What to Watch: Fisk, Plum, Telethon 2024, Growing Home and It’s Florida, Man

Fisk S3

Sunday, 8pm, ABC

It’s funny to think that a little show on ABC about a middle-aged lawyer with a propensity for wearing brown suits could become one of TV’s most beloved comedies.

Yet here we are: three seasons on and this series, which debuted back in 2021, has become one of TV’s biggest success stories, not just here, but right around the globe.

After its first season, the show — co-created by comedian Kitty Flanagan (who also stars as the titular Fisk) — won the coveted best series award in the comedies category at Europe’s largest TV festival, Series Mania, beating the multi-Emmy-nominated Hacks.

When it debuted on Netflix last year, it became one of the top 10 shows on the platform globally in its second week, gaining legions of bemused fans who didn’t quite know what to make of it, but loved it nonetheless.

“I think stunned is the best word to describe how I’m feeling about it. Absolutely stunned,” Flanagan said upon hearing news of its success at the time — and we feel similarly.

Why is this show so popular?

It’s hard to explain: not much happens and the storylines are hardly explosive (it’s set in a wills and probates office, after all) — but the script! And the performances!

Excellent to a fault — and they’re still on-point in the third season, which brings us six new episodes this week.

Keep an eye out for some top-shelf Aussie comics popping up in the background in episode one. Seems our big names are fans too, clamouring to pop up in any capacity, which speaks volumes.

Can’t wait to see more.

It’s Florida, Man

Today, streaming on Binge

If you’re a fan of Drunk History and True Story With Hamish & Andy, then this series, which sees famous comedians re-enacting the ripped-from-the-headlines stories of some crazy real-life Florida natives, will feel familiar. The strange-but-true tales are narrated by the people they happened to, and it’s genuinely hilarious to hear them recount what happened. This will have you rolling on the floor — and muttering “only in America!”

Telethon

Saturday, 7pm, Seven

Ah Telethon. Is there a more wholesome celebration of Perth than our beloved annual charity money-raiser? This year’s event is shaping up to be a doozy, with some excellent names lined up to appear at the opening and closing shows, including Guy Sebastian, Vanessa Amorosi, Human Nature, Samantha Jade, Rob Mills and Royston Noell. Can we top last year’s incredible $71.4 million raised? Here’s hoping — bring it on.

Plum

Sunday, 8.30pm, ABC

Love My Way and Avatar star Brendan Cowell is behind this TV adaptation of the novel he wrote, about a retired NRL football star, Peter “the Plum” Lum, who’s struggling to come to terms with a devastating health diagnosis. Cowell stars as Plum and is suitably impressive in the role. Joining him front and centre are Asher Keddie, Flight Of The Conchords’ Jemaine Clement, and Maria Duplaa, who is sensational as Plum’s girlfriend, Charmaine.

Growing Home With Jamie Durie

Friday, 8.30pm, Seven

Jamie Durie is back on screens, but this time he’s bringing an intensely personal story to audiences: this is all about his years-long quest to build an eco home in Sydney’s Pittwater alongside his partner Ameka and their gorgeous young family. Their build is extremely high-end, but he’s sharing lots of great ideas and achievable tips for those of us watching at home on more, ahem, meagre budgets. This is great Friday-night fare.