Will Underbelly Beat Rush Hour?

Sigrid Thornton as Detective Gerry Lloyd

TV2 is resorting to movies to rebuild its Wednesday night viewership in the face of HD heavyweight Underbelly’s popularity on TV3.

It’s not know how long the network will run movies like Rush Hour (8.30 tonight), Rush Hour 3 (next week) and Troy (July 7).

But chances are it will only be until Underbelly: The Golden Mile completes its run on July 21, so it can try to regain ground lost with its low-rating sci-fi combo of FlashForward and Lost before presumably double-billing new episodes of the top-rating V and Fringe.

Meanwhile, it’s just been announced that Underbelly is to be re-made for US TV, by the cable channel that commissioned Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

And Sky TV has since confirmed Spartacus will screen 9.30pm Sundays on The Box from August 22.

“Spartacus: Blood and Sand is pretty much the ultimate testosterone-fuelled series, and will find itself in good company in our schedule of top-rating drama series, comedy and action-packed reality,” channel manager Tom Fox said.

“There has been much speculation about the series, so now Kiwis will be able to see first-hand just what all the fuss is about. And not only do we know it be an instant hit with our loyal male viewers, but with its mix of drama, outstanding special effects and a terrific cast – not to mention rippling abs as far as the eye can see – it will be enormously appealing to women.”