ScreenScribe

   TV3’s new season launch today was more notable for what won’t be new next year. The network is relying on returning local and international properties for much of its schedule and has confirmed it doesn’t have the rights to Planet Earth II — which seems an extraordinary lost opportunity given it represents the pinnacle of television production. […]

NCIS and its Los Angeles spin-off helped TV3 to dominate last night’s ratings. TV2 owned the early part of the night, with the unassailable Shortland Street and The Amazing Race winning their slots. But the NCIS finals crushed The Celebrity Apprentice and TV One’s Blakey profile of Sir Peter Blake. NCIS averaged 10.5% of 25-54 […]

The Borgias ended its low-rating run last night with the kind of numbers that mean it won’t be back in primetime. TV3 has committed to season two of the Jeremy Irons costume drama but is likely to run it post-Nightline following the first season’s failure to build an audience over the last nine weeks against […]

SoHo Highlight: Dexter (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Dexter lines up his next victim, Brother Sam, a criminal who claims to have found religion; the investigation into the dead man with the snakes in his torso advances when one of the students finds heavy metals in their system; Quinn has a surprise waiting for Deb in the […]

Meat Loaf’s meltdown on last night’s The Celebrity Apprentice helped the HD reality challenge to win its two-hour slot for the first time this season. It averaged 10% of TV2’s target audience, 18-39 year-olds, versus 9.5% of NCIS and 7.2% of NCIS: Los Angeles on TV3, and 13.1% of household shoppers with kids vs the NCIS […]

SoHo Highlight: Dexter (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Season six opens with Dexter avenging the murder of a good samaritan from his school days and Miami’s finest investigating the disembowelment of a fruiterer. Although each season of Dexter is renowned for starting slow, the premiere nonetheless feels unusually cut-and-paste and may be an omen of what’s to come. As […]

SoHo Highlight: Rescue Me (Sky 10, 7.30, 5.1) If, like me, you’ve never warmed to this abrasive dramedy about neurotic New York firefighters, this could be the time to give it another go. According to veteran US critic Alan Sepinwall, episode two of season five is a “big improvement” over the premiere. “The introduction of Genevieve, […]

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) A night at Mike’s piano bar gives Monica a very showy moment in the spotlight; Chandler employs his secret skill to repair Joey’s botched eyebrow-waxing job. ✫✫✫ Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Jasmine dabbles with dark forces; Daniel makes a bid for love; Luke breaks free and risks it all. ✫✫✫ The Celebrity Apprentice (TV2, […]

Airing season three of NCIS: Los Angeles barely a month after its US launch helped TV3 to win the 9.30pm hour with its target audience, 25-54 year-olds. But TV2’s HD rival, The Celebrity Apprentice, outrated the season premiere in the other key demographics. The final of The Amazing Race Australia delivered Apprentice a strong lead-in, […]

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) Rachel’s middle sister (guest star Christina Applegate) turns up for Thanksgiving, and infuriates the gang with her selfish and rude demeanour. ✫✫✫ Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Bella sacrifices for love; Daniel’s best intentions lead to disaster; Maxwell plays a dangerous game. ✫✫✫ NCIS (TV3, 8.30, 5.1) A teenage boy is accused of murdering his father, […]