John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday Jul 11-Friday 17)
Veep, Dragons' Den and Ray Donovan are just three of the many new or returning shows, while the likes of Grey's Anatomy, Empire and Lords and Ladles are heading for the TV hills.
Pick of the week
The Irish Pub, Monday, RTÉ One
I raved about this when it was first released and nothing in the interim has diminished my admiration for Alex Fegan, the guy responsible for this glorious exploration of the truly unique experience that is the Irish boozer. Or, more specifically, the unique brand of individuals that make up Irish publicans.
The film travels across Ireland and meets up with a variety of folk, but the one who really catches the eye and stays in the memory is Paul Gartlan, a Cavan publican who talks straight from the hip. His tale of an American lady who complained about the lack of a lock on the toilet door is unforgettable.
Other highlights include a random session in John B Keane’s pub in Listowel and Eugene Kavanagh telling a poignant ghost story in The Gravediggers, a pub based beside Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery. As well as the characters, The Irish Pub also focuses on the often bizarre interiors, where all sorts of weird and unusual items can be found.
In an Ireland where American and British influences abound, it's good to know that there's something quaintly, unequivocally Irish about this aspect of life on the Emerald Isle.
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Star of the week
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Veep, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
The best TV comedy since Seinfeld – there, I said it - returns for a fourth season, although Sky subscribers have been able to view the entire ten-episode run on demand for the last week.
Me? I'd rather watch it once a week, and consider that 30-minute treat as something that should be savoured, and used sparingly for greater satisfaction. I'm not greedy when a show is this good.
The first three seasons were hilarious, but by all reports this fourth run is the best yet. In the opener, Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) prepares to make her inaugural speech as US President to the Joint Session, but has to improvise when she realises she's no glasses and can't read her script.
While Armando Iannucci's comedy started out as an American version of his BBC political satire The Thick of It, Veep quickly developed its own set of legs and is a much funnier, if less caustic show (there's no Malcolm 'omnishambles' Tucker, for a start). The cast is brilliant, with Arrested Development star Tony Hale leading the charge as Gary Walsh,Selina's personal aide. But Julia Louis-Dreyfus is marvellous in the lead role, and just as sharp as when she played Elaine Bennis in Seinfeld all those years ago.
Unmissable, really, but if you have managed to avoid Veep so far, seasons 1-3 are available through Sky's On Demand service.
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Starting this week
Dragons' Den, Sunday, BBC Two
The Beeb's business-pitching show is back, with three more multi-millionaires at the ready. Fashion tycoon Touker Suleyman, serial restaurateur Sarah Willingham and online personal greeting cards pioneer Nick Jenkins take their seats alongside the formidable business giants Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones.
In the opening episode there's a psychology graduate who attempts to hypnotise the Dragons into parting with their cash for his steamer business, a mother of four looking for help for her cellulite-fighting lingerie company, an online property businessman and a yoga instructor.
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Ray Donovan, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
The sub-Sopranos' drama about a Hollywood hard man is back, with a new client played by former Deadwood star Ian McShane. Season three sees Donovan (Liv Schreiber) employed by Mc Shane's billionaire producer Andrew Finney. He's the wealthiest man in Los Angeles and wants to keep his family, including daughter Paige (Katie Holmes), out of trouble. Oh, and yes, Jon Voight is back as Ray's troublesome father, Mickey.
Yonderland, Monday, Sky 1
Debbie 'The Chosen One' (played by Martha Howe-Douglas) is whisked back into the daft world of Yonderland as the fantasy comedy featuring the lead cast of Horrible Histories returns for a second run.
Dominion, Tuesday, Syfy UK
Season two of this quite bonkers supernatural drama crosses the Atlantic just days after its US release. In this Season premiere, there's a continuation of Gabriel and Michael's war of angels. Meanwhile, a human civil war is brewing in Vega.
UnREAL, Saturday, Sky Living
Already up and running on Lifetime, this is a very promising drama/black comedy about the cynical goings-on behind the cameras while shooting a fictitious reality show. The pilot sets things up nicely.
Marvel's Agent Carter, Sunday, FOX UK
Haley Atwell heads the cast as Captain America cohort Peggy Carter, who returns to action on a mission to clear the name of old acquaintance Howard Stark - and save the world from his deadliest weapons. This much-anticipated show (the trailers look great) is yet another product of the Marvel Comics empire.
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Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure, Sunday, UTV Ireland
Prolific traveller Joanna Lumley is back on track, this time she's making the 5,777-mile journey by train from Hong Kong to Moscow. Nice work, etc.
Black Sails, Tuesday, History
This US drama is set on New Providence Island and is a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel Treasure Island. Set roughly two decades before the book, the feared pirate Captain Flint is fighting for survival.
House of Lies, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
Season four of this cynical comedy, starring Don Cheadle as Marty Kaan, the head of a ruthless consultancy group, begins with Marty returning to Kaan and Associates intent on building the business.
Britain's Forgotten Slave Owners, Wednesday, BBC Two
Historian David Olusoga uncovers Britain's slave-owning past and discovers the surprising range of people who owned slaves and the sheer scale of the slavery business.
Great Ormond Street, Tuesday, BBC Two
This fly-on-the-wall show returns as some major decisions are made about treatments for three children. A certain tear-jerker, this.
Ending this Week
Empire, Tuesday, E4
The hip-hop Nashville ends its hugely enjoyable first season, and it's just bizarre that no Irish broadcaster has picked it up, and that Channel 4 has it sidelined on its E4 subsidiary. This week, music mogul Lucious Lyon gathers his children to announce that he's made his decision about who should succeed him in the running of Empire Entertainment. Anika counsels Hakeem, Vernon confronts Andre, Rhonda has big news, and Cookie is cooking up a plan of her own. Guest stars include Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson and Rita Ora, but the main reason for watching is former Person of Interest star Taraji P Henson, who was born to play mouthy matriarch, Cookie Lyon.
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Grey's Anatomy, Tuesday, RTÉ2
The eleventh season of Shonda Rhimes' seemingly indestructible medical drama comes to an end, and there'll be at least another season despite the recent departure of Patrick Dempsey, which would've killed-off most other shows. Tonight: as the doctors continue to tackle the proverbial crisis, they are reminded of what is important and are brought closer together. You've got to admire that consistency . . .
Big Brother Final, Thursday, TV3
Now here's a show I thought would've ended a long time ago. I mean 'hoped'. Emma Willis hosts as the latest winner gets a one-way ticket to D-lister land.
Lords and Ladles, Sunday, RTÉ One
The chefs head to Cappoquin House, in Waterford. The menu includes tripe a la Kilkenny and a ragout of ox palates as the oldest working ovens in the country are utilised.
Sitting on a Fortune, Saturday, TV3
The second season of this game show presented by former Big Brother winner Brian Dowling features mother and daughter Liz and Ellie from Laois, cousins Nathan and Karl from Dublin, and pals Dylan and Taylor, also from Dublin.
Rock 'n' Roll America, Friday, BBC4
The final episode of the series reflects on the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll and its impact in the USA. It includes an interview with the late Ben E King, filmed at the Electric Lady Studios in New York in February, just weeks before his death.
Drama of the week
The Outcast, Sunday, BBC One
Sadie Jones wrote this two-part adaptation of her best-selling novel of the same name. Set in post-WWII Britain, ten year-old Lewis Aldridge is grief-stricken as he struggles to cope with the death of his beloved mother. Left under the care of his emotionally distant father, who quickly remarries, Lewis is forced to bury his feelings. With no family to turn to, he's dependent on his friendship with the neighbouring Carmichael girls, Tamsin and Kit.
The cast includes George MacKay (Sunshine On Leith), Greg Wise (Cranford), Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey) and Jessica Barden (Far From The Madding Crowd).
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Comedy of the week
Bored to Death, Friday, Sky Atlantic
Four years after it was cancelled, here's the third and final season of the often hilarious, critically-acclaimed HBO comedy based on the semi-autobiographical musings of eclectic author and show creator Jonathan Ames.
Starring Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson, Bored to Death tells the quirky story of a noir-obsessed writer who doubles as an unlicensed private detective. Season three begins with Jonathan (Schwartzman) learning some distressing news at the launch of his new book. Meanwhile, his quirky mentor, George (Danson), reunites with his daughter, and cartoonist Ray (Galifianakis) spends some time with his son. Plus, Jonathan’s latest case leaves him in a rather precarious position.
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On Demand
Bojack Horseman, from Friday, Netflix
There's simply no let up from Netflix as the second season of potty-mouthed, offbeat cartoon series Bojack Horseman arrives on Friday. If you haven't seen it, it follows the life of a washed-up actor who happens to be a horse. Starring the voices of Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Paul F Tompkins, and Aaron Paul, this season includes guest star Lisa Kudrow.
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Documentary of the week
The Sound Barrier, Tuesday, RTÉ One
Filmed over nine months, this documentary follows a number of people who have made the decision to receive a cochlear implant. Gemma Lawlor is a mother of two who yearns to hear her name being spoken again; Tina O'Brien and Michael Kavanagh are the young parents of one year old Tegan, who's being operated on in both ears; and Richard Cantwell is a father of two whose hearing loss has denied him the joy of his lifetime passion for music.
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Film of the Week
The Godfather Part II, Saturday, Sky Movies Select
This 1974 classic blows almost everything else out of the water this week, with the possible exception of The Exorcist (Tuesday, Sky Movies Greats). Produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, it stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as son and father mafia bosses. Both sequel and prequel to The Godfather, the sequel element picks up the 1958 story of Michael Corleone (Pacino), the new Don of the Corleone mob, protecting the family business in the wake of an attempt on his life. The prequel covers the journey of his father, Vito Corleone (De Niro), from his Sicilian roots to his criminal success in New York City.
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