Shaun Micallef's Stairway to Heaven

"One of the best pieces of Australian- produced television to go to air this year"

"We welcome the return of the impeccable Who Do You Think You Are?"

"A documentary that confronts, questions and raises many issues:medical ethics,personal choice and funding priorities - but none more so than the rights of the disabled, and of a mother and father."

"… is full of emotion,heartache,frustration and determination."

"… essentially a story of courage"

‘The filmmaker creates a perceptive, multilayered understanding of the young refugees’ experiences’

‘Delightful’

‘It is hard to remain dry-eyed as the schools multicultural soccer team sings Advance Australia Fair in the bus home from a match.'

"... already acknowledged as the world's most exciting visual and physical theatre company...the reason to go and see Stalker is the way they marry jaw dropping spectacle with real purpose."

"Delightful documentary"

"A sweet sign off for a lovely series"

…."it is the irrespressible humanity, and often hilarity, of the couples that makes DKS such honest and engaging television"

“Real insight into a pressing problem” 

"A cut above the reality rest"

"Sheilas" is suprisingly compelling viewing"

Such is the level of trust between Honnor, the film crew and the dolphins that some of the footage in Dolphins’ Day is thought to be a world first.

"Unique footage" 

"This is engaging and entertaining telly that also has something important to say"

"Engaging and entertaining telly that has something to say”

"...the most thought provoking, moving, entertaining and enlightening doco series in years"

"Set in WA, this is one reality series we all should watch."

"Setting this documentary apart…is the effort it makes to humanise the poachers and explain the circumstances which compels them to hunt."

 "Televisual Gold"

"A dose of Reality TV without the hype"

"A great concept"

"All three groups of fishermen feature in Lobster Tales, an ABC documentary that will change the way you look at these delicious crustaceans forever."

“The great achievement of Lobster Tales, a delightfully oddball WA-made documentary on the lucrative local crayfish industry ... strikes such a lovely balance between the lobsters and fishermen that it’s more like a well-wrought tragi-comedy than a traditional nature doco"

“Even for non-lobster-lovers, this quirky feature provides plenty of interest ... the highlight is the underwater photography by Leighton de Barros which is up-close and stunning."

"Wonderful new two-part documentary fronted by Peter Greste who makes a terrifically warm host and guide, striking just the right balance between the personal and the historical."

“It's handsomely assembled and thoughtfully produced... this admirable production contemplates the cost of war and the high price of victory.”

"shows ordinary people doing extraordinary things ... the program usues the magic of TV to bring an important WA story to life"

“Though it’s not easy to watch a widow finally open up about her murdered husband (nor is it comfortable watching local Iraqis genuinely praise Saddam Hussein), Salam Father is yet another reason why the terms "SBS" and "quality documentary" fit like a hand in glove."

“A sense of reconciliation emerges in the program and there's considerable poignancy as elements of a family torn apart by war, politics and circumstance are reunited…"

“This is the compelling story of a family torn apart by war, envy, corruption and greed and how a quest for answers also helped heal old wounds. It might also help people look beyond the descriptions "refugee" and "asylum seeker" to see the person and their story…A powerful piece of television, made more authentic by Ziusudras' first-hand narration of this tale.” 

"This documentary never becomes bogged down in legalese and is a compelling tale of one family's devotion to their son"

"A remarkable story and a clever and affecting piece of storytelling"

"An emotional journey...unflinchingly captured on camera"

Koori queens proudly get out and about in this high-spirited and affirming documentary."

"We get a rare glimpse into the world of indigenous gay men in tonight's Sissy ... an energetic, inventive and occasionally touching Western Australian-made documentary that looks at the lives of three colourful drag queens."

"Considering the double whammy served up by homophobia and racism, Sissy insists on having a good time while handling thought-provoking material."

[Shaun Micallef’s] quest to discover if there is ‘‘greater purpose than being a semi-professional Australian TV personality’’ makes for a funny and watchable journey.

Filled with wit, warmth and revelations, Stairway To Heaven will intrigue even non-believers.

This powerful documentary reveals a side to Shaun Micallef we don’t usually see - the Aussie actor and comedian is on a quest to find the very meaning of life itself... He is an inspiring host and an entertaining traveller.

"It's a compelling story and you made a compelling film out of it. Just terrific."

“This is vital viewing for those that crave the whole truth”

The Dreamhouse is, no mistake, a heart warmer and a tear jerker. But it's more than that... The Dreamhouse instead shows [the housemates] as people with abilities, flaws, hopes, desires and dreams the same as any of us

Every so often a TV show comes along that changes the way we think about others, about society, about ourselves. Positively, for the better and in a way that enriches the lives of everyone.

"It’s a fascinating insight into a world most of us never see"

"A fascinating insight into the world of the night"

"A fly on the wall insight" 

“Surprising, raunchy, hilarious, crazy! Expect the unexpected!”

"Puppetry most certainly is an art from and some of the performances here will take your breath away"

“I have been directly or indirectly involved in WDYTYA productions in the U.S., Canada and the U.K …I must say that this one [Andrew Denton's episode] of the very best I have seen”

Arguably its strongest line-up of celebrity guests yet

"...it's the most engaging detective series in years"

"... surprising, extraordinary and often moving" 

"Outstanding, at times touching and very, very real"

"A compelling, lovely adaption of an excellent British format"

"...is so elegantly simple it manages to compel almost without fail, never overstepping the human stories it is designed to tell..."

"..utterly compelling.....revealed how powerful straightforward storytelling can be.... More please."

"...takes prominent Australians on an often complex, and sometimes unsettling, genealogical journey.... - has proven addictive t.v."

“Their stories are revealing, sometimes shocking and always emotional”

"One of the reliable pleasures of this series is just how great it looks. The production values are always first-class and wherever we are in Australia or the world, you can't quibble with the scenery. Who Do You Think You Are? is about much more than looking pretty, though, blending history and biography to create a package that's accessible, entertaining and educational. (FOUR STARS)"

“It's the perfect mix of history and celebrity..."

"... this program has about it a quiet authenticity that allows the subject’s story to unfold of its own accord."

"The series is more than a peek into the backgrounds of the famous; it also chronicles the social and cultural evolution of our national identities via these celeb family histories. 4/5 stars"

"Each episode is essentially a feature documentary, well-researched and produced, and presented usually with a humorous or deeply emotional touch... This show is seriously habit-forming"

This stylishly produced series is in fine form this season. Each episode combines the intimacy, and sometimes voyeurism, of observational documentary and the puzzles of the well-told detective story. It is a brilliant concept.

This series is fascinating and so well done...
(pick of the week)

There are enough twists and turns here to make you think you’re watching an actual drama.

"... explores the family histories of its subjects with class and humour. Verdict: A Hit."