Some of you may be spending your bank holiday camping in fields and the like, or some of you may be even off on your holiers, isn't it well for you? You may just be using these three days though to kick back and relax and do some good old fashioned navel-gazing. While you're at it though, why not look up and have a gander at what's on the telly this weekend, if you do, here's what you might see...

FRIDAY

The Singer Takes It All
Channel 4: 9:00pm

Alan Carr is back again this Friday night for a new show which will involve live interactive singing whereby the audience is in complete control. We always knew the likes of Simon Cowell and Gary Barlow weren't all that necessary, let the people decide! Oh and by the audience, we don't just mean them lot sitting there in studio, it's you at home too. Viewers choose between the singers who perform on a conveyor belt, then vote for who they want to go through to the next round or who must leave through the disappearing doors and head back to obscurity. It's a harsh old world, but talent shows like this are probably the way of the future, Cheryl and Louis won't know what to be doing with themselves.


Letters to Juliet
RTE1: 10:05pm

A nice little movie on RTE to set you up for the bank holiday weekend. It tells the story of a young writer (Amanda Seyfried) on holiday in Italy who discovers a 50-year-old letter from a woman describing her regret at rejecting a man she was in love with. She finds herself moved to reply (not intruding at all like), and the woman then turns up with her grandson in tow. Together they set out to find her lost love and put things right, and sure no doubt there will be a bit of love in the air for Miss Seyfried too. N'aww. No, we won't pass you the bucket, get your own.


The '90s: The Decade That Connected Us
National Geographic: 9.00pm

Ah the 90's. In the midst of it all, it seemed like there was nothing really all that different happening. Nothing to make the decade stand out as much as, say, the sixties or seventies. But nope, turns out in hindsight, there was a whole load of culturally significant moments happening that would define a generation. From the pop culture crazes of Clueless and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to the rise of hip-hop and NIRVANA, for jaysus sake. It was also the decade that saw Nelson Mandela released from prison and the rise of a pretty popular American family called the Clintons. Featuring contributions from the likes of rapper Vanilla Ice and Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, this promises to be one enjoyable trip down memory lane, so get out those old check shirts and baggy jeans and relive it all over again.

 

SATURDAY

The Inbetweeners
Channel 4: 9:00pm

The second installment of The Inbetweeners movies will be out next week, so you can get yourselves in the mood by watching their antics in Crete from a couple years ago. Simon, Will, Jay and Neil all head off on their holiers for the right of passage end of exams piss-up, hoping to experience the trip of a lifetime, as so many do. However, as is often the case with these lads, things don't exactly go to plan, with some downright hilarious moments and dodgy dance moves along the way.


The Godfather Part III
RTE2: 9:00pm

The final movie in probably the greatest trilogy of all time, pat on the back for Francis Ford Coppola. It's now twenty years since don Michael Corleone ordered the murder of his brother, and he finds himself finally close to fulfilling his dream of severing his family's Mafia ties and gaining legitimacy. However, there's plenty in the way who won't let him, and the actions of his hot-headed nephew soon draw him back into a life of crime. Featuring a now legendary performance from Al Pacino along with Andy Garcia, Diane Keaton, Bridget Fonda and Joe Mantegna.

Crossfire Celebrity Special
TV3: 7.15pm

This new game show from TV3 gets its celebrity twist as Sean Moncrieff puts some famous faces to the test. Well, they are really just his fellow staff of TV3 but look, you'll know them to see. There's Ireland AM co-anchor Sinead Desmond, Xpose presenter Karen Koster, Midday host Elaine Crowley and Midweek reporter Ciara Doherty, all battling it out to win up to 2,000 euros for their chosen charity. Our money's on Ms.Doherty, if she can take on angry Garth Brooks fans, she can take on anything.

Dirty Dancing
TV3 9:00pm

It's almost the end of summer, have you had the time of your life? Did you carry any watermelons? Did anybody put you in a corner!? If the answer is no, fear not, you can have all these experiences and more by watching Dirty Dancing on TV3 on Saturday, even if it is for the 233rd time. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, this iconic movie has long been elevated to the status of a classic. In summary, loads of romance, loads of dancing, and most of it's duuuurty, but the clue is in the title there. Check out TV3's pretty damn funny promo for it too here.

 

SUNDAY


The Sunday Game Live
RTE2: 1.30pm

Things are heating up in the GAA with a double bill of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-finals from Croke Park today. First up is Kerry v Galway at 2pm which will be see the lads from the Kingdom battling it out to reclaim the glory days of not so long ago, although Galway are looking pretty strong this year. Later on at 4pm, Mayo will take on Cork, and we can only hope that the former will succeed to have another run at Sam, sorry Cork, but come on, it has to be the year for the men from the wesht.

Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony
BBC1: 9:00pm

It feels like these games only started but the closing ceremony is here already. Gary Lineker, Clare Balding and Hazel Irvine will be presenting live coverage of the event at Hampden Park in Glasgow, bringing the 20th Commonwealth Games officially to a close after 11 days of competition. The ceremony is set to celebrate all things Scotland, who really have played a blinder as hosts this year, while the baton will be officially handed over to Gold Coast City, host of the 2018 Games.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
TV3: 9:00pm

The sequel is just out in cinemas now but here's another chance to see James Franco get to grips with the apes, as we see how this planet they will one day rule came to be. It begins with a scientist (Franco) carrying out genetic experiments on the apes, hoping to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. A chimpanzee (Caesar!) used in the tests develops superior intelligence and becomes outraged at the human race's cruel treatment of his kind, forming his fellow primates into an army to overthrow mankind. This sci-fi thriller was a surprise box office hit in 2011 so here's hoping the sequel lives up to it.


Friends with Benefits
Film4: 9:00pm

About three of these 'so you're sleeping with your mate' romantic comedies all seem to have come out at the same time a couple years ago, but this one is easily the best, mostly due to the chemistry between its stars Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis. She plays corporate headhunter Jamie, who hires art director Dylan to work at a high profile New York magazine. The pair become bessie mates, and soon decide it would be a GREAT idea to avoid the complications of a relationship and just start going at it. And it all works out absolutely fine, with zero complications - said nobody ever. Luckily, Woody Harrelson is there to point all this out though, he plays Dylan's gay colleague and is his usual awesome Woody self.

 

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Gomorrah
Sky Atlantic: 9:00pm

There are high expectations for this new foreign language drama for Sky Atlantic, and by the sounds of it, it will more than live up to them. The Italian crime drama is based on Roberto Saviano's bestselling book, and follows the goings on of the brutal Neapolitan crime syndicate the Camorra, as seen through the eyes of Ciro Di Marzio, the obedient and self-confident right-hand man of the organisation's godfather Pietro Savastano. The series begins as Ciro and his friend Attilio set fire to the home of ruthless rival Salvatore Conte as they attempt to stop him from encroaching on Savastano's turf. When Conte escapes, however, he makes a vicious retaliation against the Savastanos, meaning all-out war for Pietro. This potentially has the awesomeness of The Godfather and The Sopranos all rolled into one, but we will let you decide what you make of this opening episode. Oh and there are subtitles, but you can handle it, we know you can.


My Great War
RTE1: 9.35pm

First of a two-part documentary which traces some of the stories of the 200,000 Irish men who fought in the First World War. Young descendants of the men travel from Ireland to Europe to hear what their distant relatives went through, discovering the hard realities of war and its consequences. Amongst others, we'll meet Sean Malone, who is trying to find out the truth behind the story of his relative Sergeant Michael Curley, who is said to have killed his own commanding officer while trying to save the lives of his comrades.


Man about Dog
TV3: 9:00pm

There's not many movies to choose from on the box this bank holiday weekend, but this Irish flick will certainly bring a few laughs anyways. It follows three down-on-their-luck lads with simply charming names such as Mo Chara, Scud Murphy and Cereberal Paulsy, who find themselves in possession of a greyhound. They reckon they might have a winner on the racetrack but at first attempt, the dog doesn't prove up to much. They sell it on to travellers only to realise they made a huge mistake. ('I've made a HUGE mistake'. Anybody? Answers on a postcard). They set out to steal the dog back, however, it's not going to be as easy as they hope for. Pat Shortt's in this too, and sure he's just gas.

Ghostbusters
TV3: 5:00pm

You just can't bate a good classic movie of a bank holiday Monday evening, and Ghostbusters fits the bill perfectly. Speaking of bill, it's got the legend that is Bill Murray in it too, what more could you ask for? Himself and a few other scientist mates of his decide to put their hi-tech gadgetry and knowledge of the paranormal to money-making use by setting up in business as freelance ghost catchers. Worth watching just so you can sing along to the theme tune... everybody! 'Who you going to call? Ghostbusters!' Ahem, just us then....