Here are some good things about TV One's new show Coast New Zealand: Coast New Zealand features Scottish archaeologist and television presenter Neil Oliver, a long-haired gentleman with a strong accent.
Neil Oliver describes New Zealand, in his broad Scottish accent, as ‘‘beguiling'', and the Scottish accent was surely developed just for pronouncing that word.
It's early on in episode one; don't miss it, it's a moment that alone would make the whole show, which starts next Tuesday evening, worthwhile.
Finally, the show has a section that features Dunedin, and there's nothing better than seeing yourself on television.
The local version of the show, is based on the very good Bafta Award-winning BBC series Coast.
A documentary, Coast looks at the social and natural history of coasts, began in 2005, and has since taken in Australia, and now our shores.
Episode one starts in Fiordland, after Oliver spends some time on how terrific New Zealand is, saying ‘‘the whole place feels active and alive''.
He is talking geologically, of course, as well as socially.
He begins the series in Milford Sound, which looks quite terrific from the air, and follows the coast as far as Puysegur Point.
Episode two will be of special interest in Dunedin.
Oliver was in the city last March with a crew filming coastal landmarks such as the albatross colony, Cargill's Castle, Tunnel Beach and Port Chalmers.
How will we look?I bet we look great.
But that's not all that will be terrific on television this month.
From August 23, the return of Charlie's Angels series three also means the return of Farrah Fawcett-Majors as a special guest.
As I'm sure everybody will remember, the wonderful star of the show turned in her resignation just before the season one finale aired on May 4, 1977, saying she planned to embark on a film career.
Famous television types Leonard Goldberg and Aaron Spelling did their best to get her to honour her contact of five years, but in the end had to admit defeat.
Of course Fawcett-Majors returned for three guest appearances in season three alongside Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd, and three more in season four.
You'll be able to see those special moments of television history on Sky's Jones channel.
In the arty and unusual area, the Arts channel (I have to be honest and say nobody I know has this, including myself, even though sometimes I would quite like to) has Ruby Robinson, a comic morality tale starring Kim Cattrall and a troupe of acrobats.
Ruby Robinson is weird, and weird is good, so have a look if you notice it on anther platform sometime (or if you have the Arts channel).
- by Charles Lougherty
