Mercado on TV: The new shows that are keeping Stan the hottest streamer

It isn’t just RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under that is making Stan the hottest streamer right now. The NBC Universal deal is paying off with buzzworthy shows like Brave New World, Saved By The Bell and Punky Brewster. Now there are two new comedies that hit a sweet spot, Girls5Eva and Rutherford Falls.

See also Mercado on TV special: Stan spills the tea at World Premiere of RuPauls’ Drag Race Down Under

Grils5Eva (Stan) is the latest crazy sitcom from Tina Fey and it’s about a retired all-girl pop group who’s only hit song gets sampled by a rapper. Naturally, it becomes their big chance for a comeback. The cast is comprised of two actual singers, Sara Bareilles and Renee Elise Goldsberry, and two comediennes, Busy Phillips and Paula Pell.

There are many references in Girls5Eva that might remind Aussie viewers of Popstars (1999, Seven). And while Bardot fans still hold out hope that Katie Underwood, Belinda Chapple, Tiffani Wood, Sally Polihronas and Sophie Monk might reunite one day, others are wondering how long it will take Seven to bring back Popstars, especially given they have breathed new life into every other reality franchise.

Rutherford Falls (Stan) explores cultural appropriation in a small town where Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) is an obsessed descendant of the town’s white founder. Meanwhile his Indigenous best friend Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) works at the Minishonka Casino, but can’t get them to be serious about a cultural centre.

Rutherford Falls finds laughs in complicated issues but it doesn’t beat its audience over the head with them. Finding comedy in conflict always works in sitcoms, as do wacky supporting characters like non-binary personal assistant Josh (played by non-binary actor Jess Leigh).

NBC Universal’s slate is impressive because they are making original shows for their US streaming service Peacock. Coming next there will be reboots of Queer As Folk, Battlestar Galactica and The Prince of Bel Air, another Law & Order (this time: Hate Crimes) and Dan Brown’s Langdon with Aussie actor Ashely Zuckerman replacing Tom Hanks.

Closer to home, our public broadcasters continue to make relevant shows about important topics. Mikki Vs The World (Sunday on ABC Me) is a new series for teenagers about mental health issues. It’s about wacky psychologist Mikki (Chika Ikogwe) who deals with a different topic each episode. Guest appearances come from the likes of Courtney Act, Osher Gunsberg, The Veronicas and Matilda’s footballer Lydia Williams.

See What You Made Me Do got off to an impressive start this week as investigative journalist Jess Hill looked into how coercive control is used on women before it escalates into domestic violence. In the second episode (Wednesday on SBS), the show looks at the double standard in asking why women don’t leave abusive men, instead of asking why these men are being abusive. This is a must-see.

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