Tuesday's TV tips
A place in the UEFA Champions League group stage is up for grabs in this play-off 1st leg. Tommy Martin introduces the action with analysis from Kevin Kilbane. Commentary from Brian Kerr and Trevor Welch.
As we prepare to jet off on our jollies, perhaps we should spare a thought for these pilots-in-training, who aren’t exactly in for enjoyable, relaxing flights.
This intriguing documentary aired for the first time last week, letting us in on all the hairy moments the amateur pilots endure while in training in one of the most dangerous parts of the world.
In tonight’s instalment, Captain Sam Quinn finds himself in the middle of a dispute after delivering much-needed supplies to remote Papuan tribespeople - and bows and arrows are soon drawn, at which point he makes a quick exit.
But back at base, while he might be in safer territory, he comes down with malaria, and his whole flying career is thrown in to uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Captain Guy Richardson attends the opening of a remote island runaway, and new recruit Nick Holmes is assessed to see if he’s ready to take the controls of a plane.
Zooey Deschanel’s private life is usually the focus of many a tabloid headline, most recently with speculation that she’s started a relationship with a producer on her new film Rock the Kasbah.
But if the actress can just forget the prying cameras for a short while, she certainly has a lot to smile about. This sitcom, for one thing, has proved to be quite the little earner, not only wowing audiences across the pond, but continuing to rake in the ratings over here as well.
In tonight’s instalment, Jess pretends to be a fan of the Pistons basketball team in an attempt to get a rapport going with Coach. However, this only upsets Nick, who supports a rival club.
Meanwhile, Schmidt is assigned to mentor older colleague Ed, and Winston seeks a new career path.
Fans of Bob Gunton should keep an eye out for his guest appearance.
It’s a good job Michael Sheen and Lizzie Caplan don’t embarrass easily – this fantastic drama would hardly have the clout it does if its lead actors were blushing bright red at every provocative line they mutter.
Well, we’re in for more secrets and in tonight’s episode, as Langham catches sight of Masters and Johnson leaving a hotel room and doesn’t hesitate in explaining his suspicions to DePaul. Of course, that only causes problems between the two women and puts Johnson’s job on the line, so it’s not a great week for the latter, really – especially as the episode opens with a dream of hers, which plagues her for the rest of the show.
Meanwhile, Masters is thwarted by the head of the hospital when he tries to bring Johnson on as his assistant, and Betty tries to hide her infertility from Jean.
Co-starring Teddy Sears, Julianne Nicholson and Annaleigh Ashford.
The bumbling journalist is back and this time she’s not so single, having bagged her perfect man.
But she soon realises that perfect may be a term she threw around too loosely in the first film, as the couple start to bicker, a situation made worse when an old flame turns up, hell bent on causing trouble.
Fans of the book may be disappointed at the way the story has been chopped up and rearranged, but it doesn’t make this any less of a fun sequel.
Zellweger remains the perfect choice for novelist Helen Fielding’s gloriously insecure protagonist, while we’re treated to a second brilliant (if slightly wimpy) fight scene between Grant and Firth.
Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones
In Alaska, a team of oil workers board a flight home, but when a storm sets in, the plane loses control and crashes.
Seven workers survive and led by skilled huntsman John Ottwat, they attempt to navigate the wilderness and simply stay alive.
However, their situation becomes even more bleak when a pack of wolves tracks their every move.
The A-Team director Joe Carnahan, producer Ridley Scott and star Neeson re-group for this bleak, yet memorable adventure.
It’s probably nothing you haven’t seen before, but that’s not to say you should just immediately dismiss it – do so at your own risk because this is well worth a look.
Neeson gives a stand-out performance in the lead and while those behind the film have taken big risks in their decisions regarding the cinematography, most of them pay off. Most of them.
Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dermot Mulroney
