The Borgias' scheming comes to an end ... for now, and Larry David curbs his enthusiasm for an eighth season.
TV
The Borgias
Engineered (TVNZ 7, Sky 077, 7.05pm). Marshall Brain is the brainiac who founded the How Stuff Works website, and he has been explaining things and writing about stuff for more than 20 years. In Engineered, he’s on the factory floor explaining how things are made – including golf balls, airbags, fireworks and speedboats.
The Borgias (TV3, 9.30pm). The scheming comes to an end … for now. More successful in the US than The Tudors (which begins on TV1 on December 11), The Borgias has been renewed for another season, so Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) and his evil offspring live to scheme another day. Tonight, however, it’s the big showdown, as Cardinal Della Rovere (Colm Feore), aided by the French army, marches into Rome – but Rodrigo, of course, has something up his voluminous sleeve. Meanwhile, Cesare and Micheletto hatch a scheme to have Lucrezia’s marriage annulled.
Parenthood (Four, 9.30pm). We’re not sure what the overlap was, but the cancellation of The Event, which was stupid anyway, leaves Jason Ritter free to return to Parenthood as the love interest for Sarah Braverman (Lauren Graham) who, God knows, needs something good to happen in her life. Sarah called it off the first time despite the chemistry because Mark (Ritter) was Amber’s teacher, but now he’s not, we hope it’s all systems go. Meanwhile, Adam and Kristina try to explain to Max what having Asperger’s means.
aimRenderAd(300, 250, '300X250','ContentRect','/POS=POS2'); if(!$.browser.msie){ ContentRect_frame = $("#ContentRect")[0]; ContentRect_frame.src = ContentRect_frame.src; }Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow (TV2, 9.40pm). Michael McIntyre is severely annoying, but tonight features stand-out stand-up Tommy Tieran, an Irish comedian who holds the Guinness world record for the longest stand-up show by an individual (36 hours and 15 minutes). Also on the bill are the slightly odd Andrew Lawrence and British funnywoman Zoe Lyons.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV2, 11.40pm). Larry David’s theatre of awkward returns for an eighth season, and reviews suggest it’s a return to form for the largely improvised series. It begins a year on from season seven, when Larry is finalising his divorce from Cheryl. Which means he’s going to try dating again. Oh god. It’s the watching between parted fingers that we find so difficult. Guest stars in the season include Ricky Gervais, Rosie O’Donnell, Christian Slater and Michael J Fox.
FILM
Predators (Sky Movies, Sky 020, 10.10pm). It is produced by Robert Rodriguez, so we should not be surprised that this monster mash update of the Predator franchise takes its cues from 80s action cinema. “There’s a grimy, satisfying popcorn passion about Predators that seems positively joyous in a season – hell, an entire era – of overcooked and empty CGI spectacles,” said Salon’s Andrew O’Hehir. Another reason this is fun: Adrien Brody doing his best Christian Bale as a soldier dropped into nowhere with a bunch of other guys (and, naturally, a babealicious babe played by Alice Braga). What they are doing there gradually becomes clear, in between the plentiful chase-and-shoot scenes. Also starring Danny Trejo, the brilliant Walton Goggins (Justified), and (huh?) Topher Grace. (2010) 7
RADIO
Appointment (Radio New Zealand Concert, 7.00pm). It’s the final of 13 Days When Music Changed Forever. Tonight’s programme, November 4, 1964: The Première of Terry Riley’s In C, chronicles the birth of classical music’s minimalist movement with this groundbreaking work by the Californian composer who, in later photos, looks like Gandalf, a wood sprite and a jolly sailor all rolled into one. In C is important because it offered a new concept in musical form, based on interlocking repetitive patterns and utilising multi-layered Eastern-flavoured improvisations. Its influence can be heard in the music of such composers as Philip Glass, Steve Reich and John Adams and rock groups like the Who, Soft Machine, Tangerine Dream and Curved Air. – Diana Balham
Music Alive (Radio New Zealand Concert, 8.00pm). Is it that time already? Well, no, but RNZ Concert is getting in early for the festive season. Tonight’s A Christmas Concert from Paris was recorded in that city’s gloriously gothic Basilique Sainte-Clotilde and features the Radio France Chorus, accompanied by piano, harmonium, flutes, oboe, bassoons, percussion and organ. Tonight’s programme includes works by Mauersberger, Schütz, Poulenc, Lauridsen, Maxwell Davies, Rossini, Respighi and Gruber (the ever-popular Silent Night). – Diana Balham
Listener Lounge is on Twitter @listenerlounge
No comments:
Post a Comment