HD Heads-Up: February 15 – 21

➢➢ Earth’s Tropical Islands (TVNZ 1, 8.00 Tuesdays from February 18) will explore Madagascar, Borneo and Hawaii to see if they are a vital gauge for the health of our planet. The three-part series aired only last month on BBC2. According to The Times, the second episode on Borneo boasts “a stunning sequence featuring a troop of monkeys leaping into a river, where they run the gauntlet of lurking crocodiles (luckily proboscis monkeys have partially webbed feet and are excellent swimmers)” …

➢➢ Not surprisingly, TVNZ 1 is returning Q+A to off-peak after two years of struggling to make it work in primetime. Ironically, the  demotion comes seven months out from the next general election, which could have heightened interest in a peak-hour broadcast.  It will screen 9am Sundays from February 16 …

➢➢ Liam Payne and Bear Grylls will guest on the season premiere of Michael McIntyre’s Big Show (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Wednesdays from February 19). Also returning that week will be The Cruise (Prime, 8.35 Sundays from February 16), Fair Go (TVNZ 1, 7.30 Mondays from February 17), NZ Hunter Adventures (Duke, 8.30 Wednesdays from February 19) and Surveillance Oz (Prime, 8.30 Fridays from February 21) …

➢➢ Ending their runs will be Seven Worlds One Planet, World on Fire, How We Eat With Simon Gault, Portrait Artist of the Year and Extreme Salvage Squad …

➢➢ Margot Robbie, Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Jim Carrey and Lewis Capaldi will appear on the February 20 broadcast of The Graham Norton Show (Three, 8.30) …

➢➢ Lynryd Skynyrd – If I Leave Here Tomorrow (Prime, 8.35 Tuesday): the truth behind the  history, myth, and legend of the Deep South rockers …

➢➢ There will be two network movie premieres in the week starting February 15: Geostorm (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Sunday) and Chappaquiddick (Maori TV, 8.30 Sunday). Other HD coming attractions will include:

• Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Saturday)
• Yellowbird (Maori TV, 7.00 Saturday)
• The Tourist (TVNZ 2, 8.45 Sunday)
• Cloverfield (Three, 8.55 Saturday)
• Mortal Combat (Prime, 9.30 Saturday)
• Presumed Innocent (Duke, 9.30 Saturday)
• Me Before You (Three, 8.35 Sunday)
• No Good Deed (TVNZ 2, 10.40 Sunday)
• SWAT (Prime, 8.30 Monday)
• Wild Things (Duke, 8.30 Tuesday)
• St. Elmo’s Fire (Duke, 10.30 Tuesday)
• Battle Los Angeles (Three, 7.30 Friday)
• Airplane II: The Sequel (Duke, 8.30 Friday).