Scott Pape’s Money Movement (Wednesday on Lifestyle) is only the second TV show to star the bestselling finance guru. The first was The Barefoot Investor (2009 on CNBC), based on his book of the same name, but given it has now sold over two million copies, this latest series is long overdue.
The likeable Scott Pape is on a mission to convince primary and high schools to teach kids (as well as their parents) how to save and manage their money. There is a feel-good vibe to this series as he goes into classrooms to figure out the best way to get his message across. What a brilliant idea – this series gets a huge thumbs up from Mercado on TV.
Another Aussie superstar is Rose Byrne (top photo) who has gone from the 70s-themed Mrs America (Binge) straight into the 1980s. In Physical (Apple TV+), she plays a downtrodden and obsessive housewife who desperately needs a new distraction, and she finds it inside an aerobics studio.
There is a whiff of Jane Fonda’s life in this, what with the exercise video empire, the liberal politician husband and the eating disorders. But Physical jumps to its own beat and does so with a surprisingly edgy tone. Having now watched half of it, this could be the best drama Apple TV+ has done since Morning Wars. Hugely recommended.
Physical has a great soundtrack although it is yet to include the Olivia Newton-John hit of the same name. It feels like there will always be TV series made about the 60s, 70s and 80s, because the music still resonates today, as well as finding a new generation.
Starstruck (Wednesday on ABC) is a new BBC/HBO sitcom created by and starring New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo. It’s about her drunken New Year’s Eve hook-up with a famous movie star played by Nikesh Patel. The first episode is OK, and there seems to be enough charm to suggest it gets better.
Sad to see the wonderful Doctor Doctor (Wednesday on Nine) finishing up but it’s probably time. With a bad boy anti-hero lead (Rodger Corser), it redefined the medical drama as well as avoiding cliches with its rural setting (e.g. having a microbrewery instead of a pub).
It is a mystery why Nine hasn’t tried doing this with other TV genres. Instead, they have tried to recreate Jaws with Bite Club (2018), Big Little Lies with Bad Mothers (2019) and Offspring with Amazing Grace (2021). All have been underwhelming, so come on Nine, look at what really made Doctor Doctor so fresh and unpredictable and do it again for your next Aussie drama.
Four Corners sure copped a hiding from some in the media in the lead-up to Monday’s QAnon and the PM episode. After 722,000 viewers finally saw it, in the highest-rated episode of the year, those same critics went strangely silent. Funny that.