Friday's TV highlights

Page 1 of 2 View as a single page 4:55AM Friday April 25, 2008

5.55AM, TV ONE, MAORI
LEST WE FORGET
With Anzac Day seemingly becoming our national day by default, the TV channels are devoting more time to it. Unlike Waitangi Day, with all its troublesome issues, Anzac Day has a simple and singular focus: honouring those who sacrificed their lives in war. Maori TV kicks off coverage at 5.55am with the dawn service from the Cenotaph at Auckland Museum. Later, there will be a live cross to Judy Bailey and Kim Webby in Gallipoli, as well as reports from dawn services from around New Zealand. Bailey also goes behind-the-scenes to report on what happens in the lead-up to Anzac Day events in Turkey. At noon Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett will give the Anzac Address. At 2.35pm there will be live coverage of the dawn service at Gallipoli. There will also be live coverage of the New Zealand-only service at Chunuk Bair on the Gallipoli Peninsula at 9.30pm. TV One covers the dawn service at Waitakere City's Waikumete Cemetery beginning at 6am, while Breakfast features highlights of services held around the country. At 11am there's live coverage of the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Wellington, and TV One also crosses live to the dawn service at Gallipoli at 2.30pm. In the many documentaries shown today, Reluctant Hero at 8.35pm pays tribute to Corporal Willie Apiata, our most recent recipient of the Victoria Cross. Sky's National Geographic and History channels have Anzac Day-related documentaries at 8am and 11.30am respectively, while TV3 is showing the Gaylene Preston doco The Time of Our Lives at 10am.

8.30PM, TV2
AMERICAN IDOL
Dolly Parton strolls on in to mentor the last nine contestants and Simon tells one performer, "You've got to start looking like a star and I'm just not seeing that progression at the moment." Simon really knows how to turn on the charm.

8.30PM, TV3
ROVE
Country folk singer and songwriter k.d. lang and Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr are guests on this week's show.

8.35PM, TV ONE
RELUCTANT HERO
This documentary looks at Corporal Willie Apiata of the New Zealand SAS, who made history last year when he received New Zealand's highest military honour, the Victoria Cross, for services in Afghanistan.

9.30PM, TV3
PROJECT RUNWAY
The designers' next challenge is to create an ensemble for a major fashion icon. However, who or what that icon is remains a mystery until after they've chosen their models.

9.30PM, TV2
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
This game show promises all the horrible fascination of a slow-motion car crash as contestants are asked 21 questions that they must answer truthfully to win $500,000. As the prize money increases, the questions become more personal and embarrassing - a false answer and they go home empty-handed. Prior to the show, contestant are hooked up to a lie detector and asked more than 50 questions. Without knowing the results of the polygraph, they are asked 21 of those same questions again on the show. As an example, an underwear model is asked if he ever stuffed his jocks for photo shoots. Host Mark L. Walberg says if contestants get too comfortable, the producers will bring out a surprise guest, such as a friend or relative, to ask a particularly difficult question. Contestants may stop at any time and take the money they have won, but once a question is asked, they must answer honestly or forfeit the cash.

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