War on Waste
Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC
I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about bins. Is it a red bin week? Is it yellow? Did I remember to take the lid off my wine before I recycled it? What happens if I don’t wash out my peanut butter jar — have I just contaminated a whole bale of plastics?
This is the kind of ridiculous first-world minutiae that keeps me up at night. And, honestly, it’s exhausting.
Thankfully, Craig Reucassel is hell-bent on answering a lot of my most-wondered-about late-night questions. War on Waste is back, six years after it first went to air, to see if we’ve made any strides in the years since.
Spoiler alert: nope! In fact, we might actually be going backwards.
Over three episodes, Reucassel visits recycling plants, talks to the founder of the now-failed REDcycle program, chats with experts and industrial designers and finds out what can be done on both the small and large scale to help tackle our enormous recycling problem. He also poos in a bag — you’ll have to watch to find out how that all plays out.
It makes for sobering viewing, and at times I despaired at how little progress we’ve been making. But it’s not all doom and gloom, and it’s clear that programs like Containers for Change are having a huge impact. Hooray!
This is a fabulously interesting program and has gone some way to addressing a few of the root causes of my sleeplessness. Turns out you CAN pop a dirty peanut butter jar in the recycling bin. Be right back — getting my eight hours.
Special Ops: Lioness
Tonight, streaming on Paramount Plus
It feels weird to see Nicole Kidman pop up in a show like this, which is all about an elite group of female CIA operatives who go undercover to take down terrorist networks. It’s Homeland meets Jack Ryan, all action-packed and fog-of-warish — there are lots of explosions.
Our Nic plays the boss lady of this group, in a supporting role. This is fine, because the two key women in this, Zoe Saldana and Laysla De Oliveira, are so brilliant, her pulling power is not required. This is from Taylor Sheridan, the man behind Yellowstone, which gives you an idea of what to expect. Fast-paced, big budget and worth a look.
The Beanie Bubble
Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus
Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Snook and Elizabeth Banks — need we say more? These legends are putting the cray in craze, in this flick about how Beanie Babies became the world’s hottest toy ticket.
John Farnham: Finding the Voice
Monday, 7.30pm, Seven
That Farnsey doco everyone’s been talking about is making its free-to-air debut on Monday night. Since launching in cinemas it’s become the highest-grossing feature-length Aussie doco of all time. Find out what all the fuss is about.
Good Omens S2
Friday, streaming on Prime Video
Michael Sheen and David Tennant are back for a second season — and they’re bringing Jon Hamm along for the ride. Hoorah! Season two ventures beyond the stories explored in Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s source material. Fans are already frothing in anticipation.