Sunday's TV highlights

7.30PM, TV2
NZ IDOL
The third group of six strut their stuff in the last regional piano round, performing on stage in Wellington in front of the judges, a theatre audience and the viewers at home. The results will be revealed tomorrow at 8pm.

7.30PM, PRIME
TOP GEAR
Comedian Eddie Izzard is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car tonight. And as usual, Jeremy and James feel the need for speed so set up an experiment to see whether old racing cars or new showroom cars are faster.

9.30PM, TV ONE
ROME
Caesar returns home to a hero's welcome and stops a showdown between Vorenus and Pullo, and the local thug Erastes.

10.40PM, TV ONE
ARTSVILLE
Sir Jon Trimmer is one of New Zealand's most-recognised male dancers. Trimmer, who was knighted in 1999 for his contribution to local dance, could have embarked on an international career but chose to work with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Now 65, he looks back on his many roles - from the romantic ones of his youth, to the character roles in later years.


MOVIES
[rated out of 5]

8.30PM, TV2
TROY
Herald rating: * * *
Swords-and-sandals epic from director Wolfgang Petersen, which recounts episodes from Homer'sIliad. Wooden horses at the gate. Brad Pitt stars. (2004)

10.55PM, TV3
SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS
Herald rating: * * *
Described as Stand By Me meets To Kill A Mockingbird, this taut thriller has Ethan Hawke as a news reporter in a small Washington town during the early 1950s, who meets an old friend during a murder trial. A fisherman has been drowned in his own nets. The local Japanese community provides a murder suspect - another fisherman who holds a grudge. (2000)

6PM, SKY MOVIES 2, 8.30PM, SKY MOVIES 1
THE SKELETON KEY
Herald rating: * * * *
Good horror movie starring Kate Hudson as a caregiver who becomes involved in a New Orleans family's generations-old hoodoo curse. Yes that's hoodoo rather than voodoo, and the difference is explained - not that it makes things any less scary. (2005)


SPORT

BASKETBALL: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEW ZEALAND v GERMANY
6.50PM, SKY SPORT 1 LIVE; 11.50PM, TV2
The second of five pool games for the Tall Blacks in this 24-team competition, with 16 sides going through to the playoffs. They next face Angola on Monday (3.50pm, Sky Sport 2 live; 11.40pm, TV2) and Japan on Wednesday (9.50pm, Sky Sport 1 live; 10.45pm, TV2).

SOCCER: FA PREMIERSHIP CHELSEA v MANCHESTER CITY
2.55AM, SKY SPORT 2 LIVE
In the opening weekend of the league, Manchester City have the unenviable task of travelling to Stamford Bridge to face the might of the Chelsea cheque book, which has claimed new signings, such as Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.