Thursday's TV highlights

7.30PM, PRIME
STARGATE ATLANTIS

With the Wraith menacing Atlantis at the beginning of series two, goodness knows how Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell) and Dr Zelenka (David Nykl) will get time off to press the flesh at the Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo in Auckland at Labour Weekend.

But they will be there despite the threat level becoming critical as Earth's new battlecruiser Daedalus arrives under the command of Colonel Caldwell and saves Major Sheppard from his suicide run on the Wraith ships.

McKay and his team must raise the city shields to protect Atlantis before the rest of the Wraith fleet arrive.

This spinoff from the successful Stargate franchise has been renewed for a fourth season in the United States, while its SG-1 stablemate has finally been canned after 10 seasons.

7.30PM, TV ONE
CORONATION STREET

Candice is off to seek her fortune with Status Quo and Sarah replaces her at the salon and is quick to get her paws on Jason. Also, Martin leaves for a new life with Robyn.

7.30PM, TV2
NANNY 911

This is the latest free advice for parents show. In tonight's episode the King family, which includes five kids, three dogs, three cats, two rabbits and a hamster, get some help from Nanny Lillian. Just get rid of the pets.

7.30PM, TV3
TOP CHEF

The contestants have to create a yummy dish from ingredients available in a convenience store.

8.30PM, TV2
MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS

All's not well between the Drover's girls, and Alex's world is turned upside down.

8.30PM, TV3
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

Grissom and his team investigate the death of a 5-year-old boy from starvation and find his siblings are in danger too.

9.30PM, TV3
PULP SPORT

In the final of this series of Pulp Sport Bill and Ben try to sneak 200 dozen beer into Eden Park. The special guests are Ewen "the Westie" Gilmore and rockers Blindspott, who take part in the inaugural West Auckland Olympics.


MOVIES
[rated out of 5]

8.30PM, SKY MOVIES 1
SERENITY
Herald rating: * * *

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's the movie cousin of Firefly, Whedon's cult TV show about the mercenary crew of a space ship called Serenity. Bigger and better effects: space battles, smugglers, telepaths and some nasty cannibals. (2005)

8.30PM, SKY MOVIES 2
A SEPARATE PEACE
Herald rating: * *

Directed by Peter Yates (Bullitt, Breaking Away), and based on the novel by John Knowles about two friends at a prep school during World War II. An earlier, slightly superior version was filmed 1972. (2004)

8.30PM, MGM SKY DIGITAL
MIDNIGHT COWBOY
Herald rating: * * * *

Directed by John Schlesinger, and with a cracker theme song (Everybody's Talking, sung by Harry Nilsson). Jon Voight plays Joe Buck, a Texan cowboy who moves to New York to become a male prostitute and befriends crippled conman Ratso Rizzo, played by Dustin Hoffman. (1969)


SPORT

7PM, SKY SPORT 1 LIVE
NBL: NZ BREAKERS V PERTH WILDCATS

The Breakers continue to look the goods this year but tonight they face a huge challenge at home when they take on the Wildcats, who have won four from four. The Breakers also play the Brisbane Bullets at home on Wednesday (7pm, sky sport 1 live).

8.30PM, TV ONE LIVE
NETBALL: NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA

The first of a three-test series that should be a cracker, as the underdog Aussies won the last encounter. The Silver Ferns have home advantage with this game in Wellington, the second in Waitakere on Saturday (7.30pm, TV One live), and the third in Christchurch on monday (7.30pm, TV One live).