ABC2's blog

9:30pm – Monday, January 7 on ABC2

In 1865, Thomas ‘Doc’ Durant (Colm Meaney) begins his ‘mad, noble quest’ to expand his railroad westward. A former Confederate soldier, Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount), journeys to the construction of this first transcontinental railroad to find work and to seek vengeance on the Union soldiers who killed his wife.

Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) accompanies her ailing husband Robert (Robert Moloney) as he surveys the land for the Union Pacific. Their camp is attacked by Cheyenne braves and all are killed except Lily, who flees into the wilderness with maps that are essential to Durant’s success. Reverend Nathaniel Cole (Tom Noonan) baptises Joseph Black Moon (Eddie Spears), a Cheyenne, in the Missouri River. The two later arrive at Hell on Wheels, the name for the mobile camp that follows the railroad westward.

8:30pm – Monday, January 7 on ABC2

More children than ever are being diagnosed as autistic. Louis Theroux travels to DLC Warren in New Jersey, one of the most innovative schools of its kind in the USA, to find out how specialised intervention can help.

In America nearly one in 100 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, a staggering increase from only 20 years ago, and babies and toddlers are now routinely tested for evidence of this brain disorder that is mainly characterised by an inability to socialise and communicate.

Louis meets Joey, whose mother Carol is finding it increasingly hard to cope with some of the more challenging aspects of his disorder. In between the ever more explosive tantrums, Louis discovers a cheeky and charming 13-year-old, but there are tough decisions ahead about his future in the family home.

Nicky is 19. He’s making good progress at the school he is about to leave, but the prospect of change leads to increasing anxiety and erratic behaviour. Surrounded by a loving family who say they wouldn’t have him any other way, Nicky shows Louis his novel ‘Dragonula’ and invites him to share his first day at his new school.

Twenty-year-old Brian is severely autistic and his behaviour – setting fire to the house and attacking his mother – has led to the difficult decision of placing him in residential care. Louis meets a mother whose love for her son has been tested to its limits and finds out how the school is preparing him for an adult life.

8:30pm – Sunday, January 6 on ABC2

Born in the Rwandan genocide of 1994, 16-year-old Roger Nsengiyumva returns to his homeland…is reconciliation and forgiveness possible.

At 16, Roger Nsengiyumva has already made a name for himself as the star of the football movie Africa United. But there is something else about Roger that not many people are aware of. He was born in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and only survived thanks to the raw courage of his mother. She spent 100 days hiding her newborn baby from the murderous gangs, and then bravely escaped to Britain after seeing her husband, Roger’s father, shot dead.

This is the story of Roger’s return to his homeland to discover the harrowing truths of his family history and to find out whether he can share his mother’s remarkable willingness to forgive those who destroyed both their lives.

7:30pm – Wednesday, January 2 on ABC2

Discover the technology and innovation behind some of the world’s most awe-inspiring structures, from Vietnam to South Africa in Mega Builders Series 5.

This series looks at the amazing engineering projects around the world, as engineers, architects and planners continue to push the boundaries of creativity and human ingenuity to meet the increasing demands of life in the 21st century. From Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to London, U.K., watch as the industry’s game-changers and experts pull off incredible structural feats.

Capturing the biggest, most complex and undeniably stressful engineering projects around the world, Mega Builders features some of the most remarkable construction projects in modern engineering. The series follows history-making builds and the bold teams behind them, featuring one-on-one interviews with engineers, designers and project managers. The stress of looming deadlines, budget overruns, and trying to achieve what often seems like the unachievable is all in a day’s work for these men and women.

In this episode, witness the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi, a stunning snake-like, arch-adorned sculpture in steel and concrete, designed by world famous architect Zaha Hadid.

Building the Sheikh Zayed Bridge is a king-sized headache for Mark Jones, the engineer assembling its giant signature arches. The bridge is millions over budget and years behind schedule. Also, when art meets engineering, worlds collide. Mega Builders follow Jones and his crew as they solve one frustrating challenge after another, lifting and joining together 600-ton steel segments bigger than houses to complete the South Marina Arch on the world’s most difficult bridge.

7:00pm – Monday, December 31 on ABC2

In this full two and a half hour version, join 3600 talented singers, dancers and musicians aged 5 to 18 from NSW public schools as they take over Sydney’s Entertainment Centre to present a school musical extravaganza of epic proportions.

Hosted by John Foreman and Kayne Tremills from ABC3, the 29th annual Schools Spectacular is an event not to be missed.

This year’s theme ‘Our Time’ speaks directly from the heart of the young performers. It is their time to stand in the spotlight and shine. It is their time to make a difference, their time to showcase their passions and talent, and their time to develop into the future leaders that shape our nation.

7:30pm – Saturday, January 5 on ABC2

The True Story looks behind the gloss and glamour of cinema blockbusters to discover the truth behind some of the world’s most famous films.

From crime thrillers to war epics, films captivate and entertain. But where does the inspiration come from? Are these stories purely fiction, or are they based on fact? Taking each film in turn The True Story unravels fact from fiction to expose the real heroes and villains.

Episode one explores the film Saving Private Ryan which tells the story of Captain John H. Miller as he searches for paratrooper Private Ryan following D-Day. The scriptwriters were inspired by the real story of American soldier Sergeant Niland, whose two older brothers died during the Normandy beach landings, and a third brother was declared missing, presumed dead, in the South Pacific. Full of twists and turns this true story is, in many ways, more dramatic than the movie.

3:30pm – Saturday, January 5 on ABC2

During this new series Mister Maker takes his brilliant artistic talents on the road in the Makermobile to help mini-makers with arty challenges in their homes and schools.

Series two includes creative segments such as: The Big Surprise, where Mister Maker surprises a group of unsuspecting children and helps them to make a picture on a giant scale, and the regular Minute Make feature which is filmed outdoors in front of a live audience.

Mister Maker is joined by his friends Scrappz and Tocky who help him on his inspirational adventure which is jam-packed full of fantastic art ideas.

Episode one: Saturday, January 5 at 3.30pm on ABC4Kids During episode one Mister Maker takes to the road in his magical Makermobile in search of mini makers.

Today he discovers how lots of old junk can make a junk letter. We see if he can make a dinky drum in a minute. And look out for a giant crustacean when he surprises some unsuspecting mini-makers!

9:55pm – Thursday, January 3 on ABC2

Starring David Tennant as Mr Slightlyman, it’s Wedding Lottery time on Jinsy, when all residents must put their faceballs into the wedding lottery machine.

The Great He (Jinsy Praise Him!) decides that Arbiter Maven (Justin Chubb) must enter the lottery this year, much to Maven’s horror, and it brings him face-to-face with Mr Slightlyman (David Tennant – Dr Who), the tight-faced presenter of the Wedding Lottery and Master of Balls.

Sporall (Chris Bran) is hoping he will be joined with Soosan Noop (Alice Lowe); Soosan is hoping she’ll be joined with Maven. Maven is hoping that something will stop the lottery from happening at all.

9:30pm – Friday, January 4 on ABC2

It’s said that the best looking girls in Thailand are men. Around one percent of the Thai population are ladyboys, men who use hormones and surgery to become female. Ladyboys are men who were born into female bodies; many of them are rejected. Some have breast implants or a full sex change while others keep a little something extra. This series looks at ladyboys demanding equal rights as they blaze a trail beyond Thailand’s infamous go-go bars.

Former pop star and beauty Queen Nok came first in ladyboy beauty pageants, and with a fake female ID she entered all-women competitions. She was arrested and put in an all male jail. Nok now runs a multimillion dollar company and is leading the fight for ladyboy rights. Nok founded the Transfemale association of Thailand. The foundation annually subsidises sex changes for Thai boys too poor to fund their own surgery.

Belle auditioned for Thailand’s Got Talent appearing to be a normal teenage girl but who revealed on stage she was a ladyboy. Belle was soon signed by Sony Music and fast became a pop sensation. We meet Poy, the pinup princess winning national and international beauty pageants, and her sports star boyfriend. Poy is inspiring a new generation and refers to herself as… ‘leader of the ladyboys’.

9:00pm – Thursday, January 3 on ABC2

Judith Lucy is one of Australia’s most popular comedians with a career spanning more than 20 years. She sprang to national prominence in 1993 when she joined the cast of ABC TV’s The Late Show, her television appearances since then have been many and varied, but ABC TV’s 2011 season of Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey represents her first solo TV project.

A best-selling author, her work in radio, television and film, and her sell-out national live tours have made her a household name.

In this episode of Warehouse Comedy Festival she will perform her recent smash hit show, Nothing Fancy. This is Judith at the top of her game – no singing, no dancing, just good old-fashioned gags.