Singing superstar Jennifer Lopez and Aerosmith’s lead singer Steven Tyler will be back once again to join veteran Randy Jackson on the panel of judges in the brand new series.

Lopez, Tyler and Jackson bring their star power and unparalleled talent to find America’s newest singing sensation in the eleventh round of the hugely popular series.

Host Ryan Seacrest will also be back for an all-new season of spectacular singing, mixed in, of course, with an array of cringeworthy moments courtesy of many less-than-talented wannabe singers.

The outrageous, but undeniably fabulous, ladies are back in the limelight for all-new episodes, marking 20 years since they first took the world by storm.

Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina, Patsy, Saffron, Bubble and Mother. It has never been quite the same again.

Eddy worked in PR, and PR’d things. Into every new fad and fashion imaginable, she and best friend Patsy were often found to be at the bottom of a champagne glass, or more likely, bottle – and not much has changed. Long-suffering Saffy was hardworking and the grownup of the house, all but ignored by her mother and hated by Patsy.

Now, returning to the small screen to mark this special anniversary, we see a life changing experience for one character… which invariably affects all the others.

Patsy is forced to find out how old she actually is, and discovers her birth certificate. Eddy also sets her sights on changing the career of a very big fish indeed, taking over the Royal Albert Hall.

Twenty years on, the ladies are a tiny bit older, none the wiser – but definitely still Absolutely Fabulous.

Watching other people get banged up has never been so hilarious. From the giant red balls to the punching wall, everyone has a favourite Wipeout obstacle.

Throughout this series, contestants will get whacked and winded on winter and spring-themed courses, and in the final episodes, those who think they’re hard enough will have to navigate summer. However, it won’t be all sweetness, light and summer fun – there will be terrifying obstacles like the Coin Toss, The Pinball and Point Break to get over (or around and through) unscathed.

Wish the contestants good luck, because they’re going to need it!

Premiering Saturday, January 21st at 6:30pm.

Viewers were left on the edge of their seat in 2011 as the show wrapped with a dramatic finale which saw Daniel (Ido Drent) and Jill (Natalie Medlock) battling for their lives after the pair got caught up in Hunter (Lee Donoghue)and Bailey’s (Estevez Gillespie) burglary of a pharmacy to fuel their worsening drug addiction.

“Hunter’s addiction to ‘P’ has caused him to reach a new low,” says Donoghue. “And with his actions leaving his friends’ lives in the balance, Hunter has to now deal with the consequences of the situation, no matter how serious they are.”

Beginning with the thrilling return episode, viewers are in for a big year as the show celebrates its 20th anniversary on New Zealand television. With plans for the celebrations already well under way, Shortland Street producer Steven Zanoski sheds some light on what viewers can expect for the show’s milestone.

“2012 is going to be a big year for Shortland Street,” says Zanoski. “While we will pay homage to the stories and cast of the past, we are excited about reflecting with our audience and looking forward. Story wise, be prepared for a shake up in the hierarchy of the hospital at every level, new romantic liaisons will be established and old favourites revisited, all while bringing you the freshest cast on New Zealand TV.

Firstly, sorry for the late write up of the final. With Christmas hitting us straight after I haven’t been able to get any sort of a breather for the last week!

The final was a bit of a star studded evening. We were treated to performances by the Biebs himself (I use the word “treated” loosely), Leona Lewis (a performance with a hint of desperation to it) and the final 12 again (I hope they enjoyed it, for some of them it’s the last time anyone will see them perform in anything bigger than a bingo hall again).

The final 12′s performance of Edge of Glory was a little bit average quite frankly. A friendly reminder that Stacy Francis couldn’t back up her original audition; Astro just seemed a little out of place amongst a bunch of singers; and ten preteens in a group just leaves 8 of them with not much to do but bob along in time to the music.

The remaining three finalists gave us all one last performance of a dear wee Christmas song to celebrate the season. Melanie Amaro took on All I Want For Christmas by Mariah. It was actually a bit of a shame as it was so very predictable. Great vocal and all but somehow lacking.

Chris Rene gave us his version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas….we will Chris, as long as you don’t win! Boy can’t sing. Simple as that. He has been a bit of a one trick pony throughout the whole competition. And while Young Homie was a good trick….it aint all that. Let him release it, get a top ten hit and then bugger off please!

Josh Krajcik gives us Please Come Home For Christmas. Best performance of the lot I think. I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking “screw you Simon for bringing Melanie back in”. He would have had this competition sewn up if Simon had stuck to his original 4 choices (and Simon would possibly have been lynch mobbed as well, still the stupidest decision he’s ever made).

The Biebs takes to the stage and I tune out a little. I won’t even start on what I think of him. It’s all very festive. Stevie Wonder is a nice touch of credibility and there is a massive “awwww” moment when Drew is brought out to sing one line with her idol. How delightfully twee. Now that we’ve all had a warm fuzzy moment and ten million teenage girls have spat tacks in jealousy let’s move on…

It was then I finally got my Christmas wish. Chris Rene was sent home in third place. Thank goodness for that, there IS some justice in the world. Time for everyone to applaud, watch the recap and forget about him please.

Best part of the show was the recap of the series top 5 memorable/shocking moments though there was a glaring omission at the top spot. I agree, Rachel’s exit was shocking (what’s that sound? It’s the sound of Nicole’s judging career on the show dissolving away into nothingness…), but how is it that Geo Godley’s pants dropping, stud not dud…the audition that caused Paula to throw up (and a large chunk of the audience I imagine) not make the list. It was an epic moment in audition history! Very disappointed at it’s absence in the list.

Leona Lewis does a weird arm waving rendition of Run, her three year old single from her first album…further cementing the fact that Simon still has no idea where to go next with her career (a comforting thought to Melanie i’m sure). Further celebrity performances ensue…to be honest, i’m that bored of them stretching out the results so much I just don’t care anymore….get on with it, tell us Melanie has won already!!!! I didn’t sign up for this to watch 50 Cent looking out of place on this show!!

I did however like seeing Rachel pop up briefly prior to Leona Lewis to tell Steve she wants his job…let’s face it honey, it’s wide open as soon as the curtain falls. He’s out on his ass with Nicole in about an hours time.

Josh and Melanie come on one last time to give us a duet of Heroes by David Bowie…I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if Chris was still in the competition…woulda been a tad awkward hearing him try to sing with one of these two now wouldn’t it…

And then finally, the moment of truth. The two finalists are brought out on stage. We are treated to a lot of dramatic pausing and tense music in the background before it’s announced that Melanie Amaro has won The X Factor. Much screaming, hugging, congratulating the loser and confetti ensues. Steve tries most unsuccessfully to get a word out of her and looks like a bit more of a chump with each attempt. Melanie takes to the stage to choke her way through Listen…spending most of it crying and looking like a deer in the headlights before she is given a reprise and all the other contestants come out and hug her and detract from the mild awkwardness.

So there we have it folks. I’m already looking forward to next year. Nicole and Steve are already browsing the classifieds looking for work. Simon is already moving on from his winning contestant i’m sure. That’s the X Factor way of course. Hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!

Returning to our screen for a summer replay, Super City is the local comedy series which sees Madeleine Sami (Jaquie Brown Diaries and Sione’s Wedding) hilariously transform into five very different characters all living in New Zealand’s super city. Super City screens on Friday, January 6th at 10pm on 3.

Directed by Taika Waititi (Boy & Eagle vs. Shark), Super City sees Sami hilariously portraying five acutely observed and very different characters all living in Auckland.

There’s Pasha, an aging cheerleader clinging to her partying lifestyle; Azeem, an immigrant taxi driver embracing Maori culture; Jo, a closeted gym instructor in love with her best friend; Linda, the runt of her “old girls” clique fostering impoverished artists and Georgie, a homeless girl whose freedom is unexpectedly interrupted.

“Hopefully viewers will get a lot of laughs and take these unique personalities into their hearts…,” Madeleine Sami says about her onscreen characters.

“I had the most exhausting and exhilarating experience of my life making Super City,” she adds. “It was real actual super fun!”

Make sure not to miss your first introduction to all five characters as they shock audiences with the ludicrously awkward scenarios they find themselves in. Super City screens on Friday, January 6th at 10pm on 3.

Season two of Cover Story starts for the first time on Heartland this week. The drama series is centred around a team of television journalists working on a weekly current-affairs programme that screens on the privately-owned Pacific Television (PTV) channel.

The main characters include Amanda Robbins (Katie Wolfe) who was lured back to Wellington from Australia by PTV Chief Executive, Martin Woolf (Jonathan Hendry) who wanted her Rottweiller qualities to raise the controversial show’s ratings. Amanda was appointed by Woolf without consulting Bernard Fry (John Sumner), the producer of Cover Story, and Fry and the rest of the staff have struggled with Amanda’s tabloid-esque style and her ‘blood on the road’ approach.

Cover Story is an investigative drama exploring contemporary issues particular to New Zealand, with emphasis on the ethics and responsibilities of the media.

TVNZ Heartland
Cover Story
Tuesday 3 January, 10pm

This week sees Howard “Dobbo” Dobson celebrating the year that was in sport with Dobbo’s Plays Of The Year, screening on Tuesday, December 27th at 10pm on 3.

“This is a chance to showcase the most outrageous sporting moments,” Dobbo explains about what viewers can expect from the end-of-year special. “We’ll see the best knockouts, wildest rides, the greatest goals…”

“We will also feature Kiwi stuntman extraordinaire, Jody Hooker, and his latest stunts from Smashfest,” Dobbo continues.

As well as all this, Dobbo says the special will also see American Rocket Man, Dan Schlund.

“Dan’s the man who flew with a jet pack on his back to the top of the Sky Tower which people might have see in those energy drink adverts,” he says.

Make sure not to miss all this when Dobbo’s Plays Of The Year screens on Tuesday, December 27th at 10pm on 3.