HD Heads-Up: September 7

➢ The networks have a slew of Kiwi premieres and returning favourites in the week starting September 16. TVNZ 1’s Face The Classroom (8.00 Tuesday and Wednesday) throws political candidates into the lion’s den — not with Hosking or Gower but kids who ask the darndest things about health, education and transport …

➢ Three will launch Slice of Paradise on Wednesday at 7.30. It’s another property show in which Kiwis try to realise their lifestyle dream and premieres the same week the network’s Grand Designs NZ returns for a third season (7.30 Tuesday) ahead of new episodes of Lost & Found …

➢ Also back that week are Storage Wars Miami (Prime, 7.00 Sunday), The Catch (TVNZ 1, 11.00 Tuesday) and The Odd Couple (Prime, 8.00 Thursday) while ending their runs are The Block NZ, Wentworth, Ice Wars, Mayday, The Millionaires’ Holiday Club and Bones …

➢ The Odd Couple will be sandwiched by the free-to-air premieres of Man With a Plan and Big Little Lies. The latter, which first screened on SoHo, is the most overrated drama series of 2017 while the former is a Matt LeBlanc hapless dad comedy that was panned more than his Top Gear stint …

➢ Three will follow the final of The Block NZ (7.00 Sunday) with All Star Family Feud: The Block NZ (7.30 Monday) while TVNZ 1 will premiere UK game show Tipping Point Lucky Stars (5.00 Sunday), in which three obscure celebrities take on an extraordinary machine to try to win £20,000 for charity …

➢ This week and next on Prime’s The Late Show With Stephen Colbert: Liev Schreiber, Joe Buck, Sonequa Martin-Green, and Sheila E. sits in with Jon Batiste and Stay Human (11.05 tonight); Senator Bernie Sanders, Caitriona Balfe, and a musical performance by The National (10.30 tomorrow); and Jessica Biel (10.40 Monday) …

➢ Three will screen the network premiere of The Martian on September 17. Other HD coming attractions that week will include:

• Frankenweenie (TVNZ 2, 5.30 Saturday)
• Where the Wild Things Are (TVNZ 2, 7.00 Saturday)
• Stuart Little 2 (Three, 7.00 Saturday)
• Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business (Three, 8.30 Saturday)
• The Wedding Ringer (TVNZ 2, 8.50 Saturday)
• The Five-Year Engagement (Three, 10.15 Saturday)
• Trouble With the Curve (TVNZ 1, 10.45 Saturday)
• How Do You Know (TVNZ 2, 10.50 Saturday)
• Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (TVNZ 2, 5.10 Sunday)
• The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1 (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Sunday)
• Black Swan (Three, 11.15 Sunday)
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (Three, 8.30 Thursday).