Tuesday’s TV Tips
TV3 takes a look back at some of the biggest entertainment stories of the year, the good, the bad and the ugly.
From Kim Kardashian breaking the internet, to the ‘Pantigate’ controversy and those infamous new words which have made it into the Oxford dictionary.
This one-hour show looks back over the biggest entertainment headlines of 2014 in a lighthearted, comical way.
Alex (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Melman (David Schwimmer) and Gloria (Jada Pinkett Smith) hanker for a return to New York’s Central Park Zoo.
They seek refuge on a circus train and persuade Vitaly the tiger (Bryan Cranston), Gia the jaguar (Jessica Chastain) and Stefano the sea lion (Martin Short) that they are performing animals too, knowing they must impress a big promoter in Rome in order to secure a booking in the Big Apple.
Kids will squeal with delight as it’s just as colourful and animated as its predecessors and won’t disappoint fans of the franchise – in fact many will attest that this is the best one.
Sasha Baron Cohen is once again scene-stealing as the crazy lemur and there are plenty gags to keep the adults entertained too.
79%
On Christmas Morning, 2009, the people of Longford woke up to the devastating news that their beloved St Mel’s Cathedral was engulfed by flames.
A fault in the heating system took hold during the small hours. Mercifully, no-one was injured, but, during one of the harshest winters in memory and in the midst of a deep recession, the disaster was a real kick in the teeth for Longford.
The local Bishop, Colm O’Reilly, was heartbroken, openly weeping on the RTÉ News. But he was also determined that this 170-year-old landmark would be rebuilt.
In The Longford Phoenix, RTÉ’s Midlands Correspondent, Ciarán Mullooly, and Would You Believe? filmmaker, Birthe Tonseth, chart the long and arduous process of transforming the cathedral from a roofless ruin back to its former glory.
Your friendly neighborhood web-slinger is back as Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and James Franco return to reprise their roles from the previous two instalments.
All is well in New York City until one night, as Peter and M.J. sit gazing at the stars, a falling comet streams across the sky and crashes into the ground close by.
But this isn't any ordinary shooting star, and upon impact the mysterious space rock is split open to reveal a shape-shifting symbiote with the power to overtake anything that it comes into contact with.
Later, as Harry Osborn acquires his late father's flying board, engineers a powerful new Goblin outfit, and takes to the sky to avenge dad's death, the mysterious space sludge infects both Peter's Spider-Man suit and ambitious street photographer Eddie Brock.
63%
When she left Coronation Street a few years ago, many wondered what Helen Flanagan would do next.
Well, after being one of the most engaging contestants of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here, she managed to keep her face in the tabloids and online news sites for some time.
And now she’s cooking up a storm on Come Dine With Me, there’s a good chance millions will be tuning in to see whether she cooks up a mouthwatering feast, or turns a handful of ingredients into a dog’s dinner on night one.
Children’s TV presenter Kirsten O’Brien will be going back to her roots with a Scandinavian-style bash, and comic Mark Dolan takes his fellow diners and viewers back to Victorian England with a Dickensian Christmas.
It’s a real pea souper, along with a three-bird roast and plum duff.
But the question is: will fellow I’m A Celebrity veteran Shaun Ryder prove a dark horse when he rounds off the week with a ’festive rave-up’?
“I have explored some of the wildest places on earth – but my favourite is still Britain,” explains the eponymous host of this show.
Recently Ray Mears has been exploring some of Britain’s most diverse and spectacular landscapes as he searches for some of our greatest natural treasures.
Sadly this is the last in the current series, and our host will be trekking across to the Isle of Skye in search of Britain’s rarest bird of prey, the spectacular sea eagle, and visits a seal colony.
However, it’s a soaring golden eagle which really fires his enthusiasm.
“I could watch that bird all day – it’s so majestic and it makes our puny efforts at moving through this landscape seem completely ridiculous,” he enthuses. “It’s wonderful. You know native people all over the world considered eagles to have a special affinity with the creator because they flew so high – I think they’re right.”
“I have explored some of the wildest places on earth – but my favourite is still Britain,” explains the eponymous host of this show.
Recently Ray Mears has been exploring some of Britain’s most diverse and spectacular landscapes as he searches for some of our greatest natural treasures.
Sadly this is the last in the current series, and our host will be trekking across to the Isle of Skye in search of Britain’s rarest bird of prey, the spectacular sea eagle, and visits a seal colony.
However, it’s a soaring golden eagle which really fires his enthusiasm.
“I could watch that bird all day – it’s so majestic and it makes our puny efforts at moving through this landscape seem completely ridiculous,” he enthuses. “It’s wonderful. You know native people all over the world considered eagles to have a special affinity with the creator because they flew so high – I think they’re right.”
When we catch up with Harry, Hermione and Ron (who is back in the fold after recovering from his sulk in the previous movie), they are still on the hunt for horcruxes, the objects in which Voldemort has hidden parts of his soul to render him immortal.
Unfortunately, the dark lord has worked out what they’re up to, and amasses his followers for one final showdown at Hogwarts school.
If you thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 could have done with a little more magic and a little less teenage angst, never fear – the brains behind the movie saga were saving up all the action for Part 2.
Not only does it feature impressive set pieces galore, it pulls off the even more impressive feat of bringing the boy wizard’s tale to a hugely satisfying conclusion.
96%
After years of partnering up with the lovely Kirstie Allsopp for umpteen series of Location, Location, Location, Phil Spencer began to go it alone over two years ago now.
Secret Agent is back for another run, and helping folk struggling to sell their homes.
He begins in the cathedral cities of Hereford and Gloucester. He meets Nick and Carolyn, who have recently separated and are desperate to get rid of their house - after all, it’s been on the market for seven months now.
Wondering where they’ve been going wrong, and in far from the ideal situation, they eagerly follow the Secret Agent’s advice.
Meanwhile, Lorna and Stuart are on the hunt for a bigger place to accommodate their growing family.
Many office staff have had a dressing down at some point in their careers, but few have been on the receiving end of an address as eloquent as the one delivered to Dominic by Ric Griffin this week.
“Doctor Copeland. You’re an enigma,” he explains. “I struggle to comprehend how such a naturally gifted individual can display such a capricious and infantile mentality. You are carving out a professional career, and you have a choice: whether to become an eminent surgeon, or join a circus.”
Ouch.
Yes, things aren’t looking good for Dominic, and his past returns to haunt him with the arrival of an old face.
Then things get really awkward when the pair become trapped in a lift.
Meanwhile, Mo realises Adele is taking Jesse to a family wedding so attempts to find her own date.
She opts for the reliable Mr Thompson, but he is gutted when he realises she sees him as little more than a friend.
Put on your blue suede shoes, shake that pelvis and practice your best lip curl: it’s Elvis Night on Channel 5.
The tributes to the King of Rock’n’Roll kick off with a documentary featuring some of the people who knew him best – his family.
Elvis by the Presleys sees his former wife Priscilla, daughter Lisa Marie and members of his extended clan share their memories of life with one of the biggest icons of the 20th century. Plus, newsreels, interviews and performance clips help to put his extraordinary career into context.
Just in case you’re wondering what made Elvis so special, it’s followed by the legendary ’68 Comeback Special.
That event saw the singer making a return to live performance following an eight-year absence – and in the process showed the pretenders to the throne who the real king was.
But we know what you’re thinking: a little less conversation, a little more action please.
Callan Kicks the Year returns for its second Christmas special outing with Dobbo at the helm of an acerbic and funny look at Ireland and the world in 2014.
The show will feature real clips of the top political, sporting, celebrity and TV moments of the year.
The show features all our favourite characters from Callan’s Kicks – Enda Kenny, BOD and Amy, Joan Burton, Marty Morrissey, Bono, Michael D, Ray D’arcy, Mary Lou McDonald and others are on hand to skewer Enda Kenny’s year of scandal and controversies from cronyism and Irish Water.
The ice bucket challenge, celebrity weddings, Bono’s year, Love/Hate and Scottish independence are all fearlessly satirised in this festive romp.
New characters Shane McGowan, Imelda May and Ireland’s only actors The Gleesons also look back at the entertainment high points of the year.
For many, 2014 was a year we’d rather forget, especially as a Malaysia plane went missing with more than 200 people on board.
We also lost those great funnymen Robin Williams and Rik Mayall. However, the Sochi Winter Olympics captured the imaginations of millions; as did the ice bucket challenge.
At this time of the season, there’s plenty of end-of-year reports as 12 months of news footage is distilled down to bite-sized chunks for TV companies.
However, this show is always one of the best, thanks to the wonderfully scathing host.
Charlie Brooker gives us his thoughts on some of those stories and many others in a cheap, and occasionally cheerful, round-up, with contributions by Al Campbell, Diane Morgan and Jake Yapp.
Steve Coogan stars as entrepreneur Paul Raymond in this fact-based drama.
He became Britain’s richest man through an empire of strip clubs and pornography publishing, and this film charts his career and his relationships with three women; his choreographer wife, his glamour model lover and the daughter he hoped would become his heir.
Coogan is the perfect choice to play larger-than-life businessman Raymond, and executes a brilliant performance (so much so, that it was only a matter of time before he was lined up for similar offerings).
It probably helps that this isn’t the first time director Michael Winterbottom and Coogan have teamed up (24 Hour Party People and A Cock and Bull Story).
A great British cast ensures there’s plenty to be proud of here – it’s a stylish, well-scripted effort that’s well worth a look.
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