TV Critic's Choice for August 16
Family FeudCredit:
FAMILY FEUD
Series return ★★★
Tuesday (August 18), 7.30pm, Ten
Grant Denyer, reigning king of the non-celebrity game show, returns with a 10-week season of this treasured quiz featuring frontline workers who will compete in this traditionally friendly environment for a grand prize of $100,000. What a novel way to celebrate the people keeping the country running during times of crises. With the exception of the host’s trademark raunchy wit, it should be reasonably wholesome.
The Great AccelerationCredit:
THE GREAT ACCELERATION
New series ★★★
Tuesday (August 18), 9.30pm, ABC
Ask the Doctor’s Shalin Naik is no Brian Cox, the British rockstar physicist who turned the hordes on to the planetary wonders with his BBC series, but he makes a decent fist of presenting this Australian-centric documentary on space exploration. The input of local experts, espousing on everything from the moon landing to the Hubble telescope and beyond, is about all that separates this from other astronomy programs, but it’s a good reminder of our participation in the field.
Australian Ninja Warrior: State of OriginCredit:
AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR: STATE OF ORIGIN
★★★
Sunday (August 16), 7pm, Nine
Australians are renowned among the international franchisees of this fun fitness format for our serious approach to the game. While other countries focus on the amusing spectacle of people falling into water, we treat it more like a forgotten Olympic event, or at least an interstate sporting match. So it makes sense that we’ve upped the stakes with the inaugural interstate competition in which the four top participants from each state vie for a prize of $100,000. The action continues on Monday at 7.30pm.
PAY TV
The PoliticianCredit:
THE POLITICIAN
★★★½
Netflix
Payton Hobart is back and he’s more ambitious – and complexly likeable – than ever in the second season of Ryan Murphy’s kooky dramedy. Still trying to balance the humane values with which he was raised against his basic amorality, this time Payton’s running for state Senate. It means the stakes are raised in every way, including a truly formidable opponent in the form of the incumbent’s chief of staff, played by the truly formidable Bette Midler. MH