HD Heads-Up: February 28-March 6

February 19, 2026 0 Comments

➢➢ TVNZ 2 refreshes primetime and off-peak with a slew of premieres and returning series. Fear Factor: House of Fear (7.30 Sunday) leads into double-episodes of the HBO/Channel 4 docuseries Michael Jackson: The Trial (8,30), in which the controversial pop icon “confesses intimate secrets on previously unheard audio tapes”. House of Fear went to air last month on Fox, with Johnny Knoxville fronting. Most critics squirmed as much as viewers, but Decider said: “We like Fear Factor: House of Fear for the stunts, as gross as they can get, and for Knoxville’s gleefully sadistic hosting. The house stuff is superfluous, but the episodes still move quickly enough for us to enjoy” …

➢➢ Said The Guardian of Michael Jackson: The Trial: “Over four episodes, the series charts the events leading up to and surrounding Jackson’s 2005 trial, at which he was accused of molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo (he was later found not guilty on all 10 counts) … The Trial leans hard on discussion of and archive footage from Leaving Neverland in its conclusion – perhaps to justify its own existence, or perhaps to salute that documentary for having the impact it did. Really, though, this series makes its own points, and makes them well”. The Times thought it “unusually balanced” and The Telegraph “sober and thoroughly researched” …

➢➢ Screening post-9.30 Tuesday-Thursday is Australian Survivor: Redemption, in which new and returning players try to redeem themselves by outwitting, outplaying and outlasting the competition, while capping the week of newcomers is the season two premiere of Ted (8.35 Friday), which will air in weekly soluble-episodes. Replacing AS host Jonathan LaPaglia after 11 seasons is three-time AS contestant and All-Stars winner David Genat. He told Entertainment weekly Redemption is “probably one of the best Australian Survivors, if not the best Australian Survivor season ever”…

➢➢ Weekday afternoons on TVNZ 2 get a facelift with a new “nail-biting” Ross Kemp quiz show, Bridge of Lies (1.30 daily); Everyday Gourmet With Justine Schofield (2.30), in which the MasterChef Australia finalist shares favourite recipes; and Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits (3.00), in which the psychic medium embarks on a London stage tour …

➢➢ Charter Boat Wars (Duke, 7.00 Saturday) is a 2022 reality newcomer about Aussie skippers competing in a high-stakes fishing contest in Portland, Victoria …

➢➢ Appearing on Friday’s Graham Norton Show (TVNZ 2, 7.30) are Robert De Niro, Mikey Madison, Alan Carr, Holly Willoughby, Elton John and Brandi Carlile …

➢➢ Matlock returns for S2 with a double-episode (TVNZ 1, 7.30 Tuesday) while ending their runs are: