TV highlights

'New Girl' (RTE 2, Tuesday 13th March, 8.30pm) - Jess Day is a young woman who, after discovering her long-term boyfriend is cheating on her, moves into a loft apartment with three male roommates - prickly bartender Nick, womaniser Schmidt and intense personal trainer Coach. The guys try to help Jess get back on her feet and into the dating world. Starring Zooey Deschanel, Max Greenfield and Jake M Johnson, this one was a big TV hit Stateside. ____________________________________________________________ 'White Heat' (BBC 2, Thursday, 9pm) - As a young woman, Charlotte - a woman in her 60s - was one of seven students who lived in a shared flat, where one of them has recently passed away. Charlotte has been made executor of the will and the remaining five are due to arrive to help her sort through the flat. As Charlotte starts work, old memories are ignited which return us to 1965, where we meet her as a 19-year-old undergraduate embarking on a journey of discovery, love and life. It's the end of the post-war era, Winston Churchill has died and the world is changing rapidly, particularly for the girls with the arrival of the contraceptive pill. For all the flatmates, mutual and unrequited attractions segue into heady and potentially damaging sexual adventures, planting the seeds of future deceptions. ____________________________________________________________ 'Glee: Michael' (Sky One, Monday, 10pm) - In this season's only tribute episode, 'Glee' pays homage to Michael Jackson. With regionals looming, the New Directions decide the only material worth performing is that of the late King of Pop. But when the Dalton Warblers and their devious new leader Sebastian (Grant Gustin) get wind of their choice, they too want to perform Jackson's classic tracks. A musical number not to miss is 'Smooth Criminal' as Santana and Sebastian face off in a dramatic, cello-accompanied rendition of the Jackson hit. ____________________________________________________________ 'The World: Interviews Before Execution' (BBC 1, Monday, 11.10pm) - Every Saturday night in China, millions of people gather around their televisions to watch 'Interviews Before Execution', an extraordinary talk show which interviews prisoners on death row. In the weeks, days or even minutes before they are executed, presenter Ding Yu goes into prisons and talks to those condemned to die. In China, 55 crimes carry the death penalty. As a warning to others, the Chinese authorities have traditionally paraded prisoners through the streets before execution. Here they use a TV show on a state-owned channel. It's a top-rated show in Henan province and has made its presenter a star. Ding Yu, however, sees herself as more than just a reporter. She often goes to great lengths to track down family members and pass on prisoners' messages to their loved ones. ____________________________________________________________ 'Bill Joel: Live At Shea' (Sky Arts, Monday, 10pm) - Chosen as the last rock act to play at the legendary venue before it was torn down in 2009, Billy Joel gives fans a poignant rendition of his classic hits at New York's Shea Stadium. He is joined by Paul McCartney, who waves goodbye to the venue of the famously wild Beatles concert in August 1965, with versions of 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Let It Be'. Tony Bennett treats the sell-out crowd to 'New York State Of Mind', while Garth Brooks performs 'Shameless' and John Mayer gives a rousing rendition of 'This Is The Time'. Amid performances from top guests, six-time Grammy award winner Joel's own act is sensational. He says goodbye to the stadium in an incredible send-off, with songs including 'Piano Man' and 'The River Of Dreams'. ____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'North Face' (RTE 2, Wednesday, 12.10am) - Based on a true story, 'North Face' is a suspenseful adventure film about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Set in 1936, as Nazi propaganda urges the nation's Alpinists to conquer the unclimbed north face of the Swiss massif - the Eiger - two reluctant German climbers begin their daring ascent.