Tonight in HD: May 1

 Series HD Premiere: Yellowstone (TV One, 8.30) America’s best idea – creating the world’s first national park, Yellowstone – turns out to be one of the best the BBC’s had for a natural history series. Yellowstone’s mix of breathtaking high-definition photography and intelligent, thought-provoking storytelling, revolving around the impact of winter, summer and autumn on the volcanic Rocky Mountain sanctuary, is exceptionally enthralling. Frustratingly, this re-run of a series TV One originally aired off-peak in SD, is only three episodes long. ✮✮✮✮✮

The Closer (TV One, 11.05, 5.1) Brenda's team investigates the shooting death of a popular online "hook-up king"; Pope (JK Simmons, above) does a rotation as a member of Brenda's squad to get a first-hand look at how the team works. Tapped Out, which Adam (Chicago Hope, Sons of Anarchy) Arkin directed, is the first of season five's funnier episodes, with most of the laughs revolving around Pope becoming "just one of the guys" and handing vital evidence at a crime scene, including the still-loaded murder weapon, to a 'detective' named Richard Tracy. ✮✮✮✮

Home & Away (TV3, 5.30) Everyone learns of Sasha’s plans; Indi tells Romeo the truth; Ruby is angry at Brax’s interference in her case. ✮✮

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) After Joey almost loses Ross’ wedding ring, Ross asks both Joey and Chandler to serve as his best man; the girls host a baby shower for Phoebe. ✮✮✮✮

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Phoenix is trapped in Hayley’s lies; Daniel receives a confidence boost; Ula’s shocked by an unexpected confession. ✮✮✮

The Middle (TV2, 7.30, 5.1) Frankie decides each Heck family member will be assigned a New Year’s resolution anonymously after realising that no one follows through on their yearly promises. ✮✮✮✮

Suburgatory (TV2, 8.00, 5.1) George’s all-expenses paid trip to Atlantic City turns into a getaway with the guys. ✮✮

Missing Pieces (TV3, 8.00, F) Brothers Wayne and Tony Kemp want to ask their father why he never tried to find them; Auckland twins Sophie and Laura Langley attempt to find their family, especially their father. ✮✮✮

Go Girls (TV2, 8.30) When Gwen goes missing, Cody reaches crunch point; Britta battles the green eyed monster – with unexpected results. ✮✮✮

Fringe (TV2, 2.30, 5.1, R) Peter teams up with a local law enforcement official, Sheriff Mathis, on a serial murder investigation with ties to Newton. ✮✮✮✮

Sky Movies Premiere: Swinging With the Finkels (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) Martin Freeman and Mandy Moore star in what Variety dubbed a “lame, unfunny” sex comedy that “tracks how one London-based couple tries to scratch the seven-year-itch by exploring wife-swapping. Despite its ostensibly prurient subject matter, pic is so tame it earned no more than a 15 certificate in Blighty (roughly equivalent to a PG) and is more likely to offend auds for borderline-racist stereotyping than for smuttiness.” (2011) ✮✮