Television critic Philip Wakefield chooses the 10 best shows on the box this week, for Tuesday, June 24 to Monday, June 30.
1. The Street: The Bafta-winning Jimmy McGovern series returns in a slot that’s an indictment of the state broadcaster’s programming priorities. As The Independent observed: "Along comes a programme like The Street to remind you how fabulous television can be, how unambitious and determinedly stupid it usually is."
TV One, 11.10pm Wednesday.
2. Underworld: Season-finale of the sensational Aussie crime drama from ex-TVNZ programming boss Des Monaghan. A second series is in the works and the first will be released “uncut” next month on DVD.
TV3, 11.15pm Tuesday.
3. Gavin and Stacey: Bafta-winning romantic-comedy that was commissioned for the BBC’s youth channel, BBC3. While it’s ironically screening here on the country’s oldest-skewing network, the show’s success in the United Kingdom could soon see it switch to BBC1.
TV One, 8.30pm Friday.
4. After You’ve Gone: New, undistinguished but popular Britcom starring Nicholas Lyndhurst as a part-time dad who shifts back into the family home to look after the kids when his ex-wife volunteers her services abroad - only for his ex-mother-in-law to move in, too.
TV One, 9.05pm Friday.
5. What’s Really in Our Food? New Petra Bagust series about using your loaf when buying your daily bread.
TV3, 8pm Tuesday.
6. Skins: Premiere of the second series of the controversial, adults-only teenage drama that last month was judged best continuing series at the prestigious Banff World Television Awards. Its return launches a revamped, entertainment-driven schedule for TV3’s sister channel.
C4, 8.30pm Monday.
7. Monroe: Class of ’76: Inspector Morse-wannabe franchise for Hamish Macbeth’s Robert Carlyle that never graduated beyond this two-part pilot. Despite its familiarity, this "edgy murder drama" was praised for being "unexpectedly gripping".
TV3, 11.15pm Wednesday.
8. Cashmere Mafia: Lucy Liu heads this Sex and the City knock-off from that hip hit’s creator, Darren Star. Reviews were mixed, with the New York Times dubbing it "an entertaining if pale sequel to its HBO prototype".
TV2, 8.30pm Monday.
9. Baby Borrowers on Holiday: Seaside sequel to the series about teenage couples experimenting with parenthood. Coincides with Prime launching the dancing with tots novelty, Baby Ballroom, 24 hours later.
TV2, 7.30pm Thursday.
10. The Late Show With David Letterman: Guests include Denis Leary (Tuesday), Will Smith (Wednesday), Charlize Theron (Thursday), Abigail Breslin and Barry Sonnenfeld (Friday), and Mary-Kate Olsen (Monday).
Prime, post-11pm weeknights.
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