WEEK 41: Saturday 10 October - Friday 16 October 2009

This week on TV2, What Now! gives some lucky viewers a magnificent surprise. Tune in on Sunday at 8am to catch Charlie and Serena as they announce the winners of the Dreamworld Competition LIVE.

On Monday at 8.30pm in ER: The Final Season, Morris (Scott Grimes) receives an unwanted package from his father at the ER doorstep. Meanwhile Sam (Linda Cardellini), is anxious about getting Alex (Oliver Davis) off the ventilator after his accident.

Wednesday evening brings the final reveal, in a two-hour season finale of Fringe at 8.30pm. Agent Dunham (Anna Torv) is called in to investigate a disturbing case of a woman who spontaneously combusted. Meanwhile, the Fringe Division is attacked; Mr Jones (Jared Harris) returns; Walter (John Noble) disappears; and Massive Dynamics' elusive William Bell is finally introduced. Guest starring Leonard Nimoy.

Movie - Barnyard, Saturday 10 October, 7.30pm: When the farmer's away, the animals play ... and sing, and dance, in TV2's Saturday Family Blockbuster, Barnyard.

Every night, after the farmer goes to bed, the barnyard is transformed into party central. When Ben (Sam Elliott, Hulk), the leader of the animals, is no longer able to run things, the responsibility falls to his care-free son, Otis (Kevin James, Hitch), but the role just doesn't come naturally to him. Without a leader to keep things under control, it doesn't take long for the farmer to start to suspect the animals' secret life, and the dangerous coyotes lurking outside the fence begin to think the farm could be theirs for the taking.

The idea for Barnyard was born nearly two decades ago, well before writer and director Steve Oedekerk had made his mark in the movie world. Oedekerk was at a friend's house, being stared at by a dog:

"I had this image of me leaving the room and the dog standing up on two legs, saying, 'Man, it's about time that dude left', and then strolling over to the cat to go back to playing poker. And it wasn't too long before I thought, 'that could really make a cool movie'."

As amusing as the premise is, there is also a heartfelt, adult depth to the film. "It's a simple story about a guy and his dad and the family around them, and whether he's going to step-up and accept responsibility, or be a goof-off his whole life," Oedekerk explains. "Come to think of it, that's very much like my life growing up."

Courtney Cox (Friends) plays Daisy, the 'girl next-door' cow who provides Otis with the inspiration to step-up to his leadership role. "I'm kind of a sarcastic person, so it was interesting for me to play someone so sweet," Cox reveals.

Cox and Oedekerk are friends, so she had no qualms about joining the cast. "He's such a talented guy that I was really excited about doing this movie," Cox goes on. "For him, this is real life - he writes about the things that kids go through and witness. For him, it's not an imaginary world; it's real."

This animated family comedy also features the voice talents of Danny Glover (Be Kind Rewind), Wanda Sykes (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings And A Funeral).

Local Reality - NZ Smashes Guinness World Records, Sunday 11 October, 7pm: Kiwis with gumption are given the chance to pilfer records from around the world, in NZ Smashes Guinness World Records.

This week, The Edge Morning Madhouse crew, along with more than 100 of their craziest listeners, will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest chain of human/mattress dominoes. Spurred on by the record currently held by an Australian breakfast TV show and their viewers, the team will attempt to snatch the record from the hands of the Aussies.

Dominic Harvey, a presenter on the Morning Madhouse, revealed that it has always been a dream of the team's to crack a Guinness World Record. "There have been two main obstacles in our way - we are lazy and we are not good at anything," Dom jokes. "When we heard about the mattress dominos Guinness World Record we thought it was within our reach. One thing we excel at is lying down doing nothing."

The radio show put out a call for listeners to take part, and they had an enormously enthusiastic reaction. "Everyone was really into it. A couple of girls even made a four-hour road trip from New Plymouth to take part," says Dom.

The task of organising the event was initially a daunting one for show director Greg Heathcote. "This is the biggest record we have attempted on the show in terms of the number of people involved, and the sheer scale of the record. It's huge," Heathcote says.

"It's been a bit nerve-wracking trying to get this many people into one place but the response has been amazing, particularly the support from The Edge," he continues. "There is a bit of variation in the size of the human dominos - so hopefully no one will be getting squashed."

Later in the show, former All Black Josh Kronfeld attempts to add a Guinness World Record to his long list of sporting achievements - by catching the most eggs thrown and caught in one minute.

Then, 12-year-old Dylan Schmidt from Waihi takes on a record unbroken since 1999 - the most trampoline 'barani' flips in one minute.

If you have missed an episode, full episodes of NZ Smashes Guinness World Records will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'ondemand' button.

Local Drama - Shortland Street, Weekdays, 7pm: Manipulative Brooke Freeman (Beth Allen) aims for the sky this week on Shortland Street, but her boyfriend Callum McKay (Peter Mochrie) is far from impressed. When Dr Freeman pulls out some underhand tactics to get what she wants, Callum begins to wonder if their relationship is doomed.

Setting her sights on a promotion at work, Brooke decides that her CEO boyfriend should be able to pull some strings. However, when Callum flatly refuses, she's forced to come up with a back-up plan.

"Disguised as a social evening, Brooke decides to throw a cocktail party, in order to generate some discussion about the new role she has her eye on," says Mochrie. "It doesn't take long before Callum realises what she's up to though, and admonishes her for her sneaky behaviour."

The already shaky evening soon takes a turn for the worse, when Brooke's attempt to embarrass her flatmate Maxwell (Robbie Magasiva) falls flat.

"Callum is absolutely furious about the way Brooke behaves," says Mochrie. "Callum really cares about Brooke, but when she plays these calculating games, it really tests his patience."

The next day at work, Callum becomes alarmed when he realises that Brooke has gone behind his back again, in a further pursuit to secure the position she's after.

"Brooke's sneaky behaviour gets Callum ripped to shreds by his superiors," explains Mochrie. "It's incredibly embarrassing for Callum, and he's left wondering if he can be with someone who is as sly as Brooke."

Agreeing that some time apart might be the best thing for both of them, has this romance run its full course?

If you have missed an episode, full episodes of Shortland Street will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'ondemand' button.

Drama - The Mentalist, Monday 12 October, 8.30pm: This week on The Mentalist, more is revealed about Patrick Jane's (Simon Baker) past, when Jane's former psychiatrist is brought in as the prime suspect in a murder.

When a leading scientific researcher is killed by poisoning, Patrick Jane takes a personal interest in the case when he learns the prime suspect is the victim's wife - and Jane's former psychiatrist, Sophie Miller (Elizabeth Rohm-Law & Order). Receiving a panicked call from Miller, asking him to investigate the murder, Jane makes it his mission to help her as she helped him, and requests Agent Lisbon (Robin Tunney) for jurisdiction over the case.

Taking viewers back into Jane's painful past for the episode, with the Red John meta-narrative, creator Bruno Heller talks about this storyline's place alongside the episodic narratives.

"With the Red John storyline, we will go to that world occasionally, and that's always part of his journey, but we'll go there sparingly. The Mentalist is a procedural detective show, and that storyline is the overarching epic storyline, if you like. So there's a really delicate balance we have to keep, walking between telling that story and telling the week-by-week stories that are really the substance of the thing."

"It's the kind of show people want to watch in hard times," Heller continues. "One where the bad guys get caught."

Baker agrees that the episodic narrative, and procedural nature of the show is important to audiences today.

"I think that we are in a time where people sort of look for closure and are looking for closure, and it's as simple as that. With a procedural show, you do get closure at the end of the episode," Baker explains.

Baker says he relishes the opportunity to give a glimpse into his character's past, and share a little with the viewer.

"I'm always looking for points within an episode where we can reveal an element of what drives the character, and often it's maybe just a silent beat or a moment."

If you have missed an episode, full episodes of The Mentalist will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'ondemand' button.

Local Drama - The Cult, Thursday 15 October, 8.30pm: As Saul (Scott Wills), Edward's (Latham Gaines) right hand man, gets closer to finding the Liberators, some of his dark secrets are revealed, this week on The Cult.

He's on a mission to get Michael's (Renato Bartolomei) son, Nathan (Dwayne Cameron), back to Two Gardens and uses a clue from Rick's (Eryn Wilson) workshop to locate The Glen. But a surprising altercation with a Liberator stops him in his tracks, though not before he gives away some vital information about Jenni (Bodelle de Ronde).

Scott Wills, who plays Saul, says that it was his character's dark past which propelled him into Two Gardens and the Momentum movement, and established his place alongside its charismatic leader, Edward North.

"Saul was in a very low and dark place when Edward sought him out, so his open face and the fact that he knew something about him, which he couldn't have known, piqued his interest. From there Edward offered him friendship, respect, responsibility, family, shelter, purpose and became a father to him."

The sole protector of Edward North and Two Gardens, Wills says Saul sees himself as the guardian for this community that has given him so much, and he would do anything to protect it.

"On the outside, Saul's family has rejected and humiliated him. The outside world represents pain and failure to him," explains Wills. "There was a terrible event in Saul's life which had a huge impact on him and really shaped who he is in Two Gardens, an event that took the fear out of him."

Now imbued with a sense of family and belonging, Saul will do whatever it takes to defend Edward and Two Gardens, and feels it is his moral duty to stop any attempt made by the Liberators to recover their people.

"Saul sees the Liberators like he views his own family," explains Wills. "He believes they are people who have seriously failed their children, and now think they have a right to reconciliation at the expense of the community of Two Gardens, which has picked up the pieces for them. He is determined not to let this happen."

Also this week, the Liberators set a trap for the listener who bugged The Glen and take her hostage. She's Sophie (Lisa Chappell, McLeod's Daughters) - a mysterious deprogrammer, who has been hired by another family to snatch and deprogramme a member of Two Gardens.

If you have missed an episode, full episodes of The Cult will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'ondemand' button.