WEEK 44: Saturday 31 October - Friday 06 November 2009

It's a week of premieres this week on TV2, with America's Prom Queen leading the charge on Saturday at 11am. In the new reality series, ten lucky girls toss their tiaras into the ring and compete in different contests to become the said 'Queen'.

Starting on Saturday evening at 7.30pm, Estate Of Panic challenges seven strangers each week to find millions of dollars hidden in a large stately home, but to win they must overcome the terrors that lurk in every corner. Following on at 8.30pm, TV2's Halloween Blockbuster Double Feature brings you Scary Movie and Scary Movie 3 for a night of spooky fun.

On Wednesday's The Big Bang Theory at 8pm, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) develops a rivalry with a sexy female neighbour who moves in to the building and threatens to become the "new Penny".

Drama - Neighbours: Monday 2 November, 6pm: Tensions within the Kennedy clan, and across Ramsay Street, threaten to escalate into an all-out war, tonight on Neighbours.

Libby (Kym Valentine) is furious with Dan (Brett Tucker) over his treatment of Ben (Blake O'Leary), and decides to phone Sam (Simone Buchanan) to challenge her on it. Kym Valentine reveals of her character, "Libby has had enough of sharing her husband, and she wants Sam to finally move on with her life". However, when Dan finds out what she's done, he goes on the attack, angry that Libby has threatened his ex-wife. Libby walks out and goes over to the Kennedy house, where she breaks down in front of her mother. After consoling her upset daughter, Susan (Jackie Woodburne) storms over to give Dan a piece of her mind, but he angrily throws her out of the house. As Woodburne explains, Susan feels she has a right to her opinion - as she is carrying Dan and Libby's child. "Susan just wants to protect her daughter," Woodburne explains. "She feels Dan is being incredibly selfish, and Libby is suffering because of it." Can the Kennedys resolve the simmering tensions in the family? Elsewhere, Lou (Tom Oliver) returns from New York, and is appalled at the effect Paul's embargo has had on Harold's Store. "Lou is always up for a challenge," says Oliver, and his character promptly takes charge to put things right, re-organising and stocking the shelves. When Paul (Stefan Dennis) learns this, he plots to drive a wedge between Lyn (Janet Andrewartha) and Lou. According to Stefan Dennis, "Paul is relentless in trying to destroy Lyn, and he'll do anything in his power to do it - including turning Lou against her". In the ensuing paranoia, Lyn takes the bait and attacks Lou, leading to a battle of wills between her and Paul: who will prevail and recruit Lou to their side? If you have missed an episode, full episodes of Neighbours 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: Yvonne Jeffries (Alison Quigan) is left feeling torn on Shortland Street this week, when she makes an unexpected connection. When Yvonne meets a kind gentleman by the name of Howard (Ross Anderson), she wonders if he might be just what the doctor ordered.

When country-boy Ben (Shaun Edwards-Brown) reveals his true feelings to Yvonne, she tries her best to drown her reciprocal desire. Knowing that there can never be anything between the two of them, Yvonne puts her feelings to the back of her mind and attempts to get on with things. "There are so many reasons why Ben and Yvonne could never be together, and she knows that" says Quigan. "For starters, she would hate to hurt her daughter. She also believes that Ben is confused by the closeness that they developed during their bank robbery ordeal." So when she encounters charming Howard at the hospital one day, she is surprised when they immediately hit it off. Realising that she needs to leave her feelings for Ben behind, she decides to accept Howard's invitation of a date. "Yvonne considers bailing on the meeting, but is then pleasantly surprised when it gets off to a good start," says Quigan. "Warming to Howard, she hopes that he may be just the ticket to get over Ben." Yvonne continues to harden her heart against the memory of Ben, but is left feeling confused when she is forced to introduce the two men. "Yvonne wants to put Ben to the back of her mind, but when she sees his reaction to her spending time with Howard, she feels terrible," says Quigan. "Fearing that she is unfairly leading Howard on, Yvonne is left feeling unsure of what to do." Will sensible Yvonne be able to pursue a relationship with Howard? Or will her affection for Ben get in the way? 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.

Reality - Hell's Kitchen, Tuesday 3 November, 7.30pm: The knives are out tonight, as the brand new season of Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen comes to TV2.

Three hundred of the best chefs were invited to Hell's Kitchen - but only 16 names are chosen to proceed in the competition. Each week, the 'gastrophiles' face the wrath of world-class chef Gordon Ramsay and his famous temper, as they battle to win $250,000 and the role of Head Chef at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, a dream role for the aspiring cooks. The teams are divided into men and women, and as the battle of the sexes boils over in the kitchen, Chef Ramsay is far from impressed with the teams' effort during their inaugural dining service. This year, there are varying degrees of experience amongst the budding chefs - included in the line-up is a 41-year-old cooking-school instructor, an executive chef and self-proclaimed redneck, and a food-court chicken fryer. Executive producer Kent Weed, however, reveals to TV Guide USA that the talent is exceptionally high. "They are probably the best chefs we've ever assembled, making it our most competitive season yet," says Weed. "We had no idea from episode to episode who was going to win, because so many [contenders] emerged." It wouldn't be Hell's Kitchen, however, without a couple of back-stabbers. "There are at least two or three villains, if you will," Weed continues. "But there's one person, in particular, that you will just love, who will make you laugh. In fact, we have a lot of loveable characters - and then we have contestants that will just make you angry!" As Chef Ramsay prepares to stick the knife into his first victim, who will make the cut, and whose kitchen nightmare is about to come true?

Local Drama - The Cult, Thursday 5 November, 8.30pm: The shock of discovering that Jenni (Bodelle de Ronde) has been taken back to the compound motivates Michael (Renato Bartolomei) to take up a dangerous offer he receives, this week on The Cult.

Hannah (Chelsie Preston-Crayford) comes to the Glen and tells Michael that Edward (Latham Gaines) wants to meet with him in Two Gardens. The other Liberators and Sophie (Lisa Chappell) are worried it's a trap, but Michael argues that it could be their only chance to get answers, and once in there he can negotiate with Edward for their loved ones' safe release, in exchange for Cynthia's (Danielle Cormack) return. Michael is brought to the compound and comes face-to-face with Edward, but there are some surprises in store for him from Edward, and Ryan (Gareth Reeves). The opportunity to enter Two Gardens is something Michael has long anticipated, and Renato Bartolomei says his character is more than ready to take up this dubious offer. "There is a great sense of trepidation about going into Two Gardens and finally meeting Edward North," explains Bartolomei. "However, Michael is fully prepared to put himself into a potentially dangerous position if it means gaining valuable information about Two Gardens, and his nemesis that may help with the rescue of the Liberators' loved ones." Bartolomei says he drew inspiration for Michael's fight to rescue Ryan from friend's of his "who stopped at nothing to steer their wayward son from a particularly dangerous path he had chosen to walk". Michael has real conviction that he will see Ryan again, and get him out of Two Gardens, explains Bartolomei, but the reality of how hard that will be hits home once Michael enters the compound. "Michael learns that people seem to be happy inside the cult, and indeed not wanting to leave, and he now fully realises that the task of extracting them will be far more difficult than he first envisaged." Back at the Glen, a distraught Frances (Rachel Nash) decides to go head-to-head with Cynthia and enlists Sophie's help. Sophie agrees, but her methods of extracting information from Cynthia make it clear she has her own agenda. The Liberators may have a more dangerous enemy inside The Glen than Cynthia. 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.

Reality - Australian Idol, Friday 6 November, 8.30pm: TV2's favourite songsters will be taking a page out of their mentors' books, to sing their way into the top four, tonight on Australian Idol.

Over the duration of the contest, the Idols have been treated to lessons by the best, including Harry Connick Jr and performance maverick Liza Minnelli. While Connick Jr, acclaimed singer, actor, composer, and pianist got up on stage and showed them how it's done, he was also just as happy to talk them through the art of performing, as Idol hopeful Kate Cook explains. "He's never lost for words and he gave us confidence and advice. He's definitely a man who knows what he's doing and he's done pretty well!" Legendary performer Minnelli, who has known the limelight her whole life as the daughter of Judy Garland, and who achieved fame in her own right with her Oscar winning performance in Cabaret (1972), held a workshop to improve the Idols' song and dance skills, as well as imparting some career advice along the way. "The workshop with Liza Minnelli was awesome," says Idol contender Stan Walker. "It was wicked because we actually got to do a workshop I got to experience Liza Minnelli, the teacher. She's cool." Fellow contestant James Johnston agrees. "Meeting Liza Minnelli was pretty cool. She kind of acted back to me - I was singing to her and she was doing all these little lines in between the line I was singing, so that was cool having someone as big as her interacting with me. That was wicked." They've been shown the way by some of the world's best, now it's time for the Idols to put these lessons to the test and pull out their most polished performances, if they are to make it into the next round, and get one step closer to be becoming the next Australian Idol. If you have missed an episode, performances from Australian Idol will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'ondemand' button.