversations with Friends (Amazon Prime), The Great Debates (7&9), Our Father (Netflix), Gruen (ABC), The Essex Serpent (AppleTV+) and previews of big series dropping soon.
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3AW football broadcaster Tim Lane called his first game of Aussie Rules 50 years ago this week. Listen to Tim talk about the highlights of his career covering both football and cricket at the ABC, 10 and now 3AW.
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New shows reviewed include Colin Firth and Toni Collette in The Staircase from Netflix, The making of The Godfather is told in The Offer from Paramount+ and another edgy role for Elisabeth Moss in Shining Girls from AppleTV+.
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An exciting batch of new drama series including The First Lady and Gaslit (Stan) which delve into US political history. Also from Paramount+ is The Man Who Fell to Earth, Super Pumped and The Offer. Also this week The Repair Shop and missing Love Boat classic episodes.
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It is the 40th anniversary edition of the APRA Music Awards. Join APRA AMCOS execs Dean Ormston and Milly Petriella in a discussion about how much money music creators share and how the APRA Awards celebrate the biggest hits.
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Netflix challenges and ads, Stan's avalanche of new shows + Sex Pistols, RuPaul, Steve Coogan and more.
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The return of Gentleman Jack, the creepy Jimmy Savile plus new dramas Ten Percent, Rules of the Game and Four Lives.
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New shows debated this week: Warhol Diaries, Underbelly, Julia and its great cast, Severance, Slow Horses, TV Tonight controversy and much more.
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The AFL and Foxtel Group chief executives talk to Mediaweek’s James Manning about TV rights and how Kayo stopped the AFL going direct to fans.
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Fox Footy and Nova 100 broadcaster Jonathan Brown talks about his three families and the new Best on Ground Saturday night show.
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Kath Loughnan talks about a big six months from covering the AFL Grand Final in Perth, a summer working on The Ashes, and her expanded Fox Footy role.
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Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley on how Fox Footy sits within the group offering. From Buckley to budgets: ‘This year is about fewer people doing more.
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New dramas to watch this episode include The Teacher, Anne: One Mother's Story, Vikings Valhalla, Troppo, and a preview of Minx coming to Stan.
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Seven hosts too old for TV? Also Pam and Tommy, SBS Upfront, Byron Bayes, Best streaming services & much more.
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On the first podcast of 2022, Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning try to come to grips with the great and not-so-great avalanche of new TV. Also The Responder, Dopesick, Billions, Love Me…even Jimmy Carr’s new quiz show!
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Andrew and James detail their favourites as they compile a list of 2021’s best TV. From big-ticket dramas like Halston and Mare of Easttown to unsung gems like Veneno and Time. Good Australian dramas too from RFDS to Unusual Suspects.
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Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado talks to writer/directors Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher about their vampire horror series for AMC, Firebite.
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Foxtel's head of commercial and content Amanda Laing tells Mediaweek about the new deal for ViacomCBS movies, TV and apps. Will 7plus and 9NOW be next to join?
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As Delicious magazine celebrates its 20th anniversary this week, editor-in-chief Kerrie McCallum discusses food media and her various roles in food and travel at News Corp.
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On Upfront Day The chief sales officer at Network 10 Rod Prosser talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about the business of TV, recent changes and 10 in 2022. Also, what makes money for 10!
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On Upfront Day Network 10’s executive VP and chief content officer Beverley McGarvey on the broadcaster’s new shows and strategy for 2022 at 10, 10Play, and Paramount+.
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk with producer Kylie du Fresne about the new SBS historical drama New Gold Mountain set in gold rush Victoria.
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Supercharge your watch list with dramas from Billions to Rafters to Fires and anything with Suranne Jones! Also Johnny Young, DOOL and the devil, and lots more.
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Fires tells the story of everyday Australians at the front line of the devastating fires of the 2019-2020 summer. Co-creator Tony Ayres talks with Andrew Mercado and James Manning.
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Nine is the first of the TV broadcasters to reveal its 2022 plans. To talk about its offering to advertisers we speak with Nine chief sales officer Michael Stephenson and the chief investment officer at media agency GroupM Seb Rennie.
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Mediaweek TV critics Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by The Newsreader creator Michael Lucas who brings his recent TV watch list.
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The #1 FM breakfast show hosts in Adelaide talk about their on-air partnership, their time out earlier this year and a unique early morning routine is revealed!
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New shows this episode include RFDS, The Newsreader, Hacks, Mr. Corman, Joanna Lumley's Britain, and much more. Plus the best streaming services and Foxtel's Aussie drama drought.
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As Meshel Laurie releases her new book CSI Told You Lies, she talks about researching true crime. Meshel also talks about her journey from radio to podcasting, and how she likes being her own boss.
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News Corp's Foxtel TV business now has over 4m subscribers inc 2.13m for Kayo and Binge. CEO Patrick Delany explains building the audience and what comes next.
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Hear about the plans for the new streaming platform Paramount+ from ViacomCBS Aust & NZ leads Beverly McGarvey and Jarrod Villani.
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Listen to Imogen Banks, the co-creator and executive producer of Seven’s new outback drama RFDS, talking to Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning.
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Seven dramas from Katie to Tokyo to Summer Bay plus great drama recommendations including Time & Too Close and a stinker to avoid + Survivor and Farmer Wants a Wife
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5 series discussed including great TV like The Unusual Suspects, Physical, Atlantic Crossing, Clarkson's Farm, Smother, and The Pact.
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In a long TV career Mark Llewellyn has worked at Seven and Nine. He talks about his latest success, Seven's Sunday night Spotlight series, his small team plus some of his other TV roles.
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For one last time Guy Pearce is back in the final series of Jack Irish on ABC and iview. This special episode features screenwriter Matt Cameron and producer Ian Collie speaking about the final four episodes and working with Australia's finest actors.
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On the eve of the final of Mare of Easttown, we talk through the suspects + discuss Celebrity Apprentice, Mr. Inbetween, The Unusual Suspects, and Ryan Murphy’s Halston
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Mediaweek's James Manning is joined by Jaime Chaux – head of digital at Commercial Radio Australia; Kim Norman – head of podcast sales at LiSTNR and Kane Reiken – digital commercial director at Nova Entertainment.
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Just weeks before their six-and-a-half-year radio partnership comes to an end, Mediaweek visits KIIS 101.1 breakfast hosts Jason “Jase” Hawkins and Polly “PJ” Harding. Hear about their must-listen podcast, the emotional on-air split, and what’s next for both.
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Previewing Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce reunited in Mare of Easttown + revisiting A Teacher and The Serpent (best show you'll see this year?) + Anh Do, DWTS, Bluey and a rave about Twitter
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Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning cover some great Easter viewing – from new Aussie dramas like Wakefield and The Tailings, to international dramas like The Serpent, Life, Line of Duty, A Teacher, and Your Honour. Also Fisk and the doco of the decade – Exposed.
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Mediaweek goes into the WSFM Sydney breakfast studio to talk with Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller. Take a deep dive into their 16 years on air together as they discuss their show, their family, and their radio team.
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The co-host of the top-rating multi-award winning Kyle and Jackie O Show talks to Mediaweek about FM radio's #1 breakfast show, her TV career, and how she and her colleagues navigated the challenges of the past year.
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Lupin, Bridgerton, The End, Harrow, Devils, Stages, reality TV, and can FTA be better?
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CEO Graeme Mason on how his team decides on what TV and film drama projects to fund. Who knew they get so many applications?
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A new season of Outback Opal Hunters launches on Discovery this week. Discovery's Darren Chau tells about the record opal find and has updates on Aussie Gold Hunters, Sydney Harbour Force, and more.
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk to Erik Thomson and Matt Bate about Aftertaste, the new comedy-drama about food, family, second chances and secrets.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning pick the best shows of 2020 for you to catch up on over the summer holidays.
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In a Mediaweek special podcast episode hear Kyle Sandilands and his manager Bruno Bouchet on making hit radio with Jackie O, what he argues about with his bosses at ARN, how he negotiated Australia's biggest media pay cheque and how Kyle and Tegan Kynaston are launching more wine varieties under their Nueva Sangria banner.
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As a challenging year draws to a close join Melbourne's two highest-rating breakfast announcers to talk about how the medium thrived this year – 3AW co-host Russel Howcroft and Gold 104.3's Christian O'Connell.
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Was this a simple case of a man lost in the mountains, or was a prison boss silenced because he knew the true story of the murder of Carl Williams? Last episode of the series from producers The Full Box.
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Hear producers Gerri and Bryan talk about con artist Jody Harris who had a thing for police, bluffing her way into police stations and charming her way into their beds.
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This episode Andrew and James look at the summer slowdown, Pete Evans, SBS Upfront, Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, The Undoing, AppleTV+ & much more.
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The producers explain about building a TV episode around the amazing New Year's Eve bank robbery in Sydney's Haymarket and the challenges facing the investigation.
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Possibly the most compelling of the 10 episodes of ACS this season. The unsettling story of a single-minded psychotic killer and the friendship that went off the rails. The episode reveals details of the inner-city hideaway where Australia's most wanted was found.
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The day terrorism came to Australia is revisited as an explosion rocked the Russell Street Police HQ in Melbourne. A young Tracey Grimshaw was a reporter on duty and policeman Carl Darnadio recalls being caught in the blast.
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Recorded after the debut of the new Seven hit series SAS Australia, Merrick Watts takes us behind-the-scenes of the TV show and reveals his extraordinary preparation and why he said "yes" to his first reality show.
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Three programs dominated the conversation this week: SAS Australia, and two very different offerings from Netflix – Ratched and Emily in Paris. We also discuss Big Weather, Gruen and preview Hugh Laurie in Roadkill coming to ABC.
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He was SA's top pathologist for 27 years, but Dr Colin Manock didn't always get it right. The producers reveal an amazing high-level cover-up.
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The producers of Nine's Australian Crime Stories take you behind the sensational headlines of Lawyer X with Nicola Gobbo’s connection to two of Victoria’s most infamous murder cases is revealed.
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Discover new evidence in the unsolved murder of designer Florence Broadhurst that changes 40 years of investigations. Was there a connection to Sydney's infamous "Granny Killer"?
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by TV Tonight's David Knox. This episode they go through Nine's 2021 schedule unveiled this month and they also look at the 2020 Emmy winners. Who was worthy? TV viewing tips too!
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Producers of Nine's true crime series takes us behind the scenes of this amazing heist straight from a Hollywood movie. How Mr Brown got Qantas to pay him $500,000 and the unseen movie made about it.
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Producers of Nine's Australian Crime Stories on the compelling story of the cop without a conscience, the notorious former NSW detective Roger Rogerson, and his accomplice Glen McNamara, who were convicted of a brutal homicide captured on CCTV but maintain their innocence.
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Sydney PR professional Bec Brown shares her knowledge about having a successful career in a creative industry. Her learnings can be applied to most sectors including media and entertainment. Her book You've Got This is out now.
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We start this episode with Andrew reviewing the ABC doco Freeman and then cover Body Hack, The Split, Australian Crime Stories, Away, Traces, The Salisbury Poisonings (James says don’t miss ep 4 credits), The Block, Further Back in Time for Dinner and Foxtel’s Lifetime Movie Network.
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Sarah Wilson is a former journalist and TV presenter, author and activist. Previously an editor of Cosmopolitan Australia, host of Masterchef Australia and founder of the largest wellness website in Australia, IQuitSugar.com, this is one podcast you don't want to miss as she speaks with James Manning.
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As Jane Halifax returns to the screen in Halifax: Retribution, Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado hear all about the production from star Rebecca Gibney and creator of the original Halifax f.p. telemovies Roger Simpson.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by TV Tonight's David Knox this week. The discussion starts around Network 10's cutbacks to news and Studio 10. Also covered are Foxtel's exec shuffle, the brilliant White House Farm, The Masked Singer, I'll Be Gone in the Dark and much more.
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I Am Woman: Producer Rosemary Blight on the movie about Helen Reddy Coming to Stan this month is the new feature film about Australian singer Helen Reddy. The movie's producer Rosemary Blight tells Andrew Mercado and James Manning about how they settled on Tilda Cobham-Hervey to play Reddy. And just how did this cinema release end up as a Stan premiere?
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Join Mediaweek's James Manning in a discussion with host Craig Reucassel and producer Jodi Boylan about the new ABC/Lune Media series about lowering your carbon footprint and saving money.
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning pass judgement on the Bachelor franchise, Ninja Warrior and Farmer Wants a Wife. Also discussed this week are The Singapore Grip, Why Women Kill, Between Two Worlds (did Seven give up on it?), Ellen, Who's the Boss? and the launch of Quibi in Australia.
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Geoff Kitney has been a journalist for close to 50 years including time in Canberra and Europe for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review. He shares great insights into Canberra politics and the media.
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he Australian’s Damon Kitney talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about his new book The Inner Sanctum. The book is a collection of Kitney profiles with some of Australia’s most successful and wealthy business people including the Pratt family to James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes.
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A special edition with Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning discussing the career of drama creator Bevan Lee and his final TV series Between Two Worlds. Andrew also reviews Bevan's career highlights (and those years at Nine!)"
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Mercado & Manning talk TV The TV shows being reviewed this week include One Night Only: The Beatles, Micallef On the Sauce, Wentworth, programming on 10 Shake, the movies premiering on TV including Mr Dundee, Walter Mercado and Eurovision: Fire Saga plus James discovers the Just Watch app and Andrew talks about "alternative histories" on Plot Against America, Man in the High Castle and Noughts + Crosses.
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Stephanie Famolaro from digital advertising company The Trade Desk on the massive impact Covid-19 is having on consumers and how they are staying connected with the media this year. One of the boom categories is BVOD
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Listen to how the media and ad sectors are dealing with industry shut-downs. Joining the podcast are the MD and founder of Pearman Media Dominic Pearman and Nine's chief sales officer Michael Stephenson.
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Sydney Morning Herald LA-based Culture editor-at-large and TV critic Michael Idato speaks about the new TV podcast Televisionaries, what it's like being a TV critic in the US and living in LA during the Black Lives Matter protests.
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As his new podcast is released today, Mediaweek talks to SBS broadcaster, author and ABC and Audible podcaster Marc Fennell about Nut Jobs, his new eight-part series investigating the $10m heist you’ve never heard of.
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On the eve of the launch of streaming service Binge, Andrew & James talk through the offer, the content and give their opinion on how good the deal is. Shows under the microscope include Normal People, The Great, Billions, Little Fires Everywhere, Belgravia, High Fidelity, Run, Kinne Tonight, At Home Alone Together & more.
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Don’t miss Andrew Mercado’s plan for Nine to breathe new life into the Logie brand despite Bauer Media pulling the plug. Meanwhile James Manning thinks the future of Bauer in Australia could be linked to the decision. Also this week: Lego Masters, Nine’s master plan, Aussie Gold Hunters, Unorthodox, Gogglebox, Garry Shandling & more
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Mediaweek editor James Manning is joined by guests Peter Whitehead (Chief Commercial Officer, ARN), Jodi Fraser (Commercial Director, Publicis), Ralph van Dijk (Founding Creative Director, Eardrum) to talk about radio advertising opportunities & challenges in 2020.
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Loads of lockdown viewing ideas from our guests, ratings commentary, new dramas, and the best TV coming to Stan, Foxtel, FTA channels, Disney+ and more.
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New Mediaweek TV podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning. MAFS is good, but not for us + The launch of BritBox, Fox Footy 2020, Pooch Perfect, Gold Digger, unmissable dramas, Country Music, BBC Showcase and lots more.
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Our first movie podcast features Mediaweek’s Trent Thomas with Andrew Mercado as they talk through the box office blockbusters of 2019 and what will be the big hits coming in 2020. And what exactly qualifies as a superhero movie?
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On our first week back in the studio this year Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss summer viewing highlights, what they didn’t catch up on in the break and the first must-see programs of 2020. Who had a Netflix summer?
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TV junkie Dan Barrett from Always Be Watching spends a lot of time and money watching TV. Don't miss him talking about Disney+ and AppleTV+. What are streaming must-haves and how can you best spend your entertainment budget.
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He's Australia's busiest satirist and Mediaweek was lucky enough to secure Mark Humphries for a podcast. He is on his media tour promoting the new Audible series Riot Act. Humphries also talks about working for SBS, ABC and 10 and talks about what's next for his radio creation Campbell Parkes.
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To end the year, Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss the likely highlights and lowlights of the TV year for 2020. From Nine's largely unchanged schedule to the roll of the dice at Seven to 10's key talent changes. They also look at the likely hits from SBS and ABC.
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The annual Best of the Year lists from Andrew Mercado and James Manning include geat series like Total Control, After LIfe, The Loudest Voice and Succession. Mercado and Manning agree on some, yet disagree on others. A great guide to summer binge-viewing.
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Who are these people? 10's new MasterChef judges plus: Total Control, Playing For Keeps, Foxtel's summer, Frayed, Succession, Neighbours, Deep Water and El Camino.
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A new ABC series, Total Control, from Blackfella Films promises to be one of the TV drama hits of 2019. The series' star Deborah Mailman and executive producer Darren Dale join the Mediaweek Podcast to talk about how Mailman's co-star Rachel Griffiths pitched them the idea, yet had to be persuaded to join the cast.
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A new episode of our TV podcast with Andrew Mercado & James Manning. MTV on 10? Not so says Viacom + The Masked Singer, Real Dirty Dancing, Pilot Week and the return of Beverly Hills, 90210
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The new group GM of Foxtel’s LifeStyle channels talks about her move from magazines to television and the changes at some of Foxtel’s most-watched channels. And will she remain a TV judge with Seven’s House Rules?
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A judge on The Block takes Mediaweek behind the scenes on the hit show. Neale also previews the new season of LifeStyle’s Love It Or List It with Andrew Winter.
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Now a key part of the new-look Pedestrian Group inside Nine Entertainment, CEO Matt Rowley and publisher Vanessa Lawrence talk about what makes Pedestrian.TV unique and they run through all the new brands they are integrating. Will they be full of features about Nine TV shows? Not exactly, they say!
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Utopia, Rove, the dating flop that Andrew liked, Grand Hotel, Pilot Week, Masked Singer, Survivor, The Heights, Neighbours & lots more this week.
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The ABC news boss talks to Mediaweek about the Federal Police raid on the ABC and his fight to protect journalists. Morris also talks about running the country's biggest news organisation on TV, radio and digital platforms, and reveals what's ahead for Q&A and Four Corners.
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Producers John and Dan Edwards talk about their new production company and there major new ABC TV series Les Norton.
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A new recording features Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning who are joined by David Knox from TV Tonight and Dan Barrett from Always Be Watching. A special recording from the new Foxtel on Oxford venue talks about Foxtel's new deal with Netflix and the decision 10 made not to re-sign the MasterChef judges.
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Are the Logies dead? Audience's love Tom Gleeson, so why do some of his industry colleagues think he's not funny? Plus TV comedy – is Frontline the best? Who else should be in the top 10 of all time?
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The head of drama at Network 10 also gets to look after MasterChef for the broadcaster. He joins the Mediaweek podcast to talk about with 2019 series and its top 10. Rick also talks about the commissioning process for the new Lucy Lawless crime drama My Life Is Murder.
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The History Channel just launched its new series Aussie Inventions That Changed The World and it became an instant hit on the Foxtel platform. Foxtel head of factual Jim Buchan tells Mediaweek about that series and tells about the audience's love for ghoulish crime stories too.
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The choice of free TV channels gets even bigger on July 1 as SBS World Movies launches. The channel manager Chris Keely talks about the new HD channel and tells if it will carry ads and talks about plans to be available on the Foxtel platform.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado talk television. "All the best dramas on TV are on Foxtel at present," said Andrew. Plenty of reasons why you should be watching some of the new dramas + The Super Switch, Billions, Adam Goodes, Big Little Lies and Russell Crowe and the actors playing Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch in The Loudest Voice.
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Are there too many ads on Foxtel? "No," says MCN chief Mark Frain in this Mediaweek podcast. Hear about the strategy for the new look Foxtel and MCN 2.0. How are advertisers taking advantage of the big Kayo Sports audience, the growth of on demand viewing, product initiatives (watch four ads at once!) and what is this venue called Foxtel on Oxford all about?
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Seven director of programming Angus Ross speaks to Mediaweek's James Manning about the first half 2019 ratings performance. Ross is just back from New York and LA – has he found anything good to boost their back half? And does it need boosting? Ross also talks streaming, sex as a ratings weapon, 7plus and his suite of multichannels.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado debate all the TV Week 2019 Logie nominees – including the seven nominees fighting it out for Gold. Also this week: MotherFatherSon, Gentleman Jack, Biggle Little Lies 2, Wentworth and the wonderfully terrible What/If from Netflix.
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The creators of the critically acclaimed Sydney made global hit The Letdown are back with a second series. Alison and Sarah talk to Mediaweek about their Netflix deal, working in LA and what a New York Times good review meant.
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Former Mediaweek contributor Dan Barrett joins James Manning to look at all the options for people building a library of TV streaming services. Which are the best and how much do you need to pay, if anything?
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It took Nova Entertainment’s management a few formats until they found the right one for Sydney and Melbourne’s newest FM licences. Hard to believe it’s already seven years old, but with smoothfm #1 FM in Sydney and Melbourne, it will be their best birthday party so far. Nova Entertainment’s Tony Thomas and Paul Jackson talk to Mediaweek about how their original strategy got them to where they are today.
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Mediaweek's James Manning speaks with the co-creators of 10's new drama Five Bedrooms –Michael Lucas and Christine Bartlett (Offspring and Playing For Keeps). How do you get to be a TV writer, writer's block, TV critics and more!
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An intriguing discussion about the photos that help rank The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age among the world's great news brands. We are joined by SMH managing photo editor Mags King, SMH chief photographer Nick Moir and multi award-winning photographer Kate Geraghty. Hear about everything from storm chasing to covering fighting in Mosul. The photographers talk about their hardware, their travel bags and even drone photography.
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Why is it so, so dark in the final season of Game Of Thrones? And who is your favourite Chris Lilley character? Also this week BBT, AGT and Mr Black plus lots more with James Manning and Andrew Mercado.
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The 2019 season of Seven's House Rules launches on the last Sunday in April. This year it boasts a new judge, with Jamie Durie joining Wendy Moore and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Jamie visited Mediaweek to talk about his 52nd TV series and he revealed his new long-term Seven contract.
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It is nearly four months since Nine took ownership of Fairfax Media and its prized assets The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Australian Financial Review. On the eve of Easter, Mediaweek was joined by the executive editor of The SMH and The Age, James Chessell, and the director of subscriptions and growth for The SMH, The Age and The AFR, Dave Eisman. They talked about what life is like with the new owner and the plans Nine has for the newspaper and digital media business.
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Recorded just before the Easter break, Mediaweek is joined by one of Australia's biggest TV advertisers, OMD's national chief investment officer Melissa Hey, and the sales boss of TV's #1 network, Nine chief sales officer Michael Stephenson. Hear them both analyse the value of Married At First Sight, the rest of Nine's schedule including the Australian Open and what Nine still has to come in 2019. Mel also discusses the challenges at Seven and 10 and they both talk about the changing way TV is consumed and the ramifications for TV ad revenue.
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Quite a recap industry has sprouted around the Nine reality series Married At First Sight. But no one does it better, or knows the show more thoroughly, than news.com.au reporter and columnist James Weir. He has covered all six series of the program and he tells Mediaweek about his journey and what watching so much reality TV has done to him.
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As editor-in-chief of news.com.au, Kate de Brito heads a team that attracts over 10m news readers every month. She tells Mediaweek about how people are now consuming their news, what some in the industry don't understand about digital news and why it is so important to follow the readers.
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A discussion about the fastest growing advertising medium, out-of-home, with two special guests from Posterscope. Bryan Magee is the MD of Posterscope Australia and he is joined by the global president of the business, Stephen Whyte. We cover off regulation, digital, demand, pricing and talk about the world's prime outdoor sites from Sydney's Coke sign to how much it will cost you to make an impression in Times Square or Piccadilly Circus.
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Mediaweek contributor Andrew joins James Manning as they cover programs as demure as Dancing With The Stars to outrageous shockers like The Dirt, Netflix's Motley Crue biopic. Along the way they also cover Christians Like Us, Mum, Veep, Our Planet, After Life, Restoration Australia, Australian Crime Stories, KIlling Eve and much more.
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Mediaweek editor James Manning visits Ross Dagan, 10’s network director of news content. Dagan reinforced the broadcaster’s commitment to news, spoke about plans for closer ties with CBS and was frank about re-entering the breakfast TV space and extending primetime news coverage. Content discussions covered everything from Studio 10 to 10 Daily to the re-branded early evening bulletin.
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The audio and language services provided by SBS might just be the biggest radio network you are not listening to. Plenty do tune in though across eight live stations broadcasting in 68 languages. A staff of around 200 attract a massive monthly audience which includes 1.6m monthly program downloads. Former Austereo, Macquarie and Nova radio executive Mandi Wicks heads the division and she joins Mediaweek's James Manning to talk about the SBS radio stars and a whole lot more.
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Business journalist John Stensholt moved from Fairfax Media to News Corp last year. He is a former editor of The BRW Rich List and last week The Australian published its bigger and better version – The LIst. Hear him tell Mediaweek how he researched 96 Aussie billionaires, most of whom helped provided accurate financial information.
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A radio masterclass that includes everything from what works best – live reads or produced ads through to could radio ads win an election to Alan Jones' 2GB contract talks! Our special all-star panel is Ben Fordham (2GB drive), Philippa Noilea Tani (Wavemaker’s Trading Director) and Brian Gallagher (Chief sales officer, Southern Cross Austereo).
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How can she afford that? Where the hell is the money going? Will she ever be able to afford a home? In her new book A Real Girl’s Guide to Money: From Converse to Louboutins, financial commentator and Money editor Effie Zahos answers these questions. She goes even further in this Mediaweek podcast. The Money TV show used to be huge, we ask Effie why there is no longer a show about money on primetime TV.
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For two years now SBS has captured the attention of many Australians with its Slow TV productions from Australia’s Mint Pictures. Mediaweek this week did a fast podcast with the Slow TV man – Adam Kay – who tells James Manning about the details involved in filming Australia’s two greatest train journeys – The Ghan and then The Indian Pacific. Although a bit of a train buff himself, Kay reveals he spent most of the journey across Australia directing things from a chopper! Hear also about the challenges spending 10 days at sea on the Kimberley Cruise Slow TV shoot. And what might he be filming soon for next year?
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If you have dismissed Neighbours as a show that is not worthy of your time, it might be time to reconsider your viewing habits. According to one of the most passionate and knowledgeable fans of Australian drama (Mercado), this week is one of the series’ high points of its last 35 years. Mercado celebrates the soap with Network 10 Neighbours’ executive producer Sara Richardson. The two of them have a good old time and Sara even has some insights into how she broke into the TV industry. She also reveals some of the classic factual and drama series she worked on before 10 at Playmaker and Essential Media.
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Don’t miss this fascinating look inside the Nine Entertainment-owned video streaming service Stan. As the platform enters its fifth year, Sneesby talks with Mediaweek’s James Manning and Andrew Mercado about its biggest hits and its Australian commissions. Sneesby reveals some of the “secret sauce” that has helped Stan become possibly the most successful streaming platform globally. The business has annual revenue of $200m+ plus and will even make a profit this year!
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Australian Crime Stories has been a staple on Nine on Sunday nights. A new series, from by Sydney production company The Full Box, is about to launch. Australian Crime Stories started life as Tough Nuts on Foxtel for Crime + Investigation. Nine bought the first two seasons and then rebranded it and the third season launches this February on Nine and 9Now. Mediaweek speaks with the production team of Bryan Cockerill, Gerri Coy and Adam Shand.
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Recorded during the first week of survey for ratings year 2019, Nine's programming director Hamish Turner talks with Mediaweek's James Manning about the current success of Married At First Sight. He recalls how Nine overhauled the format and tells how the tennis has continued its recent growth. Looking into 2019 he also has the latest on new series SeaChange and Lego Masters plus the returning seasons of The Voice and The Block. He also reveals when viewers will see Love Island and Karl Stefanovic's TV return.
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10's new twice-a-week makeover show Changing Rooms is something of a career change for Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She tells Mediaweek's James Manning that after time spent as a member of the Rogue Traders and a TV career that has spanned drama and reality, she was lured by the chance to indulge her passion for interior design. As well as detailing what audiences should enjoy about her new show, Natalie remembers her time on Neighbours, hosting So You Think You Can Dance and her time as a judge on two versions of The X Factor in two countries.
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A new TV podcast from Andrew Mercado and James Manning starts with Andrew's on location report from the first Australia Decides Eurovision event on the Gold Coast. He attended two dress rehearsals and the live TV concert with some Eurovision experts and delivers their take on the weekend. And then there's Sally4Ever – the truly shocking new series from Julia Davis. Wow! Andrew also finds time to talk about three new Australian dramas all launching on FTA TV in the next week.
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Recorded inside the office of Network 10's chief content officer Beverley McGarvey, Mediaweek has the ultimate insiders guide to the Q1 programming for 2019. From I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! to Sunday Night Takeaway to Dancing With The Stars and Changing Rooms. McGarvey tells James Manning the strategy behind the program commissions and the timeslots. She even reveals what is really happening with Pointless and The Project.
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The visiting director of the BBC World Service, Jamie Angus, visited Mediaweek at the LiSTNR Sydney studios. He speaks with James Manning on everything from what concerns Australian audiences about news to global news collection and distribution to news ratings and he has some great insights into what could happen with Brexit.
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Special guest Shelly Horton joins Mediaweek to discuss the new season of Nine's Married At First Sight. Shelly is the co-host with Jayne Azzopardi of Nine's weekly show Talking Married which takes viewers behind the scenes of Married At First Sight. Hear about the couples on the new season of MAFS, the special guest superfan that Shelly wants to get on the show and get Shelly's thoughts on dealing with social media trolls.
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The second our of two season 10 MKR podcasts – this one with co-host Manu Feildel. Manu talks about his early days on the show and reveals the six chefs who tried to get on MasterChef before he joined MKR. He takes us on his MKR journey and tells about all his other Seven projects. Manu goes through his long list of endorsements and we ask if anybody has tried to poach him from Seven over the years!
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Our first TV podcast of the new year with James Manning and Andrew Mercado covers everything from new Aussie dramas on streaming platforms – Bloom and Tidelands – through to the breakfast TV beat-up, to SBS sizzling with Slow TV and Family Law. James also covers much of the Xmas TV he watched in the UK this year.
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The first of our two season 10 MKR podcasts - this one with co-host Pete Evans. He takes us behind the scenes on the show and talks about his best and worst days. He also details his growing media empire away from the hit Seven series.
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Mediaweek's James Manning visits Seven's European bureau chief Hugh Whitfeld at Seven's London news desk. Whitfeld has been working in Europe for Seven for five years. He talks about his biggest stories over that time, starting with the Rolf Harris trial when he first arrived, through to terror attacks in London and France to royal weddings and his recent Seven scoops.
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In the final Mediaweek television podcast for 2018 Andrew Mercado and James Manning have their Best of 2018 lists. Andrew has 12 shows and James has 20. They both agree on Bodyguard and Killing Eve, but what else is on the lists? They also discuss the ARIA and AACTA Awards telecasts, 10 Bold, Neighbours on Xmas Day, Bloom on Stan, Tidelands on Netflix, TV Week and Andrew has his worst of the year!
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One of our favourite podcasts this year has been The EFTM podcast which features tech guru Trevor Long and motoring commentator Chris Bowen. The two former 2GB colleagues talk about their trips around the world this year as they attend tech and motor vehicle launches. We hear about what entertainment subscription services they think are worthy and there's lots of laughs as they often wander off topic.
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Foxtel this week has ordered a further 20 episodes of Wentworth to keep the series on-air until 2021. At a special event with the Wentworth cast and creators to celebrate the extension of the series, Mediaweek's James Manning spoke with Foxtel head of drama Penny Win and Fremantle head of scripted Jo Porter. They spoke about how they make the world's longest running prison drama currently on-air.
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A somewhat controversial figure in the PR world, Roxy Jacenko joins Mediaweek's James Manning in the studio to talk about the world of PR as she shares her tips and tricks. Along the way Roxy reveals some of her recent personal challenges, and talked about how she gets on with most of the media!
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Talking about his new book Seven Deadly Sins is former breakfast radio star (on triple j and Triple M), Mikey Robins. The book is an intriguing compilation of stories relating to food over the past few decades. From farting to lust! Robins also refers to his media career along the way, including the successful years as part of the Good News Week team.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss the Seven Allfronts event and talk about the new 7Food Network Channel and the programming schedule for 2019. Andrew talks about the dramas Between Two Worlds and Ms Fisher while James is initially confused about Secret Bridesmaids' Business. The two TV writers also discuss one of their top picks of the year – Bodyguard.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning examine all the announcements from the recent Network 10 Upfronts. They start with the surprise Pilot Week commissions, the network rebrand including 10 Boss and 10 Peach, the chances of 10 All Access attracting subscribers and then there is a detailed look at new and returning programming. Andrew also has some thoughts for the producers of Trial By Kyle. The podcast finishes with a look at the Freddie Mercury movie Bohemian Rhapsody (how could so many critics get it wrong) and the final season of House Of Cards.
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The new Toni Collette UK drama series on Netflix, Wanderlust, gets an enthusiastic review from both Mediaweek editor James Manning and Mediaweek TV columnist Andrew Mercado this episode. Also discussed is the new Foxtel Original Fighting Season, the Netflix Halloween special The Haunting Of Hill House. We also talk Jackie Weaver in Stan’s Bloom, Top Gear’s new Aussie connection, The Block, E’s forthcoming The Bi Life and its Aussie connection plus Andrew wonders what has gone wrong with TEN’s Blind Date and Game Of Games.
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Mediaweek catches up with one of the most successful writers and producers working in television today, Pine Gap co-creator Greg Haddrick. He tells Mediaweek's James Manning about working with Screentime and Netflix on this great Aussie spy thriller – now available on ABC iview. He also reveals how they set up the show's very authentic Pine Gap control centre! Best known for perhaps his work on Underbelly, Haddrick recalls those series and other creative highlights.
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A founding member of The Chaser, Dominic Knight has published his latest book – Trumpedia. He talks with Mediaweek's James Manning about his fascination with all things Donald J. Trump. Alternative things about the real fake president is the subtitle. "This book is fake news," says Knight. Or is it? Knight talks about what Trump is brilliant at, how his Presidency might end, Trump and the media and gives his thoughts on other Trump scholars Michael Wolff and Bob Woodward. There's also plenty of Chaser chat – the best stunts and the media deals that didn't come off. And there long, long relationship with Triple M.
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It took them a while, but both Andrew Mercado and James Manning have finally watched Amazon Prime's Golden Globe and Emmy-winning The Marvellous Mrs Maisel and they love it. Also on the menu a smorgasbord of great dramas to get stuck into – Pose, Deuce, Apple Tree Yard and Jack Ryan. The Mediaweek podcasters were less-impressed by Maniac and Andrew wasn't too keen on Mr Inbetween. Also up for discussion this week: Real life ABC drama, TEN's commissioning binge, Mad As Hell, Neighbours, Line of Duty and Working Class Boy.
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The presenters of Sydney's new #1 FM breakfast sit down with Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi for a chat. Brendan "Jonesy" Jones and Amanda Keller talk about how their pairing came about, how Keller saved Jones' career, the radio landscape today and the growth of the show. Keller also opens up about her new Ten show, Dancing With The Stars.
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Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi caught up with the visiting executive in Sydney. He was here for the BBC First Upfront. Keelan discusses the much-talked about new season of Doctor Who, new shows coming to BBC First and the channel's biggest growth opportunity in Australia.
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Recorded in the middle of TEN’s Pilot Week. After watching the first four programs, Andrew and James review each format and choose the most likely program to be commissioned. Lots more including Andrew on TV’s drama drought, Foxtel’s 4K, Bite Club and its stellar cast, Seven’s new programs plus Netflix’s Dark Tourist and Stan’s Get Shorty.
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In just the past few weeks, the national political editor of The Daily Telegraph, Sharri Markson, has been named the Kennedy Awards’ Journalist of the Year and also won the Excellence in Journalism Award at the annual News Awards. She talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about her Barnaby Joyce scoops this year.
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Pilot Week! Too many blokes and not enough women in front of the camera. Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk about TEN's August programming initiative and they look at each of the projects and assess commercial potential. Also this week they talk about Patrick Melrose, Pointless, War On Waste, Dead Lucky, Killing Eve, The Block and Rake.
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The food writers and restaurants critics talk to Mediaweek's James Manning about the process to select the top 100. They also talk about their careers in food media in Australia and the UK and the secrets of how they review and rate restaurants for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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The new season of Jack Irish has launched with strong ratings on the ABC and producer Ian Collie talks to Mediaweek's James Manning about working with Guy Pearce, the future of TV and what we can expect from the next season of Rake.
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Mediaweek visits the Fox Sports HQ in Sydney to talk to Luke McIlveen, executive editor of foxsports.com.au. He discusses his return to News Corp after a controversial parting with the company five years ago to work for Daily Mail Australia, how Fox Sports's digital home could be leveraging from its TV business better, and plans for its upcoming cricket coverage.
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This edition Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk about the TV Week Logie Awards and review all the winners and the highlights and lowlights from the Awards' night. Network Ten were the big TV Week Logie winners followed by ABC and Foxtel. Andrew and James also talk about the new series of Jack Irish which has launched with big ratings on ABC.
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk about the TV Week Logies and look at a special 60 Years Of Logies magazine from TV Week. Other TV talking points this episode include Optus and the World Cup, Pose, America's Next Top Model, The Staircase, Jack Irish 2, The Affair, Poldark, The Bold & The Beautiful, Wentworth, Australian Survivor and Foxtel's forthcoming HBO series Sharp Objects.
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Mark Ferguson spoke to Mediaweek’s Kruti Joshi at the Seven News HQ in Martin Place, Sydney. The industry veteran talked about his daily schedule, what it’s like to be a presenter on a commercial network, the ratings battle in Sydney and his career highlights. Ferguson also revealed the advice that encouraged him to pursue a career in journalism.
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Mediaweek's James Manning speaks with media agency executives about the latest radio ratings. Amplify's Ashley Earshaw and OMD's Andrew Brannaghan together account for close to $400m of the $1b invested in metro radio each year. How important is what they do for commercial radio? "Money talks," said Ash. "If we stop spending they take notice," said Andrew.
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The new Australian ABC drama has been the biggest drama hit for the ABC since The Doctor Blake Mysteries. Mediaweek sat down with producer David Jowsey to hear about the Mystery Road trilogy – two movies and a six-part drama series – and asked how ever did they afford that fabulous cast. It seems when Judy Davis signed on (her previous role earned an Emmy nomination) others wanted to work with one of Australia's finest on a rare Australian TV appearance.
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Mediaweek's James Manning visited the ABC Sydney breakfast show this week and sat down with hosts Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck. They discussed everything from their breakfast menu to their thoughts about the campaign being waged against the ABC.
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Getting insights from key executives at Twitter has been a regular feature in the Mediaweek podcasts in recent times. On our latest visit to the Twitter Blue Room in Sydney we spent time with the director of news, Asia - Pacific, Jonathan Harley. He has details of how newsrooms around Australia and the region use the social media platform and some great tips for Twitter users.
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TV Week editor Thomas Woodgate joins Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning to talk through the nominees for most of the 2018 TV Week Logie categories. We work our way through the Most Popular and Most Outstanding categories while Thomas and Andrew also talk about the passing of Home And Away star Cornelia Frances.
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The changing menu at Wide World of Sports – tennis and netball new arrivals alongside rugby league. Meet the team that strategised Nine’s move from cricket to tennis and hear about Nine's plans for a summer without cricket.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning on the Royal Wedding – the good and bad, the return of Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation, a preview of ABC's Mystery Road drama, will Netflix really release over 400 originals between now and Christmas plus loads more!
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Mediaweek's James Manning hosts the first of a new series where we meet the makers of some of Australia's biggest TV shows. Our first interview is with the co-owners of Australia and New Zealand production company CJZ – Michael Cordell and Nick Murray – which is the home of Bondi Rescue and Gruen among others.
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The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age travel section Traveller has been one of the big successes for Fairfax Media over the last decade. Telling people about the best airline, the best seat and the best hotels has helped drive revenue and readership. In this podcast, Traveller editor Anthony Dennis tells us about travel writing, how Fairfax built the brand, and he previews a special glossy magazine issue they published on May 19.
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Topics under discussion range from dramas like The Handmaid's Tale, Instinct and Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance (!) to reality series recently launched like House Rules and MasterChef. Andrew has an update on cast development at Home and Away and Neighbours while James has a problem with the robot cull on Westworld.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado are joined by FremantleMedia Australia director of drama Jo Porter for a special Picnic At Hanging Rock podcast. Jo covers everything from the initial pitch to the estate of author Joan Lindsay and the Foxtel, through to the casting and production. We ask lots of questions about Natalie Dormer and Samara Weaving and how the producers managed to secure two of the hottest stars to spend four months filming in Australia.
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Treat this special edition of the Mediaweek podcast like a digital publishing masterclass. During a 30-minute discussion with The Healthy Mummy founder and CEO Rhian Allen, Mediaweek hears about how she sold her house to launch her digital business which after eight years is now turning over $20m+ annually. The Healthy Mummy has just launched in the UK, Allen has a new book out this week and she recently sold a 50% stake in the business to private equity. Allen explains her road to success and what her investors like about her business.
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This week Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk about the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony and look at some of the drama offerings across the next couple of weeks.
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Returning to her homeland for a short visit, Jackie Lee-Joe talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about how the soon-to-be-rebranded BBC Worldwide is adapting to the changing landscape, using it as an opportunity to build its brands, audiences, commercial returns and reputation. Our interview covers the BBC’s natural history brand BBC Earth (the home of Blue Planet) and how partnerships with Snap, Facebook messenger, Google Earth, Ten Cent and others have been important. Jackie also talks about her career in Australia before heading to the UK.
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An interesting discussion about how the news brand commercialises its product outside of the UK. Topics touched on include the multiplatfom BBC news offering and how big global events from the Trump election to the forthcoming royal wedding attract audiences and commercial partners. Is TV news one of the linear TV products not feeling the winds of change and how has “fake news” affected the BBC News brands?
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At the launch of the Nova 106.9 series of on-location broadcasts of the Ash, Kip and Luttsy with Susie O'Neill breakfast show, Mediaweek had the chance to speak in-depth with O'Neill.
This new interview makes a nice companion piece to the recent In Her Own Words series Mediaweek partnered with Nova Entertainment for where spoke to inspirational women in radio. Mediaweek has been lucky to have done several podcasts with Ash, Kip and Luttsy at different times, so it was great to get time with the former swimming champ and one of the important pillars in the success the Brisbane breakfast show has enjoyed in recent years.
Although Nova was #1 in the first survey of 2018, it has been challenged in breakfast by Hit 105, something which O'Neill mention in our podcast. O'Neill talks frankly to Mediaweek about the decision not to jump straight into a media career after she stopped swimming. She also details how Nova Entertainment and her breakfast colleagues look after their star recruit and she remembers, with a fair amount of anger still, what she said on the record about former garden guru Don Burke's appalling and insulting behaviour toward her.
The interview gives listeners an insight into just what makes O'Neill so compelling on the radio.
Listen here also to the eight-part In Her Own Words podcast series. https://mediaweek.com.au/nova-podcast-in-her-own-words-womens-day/
Read here about Nova Brisbane's broadcast plans during the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. https://mediaweek.com.au/nova-106-9-commonwealth-games-partnership-launch/
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New Aussie dramas Safe Harbour and Harrow
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Plus new international drama Innocent, Howards End and the mockumentary UnREAL – just one of three reasons why you need a Stan subscription over Easter. The others are the return of Billions and the new US musical drama Rise.
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Logies controversies as TV Weeks changes voting rules
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The Karl and Pete phone call – was it real?
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ABC to get second rights to Foxtel programs - Grand Designs and Wentworth.
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Nine v Seven v TEN - viewing highlights from first quarter and why Nine has done so well.
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Should I’m A Celebrity return for another year?
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New ABC comedies Squinters and Sando.
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Rove’s new series Show Me The Movie! and should Rove Live be revived?
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Nova Entertainment has created a special podcast series featuring interviews with eight inspirational women in diverse media roles. In Her Own Words has launched on Thursday 8 March to celebrate International Women's Day. The series looks at resilience, career highs and lows, balance and how these women juggle the demands of life and people around them. The conversational interviews were conducted for Nova by James Manning, editor of Mediaweek, and are introduced by Ash Gardner, Nova news journalist.
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Nova Entertainment has created a special podcast series featuring interviews with eight inspirational women in diverse media roles. In Her Own Words was launched on Thursday 8 March to celebrate International Women's Day. The series looks at resilience, career highs and lows, balance and how these women juggle the demands of life and people around them. The conversational interviews were conducted for Nova by James Manning, editor of Mediaweek, and are introduced by Ash Gardner, Nova news journalist.
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Nova Entertainment has created a special podcast series featuring interviews with eight inspirational women in diverse media roles. In Her Own Words launched on Thursday 8 March to celebrate International Women's Day. The series looks at resilience, career highs and lows, balance and how these women juggle the demands of life and people around them. The conversational interviews were conducted for Nova by James Manning, editor of Mediaweek, and are introduced by Ash Gardner, Nova news journalist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nova Entertainment has created a special podcast series featuring interviews with eight inspirational women in diverse media roles. In Her Own Words was launched on Thursday 8 March to celebrate International Women's Day. The series looks at resilience, career highs and lows, balance and how these women juggle the demands of life and people around them. The conversational interviews were conducted for Nova by James Manning, editor of Mediaweek, and are introduced by Ash Gardner, Nova news journalist.
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First show back for the New Year and topics covered include summer TV, Countdown Live, Sophie Monk, this week's three-way reality TV clash, the future of Doctor Blake, Stan's Romper Stomper and Wolf Creek, Seven gets The Simpsons and loads more. Mercado even recaps on some of the big summer movies.
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The star and creator of TV's Aunty Jack Show visits the Mediaweek studio to talk about his first novel "The Great Pink Hunter". Bond tells Mediaweek's James Manning about writing, and then self-publishing, his book after a dispute with the original publisher. Bond talks about his adventures in advertising which is where the central character from the book Kevin Hunter hails from. Bond also talks about the legendary The Aunty Jack Show and how it caused so much trouble for the ABC with just 13 episodes that also featured his co-star Rory O'Donoghue and introduced the character of Norman Gunston. Bond also went on to be one of the star presenters on Seven's Better Homes & Gardens.
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Mediaweek TV contributor Andrew Mercado and Mediaweek editor James Manning select their best TV shows on 2017. It is an hour packed with summer viewing tips for listeners wanting to catch up on some of the best programs on offer across the year. While there are a couple of no brainers that would appear on most lists The Handmaid's Tale and Big Little Lies there is plenty of debate over some of the hidden gems that snuck onto TV schedules and streaming services during 2017.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk Upfronts for one more time this podcast it is the turn of Network Ten and then SBS. Our TV duo then discuss Aussie dramas, The Good Doctor, Netflix's Godless, the latest on the super soaps Days Of Our Lives, Home and Away and Neighbours plus some of the highlights coming on Stan including The Girlfriend Experience, Wolf Creek and the truly amazing SMILF.
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As the Jonesy and Amanda WSFM breakfast program continues as one of Sydney's most successful FM radio shows, Brendan Jones visited the Mediaweek podcast studio to talk with James Manning about radio, his co-host Amanda Keller and his new book - "Fifity Shades of 50: A Reliable Memoir".
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In our irregular series of Mediaweek podcasts taking listeners inside the social media platform Twitter, we recently spent time with Twitter's Jennie Sager who talks candidly about her work with music artists, record labels, film companies and television networks. Sager updates us on Twitter concerts and live events and we even hear about her career working for Nine's The Block plus time with MTV and the Super Bowl in the US.
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Mediaweek's new television podcast features Andrew Mercado and James Manning on Sophie and Stu, The Block, Family Food Fight v The Wall, a detailed look at the Seven Newfronts and all the big new 2018 shows, The Secret Daughter, AACTA nominations, Doctor Foster and Andrew contemplates buying a Wild Boys T-shirt!
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2GB drive announcer and co-host of Nine's Australian Ninja Warrior Ben Fordham spoke with Mediaweek's James Manning just days after winning Best Current Affairs Presenter at the 2017 ACRAs. It was a big week for Ben Fordham who has also just negotiated two new media contracts which he discesses in the podcast. It was also a big week for the Fordham family. Ben talks about brother Nick who has just negotiated the deal that saw Nine's Lisa Wilkinson become TEN's Lisa Wilkinson.
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Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning look in detail at the announcements from the Nine Upfront, plus they look at Seven's new schedule, Wake In Fright TV ratings, what's new at Netflix and Stan plus comment on recent new arrivals Riviera, Sunshine and Gogglebox.
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Cosentino sits down with Mediaweek's James Manning to talk about his tour and new book.
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Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi pays a visit to The AFR Magazine editor Matthew Drummond at the Fairfax Media HQ in Sydney.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado start this regular TV podcast discussing the Primetime Emmy Awards and later talk about the return of two Australian dramas The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Glitch. Andrew has found what he is sure will be the worst show of the year, there is discussion about some surprising China Girl plot twists and there is praise for the new HBO series The Deuce.
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Charlie Clausen speaks to Mediaweek's James Manning after Charlie's OzPod 2017 appearance and he reveals his four podcasting tips.
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Claire Tonti is creative director and co-founder of Planet Broadcasting. She talks about how the business has gone from a hobby to a podcast platform with listeners across the planet. Claire speaks with Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi and James Manning.
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A podcasting roundtable from OzPod 2017: - Podcaster, commentator and podcast coach Rachel Corbett - Nova Entertainment's head of podcasting Jay Walkerden - Mediaweek deputy editor Kruti Joshi - Mediaweek editor James Manning
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Martin Van Beynen is a New Zealand journalist at The Press in Christchurch New Zealand. He is also the host of Black Hands, a true crime podcast about the Bain family murders in New Zealand. The podcast has found a huge audience, not only in New Zealand, but in Australia and many countries around the world.
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ABC journalist Rachael Brown has been responsible for Trace, a true crime podcast that investigates the murder of Maria James. Maria was stabbed 68 times in her home at the back of her Thornbury bookshop in Melbourne in what police described as a "bizarre" and "frenzied" killing. No one has ever been convicted for the crime.
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The Fox Sports presenter joins Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi in this episode to talk about her journey to the subscription TV broadcaster and discovering her heritage.
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After taking part in our Seven Days podcast last week, Wil Anderson spent some extra time talking to Mediaweek about the new season of Gruen. He walked us through the show's weekly production cycle and explained how it all worked. Anderson also told us how much he has absorbed about the world of advertising and marketing "I wish I had learnt more," he confessed." It's a fascinating insight into one of the ABC's most-watched shows. Don't miss also Wil Anderson's list of his favourite podcasts!
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During a short visit back to Sydney, Mediaweek was lucky to spend time with author Kathy Lette. During our talk about the prolific writer's visit, which included several appearances at the Canberra Writers' Festival, Lette revealed she had optioned the rights to her latest book "Best Laid Plans" to FremantleMedia Australia. During her time in Sydney Lette met with the FremantleMedia Australia drama team to discuss what they had planned for the production.
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The former national crime writer for The Australian Dan Box flew out of Australia last weekend returning to the UK. Before he left he visited the Mediaweek studio to talk with James Manning about his Bowraville podcast and his new investigation which was delivered as a TV series, The Queen & Zak Grieve.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Kruti Joshi visit Vogue Australia's Edwina McCann at the News Corp Australia office.
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Andrew Mercado joined James Manning in the Mediaweek studio this week. The TV topics covered include:
As CBS moves on Network Ten, what programming decisions would we like to them make? Game Of Thrones season final Reporter and novelist Chris Ulhmann moving to the Nine Network Little Big Shots a massive hit for Seven and Shane Jacobson Andrew still loving Twin Peaks as it draws to a close Which Australian dramas should be renewed? Andrew previews ABC TV's Get Krackin' and pays tribute to TEN's Studio 10 which broadcast its 1000th episode on August 31 Lots more including Gruen, American Gods and Doctor Blake Mysteries
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Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi visited Sarah Oakes at the Bauer Media office on Park St in Sydney recently to talk about the changes coming to Gourmet Traveller, celebrity chefs, plus the evolution of food and travel.
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As he toured Sydney media as part of a publicity blitz ahead of the first episode of Seven's Little Big Shots, Shane Jacobson spent time with Mediaweek talking about his hosting role. Mediaweek stayed on topic for the first half of the interview, but we weren't going to let the opportunity pass without hearing about four new movies he has been working on, plus chatting about his time on Top Gear, his friendship with Clarkson, Hammond and May, and his work on the wonderful ABC TV series Time Of Our Lives.
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The regular Mediaweek television podcast this week features Andrew Mercado and James Manning discussing Hell's Kitchen Australia, The Block, Top Of The Lake: China Girl and Doctor, Doctor. There was debate about the merits of ABC TV's medical drama Pulse and Stan's comedy The Other Guy.
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Inside Out editor-in-chief Claire Bradley joins Mediaweek's James Manning and Kruti Joshi to talk about the magazine's 150th edition.
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Plus: Exclusive Tim Worner podcast getting on with business Sports rights, AFLX and AFLW, investment opportunities, Seven's TV ratings slump, June 2018 new format, digital ventures, Project 8 and more.
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This TV podcast sees Andrew Mercado and James Manning discussing the ratings for the season final of Australian Ninja Warrior and talking about when we will likely see it next. Other shows under the microscope this week include The Block, Australian Survivor, MasterChef, The Bachelor, This Time Next Year, True Story, Kath & Kim, The Good Fight, Britain's Got Talent, Home and Away, The AFL Footy Show and Game Of Thrones.
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Julian Cress, the co-creator of the Nine's longest running reality show, The Block, talks about its origination and the $10m phone call to Michael Healy.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk TV. Subjects this week include: Australian Ninja Warrior Return of Game of Thrones Yummy Mummies Joanna Lumley's India Common Sense The Handmaid's Tale Studio 10 Taboo Friends From College and much more including a newspaper TV column Andrew didn't appreciate!
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Twitter Australia's head of sports partnerships Olly Wilton talks to Mediaweek editor James Manning in this episode of the Mediaweek Industry podcast.
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Mediaweek's Kruti Joshi visits Australia's #1 nightly presenter Kent "Smallzy" Small at the Nova Entertainment office in Sydney.
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Rugby league writer and rock music fan Steve Mascord has published a book. In our latest podcast with him Mediaweek's James Manning caught up with Steve at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester (the quietest place we could find near the station). During the podcast we talk about Steve's latest travels including an Aerosmith show he'd been to the night before and we delve into the pages of Touchstones where Steve talks about his passions in life and his finances!
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado talk TV. James is reporting from Manchester in the UK and Andrew is in South West Rocks after a busy long weekend at the South West Roxy. Some of the shows on the radar this podcast are True Story with Hamish and Andy, Wanted, David Stratton's Stories of Australian Cinema, Ronnie Chieng: International Student plus the latest on Seven's early evening trio Home and Away, My Kitchen Rules and House Rules. We also talk about the British Soap Awards, Britain's Got Talent plus a handful of new British dramas Broken, Paula and Poldark S3. James has also been watching the second season of Versailles and has seen the first episode of The Handmaid's Tale.
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The deputy director of BBC World Service Group and the editorial director of BBC Global News Ltd., Jamie Angus, is the special guest this week.
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Mediaweek this week celebrates 300 episodes of the Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast hosted by Trevor Long and Stephen Fenech. The two tech gurus originally came together on a Mediaweek tech podcast seven years ago. Since then they have podcasted as Two Blokes from all around the world. They also still have their own podcasts each week too. During our conversation they talk about how they have both left fulltime jobs in the media to work for themselves as tech reporters and broadcasters. They also have some great insights on the best tech at the moment with buying guides for TVs, phones, computers and tablets. There is also some chat about their airlines of choice!
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It has been Twin Peaks time around the globe and Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado spend the first part of the new TV podcast discussing David Lynch's return to the cult series. Andrew has special viewing advice and recommends people who find it difficult should stay with it for a big reward which comes early in the series. Other talking points incude: -Foxtel's changes to its Foxtel Play packages -American Gods is it wierder than Twin Peaks? -How good is War On Waste and there should way more episodes -Hamish and Andy's brilliant new series True Stories -Plus what's been happening at NSW's hippest regional cinema South West Roxy
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It has been Twin Peaks time around the globe and Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado spend the first part of the new TV podcast discussing David Lynch's return to the cult series. Andrew has special viewing advice and recommends people who find it difficult should stay with it for a big reward which comes early in the series. Other talking points incude: -Foxtel's changes to its Foxtel Play packages -American Gods is it wierder than Twin Peaks? -How good is War On Waste and there should way more episodes -Hamish and Andy's brilliant new series True Stories -Plus what's been happening at NSW's hippest regional cinema South West Roxy
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado talking TV: Including the 59th TV Week Logie Awards and the winners, the losers and the plain unlucky. Also this week they talk about TV ratings, programming moves, Ellen, Roseanne, Mercado living eithout Foxtel, Netflix and our regular update on Andrew Mercado's new business venture the NSW regional cinema South West Roxy.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado are joined by the one of the stars of Love Child Mandy McElhinney. The day we recorded our interview Nine launched series four of the drama made by Playmaker Media. As well as discussing Love Child, and how her character of Matron Frances Bolton has changed over the years, McElhinney talks about some of the other series and mini-series she has worked on including MDA, Comedy Inc, Paper Giants and House Of Hancock. Audio warning: Not one of our best lots of Andrew's questions are a little muffled, apologies, but nothing wrong with Mandy's audio.
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Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss the TV Week Logie nominations and don't miss Andrew Mercado's tips for winners in the key categories. Plenty of other TV news, comment and reviews too. From Married At First Sight and Wentworth to Neighbours and The Walking Dead. Plus an update on Andrew Mercado's new cinema venture.
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The complete insiders guide to Arena TV's Real Housewives of Sydney with soap star, then popstar, and now reality TV star Melissa Tkautz. Our favourite Sydney Real Housewife talks to Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado.
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Mediaweek visits the husband and wife team Laura and Bruno Bouchet who are the executive producers of WSFM's Jonesy and Amanda and KIIS 1065's Kyle and Jackie O Show
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado talk their way through 60 minutes of premium drama...and a few reality series too. Programs under discussion this week include Sunday night TV ratings, Feud with Jessica Lang and Susan Sarandon, House Husbands and no Delta Goodrem yet, The Halcyon cancelled before it arrives in Australia, season five of Wentworth, the new book on super soap Number 96 by Nigel Giles, Reese Witherspoon's star turn in Big Little Lies and Jonathan Rhys Myers coming to season five of Vikings. Plus an update on Andrew Mercado's new career as a cinema operator on the NSW coast.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado start off this podcast talking about the 2017 Academy Awards telecast. They also discuss the FTA reality TV rumble, Real Housewives of Sydney, Broadchurch, Big Little Lies and much more.
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Mediaweek's James Manning meets visiting UK actor David Morrissey, star of the second season of the BBC First series, The Missing.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado talk about The Bold And The Beautiful filming in Sydney and The B&B Sydney fan event plus the first episode of Hoges, Nashville returns, House Husbands missing castmembers, who should star on an Aussie version of Fashion Police and ABC TV's mini upfront.
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Visiting the Mediaweek Sydney podcast studio this week were two of the stars of Suits - Sarah Rafferty (Donna) and Rick Hoffman (Louis). Also joining in on the podcast was Suits fan, and Foxtel's director of publicity and talent, Jamie Campbell.
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Mediaweek editor James Manning and Mediaweek TV contributor Andrew Mercado return for their first podcast of 2017. They disect the first week of what Mediaweek brands "warm up week one" with reviews of Seven's My Kitchen Rules, Nine's Married At First Sight and TEN's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! and much more.
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As TV Week publishers a special edition 2017 preview magazine called TV Week Extra, Mediaweek editor James Manning is joined by TV Week editor Emma Nolan and the editor of the special edition, TV Week deputy editor Thomas Woodgate. During their discussion, Emma and Thomas talk about the big TV shows coming in 2017, both new launches and returning series, plus the biggest shows on the various streaming platforms. Don't miss Thomas speaking about rules that help viewers decaide on what to binge on, and TV reporters reveal how they manage to keep up with all TV from high end drama to the mountain of reality TV on offer.
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The final Mediaweek TV podcast of 2016 features the top 20 TV lists from editor James Manning and TV critic Andrew Mercado. They both talk through their choices for shows of the year, agreeing on some and arguing over the others. Some of the usual suspects are on the lists as are some surprise inclusions.
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US-based Australian political satirist, TV & radio host and podcaster Josh Zepps recently visited Mediaweek. Zepps was the presenter and co-executive producer of Australian Idol's behind-the-scenes component, Idol Backstage. On radio, he won an Australian Commercial Radio Award (ACRA) for his syndicated satirical comedy sketches on the Fairfax Radio network. After moving to New York, Zepps had his own show on Discovery Science Channel, before moving to The Huffington Post to be part of the launch team on HuffPost Live. During our interview Zepps reveals the Australian TV show he just missed out on co-hosting recently. He currently hosts the podcast #WeThePeople LIVE and is in Sydney for a live show on December 18.
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It's been a while since our last TV podcast, but TV critic Andrew Mercado joins James Manning in the first of two podcasts to end the TV year. In this podcast we talk about Netflix downloads, the end of the ratings year and the final big franchises for 2016 - The Block, The X Factor and Australian Survivor. Other topics covered include the 2017 Upfronts, late night TV opportunities, Viceland,The Grand Tour, food programs coming in 2017 and much more.
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You can hear Osher as a Southern Cross Austereo radio host on Hit 105 Brisbane breakfast, nationally on the Hit Network on Sunday nights with Osher's Love Line and see him hosting Network Ten's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. Osher speaks with Mediaweek's James Manning in our Potts Point studio and begins talking about how music was his first love which led to a radio career. He speaks about his time in TV from Channel to Australian Idol to The Bachelor and reveals the TV project that he had to give up for his current hosting roles at Network Ten.
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In this episode, Mediaweeks Kruti Joshi visits the Nine office in Australia Square Sydney to talk to the companys new head of lifestyle Helen McCabe.
They talk about McCabes move from print to digital, the future of 9Honey, competition from Mamamia and News Corp's unnamed women's destination coming in 2017, and plans to get into podcasting. McCabe also revealed what it was like leaving the Bauer Media building after more than six years and what she did in between jobs.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and news.com.au's Melissa Hoyer catch-up over a podcast about the year it's been. Hoyer talks about her year on the road reporting for news.com.au, why she thinks it's important to be active on social media and reveals which platforms are her favourite.
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Mediaweek contributor Andrew Mercado joins Mediaweek's James Manning to talk television. We again revisit the new Australian dramas to check on their ratings and we look at the new dramas about the British royal family BBC First's Victoria and Netflix's The Crown. Andrew is also enthusiastic about Mum, James likes Brock and they also discuss the power of social media on new TV programs, the US election debates and Westworld.
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Mediaweek's James Manning talks with the editor-in-chief of delicious. Kerrie McCallum. They discuss the special 15th birthday edition of the monthly NewsLifeMedia title and talk about how the food magazine sector has been performing. Hear all about Gin & Tonic tarts and Snickers-inspired desserts.
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Stan, launched in January 2015, has held its own against the large global Netflix juggernaut. With a mix of third-party content and its own original productions, the subscription video on demand service has carved out a valued position in the space.
Mike Sneesby, Stan's chief executive officer, and programming chief Nick Forward join Mediaweek editor James Manning and deputy editor Dan Barrett in the Mediaweek offices for a chat about the growth of the service and its programming objectives. It's a candid conversation which goes in depth on the company's strategy and increasing pressure from its foreign competitors - Netflix and, soon, Amazon.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Dan Barrett are joined by Andrew Mercado to discuss the big events in television for this past month.
The three discuss:
2016 Emmy Awards - which winners were deserving? The new slate of Australian dramas. What's hot and what's not? The new slate of US broadcast dramas. What's worth checking out?
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Andrew O'Keefe is no stranger to Seven's afternoon gameshow timeslot. For the past year he has fronted The Chase, which replaced his previous game show Deal or No Deal. He joined Mediaweek to discuss the one-year anniversary of the show.
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The EP of Good Game Janet Carr and its on-air presenter Stephanie 'Hex' Bendixsen stepped out of the production suite as they put the finishing touches on their 10th anniversary special to talk with Mediaweek. The two are frank and open about the TV show that has built a very strong and loyal digital audience for ABC TV.
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Victoria Madden, the lead writer and creator of The Kettering Incident joins Media week deputy editor Dan Barrett and contributor Andrew Mercado to discuss the Foxtel series. Joining Madden is Sydney-based writer Mike Jones, who provided writing support for Madden in crafting the mythological elements of the series.
Madden outlines the origins of the product, her inspirations, and her thoughts on all of the conversation that has surrounded the series.
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Style Squad, a brand new local production hosted by Tash Sefton and Elle Ferguson, premieres this month on Style Channel. Producer Philippa Whitfield Pomeranz offers an insight into the new series.
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For our monthly TV podcast the regular panel of Mediaweek editor James Manning, deputy editor Dan Barrett, and regular contributor Andrew Mercado discuss the TV that has been on their minds this month.
Among the MANY shows discussed, the panel do discuss Australian Survivor, The Block, Zumbo's Just Desserts, the 2016 Olympics coverage, Stranger Things, and why they don't make TV like Northern Exposure anymore.
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Long-time reporter on Nine's A Current Affair, Martin King, joins Mediaweek editor James Manning on this podcast to take a trip down memory lane. King shares the experience of filing his first story for ACA in the 80s (including being watered down by a talent in the story), how the show has become the "voice of the people", talks about confronting people in stories, addresses misconceptions about the ACA sensationalising news and the importance of the brand to the Nine Network.
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Mediaweek's James Manning and Kruti Joshi visited the News Corp office in Sydney a week before the launch of Stellar to talk the new magazines editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand.
In this podcast, Le Marquand talks about the challenges and rewards of producing the rst issue of Stellar, the pressure of heading News Corp's biggest investment in print this year, localising each edition of the title for the three markets its going to be available in and why columnists are brave to voice their opinions in this day and age.
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Founder of The Chaser and the editor in chief of the satirical Chaser Quarterly magazine Charles Firth joins us for a discussion about the new Chaser book The Chaser's Australia.
Firth explains how the book fits into the Chaser Quarterly's publication cycle, recounts his involvement with comedy show The Roast, and details the early TV projects of The Chaser with CNNNN.
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Adriano Zumbo, host of the new Seven reality cooking competition show Zumbo's Just Desserts is joined by his on-screen assistant Gigi Falanga in his conversation with Mediaweek editor James Manning and deputy editor Dan Barrett.
In addition to telling us about the new show, Zumbo discusses his TV downtime between Masterchef and the new show. He also offers his thoughts on Willy Wonka, the challenges of running his retail business, and the rise of the freakshake.
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Technology journalist and founder of Recode Kara Swisher visited the Mediaweek offices for a discussion about technology and media ahead of her talk at the Walkley Foundation's Storyology conference.
Swisher is considered to be the voice of authority on Yahoo, so we took the opportunity to pick her brain over the future of Yahoo now that it has been sold to Verizon. Also, what is the future for international joint ventures like Yahoo7?
Swisher also offers some comment on a potential Amazon launch in Australia, Netflix founder Reed Hastings, and more.
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The editor-in-chief of Jones, Deborah Bibby, talks about leaving Bauer Media (formerly known as ACP Magazines) after more than a decade with the publisher. She tells us what tempted her to take up her new role at Medium Rare Content Agency, discusses the difference between editing a commercial title and custom publication, where she aspires to take Jones, how the title will be competing with premium fashion brands like Harpers Bazaar and Vogue Australia, and describes what meetings are like with David Jones. Bibby also revealed that she was once the boss of her current boss, Gerard Reynolds, the managing director of Medium Rare Content Agency.
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Storyful global news editor David Clinch visited Australia recently as a guest speaker for the Walkley's Storyology conference. He spoke with Mediaweek about what Storyful does and its role in verification of facts and sources of news in today's fast turnaround news environment. Clinch also reveals why he chose to leave his previous role as a senior international editor for CNN.
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AAP's Tony Gillies and Mike Osborne talk about the organisation's coverage of Rio 2016 and the role the newswire agency plays in the Australian media landscape.
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Soul Mates stars Nick Boshier and Christiaan Van Vuuren, best known as the Bondi Hipsters, join the Mediaweek podcast to discuss season two.
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Professor Amanda Lotz from the University of Michigan was a guest of the ANZCA conference. Mediaweek caught up with her to discuss US TV industry trends and how they relate to Australia.
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Joining our regular TV-focused podcast this month are Mediaweek editor James Manning, deputy editor Dan Barrett, and contributor Andrew Mercado.
The panel discusses far too many shows to list here, but topics include:
The Sonia Kruger controversy - was it justified? The Kettering Incident The return of The Bachelor Fifi Box joins Neighbours Stranger Things debuts on Netflix US politics doco series The Circus Star Trek at San Diego Comic Con Alternative Olympics programing The TV highlights of the first half of 2016
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Guardian Australia MD Ian McClelland talks about incoming editor Lenore Taylor, reports of financial pressure and how the cost cutting exercise in the UK is going impact on local operations.
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Regular contributor Andrew Mercado joins the Mediaweek podcast to discuss his current role for World Movies. In a series of introductions for World Movies during a week-long season of ozploitation classics, Mercado will appear as Australia's greatest 'Unknown Stuntman'.
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Nielsen Australian Connected Consumers Report author Lillian Zrim provides some absolutely fascinating insights into how Australians' habits surrounding our use of technology has been changing.
What devices are we actually using? And is it true that we have stopped second screening, but have instead begun triple screening? Is there really a decline in the amount of pirated material that Australians have been downloading? What technology are we using in retail environments nowadays? Do we still showroom? Are we really using SVOD services like Presto and Stan out of primetime viewing hours?
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Chas Licciardello and Scott Abbot from The Chaser's Election Desk stop by the Mediaweek studio to discuss their upcoming show.
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Once a month Mediaweek editor James Manning and deputy editor Dan Barrett is joined by contributor Andrew Mercado for a broad discussion about what has been fascinating them about TV recently. Among the many topics discusssed:
Kiss Bang Love Cleverman Secret City 60 Minutes controversy Brax returns to Home & Away Britains Got Talent The ABC Comedy Showroom The Girlfriend Experience Secret Daughter Have You Been Paying Attention And more!
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Mediaweek speak with Jana Frawley just two days before the Escape brand's relaunch in print and online.
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Just 48 hours before he flew out to the Samoan location of Australian Survivor, EP Stephen Tate joined Mediaweek to offer what details he was allowed acquiring the format for Ten, choosing Jonathan LaPaglia as host, crew safety precautions, and much more!
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Rove and Sam from 2Day FM's breakfast show tell Mediaweek how the first six months of their radio show has gone.
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TV Week editor Emma Nolan offers her thoughts on the awards night and its recipients, while detailing how involved the magazines staff are in the awards, category changes, and much more.
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Australian producer of the Eurovision broadcast Paul Clarke joins the Mediaweek podcast with editor James Manning as they discuss the 2016 production of the European talent event. In addition, the two discuss the proposed Eurovision Asia song contest, Clarke's work producing the underrated game show gem ADbc, and the upcoming project he's working on with Matt Preston through Clarke's company Blink TV.
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Fetch TV chief executive Scott Lorsen on the growth of Fetch TV and the role it'll play for Optus in broadcasting the EPL in Australia.
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Craig Bruce returns for a second chat with Mediaweek editor James Manning. Bruce details a new podcast series that he has produced - Game Changers.
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Editor James Manning is joined by deputy editor Dan Barrett and digital editor Kruti Joshi to discuss the big news in media this week.
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Former head of content at Southern Cross Austereo, Craig Bruce understands the Australian radio market like few others. He spoke with Mediaweek editor James Manning about the second radio survey for 2016, providing great insight into the local market.
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Judith Whelan, the new editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, talks about the paper's 185-year-long journey, and why it has to "dance quickly" to meet audience expectations
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Game of Thrones star Alfie Allen chats with Mediaweek about his role on TV's hottest show.
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Mediaweek editor James Manning and deputy editor Dan Barrett are joined in the studio by contributor Andrew Mercado for a monthly TV podcast.
Up for discussion:
The 2016 Logie Awards controversy and whether the awards have got its nominations right? The People vs OJ Simpson - yay or nay? Has Neighbours gotten its groove back? Thoughts on the new Cleverman trailer. Much more...
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The head of Presto Shaun James has said Presto is second only to Netflix in the Australian SVOD market.
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From 60 Minutes legal issues to Grazia online relaunching to Jonathan LaPaglia hosting Australian Survivor, the Mediaweek panel discusses it all.
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This week the panel discuss the Logies controversy, Nick Chan's appointment as CEO at Bauer, You're Back in The Rooms ratings success, and more!
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Podcast interview with the star of the new Universal series Heartbeat, Melissa George.
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Mediaweek editor James Manning and deputy editor Dan Barrett are joined by the hosts of the popular Two Blokes Talking Tech podcast Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long.
On this tech-based episode, Fenech and Long provide insight on:
The recent Apple iPhone SE launch Who should buy an iPad Pro The launch of Playstation VR Will 3D printers be a thing? And much more.
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2016 Ep 12 Mediaweek Podcast Click Play Above or Right-Click Here To Download MP3
PANEL * The stars of Two Blokes Talking Tech Stephen Fenech and Trevor Long * James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine * Dan Barrett, Mediaweek deputy editor
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The OzTAM chief Doug Peiffer offers insight into how TV ratings measurement works in Australia
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Every Friday Mediaweek examines the news stories that dominated the week in Australian media for our weekly panel podcast. Editor James Manning is this week joined by deputy editor Dan Barrett and digital editor Kruti Joshi.
Topics discussed:
Netflix a winner in Canstar Blue's subscription TV sentiment survey Nielsen and IAB's digital ratings solution Peta Credlin joins Sky News as questions build over its future Foxtel add 3 beIN sports channels Foxtel promote its Anytime offer Greg Hywood on Fairfax's video offering and shrinking the Canberra Times ABC leadership reshuffle BuzzFeed launch a new app
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2016 - Ep 09 - Mediaweek Podcast Click Play Above or Right-Click Here To Download MP3
PANEL
- Edwina McCann Editor-in - Chief Vogue Australia magazine
- James Manning - Editor - Mediaweek magazine
- Kruti Joshi Digital Editor - Mediaweek
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This week Mediaweek launches its weekly panel round-up podcast of the news stories that dominated the week in Australian media. Editor James Manning is this week joined by deputy editor Dan Barrett and digital editor Kruti Joshi.
Topics discussed:
Netflix's 1-year anniversary in Australia The Real Housewives of Sydney Batman vs Superman Noel Murray recipient of Qld Music Awards Grant McLennan lifetime achievement award Twitter's 10th anniversary Brussels bombing media coverage DAB+ in-car listening is on the rise The SBS push to launch Eurovision Asia Kyle & Jackie O's cash cock Deloitte research on binge-viewing Playstation VR
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PANEL
- Dan Barrett - deputy editor - Mediaweek magazine
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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PANEL
- Fiveaa Adelaide breakfast hosts David Penberthy and Will Goodings
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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PANEL
- Matt Gilberston on life at Confidential in The Advertiser plus his booming career as the cabaret star Hans
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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PANEL
- Jim Carroll, Director of News and Current Affairs, SBS
- Dan Barrett Deputy Editor Mediaweek
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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PANEL
- Here Come The Habibs! co-executive producer Jason Burrows and series co-creator Rob Shehadie
- Mediaweek deputy editor Dan Barrett
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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- Our first podcast of the new year we are talking TV with Mediaweek's Dan Barrett and Andrew Mercado
- James Manning - editor - Mediaweek magazine
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