Weekend TV highlights: Monty Python, Niall Tóibín and All-Ireland Gold
Something for the weekend? rounds up some of the highlights that will be on the box over the next few days.
FRIDAY
The first instalment of a two-part finale to a show that has run since 2009, providing plenty laughs along the way.
Remote guests include Pierce Brosnan, Adam Clayton and Mary McAleese, while there will also be Woman's Heart-themed music from the likes of Mary Black, Mary Coughlan and Frances Black.
If you've seen Whiplash or La La Land, you'll already have an inclination that Damien Chazelle likes jazz.
In this new eight-part series, the American director has obviously been given free reign to indulge his passion for the genre, to the extent that the ensemble of interesting characters and the tale of a brutal murder feel like they're in a support role for the music being played on stage at the Paris jazz club that gives the show its name.
There is some great music, courtesy of Glen Ballard (also part-responsible for Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, and Michael Jackson's Bad album), but perhaps a little less of it would improve the show.
Overall it's ok, but given the talent involved, it should be better. Bonus points for spotting Amandla Stenberg, 21, who you may remember from the first Hunger Games, when she played cute kid Rue, an early casualty.
SATURDAY
“I like 'em big; I like 'em chunky.” This 2005 sequel with Marty the zebra and his pals isn't in the same league as the top animations of that decade, but it may have enough decent moments to keep younger viewers engaged for 89 minutes.
Some may cry 'Blasphemy!' in their best Life of Brian voice, but not all of the Pythons' material has aged well. As such, this collection of sketches is a mixed bag.
The better moments feature an obese Mr Creosote and the 'wafer-thin' mint, the song 'Every Sperm is Sacred', and the man who gets to choose his own glorious method of execution.
Decent film take on the incredible tale of Philippe Petit's high-wire walk between the towers of the World Trade Center in New York in 1974. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the French daredevil.
SUNDAY
The concluding episode of the excellent natural history series includes a human who has been doing her bit to increase our understanding and help protect our endangered relatives.
In Uganda, Dr Cat Hobaiter has been studying chimpanzees for 13 years, and has discovered a secret language that they use. Meanwhile, in Thailand we see how a population of long-tailed macaques have learned to use tools to harvest shellfish.
A repeat of the documentary on the Cork entertainer who passed away last November at the age of 90.
Sport
(TG4, 4.05pm) features the All-Ireland hurling final of 1988 featuring Galway v Tipperary – the second year in a row featuring those two sides.
Cyril Farrell and Babs Keating were the respective managers of teams that were able to call on the likes of Sylvie Linnane, Noel Lane, Nicky English and Pat Fox. Later, (RTÉ2, 9.30pm) also looks back on some classic GAA moments.
On BBC Northern Ireland, follows the Armagh club over two years as managers Oisin McConville and John McEntee try to get the senior football team back to winning ways.
