Summer TV viewing

So much TV and so little time. The new year kicks off with this big first episode from TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning. Number of episodes of each show is in brackets.

Run - Binge (6)
Sunny Nights - Stan (8)
Imposter - Paramount+ (4)
Dear Life - Stan (6)
His & Hers - Netflix (6)
Red Eye S2 - Stan (6)
The Night Manager  - Prime (6)
Goolagong - iview (3)
Run Away - Netflix (8)
Plus Andrew on Home & Away cliffhanger and Corriedale

Summer TV viewing
So much TV and so little time. The new year kicks off with this big first episode from TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning. Number of episodes of each show is in brackets.
Run - Binge (6) Sunny Nights - Stan (8) Imposter - Paramount+ (4) Dear Life - Stan (6) His &amp; Hers - Netflix (6) Red Eye S2 - Stan (6) The Night Manager&nbsp; - Prime (6) Goolagong - iview (3) Run Away - Netflix (8) Plus Andrew on Home &amp; Away cliffhanger and Corriedale

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

Summer 2026: The Night Manager S2, Goolagong, Dear Life, The Imposter and much more

This week on the TV Gold podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:

Love Story (Disney+, 9 episodes)
Another series from producer Ryan Murphy tells the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette and explores the chemistry, whirlwind courtship, and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.

Under Salt Marsh (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes)
Under Salt Marsh stars Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Pride & Prejudice) as Jackie Ellis and Rafe Spall (Trying, Life of Pi) as Detective Eric Bull in Under Salt Marsh, in a new crime drama is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen.

Lord of the Flies (Stan, 4 episodes)
Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash. In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group’s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy.

This week on the TV Gold podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:
Love Story (Disney+, 9 episodes) Another series from producer Ryan Murphy tells the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. &amp; Carolyn Bessette and explores the chemistry, whirlwind courtship, and high-profile marriage of one of the most iconic couples of the 20th century.
Under Salt Marsh (Binge/Foxtel, 6 episodes) Under Salt Marsh stars Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone, Pride &amp; Prejudice) as Jackie Ellis and Rafe Spall (Trying, Life of Pi) as Detective Eric Bull in Under Salt Marsh, in a new crime drama is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen.
Lord of the Flies (Stan, 4 episodes) Lord of the Flies is the story of schoolboys stranded on a tropical island with no adults, following a deadly plane crash. In an attempt to remain civil they organise themselves, led by Ralph and supported by the group&rsquo;s intellectual, Piggy. But when Jack becomes more interested in hunting and vying for leadership, he soon begins to draw other boys away from the group and, ultimately, from hope to tragedy.

Love Story, Under Salt Marsh, Lord of the Flies

TV Gold special: Ryan Murphy

This week’s episode of TV Gold is devoted to the prolific TV creator Ryan Murphy.
The podcast has regularly reviewed his prodigious output. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning don’t always love everything Murphy delivers, but it always gives the podcast plenty of talking points.
Over recent years Murphy’s creations have lived on Netflix and a recent deal has seen him find a new home at Disney which means in Australia his new series will be seen on their streaming platform Disney+.
The new Disney deal sees Murphy return to FX which is where he created many series including American Horror Story, Feud, and six seasons of Nip/Tuck.

The special TV Gold episode starts off with a look at the series The Beauty which is on FX.
In FX’s The Beauty, the world of high fashion turns dark when international supermodels begin dying in spectacularly gruesome and mysterious ways.
FBI Agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett (played by Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall) are sent to Paris to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection, but with terrifying consequences.

The Best of Ryan Murphy

Andrew Mercado’s Top 5
Feud: Bette and Joan
Pose
Nip/Tuck
American Crime Story: Gianni Versace
Monster

James Manning Top 5*
Halston
The Watcher
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Andy Warhol Diaries
Glee
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story
*It’s actually a top six!

TV Gold special: Ryan Murphy
This week&rsquo;s episode of TV Gold is devoted to the prolific TV creator Ryan Murphy. The podcast has regularly reviewed his prodigious output. TV Gold hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning don&rsquo;t always love everything Murphy delivers, but it always gives the podcast plenty of talking points. Over recent years Murphy&rsquo;s creations have lived on Netflix and a recent deal has seen him find a new home at Disney which means in Australia his new series will be seen on their streaming platform Disney+. The new Disney deal sees Murphy return to FX which is where he created many series including American Horror Story, Feud, and six seasons of Nip/Tuck.
The special TV Gold episode starts off with a look at the series The Beauty which is on FX. In FX&rsquo;s The Beauty, the world of high fashion turns dark when international supermodels begin dying in spectacularly gruesome and mysterious ways. FBI Agents Cooper Madsen and Jordan Bennett (played by Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall) are sent to Paris to uncover the truth. As they delve deeper into the case, they uncover a sexually transmitted virus that transforms ordinary people into visions of physical perfection, but with terrifying consequences.
The Best of Ryan Murphy
Andrew Mercado&rsquo;s Top 5 Feud: Bette and Joan Pose Nip/Tuck American Crime Story: Gianni Versace Monster
James Manning Top 5* Halston The Watcher Feud: Bette and Joan The Andy Warhol Diaries Glee Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendez Story *It&rsquo;s actually a top six!

Ryan Murphy special episode: The Beauty and his Top 5 shows

Andrew Mercado and James Manning this episode review more TV Gold.

Listen to the episode on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3CbytnyTdiQD0fEIauNJ09

Dog Park (ABC) 6 episodes
When Roland(Leon Ford) and wife Emma (Brooke Satchel) separate, she leaves him with their teenage daughter Mia (Florence Gladwin) who barely notices him, and Beattie the dog he never wanted in the first place. Beattie disappears and turns up at the local dog park where he meets the unbearably optimistic Samantha (Celia Pacquola). More of a good relationship drama than a comedy.

Memory of a Killer (Stan) 10 episodes
Angelo Ledda (Patrick Dempsey) lives two totally separate lives — a fearsome NYC hitman and sleepy upstate Cooperstown photocopier salesman and father. Both of them are threatened when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease he already lost his older brother to. Angelo lives a hard-to-believe Batman-like existence although he’s certainly not saving Gotham.

Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max) 6 episodes
A century before the events of “Game of Thrones,” two unlikely heroes meet in Westeros… a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable friends.

Andrew Mercado and James Manning this episode review more TV Gold.
Listen to the episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CbytnyTdiQD0fEIauNJ09
Dog Park (ABC) 6 episodes When Roland(Leon Ford) and wife Emma (Brooke Satchel) separate, she leaves him with their teenage daughter Mia (Florence Gladwin) who barely notices&nbsp;him, and Beattie the dog he never wanted in the first place. Beattie disappears and turns up at the local dog park where he meets the unbearably optimistic Samantha (Celia Pacquola). More of a good relationship drama than a comedy.
Memory of a Killer (Stan) 10 episodes Angelo Ledda (Patrick Dempsey) lives two totally separate lives &mdash; a fearsome NYC hitman and sleepy upstate Cooperstown photocopier salesman and father. Both of them are threatened when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, a disease he already lost his older brother to. Angelo lives a hard-to-believe Batman-like existence although he&rsquo;s certainly not saving Gotham.
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO Max) 6 episodes A century before the events of &ldquo;Game of Thrones,&rdquo; two unlikely heroes meet in Westeros&hellip; a young, na&iuml;ve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne, and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable friends.

Summer 2026: The Night Manager S2, Goolagong, Dear Life, The Imposter and much more

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