2013 has been 12 months of illusionists, idols and infotainment on Kiwi television. As programming moves into the silly season, James Croot searches through the past schedules to share what he considers to be the year’s best on the box.
Being Erica (Choice TV)
It might have long since ceased to air in it’s native Canada, but this Canuck female-skewed Quantum Leap provided a potent mix of sass, sexiness and seriously good storylines as our heroine tried each week to revisit her past mistakes. Erin Karpluk’s winsome worrier enlivened otherwise moribund Saturday night viewing. And Choice still has three seasons to come.
The Fall (UKTV)
Gillian Anderson proved why she’s one of the best actresses of her generation in this five-part BBC thriller set in Northern Ireland. She plays a talented detective who attempts to hunt down a serial killer stalking potential victims in Belfast. By no means an easy watch, especially late at night, but ifThe Fall nf does a terrific job of bringing to life fully formed characters on both sides of the law. Just shades the third series of Luther (UKTV).
The Good Wife (TV3)
One of the benefits of Mediaworks losing Fox programming is they’ve finally been forced into bringing back this quite brilliant legal dramedy after more than 18 months off the air. We’re still more than two seasons behind the US, but the increased presence of Alan Cumming’s spin doctor and regular cameos from the likes of Michael J Fox, David Paymer, Parker Posey and Matthew Perry have turned this from a dour Practice-esque drama into the natural successor to Boston Legal.
The Graeme Norton Show (TV3)
Still the most consistently funny hour on television, this is the standard by which all other talk shows must be judged. And the quality of guests just keeps getting better, it’s very rare that Norton has to resort to a Britain’s Got Talent judge thesedays. Cleverly followed by another terrific hour of locally-grown comedy in 7 Days and Jono and Ben at Ten.
The Great British Bake Off (Prime)The various Masterchefs and other cooking shows might draw larger audiences, but for sheer entertainment and education value nothing beats this appealing mix of competition and cooking class. It also helps that they’ve got two charismatic judges – Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood – and two hilarious hosts – Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.
