What to watch on Sky and free-to-air TV this week
Natascha McElhone heads to 1920s Italy and Kiwi comedian Chris Parker goes back to school, writes James Croot.
British actor Natascha McElhone stars in a six-part period drama Hotel Portofino (Mondays, 9.30pm, BBC UKTV) set in 1920’s Italy. McElhone plays the daughter of a wealthy industrialist who leaves Britain to start a swanky establishment where people come for English hospitality on the Italian coast. The clientele bring their own baggage however and a murder makes the welcoming waters of the Mediterranean significantly murkier.
An excellent history of hiphop in Aotearoa, A Reason to Rhyme (Sunday, 7.30pm, Mā ori TV) features everyone who’s anyone. DLT, Che Fu, DJ Sir-Vere, Ladi6, Scribe and all the key players detail how hip-hop culture first connected with Kiwis and the formative years of local rap.
A new documentary series featuring tā moko artists and Mā ori academics, Te Ao Ma¯ ori: Moko (Mondays, 7.30pm, Mā ori TV) dissects the tikanga that guides and defines this highly revered art form. Discussing issues that affect the art and artists like colonisation and intellectual property, the first episode explores the modern revival of moko and the conscious, collective decision to bring this taonga back to life.
The little Aussie comedy that could, Bump (Double episodes on Wednesdays, 7.30pm, Vibe) is better than the passe´ premise promises. Despite being unaware she’s pregnant, teenager Oly (Nathalie Morris) gives birth and decides to keep the baby and continue attending school. Heartwarming chaos ensues.
It’s always interesting
when New Zealand tries a reality format the rest of the world hasn’t had a go at yet. It might be great, or it might get the flick faster than a flat first date. The Ex Best Thing (Thursdays, 8.30pm, TVNZ 2) works on the premise that no one knows you better than your ex-partner, so why not let them choose your new boyfriend or girlfriend? What could possibly go wrong?
Based on the life of Barry Seal, American Made (Sunday, 8.30pm, Three) is one of those (mostly) true stories.
Tom Cruise stars as Seal – an airline pilot recruited by the CIA to transport guns (illegally) to Panama. When asked to take cocaine on his return flight to the States, Seal agrees, the CIA turns a blind eye and so begins his descent into state-sanctioned insanity.
One drink to rule them all. If you love the leaf, grab a cuppa and check out this tribute to the humble brew that changed history. Docuseries One Cup a Thousand Stories (Sundays, 8.30pm, BBC Earth) tells the story of tea, from its discovery in China almost 5000 years ago to the ubiquitous liquid loved all around the world today.
Christchurch Boys’ High gets a visit from one of its (many) famous former students in a comedy special with a twist: Chris Parker: Back To School (Friday, 8.30pm, TVNZ 2). The wellknown comedian struggled with identity when he attended his all-male alma mater and returns years later to see if the issues he faced still face young people today.
The title of Lost Home Movies of Nazi Germany (Thursdays, 7.30pm, History) says it all, but doesn’t do justice to how strange it is watching these totally normal videos. Sure, witnessing Adolf Hitler playing with his nephew is slightly weird, but seeing a young boy go from scout to soldier through the Hitler Youth programme is deeply disturbing. It’s history filmed by people who didn’t realise what side of history they’d end up on.