Throng

8:30pm Wednesday, February 3 on TV One

New Zealand-born Rebecca Gibney and Kiwi actor Erik Thomson are back to head the cast of TV ONE's series Packed To The Rafters (tonight at 8.30pm).

Julie and Dave Rafter still can't get time to themselves. With two of their offspring residing at home, the third next door, and a growing number of spouses inhabiting their surrounds; it would seem their little bungalow has reached its capacity. But the beginning of the second series spells trouble for the Rafters - not only has Julie fallen pregnant with her fourth child, but the new sandwich-lady at Barrett's Electrical, with some sort of psychic ability, makes a series of troubling predictions for the family.

Episode one explores the theme of perception and self-perception - how much power people give to others by allowing what they think of them to influence how they feel about themselves.

8:30pm Tuesday, November 10 on TV One

Tonight on Packed To The Rafters, the moon is nearly full and something strange is in air (at 8.30pm on TV ONE). Ben begs the moon goddess for five minutes with the lost Melissa; Rob wants to make Rachel the mother of his children; and Carbo waits for his ominously silent mother to explode.

Going off in search of Melissa, Ben calls every Bannon in the Perth phone book, and finds her mum, but she knows less about Melissa than Ben. Dave is the only one who helps when he discovers a camera he found is Melissa's. He sets up a meeting, and Ben apologises to Melissa and bares his heart.

• Anyone notice Libby's hair on Shortland Street lately has been to die for?  Amazing!
• Oliver = Joey 2.0 on Shortland Street, but Oliver is nowhere near as good as Joey.  Oliver = medical professional who secretly experiments treatments on patients to aid his research and doesn't mind if they die.  Joey = medical professional who secretly operated on patients to aid his skills and doesn't mind if they die.  Both had dead ex-es. 
  Joey was better because: 1. we got to know (and like) him before realising he was secretly Mr. Evil.  Some of us even felt sorry for him.  2. there was huge mystery and suspense.Read more

8:30pm Tuesday, September 1 on TV One

On Packed To The Rafters tonight (at 8.30pm on TV ONE), Dave Rafter (Erik Thomson) is tormented by the sudden endless replays on the radio of 'Suburban Boy' - the hit song Dave co-wrote many moons ago, but never received credit nor remuneration for.

Reconnecting with his old band mate and surrogate brother Steve Wilson (Craig McLachlan, McLeod's Daughters and Neighbours), Dave agrees to join Steve for the 'Greaties from the Eighties' tour.

But as history repeats itself, Dave is again forced to choose between his family and the band. Nathan needs Dave's help when Nathan's plans to impress a client, with money he doesn't have, fails.

Tuesday 7 July, 8.30pm

New Zealand-born Rebecca Gibney and Kiwi actor Erik Thomson lead the cast of the new Australian comedy Packed To The Rafters, about a couple who just can’t get time to themselves (tonight at 8.30pm on TV ONE).

Julie and Dave Rafter are about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary - hard on the heels of celebrating the departure of their last child living at home.

Fair Go presenter Kevin Milne is battling a benign brain tumour and has taken sick leave.  He may need surgery to protect his eyesight and brain.

Dane Moeke's winning performance on Maori Television's Homai Te Pakipaki last month, singing Whitney Houston's "I will always love you" has been watched on YouTube more than 7000 times.

I heard about the massive ratings that Packed to the Rafters got in Australia and all the awards it won this year at The Logies and thought I'd give the show a shot to see what all the fuss was about.

I was glad I did - the show is absolutely fantastic!