John Byrne’s TV choices for the week ahead (Dates covered: Saturday August 8 - Friday August 14)
It's goodbye to Glee, Saturday Night with Miriam and Life in Squares. Coming in the other direction there's new US sitcom The Last Man on Earth, as well as the returning Suits, Mistresses and Match of the Day.
Pick of the week
Glee, Thursday, Sky 1
After six seasons the curtain comes down for the final time on Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan's musical comedy-drama. It's something of a miracle it made it this far as the show faded rapidly after an astonishing start. The first six episodes were snappy, smart and subversive, but after that it went down a double track of treacly sentiment and karaoke. Okay, it was huge, but it could've been so much more than merely popular.
This double bill goes back to 2009, pre-New Directions, and that close-knit family of confident and supportive kids are still social outcasts and struggle to find their place in the appallingly judgemental and cliquey high school environment.
Star of the week
Paul Hollywood
Who Do You Think You Are? Thursday, BBC One
Paul Hollywood is best known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, but that's hardly news. He learned his trade at his father's bakery, progressing to become head baker at hotels such as London's legendary Dorchester, before turning to television. He lives in Kent with his wife Alex and their son; life's good but he's curious about the past.
"Everyone wants to know where their family’s from," he feels. "I know we've got family in Scotland and bits round the country, so what makes me tick? What’s my genetic structure, where did it come from? I’d be fascinated to find out."
His journey takes him to North Africa, then Italy as he traces his Grandfather Norman's involvement in WWII. Then it's off to Scotland on the trail of his great, great, great, great Grandfather, and the McKenzie clan.
Starting this week
Suits, Monday, Dave
Back for a fifth run, this sharply-dressed legal comedy-drama saw lots of changes at the end of its fourth season, and opens with Gabriel Macht's Harvey trying to pretend that everything will go back to normal, while his enemy Louis (Rick Hoffmann) is on a major high.
Aquarius, Tuesday, Sky Atlantic
Set in 1967 Los Angeles, this factional (part fact/part fiction) period drama stars David Duchovny as Sam Hodiak, a fictional LAPD detective investigating the case of a missing teenage girl. Along with his younger colleague, Hodiak finds himself coming up against Charles Manson and his 'family' of followers. Could be a cracker, this.
Mistresses, Wednesday, TLC UK
Season three of this so-so US adaptation of the UK drama begins as Joss's wedding day make-out session on the beach with Harry is interrupted by the news that the grandmother of the guy she's supposed to marry has had a stroke.
Very British Problems, Thursday, Channel 4
Some of Britain's most famous faces share how they struggle against the endless capacity for social awkwardness which comes with being British. Narrated by Julie Walters, the first episode examines the root cause of most Very British Problems: other people.
Match of the Day, Saturday, BBC One
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the action and reaction from the opening day of the English Premier League season, in this highlights show that's yet another British TV institution.
The Last Man on Earth, Monday, Dave
Here's an American post-apocalyptic comedy series created by and starring former Saturday Night Live cast member Will Forte. The year is 2020, and Phil Miller (Forte) seems to be the only human left on Earth after a deadly virus sweeps the planet.
Once Upon a Time, Saturday, RTÉ2
It's season four of this utterly bonkers fantasy drama about fairytale characters leading relatively mundane twin lives in a US town. A new arrival comes in the shape of Elsa, the Ice Queen from Arendelle from Frozen.
Keep It in the Family, Saturday, UTV Ireland
Bradley Walsh returns to host the game show that sees two families of four participate in a series of rounds for the chance to win prizes, including a family holiday.
Ending this Week
Life in Squares, Monday, BBC Two
The third and final episode of this period drama about the lives and love affairs of the posh London Bloomsbury group should be the best yet, as the characters are getting on a bit to be shagging endlessly and might start doing something else. Twenty years have passed and the friends are in 1937. Duncan and Vanessa, now played by Rupert Penry-Jones and Eve Best, remain at Charleston Farmhouse, painting, living and loving alongside each other, along with Vanessa's children Julian, Quentin and Angelica.
Saturday Night with Miriam, Saturday, RTÉ One
Yep, it's almost time to start thinking about dark winter nights once again as Miriam O'Callaghan hosts her final chat show of the, eh, summer.
Creedon's Wild Atlantic Way, Sunday, RTÉ One
The epic road trip from Kinsale in Cork to the very top of Ireland comes to an end as John Creedon journeys through Sligo and Donegal - and discovers the origins of Newgrange in the middle of a housing estate.
American Odyssey, Friday, RTÉ2
The final two episodes of this already-axed Anna Friel-starring drama see Odelle considering a new life in Algeria, while Peter heads down a dangerous path and Harrison gets some very bad news.
The Best of The Late Late Show, Friday, RTÉ One
Ryan Tubridy shares some more of his favourite moments from the recent season. The audience has a sing-off, Kim Catrall reveals an Irish Crush, while U2ers Bono and The Edge talk of homecomings. Sort of.
Drama of the week
True Detective, Monday, Sky Atlantic
Season two comes to a conclusion and, after a horrific first few episodes, the dense cop drama took off in the last few weeks and now it's suddenly at an end. Typical. Still, it'll be interesting to see how things pan out for the three cops: Colin Farrell as Ray Velcoro, Rachel McAdams as Antigone Bezzerides and Taylor Kitsch as Paul Woodrugh. You just know at least one of them's going to die . . .
Comedy of the week
Veep, Wednesday, Sky Atlantic
Despite a fine second season of Silicon Valley, Veep remains the smartest and funniest sitcom on TV these days, with Julia Louis-Dreyfuss outstanding in the title role and now POTUS Selina Meyer. This week, Hugh Laurie kicks off a recurring role, which marks a turning point in Selina's bid to retain her presidency. When Senator O'Brien acquires an eye-catching new running mate, the president moves to replace VP Andrew Doyle with someone more exciting than 'Steve Martin's boring older brother'. Everything seems to be falling into place when Doyle announces that he’s stepping down voluntarily. Of course, it isn't.
On Demand
Legends,Sky 1, from Thursday
This show almost redefined the adjective 'daft', but its first season was also very watchable. Sean Bean stars as Martin Odum, an undercover agent working for the FBI's Deep Cover Operations division who has the Zelig-like ability to transform his identity for each job. But Odum's life starts to skew as he struggles with his real identity outside of his legends. You might need to take notes.
Documentary of the week
Britain’s Nuclear Secrets: Inside Sellafield, Monday, BBC Four
Lying on the remote north-west coast of England is one of the most controversial places in Britain: the nuclear facility known as Sellafield, formerly Windscale. In this one-off documentary, BBC Four has been given unprecedented access to secret buildings, revealing the extraordinary experiments, jaw-dropping technology and the costly science behind Britain’s attempts to harness the power of the atom.
Film of the Week
The Queen, Sunday, RTÉ One
Helen Mirren heads a terrific cast that also includes Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McCrory and Sylvia Syms in a drama about the British Royal Family's response to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. HM is quite fantastic as HM in a fine script by Peter Morgan. In any other film, Michael Sheen would have been nailed-on for an Oscar for his portrayal of oily UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, but he failed to land one as even he couldn't outdo Mirren. Stephen Frears directed and it's easily the best film on the box this week. Well, almost. Sunset Boulevard is on Sky Movies Greats on Tuesday and that's director Billy Wilder at his best. Say no more.
John Byrne
