Two great viewing options this week – Sharper with Julianne Moore and Hello Tomorrow with Billy Crudup and Hank Azaria. Plus lots more and our Programs of the Week.

In the first of our rebranded TV Gold episodes, Andrew and James watch the second seasons of Love Me (Foxtel/Binge) and Schmigadoon (AppleTV+). The biggest release of the week is arguably Celeste Barber in Wellmania (Netflix). They also watch Big Door Prize (AppleTV+) with Chris O'Dowd and James questions the hype surrounding The Night Agent (Netflix). One of the hosts reveals a new reality format addiction and the Shows of the Week are revealed. Don't forget to send us your opinions on these programs to comments@tvgold.au. We are also after comments from listeners about the final season of Succession and we ask should streaming platforms carry ads?

Netflix's Wellmania and second seasons of Love Me & Schmigadoon

Hurrah! The final season of HBO's Succession is landing this week plus we look at Extrapolations (AppleTV+), Lucky Hank (Stan), Close to Me (ABC), Class of 07 (Prime) and History of the World Part 2 (Disney+).

Mercado & Manning: Succession, Lucky Hank, Close to Me & more

New major ABC drama In Our Blood, Netflix telemovie Luther: The Falled Son, Babyteeth, Unprisoned, the Oscars and loads more.

Mercado & Manning on TV: In Our Blood, Luther, Babyteeth & more

Rebecca Gibney back on FTA TV in Under the Vines, SBS On Demand screening CNN's Reframed: Marilyn Monroe doco with Alicia Malone and SBS compelling doco The Swap.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Under the Vines, Marilyn Monroe Reframed

Two major new series that will draw big audiences to Prime and HBO on Foxtel & Binge this year. Also this week The Consultant and more on Bad Behaviour.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Daisy Jones and the Six, Rain Dogs

Mercado & Manning: Con artist caper & retro sci-fi!

Andrew Mercado has been working on a documentary series called Outrageous. Listen to him explain why he launched this new project and then learn all about how the kid working in travel became a soap opera and TV historian!

Mercado & Manning on TV: Bonus episode all about Andrew

Two massive new series are reviewed this episode. Which one of them will be voted "Show of the week" by James and Andrew – the UK drama from Russell T Davies or the authorised biopic of John Ibrahim?

Mercado & Manning on TV: Last King of the Cross and Nolly

This episode Harrison Ford in 1923 and Shrinking, Poker Face and its great guest cast plus the Netflix features The Glass Onion, You People and Pamela: A Love Story.

Mercado & Manning: From Harrison Ford to Poker Face

In the first episode for 2023, Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning dive into six big shows inc Stonehouse, Fleishman in Trouble and The Watcher.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Happy Valley, The Last of Us, Black Snow

There’s been a lot of great series in 2022. Here is our guide for your best summer TV, over 40 binge-able series!

Mercado & Manning Best TV of 2022: Part 1

Don’t miss Andrew’s list of TV to avoid. Life is too short for rubbish! Plus our guide to the best streaming platform original movies.

Mercado & Manning Best (and worst) TV & Movies of 2022: Part 2

Your weekly TV guide includes reviews of a cracking new Aussie comedy Colin From Accounts, Welcome to Chippendales and Tim Burton's TV series Wednesday.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Colin From Accounts, Wednesday, Chippendales

Another massive week of TV with Seven bringing back the celebrity roast format, the launch of a new season of Yellowstone, Emily Blunt in the revenge western The English + Dangerous Liaisons.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Roast of Paul Hogan, The English, Yellowstone

Producer Carly Heaton joins Andrew Mercado & James Manning to talk about the Netflix reboot of Heartbreak High. She also speaks about some of her other great drama series for Foxtel & Fremantle. 

Mercado & Manning: Special episode with Heartbreak High EP Carly Heaton

Andrew Mercado & James Manning have opposing views on season 5 of The Crown. They share similar views though on the odd couples in Upright and Chivalry. And what about those auctions on The Block!

Mercado & Manning on TV: The Crown and TV odd couples

Top of new TV reviews this week is the Stanley Tucci/David Tennant drama Inside Man on Netflix. Also returning series of Doc Martin and Abbott Elementary.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Is this best drama of the year?

Marc Fennell's Stuff the British Stole, Raymond + Ray, Notre Dame burns, plus Andrew's Halloween TV guide...spooky!

Mercado & Manning on TV: Ray + Raymond, Stuff British Stole, Halloween

Shantaram (AppleTV+), Playlist (Netflix), Karen Pirie (BritBox), The Stranger (Netflix) and enough with the vomit scenes already!

Mercado & Manning on TV: Is there too much spewing in TV dramas?

ABC has commissioned another cracking drama in Significant Others. We also look at Reboot on Disney+, Ridley on BritBox and lots more this week.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Significant Others, Reboot, Ridley

What has Netflix done to Marilyn Monroe? Plus the brilliant Prime doco The Sound of 007 and Ben Wishaw at his best in This Is Going To Hurt.

Mercado & Manning: 007 songs, Marilyn and Dr Ben Wishaw

This England has arrived from BBC First just hours after it launched in the UK. Andrew and James also review Thai Rescue and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story from Netflix. Plus Sidney, Kath & Kim plus they revisit Sweet and Sour!

Mercado & Manning on TV: This England, Dahmer and Sidney

One of the most important series this year is The Australian Wars on SBS. Also recommended by Andrew and James is Stan's Bali 2002 and Last Light.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Bali 2002, Australian Wars, Last Light

Andrew Mercado and James Manning weekly TV podcast has three recommendations this week – the reboot of Heartbreak High, the TV version of the classic movie American Gigolo and the sassy period drama Serpent Queen.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Heartbreak High, American Gigolo & Serpent Queen

September is a huge month for new TV dramas and to help pick the best this week Andrew and James have been watching the very intense comedy/drama The Bear plus Murder in Provence, The Control Room, the brilliant The Last Movie Stars and the indie movie Darklands.

Mercado & Manning on TV: The Bear, The Control Room, Murder in Provence

A new episode of the now weekly TV podcast from Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning. This week the shows reviewed include Foxtel’s The Twelve, UK crime drama DI Ray on SBS, Britbox Original Magpie Murders + sneak peek at BBC First’s Sherwood.

Mercado & Manning on TV: The Twelve, DI Ray, Magpie Murders, Home Delivery

Don't miss this special episode with the former CEOs of Nine and Endemol Shine Australia talking about their new TV production business Dreamchaser. They are interviewed by Mediaweek's James Manning.

Mediaweek TV special: Dreamchaser's Hugh Marks & Carl Fennessy

The Midwich Cuckoos, Everything I Know About Love, the outrageous sex scene in The Boys and the best screening in Pride Month.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Midwich mystery and best of Pride Month

Two shows from Disney+ lead our reviews this week – the Star Wars TV series featuring Ewan McGregor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, plus the Sex Pistols drama from Danny Boyle.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Pistol

A special episode this week where we are joined by special guest Patrick Walters, executive producer of The Essex Serpent and Heartstopper for See-Saw Films.

Mercado & Manning on TV: The Essex Serpent and Heartstopper

A diverse collection of TV reviews this week from Celebrity Apprentice and Housos: The Thong Warrior to Night Sky. Lots of crime with Lincoln Lawyer, Clark and Million Dollar Murders

Mercado & Manning: Angelyne, Night Sky, Housos, Clark

Andrew Mercado & James Manning talk TV: Conversations with Friends (Amazon Prime), The Great Debates (7&9), Our Father (Netflix), Gruen (ABC), The Essex Serpent (AppleTV+) and previews of big series dropping soon.

Mercado & Manning on TV: Conversations with Friends, Great Debates, Our Father

3AW football broadcaster Tim Lane called his first game of Aussie Rules 50 years ago this week. Listen to Tim talk about the highlights of his career covering both football and cricket at the ABC, 10 and now 3AW.

Mediaweek with 3AW's Tim Lane

New shows reviewed include Colin Firth and Toni Collette in The Staircase from Netflix, The making of The Godfather is told in The Offer from Paramount+ and another edgy role for Elisabeth Moss in Shining Girls from AppleTV+.

Mercardo & Manning: The Staircase, Making The Godfather & new from Elisabeth Moss

An exciting batch of new drama series including The First Lady and Gaslit (Stan) which delve into US political history. Also from Paramount+ is The Man Who Fell to Earth, Super Pumped and The Offer. Also this week The Repair Shop and missing Love Boat classic episodes.

Mercado & Manning: Is Paramount+ now the home of the best TV?

It is the 40th anniversary edition of the APRA Music Awards. Join APRA AMCOS execs Dean Ormston and Milly Petriella in a discussion about how much money music creators share and how the APRA Awards celebrate the biggest hits.

Making music & money: APRA Awards celebrate creators’ biggest hits

Netflix challenges and ads, Stan's avalanche of new shows + Sex Pistols, RuPaul, Steve Coogan and more.

Mercado and Manning on TV

The return of Gentleman Jack, the creepy Jimmy Savile plus new dramas Ten Percent, Rules of the Game and Four Lives.

New shows debated this week: Warhol Diaries, Underbelly, Julia and its great cast, Severance, Slow Horses, TV Tonight controversy and much more.

Mercado & Manning talking TV

The AFL and Foxtel Group chief executives talk to Mediaweek’s James Manning about TV rights and how Kayo stopped the AFL going direct to fans.

Mediaweek Mini: Gillon McLachlan and Patrick Delany

Fox Footy and Nova 100 broadcaster Jonathan Brown talks about his three families and the new Best on Ground Saturday night show.

Mediaweek Mini: Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown

Kath Loughnan talks about a big six months from covering the AFL Grand Final in Perth, a summer working on The Ashes, and her expanded Fox Footy role.

Mediaweek Mini: Fox Footy’s Kath Loughnan

Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley on how Fox Footy sits within the group offering. From Buckley to budgets: ‘This year is about fewer people doing more.

Mediaweek Mini: Fox Sports’ Steve Crawley

New dramas to watch this episode include The Teacher, Anne: One Mother's Story, Vikings Valhalla, Troppo, and a preview of Minx coming to Stan.

Mercado & Manning TV podcast

Seven hosts too old for TV? Also Pam and Tommy, SBS Upfront, Byron Bayes, Best streaming services & much more.

Mercado & Manning on TV

On the first podcast of 2022, Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning try to come to grips with the great and not-so-great avalanche of new TV. Also The Responder, Dopesick, Billions, Love Me…even Jimmy Carr’s new quiz show!

Mercado & Manning on TV: The Gilded Age, Trigger Point, The Tourist

Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado talks to writer/directors Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher about their vampire horror series for AMC, Firebite.

Mediaweek podcast summer special: Firebite

On Upfront Day The chief sales officer at Network 10 Rod Prosser talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about the business of TV, recent changes and 10 in 2022. Also, what makes money for 10!

Mediaweek with 10’s Rod Prosser

Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk with producer Kylie du Fresne about the new SBS historical drama New Gold Mountain set in gold rush Victoria.

New Gold Mountain

Supercharge your watch list with dramas from Billions to Rafters to Fires and anything with Suranne Jones! Also Johnny Young, DOOL and the devil, and lots more.

Mediaweek TV: So much TV, so little time

Fires tells the story of everyday Australians at the front line of the devastating fires of the 2019-2020 summer. Co-creator Tony Ayres talks with Andrew Mercado and James Manning.

ABC TV's Fires with co-creator Tony Ayres

Nine is the first of the TV broadcasters to reveal its 2022 plans. To talk about its offering to advertisers we speak with Nine chief sales officer Michael Stephenson and the chief investment officer at media agency GroupM Seb Rennie.

Mediaweek Podcast: Nine Upfront – sales chief & agency buyer

Mediaweek TV critics Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by The Newsreader creator Michael Lucas who brings his recent TV watch list.

Mediaweek TV: Clickbait, Vigil, The Chair, Nine Perfect Strangers

The #1 FM breakfast show hosts in Adelaide talk about their on-air partnership, their time out earlier this year and a unique early morning routine is revealed!

Mix 102.3's Erin and Soda

New shows this episode include RFDS, The Newsreader, Hacks, Mr. Corman, Joanna Lumley's Britain, and much more. Plus the best streaming services and Foxtel's Aussie drama drought.

As Meshel Laurie releases her new book CSI Told You Lies, she talks about researching true crime. Meshel also talks about her journey from radio to podcasting, and how she likes being her own boss.

Meshel Laurie's broadcast journey from radio to podcasting

News Corp's Foxtel TV business now has over 4m subscribers inc 2.13m for Kayo and Binge. CEO Patrick Delany explains building the audience and what comes next.

Mediaweek with Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany

Hear about the plans for the new streaming platform Paramount+ from ViacomCBS Aust & NZ leads Beverly McGarvey and Jarrod Villani.

Mediaweek's Paramount+ Preview

Listen to Imogen Banks, the co-creator and executive producer of Seven’s new outback drama RFDS, talking to Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning.

Mediaweek previews RFDS

Seven dramas from Katie to Tokyo to Summer Bay plus great drama recommendations including Time & Too Close and a stinker to avoid + Survivor and Farmer Wants a Wife

Mercado & Manning

5 series discussed including great TV like The Unusual Suspects, Physical, Atlantic Crossing, Clarkson's Farm, Smother, and The Pact.

In a long TV career Mark Llewellyn has worked at Seven and Nine. He talks about his latest success, Seven's Sunday night Spotlight series, his small team plus some of his other TV roles.

Seven Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn

For one last time Guy Pearce is back in the final series of Jack Irish on ABC and iview. This special episode features screenwriter Matt Cameron and producer Ian Collie speaking about the final four episodes and working with Australia's finest actors.

Jack Irish

On the eve of the final of Mare of Easttown, we talk through the suspects + discuss Celebrity Apprentice, Mr. Inbetween, The Unusual Suspects, and Ryan Murphy’s Halston

Mediaweek's James Manning is joined by Jaime Chaux – head of digital at Commercial Radio Australia; Kim Norman – head of podcast sales at LiSTNR and Kane Reiken – digital commercial director at Nova Entertainment. 

Podcasting trends: Audience and advertiser engagement

Just weeks before their six-and-a-half-year radio partnership comes to an end, Mediaweek visits KIIS 101.1 breakfast hosts Jason “Jase” Hawkins and Polly “PJ” Harding. Hear about their must-listen podcast, the emotional on-air split, and what’s next for both.

Jase and PJ on their KIIS split

Previewing Kate Winslet and Guy Pearce reunited in Mare of Easttown + revisiting A Teacher and The Serpent (best show you'll see this year?) + Anh Do, DWTS, Bluey and a rave about Twitter

Mediaweek’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning cover some great Easter viewing – from new Aussie dramas like Wakefield and The Tailings, to international dramas like The Serpent, Life, Line of Duty, A Teacher, and Your Honour. Also Fisk and the doco of the decade – Exposed.

Mediaweek goes into the WSFM Sydney breakfast studio to talk with Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller. Take a deep dive into their 16 years on air together as they discuss their show, their family, and their radio team.

Jonesy and Amanda

The co-host of the top-rating multi-award winning Kyle and Jackie O Show talks to Mediaweek about FM radio's #1 breakfast show, her TV career, and how she and her colleagues navigated the challenges of the past year.

Jackie O

Lupin, Bridgerton, The End, Harrow, Devils, Stages, reality TV, and can FTA be better?

CEO Graeme Mason on how his team decides on what TV and film drama projects to fund. Who knew they get so many applications?

How Screen Australia works

Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning talk to Erik Thomson and Matt Bate about Aftertaste, the new comedy-drama about food, family, second chances and secrets.

Aftertaste with Erik Thomson and Matt Bate

A new season of Outback Opal Hunters launches on Discovery this week. Discovery's Darren Chau tells about the record opal find and has updates on Aussie Gold Hunters, Sydney Harbour Force, and more.

Factual TV special: Outback Opal Hunters & Aussie Gold Hunters

In a Mediaweek special podcast episode hear Kyle Sandilands and his manager Bruno Bouchet on making hit radio with Jackie O, what he argues about with his bosses at ARN, how he negotiated Australia's biggest media pay cheque and how Kyle and Tegan Kynaston are launching more wine varieties under their Nueva Sangria banner.

Kyle Sandilands and Bruno Bouchet: Radio, Media & Nueva Sangria

Was this a simple case of a man lost in the mountains, or was a prison boss silenced because he knew the true story of the murder of Carl Williams? Last episode of the series from producers The Full Box.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 10: The Hunter

Hear producers Gerri and Bryan talk about con artist Jody Harris who had a thing for police, bluffing her way into police stations and charming her way into their beds.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 9: Queen of Con

This episode Andrew and James look at the summer slowdown, Pete Evans, SBS Upfront, Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, The Undoing, AppleTV+ & much more.

Possibly the most compelling of the 10 episodes of ACS this season. The unsettling story of a single-minded psychotic killer and the friendship that went off the rails. The episode reveals details of the inner-city hideaway where Australia's most wanted was found.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 8: A Deadly Friendship

The producers explain about building a TV episode around the amazing New Year's Eve bank robbery in Sydney's Haymarket and the challenges facing the investigation.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 7: Chinese Takeaway

He was SA's top pathologist for 27 years, but Dr Colin Manock didn't always get it right. The producers reveal an amazing high-level cover-up.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 5: A top pathologist?

The day terrorism came to Australia is revisited as an explosion rocked the Russell Street Police HQ in Melbourne. A young Tracey Grimshaw was a reporter on duty and policeman Carl Darnadio recalls being caught in the blast.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 6: Attack on Police HQ

Discover new evidence in the unsolved murder of designer Florence Broadhurst that changes 40 years of investigations. Was there a connection to Sydney's infamous "Granny Killer"?

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 4: Florence Broadhurst

Recorded after the debut of the new Seven hit series SAS Australia, Merrick Watts takes us behind-the-scenes of the TV show and reveals his extraordinary preparation and why he said "yes" to his first reality show.

Inside SAS Australia with recruit Merrick Watts

The producers of Nine's Australian Crime Stories take you behind the sensational headlines of Lawyer X with Nicola Gobbo’s connection to two of Victoria’s most infamous murder cases is revealed.

Inside Australian Crime Storie S4 Episode 3: Lawyer X

Three programs dominated the conversation this week: SAS Australia, and two very different offerings from Netflix – Ratched and Emily in Paris. We also discuss Big Weather, Gruen and preview Hugh Laurie in Roadkill coming to ABC.

Mediaweek TV with Mercado and Manning: SAS Australia

Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by TV Tonight's David Knox. This episode they go through Nine's 2021 schedule unveiled this month and they also look at the 2020 Emmy winners. Who was worthy? TV viewing tips too!

Mediaweek TV with Mercado, Manning and Knox

Producers of Nine's true crime series takes us behind the scenes of this amazing heist straight from a Hollywood movie. How Mr Brown got Qantas to pay him $500,000 and the unseen movie made about it.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 2: Qantas bomb hoax

Producers of Nine's Australian Crime Stories on the compelling story of the cop without a conscience, the notorious former NSW detective Roger Rogerson, and his accomplice Glen McNamara, who were convicted of a brutal homicide captured on CCTV but maintain their innocence.

Inside Australian Crime Stories S4 Episode 1: Roger Rogerson

Sydney PR professional Bec Brown shares her knowledge about having a successful career in a creative industry. Her learnings can be applied to most sectors including media and entertainment. Her book You've Got This is out now.

Bec Brown shares media/PR/entertainment industry insights

We start this episode with Andrew reviewing the ABC doco Freeman and then cover Body Hack, The Split, Australian Crime Stories, Away, Traces, The Salisbury Poisonings (James says don’t miss ep 4 credits), The Block, Further Back in Time for Dinner and Foxtel’s Lifetime Movie Network.

Mediaweek’s Mercado & Manning on TV

As Jane Halifax returns to the screen in Halifax: Retribution, Mediaweek's James Manning and Andrew Mercado hear all about the production from star Rebecca Gibney and creator of the original Halifax f.p. telemovies Roger Simpson.

Halifax: Retribution with Rebecca Gibney & Roger Simpson

Andrew Mercado and James Manning are joined by TV Tonight's David Knox this week. The discussion starts around Network 10's cutbacks to news and Studio 10. Also covered are Foxtel's exec shuffle, the brilliant White House Farm, The Masked Singer, I'll Be Gone in the Dark and much more.

Mediaweek TV: Mercado, Manning and Knox

I Am Woman: Producer Rosemary Blight on the movie about Helen Reddy Coming to Stan this month is the new feature film about Australian singer Helen Reddy. The movie's producer Rosemary Blight tells Andrew Mercado and James Manning about how they settled on Tilda Cobham-Hervey to play Reddy. And just how did this cinema release end up as a Stan premiere?

I Am Woman

Geoff Kitney has been a journalist for close to 50 years including time in Canberra and Europe for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian Financial Review. He shares great insights into Canberra politics and the media.

Journalist Geoff Kitney on his book Beyond the Newsroom

he Australian’s Damon Kitney talks to Mediaweek’s James Manning about his new book The Inner Sanctum. The book is a collection of Kitney profiles with some of Australia’s most successful and wealthy business people including the Pratt family to James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes.

The Australian’s Damon Kitney on his book The Inner Sanctum

A special edition with Mediaweek's Andrew Mercado and James Manning discussing the career of drama creator Bevan Lee and his final TV series Between Two Worlds. Andrew also reviews Bevan's career highlights (and those years at Nine!)"

Mercado and Manning: Bevan Lee and Between Two Worlds

Mercado & Manning talk TV The TV shows being reviewed this week include One Night Only: The Beatles, Micallef On the Sauce, Wentworth, programming on 10 Shake, the movies premiering on TV including Mr Dundee, Walter Mercado and Eurovision: Fire Saga plus James discovers the Just Watch app and Andrew talks about "alternative histories" on Plot Against America, Man in the High Castle and Noughts + Crosses.

Sydney Morning Herald LA-based Culture editor-at-large and TV critic Michael Idato speaks about the new TV podcast Televisionaries, what it's like being a TV critic in the US and living in LA during the Black Lives Matter protests.

Mediaweek with The Sydney Morning Herald's Michael Idato

As his new podcast is released today, Mediaweek talks to SBS broadcaster, author and ABC and Audible podcaster Marc Fennell about Nut Jobs, his new eight-part series investigating the $10m heist you’ve never heard of.

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