Once upon a time in a galaxy not so far, far away, ABC was really the only station you actually needed. Auntie’s schedules were overflowing with the best English comedy (Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones and Ab Fab), homegrown hilarity (Australia You’re Standing In It) and it was the home of sci-fi (Dr Who, Blake’s 7), anime (G-Force) and other Asian treats (Monkey). In the early ‘90s the Americans learnt how to do quirky and the local commercial networks were overflowing (Seinfeld, Star Trek Next Generation, X-Files, Twin Peaks). A few years ago when everything headed for pay TV land, Chez Blackbox took an egalitarian stance and waited patiently for a return on the 8c a day investment in our national broadcaster. And it’s come back in spades. In fact, as this week’s schedule proves, you could almost stick with Auntie’s four channels (except for Big Bang Theory [WIN, Mon, 8pm and Go, Sun, 7.40pm and Thu, 8.40pm]). So here are Blackbox’s Top 5 reasons to watch Auntie:
1. The best of HBO – now that the commercial networks are passing on shows already aired on Pay TV, Auntie is running entire HBO series, without interruption or ads. The latest is the fabulous Deadwood (ABC2, Tue Aug 1, 9.30pm) filling the vacuum left by The Wire. Hopefully the ABC’s letter writers are tucked safely in bed by the time it hits screens as Auntie’s usual language warning will need to be on steroids.
2. A finger that’s really on the pulse – Jennifer Byrne Presents: Graphic Novels (ABC1, Tue Aug 10, 10.05pm), The Botany of Desire (ABC1, Thu, 9.30pm) which looks at our fave plants from marijuana to potatoes.
3. The best travel (and adventure) docos – Three Men Go to Ireland (ABC1, Tue Aug 3, 6pm) which follows British comedians Griff Rhys Jones, Dara O’Briain and Rory McGrath on a trek across Ireland, Nicholas Crane’s Britannia (ABC2, Tue, 8.30pm), The Trail of Genghis Khan (ABC2, Wed Jul 28, 8.30pm) which follows Tim Cope across the Eurasian steppe from Mongolia to Hungary.
3. ABC News 24 launches this week – make sure your TV (or set top box) is HD though – Auntie, not quite totally egalitarian when it comes to news.
4. Comedy old and new – The Goodies (ABC2, Mon, 8pm) and the Chaser election series Yes We Canberra! (ABC1, Wed, 9.45pm).
5. iView – if you miss any of the best programs, you can watch them at your leisure.
Elsewhere there’s the fourth series of Skins (SBS1, Mon Jul 26, 10pm), the return of Entourage (SBS1, Mon Jul 26, 10.55pm), new episodes of Man vs Wild (SBS1, Mon Aug 2, 8.30pm) and a new season of Rules of Engagement (SCTEN, Sun Jul 25, 7pm).
Docos to check out include Dateline: Mothers Against Paco (SBS1, Sun Aug 1, 8.30pm) about Paco, a drug made from the waste of cocaine production, Dateline: Bee Prepared (SBS1, Sun Jul 25, 8.30pm) about the move to allow beekeeping in New York City, Roll In Babies (ABC2, Wed Aug 4, 9.30pm) – a making of doco about the roller skating babies ad that went crazy on YouTube and I Know What I Saw (ABC2, Wed Jul 28, 9.30pm).
Finally there’s a reason to watch (or record) Better Homes and Gardens (Prime, Fri Jul 23, 7.30pm) as they take a retro approach to decorating (although some of the tips are more ‘80s retro, which is a bit disturbing). The key though is Dr Harry’s spot on retro pets which includes ant farms and sea monkeys.
Don’t miss Review with Myles Barlow (ABC2, Thu Aug 5, 9.30pm) which covers the topic Killing Kyle Sandilands. ‘Nuff said.
TRACY HEFFERNAN
