TV Highlights

Private Life of a Masterpiece
Fridays, 8:30pm

Behind beautiful canvases and sculptures lie events and sagas that have shaped world history – from political revolutions, wartime escapes, and massive ego clashes, to intense financial wrangling. Tracing selected works of art from their genesis to their reception and beyond, the fascinating fifth series of The Private Life of a Masterpiece reveals the truth behind seminal works of art, Fridays at 8.30pm on TVNZ Showcase on TVNZ 6.

The fifth series of Private Life of a Masterpiece reveals the history behind some of the most amazing pieces of art in history.
The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is perhaps the most lionised, analysed and parodied of all Christ-centred artworks. There is almost as much controversy about how it has been restored as in how it was created. This amazing painting depicts the dramatic moment when Christ tells his disciples that one of them will betray him. Dan Brown’s bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code has stirred up florid controversy about the iconography of The Last Supper, by suggesting that the figure of St John, immediately to the left of Christ, is actually female and represents Mary Magdalene.

Salvador Dali’s The Christ of St John of The Cross is the first of two extraordinary crucifixions painted by Dali in the early 1950s. Dali claimed that he had a cosmic dream in which he saw the nucleus of the atom as Christ himself. Working from a drawing of the crucified Christ by St John of the Cross, the C16th Spanish mystic, Dali arrived at his extraordinary perspective, unique in art, in which Christ is seen from above, making an inverted triangle. At its unveiling, the painting was criticised by many but received with almost ecstasy by others. It now resides in the Glasgow Art Gallery and is amongst its most popular attractions.

The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca is the third seminal artwork examined in The Private Life of a Masterpiece’s fifth series. The Resurrection is one of the great religious pictures, which shows the risen Christ standing upright in his sarcophagus, one foot poised on its rim. He is wearing a pink funeral shroud, and in his right hand he holds a flag with a red cross on a white background, which symbolises his triumph over death.

It has been suggested that the presence of this painting saved the town of Sansapulcro from Allied shells during World War II.

For anyone who loved Simon Schama’s Power of Art, this is unmissable viewing.

Talk Talk
Episode 3, Sunday 27 January

New local talk show Talk Talk will ask some of New Zealand’s most creative, talented and interesting people about their private lives and public attitudes. Hosted by Finlay Macdonald, and produced by Colin Hogg, Talk Talk screens at 8:30pm on Sundays, on TVNZ Showcase on TVNZ 6.

Talk Talk is a nosy and entertaining talk show series filled with conversation, music and a determination to probe into the lives of those New Zealanders lucky and gifted enough to earn a living from their creativity.
In the third episode of Talk Talk on Sunday 27 January, host Finlay Macdonald talks to Auckland writer Shonagh Koea, and Christchurch painter Seraphine Pick. Concert pianist John Chen performs.

Wild Asia
Wednesdays at 7pm

New Zealand’s Natural History Unit gives viewers a window to the weird, wacky and wonderful creatures from Asia in the Wild Asia documentary series. Wild Asia screens Wednesdays at 7pm on TVNZ Family on TVNZ 6.

Wild Asia starts on Wednesday 23 January with Red Ape. This episode looks at a remote pocket of ancient tropical rainforest in northern Sumatra where a unique group of orangutans live. They are fascinating, and are so highly intelligent they use tools in their everyday life, similar to humans.
The next episode of Wild Asia takes viewers along Asia’s amazing coasts, from the coral reefs in Indonesia to the sub-arctic coast of Northern Russia. In the mangroves saltwater crocodiles lie in wait for a careless monkey, on coral reefs tiny sea horses defend their territories, while in the icy rivers of the north a multitude of salmon face predators like bears and sea eagles as they struggle to their spawning grounds. Asia’s coasts are a rich and diverse bounty.

From the coasts of Asia, viewers will travel to the islands of south-east Asia, where isolation has woven evolutionary magic, producing the most remarkable diversity of creatures. At Asia’s southern limit, there are some 30,000 islands. On these islands, freed from the certainties of continental life and powered by the magic of islands, species multiply and diversify. In this episode, Wild Asia focuses on the leopard, a top predator; the monitor lizard, an opportunistic scavenger, and the ubiquitous fig tree.

Wild Asia then takes viewers from the coasts to the barren dessert, the dry grasslands, spring in Asia’s northern water-blessed regions, to India’s monsoons, and then looks at three creatures that live where the human world and the animal world collide.

Viewers can experience the creatures of the amazing Asian continent in Wild Asia, Wednesdays on TVNZ Family.

Saturday 26 January – Friday 01 February 2008

The Backyardigans
Daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm

Remember prancing around as the Sugar Plum Fairy while listening to the Nutcracker? Or your interpretation of the Jet dance from West Side Story? Well, that’s what The Backyardigans is about. This animated show designed for pre-schoolers is about having fun in your backyard. The Backyardigans plays daily at 9:30am and 1:30pm on TVNZ Kidzone on TVNZ 6.

The Backyardigans’ central characters are three next-door neighbours – Pablo, Tyrone and Uniqua – who get together to play every afternoon in their shared backyard. Visitors include Tasha, Uniqua’s friend, and Austin, who has recently moved in across the street.
Pablo the penguin is very excitable! Just leaving the house to play in the backyard can make him babble with joy. He thinks quickly, speaks quickly, and acts and reacts quickly too. He gets big ideas, and although he might not be the most agile or graceful of the friends, he’s probably the most determined and enthusiastic.

Tyrone the moose is the sunny one. He’s easygoing and can get along with anybody. He takes life’s ups and downs in his stride, and doesn’t let things get under his skin. He’s a deep thinker, and enjoys a challenge because he knows, in his heart, he can do anything he puts his mind to.

Uniqua is a unique creature – she has purple skin, pink spots and dainty antennae and doesn’t look like any other creature on the planet. She’s funny, and loves to tell jokes and tickle her friends. She’s mischievous, and sweet, and cares a lot about her friends.

Uniqua’s friend Tasha is a little girl hippo. She loves her playdates with Uniqua. She looks sweet as pie, but underneath her girly exterior, Tasha is tough and takes no prisoners. She’s rational, sceptical and highly motivated to make things go her way.

And Austin is the new kangaroo kid on the block. He doesn’t know the others that well yet, so is sometimes hesitant to express his opinion.

Altogether, The Backyardigans play together and have fun with music and dance, in the safety of their own backyard.

Music Specials – Marvin Gaye and Roy Orbison
Sunday 20 January 2008, 9:30pm and 10:30pm

On Sunday 20 January, TVNZ Showcase has a musical treat for viewers, with concerts by Marvin Gaye and Roy Orbison screening consecutively from 9:30pm.

Marvin Gaye – Greatest Hits Live is a classic performance recorded on Marvin Gaye’s first European Tour in 1976. It captures the legendary American soul singer at his unparalleled best.
Filmed at Edenhalle Concert Hall in Amsterdam before a sell-out audience, this show was one of the rare live performances captured on film. It shows Marvin Gaye performing 23 classic songs, including You’re A Wonderful One, You, It Takes Two, and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

After Marvin Gaye, viewers can delight in Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits. This is a video anthology containing Roy Orbison’s best loved songs. Roy Orbison’s Greatest Hits has been specially created to include additional, never before seen interviews and rare recently discovered performances. It includes his number one international hit Pretty Woman, mega hit song, You Got It, a rare solo performance of the Grammy award winning That Lovin’ Feelin, plus Crying, Blue Bayou, and many more.

Talk Talk
Episode 2, Sunday 20 January 2008

New local talk show Talk Talk will ask some of New Zealand’s most creative, talented and interesting people about their private lives and public attitudes. Hosted by Finlay Macdonald, and produced by Colin Hogg, Talk Talk screens Sundays at 8:30pm on TVNZ Showcase on TVNZ 6.

Talk Talk is a nosy and entertaining talk show series filled with conversation, music and a determination to probe into the lives of those New Zealanders lucky and gifted enough to earn a living from their creativity.
In the second episode of Talk Talk on Sunday 20 January, host Finlay Macdonald talks to Sydney-based actor/writer/director Jonathan Hardy and singer/songwriter Anika Moa, and Anika Moa performs.

Big Ideas for a Small Planet
Mondays, 7:30pm

This original and highly topical documentary series from the Sundance Channel examines some of the most important environmental concerns facing humanity. Big Ideas for a Small Planet starts Monday 21 January at 7:30pm, on TVNZ Family on TVNZ 6.

Each week a different issue is put under the microscope. Expert commentators, from activists, scientists and writers, through to environmental personalities, show viewers how each week’s issue fits into the bigger environmental picture. New green products and alternative ideas are put forward to transform the impact that humans have on the world.
Big Ideas for a Small Planet starts by looking at fuel. Joel Woolf, alternative-fuel enthusiast and investor of Veg Powered Systems, drag races his truck fuelled by the vegetable oil from a fried-chicken tailgate party. Colette Brooks, a fanatic for muscle cars and Prada shoes, leads a bio-diesel PR campaign that hooks up clients with diesel cars around the country. And Indy Racing League’s Jeff Simmons prepares for his next season by test-driving a car that runs on 100% ethanol.

The second episode of the programme looks at building. Visionary architect Michelle Kaufmann builds a Glidehouse, an ultra-sustainable modular prefab dream home, for a couple looking to enjoy life off the grid. Architect Carlton Brown defies all odds and builds a low-income sustainable housing project in Harlem. And MIT genius Mitchell Joachim demonstrates his Fab Tree Hab living house made from intertwined trees, creating a spectacular living space of the future.

The following episodes look at other topics, including furnishings, eating, paper and plastics, and consider environmentally-friendly ways to act and live around these topics.

Big Ideas for a Small Planet is an original, new documentary series that provides ideas that may transform our everyday lives.

Saturday 19 January – Friday 25 January 2008

Fireman Sam
Daily at 6:35am, 10:35am and 2:35pm

Kiwi kids can now enjoy popular UK children’s television series Fireman Sam, daily at 6:35am, 10:35am and 2:35pm on TVNZ Kidzone on TVNZ 6.

Fireman Sam is a brave, resourceful fireman who works with his fire-fighter friends to keep his community safe from fire danger. The series is set in the Welsh town of Pontypandy.
Fireman Sam is referred to as the “hero next door”. He remains composed in an emergency and unfailingly offers assistance to all those in need. Sam is very close to his nephew, James, and niece, Sarah.

James and Sarah are twins. They are friendly and helpful, and are always ready to try new things. They want to grow up to be firefighters, just like their Uncle Sam.

The Fireman Sam series uses the latest techniques in puppet animation. It has been sold to over 40 countries from Australia to Norway, and is used to promote fire safety messages to children around the world.

New Zealand Herald reports today that a technique called ‘mass casting’ was behind the decision to kill off three of Shortland Street’s core cast members at the hands of a serial killer in 2007. Mass casting is an increase in the size of the cast of a show. “There are more characters appearing that you get to know, and maybe even care about,” the Herald explains. According to the Herald, several other shows also underwent mass casting in 2007, including Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Heroes, Lost, and even the Sopranos, which has now ended its run.

CRICKET: STATE TWENTY20 – FINAL: TEAMS/ VENUE TBA LIVE ON SKY SPORT 1
Sunday 1 February
2.00pm

Join SKY Sport for LIVE coverage of the final from the State Twenty20 Tournament. Teams and venue TBA. Sign up to SKY Alerts at www.skytv.co.nz to be advised when we have the teams updated.