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THE REMOTE IS our weekly look at upcoming TV highlights.
Across TV and streaming services, we bring you some suggestions for your week’s viewing, based on quality, intrigue, and the simple likelihood that something might end up sparking an interesting discussion. Here’s what you should watch out for this week.
It has been noted that not for many years has RTÉ produced a drama of this quality, suspense and intrigue. There is unlikely to be anything on any streaming service of TV station this week that will match the thrill of RTÉ executives answering questions by (hopefully) well-prepared TDs and Senators.
Though Oireachtas Committee start times are often subject to change, the Joint Committee on Media, Arts and Culture will commence on Wednesday.
On the invite list is Dee Forbes, who resigned her post as Director General this morning, as well as Rory Coveney, RTÉ’s director of strategy Geraldine O’Leary, chief financial officer Richard Collins, content director Jim Jennings, and chair of the RTÉ board Siún Ní Raghallaigh. Whether they all turn up will be one of the sources of suspense.
Thursday will see RTÉ executives answer to the Public Accounts Committee, though the invite list for this session is yet to be finalised. These meetings will be streamable via Oirechtas TV.
But if joint Oireachtas committees aren’t your thing…
The Witcher returns to Netflix for the first instalment of its third season (side-note: what have streaming services done to our understanding of the word ‘season’?). This season will be the final one to feature Henry Cavill as video game hero Geralt of Rivia before he’s replaced by Liam Hemsworth. It lands on Thursday, 29 June.
In an incredibly funny turn of events, the theme of the trailer appears to be ‘neutrality and its consequences’.
Disney’s latest instalment of the sorely flagging Marvel Cinematic Universe has kicked off and its second episode is out this week. It sees the 74-year-old Samuel L Jackson reprising the Nick Fury role he’s held since 2008, in a gritty fight against shape-shifting aliens. Interest in the MCU is demonstrably at an all-time low, but the show boasts an incredibly prestige cast of Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman, Ben Mendelsohn and Kingsley Ben-Adir.
It’s a dice-roll that Disney desperately need to pay off, and it got off to a slow start. Whether it can regain some momentum in favour of the behemoth franchise remains to be seen.
Over on NOW TV, The Idol continues apace – because you can’t very well stop a show halfway through its run just because everybody is making fun of it on social media.
The performance of Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye as a horny, raunchy, aggressive, weird pop music mogul has come in for particular public humiliation. He has been truly awful, and the show’s fourth episode promises to be just as ‘so bad it’s good’. The third episode is out today.
the funniest part of the idol is that the weeknd’s acting makes him seem that he’s in a completely different show than the rest of the cast pic.twitter.com/QT1EfIWAC5
— alex (@alex_abads) June 19, 2023
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It’s always good to see Saudi Arabian sportswashing lose out. And I’m pleased for Nunez too.
@Brendan O’Brien: that’d be the same sportswashing that liverpool made a handy wedge off over the summer.
One of the best comebacks you’ll ever see. Like Klopp said even better than the Barcelona game. I totally agree.
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: read before the game,if Liverpool win,it’ll be first time in their history to win away at Newcastle 3 times in succession. Don’t know if that’s PL history or all time history,either way,I was jumping up and down in front of tv celebrating!
@Larry Betts: hope you didn’t spill any beer
@mainmsam: Tried replying to you twice,my comments have been removed?
@Larry Betts: sure look once the beer is safe
@mainmsam: You got it! Nothing controversial,just my usual comments. Beer is safe!
Not bad for a carthorse,as described by a football illuminati last week,well done Darwin nunez.
@Thomas: Wijnaldim did the same in famous game v Barcelona. Disappointed at being left out,intended to make a huge impression. That’s why Origi was such a super sub too
@Larry Betts: yes larry I remember said game,it was nearly three days before I made it home after that one,and origi did something similar to Newcastle a few years back,I was in work for that one thank god.
Liverpool haven’t really kicked into gear at all yet so having 7 points on the board is quite the achievement. Hopefully Nunez kicks on from here. He should get the nod ahead of Gakpo really.
@ecrowley ecrowley: A lot of Liverpool players had an off game today,for some reason or other. Gakpo usually very reliable. It’s good to mix things up though give all players a chance,keep them all hungry
@Larry Betts: It’s actually amazing they got a result with the amount of poor performances. And with 10 men… very strange game. Still, I’ll take it!
How’d you like them touches, eh Neville?
Delighted for the Saudis
Absolute bottle job from the barcodes. Could be auf wiedersen pet to eddie howe if things dont improve.
@Brian Dunne: So many controversial incidents in that match,Brian.Doesn’t make sense. And you know who I support! Second TTA foul warranted a yellow,ie a sending off. But the 1st yellow was a joke. Trent fouled and slid off the pitch,threw the ball back on the pitch,gets booked! Rule is ‘kicking the ball away when opponents are awarded a free kick’. It was Liverpool’s free kick,he threw the ball back into play,not kicked away. LFC played terrible all game,but what a result to turn it around with (deservedly) 10 men.
@Larry Betts: bizarre weekend for the refs larry! Great result for the pool to be fair, excellent start to the season for them.
@Brian Dunne: Fair play to ya Brian. Sporting rivalries are put to one side in the name of Fair Play. Cheers,mate
@Brian Dunne: Newcastle by far the better team and if it wasn’t for Allison this game would have been a cricket score. Huge improvement needed going forward or it’ll be another bad season. Don’t let this win paper over some very big cracks
@Thomas Reddy: Give over, with all the chances, Newcastle had, they still couldn’t score and goals with games.
They still need a 20+ a season striker and a couple of defenders, they’re far from the finished article.
Why are my comments all of a sudden banned? Posted two replies,nothing showing. Is this a VAR review?
What a joke Newcastle are. Cannot beat a terrible Liverpool squad with only 10 men!
@Canada Goose G Dog: Go goose your g dog Canada
@Canada Goose G Dog: You’re only as good as your last game!
Absolutely delighted the sport washing Newcastle Saudis beaten.
The Saudi league are buying up any players that are willing to take the big money on offer.
We have to push back and not pay any attention to this Saudi league.
That is the only way to stop them.
@John Duff: A noble idea,but football is all money now Saudi or otherwise,and has been for a long time,just look at Chelsea,taken it to another level entirely.
Newcastle blew it smash and grab job for Liverpool a decent side will destroy that defence.
@paulie: Newcastle are a decent side.
That’s Nunez’s goals for the season done !
@Stephen Moroney: He will have two more than anthony so.
Don’t tell me the scouse won their Second league in 33 years LOL #embarrassing
@Liam Dunne: they are peaking now for this season.
@Liam Dunne: way past your bedtime. Mummy will be up in a few to tuck you in.
@Dave c: can your mummy tuck me in
@Liam Dunne: Probably a Manchester United fan. I was wondering when they’d rear their heads here. Good to see them focus their minds back on soccer after all their off-field troubles with Giggs and Greenwood.
@Hugh De Payans: don’t forget Antony
@Mise Freisin: reported
Hang ur heads in shame
have your say