Mediaweek

Four impressive series this week that all were in the running for TV Gold Show of the Week. • The Survivors (Netflix, 6 episodes)Producer Tony Ayres has crafted a murder mystery set in Tasmania that will keep you guessing until the final episode. Great cast led by Robyn Malcolm and Damien Garvey. • Brassic (SBS On Demand and Netflix, 6 seasons)Hilarious British comedy series set in Northern England which has somehow evaded TV Gold until its sixth season. More great performances here including co-creator Joe Gilgun and Andrew Mercado favourite Michelle Keegan. • Dept Q (Netflix, 9 episodes)Detective Carl Morck (played by Matthew Goode) isn’t particularly easy to get along with. Morck is a notorious figure in his adopted home of Edinburgh, Scotland, an English detective who gets under the skin of everyone around him. Watch it for Goode’s lead role, but stay for the brilliant work of co-star Chloe Pirrie. • This City Is Ours (Stan, 8 episodes)Sean Bean stars in this crime drama set and filmed in Liverpool, with additional filming in Spain. This City is Ours is the story of Michael (James Nelson-Joyce), a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime. Bean the the crime family patriarch and there’s lots of family drama playing out across the eight episodes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week two dramas about sisters and the much anticipated movie from Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. • Sirens (Netflix, 5 episodes) Watch for the exploration of the relationship between working-class Buffalonian Devon DeWitt (Meghann Fahy) and her younger and somewhat more successful sister Simone (Milly Alcock). Stay for the husband and wife dynamics between socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore) at the lavish beachside estate she shares with her billionaire husband, Peter (Kevin Bacon). • The Better Sister (Prime Video, 8 episodes) A thriller that centres around Chloe (Jessica Biel), a high-profile media executive (think Anna Wintour), who lives a picturesque life with her handsome lawyer husband Adam (Corey Stoll) and teenage son Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan) by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Elizabeth Banks) struggles to make ends meet and stay clean. • Mountainhead (Max, movie) A story about four very nasty tech tycoons, good friends on the surface but cutthroat underneath, who gather for a poker weekend at the luxurious home of the poorest of them, the one who is only worth half a billion dollars! Jason Schwartzman is Hugo, the host and creator of a meditation app, angling to get one of his friends to invest a billion or so in his business. Steve Carell is Randy, the oldest of the group, whose contacts in Washington, DC can influence the military and the country's power grid. Diagnosed with incurable cancer, he can't believe money can't fix that, but hopes to cheat death by getting his friends to create an artificial intelligence able to upload a human brain. Ramy Youssef is Jeff, whose company has a super-efficient AI, and who appears to be the most humane of the four (which isn't saying much). Cory Michael Smith is Ben, the owner of a social media app called Traan, and the world’s richest man. Also this week – James visits Clarkson’s pub which features in the new season of Clarkson’s Farm (prime Video) and Andrew has watched new And Just Like That (Binge).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole Kidman is back running her unconventional wellness retreat, we get to learn a lot about the life and times of Pee-Wee Herman and there’s a messy child mix-up in Playing Nice. • Nine Perfect Strangers (S2, Prime Video, 8 episodes) The new season relocates the action to the Austrian Alps and features nine new characters who have been lured to attend another unconventional wellness retreat led by Masha Dmitrichenko, portrayed again by Nicole Kidman. • Pee-Wee As Himself (Max, 2 episodes) Justifiably labelled as the definitive portrait of the comedic performer, and a window into his never before discussed personal life. Woven together from over 40 hours of interview footage filmed before Paul Reubens’ premature death in 2023, 1,000 hours of archival footage, and tens of thousands of never-before-seen photographs from his personal collections. • Playing Nice (SBS, 4 episodes) Two families, one devastating secret involving their young families. James Norton, Niamh Algar and Jessica Brown Findlay star. Lives unravel and loyalties are tested in the gripping thriller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Something for all tastes this episode from science fiction comedy to British drama, a cross-European road trip and an all-star comedy tribute. • Bergerac, (iview, 6 episodes) A reboot of the classic British 1980s drama this time with Damien Moloney in the lead role of Jersey detective Jim Bergerac. He gets great support from Zoe Wanamaker as his mother-in-law which is one of the series highpoints. • Murderbot (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) Alexander Skarsgård stars in this sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct (robot) who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. All it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out a place in the universe. A familiar dilemma many of us face. • The Serial Killer’s Wife (Paramount+, 4 episodes) Beth (Annabel Scholey) is shocked when her husband Tom (Jack Farthing), a village doctor, is arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer. His wife investigates with his best friend and more evidence emerges, forcing her to question if she really knows the man she married. • Long Way Home (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) The fourth instalment of a motorbike ride by best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman sees them travel on refurbished vintage motorbikes from Ewan’s home in Scotland to Charley’s in England — but rather than take the shortest route, they go the long way around Scandinavia visiting a total of 17 countries. • Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Netflix special) Through his work on the animated series The Simpsons, late-night shows (Saturday Night Live, Late Night, and The Tonight Show), podcasts, and more, Conan O’Brien has been making audiences laugh for 40 years. Now the Kennedy Center has recognised his contributions to comedy by presenting him with the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The special features appearances by Adam Sandler, Andy Richter, John Mulaney, Stephen Colbert, Nikki Glaser, Sarah Silverman, Bill Burr, Will Ferrell, Kumail Nanjiani, and David LettermanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just two major series, both UK dramas, are reviewed this episode and the Show of the Week vote is split! Plus Andrew catches up with Etoile. The Teacher (8 episodes, 9Now) The second season has little to do with the first series which starred Sheridan Smith. A new cast and a ramped up plot in S2 starts with promiscuous teachers on a school excursion. The first episode takes nasty turn when a student goes missing and the teachers are implicated in a murder investigation. The Stolen Girl (5 episodes, Disney+) Denise Gough is great playing a mother who realises her daughter won’t be coming back from a playdate one day after school. Strong performances too from Holliday Grainger as the abductor and Ambika Mod as a dogged journalist covering the abduction. Andrew also hands in his homework – watching the series Etoile which was first reviewed a week ago by James. He was pleasantly surprised.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of the three new series this week, The Four Seasons is the only one Andrew and James have both seen. Andrew also tuned into Duster and James was working his way through Étoile. The Four Seasons (Netflix, 8 episodes): New from Tina Fey who also stars alongside Steve Carrell and Will Forte. Three couples who spend a vacation together every year are tested when one of the couples splits. Duster (Max, 8 episodes) New from producer JJ Abrams it tells the story of the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate that goes from awful to wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful. Étoile (Prime Video, 8 episodes) New from the creators of The Gilmore Girls and The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is this ambitious drama series about a partnership between the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre in New York and Le Ballet National in Paris. Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg star. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four TV series reviewed this week, just one of them brand new, the others are extra seasons of existing programs. • Scrublands Season 2 (Stan, 4 episodes)• Government Cheese (AppleTV+, 10 episodes)• Big Boys Season 3 (iview, 6 episodes)• The Last Of Us Season 2 (Foxtel/Binge/Max, 7 episodes)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A slightly different episode for Easter. We review one new Australian drama series and then list our Top 5 shows of the first quarter of 2025. • Narrow Road to the Deep North (Prime Video, 5 episodes) has dropped with all five eps immediately available. The series tells the story of Australian prisoners of war in World War II who had to help build the Thai-Burma railway and the brutal conditions they lived under in a Japanese detention camp. Great performances from Jacob Elordi and Ciaran Hinds as the young and old Dorrigo Evans and Heather Mitchell and Olivia DeJonge as the young and old Ella Evans. 2025 Top 5 so far From the 26 series reviewed so far in 2025 Andrew and James have listed their Top 5. There are nine series in all meaning they only agree on one show that featured on both lists. Those nine series are: ProtectionAmandalandInvisible BoysParadiseSmoggie QueensToxic TownMobLandDying for SexYour Friends and Neighbours Listen as the hosts debate their choices and mention several massive series that didn’t make the list. TV Gold Homework There was also some extra viewing required from the previous episode with debate around Your Friends and Neighbours, Dying for Sex and Good American Family. Were they all really worthy of Show of the Week status? After watching more episodes of all of them, do Andrew and James change their minds about any of them?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tough podcast episode to find just one series for TV Gold Show of the Week! Three very impressive American dramas to choose from. You are going to need access to Disney+ and AppleTV+ accounts to enjoy them all.• Good American Family (Disney+, 8 episodes) A synopsis that starts "[a series] about the adoption of a child with dwarfism and the subsequent abandonment of the child" doesn't scream must-watch. But a cast led by Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplas make this a compelling watch.• Dying For Sex (Disney+, 8 episodes) A comedy with a difference features Michelle Williams literally dying for sex. Half hour episodes fly by thanks in part to great supporting cast including Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney and Sissy Spacek.• Your Friends and Neighbours (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) Jon Hamm turns in an acting masterclass in arguably his best role since Mad Men. And with a character not totally dissimilar to that series' Don Draper. Hamm leads a good life in finance markets, but he finds himself failing to make ends meet and he resorts to drastic measures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Liane Moriarty and more Guy Ritchie this week, and the creators of Will and Grace are back with a new comedy. • The Last Anniversary (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) The latest Liane Moriarty adaption for the small screen from the same team who also worked on Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. Filmed on the Hawksebury River north of Sydney with an impressive Australian cast plus Miranda Richardson. • MobLand (Paramount+, 10 episodes) Another British crime drama featuring two warring families. Created by Ronan Bennett who adapted the TV series The Day of the Jackal. Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren star with great support from Tom Hardy and Anton Boon among many others. • Mid-Century Modern (Disney+) 10 episodes Nathan Lane stars in this sitcom about three gay best-friends who move in together in Palm Springs. Created by Will and Grace’s David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, with veteran James Borrows directing. Lane’s co-stars are Linda Lavin in her final role before he death during production, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham. We also have a look at new streaming platform Max and Andrew has returned to 80s classic Moonlighting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Andrew and James review a White House murder mystery, a dark drama about a drug haul and a satire about the movie business.• The Residence (Netflix, 8 episodes) sees an eccentric detective sent to the White House to solve the mysterious murder of the chief usher. Loads of Aussie stars and references to the land down under.• Boat Story (ABC iview, 6 episodes) An ultra-violent and ultra-dark tale about two dog walkers who stumble on a massive cocaine stash washed up on a British beach.• The Studio (AppleTV+, 10 episodes) Bit controversial this one as our two critics are at loggerheads about this Seth Rogan satire about the movie business. Impressive list of guest appearances throughout, but we are divided on whether you will find many laughs!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plenty of debate on TV Gold this week as Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss: Adolescence (Netflix, 4 episodes) starring Stephen Graham as the father of a 13-year-old accused of murdering a fellow student. Long Bright River (Stan, 8 episodes) starring Amanda Seyfried as a Philadelphia police woman searching for her sister who is missing at the same time as a serial killer is at work in a rough neighbourhood where her sister lived. Running Point (Netflix, 10 episodes) is being called the US Ted Lasso. But one of our critics thinks the comedy about Kate Hudson taking over as the President of fictional basketball team LA Waves is better than that! Andrew also has a few comments about a special new Netflix documentary and two supersoaps that have both been celebrating their 40th anniversaries. Follow TV Gold and comment on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/TV-Gold/61563279599587/ Email us with your thoughts and fave shows: comments@tvgold.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toxic Town (Netflix, 4 episodes) is the first of two series this week set in England. Jodie Whittaker stars as one of a group of women in Corby in the Midlands that gave birth to children with physical abnormalities. They subsequently took the local council to court in a battle over compensation to prove that neglect of toxic waste was the cause. Don’t miss a super performance from the wonderful Aimee Lou Wood. Smoggie Queens (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) is a hilarious comedy about the group of LGBTQ friends in Middlesbrough, northern England. The series is written by and stars Phil Dunning as the unforgettable Dickie. He gives many of the best lines though to Mark Benton’s character Mam. The White Lotus (S3 Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes) has finally turned up on the TV Gold radar. It has taken three seasons, but we are well and truly hitched to the wagon. This season is set in Koh Samui which coincidentally is where co-host James Manning was when this episode was recorded. Some hilarious characters this season led by Jason Isaacs as a wealthy businessman whose business seems to be spiraling out of control. His family includes Parker Posey as his wife and Patrick Schwarzenegger as their eldest son. The most interesting couple are arguably Aimee Lou Wood and her older and richer partner Walton Goggins. This episode also talk about the new streaming service Tubi which is ramping up in Australia and give co-host Andrew Mercado some homework for next week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we review two drama series featuring fictional US Presidents. And an Oscar winner!Zero Day (Netflix, 6 episodes) features Robert De Niro in his first TV role as the former US President George Mullen who is called back to serve his country as he tries to track the source of a massive cyber attack. Lizzy Caplan plays the President’s daughter and Jesse Plemons is his political advisor. Good roles too for the great Joan Allan and Bill Camp.Paradise (Disney+, 8 episodes) is a science fiction political thriller with James Marsden as a US President mysteriously murdered in his bedroom while secret service agents patrolled the property. Sterling K Brown plays the secret service agent who was the last person to see the President alive. But the real star of the series is Julianne Nicholson in a role we can’t really describe without a massive plot spoiler!We also talk about the big Oscar winner Anora which is now also available to stream (AppleTV and Prime). The Best Actress Oscar went to Mikey Madison who is best known to TV viewers for her work on Better Things and Lady in the Lake and movie viewers for her work in Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Series reviewed by Andrew and James this week:Invisible Boys (Stan, 10 episodes)For Her Sins (BritBox, 4 episodes)Pose (SBS On Demand, 3 series)Plus they also talk about the end (again) of Neighbours and the 50th anniversary of colour TV in Australia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on TV Gold we look at the Stan comedy Amandaland with Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley.The other main review in this Best of British episode is Breathtaking on 7plus starring Joanne Froggatt as an NHS nurse during the Covid epidemic in London.Also up for discussion is the AppleTV+ thriller Prime Target starring Leo Woodall as a Cambridge maths student with a brilliant supporting cast including Sidse Babett Knudsen and Martha Plimpton. Plus Andrew has been watching the SBS documentary Saucy! Secrets of the British Sex Comedy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a summer break from podcasting, Andrew Mercado and James Manning are back with their first episode of 2025. Two big shows reviewed this week are Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix) and Protection (Stan).Andrew and James also have a long list of the best TV series they watched over their summer break. Andrew also has some programming advice for one of the TV networks!For the complete list make sure you visit the TV Gold Facebook page. Leave us your comments too about what you've been watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TV Gold critics have delivered their Best of 2024 Lists. There are over 30 shows on the List. Some of the programs Andrew and James both agree on are: Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix) Mr Bates vs the Post Office (7plus) Ripley (Netflix) After the Party (ABC) Thou Shall Not Steal (Stan) Rivals (Disney+) Check the complete lists on the TV Gold Facebook page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of TV Gold is largely about spies this week as we look at two major espionage dramas. Black Doves (Netflix, 6 episodes) features Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw and Sarah Lancashire in this expansion of the genre. Meet the Christmas spy thriller. The Agency (Paramount+, 10 episodes) This series takes viewers inside the CIA in a tale about its undercover agents working in Europe. Another all-star spy thriller with Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright and Richard Gere as high ranking agents. The Sticky (Prime, 6 episodes) A comedy-drama series about Ruth Landry, a maple syrup farmer who, in defiance of a heartless system, assembles a team to undertake the Canadian heist of the century. The target: the country’s multi-million dollar maple syrup surplus. Tsunami: Race Against Time (Disney+) The story of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the deadliest in history. It follows the wave coast to coast as it spreads, with unseen archive video and stories of survival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three TV series and three recent movies on offer this week. Landman (Paramount+, 10 episodes) The latest from Taylor Sheridan with Billy Bob Thornton and Demi Moore. The Madness (Netflix, 8 episodes) A political thriller about a CNN pundit framed for murder. Get Millie Black (Binge, 5 episodes) Another crime drama about an officer returning home, but wow is this one a little different. Movie bonus: Three new arrivals on Netflix – Laura Dern meets a Hemsworth in Lonely Planet, Lindsay Lohan's latest Xmas movie and the massive box office flop The Fall Guy turns up on streaming. Reminder: Don't miss last week's Show of the Week – How To Make Gravy (Foxtel/Binge) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three programs reviewed this week – an Australian Christmas movie, and series from the US and UK. How to Make Gravy (Binge/Foxtel, movie) The much anticipated movie from Meg Washington and Nick Waterman. Brilliant cast including Daniel Henshall in the lead, another unforgettable Hugo Weaving performance and Meg Washington showing another side of her considerable skills. A Man on the Inside (Netflix, 8 episodes) Ted Danson has helped make yet another sitcom a major hit. Here he plays a retired professor moonlighting as a private investigator. Douglas in Cancelled (ABC/iview, 4 episodes) A mini-series about the news business and what might happen when you say the wrong thing. Stars Hugh Bonneville with a breakout performance from Karen Gillan as the news program anchors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

special guest in the TV Gold studio this week as TV Tonight's David Knox joins the episode. Programs we review this week below. What will be the Show of the Week? Dune Prophecy (Binge, 6 episodes) A prequel to the two Dune movies. An ambitious storyline that has a flavour of Games of Thrones about it. The cast features five Australian actors including Travis Fimmel. Nuggett Is Dead (Stan) The latest Christmas movie from the streamer and two very different reviews from Andrew and James. Bad Sisters S2 (Apple TV+) A great cast tries to recapture the magic that was Season 1. And you haven't seen that, forget Season 2 until you've enjoyed those episodes. Television Event (SBS On Demand) A documentary about the 1983 US telemovie The Day After which pulled a huge audience of people worried about the nuclear arms race. Countdown50 (iview) All three commentators this week agree this was a brilliant special. David Knox was in the audience and the TV Gold commentary was unanimous – more please ABC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We power through five shows this week – four new series plus the return of Yellowstone. The Day of the Jackal (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes) is the big show of the week with a stunning performance in the lead role from Eddie Redmayne. The Jury: Death on the Staircase (SBS ON Demand, 5 episodes) A re-enactment of a real manslaughter case, presented word-for-word with actors taking on the roles of the jury. Matlock (Paramount+/10) Kathy Bates is a lawyer in her 70s who rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm, where she uses her wily tactics to win cases and expose wrongdoing. One of our critics got the plot twist, the other one…well, not so much! A Remarkable Place to Die (Seven, 4 episodes) Rebecca Gibney features in this, but despite the publicity, she's not the star. This murder mystery feels a little like Return to Paradise and it stars Chelsea Preston Crayford. Yellowstone (Return of S5, 6 episodes) At last Taylor Sheridan's biggest hit is back. But without its biggest star. Just how do they tidy up that plotline? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew and James have seen five new series and a movie between them this week. They have both watched just the same two though – the Netflix movie Woman of the Hour and the Disney+ series, Doctor Odyssey. Meanwhile, Andrew has also seen Rescue High Surf (Binge) and It's Florida Man (Binge). James has returned to the second seasons of two shows he loved the first time around – The Diplomat (Netflix) and Lioness (Paramount+). Listen to what they both have to say including their Show of the Week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four new series reviewed this week, three of them featuring Anna Torv! Territory (Netflix) is the series currently sitting at the top of the Netflix chart. Tells the story of a struggle to control the biggest cattle farm in Australia. Great cast and impressive photography. Before (AppleTV+) is a thriller starring Billy Crystal as a child psychiatrist with a patient who has a spooky relationship to the doctor. Nautilus (Stan) was shelved by Disney after they spent a fortune on filming it in Australia. Stan then picked it up. The fantasy tells the story of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. So Long, Marianne (SBS On Demand) This Norwegian drama covers the years Leonard Cohen spent on the Greek Island of Hydra. The cast includes Noah Taylor and Anna Torv as Australian writers George Johnston and Charmian Clift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week our search for the best dramas on TV looks at three new series: Rivals (Disney+) – The fascinating world of TV starring David Tennant and Aidan Turner in this bonkfest based on a Jilly Cooper novel. Plenty of posh people that can't keep their pant on! Four Years Later (SBS) – The latest drama from the TV hit factory (Easy Tiger). The series charts the lives of an Indian couple who relocate to Australia. Passenger (BritBox) – A British crime drama that investigates unnatural incidents in a close-knit community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three Australian TV series this week. Though Shall Not Steal (Stan) An amazing road trip across the Northern Territory in the 1980 starring Noah Taylor and Miranda Otto. Yet the series really belongs to the young road trippers Will McDonald and Sherry-Lee Watson. The Office (Prime Video) The much-anticipated remake of the format that has proven to be such a hit in first the UK, and then later in the US. Get past the first episode and you might find the laughs come along with some very awkward situations. Plum (ABC) It's got Brendan Cowell and Asher Keddie and has been made by John and Dan Edwards. Also a great supporting cast and a storyline that is very contemporary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major drama releases from Australia, the US and the US via the UK this episode. Disclaimer (AppleTV+, 7 episodes) drama set in the UK and Italy. Few major reasons to watch – Cate Blanchett stars, series created by five-time Oscar winner Alfonso Cuarón and Leila George is a major scene-stealer. Last Days of the Space Age (Disney+, 8 episodes) Two very different views on this series from Andrew and James. The ambitious period drama is set in Perth 1979 and features the return to Australia of Jesse Spencer. Don't let the title mislead you, this tells the story of three families in the Perth suburbs dealing with a number of different challenges. Teacup (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes) Bit hard to talk too much about this horror show without hinting at what happens. Try this from the press kit: Humans like to think they're in control. But when something comes along and disrupts our carefully maintained sense of fabricated order, then the real terror begins. From Australian horror guru James Wan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three series, one movie and a doco are reviewed this week. Joan (Stan) is a major new UK drama with Sophie Turner in a real life story about London's infamous diamond thief Joan Hannington. Will & Harper (Netflix) is a very moving and very funny doco about Will Ferrell driving across the USA with longtime friend Harper Steele who came out as a trans woman recently aged 61. Nobody Wants This (Netflix) is a comedy about the relationship that develops between Kristen Bell as an outspoken podcaster and Adam Brody as an unconventional rabbi. The Franchise (Binge/Foxtel) follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie fighting for their place in a savage and unruly cinematic universe. Salem's Lot (Binge/Foxtel) is an adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 bestselling novel that reunites the producing teams behind the record-breaking horror franchises The Conjuring universe and the It films.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bonus episode of TV Gold this week with special guest Shaun Micallef. He talks to Andrew and James about his new series Shaun Micallef's Origin Odyssey. Episodes now available on SBS On Demand or watch on SBS Tuesday nights. In the new series, Shaun Micallef joins six comedians as they undertake transformative journeys around the world, diving deep into their culture, history and identity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four shows reviewed on TV Gold this week:• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story (Netflix series, 9 episodes)• La Maison (AppleTV+ 10 episodes)• Wolfs (AppleTV+ movie)• Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval (Netflix standup comedy special)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three big series up for review this week – two from the US and one from the UK. A Very Royal Scandal (Prime Video, 3 episodes) Another production recreating the infamous Prince Andrew BBC interview with Emily Maitlis. This time Michael Sheen is Prince Andrew and Ruth Wilson is Emily Maitlis. The Penguin (Binge/Foxtel 8 episodes) Andrew loved this straight away, but it took James until episode 2 to get on board. Find out why Andrew was an early adopter and what two things changed James' mind. Colin Farrell is amazing, but we point out a scene stealer to watch out for. English Teacher (Disney+, 8 episodes) The surprise package of the week is this US sitcom about a gay high school teacher in Austin, Texas. It's not hard to fall in love with this and its cast led by Brian Jordan Alvarez (who also created the series) and the very funny Stephanie Koenig. Tough pick for a Show of the Week. Andrew and James chose different programs. What was the unlucky series that missed out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three crime dramas reviewed this week…but all very different crime stories. The Perfect Couple (Netflix, 6 episodes) sees Nicole Kidman again playing a successful novelist. This time she is preparing for the wedding of one of her sons to something of an outsider to their Nantucket crowd. Don't miss the excellent cast, an intriguing murder mystery, the dysfunctional family, a cult hit credit sequence and the best book launch you've ever seen. Nightsleeper (Stan, 6 episodes) tells the real-time story of the virtual hijacking of a train travelling from Glasgow to London. Plot twists a plenty and enough cliffhangers to keep you engaged until the last minutes. Suspect (S2, SBS 8 episodes) Anne-Marie Duff is marvellous as a therapist grieving the death of her daughter when she learns about an impending murder that no one seems willing to help her investigate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two new Australian productions and an ambitious western are reviewed on TV Gold this week. Return to Paradise (ABC) 6 episodes. A spinoff from the dramas Death in Paradise and Beyond Paradise. This new series explores the crime wave hitting sleepy Dolphin Cove. Human Error (Nine) 6 episodes. A look at Melbourne's underworld in the suburbs as some of the Underbelly producers and writers are reunited for this thrilling crime mystery. Horizon (Stan) This three-hour movie was a flop in cinemas in the US and it has now lobbed on Stan. It looks great, but how engaging is the storyline? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three shows reviewed this week – a British drama, an Australian drama into its second season, and another great documentary on Netflix. The Jetty (BritBox) 4 episodes. Jenna Coleman returns in a new series where she plays a detective in a Lancashire lakeside village. What starts as an arson investigation soon gets a whole lot more complicated. The Last King of the Cross (Paramount+) 8 episodes. A second season of the series telling the story of John Ibrahim blending fact and fiction. This time the action moves from Kings Cross to Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Remembering Gene Wilder (Netflix) Documentary that tells the story of the Hollywood actor, writer and director. Great interviews with family and friends including the great Mel Brooks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bit of a different TV Gold adventure this week as Andrew Mercado and James Manning start off with the reviews of two drama programs and then divert into reality TV. The series and movies we look at are:• Coma (9Now) 4 episodes• The Instigators (AppleTV+) movie• The Holdovers (Foxtel) movie• Dating Naked UK (Paramount+)• The Boyfriend (Netflix) We finish off the episode with a chat about the TV Week Logies 2024 which includes the drama wins for Boy Swallows Universe. Andrew was unhappy about the length of the awards night and has a few suggestions for fixing it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on TV Gold we review:• Bad Monkey (AppleTV+, 10 ep series) features Vince Vaughan as a wise-cracking Florida detective who takes work as a health inspector after being suspended from the force.• What Remains (BritBox, 4 ep series) a mix of police procedural and gothic horror set in an apartment building in London.• Find Me Falling (Netflix movie) features Harry Connick, Jr as a rock star taking a career break on Cyprus.• The Promise (Stan documentary) features former ABC Newcastle radio host Craig Hamilton. In telling his story, Craig aims to spark a conversation, an action and a solution for mental health and suicide prevention.• Also Great Australian Walks (SBS, 10 eps) and Made in Bondi (Seven).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on TV Gold, Andrew and James review: Critical Incident (Stan), The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Prime) and Rebus (SBS).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Andrew Mercado and James Manning review: Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes (HBO Documentary on Binge & Foxtel) Features a newly recovered interview with Taylor and unprecedented access to the movie star's personal archive. Malpractice (7Plus, 5 episodes) A British medical drama with a memorable performance from Niamh Algar who has quite a few issues she's trying to deal with. Mr Bigstuff (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) A comedy that explores broken families, brotherhood, manhood and carpet sales. And Andrew explains the cult of Danny Dyer! We also look at The Decameron (Netflix), the Presumed Innocent (AppleTV+) final episode and we farewell BBC First.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Andrew and James review Lady in the Lake (AppleTV+, 7 episodes) and Those About to Die (Prime Video). Andrew also reviews Brats (Disney+) and James has been watching Omnivore (AppleTV+).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• The biggest series reviewed this week is the second season of The Twelve (Foxtel/Binge). Sam Neill is back as one of the defence team in the court case this season. He is joined by Frances O'Connor while the prosecution is headed by Fayssal Bazzi.• Let the Canary Sing (Paramount+, documentary) tells the story of Cyndi Lauper in her own words with loads of her hits and insights from Cyndi, her first manager and a number of musical colleagues including Boy George and Patti Labelle.• Fam Times (7Plus, 6 episodes) is a fascinating study of how a sitcom can go wrong. Made by Seven in 2019, the series has only now popped up on 7Plus. It's not all bad though and listen to our viewing guide about how to get to the good stuff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four new releases reviewed this week – two dramas, a documentary and a movie. Fake – (Paramount+, 8 episodes) Asher Keddie and David Wenham star in this drama about liars, cheats, fantasists and phonies. Faye – (Binge/Foxtel documentary) Academy Award-winning actress and multi-decade movie star, Faye Dunaway, recounts the triumphs and challenges of her movie career. The star of Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network, plus the controversial Mommie Dearest, speaks honestly about Hollywood and reflects on criticism she has faced along the journey. The Bear – (Disney+, 10 episodes) Season three of The Bear follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney Adamu (Ayo Edebiri) and Richard “Richie” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the next level. A Family Affair (Netflix, movie) Don't miss what Andrew and James make of this zinger! When Zara (Joey King) quits her job as the personal assistant to Hollywood heartthrob Chris Cole (Zac Efron), she unwittingly sets the stage for a chance encounter between Chris and her famous writer mum, Brooke (Nicole Kidman). And guess what happens next! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.