Beast Games review: Screen Queen on MrBeast’s show, St Denis Medical, Muster Dogs, AACTAs and The Newsreader

Beast Games

Streaming now on Prime Video

Do you have a child at home who regularly watches YouTube? If so, you’ll be all too aware of the name MrBeast. For the uninitiated, he’s an insanely popular, insanely rich YouTube star, who built an empire online (350 million subscribers and counting!) through performing crazy stunts via his channel — kids love him.

Up until a few weeks ago, I’d managed to avoid anything Jimmy Donaldson (that’s his real name) had done. But this December, mostly out of curiosity, I sat down to watch an episode of his new reality series — and reader, I’m obsessed.

This show has an insane premise: the star is giving away a $US5 million prize ($7.9 million in Australia) to one lucky contestant taking part in his bigger-than-Ben-Hur game show. He starts with 1000 players (the largest cast of a game show ever) and whittles them down via challenges.

Along the way he attempts to entice them to leave by offering huge amounts of money — it’s fascinating to see who takes the bait. Truly, my jaw was on the floor when not one, but FOUR contestants willingly passed up the chance to walk away with a million American dollars in order to stay in the game; in a horrid twist of fate, one of these principled players is eliminated the very next round, and oof! Can you imagine?

Along the way, contestants can win a Lamborghini and even a private island. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s genius or a damning indictment of where we’re at with late-stage capitalism, but this show is resonating with me hard.

Beast Games has been (rightfully?) slated by critics; it has a dismal 13 per cent approval rating from them on Rotten Tomatoes. But interestingly, it stands at 90 per cent with the general public. I’m clearly a woman of the people because I’m bloody loving it.

Beast Games joins other hit TV shows of the moment (I’m looking at you Severance and Squid Games) in skewering late-stage capitalism with terrifying — and entertaining — results.

Sign me up, literally and figuratively.

The Newsreader S3

Sunday, 8.30pm, ABC

It feels like an eternity since Dale and Helen were on our screens, and not even Rick and Sue at 6pm have been able to fill the gaping hole left by their absence.

But finally our favourite newsreaders are back — and we’re off to a clipping start.

The action picks up in 1989, with Helen (Anna Torv) recently returned from a stint working overseas. While she’s been away, Dale (Sam Reid) has been busily cementing himself as a TV favourite — he’s been nominated for a gold Logie for his troubles, and in the first ep we get to go with him to the Logies. I SQUEALED!

Fans won’t want to miss this sensational third and final season.

Muster Dogs: Collies And Kelpies

Sunday, 7.30pm, ABC

Which make better muster dogs: collies or kelpies? This season Lisa Millar is on a quest to find out and, honestly, each and every one of these pups is a winner in our eyes. As that famous Old El Paso ad says, por que no los dos?

St Denis Medical

Monday, streaming on 7Plus

Aussie expat Josh Lawson (remember him?) pops up in this new comedy from Superstore creator Justin Spitzer. This has been getting great reviews in the States — don’t miss it.

2025 ACCTA Awards

Friday, 7.30pm, Ten and Binge

Russell Crowe is stepping up to host this year’s Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards ceremony, which promises to be a big night for Aussie TV and film. Will my picks take out top gongs? Probably not — I’m almost always way off the mark with this awards ceremony.