TV & Radio Wednesday November 2

James Coleman and Greg Page juice up juicers, vacs and barbies, and Native Affairs takes it to Whanganui.

TV

Bigger Better Faster Stronger

NB: If you’re wondering why the TV listings in the November 5 issue of the Listener say “To Be Advised” at 4.55pm every day this week, and at 7.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday, it’s because TVNZ haven’t decided what to do with the timeslot formerly occupied by Coronation Street yet. Unfortunately, they won’t be making a decision until next week, so our November 12 listings will also carry the legend “To Be Advised”.

Bigger Better Faster Stronger (TV3, 8.00pm). Could be bracketed with James May’s Man Lab on Monday; certainly, May would approve of attempts to soup up everyday household items, such as vacuum cleaners, barbecues and juicers. Plus, just when we thought it couldn’t get more blokey, James Coleman and Greg Page actually compete with turbo-power domestic devices. Do not try this at home.

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Native Affairs – Kowhiri 11 (Maori, 9.00pm). Never mind all this in-studio debating, Native Affairs takes it out to the people, and this week they’re at the St Mary’s Church Hall in Whanganui to debate issues pertaining to Te Tai Hauauru. There is also live streaming of the debate at the website.

Parenthood (Four, 9.30pm). Oh, like you couldn’t see this one coming: after Adam and Kristina ban their 16-year-old daughter Haddie from seeing the more mature, 19-year-old Alex (it’s Vince from Friday Night Lights!), Haddie moves in with her grandparents. Meanwhile, Zeke takes Max on a camping trip; Julia throws Jasmine an engagement party; the new boss at the shoe company drugs Adam. Only one of these things goes well.

Entourage (TV2, 11.40pm). Episode five of the eight-episode final season, and Vince, who thinks he can charm anyone, tries to charm a Vanity Fair writer (Alice Eve – daughter of Trevor). Silly boy, doesn’t he know that for evil journalists, it’s all just good copy?

FILM

The City of Your Final Destination (Rialto, Sky 025, 8.30pm). James Ivory’s first film without his longtime partner, producer Ismail Merchant, but there are some familiar Merchant-Ivory flourishes, including the movie’s literary origin (from a book by Peter Cameron) and the simmering, unreleased, unspoken emotions. Omar Metwally plays a graduate student who is trying to write the biography of an obscure deceased author, but finds himself having to persuade the members of the estate. They include the author’s brittle widow (Laura Linney, brilliant as always); brother (Anthony Hopkins); and mistress (Charlotte Gainsbourg). It’s a power struggle between “adulterers and chatty malcontents” said the San Francisco Chronicle, “But the malcontents have some charm, these days.” (2009)