ScreenScribe

TV3 will strip season two of The Block NZ from 7.30 Monday-Wednesday starting August 26. The first season aired on Wednesdays and Thursdays but this year TV3 is front-loading the week so it can keep Thursdays and Fridays free for the return of The X Factor USA on September 12. In the meantime, it will […]

SoHo Highlight: The Hour (Sky 10, 8.30, F) There are tensions for all as the team prepare to defy government instruction and deliver a controversial episode on the crisis in Suez; Freddie finally learns what happened to Ruth; and Hector and Bel come to a decision. The Guardian thought “The Hour capably, if a little predictably, wrapped up its storylines” — […]

SoHo Highlight: Boardwalk Empire (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Nucky orchestrates a risky liquor delivery, and faces complications in his federal case; Jimmy finds a new mentor; Margaret makes a confession. According to the AV Club’s ‘B’ assessment, “After two weeks of explosive action and bloodletting, Boardwalk Empire retreated to a more contemplative, conceptual place.” Agreed critic Alan Sepinwall: “If The Age of Reason […]

SoHo Highlight: Boardwalk Empire (Sky 10, 8.30 Sunday, 5.1) After paying lip service to his enemies, Nucky introduces a surprise guest speaker at a Memorial Day dedication for war veterans; with his options dwindling, Eli questions his allegiances but ends up digging himself a deeper hole; Nucky gets a new lawyer; Jimmy is taught a painful lesson […]

SoHo Highight: Boardwalk Empire (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) Generation Kill director Susanna White makes her Boardwalk debut with episode three of season two. Said The AV Club in its B+ appraisal: “This week’s Boardwalk Empire ostensibly follows three big plots — Van Alden’s weird relationship with Lucy Danziger, Margaret’s search for her relatives, and Nucky’s political standoff with The Commodore — but I’d say only […]

Viewers were quick to exit Shameless last night, when TV2 launched it at 11pm on the back of a re-run of Happy Endings. The US remake opened with 3.8% of the network’s target audience, 18-39 year-olds, but barely half were still tuned in an hour later. Similarly, the 25-54 rating slumped from 3.1% to 1.4%, […]

SoHo Highlight: Boardwalk Empire (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) US critics toasted the return of this top-shelf Prohibition drama even more lavishly than they did the original. “It’s essential viewing,” gushed The Hollywood Reporter. “All of the promise of last season looks to be realised with impressively deft storytelling, beautiful cinematography and impeccable acting.” Concurred the Boston Globe: “With […]

Quick long-weekend catch-up: What a difference a time slot can make: Rove LA doubled its 25-54 viewership on Thursday when it aired at 9pm instead of 9.30pm. It averaged 7.8%, the same as lead-in The X Factor USA, an improvement that was mirrored in the other key demographics — although, worryingly for TV3, the 25-54 […]

Hellcats (TV2, 5.30) Savannah talks the team into letting Dan direct their bid video against Alice’s wishes; Marti investigates further into Julian’s case. ✫✫✫ Raising Hope (TV3, 7.00, 5.1) It’s Christmas, and Jimmy pleads with Burt to save a doll for Hope during his annual scheme of scalping the season’s hottest toy. “This isn’t the strongest episode […]

Premiere: Hellcats (TV2, 5.30) ✫✫✫ Marti Perkins faces her dislike for cheerleading when she must try out for the Hellcats, Lancer University’s competitive cheerleading squad, to win a scholarship. Reviews: Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, USA Today, TV Guide. Raising Hope (TV3, 7.00, 5.1) ✫✫✫ Jimmy gets Burt’s idol, Smokey Floyd, to help him realise the […]