Throng TV Spotlight

Bolt, Seven, 6.30pm

For super-dog Bolt, every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue – at least, until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit television show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood sound stage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet – a cross-country journey through the real world.

Logan’s Run, GO!, 12.30am

One of the all time classic Sci Fi movies gets another replay on GO! In the year 2274, the world’s urban centres have been abandoned due to ecological disaster, and the remaining population has forged a society in a domed city, where no one is allowed to live past age 30. Michael York stars as a population control agent who, nearing the age of 30, goes on the run to avoid certain death, and Richard Jordan plays his ex-partner determined to hunt him down. Starring: Michael York, Richard Jordan

Mega Disasters – Oil Apocalypse, 7mate 10.30pm.

The world we’ve created runs on oil, but the oil won’t last forever. Many experts predict that it will begin to run out sometime this century. The best-case scenario is a worldwide depression but what is the worst-case scenario?

Animal Mega Moves, SBS ONE, 7.30pm.

This episode follows a team attempt to capture and move a herd of 80 elephants 400km across Africa to a special reserve. It’s a huge challenge. The team helicopters to locate the herds in the bush, dart them to tranquilise them, then use cranes to carefully lift them onto trucks and transport them by road to their new

Four Corners, ABC News 24, 8.01pm (AEST)

If you missed this week’s episode on ABC1, here is your chance to catch it again. It covers in depth the pros and cons of the National Broadband Network, as investigated by Stephen Long. It also shows the NBN at work and how it has transformed one school in Tasmania already hooked up to the network.

The Biggest Loser: Families, Ten, 7.30pm.

As the biggest biggest loser challenge ever – the Sydney to Hobart boat race draws to a close, and the contestants dock in Hobart and kiss the solid ground, they soon realise there is no time to celebrate. Exhausted as they may be, they now need to get ready for the Super Challenge

So You Think You Can Dance (US), ELEVEN, 7.30pm.

The season 7 premiere. Join judges Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Mia Michaels as they sift through the good, the bad and the ugly in search of America’s best dancer! Hosted by Cat Deeley.

Recruits, ONE HD, 7pm

As ONE HD moves away from 24 hour sport towards more general entertainment, the channel has now stripped Recruits – the observational series dealing with training new recruits for the NSW Police Force – across 7pm most Tuesdays – Fridays. Might be worth a look, if you are after another alternative at 7pm.

Probationary Constable Chris Swadling spends a shift dealing with some of Sydney’s more challenging residents. From attending a mental-health incident in Hyde Park, to a woman hearing voices.

Friday night horror.

Shrooms, 7mate, 10.30pm

First run on 7mate. Five American college students arrive in Ireland to go on a camping trip with their old college buddy Jake, who has promised them the trip of a lifetime. Tripping on the best magic mushrooms in the world, the college students start to panic when one of their friends, Bluto, goes missing. Tara claims to have had a premonition about his death but her friends, still high, believe she is suffering the repercussions of the mushrooms. There is something out there, though, and it is waiting to kill. Will the college students make it out alive? Stars: Lindsey Haun, Jack Huston, Max Kasch, Maya Hazen, Alice Greczyn, Robert Hoffman, Don Wycherley, Sean McGinley

Saw, GO!, 11.40pm

In this chilling movie, two complete strangers awake tied up in a serial killers secure lair, neither of them knowing how they got there, but with a dead body on the floor, they know their chances of survival are slim. Starring: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Leigh Whannell, Tobin Bell

Grey’s Anatomy, Seven, 8.30pm.

A shooting at Pacific College brings back painful memories of the siege for staff at Seattle Grace, and as victims pour into the hospital, April is given a chance to put her trauma training to the test. Meanwhile, the chief performs a painful procedure on a heroic police officer in the hopes that he can identify the gunman. Then, medics discover a familiar face lending a hand when they arrive at the scene of the crime.

Man Made Marvels, 7mate, 8.30pm

A documentary series that looks at some of the great engineering achievements around the world, including the many difficulties faced with completing these projects.

In this episode: Construction of South Korea’s KTX high-speed railway between Seoul and Busan has been beset with difficulties: from the treacherous terrain, to the project almost being completely scuttled by the Asian financial crisis.

Stargate Universe, ELEVEN, 8.30pm.

While beneath the ruins in an underground maze, the star ship Destiny jumps back into FTL, leaving Lt Scott, Eli, Chloe and Greer behind, trapped on a remote planet and lost with no way of returning to the ship.

Fool’s Gold, GO! 9.30pm.

First run on GO! This movie is about a happy-go-lucky beach-bum-turned-treasure-hunter who becomes obsessed with finding 40 chests of exotic treasure that was lost at sea in 1715. Stars Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland

Timecrimes, SBS TWO, 10.00pm

Fleeing an attacker, Hector takes refuge in a laboratory atop a hill, where a lone technician ushers him into a strange contraption. He emerges shortly after to find that he has travelled an hour back in time. Coming across his future self will be the first of a series of disastrous unforeseeable consequences.

My Kitchen Rules Grand Final, Seven, 7.34pm.

It may not draw the 4 million viewers that the Grand Finale of Masterchef can pull, but tonight is the Grand Final of My Kitchen Rules after eleven weeks of competition that included four weeks of instant restaurant rounds and seven weeks of challenges and eliminations. After thirty two episodes, it all comes down to this – the final two Sammy & Bella from NSW and Kane & Lee from Victoria cook off in the final challenge in which teams must cook a FIVE course meal for the judges.

One team will be announced the winner and take home the $100,000 prize money, the other – so close but so far.

Detroit 1-8-7, Seven, 9.26pm [updated]

New series premiere. Detectives Washington and Fitch investigate a double homicide at a pharmacy. Then, Longford and Mahajan try to track down the killer of an unpopular attorney. When both cases intersect, the cops race against time to put an end to the killing spree. Read our review here.

Two and a Half Men, Nine, 8.33pm.

Could this be the last EVER new episode of Two and a Half Men? With so many repeats over the schedules of Nine and GO, it’s easy to not notice where any of the new episodes are. This one is the last unaired new episode that Nine have. From now on, unless Charlie Sheen, Chuck Lorre and CBS work things out, that is it for the show. Nothing but repeats from now on!

In this episode, Charlie dates a woman who’s slightly older, but the age difference is just enough to trouble him.

The All New Simpsons, ELEVEN, 7.30pm.

This episode, The Great Simpsina, is airing just 3 days after it aired in the US – talk about fast tracking! IN this episode, Lisa meets the Great Raymondo, a legendary magician who takes her under his wing, teaching her his various tricks, including the secret of the Great Milk Can Escape. She becomes a hit at school as well as on stage working alongside him. But when Lisa unwittingly reveals the Milk Can Escape trick to rival magician Cregg Demon, the Great Raymondo fires her, but later forgives her as they try to stop Cregg from performing the secret trick in his own show.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival All Star Supershow, Ten, 8.30pm

Another two hour comedy special for Ten, guaranteed to get the audience laughing. Join host Tim Minchin as we bring you all the laughs from the best local and international comedians, including Arj Barker, Danny Bhoy, Mick Molloy, Jeff Stilson, Tommy Tiernan and many more.

No idea what to watch on TV tonight? Here are some ideas.

Winners & Losers, Seven, 8.30pm

This episode features fashion designer, Alex Perry. The girls take to the fields on Race Day. Launching their new business, Zach and Frances have organised a marquee, but some nasty advice from one of Zach’s former female colleagues leaves Frances wondering if her new partner can be trusted. Meanwhile, a coincidental meeting with a former university professor reignites a painful memory for Sophie. Then, Tiffany Turner underestimates the girls’ reformed friendship when she arrives with a big announcement for Jenny.

The Story of Science, SBS ONE, 8.30pm

New series. For thousands of years we have wrestled with the great questions of existence. The quest to answer these is the story of science. In this six-part series, journalist Michael Mosley traces the often unpredictable path we have taken. He begins with the story of one of the great upheavals in human history: how we came to understand that our planet was not at the centre of everything in the cosmos but just one of billions of bodies in a vast and expanding universe.

Survivor: Redemption Island, GO!, 7.30pm.

This latest series of hit reality show Survivor has already seen new twists and turns added with eliminated contestants having to dual on Redemption Island to stay in the game. Evil Russel has already been voted out, to the surprise of many – his time had to come. The two episodes on GO! tonight see us catch up with the US – we will now only be days behind.

Nurse Jackie, ELEVEN, 9.30pm

Nurse Jackie moves straight into its third season – fast tracked from the US. As Eddie considers coming clean to Kevin, Jackie discovers that Dr O’Hara wants to take a new job.

Kitchen Nightmares, Nine 11.14pm.

Sushi Ko, a former hit restaurant in Bel Air, California has gone downhill since its move. The failure of the restaurant has taken a toll on owners Akira and Lisa’s family and their marriage. In order for this restaurant to work, Chef Ramsay needs to fix the family before he can make changes in the restaurant. (Rated MA – course language).

No idea what to watch on TV tonight? Here’s some ideas.

Four Corners. ABC1, 8.30pm.

It’s set to change the way we do business, the way we source entertainment and will help make high quality remote video conferencing a way of life. The National Broadband network is the largest infrastructure project in Australia’s history, and, will be rolled out across the country over the next 5-10 years. At an estimated cost of around $45 billion, is the National Broadband Network a grand vision or a grand folly? Four Corner’s Stephen Long investigates.

The Biggest Loser: Best Transformations. Ten, 7.30pm.

This special looks at the Biggest Loser contestants over the past 6 years and asks who has had the best transformation. Not only do many of these contestants halve their weight throughout the series, but their make overs reinforce their changes, giving them new found confidence, and a new outlook on life. Having just seen Joe in the current series of The Biggest Loser Families look almost unrecognisable and ten years younger after his transformation, who else has completely changed looks after their make overs? Note: this special is not actually part of the current series, it is a stand alone special.

CSI: Miami. Nine, 9.35pm.

Finally a new episode of CSI: Miami, after months of being moved around the schedule and dropping in and out. This episodes, called “Wheels up” is set around the world of Roller Derby, where a female roller derby competitor is murdered during a match when she visits the locker room after becoming sick on the track. The investigation reveals she may have been abused prior to joining the team and that it could have contributed to her death.

South Park. SBS ONE, 10.30pm.

It’s easy for new shows that air on SBS to pass under the radar. Wonder how many South Park fans are aware there is a new series currently playing on SBS ONE? This episode is called “You Have 0 Friends”.

Even though Stan and Kyle have been friends for years, it doesn’t mean anything if Stan won’t ‘friend’ him on Facebook. Kyle friended the wrong person so now all his other friends are deserting him left and right. With his problem getting worse by the minute, Kyle turns to the one person who’s always been there for him.

Man Vs Wild – The Inside Story. 8.30pm, SBS ONE

In this special, find out what it is like for the production crew, who accompany Bear Grylls on his travels across the globe, telling how it feels to follow in his footsteps and reveal how they make the series.

No idea what to watch on TV tonight? Here’s some ideas.

1. The Event, 9.30pm 7mate (but not regional NSW and regional QLD).

After a four month hiatus, the Event is back for the second half of its first season – exclusively on 7mate.

President Martinez and his long time Chief Of Staff charge the intelligence community with decrypting Thomas’s satellite message, but more importantly determining to whom it was sent.

2. Friday night horror on GO! Return to the Haunted House, 11.50pm, GO!

Eight years have passed since Sara Wolfe and Eddie Baker escaped the House on Haunted Hill. Now, Sara’s sister Ariel goes inside the house with a group of treasure hunters to find the statue of Baphomet, worth millions and believed to be the cause of the house’s evil.

3. Friday night horror on TVS (Sydney): The Shlocky Horror Picture Show, 10.30pm, TVS*.

Sydney only. Made in 1978. Nigel Honeybone, the hardest working skeleton in show business, presents the finest examples of B-grade horror on The Schlocky Horror Picture Show.

4. How to Get More Sex. 10.15pm, SBS ONE.

This three-part series boldly explores the science of sexual attraction, providing a fascinating insight into what draws us to someone and how we can achieve more success attracting the people we fancy. From the importance of smell to the age-old question of whether or not size does matter, the series seeks to explain why one person is more appealing than another, with celebrity opinions, expert advice and interesting experiment.

5. Sideways. Midnight, 7TWO.

A comedy, about a tale of two old friends who set off on a wine-tasting road trip, only to veer sideways into a comedic exploration of love, friendship and the enduring war between pinot and cabernet. Stars Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh – from Grey‘s Anatomy, Marylouise Burke, Jessica Hecht.

* For those not aware, TVS is Sydney Community Television, available on digital channel 44 and analogue UHF31. As the transmission is relatlively low power, some may not be able to receive the channel at all.

TV Spotlight – Thursday April 7, 2011.

No idea what to watch on TV tonight? Here’s some ideas.

Heston Blumenthal double.

1. Heston’ Mission Impossible. Seven, 7.30pm.

Tonight on Seven, at 7.30, new series Heston’s Mission Impossible premieres – giving Seven another timeslot dedicated to cooking and chefs.

This, the first episode in the series, looks at how top chef Heston Blumenthal can improve the food guests receive on aircraft. Anyone who has travel enough would know that plane food is notoriously bad, often with foods that are almost unidentifiable in the worst cases, and this episode looks at the reasons why and what can be done about it.

The show will prove interesting to travellers and foodies alike, but is not likely to have the mass appeal of cooking competition shows like My Kitchen Rules. Would have been a perfect fit for SBS this one.

Which leads right into…

2. Heston’s Feasts. SBS ONE, 8.30pm.

Tonight, a feast fit for a king: Henry VIII was fat for a reason – Tudor feasts were mammoth spreads and great spectacles of the culinary world, combining the finest ingredients with innovation, fantasy and showmanship. Top British chef Heston Blumenthal pushes his own crazy creations to the limit, serving Tudor splendour to celebrity guests Alex Zane, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Cilla Black, Jay Rayner, Ruth Watson and Kelvin MacKenzie.

3. The 2011 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships, ONE HD 7.00pm

There are many familiar names swimming, and many that will become familiar in years to come, especially as we head towards the 2012 Olympics. In the ladies competition, we all know Alicia Coutts, Stephanie Rice, Emily Seebohm and Jessica Schipper, but who are all the men? Apart from Geoffrey Huegill and Eamon Sullivan, there are so many new names.

Events tonight include Women’s 50m butterfly final, Men’s 50m freestyle final, Women’s 50m breaststroke semis, Women’s 200m backstroke final, Men’s 100m butterfly final featuring Huegill, Women’s and Mens’ 50m freestyle semis, and the Women’s 800m freestyle final.

4. The Ultimate Fighter, GO!, 11.20pm