Best on the Box
Stuff’s James Croot picks out the best on television for the week ahead.
New Girl, 2pm, Saturday, Three
Zooey Deschanel and company return for the seventh and final season of this US sitcom that takes a modern look at friendship and romance. In this week’s premiere, it has been three years since we last left our heroes and Jess (Deschanel) and Nick (Jake Johnson) have just returned from a European book tour. Meanwhile, Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Cece (Hannah Simone) celebrate their daughter Ruth’s birthday with a party, where Jess runs into one of her exes.
Still Open All Hours, 7.30pm, Sunday, Jones!
In season 4 of this sequel series to the much-loved British sitcom Open All Hours, Granville (David Jason) is trying to increase business at Arkwrights by offering fitness classes, while trying to win the affections of Madge (Brigit Forsyth) and help Gastric (Tim Healy) find love.
The Shallows, 8.45pm, Sunday, TVNZ2
Blake Lively delivers a virtuoso performance in this 2016 horror about a surfer who is attacked by a great white shark just 200 yards from shore. ‘‘What could have been mere summertime chum is actually one of the more cleverly constructed B-movies in quite some time,’’ wrote The Guardian‘s Jordan Hoffman.
All-star Family Feud, 7.30pm, Monday, Three
Mediaworks’ two comedy giants have gone head-to-head twice before on the Dai Henwood-hosted game show. With both having tasted victory and defeat, this one is being billed as the ultimate decider. Jono and Ben will be joined by Guy Williams and Laura Daniel as they play for Lifeline Aotearoa, while the 7 Days team consists of Jeremy Corbett, Ben Hurley, Paul Ego and Urzila Carlson who will play for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer NZ.
Doctor Doctor, 8.30pm, Wednesday, TVNZ1
As this popular Aussie drama returns for a second season, Hugh (Rodger Corser) must face up to life in Whyhope without Penny (Hayley Mcelhinney). Among the distractions, as his time on probation runs out, is the arrival of new nurse Mia (Shortland St’s Brittany Clark).
Rise of the Planet of the Apes, 8.30pm, Thursday, Three
Rupert Wyatt’s 2010 take on the much-loved franchise is a prequel/ reboot to rival Batman Begins in its reinvigoration and reinvention of a seemingly moribund series. While the human cast (which includes James Franco and John Lithgow) are solid, it’s the simians who are the stars. Weta Digital’s superb Cgi-creations will leave you stunned.