Dinosaurs, fast cars and ‘Couples Therapy’: June on SBS VICELAND

Plus, favourites ‘Patriot Brains’ and ‘The Bee Whisperer’ return, we screen biopics on Wednesday nights, indulge in nostalgic laughs and go cycling in France. Welcome to June on SBS VICELAND.

Orna Guralnik is back in season 3 of 'Couples Therapy'. Source: Courtesy of Showtime

The Bee Whisperer – season 2

The wild and wonderful ‘Bee Whisperer’, Charlie Agar. Source: Distributor

If you need a hive of bees removed in the Texas, USA vicinity, you call Charlie Agar. Charlie and his friends specialise in rescuing killer honeybees from situations that are dangerous for them as well as surrounding humans. A wild and lovable backyard apiarist, Charlie’s raised global awareness about bee conservation, and keeps us entertained along the way with his jaw-dropping hive removals. He loves a challenge, and says that each bee sting only helps him learn more about the beloved creatures.

Eight-part season 2 of The Bee Whisperer airs on Saturdays at 6.35pm from 3 June on SBS VICELAND.

Jurassic Cash

In October 2021, Paris hosted the largest Triceratops sale ever recorded. Source: Gedeon Programmes/Canal+ Docs

More and more rare dinosaur fossils are ending up in private hands. Auction sales of these precious items are growing each year. Rich and passionate collectors are behind this trend, but as they race to unearth the next Big John – a full skeleton coveted by collectors for sale at auction – what effect will it have on museums and new generations of palaeontologists who rely on skeletons for research?

With exclusive access to the largest Triceratops sale, held in Paris in October 2021, the filmmakers meet collectors and talk to scientists about combining forces. This program airs a week before the 30^th anniversary of the release of the first Jurassic Park film.  

Jurassic Cash premieres at 9.25pm, Sunday 4 June on SBS VICELAND. Catch up at SBS On Demand after it goes to air.

Critérium du Dauphiné 2023

Part of the Critérium du Dauphiné course. Source: Getty

A warm-up race for the Tour de France, the 75^th edition of the Critérium du Dauphiné airs live from France from Sunday 4 June at 11.55pm on SBS VICELAND. The cyclists begin Stage 1 in Chambon-sur-lac navigating five Category 4 climbs. With its challenging ascents, time-trialled sprints and much more, the cyclists have their work cut out for them, hoping to cross the finish line on Sunday 11 June in Grenoble. Visit SBS Sport for all the details.

Critérium du Dauphiné 2023 cycling race premieres live from France at 11.55pm, Sunday 4 June, covering all eight stages, and concluding on Sunday 11 June. Check your local guides.

Couples Therapy – season 3

Season 3 of ‘Couples Therapy’. Source: Courtesy of Showtime

Back for a third season, this popular American docu-series brings real people with real emotions, and the therapist we wish we had. Dr Orna Guralnik sits down with four new couples this season to nut out their intimacy and relationship troubles. With diverse backgrounds in race, gender and sexual orientation, the couples candidly expose their issues and let us in on their sessions while Dr Guralnik is ready with her compassion and clarity.

Season 3 of Couples Therapy airs double episodes at 9.40pm on Tuesdays from 6 June on SBS VICELAND. Episodes are available at SBS On Demand from 1 June.

Patriot Brains – season 2

Host of ‘Patriot Brains’ season 2, Sue Perkins. Source: SBS

We fell for this fun and quirky trans-Tasman quiz show when British comedian Bill Bailey hosted its first season. Now, Patriot Brains is back for more cross-ditch rivalry and revelry, with new host, fellow British comic Sue Perkins (who you can also catch in Sue Perkins’ Big American Road Trip, now streaming at SBS On Demand).

Each team of three comedians must answer questions about their own country or face the ultimate shame when the opposing team’s offered the chance to get it right. With topics as specific as ‘Regional Advertising’, ‘80s Sex Symbols’ and ‘Drug Busts’, this is not your run-of-the-mill quiz show, and that’s just the way we like it. Season 2 has dispensed with team captains, but still features our favourite comedians, including Becky Lucas, Luke McGregor, Nazeem Hussain and Heath Franklin for Australia, and Guy Montgomery, Urzila Carlson, Hayley Sproull and Josh Thomson for New Zealand, plus many more.

Ten-part season 2 of Patriot Brains airs at 8.30pm Wednesdays from 14 June on SBS VICELAND. You can stream episodes at SBS On Demand after they go to air.

Super Maximum Retro Show

Host of ‘Super Maximum Retro Show’, Chris DiStefano, with his guests on the couch. Source: Distributor

High-energy host of this hilarious half-hour clip show is New York comedian, Chris DiStefano, who, in his opening intro asks us to hark back to a time “before search engines made us feel like we were geniuses and before social media made us hate our family for their opinions”. Joining Chris is a panel of funny people to poke fun at and comment on some of the most absurd things to have come out of the 70s, 80s and 90s (Tickle deodorant, anyone?). Executive produced by Jimmy Kimmel, Chris’s special guests include Hasan Minhaj, Judy Gold, Roy Wood, Jr., Yamaneika Saunders, Ricky Cobb and Adam Pally.  

Super Maximum Retro Show airs at 10.40pm Tuesdays from 13 June on SBS VICELAND. You can stream episodes at SBS On Demand after they go to air.

‘Real People’ movie season – Wednesday 14, 21 and 28 June

Set aside these Wednesday nights for three entertaining films about real people.

Moneyball – 9.25pm, Wednesday 14 June

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in ‘Moneyball’. Source: Columbia Pictures

Not one to let a tight budget get in his way of a winning baseball team, Oakland Athletics manager Billy Beane cleverly employs a young computer whiz to locate the best players and lift the team’s chances. This 2011 film stars Jonah Hill, Chris Pratt, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright and Brad Pitt as Beane. (Moneyball will be available at SBS On Demand for 30 days after it goes to air.)

The Assignment – 9.25pm, Wednesday 21 June

Between 1973 and 1985, a Venezuelan terrorist nicknamed Carlos the Jackal was one of the most wanted international fugitives. In 1997’s The Assignment, Aidan Quinn plays a double role: Jackal and his lookalike, American naval officer Annibal Ramirez. The assignment? To pass himself off as the Jackal in an attempt to capture him, once and for all. Donald Sutherland and Ben Kingsley also star. (The Assignment will not be available at SBS On Demand.) 

The Last Vermeer – 9.25pm, Wednesday 28 June

2019’s The Last Vermeer follows the recovery of artworks stolen by the Nazis during World War II, and in particular, hedonistic artist, Han van Meegeren. Dutch Jew and resistance fighter Captain Joseph Piller who is investigating, thinks he’s got his man, but there’s twist to this tale that surprises none more than Piller himself. The cracking international cast includes Guy Pearce as van Meegeren and Claes Bang as Piller. Also watch out for Vicky Krieps, Olivia Grant and Adrian Scarborough. (The Last Vermeer will be available at SBS On Demand for 30 days after it goes to air.)

Smoke & Steel: Secrets of the Modern World

British engineer Shini Somara. Source: Like A Shot Entertainment / Tamsin Curry – PD / Tom Munday – Second Camera

This six-part British documentary series celebrates the epic projects created by engineers past, and on which we still rely, often in unexpected ways. (For example, a 19^th century wire rope then used in mining is still used today in architecture, transport and skiing, of all things.) Enthusiastic engineers Nehemiah Mabry and Shini Somara guide us through our extraordinary global industrial heritage, travelling to Brazil, Germany, the UK and USA, Prague and the Netherlands in the process. A fun and fascinating trip around the world.

Six-part docu-series Smoke & Steel: Secrets of the Modern World airs at 8.30pm on Saturday nights from 24 June. You can stream episodes at SBS On Demand after they go to air.

Fast & Furious Face-Off

Petrol heads and speed demons, this History channel docu-series is for you. Former American football quarterback Peyton Manning hosts this countdown to the Top 10 sports cars of all time, as voted by a panel of experts. From the Mustang to the Ferrari, which car gets your engine running? Full of dramatic back stories and show-stopping vehicles.

Fast & Furious Face-Off premieres at 8.30pm, Sunday 25 June on SBS VICELAND. You can stream the show at SBS On Demand after it goes to air.

 

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(Re)Solved

Taking a closer look at the official versus alternate causes of death of a number of celebrities, – including Prince, Bob Saget, Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy, Anna Nicole Smith and Brandon Lee, plus many more – a team of amateur and professional investigators probe into the flaws and inconsistencies in the official investigations.

(Re)Solved premieres at 9.20pm, Thursday 29 June on SBS VICELAND. Episodes air weekly.

Fighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun

If you missed this series when it first aired on SBS VICELAND last year, it's worth tuning in. With exclusive access to the UK's Royal Air Force £100 million F35 Lightning jet fighter program, the three-part documentary series takes us into the fast jet recruitment and training process. It's a vivid insight into the challenges faced by the men and women hoping to become the next 'top guns'.

See three-part series Fighter Pilot: The Real Top Gun Saturdays at 8.30pm from 3 June on SBS VICELAND. Episodes will be available at SBS On Demand for 30 days after they air.