Television previews for week beginning November 2 INSIGHT: Neil Oliver offers a foreigner's perspective on Australia in the Great War. Tuesday, November 4, 7.30pm, History On the one hand, it's weird to have a foreigner - Neil Oliver - commentating on the Anzac legend. On the other, it's often both freeing and instructive to have an outsider - particularly one with specialist knowledge, as Oliver has - take a fresh look at something so familiar. Certainly that combination of expertise and no cultural baggage pays off in this fascinating documentary series that uses Canberra's Australian War Memorial as the starting point for, and centrepiece of, an investigation of Australia's involvement in The Great War and everything that flowed from it. Oliver brings respect to the occasion: he's written a book on the subject, and both his grandfathers fought in WW1. But he's clearly not one of those chaps secretly in love with war and all things military. Instead he approaches the matter with a proper academic open mind, alive to the emotion involved but unsentimental when it comes to pursuing the facts. This first episode focuses on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and acts as a broad canvas of the issues, with teasers promising some more robust and detailed discussion further into the series. But perhaps most intriguing in this first instalment is the insight into the current custodian of the AWM, Dr Brendan Nelson, who emerges as even more eccentric - and certainly more interesting - than most of us ever imagined. Wednesday, November 5, 9.30pm, ABC If you watched either Persons of Interest on SBS or The Redfern Story on the ABC (and hopefully you did - both were excellent), you would have caught glimpses of Basically Black, the ill-fated sketch show made for the ABC in 1973. Created by Gary Foley and Bob Maza, among others, it was a fabulous piss-take of both black and white culture that was clearly way, way, way ahead of its time. It never proceeded beyond a pilot, and only ever screened once in prime time: far too cheeky and pointed for our 1970s public broadcaster, and perhaps for mainstream 1970s audiences too. The good news is (a) you can still check out the best bits on YouTube; and (b) it feels like it's been reincarnated here in Black Comedy, a sketch show created by, written by and starring indigenous Australians. It, too, is pointed, cheeky, and a fabulous piss-take of both black and white culture and if not all the segments quite hit the mark, some do so magnificently. In fact, it also shares some DNA with Legally Brown. When it fails, it's because it's got a little bit silly, not because it ever becomes mean and ranty. There's a wonderful warm-heartedness to the enterprise that's bound to make it palatable to a wide audience, and I defy anyone of any colour or culture not to relish the Blakforce segment, in which an indigenous SWAT team scour the country on the lookout for behaviour that's not, well, black enough (eating quinoa salad is enough to get you shot). Delightful in its own right, Black Comedy is also a really encouraging signpost in the resurgence of indigenous culture as part of popular culture. There's undoubtedly a place for confronting, challenging, heartbreaking works. But how wonderful to see entertaining, accessible shows like Wheat Street, Redfern Now, The Code, and now this super comedy taking pride of place in prime time. Monday, November 3, 7.30pm, SBS One A short season of Michael Mosley-plus-Meat documentaries opens tonight with this self-explanatory investigation. Few foodstuffs are as controversial: red meat is regarded as both an essential part of a balanced diet, crucial to healthy human functioning; and the next best thing to poison, causing heart disease, stroke and cancer. What's the truth? Mosley embarks on his familiar course, using his own body as a one-man testing ground while consulting experts on what the science says on the matter. The results might surprise you. Thursday, November 6, 7.30pm, Showcase This new Gothic horror series certainly eschews most of the trappings of contemporary horror/fantasy. But if you love classic Victorian Gothic (and plenty of us do), Penny Dreadful stays faithful to its foundations while building a fresh, clever and wonderfully creepy new story upon them. Various familiar names (Dorian Grey, Victor Frankenstein, Van Helsing) are worked into the narrative, while a terrific cast (including Timothy Dalton, Eva Green and Josh Hartnett) bring just the right mix of gravitas and B-grade ham. Friday, November 7, 9.20pm, SBS2 It's the unique perspective of Rupert Everett (looking better than he has in years) that makes this investigation of the world's oldest profession so interesting. Not only is he genuinely committed to canvassing the issues (rather than pushing a particular agenda) his special combination of erudition, frankness, tenderness and salaciousness bring a fresh feel to a well-worn conversation. Apart from anything else, he's accepted money for sex, he's paid for sex, and some of his best friends are sex workers - all of which is imparted in the most casual way possible. Thursday, November 6, 8pm, Bio Fans of The Good Wife are already familiar with its Origins story: how and why Michelle and Robert King came to create the series. What's really fascinating about this instalment of The Writers' Room are the insights that go beyond plot and character, especially the way in which the limitations of being a network rather than a cable series (no nudity, no bad language) actually enhance rather than restrict the drama. This is chatty, accessible television that's also intelligent and always enlightening. Sunday, November 2, 6pm, Lifestyle Food It's not just Scandinavian drama that's taking over the world. Scandinavian food is so hot right now (Denmark's Noma has overtaken elBulli as the most talked-about restaurant in the universe), making this new British series both timely and intriguing. Even if we all know what Noma is, for most of us our only contact with Scandi food is the meatballs at Ikea, but as Warner demonstrates it's actually a surprisingly diverse cuisine with all the multicultural influences you'd expect of a seafaring nation, along with, these days, a thoroughly modern sensibility.