Tonight in HD: June 27

Season Highlight: The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 8.30, 5.1) When Wolowitz gets to work with world-renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, Sheldon is willing to do anything, no matter how humiliating, to meet his hero. According to The Huffington Post, “Hawking insisted on doing the voice work himself for his guest spot, rather than let producers add in his signature mechanical voice later. And he proved quite adept … at comedic timing.” IGN thought the cameo sparked “a fun little scene, with Hawking pointing out a flaw in Sheldon’s paper. But it was effective, if only to watch the cowering, vulnerable version of Sheldon realise he’d just made a fool of himself right in front of his idol. Not quite comedy gold, but certainly one of the episode’s highlights.” ✭✭✭✭

Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms (TV3, 8.30) Father’s Day, 1984: A ‘swap meet’ at Milperra becomes the moment of truth for both clubs. “Despite having thus far been the softest of on-screen bikies (are they really still ”warring’ over who goes to which pub?), in tonight’s episode they’re tooled up. And not before time,” The Age said. “We’re clumsily introduced at the start of the ep to two new characters (who inevitably become innocent victims in the massacre) before the action centres on the lead-up to the swap-meet outbreak of hostilities, which when it finally happens is possibly one of the best-shot sequences of the series. That isn’t high praise, considering much of it has resembled a Chiko Roll ad from the late 1970s. Warning: tonight’s episode is entirely free of gratuitous breasts and beer being playfully sprayed around.” ✭✭✭✭

Home & Away (TV3, 5.30) Harvey realises the depth of Mel’s issues; Jett runs away from his foster family; Sasha gets April to deal with Dex’s heartache. ✭✭

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) Rachel tries to help her pampered younger sister (guest star Reese Witherspoon) find independence – but Jill flirting with Ross is not part of the plan. ✭✭✭✭

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Murray lashes out; Bella gets caught in the crossfire; Vasa puts her needs first. ✭✭✭

Two and a Half Men (TV2, 7.30, 5.1) Walden’s commitment is tested when Zoey and her daughter come to live with him for a trial run; Alan gets more than he bargained for when he moves in with Lyndsey. ✭✭

Road Cops (TV3, 7.30, F) Double-episode season finale: officers arrest drunken youths; a drunk male tries to outrun the police; a boy-racer uses a transvestite sex-worker to try to get off a ticket. ✭✭

2 Broke Girls (TV2, 8.00, 5.1) Caroline promises to mail Earl’s tax return but gets side tracked helping Max file hers. ✭✭

Happy Endings (TV2, 9.00, 5.1) Former bully Alex teaches Dave how to fight back against the bully at the gym; Jane’s controlling ways as president of the condo association have the other residents fed up. ✭✭

Castle (TV One, 9.30, 5.1) When a bachelor plummets to his death after a one-night stand, the investigation leads to a shocking discovery that might derail Ryan’s wedding. ✭✭

Breakout Kings (TV3, 9.30, 5.1) An anti-government con with a destructive streak escapes, and the case hits close to home when the man sends a bomb to DuChamp’s home.  ✭✭✭

Nikita (TV2, 10.30, 5.1) Michael learns that a woman he once romanced under Division orders is in danger. Feeling guilty for how things ended, Michael sets out to help her. ✭✭

Sky Movies Premiere: Water for Elephants (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) An over-the-top third act mars this otherwise impressive Big Top drama. Robert Pattinson plays a veterinary student made homeless by the Great Depression who joins the circus and turns its plodding elephant into a star attraction while falling for the vicious circus-master’s wife (Reese Witherspoon). It sounds hopelessly melodramatic but mostly is a colourful tale of carnival folk enriched by exceptional HD. Christoph Waltz co-stars; Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) directs the adapted screenplay by The Horse Whisperer’s Richard LeGravenese. (2011) ✭✭✭