Monday March 14 - tv previews
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday March 14, 2011
Little Charley BearABC2, 6.15pmThe star of this appealing animation series is a cute, grey teddy bear. Like Humphrey, Charley doesn't speak, communicating through nods, shakes of his head and mime. With his actions interpreted by narrator James Corden (Gavin & Stacey), Charley's adventures play out in seven-minute instalments.In the opener, he becomes an astronaut in a pre-bedtime escapade, meeting a friendly alien. Made by Chapman Entertainment (Roary the Racing Car), Little Charley Bear is not afflicted by the garish colour palette deployed by many animation producers in the hope of holding the attention of preschoolers. Instead, these tales rely on an enticing tone and achieve a charm that's distinctive.Conviction KitchenSeven, 8.30pmThe drama continues to simmer in the Brisbane restaurant where former prisoners compete for a new lease of life. All sorts of trouble is brewing, particularly concern about Silene and her former partner, and restaurant manager Lisa Parker struggles to maintain her composure.Executive chef Ian Curley is perfectly cast as a tough but fair taskmaster who understands the problems facing his staff. This hybrid series, an extension of the current fashion for observational documentaries and cooking contests, is essentially an affirming experience, driven by hope for redemption but acutely aware of the obstacles.Frost on ParkinsonNine, 9.30pmTwo enduring and engaging TV titans share a wealth of anecdotes about their lives and careers. Last Monday, Parky asked the questions; tonight Sir David Frost turns the tables.Consummate performers, they're clearly at ease in front of the cameras. Frost begins by probing Parkinson's childhood in a Yorkshire mining community, then moves on to his national service - at 19, he was the youngest captain in the British army. The early days in television, along with Parkinson's love of music, sport and Australia are discussed, as well as his flirtatiousness and his favourite guests on his long-running chat show.The differences between the men emerge, with Frost's career more sharply defined by milestone political interviews while Parkinson's career took a more entertainment-industry oriented route. What emerges is an illuminating account of two estimable careers and the accomplishments of a couple of wonderfully entertaining talkers.Dawn Porter: My Breasts Could Kill MeSeven, 10.30pmBritish TV personality Dawn Porter was only six when her 36-year-old mother died of breast cancer. Now in her 30s, Porter resolves to face her fears and learn as much as she can about the disease that is the biggest killer of women in Britain.She embarks on a quest to discover what causes the cancer, how it's treated and how people cope with the illness. She also undergoes a range of procedures - mammogram, MRI, genetic testing - to determine the level of her predisposition to the disease. With each test comes the spectre of bad news and Porter's anxiety is emphasised.Understandable and genuine as it is, the repetition is excessive and a little less, in this case, might have been more effective. But in the course of what is ultimately an informative documentary, she also talks to a range of doctors, cancer sufferers and survivors, both female and male, and examines a number of treatment options, from pre-emptive double mastectomies to alternative therapies.
© 2011 Sydney Morning Herald
