Top TV picks for 2016 (& a few to avoid)

It’s 2016 and with it comes a year of televisual promises made and inevitably broken as the Networks roll out their biggest and brightest promos for all that is to come.

There has never been a better time to be excited about what’s coming to your TV/tablet/games console/smartphone so we at DeciderTV offer this short list of shows we’re excited about (and a few things we think are best avoided)…

ABC

Cleverman – Set in the near future where a species from ancient mythology must live among humans and battle for survival, starring (among others) Iain Glen , Frances O’Connor, Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Ryan Corr, Tasma Walton, Rarriwuy Hick, Tony Briggs, Robyn Nevin, Lynette Curran and Jack Charles.

Luke Warm Sex – Luke McGregor takes a frank and uncomfortable look at sex and finds things surprising and reassuring (also, a bit nudey).

The Katering Show (S02) – While technically not new after a cracking first series on YouTube to have season two air on iview and ABC due to funding will mean the Kates (McLennan & McCartney) will deliver another fine round of fun at the expense of all foodies.

Barracuda – Christos Tsiolkas’s novel looking at Australia’s national obsession with its sporting heroes brought to vivid life by the team at Matchbox Pictures (also responsible for The Slap).

Play School’s 50th year – A national institution celebrates an excellent milestone.

Returning: Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell S06; The Weekly with Charlie Pickering S02; Nowhere Boys S03; Black Comedy S02; Rake S04; Janet King S02.

SBS

Hanson: The Years That Shook Australia – a frank documentary by the team at CJZ looking at the woman who single-handedly reignited the race debate in Australia.

The Family Law – Benjamin Law’s very funny novel brought to vivid life. 14 year old Ben tells the story of one summer for his Chinese-Australian family living on the Sunshine Coast where tragedy/comedy abounds.

Inside Heston’s World – When Heston Blumenthal up and moved his entire restaurant The Fat Duck to Melbourne for a year SBS captured every part for what will be an amazing insight into one of modern cooking’s leading lights.

Deep Water – A four-part drama series, a feature documentary and an online prequel series, presenting the full account of the gay hate crime epidemic that bloodied Sydney’s coastline during the 1980s and 1990s, and remains unsolved today.

Returning: Bosch S02; Vikings S04; First Contact S02; The Feed; Shaun Micallef’s Stairway to Heaven S02.

SEVEN

Molly – The man in the hat who changed Australian culture forever. Samuel Johnson stars in a show sure to deliver one of the best soundtracks of 2016. Do yourself a favour.

The 31st Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – Seven have positioned themselves as Australia’s Olympic Network for good reason… they’ve tied up the broadcast rights for the next eight years and they do a bloody good job of delivering them, now across digital as well as broadcast platforms.

Returning: MKR S07, 800 Words S02.

Avoid: Nothing good can come of Kiss Bang Love; Making a series for a specific talent never usually ends well, so tread carefully around The Secret Daughter.

NINE

Hide & Seek – While investigating a murder, police and immigration officials uncover a network of potential terrorists who have entered Australia under false passports. The enemies of national security are now hiding in plain sight and the race is on to hunt them down before the next atrocity. Produced by Matchbox Pictures.

House of Bond – The man who used to own the Network, failed and was jailed, and then built another empire. Sure to be a series filled with 80’s excess (and likely to be another cracker from CJZ).

Returning: House Husbands S05, Love Child S03, Married At First Sight S02.

Avoid: The jury is still out on Here Come the Habibs, at least until something can be previewed; Anything with Daryl Somers.

TEN

Brock – Life on and off the track for “Peter Perfect” is part of what made him an Australian motor-racing legend. With a cast including Matthew Le Nevez , Steve Bisley, Natalie  Bassingthwaighte, Brendan Cowell and Ella Scott Lynch it’s sure to pay tribute to the man that conquered the mountain more times than anyone else.

Australian Survivor – The Granddaddy of reality TV gets its own second chance locally, this time with the promise of white sandy beaches and tropical climes. While casting is important whoever gets the khaki shirts and gets to say “the tribe has spoken” will be critical to the success of this series.

The X-Files – The return of Mulder and Scully has been hotly anticipated. Chris Carter will not let us down. The truth is still out there.

Returning: I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here S02, Gogglebox Australia S02, MasterChef Australia S08, Have You Been Paying Attention? S04.

Avoid: Offspring S06 is just a bad idea, no matter what some fans say.

FOXTEL

Secret City – Inspired by the novels by Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis, and starring Anna Torv, Dan Wyllie, Damon Herriman and Jacki Weaver, Secret City is set in a world of secrets, lies, murder and betrayal – beneath the placid facade of Canberra. Amidst rising tension between China and America, journalist Harriet Dunkley (Torv) will uncover a secret city of interlocked conspiracies, putting innocent lives in danger. More from Matchbox Pictures.

Westworld – Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin. Inspired by the 1974 film of the same name, written and directed by Michael Crichton. The much-anticipated drama features Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, James Marsden, Thandie Newton and Jeffrey Wright. Big things expected from this new HBO series.

Returning: Wentworth S04, Game of Thrones S06, The Walking Dead S06 part 2/S07, A Place To Call Home S04, Gogglebox Australia S02, Selling Houses Australia S09, Great Australian Bake Off S02.

Avoid: Delaying The Kettering Incident isn’t going to help what was supposed to be a huge Aussie drama but now has the stink of failure all over it.

NETFLIX

Flaked – Will Arnett stars as Chip, a celebrated long-time resident of the insular world of Venice, California who falls for the object of his best friend’s fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-bullshit that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel.

Special Correspondents – Ricky Gervais’s movie starring Eric Bana  as a struggling New York-based radio journalist whose arrogance and decadent lifestyle has hindered his career. With his job on the line, he fakes front-line war reports from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in Manhattan.

Black Mirror (S03) –  12 more mind-numbing/twisting episodes from Charlie Brooker that make us rethink modern society in the best worst possible way.

Returning: House of Cards S04, Orange Is The New Black S04, Marvel’s Daredevil S02.

STAN

Wolf Creek – John Jarratt returns as Mick Taylor, still on the hunt although this time he becomes the hunted.

Returning: No Activity S02, Better Call Saul S02, UnReal S02.

PRESTO

No announcements made for 2016 at time of publication.

Returning: Mr Robot S02.