TV 3's blog

9:30pm – Friday, December 7 on TV 3

Screening on Friday, December 7 th at 9:30pm on 3, AotearoHA: Next Big Things promises exactly that – a comedy showcase of fresh faces; handpicked by the producers of the NZ International Comedy Festival and destined to be the Next Big Things of the local comedy scene.

AotearoHA: Next Big Things sees Ben Hurley host a line up of up-and-coming comedians, including Mo Kheir, Urzila Carlson, Guy Williams, and Tom Furniss – who’ve all been honing their comedy chops wowing audiences with their killer material and fresh approach to funny. But how will these fresh faces of comedy stack up on the AotearoHA stage? Find out when AotearoHA: Next Big Things screens on Friday, December 7 th at 9:30pm on 3.

7:30pm – Thursday, December 6 on TV 3

With only three weeks left before the $5 million winner is named, The X Factor USA continues its LIVE shows on Thursday, December 6 th , followed by the results on Friday, December 7 th at 7:30pm on 3. Over the last few weeks, audiences have seen The X Factor USA judges – Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Britney Spears and Demi Lovato – make their sometimes controversial decisions as they whittle down the contestants.

Now only the very best acts remain, and this week will see them once again putting it all on the line as they hit the stage in Hollywood to sing or rap their way into voters’ hearts and a shot at the $5 million prize.

So which judge’s team is the best? Who is a future star? And who will fade into obscurity? Find out when The X Factor USA continues on Thursday, December 6 th and Friday, December 7 th at 7:30pm on 3.

9:30pm – Tuesday, December 4 on TV 3

High Time?, screening on Tuesday, December 4 th at 9:30pm on 3, investigates the facts and fallacies surrounding cannabis use in New Zealand and asks whether it’s time we made cannabis legal.

Central to the story is Dakta Green, formerly known as Ken Morgan, who was an electorate chairman for the National Party and campaigner for Saturday Trading and Casinos before becoming an advocate for cannabis law reform. He is leading the charge for cannabis to be legalised and has set up “The Daktory”, a warehouse in West Auckland that operates as a club for cannabis users where they can purchase and smoke the drug, as an example of how legalisation might work in the future. “The purpose of this club is to show my fellow New Zealanders that you have absolutely nothing to fear from people who are part of the cannabis culture,” says Green.

Warren Young from the Law Commission has been involved in a recent review of our Drugs Laws and he also supports changes to our cannabis laws: “I think simply carrying as we’re carrying on at the moment doesn’t really work,” he says.

In New Zealand, there are also people using cannabis who have a legitimate need – for some people it offers pain relief or therapeutic benefits that they can’t get from prescription medicines.

However, under current legislation these people are being charged and convicted. “I’ve had to deal with all of the fall-out from police, the courts lawyers corrections and my life’s just completely changed,” says one such user, Dawn.

High Time? explores the pros, cons, costs and risks of taking a more liberal approach to cannabis when it screens on Tuesday, December 4 th at 9:30pm on 3.

5:30pm – Monday, December 3 on TV 3

This week sees Home and Away wrap up its 2012 New Zealand season with fan favourite, Leah (Ada Nicodemou) temporary leaving Summer Bay in order to get away from her stalker. Home and Away screens Monday, December 3 rd to Friday, December 7 th at 5:30pm on 3. Ada Nicodemou is currently on maternity leave, which means her character, Leah PattersonBaker will this week make the decision to leave the Bay in a desperate bid to escape her stalker, Jamie (Hugo Johnstone-Burt), who has left her terrified by breaking into her home and scaring her son VJ.

“You should feel safe in your own home and not think that someone is breaking in, so this leads Leah to question what else he is capable of,” Nicodemou explains. “She doesn’t trust that Jamie isn’t going to do something and wants to be on the safe side.”

“She fears for her life and VJ’s life,” the actress continues. “She sees no other option but to pack up and leave town. She’s made a lot of friends in the Bay and they’ve become like family to her. Leah will miss the Bay, just like the Bay will miss her.” Discussing whether Leah will be returning to Home and Away, Nicodemou says she is “looking forward to returning” when the time is right, but plans have yet to be confirmed. “It would be lovely to come back to a big storyline and sink my teeth into acting again.” Until that time, make sure not to miss your opportunity to say goodbye to Leah when Home and Away wraps up its 2012 season on Friday, December 7 th at 5:30pm on 3.

- John Key in an extended interview with Rachel
- The Labour Party — what its rule changes will mean for the future of David Shearer’s leadership and the party itself. Natasha Smith and Colin James report from the annual conference.
- That NZ should become a Republic — Lewis Holden from the Republican Movement. The Monarchists have refused to join in a debate because it would “demean democracy” would be “undignified” and would “bring negativity when there is so much positivity around”! Continue reading »

9:30pm – Friday, November 23 on TV 3

They’ve kept us laughing for a better part of the year, but the time has come to say goodbye to 7 Days when the hit series wraps up their 2012 season on Friday, November 23 rd at 9:30pm on 3.

So what’s in store for the series’ final 2012 instalment? This week will see Jeremy Corbett referee as team captains Paul Ego and Dai Henwood, along with their team members – Ben Hurley, Madeline Sami, Jesse Griffin and Cal Wilson – dissect the news, not of the last seven days, but of the year!

Make sure not to miss this when 7 Days wraps up its 2012 season on Friday, November 23 rd at 9:30pm on 3.

7:30pm – Thursday, November 22 on TV 3

This week sees the search for the star or group worthy of a $5 million recording contract continue when The X Factor USA screens on Thursday, November 22 nd and Friday, November 23 rd at 7:30pm on 3. Following last week’s Results Show, only the best are now left! Drawing from their experience, the judges will coach these acts in their individual categories on what to sing, what to wear and how to “own” the stage.

The judges will also critique the acts, but ultimately it’ll be the U.S. audience who will decide who has the X factor and wins the largest prize in TV history.

So who will the U.S. audience vote out this week? Find out when The X Factor USA continues on Thursday, November 22 nd and Friday, November 23 rd at 7:30pm on 3.

9:30pm – Monday, November 19 on TV 3

Last week’s Nurse Jackie season five premiere saw the introduction to both Mike Cruz and Charlie, but did you know the two are actually played by father and son – Bobby and Jake Cannavale? Nurse Jackie continues its latest season on Monday, November 19 th at 9:30pm on 3.

“You never actually expect to ever work with your kid, and I love being around him, so it was just another facet of our relationship,” Bobby Cannavale explains about working with Jake. “We got to experience another great bonding moment. It was really kismet. Edie [Falco] loved him, and he had most of his scenes with Edie,” Cannavale continues.

“For my money, Edie is one of the best actresses we have, period, and she fell in love with him, and he was lucky to have her like him as much as she did.”

Nurse Jackie sees Falco portraying a prescription drug-addicted nurse, the actress recently revealed how her own experience with drug addiction helped her understand Jackie.

“If you aren’t an addict, chances are you don’t really understand the part of an addict that continues behaving that way,” she says.

“You can see how awful it is and the awful things it does to their lives and the people they love. And you think, why would they continue? If you’re an addict you understand completely – because you have to.”

So what’s next for Jackie then? Find out when Nurse Jackie screens Monday, November 19 th at 9:30pm on 3.

5:30pm – Monday, November 19 on TV 3

Following his brief romantic encounter with Leah (Leah Patterson-Bake), this week sees Summer Bay newcomer, Jamie Sharpe (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) showing his true colours when he trashes the Diner in Home and Away, screening Monday, November 19 th at Friday, November 23 rd at 5:30pm on 3. Viewers have recently seen Leah take a romantic interest in newcomer Jamie, but his overeager attitude towards the potential relationship left her concerned. Leah agreed to give Jamie another chance when he apologised for taking her son VJ out on a jet-ski without her permission, but he continued to cross the line by behaving in a fatherly manner towards the youngster.

Now, after Leah has rejects Jamie once again, he will completely loose control and trash the Diner.

“When Leah says ‘no’ for the final time, he kind of goes a bit crazy,” Hugo Johnstone-Burt says about his character’s outburst.

A concerned Liam (Axle Whitehead) later does some digging into Jamie’s erratic behaviour, which leads him to a disturbing discovery.

“He had taken a photo of Leah and VJ off the fridge and photoshopped himself into the middle. I don’t think you can get creepier than that,” Johnstone-Burt explains.

“She is in danger from this guy who is forever hanging around her house and letting himself in,” the actor adds. Make sure not to miss this all this when Home and Away screens on Monday, November 19 th at Friday, November 23 rd at 5:30pm on 3.

9:30pm – Friday, November 30 on TV 3

Jono and Ben at Ten becomes Jono and Ben for its 2012 one-hour finale, screening on Friday, November 30 th at 9:30pm on 3. Changing the series’ name, extending the episodes duration, and screening at the all new time of 9:30pm, are just some of the things fans can expect from this week’s finale. So what else is to come we hear you ask?

Find out when Jono and Ben at Ten concludes its 2012 season on Friday, November 30 th at 9:30pm on 3.