by Thinus Ferreira
M-Net is adding terrific new programming for the upcoming winter months on DStv with premium American and British series that will bring marquee-names like Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo and Ethan Hawke to television in dramatic roles.
On Thursday night M-Net (DStv 101) gave the media an update during a Zoom-webinar held press briefing on upcoming June, July and September programming on the premium-positioned pay-TV channel that will include the terrific 6-episode HBO and BBC miniseries Years and Years starring Emma Thompson as a Donald Trump-like demagogue - with a secret - whose rise to power in Britain has terrible consequences for the country.
The second season of the medical drama series New Amsterdam is back on M-Net (DStv 101) from Monday 1 June at 19:00, along with The Block Australia season 12 returning (Wednesday 3 June at 18:00), as well as the 5th season of the Showtime series Billions starting on Tuesday 23 June at 22:00).
M-Net also has the start of some final seasons including Homeland (Thursday 11 June at 21:00) and Will & Grace (Saturday 27 June), and the Emma Thompson miniseries from HBO and the BBC, Years and Years, starting on Monday 22 June at 22:00.
In the terrific 6-episode Years and Years - set in the very uncertain now and an unnervingly prescient first episode followed by gradual time-jumps to show the societal changes - Emma Thompson plays a business woman who becomes a conservative politician in Britain as the country grapples with issues ranging from vast technological change, structural financial problems, immigration, and global instability that have a very real-world impact on ordinary families.
Tracy-Ann Van Rooyen, M-Net senior manager for content acquisition and scheduling, said that Years and Years has fascinating characters who are "thrust 15 years into the future with a controversial, conservative business woman, turned political figure, who has all of these opinions that polarise the nation - which I'm sure sounds familiar right now".
"In July we've also got some great new titles for you. We spoke at the beginning of the year about Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector based on The Bone Collector series, that comes to M-Net in July, and also we've got a really great series which is also a reboot but a very exciting reboot on the 1960's Perry Mason, with this HBO series starring Matthew Rhys."
"Then, of course, we have Mark Ruffalo coming to television, starring as the twin brothers Dominick and Thomas Birdsey in the new miniseries I Know This Much is True novel of Wally Lamb. It's a much deeper, sadder version of Rain Main I suppose, if they were twins," said Tracy-Ann van Rooyen.
"In August we've got a lot of really great returning series that I'm really excited for, Nathan Fillion comes back in The Rookie. Christine Baranski comes back in the 4th season of The Good Fight - there's only 7 episodes of The Good Fight because that's how many they managed to get through before Covid-19 shut down Los Angeles."
"Britain's Got Talent comes through in August on M-Net and then in September on M-Net followed by America's Got Talent with Simon Cowell who of course released the clip of the man who was put in prison for 35 years and is now released, so please keep your eyes open for those starting dates in our 18:00 reality slot."
Tracy-Ann van Rooyen said "something that I'm really excited to talk to you about is Ethan Hawke is coming to TV in this exciting TV drama called The Good Lord Bird which is basically the story of American abolitionist John Brown told through a fictional character who is a young boy".
"It's in a time of slavery in the United States and it's based on a true story of how John Brown who was an abolitionist but unfortunately he wasn't able to instigate the uprising that he wanted in terms of the slave uprising. M-Net will come through with that Showtime title Express from the US."
"That's all I have to share with you guys," said Tracy-Ann van Rooyen. "Usually this time it's questions and answers but right now in times of Covid-19 it's just me talking - which is great because I love to talk. Keep warm and stay safe."
