The pilots

Mean Mums When: Sunday at 8.30pm

What it’s about: When Jess’ only daughter starts school, the young mother is thrown into a world of judgemental, passiveaggressive women who each believe their child is the brightest star of the bunch. And she hasn’t even met the teachers yet. Writer: Amanda Alison

Director: Mike Smith

Producer: South Pacific Pictures Cast: Morgana O’Reilly, Anna Julienne, Aroha Rawson, Allan Henry The Lonely Hearts Motel When: Monday at 9pm

What it’s about: A mother and son run a bogan motel in Palmerston North, where they live vicariously through the lives of their assorted guests.

Writer/directors: Millen Baird and Siobhan Marshall

Producer: Kerry Warkia

Director: Kiel McNaughton

Cast: Millen Baird, Ginette McDonald, Toby Sharpe, Angella Dravid Sidelines When: Monday at 8.30pm

What it’s about: This quirky dramedy follows three unsatisfied suburban parents in their 30s, who are forced together every Saturday morning to watch their children’s soccer team.

Writers: Nick Rado and Tarun Mohanbhai

Director: Cristobal Labos

Producers: Laugh Club New Zealand Cast: Nick Rado, Tarun Mohanbhai, Cohen Holloway, Donna Brookbanks Golden Boy When: September 25 at 8.30pm

What it’s about: Aspiring journalist Mitch returns from the big city, where her career failed to take off, to her hometown of Crawdon. There, she tries to revitalise the local newspaper as she struggles under the shadow of her superstar brother Tama, a brandnew All Black.

Writers: Alice Snedden, Nic Sampson, Eli Matthewson and Thomas Ward

Producer: Bronwyn Bakker

Director: Jackie Van Beek

Cast: Hayley Sproull, Dean O’Gorman, Kimberly Crossman, Angella Dravid Mangere Vice When: September 26 at 8.30pm

What it’s about: Mangere Vice follows the buddy copduo of Detective Robbie Kingi (Cohen Holloway) and his new partner Detective Povi Va’a (Iaheto Ah Hi), a preppy, upperclass church boy from Epsom. When Povi is sent undercover to infiltrate the notorious Killer Whales gang, his lack of street knowledge may be the downfall of their investigation.

Creator: Bradley Walker

Writers: Damon Fepulea’I, Nick Rado; James Nokise, Jamaine Ross

Producer: Sarah Cook

Director: Damon Fepulea’i

Cast: Cohen Holloway, Iaheto Ah Hi, Rachel House, Ana Scotney