What’s on TV this week

FROM a bitterly funny comedy to the dramas of the Australian Open, here’s your guide to what’s worth your time on TV this week.

THERE’S so much TV out there, even in the summer break, so we don’t blame you if you feel a little overwhelmed at times.

So let us help you sort out what’s worth your time. Every week we’ll bring you the highlights of free-to-air, streaming and pay TV and maybe something from the archives.

If you want a clever, acerbic comedy …

BETTER THINGS

(Foxtel, Tuesday 9.35pm)

Better Things has a strong, fresh voice.

Australians are finally catching up on this excellent comedy from writer, creator and star Pamela Adlon. Adlon plays Sam Fox, a bit-part actor and single mum of three daughters. Adlon finds the humour and humanity in the struggles of one woman trying to juggle work, her kids and her elderly mother, who lives across the street. Hones and raw, Better Things captures all those little frustrations in life with an absurdly funny perspective.

For the tears and triumphs of great sport …

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

(Seven, daily)

Roger Federer is playing for his sixth Australian Open title.

Those two weeks when Australians care about tennis? That starts today. All eyes will be on the Australian contingent in week one, with high hopes Nick Kyrgios can make a run deep at his home grand slam. The usual suspects Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will also attract plenty of attention, while on the women’s side the absence of seven-time champion Serena Williams makes for the most open field in years. Oh, and don’t expect to see Bernard Tomic’s antics — he crashed out in the qualifying rounds.

If you’re looking for a teen series with a twist ...

THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD

(Netflix, now)

Not the kind of teens you’d find on the Disney channel.

This dry British comedy started streaming on Netflix earlier this month and its fresh take on rebellious teens is like nothing you’ve seen before. Seventeen-year-old James is convinced he’s a sociopath and spends his time fantasising about his soon-to-be first human kill. He finds his intended target in Alyssa, a smart-arse teen with an unhappy home life looking to run off. The pair steals his dad’s car and embarks on an unconventional road trip with some unexpected twists and turns. The performances from Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden are mesmerising and at only eight short episodes, it’s an easy binge.

If you want smart reality TV …

MARRY ME, MARRY MY FAMILY

(SBS, Tuesday at 8.40pm)

Reality TV worth watching.

An antidote to the fake, pointless farce of Married At First Sight, SBS’s Marry Me, Marry My Family is a fascinating look at the ruffled feathers of the real-life drama behind cross-cultural weddings. In this week’s episode, a 35-year-old Sri Lankan Hindu groom, Lalith, has defied his parents and the marriage they arranged for him to tie the knot with Louise, a Chinese-Australian. Lalith’s parents refuse to acknowledge his love and won’t attend the wedding. The second story of the episode concerns a strict Macedonian Muslim Gypsy father who says if his daughter Derian isn’t a virgin the night of her betrothal to Maltese-Australian Jye, the patriarch will disown her.

If you want to watch two comedic performers at the top of their game ...

DIVORCE SEASON 2

(Foxtel, Tuesday 10pm)

Love and marriage ... try, try to separate them.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church’s acidic chemistry are back in this HBO comedy about an upstate New York couple going through the messy throes of divorce. The series, created by Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan, is wonderfully written and is a wonderful reminder of how much we need Parker and Haden Church to have a regular presence on TV — both are brilliant in this. And when you’re not enthralled by the pair, Frances and Robert’s insane and neurotic mates, played by Molly Shannon, Talia Balsam and Tracy Letts, will have you in stitches.

If you want to escape the political reality of Trump …

MY NEXT GUEST NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION WITH DAVID LETTERMAN

(Netflix, now)

Welcome back, you’ve been missed. Both of you.

The talk show veteran is back with a six-episode run on Netflix. Armed with his Santa beard and wry, self-deprecating sense of humour, David Letterman returns to TV with a series of deep, insightful and entertaining interviews. His first guest? None other than Barack Obama, whose charismatic and easy presence serves as a salve for all that ridiculous Trumpiness on the news. Drink it in, savour it, close your eyes and pretend you’re living in 2015 again. Letterman’s other guests across the series will include George Clooney, Tina Fey, Malala Yousafazi, Howard Stern and Jay Z.

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