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Justin Langer in The Test. Photo / supplied

PREMIUM

The Test - sports for a new era, indeed

21 Mar, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

A new cricket documentary could fill the sporting void in the next few weeks.

Morgan (Christian Convery) and friend are part of a secret world where pups learn to be a human's best friend in Pup Academy.

PREMIUM

Pup Academy - - barking up the wrong tree?

7 Mar, 2020 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Barking mad Pup Academy leaves Canvas critic with more questions than answers.

Paranormal Caught on Camera - a show the young Calum Henderson might have loved. Photo / supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Ghostly goings on caught on camera? I don't think so

29 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Nothing spooky about Paranormal Caught on Camera - except what we're expected to believe.

Jamie Oliver's latest move to save the planet? Eat more greens.

LIFESTYLE

TV critic sees red over Jamie Oliver's advice on greens

15 Feb, 2020 6:00am
3 minutes to read

Why is one TV critic taking Jamie Oliver's latest advice with a grain of salt?

Billy Zane (playing Joker Jones) in Curfew which, genre mash-up and all, looks surprisingly promising. Photo / Gareth Gatrell

ENTERTAINMENT

Peaky Blinders producer dreams up new monster (s)mash hit

8 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Peaky Blinders producers' new star-studded, genre mash-up of a show promises to be big.

Gwyneth Paltrow is all smiles as The Goop Lab takes to Netflix.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gwyneth Paltrow's MDMA confession

1 Feb, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The star came clean about her drug use on an episode of The Goop Lab

Isiah and Tony make their way to work at Just Water. Tony spends a week living with Isiah on Living with the Boss, a reality TV show modeled on the USA's Undercover Boss.

ENTERTAINMENT

Would you let your boss move in with you for a week?

18 Jan, 2020 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson on the kiwi TV show that reveals disconnect between workers and bosses.

The Feed, a dystopian series based on the novel of the same name by Nick Clark Windo.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Feed: thanks for the memories

13 Dec, 2019 12:59pm
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews The Feed.

Klaus - a 2D animated Christmas flick that's actually well worth watching.

ENTERTAINMENT

Netflix finally turns it on for Christmas

7 Dec, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Santa's story as never told before - Calum Henderson's Christmas recommendation.

Dolly Parton's Heartstrings opens up the door to a whole new TV genre - based on song lyrics. Photo / supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Adapting a 1970s country pop hit into late-2010s television drama is one hell of an experiment. So has it worked?

30 Nov, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Oh, Jolene. Corny rock biopic is dead. Dolly Parton has shown us the future of TV drama.

The Great Kiwi Bake Off contestants in happier times - before the judges tasted their cakes and found them wanting.

ENTERTAINMENT

Judges show no sugar to Bake Off contenders as cakes fall flat

9 Nov, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Great Kiwi Bake Off contestants swallow the criticism as judges not so sweet.

Looking for Alaska is the latest adaptation of a John Green novel.

ENTERTAINMENT

John Green on the small screen? Calum Henderson checks out whether Looking for Alaska works on TV

26 Oct, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson: "I was not as bad as a John Green teen".

Going with the Flow. The talent show genre becomes cool.

ENTERTAINMENT

Takin' a snoop at a hip new talent show

19 Oct, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews Rhythm + Flow on Netflix - does it get a good rap?

Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Platt star in The Politician.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Politician: don't believe the spin

5 Oct, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews the Netflix original series, The Politician.

Bill Gates shows his real genius in getting viewers to watch a doco about solving the world's sanitation problems.

ENTERTAINMENT

How Bill Gates tricks us into watching a doco about his good works

28 Sep, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Sucked in by the title, Calum Henderson goes into Bill Gates' brain and finds ... toilets.

ENTERTAINMENT

Rugby - caught in the Webb

14 Sep, 2019 7:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews The Story of Rugby, just in time for the RWC.

ENTERTAINMENT

Are more penises on screen the right way to tackle TV sexism?

7 Sep, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Does HBO's new series The Righteous Gemstones really break the last TV taboo?

Stacey-Lee May, aka the Queen of Smoke, is one of the stars of Hyperdrive.

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson goes into overdrive about Hyperdrive

31 Aug, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson on the new TV show guaranteed to get your motor running.

The Lyons family witnesses the arrival of dire new political force Viv Rook (played by Emma Thompson) in the drama Years and Years.

ENTERTAINMENT

Years and Years - TV's not-so-bright vision of the future

24 Aug, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson wants to know what happened to TV's vision of a bright future?

Celebrity Treasure Island's Team Kahu / Yellow Team. Photo / TVNZ

ENTERTAINMENT

Does Celebrity Treasure Island live up to the original?

17 Aug, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson on Celebrity Treasure Island - no one wants a grown-up What Now.

BFFs Iyia Liu and Edna Swart juggle the demands of a life of partying with the pressures of running their own businesses in BossBabes.

ENTERTAINMENT

Understanding the BossBabe life

10 Aug, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson tries to understand the "genius" behind TVNZ on Demand's BossBabes.

The Ramsay clan - all slurping from the same milkshake.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gordon Ramsay's daughter serves up kitchen nightmare

3 Aug, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

There's a new Ramsay in the kitchen - and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Harriet Dyer as Cassie Bishop in The InBetween. Photo / Chris Large/NBC)

ENTERTAINMENT

Sensing popularity with new crime-psychic show

13 Jul, 2019 11:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews The InBetween for Canvas magazine

The New Zealand Skydive School soars high in TVNZ's new reality show High School.

ENTERTAINMENT

Are reality TV and skydiving a good mix? You bet, says Calum Henderson

6 Jul, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson: High School is the new NZ reality show now soaring.

Anna Mikhalkova play Moscow mother Marina, a woman with a double life, in An Ordinary Woman.

ENTERTAINMENT

Russian drama is the perfect follow-up to Chernobyl

29 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson: An Ordinary Woman is a true hidden gem well worth a real watch.

Euphoria - a totally different teen reality than the one many of our adolescents are actually experiencing.

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson: Does Euphoria really reflect modern teenage life - or is it something dreamt up by grown men?

22 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson joins the TV critics reflecting on Euphoria and wonders how real it is.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gwyneth Paltrow is the oddball friend we need right now

15 Jun, 2019 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Gwynnie's bewildered appearance on The Chef Show proves she'd be the best BFF

Jodie Whittaker in the BBC series, Trust Me, where things aren't as they seem.

ENTERTAINMENT

TV Review: Trust Me

8 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Jodie Whittaker's newest role really has us asking Dr Who?

Calum Henderson: Brene Brown is kind of a Big Deal.

ENTERTAINMENT

Is Brene Brown a self-help guru who can actually help?

1 Jun, 2019 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Brene Brown's self-help mantras might be better than tidying houses, says Calum Henderson.

Educators - the funniest local comedy in ages.

ENTERTAINMENT

Why this new comedy is 'the funniest local show in ages'

11 May, 2019 8:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews the local comedy, Educators

You see him here, you see him there. Bear Grylls, in You vs. Wild, will be a hit with the kids.

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson: Why Bear Grylls drives me wild

27 Apr, 2019 7:52am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson reviews "You vs. Wild" with Bear Grylls.

Go South on Prime. The slow TV movement is here.

LIFESTYLE

Why TV is better than real life

26 Jan, 2019 8:40am
3 minutes to read

Trainspotter Calum Henderson makes the argument for travelling by couch

James Gandolfini and cast in The Sopranos, the TV show that set the benchmark for filmic TV dramas.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ten best TV dramas since The Sopranos

19 Jan, 2019 8:58am
6 minutes to read

It's been 20 years already - the 10 top TV dramas since The Sopranos

The Casketeers, an instant Kiwi classic.

ENTERTAINMENT

Is this the best Kiwi TV show of the year?

19 Jan, 2019 8:27am
3 minutes to read

The Casketeers is an instant Kiwi classic - but how did it end up on TV screens?

Wellington Paranormal, one of the best show's of the year, was made in New Zealand.

ENTERTAINMENT

How to watch TV in 2018: 'Just binge it'

22 Dec, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Calum Henderson watch a new TV show every week of the year. Here's his advice...

A scene from cheesey Netflix film A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding.

ENTERTAINMENT

This year's Netflix Christmas movies, ranked and rated

15 Dec, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Settling in for a Christmas movie binge? Here are a few words of warning.

A scene from HBO's adaptation of the bestselling book, My Brilliant Friend.

ENTERTAINMENT

My Brilliant Friend on TV: Did they get it right?

8 Dec, 2018 9:00am
3 minutes to read

It's brilliant, beautiful, a cut above almost every other recent TV show. Is that enough?

A new Netflix series, called Dogs, follows heartbreaking stories of pets and their owners.

ENTERTAINMENT

Why Netflix has gone to the Dogs

1 Dec, 2018 10:30am
3 minutes to read

Warning: These might seem like simple dog stories, but they'll break your heart.

Benecio Del Toro in Escape From Dannemora.

Prison break drama missing in action

24 Nov, 2018 11:50am
3 minutes to read

Prison escape drama lacks action but makes up for it with slow-build tension.

Little Drummer Girl is one of the best shows on TV right now.

ENTERTAINMENT

Here's a late contender for TV show of the year

17 Nov, 2018 9:30am
3 minutes to read

Should you watch another intensely stylish trans-European spy thriller? Yes, you should.

Julia Roberts in Homecoming, the movie star's first major TV role.

ENTERTAINMENT

How good is Julia Roberts in her first major TV role?

10 Nov, 2018 1:30pm
3 minutes to read

Julia Roberts is predictably outstanding. As for the rest of this podcast-turned TV show?

Flavor Flav from Public Enemy, a scene from Netflix show Hip Hop Evolution.

ENTERTAINMENT

How hip-hop is taking over TV too

3 Nov, 2018 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Scratch the record and forget about rock docs: hip hop documentaries are where it's at.

Mary Berry starts sampling the goods in Britain's Best Home Cook.

ENTERTAINMENT

Why Mary Berry's new show is tough to swallow

27 Oct, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Britain is in even more trouble than we thought, judging by Mary Berry's new cooking show.

The Romanoffs, Amazon Prime Video's new anthology series, can be brilliant and baffling.

ENTERTAINMENT

Can The Romanoffs reach the highs of Mad Men?

20 Oct, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

It's brilliant, tedious, cinematic and completely ridiculous, says Calum Henderson.

Hilz and Mary from Gogglebox, the show that lets you watch people watch TV.

ENTERTAINMENT

Should you stare at Gogglebox?

13 Oct, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Watching people watch TV - what's that like? Calum Henderson turns on the Gogglebox.

In its third season, The Good Place remains as clever as ever.

ENTERTAINMENT

The Good Place remains TV's best place

6 Oct, 2018 12:00pm
3 minutes to read

Here's one of the funniest and most easily enjoyable shows on TV right now.

A scene from TVNZ 1's new show Vanity Fair.

ENTERTAINMENT

This TV show could go either way

29 Sep, 2018 9:00am
3 minutes to read

The tone takes a while to settle, but Vanity Fair turns out to be a slick period drama.

Fred Armisen and Maya Rudolph in Forever.

ENTERTAINMENT

Here's your new favourite TV show - watch out for twists

22 Sep, 2018 2:00pm
3 minutes to read

Forever is a series that skillfully wrong-foots its audience. The less you know the better

Melanie Lynskey as Molly Strand in Castle Rock.

ENTERTAINMENT

Melanie Lynskey as you've never seen her before

15 Sep, 2018 11:00am
3 minutes to read

A psychic real estate agent? What is Melanie Lynskey up to in Castle Rock?

ENTERTAINMENT

John Krasinski as Jack Ryan - does it work?

8 Sep, 2018 9:00am
3 minutes to read

Jim from The Office has abs now. A proper six-pack. What's going in Jack Ryan?

Kids and adults are hooked on Ask the Storybots.

ENTERTAINMENT

This TV show for kids is great for adults too

1 Sep, 2018 11:00am
3 minutes to read

Great music, in-jokes for adults and a cameo from Snoop Dogg. What's not to like?

Judy Davis as Emma and Aaron Pedersen as Jay in Mystery Road.

ENTERTAINMENT

It's time to take a trip down Mystery Road

25 Aug, 2018 11:00am
3 minutes to read

TV adaptation of popular film series is one of the more satisfying spin-offs you'll find.

Detective Tori Lustigman (Yael Stone) and Detective Nick Manning (Noah Taylor) investigate the brutal murder of a young gay man in Bondi.

ENTERTAINMENT

Why you should dive into Deep Water

18 Aug, 2018 10:00am
3 minutes to read

New Aussie-noir series examines the historical ineptitude of Sydney police.

Hannah Grant makes sure her team of cyclists are well fed.

ENTERTAINMENT

Hearts race, stomachs rumble in Eat. Race. Win.

11 Aug, 2018 11:00am
3 minutes to read

Welcome to a weird hybrid of sports documentary and cooking tour.

ENTERTAINMENT

The new Scandi-noir thriller you need to see

4 Aug, 2018 11:30am
3 minutes to read

No mucking about in this high-stakes European drama, writes Calum Henderson.

Gordon Ramsay's new show 24 Hours to Hell and Back.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gordon Ramsay's new show is pure hell

28 Jul, 2018 12:30pm
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: You've seen Gordon Ramsay before - but never as overcooked as this.

Dark Tourist captures the authentic anxieties and contradictions of everyday tourism.

ENTERTAINMENT

Kiwi's grim travel show most relatable ever?

21 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Dark Tourist is macabre, weird as hell but also...kind of wonderful.

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson: Amy Adams shines in Sharp Objects

14 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Sharp Objects is a compelling yet uncomfortable watch.

Mark Richardson and Shelley Ferguson are presenters for The Block NZ 2018.

ENTERTAINMENT

Could this be the end of The Block NZ?

7 Jul, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Stress, tension but all done in an hour.

Derren Brown: The Push for Netflix. Photo / Supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson: The miracle is all in the mind

30 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

Give Derren Brown this: he knows how to get attention.

TV chef and author Nigella Lawson. Photo / Supplied

ENTERTAINMENT

Calum Henderson: Nigella takes us gently to a good place

23 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

The mistress of the kitchen has space at her table in a new series.

Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien plays Sarah Platt.

ENTERTAINMENT

Coro Streets ahead: What a week

16 Jun, 2018 5:00am
3 minutes to read

COMMENT: Tears, laughter, familiar faces still the essence of Coro.