Throng

Here's a summary of how the new Kiwi shows of 2009 have fared based on episodes screened to date...

Mikey Havoc (Top Town) and Claire Chitham (Outrageous Fortune, Shortland Street) have separated after three years of marriage and started dating in 2001.   

"It is sad for both of us and we remain best mates," says Claire. 

"Obviously it's an upsetting time for both of us," says Mikey. 

Only last month they were in the Woman's Weekly talking about having babies and saying they were "more in love than ever".

After a gruelling and hard-fought competition, Taupo has won the coveted title of New Zealand's Top Town.

Fifteen towns from Northland to the bottom of the South Island competed over the last eight weeks, with Whakatane and Taupo fighting it out in the final.  The Unison Taupo Lakers had to employ skill, strength, strategy and style to overcome their rivals, on the toughest water obstacle course the country has ever seen.

Fifteen towns from Northland to the bottom of the South Island competed over the last eight weeks, with Whakatane and Taupo fighting it out in the final. The Unison Taupo Lakers had to employ skill, strength, strategy and style to overcome their rivals, on the toughest water obstacle course the country has ever seen.

Fighting for the pride of their community and the all important title of Top Town, the Unison Taupo Lakers are thrilled to have come out on top.

Darrin Gale-O'Donnell aka 'Mr T/Mr Taupo' gave some insight on Taupo's winning ingredient: "Having fun first and foremost was the key to the Unison Taupo Lakers success.Read more

Sunday 29 March, 7.30pm on TV2

The battle of the giants begins, and the competition gets fiercer, in the toughest semi-final yet, this week on TV2’s ultimate live-action show, Top Town.

The competition is intense and the competitors are putting their heart and soul forward in this second semi-final. It's war over the water as the Gore Moonshiners, the Whakatane Yellowfins and the Whangarei Taniwhas go head-to-head for a place in the finals.

With town pride at stake, the teams are pouring everything they have into this round, racing to win their team the finals ticket, and get their town one step closer to Top Town victory.

On Sunday night the battle for the Top Town trophy continues with more thrills, spills and superhero action, on New Zealand’s ultimate live-action show, Top Town.

Hosted by Marc Ellis, Mikey Havoc and Hayley Holt, and watched and cheered on by a live audience, the new season of Top Town has employed one of the toughest obstacle courses the country has ever seen, and sees the teams battling it out in an extremely physical and strategic competition.

This week at the host town Jellie Park in Christchurch, the Timaru Top Guns take on Whangarei's Taniwhas and the Gizzy Hot Shots for a place in the semi-finals, and the chance to compete for and win the coveted title of New Zealand's Top Town.

Is the "global recession" so bad that bad we have to have two new/rehash shows hosted by Marc Ellis?

Top Town will surely suffer comparisons and all-too similarities to MXC and Wipeout. Will having  the a-bit-too-larger-than-life "personalities" of both Ellis and Havoc on the show the biggest challenge, especially for the viewer? 

Will Who Dares Wins ever be able to live up to it's successor "Fear Factor"? Was I seeing things or is Ellis' old partner in televisual crime, Lana, on Who Dares as well? And just when she's dissapered off the gossip mags too...sigh!...

Sunday 15 February, 7.30pm

Ultimate live-action show Top Town returns, with spectacular new games and the toughest obstacle course the country has ever seen.

Fifteen towns from Northland to the bottom of the South Island start their fight for the right to be called New Zealand's Top Town. Competing at host town Jellie Park in Christchurch, it's about brain as well as brawn as the twelve people in each team - six men and six women - tackle group and individual challenges that lead to non-stop thrills, spills, action and monster pile-ups. Watch out for the Top Town secret weapon, the killer rolling road, that is guaranteed to bring even the strongest to their knees.
Read more