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Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 7: 2020-2026 The Final episode on our journey. Top 10 of this decade, plus BONUS LISTS • Top 10 Iconic formats adapted for Australian TV• Top 10 Iconic Children's TV over the last 70 years A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TV review this episode: Youth (HBO Max, 8 episodes)The HBO Original comedy series Youth follows a 50-year-old divorcee’s search for sex and love whilst juggling caring for her ailing parents and parenting her should-be grown up son. The cast includes Sharon Horgan (Alex), Rupert Friend (Patrick), Sharlene Whyte (Sam), Aran Murphy (Ruari), and Robbie Gee (Frank).  Horgan plays a London publisher and there are some wonderful cameos from writers they represent including Damien Lewis, Harriet Walter, Anne Reid, and Douglas Hodge. Watch out also for a performance from Cillian Murphy’s son Aran. American Hostage (Stan, 8 episodes)Based on the  first season of the scripted podcast of the same name, American Hostage is a psychological thriller set in the 1970s inspired by the true story of Fred Heckman, a beloved Indianapolis news radio host who is thrust into the middle of a life-or-death crisis when hostage-taker Tony Kiritsis demands to be interviewed on his popular radio news program. Starring in the lead roles are John Hamm as the radio host and Giovanni Ribisi is the hostage taker Tony Kritsis. Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Netflix, 8 episodes)Buckle up! It’s another season of Ryan Murphy’s Monster series. This time the focus is on America’s first celebrity murder suspect – Lizzie Borden. The young New England woman, played brilliantly by Ella Beatty, became the subject of the trial of the century when she was charged with the brutal axe murder of her father and stepmother in 1892. Did Lizzie commit murder? No one knows, although evidence here points to yes. The series depicts Lizzie as put-upon and abused by her strict parents, father Andrew (Charlie Hunnam) and stepmother Abby (Rebecca Hall). She finds a new lease on life when the family employs a new housemaid, Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan (Vicky Krieps), who ultimately inspires her to commit (and assists her with) the crime that will define the rest of her life.  Unabomber (Netflix, movie)Netflix’s Unabomber explores Unabomber Ted Kaczynski’s life before and during the events that led to his capture. Jacob Tremblay plays the younger Kaczynski, while Russell Crowe portrays Harvard professor Henry Murray, Shailene Woodley plays FBI agent Joanne Miller and Annabelle Wallis portrays Christiana Morgan, Murray’s academic collaborator. Born in Chicago in 1942, Kaczynski demonstrated exceptional mathematical ability from an early age. He entered Harvard at 16 before continuing his studies at the University of Michigan, where he earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in mathematics. At 25, he became a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. But he left the university in 1969 and eventually moved to a remote cabin near Lincoln, Mont., where he lived without electricity or running water. In 1978, Kaczynski began the bombing campaign that would eventually span nearly two decades.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 6: 2010-2019 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 5: 2000-2009 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 4: 1990-1999 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 3: 1980-1989 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High Country S2 (Foxtel, 8 episodes) Australian crime drama High Country has returned for a second season. Filmed again in Victoria and titled High Country: What Lies Beneath, Leah Purcell again stars alongside new cast members Brendan Cowell, Ryan Corr, and Nadine Garner. Returning stars include Ian McElhinney, Sara Wiseman, and Aaron Pedersen. The eight episode season two sees Andie (Leah Purcell) drawn into a case far more dangerous and personal than she ever imagined. It will test her loyalties and challenge everything she thought she knew about herself, her community and the High Country she calls home. Call My Agent! The Movie (Netflix) Call My Agent! The Movie sees the French hit series return for a final reunion event. Set five years after the series finale, the film follows Andréa Martel (Camille Cottin), who has left the ruthless world of talent agencies behind to pursue her long-held dream of becoming a film director. Just days before shooting begins on her directorial debut, disaster strikes when her lead actor abruptly drops out. With her film on the brink of collapse, Andréa has no choice but to return to her past and reunite the former team of the ASK talent agency. What follows is a chaotic and heartfelt reunion filled with old rivalries, rekindled friendships, and the professional crises that once defined them.  Last Seen (Apple TV, 6 episodes) Police detective Ian Ridley’s (Patrick Brammall) life fell apart 11 years prior when his young daughter, Maggie, disappeared without a trace. Now working as a police dispatcher at a Triple O call centre, the only thing that has kept him going is his implacable refusal to accept that she might be gone forever. When he receives a distress call from a teenage girl he is certain is Maggie, he will stop at nothing to find her and reunite his broken family, whatever the cost. The series also stars Maxine Peake, Brendan Cowell, Daniel Henshall, Jessica Wren, Zahra Newman and newcomer Chloe Jean Lourdes. Andrew and James also discuss the 2026 Emmy Awards and how many of the shows that featured on TV Gold in the past year were victorious. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 2: 1970-1979 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV showsEpisode 1: 1956-1969 A TV Gold/TV Tonight special joint venture. Seven podcasts, each listing 10 iconic shows from that decade. By David Knox, Andrew Mercado and James Manning As Australia celebrates seven decades of television in from 1956 to 2026, TV Tonight has joined forces with the TV Gold podcast for a list of the most iconic programs from the last 70 years. TV Tonight’s David Knox and TV Gold’s Andrew Mercado and James Manning have trawled through their memories, their archives and a new TV guides and chosen 10 programs from each of the past seven decades. TV Tonight is publishing the list of 10 programs for each decade weekly starting with 1956-1969. Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that the first list covers 13 years, that is so we could then keep the list simple with each subsequent decade starting on a round number. The criteria for selection were programs we all thought were the most “iconic”. There was much debate over what was in and what was out. The first thing to say is there are many good shows that didn’t make the list. Each week we shall give an honourable mention to those in that particular decade. This list is not aiming to be the definitive word on the best Australian TV programs, but merely a starter to the discussions to be had around what deserves to be called iconic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Moria (Netflix, 8 episodes)The biographical miniseries follows the journey of Ana María Casanova as she transforms into Moria Casán, a  pop-culture icon, television host, and vedette (showgirl) who challenged Argentina's traditional standards of womanhood over six decades. The series blends camp, kitsch, and reality, with Moria herself serving as the intergalactic narrator of her own story. The producers uses three actresses (plus her own daughter) to represent Moria at different stages of her  life. • Lioness S3 (Paramount+, 8 episodes)The trouble begins this series as Joe (Zoe Saldaña) leads her CIA team on an infiltration mission in Donetsk, Ukraine, to kidnap a powerful Russian military intelligence leader named Aleksi Yurimov. The mission is a success, but the fallout is immediate and severe.  Rather than retaliating against local targets, Russia targets Joe directly, sending contract agents to launch a terrifying home invasion on her family's Virginia property.  Following the home assault, Joe's family (Neal, Kate, and Charlie) finally learn the full, dangerous truth about her career. Under the guidance of Kaitlyn (Nicole Kidman) and Westfield (Michael Kelly), the CIA launches Operation Treasure to try and sort out all this mess. • The Whisper Man (Netflix movie)The Whisper Man is a notorious serial killer who targets children, but there’s more lurking beneath the surface. Chasing down the Whisper Man is an unlikely duo: retired detective Pete Willis (De Niro) and his estranged son, Tom (Scott), who’s searching for his own abducted child, Jake (Acston Luca Porto). Old school serial killer thriller that James stayed with but Andrew tuned out early on. • The Gentlemen S2 (Netflix, 8 episodes)In Season 1 of The Gentlemen, former UN peacekeeper Eddie Horniman unexpectedly inherits his late father’s estate and the title of Duke of Halstead, bypassing his reckless older brother, Freddy. Eddie quickly discovers that his family’s massive estate houses a secret, multi-million-pound underground cannabis empire. In Season 2, Eddie has completely transformed from a reluctant aristocrat into a ruthless mob boss as he expands his hidden cannabis empire. Set one year after the events of the first season, Eddie and Susie Glass push their operations past the English countryside and into Italy, forging volatile new alliances while navigating escalating criminal rivalries. One of Guy Ritchie’s best sees him directing a great cast. Watch it alone for the star turn from Hugh Bonneville as a raunchy unprincipled member of the House of Lords. Theo James and Kaya Scodelario lead the drama again as Eddie and Susie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dalliance (Paramount+, 6 episodes)One of the highlights of producer John Edwards’ career as he examines the lives of a group of Sydney friends and lovers in their 60s. Billy, a former cameraman in his sixties, has been happily married to Rose for four decades, but their lives are upended when he has a fateful encounter with Dani, a woman of the same age, on a Sydney Harbour ferry. Meet the characters played by Hugo Weaving, Heather Mitchell, and Georgie Parker.When their unexpected liaison comes to a sudden and shocking end, Billy's friends and family are left picking up the pieces and grappling with the far-reaching effects of his impulsive choices.Those friends and family are played by David Wenham, Catherine McClements, Wayne Blair and more.Andrew and James also pick a John Edwards Top 5 this episode. The Cage (ABC iview, 5 episodes)The series stars Sheridan Smith as Leanne, a widowed mother of two struggling with mounting bills and trying to protect her family, and Michael Socha as Matty, a recovering addict in debt to a dangerous loan shark. Both work inside a Liverpool casino. When Leanne and Matty realise they are both stealing from their employer, their lives are set on a high-stakes collision course. They find themselves entangled with each other, a local gangster named Gary (Barry Sloane) who is using the casino for money laundering, and a police detective named Ning (Sophie Mensah) who is closing in on the operation.A new series created by Tony Schumacher, a former taxi driver and police officer turned novelist, whose writing debut was the SBS series The Responder. That show many will remember with Martin Freeman as a Liverpool copper on the edge of a breakdown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Brilliant Career (Netflix, 6 episodes)Aspiring writer and strong-willed rebel Sybylla Melvyn (played by Philippa Northeast who heads a brilliant cast) lives a farming life in the Australian bush with her parents and younger siblings. The family receives a letter from Sybylla’s wealthy maternal grandmother, Winifred Bossier (Anna Chancellor), requesting Sybylla move in to her sprawling estate. When she arrives, Sybylla finds herself distracted from her aspirations by the handsome foreman of her grandmother’s estate, Frank Hawden (Jake Dunn), and local society celebrity Harry Beecham (Christopher Chung). Beecham’s upper-crust aunt, Augusta (Kate Mulvany), is a vocal suffragette looking to stir up change. The Airport Chaplain (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes)Airport Chaplain Tobias Wallace (played by Hugo Weaving) has an unorthodox approach to solving the daily crises of an airport, constantly overstepping boundaries and putting him on a collision course with new boss Mira Ansari-Cole. Mira wants him fired but Tobias isn’t giving up his beloved chaplaincy without a fight.Our review of the series includes a look at the production house Wooden Horse and we list Hugo Weaving’s five best roles on TV. Falling (ABC iview, 6 episodes)A British romantic drama television series written by Jack Thorne.  (Lord of the Flies, The Hack, Adolescence, Toxic Town).Falling follows Anna, a devout nun who has lived in a convent for 20 years, and David, a progressive Catholic priest. When a chance encounter sparks an unexpected and forbidden romance, both must confront their vows, their faith, and their relationship with God.Watch it for the Catholic lovebirds, Keeley Hawes as Anna and Paapa Essiedu as David. And don’t miss the always brilliant Jason Watkins as Peter, the district bishop. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 (Netflix, 6 episodes)The Bombing of Pan Am 103, follows the investigation into the crash of the Pan Am flight from its beginning to its conclusion.The tragedy over Lockerbie, Scotland, connected residents of the small town with people around the world who lost loved ones in the disaster, forming a new community out of shattered lives. The six-part series examines those lives, exploring the fallout of the explosion and the investigation into the perpetrators. The Shards (Disney+, 9 episodes)Disney+ is billing The Shards as a series heavy on suspense, seduction and obsession. From prolific executive producer Ryan Murphy, the series is based on the bestselling novel by Bret Easton Ellis which is a fictionalised account of Ellis’s last year of high school. Watch it for Ryan Murphy as he gradually ramps up the suspense after a gentle first episode. Also watch it to se the siblings of Cindy Crawford (Kaia Gerber who plays Susan Reynolds) and Richard Gere (Homer Gere who plays Robert Mallory). Ted Lasso (AppleTV, 10 episodes)Richmond Football Club executives Rebecca, Keeley, and Higgins travel from London to Kansas City to convince Ted Lasso to return to Richmond and lead the new women's football squad. Ted initially declines, but after permission from his family, he agrees and brings his son and ex-wife back across the Atlantic.James warned the first episode is a bit of a punish before it slips back into more familiar territory tracking the daily dramas of running an English football team…this time with women players. Colin From Accounts (S3 Foxtel/Binge, 8 episodes)The third and final season jumps ahead following the awkward aftermath of Gordon's botched proposal, exploring whether Ashley and Gordon belong together or if their dog Colin is all that binds them.Gordon continues running his craft brewery, while Ashley settles into her role as a GP following her regional placement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasure and Dirt (ABC iview, 6 episodes)Detectives Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan arrive in the outback town of Nulla to investigate the beheading of local miner Jonas McGee. They find themselves up against combative local police and a hostile community. Believe Me (ABC iview, 4 episodes)The story of three victims of one of the most prolific sex attackers in British history, John Worboys, dubbed by the media as the ‘black cab rapist’ after preying on women under the cover of being a ‘respectable’ licensed taxi-cab driver. Furious (Disney+, 8 episodes)The series follows an FBI agent Alice Black, brilliantly played by Emmy Rossum, on the hunt for a mysterious and calculating female serial killer, played by Lola Petticrew. Both walk their own paths toward justice, and as their lives start to intertwine, the line between right and wrong begins to blur. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucky (Apple TV, 7 episodes)The Apple TV+ crime thriller series Lucky follows con artist Luciana “Lucky” Armstrong (Anya Taylor-Joy) who really is lucky.She goes on the run after a multi-million-dollar heist goes wrong. Pursued by the FBI and a mob boss, she must track down the stolen cash and survive her own chaotic past. Also stars Annette Benning and Timothy Oliphant. Ride Or Die (Prime Video, 8 episodes)The action-comedy (loads of action, not many laughs) series follows best friends Debbie Claybourne (Octavia Spencer) and Judith Burton (Hannah Waddingham). Debbie believes Judith is a forensic accountant, but Judith is actually a secret elite international assassin. When a hit goes wrong and a figure from Judith's past emerges, they are forced on a high-stakes road trip across Europe running from dangerous criminals and law enforcement.Also stars Bill Nighy. The F Ward (Stan, 6 episodes)Australian comedy-drama follows a group of flawed medical interns sent to an underfunded coastal hospital for a last-chance program to save their careers.Dan Wyllie is the best thing about The F Ward. Listen to Andrew Mercado drill down on the rest of the cast.Second best thing is the scripts which offer up many laughs, but also some slow, awkward moments.Worst thing is putting the hospital right on the beach. It gives it a Summer Bay feel at times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.