HD Heads-Up: September 10-16

➢➢ The pick of the premieres for the week starting September 10 will be Showtrial (TVNZ 1, 9.35 Saturday). It’s billed as a “timely, twisty, darkly humorous tale” about sensational media coverage of a murder trial that involves privilege, wealth and politics. Tracy Ifeachor (The Originals) and Céline Buckens (Warrior) star. Reviews were mixed. The Guardian thought the class tension, sex and politics were “laid on thick … the risk of an overbaked, overstuffed dud is high”. But the evening Standard acclaimed it as “a fresh, considered spin on the usual crime procedural tropes” …

➢➢ Maori Language week highlights will include:

• Speak No Māori (TVNZ 1, 8.40 Tuesday), which unpacks the history of te Reo Māori
• Shortland Street (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Monday-Friday), which will tell a complete story predominantly in te Reo Māori when TK comes face to face with a mystery woman who reveals the shocking truth about his origin
• Meng (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Monday), a bilingual documentary about one man’s determination to promote the rights of tāngata whenua while navigating what it means to be a Chinese man with influence in NZ
• Up 2 (Whakaata Māori, 7.00 Tuesday), in which Piri Weepu and Matua Parkinson travel around NZ to catch up with sporting heroes have been up too
• Piri’s Tiki Tour (Whakaata Māori, 10.30 Tuesday): S4 premiere of the Piri Weepu series about gathering kai
• Lifted (Whakaata Māori, 7.00 Wednesday), in which singer-songwriter Riapo Panapa reveals the story and creative process behind this year’s popular songs …

➢➢ Returning will be Fish of the Day on a new channel (Duke, 6.30 Saturday & Sunday), The Russell Howard Hour (Duke, 8.30 Saturday), Young Sheldon (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Sunday) following a marathon of favourite episodes from 11am Sunday, and 20/20 (TVNZ 1, 9.30 Monday) …

➢➢ Specials to watch for will include Comedy Month: Best Foods Comedy Gala (Three, 7.30 Thursday) and two 9/11 commemorations: What Happened On September 11 (Prime, 9.40 Wednesday) and In the Shadow of the Towers (Prime, 10.15 Wednesday) …

➢➢ HD coming attractions for the week starting September 10 will include:

• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Saturday)
• Emu Runner (Whakaata Māori, 7.00 Saturday)
• Ghost Town (Three, 8.25 Saturday)
• Killshot (Eden, 8.30 Saturday)
• Aliko and Ambai (Whakaata Māori, 8.40 Saturday)
• Inferno (TVNZ 2, 9.10 Saturday)
• True Story (Duke, 10.15 Saturday)
• American Woman (Three, 10.25 Saturday)
• The Pelican Brief (TVNZ 2, 11.00 Saturday)
• Crocodile Dundee (TVNZ 2, 7.30 Sunday)
• Gemini Man (Three, 8.00 Sunday)
• Devil’s Knot (Eden, 8.30 Sunday)
• My Sami Blood (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Sunday)
• Die Hard With a Vengeance (TVNZ 2, 9.25 Sunday)
• Zero Dark Thirty (Duke, 8.30 Tuesday)
• Fool’s Gold (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Wednesday)
• Mahana (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Wednesday)
• Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Three, 7.30 Friday)
• Happy Gilmore (Duke, 9.30 Friday)