At the halfway mark of 2026, Andrew Mercado and James Manning list their Top 10 shows of the first six months of the year.
There are just three shows that make the Top 10 for both:
Riot Women (SBS)
Love Story (Disney+)
Rivals (Season 2, Disney+)
On Andrew's list and just missing out on James' were:
Tip Toe (Binge/Foxtel)
Half Man (Stan)
Listen to the podcast for the full Top 10 from each co-host with explanations about programs they underrated at the time.

At the halfway mark of 2026, Andrew Mercado and James Manning list their Top 10 shows of the first six months of the year. There are just three shows that make the Top 10 for both: Riot Women (SBS) Love Story (Disney+) Rivals (Season 2, Disney+) On Andrew's list and just missing out on James' were: Tip Toe (Binge/Foxtel) Half Man (Stan) Listen to the podcast for the full Top 10 from each co-host with explanations about programs they underrated at the time.

Welcome to the TV Gold podcast from Andrew Mercado and James Manning. A podcast for people who love great television.

Hear the latest from the world of TV, radio, entertainment publishing and more in the Mediaweek podcast. This series features regular interviews with the stars, movers and shakers of Australian media industry.

TV Gold

Best of 2026 so far: Half Year Report

Little House on the Prairie (Netflix, 8 episodes)
The series follows the Ingalls family as they establish their “new forever” home outside the small but quickly developing town of Independence. The foursome, along with their dog Jack, faces the often harsh conditions of 1800s prairie life, including fever, wolves, and fire — obstacles that longtime fans will recognise from the original novels or the original TV series.
As the Ingalls attempt to make a life on land they were told was “free,” they encounter Osage native Americans who have long called the prairie home.
Little House on the Prairie is the Show of the Week for Andrew and James.

The Bear (S5 Disney+, 8 episodes)
The morning after Carmy tells his restaurant colleagues Sydney, Richie and Natalie about his retirement from the food industry, a major storm hits Chicago. Most of the final series takes place over one day. The Bear staff attempt to prepare for that evening’s customers despite challenges caused by poor cash flow and faulty plumbing.
The series wraps with a surprising love affair (there was not a lot of relationship exploration outside the workplace in The Bear), a changing financial situation, an unexpected restaurant rating, a new business opportunity which has been hinted at in the series for some time, and a plot twist for Carmy.

Elle (Prime Video, 8 episodes)
A prequel to the Legally Blonde movie franchise. The series takes place six years before the events of the film and it explores the high school years of teenage Elle Woods (originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon), played here by newcomer Lexi Minetree. Prime Video has already renewed the series for a second season.

Five Star Weekend (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes)
A food blogger, Hollis (Jennifer Garner) tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband Matthew (Josh Hamilton). Part of her therapy is organising a five-star weekend getaway at her house on Nantucket with four friends from different stages in her life:
Her childhood friend, Tatum – who is waiting on the results of a test for cancer (Chloë Sevigny), her college friend, Dru-Ann – who’s just been cancelled after online comments went viral (Regina Hall), her motherhood friend, Brooke – who suffers from low self-esteem, and is trapped in a stifling marriage with a husband who belittles and isolates her (D’Arcy Carden), as well as a new friend, Gigi (Gemma Chan) – a pilot for Delta, who she recently met online.

Little House on the Prairie (Netflix, 8 episodes) The series follows the Ingalls family as they establish their &ldquo;new forever&rdquo; home outside the small but quickly developing town of Independence. The foursome, along with their dog Jack, faces the often harsh conditions of 1800s prairie life, including fever, wolves, and fire &mdash; obstacles that longtime fans will recognise from the original novels or the original TV series. As the Ingalls attempt to make a life on land they were told was &ldquo;free,&rdquo; they encounter Osage native Americans who have long called the prairie home. Little House on the Prairie is the Show of the Week for Andrew and James.
The Bear (S5 Disney+, 8 episodes) The morning after Carmy tells his restaurant colleagues Sydney, Richie and Natalie about his retirement from the food industry, a major storm hits Chicago. Most of the final series takes place over one day. The Bear staff attempt to prepare for that evening&rsquo;s customers despite challenges caused by poor cash flow and faulty plumbing. The series wraps with a surprising love affair (there was not a lot of relationship exploration outside the workplace in The Bear), a changing financial situation, an unexpected restaurant rating, a new business opportunity which has been hinted at in the series for some time, and a plot twist for Carmy.
Elle (Prime Video, 8 episodes) A prequel to the Legally Blonde movie franchise. The series takes place six years before the events of the film and it explores the high school years of teenage Elle Woods (originally portrayed by Reese Witherspoon), played here by newcomer Lexi Minetree. Prime Video has already renewed the series for a second season.
Five Star Weekend (Binge/Foxtel, 8 episodes) A food blogger, Hollis (Jennifer Garner) tries to rebuild her life after the loss of her husband Matthew (Josh Hamilton). Part of her therapy is organising a five-star weekend getaway at her house on Nantucket with four friends from different stages in her life: Her childhood friend, Tatum &ndash; who is waiting on the results of a test for cancer (Chlo&euml; Sevigny), her college friend, Dru-Ann &ndash; who&rsquo;s just been cancelled after online comments went viral (Regina Hall), her motherhood friend, Brooke &ndash; who suffers from low self-esteem, and is trapped in a stifling marriage with a husband who belittles and isolates her (D&rsquo;Arcy Carden), as well as a new friend, Gigi (Gemma Chan) &ndash; a pilot for Delta, who she recently met online.

Little House on the Prairie, The Bear S5, Five Star Weekend, Elle

• Ms. X (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes)
Ms. X is a six-part dramedy that tells a “good person gone bad” story, through the eyes of a suburban kiwi mum. A stay-at-home mother of two, Mia Bennett (featuring the return of Melissa George), suspects her husband is cheating. He arrives home after a night out apparently dining with clients and then sleeping in his car.
Mia enlists the help of an old high school friend, who is now an inexperienced private investigator who she reunites with after he crashes into her car, to find out what he is up to.
Andrew’s Show of the Week.

• Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max, 7 episodes)
A sketch comedy limited series created by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. Produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the series takes an improvised, comedic approach to major events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The show consists of seven episodes, each containing approximately four historical sketches.

• After the Flood S2 (BritBox, 6 episodes)
British police officers Jo Marshall (a wonderful performance from Sophie Rundle) and her police officer husband Pat Holman also featured in the first season of After the Flood where they were involved in an investigation into the death of someone who died in the flooded town. The series also revealed a web of crooked coppers including Jo’s dad who was also in the force. Orchestrating the bent coppers was DS Phil Mackie, who is again a key character in S2.
It’s a good watch whether you saw the first season or not.
James’ Show of the Week.

&bull; Ms. X (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) Ms. X is a six-part dramedy that tells a &ldquo;good person gone bad&rdquo; story, through the eyes of a suburban kiwi mum. A stay-at-home mother of two, Mia Bennett (featuring the return of Melissa George), suspects her husband is cheating. He arrives home after a night out apparently dining with clients and then sleeping in his car. Mia enlists the help of an old high school friend, who is now an inexperienced private investigator who she reunites with after he crashes into her car, to find out what he is up to. Andrew&rsquo;s Show of the Week.
&bull; Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness (HBO Max, 7 episodes) A sketch comedy limited series created by Larry David and Jeff Schaffer. Produced by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions, the series takes an improvised, comedic approach to major events in American history in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The show consists of seven episodes, each containing approximately four historical sketches.
&bull; After the Flood S2 (BritBox, 6 episodes) British police officers Jo Marshall (a wonderful performance from Sophie Rundle) and her police officer husband Pat Holman also featured in the first season of After the Flood where they were involved in an investigation into the death of someone who died in the flooded town. The series also revealed a web of crooked coppers including Jo&rsquo;s dad who was also in the force. Orchestrating the bent coppers was DS Phil Mackie, who is again a key character in S2. It&rsquo;s a good watch whether you saw the first season or not. James&rsquo; Show of the Week.

Ms. X, Life Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, After the Flood S2

The Killings at Parrish Station (Stan, 6 episodes)
When a brutal massacre at a remote desert research station rocks 1987 Australia, Detective Georgia Cooke (Mia Wasikowska) and her partner, Michael Thorne (Xavier Samuel), uncover disturbing links between a delusional survivor, a mysterious text called The Bone Gospel, and the station’s eccentric benefactor, Callum Parrish (Nic English). As the case becomes more inexplicable and descends into the paranormal, Georgia’s grip on reality fractures—costing her career, her daughter Frankie’s (Grace Owens) trust, and ultimately her freedom. A “cosmic horror” drama from Mark Fennessy’s Helium Pictures.
Thirty-seven years later, Georgia (Heather Mitchell)—now institutionalised—is pulled back into the Parrish Station nightmare when a string of identical murders emerges.

Small Prophets (ABC iview, 7 episodes)
A six-part British dark comedy-drama created and written by Mackenzie Crook. It follows Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley), a grieving man who has drifted through life since his partner, Clea, mysteriously vanished seven years earlier. Urged on by his eccentric, elderly father, Brian (Sir Michael Palin), Michael converts his garden shed into an alchemist's workshop to help find an answer to what happened to Clea.

The Four Seasons (Netflix, 8 episodes)
Season 2 of The Four Seasons follows the surviving friend group as they navigate life, grief, and relationship changes following Nick's sudden death. With Nick's heavily pregnant girlfriend Ginny now part of their quarterly trips, the group struggles to redefine themselves and find meaning as they enter middle age.
Tina Fey and Will Forte return as Kate and Jack, along with Kerri Kenney as Anne, the show’s most complex and interesting character.

The Killings at Parrish Station (Stan, 6 episodes) When a brutal massacre at a remote desert research station rocks 1987 Australia, Detective Georgia Cooke&nbsp;(Mia Wasikowska) and her partner, Michael Thorne (Xavier Samuel), uncover disturbing links between a&nbsp;delusional survivor, a mysterious text called The Bone Gospel, and the station&rsquo;s eccentric benefactor, Callum&nbsp;Parrish (Nic English). As the case becomes more inexplicable and descends into the paranormal, Georgia&rsquo;s&nbsp;grip on reality fractures&mdash;costing her career, her daughter Frankie&rsquo;s (Grace Owens) trust, and ultimately her&nbsp;freedom. A &ldquo;cosmic horror&rdquo; drama from Mark Fennessy&rsquo;s Helium Pictures. Thirty-seven years later, Georgia (Heather Mitchell)&mdash;now institutionalised&mdash;is pulled back into the Parrish&nbsp;Station nightmare when a string of identical murders emerges.
Small Prophets (ABC iview, 7 episodes) A six-part British dark comedy-drama created and written by Mackenzie Crook. It follows Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley), a grieving man who has drifted through life since his partner, Clea, mysteriously vanished seven years earlier. Urged on by his eccentric, elderly father, Brian (Sir Michael Palin), Michael converts his garden shed into an alchemist's workshop to help find an answer to what happened to Clea.
The Four Seasons (Netflix, 8 episodes) Season 2 of The Four Seasons follows the surviving friend group as they navigate life, grief, and relationship changes following Nick's sudden death. With Nick's heavily pregnant girlfriend Ginny now part of their quarterly trips, the group struggles to redefine themselves and find meaning as they enter middle age. Tina Fey and Will Forte return as Kate and Jack, along with Kerri Kenney as Anne, the show&rsquo;s most complex and interesting character.

Best of 2026 so far: Half Year Report

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