It may be nauseating, but Deborah Hill Cone can see why 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' has lasted.

If big-budget, sword-and-sandal special-effect sagas are your thing, look no further.

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: No milkshake in the 22nd century

Rating: 5/5 Verdict: Wise beyond its years and fresh as a daisy

High-pitched screams: the second series of New Zealand's Next Top Model was - as to be expected - full of them.

The South African-sourced production delivers the goods, bringing a hint of regional flavour to the show's all-American ambience.

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: It's hard to stay exclusive when everyone likes your songs

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: Third album from Canadian folk rock circus refines their epic vision.

Seattle-based Band of Horses stopped into to Auckland on their way home from a full-on string of gigs through America and then Australia's mighty Splendour in the Grass festival.

The 3000 screaming and ecstatic fans are here to see Jared Leto, because while his band might be called 30 Seconds To Mars, it really is his show.

Time was finally up for Kieran Mitchell, and Shortland Street sent him off with a bang.

Young writer comes up trumps with local hero.

Rating: 5/5 Verdict: Free your mind - a giggle will follow

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: Big band put on one big show

Rating: 4/5 Verdict: Keep your knickers on, Uncle Tom's gone gospel ...

Rating: 1.5/5 Verdict: Not tortuous, not unwatchable, but not good.

Louis Theroux fails to get to the bottom of Medicated Kids, writes Deborah Hill Cone

Who: Florence and the Machine Where and when: Trusts Stadium, Henderson, Thursday night. Reviewer: Jacqueline Smith