The Box's 2005 line-up

Desperate Housewives

NEW LOCAL PROGRAMMES

An official and an unofficial history of New Zealand plus a drama named after a fish ...

* Frontier of Dreams: Touted by TVNZ as a landmark documentary series, our top historians worked for five years to tell the story of New Zealand's struggles, conflicts, tragedies and successes, including the lives of our Polynesian ancestors and ambitious colonists and the survivors of foreign wars (One).

* The Unauthorised History of New Zealand: Eating Media Lunch host Jeremy Wells takes an entertaining look at our past (TV2).

* Last Man Standing: Drama series co-produced with Australia's Channel 7 about three 20-something males navigating the ups and downs of life (TV2).

*The Market: (working title only) Romeo & Juliet-style, multi-cultural drama set in South Auckland about two teenagers who fall in love despite their feuding families (TV2).

* Orange Roughies: (also still in production). Drama series about the people who patrol New Zealand's coastline, written by Greg McGee. Like Coastwatch, but with actors (TVNZ).

* Outrageous Fortune: The story of a cheerfully trashy family of Westies who try to stay out of crime. Co-written by Maxine Fleming (Being Eve) (TV3).

* Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby: Comedy series starring David McPhail as a renegade teacher with a cheerful disdain for political correctness, written by Tom Scott and Danny Mulheron (One).

* The Tem Show: Temuera Morrison's delayed-from-2004 variety show finally comes to Prime.

NEW LOCAL DOCOS, REALITY SHOWS

Cleanliness, grisliness, and yet more makeovers ...

* The Rookie: Idol-style reality series in which athletes compete for the chance to play professional rugby, with viewers voting for their favourite each week (TV2).

* How Clean Is Your House?: Reality series tracking New Zealand's filthiest homes (One).

* Surviving A Disaster: Documentary series following people who have survived major physical injury and the science behind their recovery (One).

* Special Investigations: Grisly documentary series about the people who investigate serious accidents (One).

* Car Watch: New motoring show featuring tips, tricks and secrets on how to get the best out of your car (One).

* Off the Rails: Travel series hosted by Marcus Lush who heads from Bluff to Whangarei by train (One).

* Locked Down: Documentary series about life behind bars at Rimutaka Prison in Wellington (One).

* Is It Safe To Eat?: A disturbing insight into the hidden dangers of food (One).

* Big Experiment: Series that takes people leading privileged lives and radically alters their identities to those who face discrimination, with each episode exploring a different theme: gender, race, disfigurement and disability (One).

* Air Force: A inside look at the RNZAF (One).

* Auction House: The daily dramas of one of New Zealand's most successful auction houses (One) .

* Remarkable Vet: The daily adventures of vet Geoff Woodhouse, who has just moved from the city to the country (TV2).

* Working Holiday: A camera crew joins Kiwis on their OE (TV2).

* Skin Doctors: Kiwis who go for plastic surgery (TV2).

* 10 Years Younger: Series in which an ordinary Kiwi gets a drastic makeover each week.

* Neighbours At War: Consumer advice show (TV2).

* Sensing Murder: Documentary crime series featuring some of New Zealand's most notorious unsolved murders re-visited by a team of clairvoyants (TV2).

Returning

* One: Intrepid Journeys, Mataku 3 (Formerly on TV3), Border Patrol, Animal House, Coastwatch, Piha Rescue, DNZ, Home Front, Taste New Zealand, Mucking In, Game of 2 Halves, Going, Going, Gone, SCU, Ground Rules, Taste Takes Off, Country Calendar

* TV2: Eating Media Lunch, Matthew and Marc's Rocky Road To ..., Wonder Dogs, Lion Man, Mitre 10 Dream Home, Renters, The Zoo, Shortland Street, My House, My Castle, Police Ten 7, Top of the Pops, Motorway Patrol, Hyundai Sportscafe, Celebrity Treasure Island, Mitre 10 DIY Rescue

* TV3: Hot Property, Garden Wars, bro'Town

* Prime: Getaway

DRAMA

The 2005 crime wave…

* Hustle: From the makers of Spooks comes this slick series about a group of expert con-artists on the streets of London (One).

* Blind Justice: New York police drama about an experienced detective who fights to be reinstated on the force when he is blinded in duty (One).

* Blackjack: Colin Friels is Jack Kempson, an idealistic cop demoted for blowing the whistle on a drug-dealing colleague (One).

* Veronica Mars: Drama about a popular schoolgirl who works as a private investigator in the wealthy, seaside community of Neptune, California (TV2).

* LAX: A slightly risky title perhaps but one that refers to a major international airport. Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood play intense rivals dealing with security breaches, terrorist threats, illegal immigrants, drug busts and more. Though probably not lost luggage (TV2).

* CSI: NY: Third instalment of the hit forensics series featuring an award-winning cast, this time set in the Big Apple (TV3).

* The Grid: Dylan McDermott and Julianna Margulies star in this gritty series about a team working to tackle international terrorism (TV3).

* Boston Legal: James Spader, William Shatner and Rebeeca DeMornay star in this darkly comedic show about a team of upscale Boston lawyers (TV3).

* The Inside: Danny is a 22-year-old federal agent posing as a high school student to bust a drug ring. The new 21 Jump Street? (TV3).

* The Jury: Drama set in the jury room, starring model Shalom Harlow and directed by Academy Award-winner Barry Levinson (TV3) .

* Murder City: Crime drama that claims to somehow combine humour with the harsh world of murder investigations (One) .

* The Long Firm: BBC series about a gangster whose tough exterior hides an intelligent, sensitive, misunderstood man (Prime).

The mystery mob

* Lost: A ratings hit in the US (almost 20 million tuned in to the premiere), this drama has made a star of Evangeline Lilly and revitalised the career of former Party of Five actor Matthew Fox. The action is centred around a group of people stranded on a deserted island after a plane crash. But the mysterious island holds secrets that could prove fatal (TV2).

The 4400: A massive ratings hit in the US, this unusual drama shows the events that unfold when thousands of people who have gone missing over the last century suddenly and inexplicably return all at once (TV3).

* The Alice: Aussie series about a group of travellers who gather for an eclipse of the sun only to find themselves caught up in a murder mystery (One).

* The Medium: Patricia Arquette plays Allison, a seemingly normal woman who can communicate with the dead and read the thoughts of the living. Based on a true story and produced by Frasier star Kelsey Grammer (TV3).

The originals

* Desperate Housewives Another massive success story, this unique series was the No 1 rating show of the season with critics gushing it is "refreshingly original, thoroughly delightful, and funnier than any new sitcom". Starring former Lois Lane Teri Hatcher, the drama takes a comedic look at suburbia — from the eyes of a dead woman who sees what goes on behind every neighbour's door (TV2).

* Deadwood: HBO Series that focuses on the birth of an American frontier town, an illegal, violent and uncivilised outpost that attracts a colourful array of characters looking to get rich (Prime).

* Carnivale: Quirky series set in 1934 about a travelling carnival whose performers find themselves embroiled in the battle between light and darkness (One).

* The L-Word Post-Ellen drama about a group of young, sexy lesbians living in the City of Angels (TV2).

* Rescue Me: Denis Leary plays a fireman who suffers from recurring memories of comrades and the fallen victims of 9/11 (One).

The medical misadventures ...

* Grey's Anatomy: Medical drama set in the toughest surgical programme at Harvard University (TV2).

* House: British comedic actor Hugh Laurie received excellent reviews for his role as American Dr Greg House, a controversial but brilliant doctor (One).

* Medical Investigation: Mobile medical team who snuff out outbreaks of disease and try to prevent epidemics and plagues (TV3).

Returning

* One: Coronation Street, Six Feet Under, Bad Girls, Spooks, Monarch of the Glen, William and Mary, New Tricks, Clocking Off, The West Wing, Red Cap, Wire in the Blood

* TV2: NY-LON, Third Watch, Without A Trace, Nip/Tuck, McLeod's Daughters, ER, The O.C., The Sopranos, Footballers' Wives, Gilmore Girls, Las Vegas, Alias

* TV3: Law & Order, Battlestar Galactica, CSI, CSI: Miami, Special Victims Unit, Criminal Intent, Survivor, 24, Charmed

* Prime: King of Queens, Judging Amy, Pilot Guides, My Family, Eastenders

COMEDY

An old Friend, a couple of rappers, and a Seinfeld star has another go

* Joey First of the Friends knock-offs, Matt Le Blance reprises his role as the loveable idiot and aspiring actor, Joey Tribbiani. This time he's off to LA to pursue his dream and begin a new chapter in his life (TV2).

* Green Wing From the award-winning team that produced Smack the Pony comes this part- soap, part-drama that follows the stupid antics of the narcissistic, neurotic staff of a British hospital (One).

* Good Girls Don't: From the makers of That '70s Show comes a series about five, foul-mouthed friends obsessed with finding love and sex (TV2).

* Method & Red: Wu Tang expats Methodman and Redman play a couple of home-boys who move into a posh part of New Jersey for their mother's sake (TV3).

* Listen Up: Seinfeld's Jason Alexander stars as Tony, a workaholic who ditches the sports pages to write about life. Based on the columns of popular sports personality Tony Kornheiser (TV3).

* Complete Savages: The trials and tribulations of a single dad raising five teenage boys. Produced by Mel Gibson (TV3).

* Doc Martin: Funnyman Martin Clunes stars as a former surgeon, struggling to fit into his new life in the country (One).

Returning

* TV One: The Kumars at No. 42, Frasier

* TV2: Scrubs, Less Than Perfect, My Wife and Kids, 8 Simple Rules

* TV3: The Simpsons, (now at 7.30pm), Malcolm in the Middle, That '70s Show, Everybody Loves Raymond, Will And Grace, Kath and Kim

REALITY

Rich guys, rock stars and potential pugilists

* The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best. The Amazing Race meets The Apprentice in Richard Branson's new series that leads a group of young entrepreneurs on an epic journey around the world.

* The Contender: Sylvester Stallone and Sugar Ray Leonard mentor 16 young boxers for the ultimate prize of one million dollars (TV2).

* Rock Star: Kiwi singers will be among those who audition to be the new lead singer of INXS (TV2).

* Family Plots: Six Feet Under meets The Osbournes in this series about one of Southern California's busiest funeral homes (One).

Forensic Investigators: A behind-the-scenes look at a murder scene (TV2).

* Model Behaviour: A search for supermodels in Britain, exposing the daily grind of the glamour biz (TV2).

* Brat Camp: Six British delinquent teens are sent off to "Wilderness Camp" to be sorted out (TV2).

* Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy Parents ditch their families to take over other clans from different walks of life (TV3).

* 48 Hours Homicide detectives race against time to solve their cases (One).

Returning

* The Amazing Race, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Apprentice, Extreme Makeover, High School Reunion, Fear Factor, The Simple Life 2: The Road Trip

DOCUMENTARY

Let's do the time warp

* Time Machine: BBC natural history programme that tells the story of the planet and the dramatic changes that have shaped Earth (One).

* Zero Hour: Reconstructions, archival footage and interviews surrounding some of the most dramatic events in recent history, including Chernobyl, the attack on the Tokyo underground, the Columbine High School massacre and 9/11 (One).

* Going to More Extremes: Travel writer and geography professor Nick Middleton tackles lie in the Sahara desert, goes hunting in northern Greenland and learns how the pygmies survive in the Congolese jungle (One).