Reload episode for corrected audio level.

Phony (Disney+, 8 episodes)
A teenager named Sonny (Sam Nivola) wakes up in the hospital after a car accident and suspects his mother and best friend, Ellen (Connie Britton), has been replaced by an impostor.

Crystal Lake (Stan, 8 episodes)
A psychological thriller and prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise exploring the origin of Jason Voorhees.
The series stars Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini as Pam Voorhees, a grieving single mother whose past is upended when two strangers arrive a year after her son Jason tragically drowns in the lake.

The Diplomat (Netflix S4, 8 episodes)
Can’t say much about Season 4 except that you need to see it. We can recap Season 3 though and how Russia lost contact with one of its submarines. It was carrying a highly dangerous nuclear-powered weapon known as the Poseidon, and ended up several miles off the northeast coast of England.
US Ambassador to Great Britain Kate Wyler (Lerrie Russell) convinced Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) that the US and UK should work together to bury the weapon in cement. But instead, US President Grace Penn (Allison Janney)and her Vice President Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) secretly sent an American submarine to capture the Poseidon for themselves.

Reload episode for corrected audio level.
Phony (Disney+, 8 episodes) A teenager named Sonny (Sam Nivola) wakes up in the hospital after a car accident and suspects his mother and best friend, Ellen (Connie Britton), has been replaced by an impostor.
Crystal Lake (Stan, 8 episodes) A psychological thriller and prequel to the Friday the 13th franchise exploring the origin of Jason Voorhees. The series stars Emmy nominee Linda Cardellini as Pam Voorhees, a grieving single mother whose past is upended when two strangers arrive a year after her son Jason tragically drowns in the lake.
The Diplomat (Netflix S4, 8 episodes) Can&rsquo;t say much about Season 4 except that you need to see it. We can recap Season 3 though and how Russia lost contact with one of its submarines. It was carrying a highly dangerous nuclear-powered weapon known as the Poseidon, and ended up several miles off the northeast coast of England. US Ambassador to Great Britain Kate Wyler (Lerrie Russell) convinced Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) that the US and UK should work together to bury the weapon in cement. But instead, US President Grace Penn (Allison Janney)and her Vice President Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) secretly sent an American submarine to capture the Poseidon for themselves.

Phony, Crystal Lake, The Diplomat S4

Dustfall (ABC iview, 6 episodes) 
Dustfall is accurately being described as an atmospheric tropic noir that follows a detective, Antigone “Tig” Pollard (Anna Torv) whose sense of justice is challenged by a world where victims are doubted, predators hide in plain sight and the legal system often falls short. 
After moving back home where she lives on acreage in a lovely old home that needs some TLC, Tig is called in to investigate a sexual assault case that becomes more complex after a key suspect turns up dead. As Tig hunts for the truth and the list of suspects grows, she confronts memories of her experiences she had growing up.

Gnomes (Stan, 8 episodes)
Stan notes Gnomes evokes the splatter-gore spirit of classic 80s monster mashups like Gremlins.
As the series starts we meet Senior Sergeant Arnold Kipps (Asa Butterfield) who is having a bad day in suburbia. His ex-partner and ex-flame Ellie McKay (Megan Smart) has just returned to Nompton to shut down his police station, right when an ancient, evil force is awakened by the bloodthirsty Gnome Queen. Unleashing a nightmare horde of killer ceramic gnomes upon the unsuspecting town, Nompton is plunged into chaos.

Carrie (Prime Video, 8 episodes)  
Based on Stephen King’s  successful debut novel, Carrie is a reinvention of a classic coming‑of‑age story, adapted for television for the first time by  showrunner Mike Flanagan. 
The series starts with media reports of a high school fire that spreads outside the school ground.
We then go back a few years to home‑schooled Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) has spent her life hidden away inside the walls of her home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan). After her father’s sudden death thrusts her into the state ecosystem of public a high school, with Carrie is forced to navigate a bullying from her classmates. Something that is compounded in the social media age. The anger Carrie builds during these taunts triggers telekinetic powers.

Dustfall (ABC iview, 6 episodes) Dustfall is accurately being described as an atmospheric tropic noir that follows a detective, Antigone &ldquo;Tig&rdquo; Pollard (Anna Torv) whose sense of justice is challenged by a world where victims are doubted, predators hide in plain sight and the legal system often falls short. After moving back home where she lives on acreage in a lovely old home that needs some TLC, Tig is called in to investigate a sexual assault case that becomes more complex after a key suspect turns up dead. As Tig hunts for the truth and the list of suspects grows, she confronts memories of her experiences she had growing up.
Gnomes (Stan, 8 episodes) Stan notes Gnomes evokes the splatter-gore spirit of classic 80s monster mashups like Gremlins. As the series starts we meet Senior Sergeant Arnold Kipps (Asa Butterfield) who is having a bad day in suburbia. His ex-partner and ex-flame Ellie McKay (Megan Smart) has just returned to Nompton to shut down his police station, right when an ancient, evil force is awakened by the bloodthirsty Gnome Queen. Unleashing a nightmare horde of killer ceramic gnomes upon the unsuspecting town, Nompton is plunged into chaos.
Carrie (Prime Video, 8 episodes) &nbsp; Based on Stephen King&rsquo;s&nbsp; successful debut novel, Carrie is a reinvention of a classic coming‑of‑age story, adapted for television for the first time by&nbsp; showrunner Mike Flanagan. The series starts with media reports of a high school fire that spreads outside the school ground. We then go back a few years to home‑schooled Carrie White (Summer H. Howell) has spent her life hidden away inside the walls of her home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan). After her father&rsquo;s sudden death thrusts her into the state ecosystem of public a high school, with Carrie is forced to navigate a bullying from her classmates. Something that is compounded in the social media age. The anger Carrie builds during these taunts triggers telekinetic powers.

Dustfall, Carrie, Gnomes

East of Eden (Netflix, 7 episodes)
An adaption of the John Steinbeck novel which details the lives of the Trask family and Cathy Ames in a sprawling American epic that starts during the aftermath of the Civil War and reaches to the start of World War I. In 1899, a barely alive Cathy Ames crawls to a farmhouse. Half-brothers Adam and Charles Trask rescue her. While Adam shows concern, Charles is skeptical. The brothers were raised by their abusive father, Cyrus, who trained them to be soldiers. The details of Cathy's backstory are revealed in flashback, and we see the impact she has on the family.

Kill Jackie (Stan, 8 episodes)
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price who has been living a wealthy, luxurious existence for the last twenty years – travelling the world, selling fine art using sophisticated tax loopholes and, above all, trying to stay anonymous after escaping a dangerous past as an international cocaine dealer.  But just as her unlikely life starts to feel a little boring, it takes a sudden  turn when she discovers The Seven Demons, a squad of the world’s most terrifying hitmen, have been hired to kill her. 

War (HBO Max, 8 episodes)
A legal drama starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller, and set in the high-stakes world of two of London’s most prestigious rival law firms.
The eight-part series delves into the high-stakes lives of London’s most powerful lawyers as firms Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne clash over a headline-grabbing legal battle, drawing ambitious young lawyer Jonathan “Johnny” Warren, played by Archie Renaux, into a ruthless world where ambition is currency, betrayal is strategy and winning is everything.
The series follows the explosive divorce of British tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson (Dominic West) and international film star Carla Duval (Sienna Miller), as the law firms stop at nothing to secure victory for their clients.

Mobland (Paramount+, 10 episodes)
Season two of the original crime drama features Tom Hardy returning as loyal fixer Harry da Souza, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the unscrupulous heads of the Harrigan family, Conrad and Maeve.

Cop This (10 and Paramount+, movie)
Created, written, produced and co-directed by Ed Kavalee, Cop This brings together a line-up of Australia’s funniest people. Set across 24 hours on Grand Final Day, Cop This follows a suburban police station where the two remaining officers are about to be replaced by an AI-powered police “Terminal”. Filmed entirely on location in Melbourne, Cop This is a love letter to Australian comedy, featuring an ensemble cast that would perhaps only all come together at a very large comedy Christmas party.

East of Eden (Netflix, 7 episodes) An adaption of the John Steinbeck novel which details the lives of the Trask family and Cathy Ames in a sprawling American epic that starts during the aftermath of the Civil War and reaches to the start of World War I. In 1899, a barely alive Cathy Ames crawls to a farmhouse. Half-brothers Adam and Charles Trask rescue her. While Adam shows concern, Charles is skeptical. The brothers were raised by their abusive father, Cyrus, who trained them to be soldiers. The details of Cathy's backstory are revealed in flashback, and we see the impact she has on the family.
Kill Jackie (Stan, 8 episodes) Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price who has been living a wealthy, luxurious existence for the last twenty years &ndash; travelling the world, selling fine art using sophisticated tax loopholes and, above all, trying to stay anonymous after escaping a dangerous past as an international cocaine dealer.&nbsp; But just as her unlikely life starts to feel a little boring, it takes a sudden&nbsp; turn when she discovers The Seven Demons, a squad of the world&rsquo;s most terrifying hitmen, have been hired to kill her.&nbsp;
War (HBO Max, 8 episodes) A legal drama starring Dominic West and Sienna Miller, and set in the high-stakes world of two of London&rsquo;s most prestigious rival law firms. The eight-part series delves into the high-stakes lives of London&rsquo;s most powerful lawyers as firms Cathcarts &amp; Sons and Taylor &amp; Byrne clash over a headline-grabbing legal battle, drawing ambitious young lawyer Jonathan &ldquo;Johnny&rdquo; Warren, played by Archie Renaux, into a ruthless world where ambition is currency, betrayal is strategy and winning is everything. The series follows the explosive divorce of British tech entrepreneur Morgan Henderson (Dominic West) and international film star Carla Duval (Sienna Miller), as the law firms stop at nothing to secure victory for their clients.
Mobland (Paramount+, 10 episodes) Season two of the original crime drama features Tom Hardy returning as loyal fixer Harry da Souza, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the unscrupulous heads of the Harrigan family, Conrad and Maeve.
Cop This (10 and Paramount+, movie) Created, written, produced and co-directed by Ed Kavalee, Cop This brings together a line-up of Australia&rsquo;s funniest people. Set across 24 hours on Grand Final Day, Cop This follows a suburban police station where the two remaining officers are about to be replaced by an AI-powered police &ldquo;Terminal&rdquo;. Filmed entirely on location in Melbourne, Cop This is a love letter to Australian comedy, featuring an ensemble cast that would perhaps only all come together at a very large comedy Christmas party.

East of Eden, War, Kill Jackie, Mobland, Cop This

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 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.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 7: 2020-2026 The Final episode on our journey.
Top 10 of this decade, plus BONUS LISTS
&bull; Top 10 Iconic formats adapted for Australian TV &bull; 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&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;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 &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. 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&rsquo;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.

Australian Prime Time Episode 7: 2020-2026

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. 

TV review this episode:
Youth (HBO Max, 8 episodes) The HBO Original comedy series Youth follows a 50-year-old divorcee&rsquo;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).&nbsp; 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&rsquo;s son Aran.
American Hostage (Stan, 8 episodes) Based on the&nbsp; 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&rsquo;s another season of Ryan Murphy&rsquo;s Monster series. This time the focus is on America&rsquo;s first celebrity murder suspect &ndash; 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 &ldquo;Maggie&rdquo; Sullivan (Vicky Krieps), who ultimately inspires her to commit (and assists her with) the crime that will define the rest of her life.&nbsp;
Unabomber (Netflix, movie) Netflix&rsquo;s Unabomber explores Unabomber Ted Kaczynski&rsquo;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&rsquo;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&rsquo;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.&nbsp;

Youth, American Hostage, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, Unabomber

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 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.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 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&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;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 &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. 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&rsquo;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.

Australian Prime Time Episode 6: 2010-2019

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 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.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 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&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;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 &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. 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&rsquo;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.

Australian Prime Time Episode 5: 2000-2009

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 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.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 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&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;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 &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. 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&rsquo;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.

Australian Prime Time Episode 4: 1990-1999

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows
Episode 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.

Australian Prime Time: Seven decades of the most iconic TV shows Episode 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&rsquo;s David Knox and TV Gold&rsquo;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 &ldquo;iconic&rdquo;. 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&rsquo;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.

Australian Prime Time Episode 3: 1980-1989

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.

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 Andr&eacute;a 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, Andr&eacute;a 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.&nbsp;
Last Seen (Apple TV, 6 episodes)
Police detective Ian Ridley&rsquo;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.

High Country S2, Call My Agent! The Movie, Last Seen

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.

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