HD Heads-Up: February 25-March 3

➢➢ The latest TVNZ+ drama to at last win a primetime slot is The Teacher (TVNZ 1, 9.20 Saturday). Sheridan Smith plays a newly promoted teacher whose life and career unravel when she’s accused of sleeping with a 15-year-old student (Somewhere Boy’s Samuel Bottomley). “The Teacher is first and foremost a mystery thriller that is less concerned with unpacking that subject matter, and more focused on keeping viewers on their toes,” Radio Times said. “There is very little depth, quality or originality.” Echoec The Telegraph: “Smith impresses in this flirty Channel 5 thriller, but she deserves a better script.” And closer to home, Stuff declared: “Feels weirdly both slightly overly melodramatic and not quite serious enough.” The four-part series will unfold in two double-episodes …

➢➢ TVNZ 2’s rejigging of weekend schedules continues with the network programming a new season of Australia’s Booze Patrol. What used to be a mid-week staple now will air 7.00 Saturdays from February 18 …

➢➢ Also returning for new seasons the same weekend will be NZ Hunter Adventures (Duke, 8.30 Sunday) and Tougher Than It Looks (Duke, 10.10 Sunday) …

➢➢ The first live NRL game that will screen free-to-air as a result of Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent deal with Sky will be Warriors vs Knights (8.00 Friday). Pre-game coverage will air from 7.30 and post-game analysis from 9.30 …

➢➢ The Drawing Board (7.30 Mondays from February 27) will explore contemporary Maori architecture from the perspective of Professor Derek Kawiti …

➢➢ Treasure Island: Fans v Faves (TVNZ 2, 7.30 Monday-Wednesday) will end its season with the fate of the surviving six being decided. Also completing their runs will be Head of the Class, American Auto, Grand Crew, Frozen Planet ll, Grime & Punishment, Rat in the Kitchen and The Bridge UK …

➢➢ Appearing on the March 2 broadcast of The Graham Norton Show (Three, 8.30) will be Dame Judi Dench, Hugh Jackman, Michael B Jordan, Eugene Levy, Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and P!nk …

➢➢ HD coming attractions for the week starting February 25 will include:

• The Fast and the Furious (TVNZ 2, 7.30 Saturday)
• Sex and the City 2 (Eden, 8.30 Saturday)
• The Client (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Saturday)
• American Made (TVNZ 2, 9.25 Saturday)
• The Mummy Returns (Duke, 9.25 Saturday)
• 2 Guns (Three, 10.30 Saturday)
• Adrift (TVNZ 2, 11.35 Saturday)
• Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (TVNZ 2, 1.20am Sunday)
• Police Academy 3:  Back in Training (TVNZ 2, 2.50am Sunday)
• Playmobil (Whakaata Māori, 12.30 Sunday)
• Jack Ryan – Shadow Recruit (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Sunday)
• Terminator Genisys (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Saturday)
• J. Edgar (Eden, 8.30 Sunday)
• My Afternoons with Margueritte (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Sunday)
• Annabelle Comes Home (TVNZ 2, 10.35 Sunday)
• Twelve Monkeys (Prime, 8.30 Monday)
• In Pursuit of Silence (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Monday)
• U-571  (Duke, 8.30 Tuesday)
• Perfect Strangers (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Wednesday)
• Anchorman 2 (Duke, 9.25 Friday).