What to watch on Sky and free-to-air TV this week
Christmas specials and awards shows abound, but the highlight is the free-to-air debut of a thriller, finds Alex Behan.
Based on the backroom negotiations that created the groundbreaking 1993 agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Oslo (Saturday, 8.30pm, Prime) turns talking heads and tedious paperwork into a brilliant thriller. It all came about because a Norwegian couple (played by Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott) dodged the rules and ducked outside their diplomatic purview to bring the two sides together for secret negotiations. These meetings led to genuine historical change, but, what’s amazing is, how close it all came to never happening.
Nga¯ Tohu Puoro o Aotearoa, the Aotearoa Music Awards (Friday, TVNZ 2) have stayed flexible in case it had to bounce to next year, but the traffic light system says go – so here we go. Troy Kingi, Team Dynamite, Teeks (plus more to be announced) will perform, and Hayley Sproull and Stan Walker will host.
It has been a big year for local music and, in particular for waiata reo. Broadcast live from the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, it will be worth it just to see five icons get their dues – When The Cat’s Away are being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Often a more vibrant affair than the main awards, are the annual Pacific Music Awards 2021 (Sunday, 3.30pm, Ma¯ ori TV) which are late this year due to you-knowwhat. Finalist Melodownz will perform alongside Tree and Lepani, there’s a tribute performance for Fiji, who is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, and, even without the rowdy crowd, it’s bound to be a joyful, inclusive, excellent event. It always is. Award highlights include the Philip Fuemana Award for Most Promising Artist and the People’s Choice Award. Past winners include General Fiyah, Nesian Mystik and Tomorrow People.
’Tis the season for extravaganzas en masse and the lineup for The Great Kiwi Bake Off Christmas Special (Thursday, 7.30pm, TVNZ 1) makes it worth at least a furtive, festive glance. Who doesn’t want to see Simon Bridges cook a delicious little Christmas-themed treat? Also featured are Josh Thomson, Justine Smith and Francis Tipene. Shortland Street star Rebekah Randell is there, as well as Laura Daniel, who (no offence intended) has proven herself to be one of the worst bakers on Earth.
Daniel is in demand for end-of-year festivities and joins the team who make punchlines out of headlines. They bring out their best for the Have You Been Paying Attention Christmas Special (Friday, 7.30pm, TVNZ 2). Daniels is joined by the brilliant Pax Assadi and Tom Sainsbury, as well as series regulars Vaughn Smith, Urzila Carlson and a promise to use the entire TVNZ tinsel budget. The silly season requires a silly annual wrap up and this year deserves the silliest of all.
Edee (Robin Wright) is dealing with devastating loss. Desperate to disconnect and distance herself from her trauma, she isolates herself in the harsh, vast, landscape of the Rockies. A local hunter (Demian Bichir) helps her back from the brink. Land (Monday, December 20, 8.30pm, Sky Movies Premiere) is Wright’s first feature as a director and has an Into The Wild/The Revenant feel to it.
Isabelle Huppert, Marisa Tomei, Brendan Gleeson and Greg Kinnear star in a drama about a family who come together to celebrate the life of their matriarch, Frankie (Saturday, 8.30pm, Rialto). Frankie (Huppert), a renowned, well-loved French actress who has only months to live, decides to spend them in Portugal and invites her relatives to spend time with her. It looks more philosophical and cerebral, than overtly sentimental, designed more for a light laugh, than a cry.