KEY POINTS:
7.30pm, TV3
KATH & KIM
Could it be true that wedding bells are ringing for the unlucky-in-love Sharon (Magda Szubanski)? And that her groom-to-be is none other than the man of her dreams, cricketer Shane Warne? The mere thought of it would be enough to bring Kim's sports-mad
second-best friend out in a body rash.
It's just one of the intriguing prospects as vowel-torturing, language-mangling mother and daughter Kath and Kim (Jane Turner and Gina Riley) return to our screens for series four. Apart from Warne, there's also the promise of cameos from Little Britain's Matt Lucas, Hollywood star Eric Bana and Australian comedian Rob Sitch.
For Turner and Riley, the show's stars and creators, the new series was never a given. They took a two-year break from television - apart from putting out the telemovie Da Kath and Kim Code - and seriously considered winding up the series, although they did take time to consult on a US version that is still under development.
Because of that hiatus, it's been a long time between "cardonnays" for the ladies from Fountain Lakes. When we last left them, Kath and husband Kel (Glenn Robbins) were trying a fat-free diet after Kel suffered a suspected heart attack, Sharon was lusting over Kim's on-again, off-again hubby Brett (Peter Rowsthorn), and we had a flash-forward to the wedding of Kim and Brett's daughter Epponnee Rae (with Kylie Minogue playing the adult Epponnee).
When we rejoin them, Kim is planning an extravagant first birthday for Epponnee Rae, while Brett plans a romantic holiday, which turns into a disaster when Kath, Kel and Sharon come along as well.
7PM, TV2
THE ZOO
Things aren't looking good with Iwani the Siamang fighting for life. The meerkats have a new neighbour but it's not yet clear how friendly he is. In fact, he is positively prickly.
7.30PM, TV3
KATH & KIM
It's different, it's unusual and it's back for a fourth season. See TV Picks, page 28.
8.30PM, PRIME
TERRY JONES' BARBARIANS
Terry Jones heads east to explore the ancient worlds of Greece and Persia. After discovering a strange lump of rusty metal, it emerged that Rome's Greek and Persian neighbours were amongst the most enlightened in the world.
MOVIES
8.30PM, TV2
MONSTER-IN-LAW
Herald Rating: **
Jane Fonda plays an obsessive mother who re-enters her son's life just as he falls in love with a free spirited dog-walker (Jennifer Lopez). A tedious domestic war breaks out between the two females. (2005)
8.30PM, C4
SIXTEEN CANDLES
Herald Rating: ****
Comedy written and directed by John Hughes, who was also behind The Breakfast Club, National Lampoon's Vacation films and the Home Alone series. It stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha, who's turning 16 and suffering every possible embarrassment along the way. Look out for a young Anthony Michael Hall and John and Joan Cusack. (1984)
9PM, TV ONE
LAYER CAKE
Herald Rating: ***
Competent British thriller with Daniel Craig as a successful drug dealer named "X". He plans an early retirement, but wouldn't you know it, a crime kingpin commissions him to find the missing daughter of a rival crime boss. Thrown into the mix is £2 million ($5.3 million) worth of ecstasy, a neo-Nazi organisation and a series of double crossings. (2004)
SPORT
1AM LIVE TV3; REPLAY NOON
RUGBY WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL 1
AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND
The Aussies have injury worries but should still be too cohesive a unit for the plodding English.
7AM, TV3 LIVE; REPLAY 2.30PM
RUGBY WORLD CUP LIVE: QUARTER FINAL 2
NEW ZEALAND V FRANCE
The All Blacks should dispose of a muddled-looking French side.
11.30AM, TV ONE LIVE
MOTORSPORT: BATHURST 1000
The big Ford v Holden showdown starts with a replay of the Top Ten shootout to decide grid positions.
2.30PM, SKY SPORT 1 AND RUGBY LIVE
AIR NEW ZEALAND CUP QUARTER-FINAL 4: HAWKES BAY V WAIKATO
The Magpies upset defending champions Waikato during the regular season but will be hard-pressed to do it again, especially without injured captain Danny Lee.
6.55PM, SKY SPORT 1 LIVE
MOTORSPORT: CHINESE GRAND PRIX
Twelve points in front in the championship and with this the penultimate race, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton could just about sew it up with a podium finish.