TV LIFE

German outlet Der Spiegel has released 'Inside Russia (2)', a SPIEGEL TV documentary presenting exclusive reporting on life under Vladimir Putin's increasingly isolated dictatorship. The film offers viewers rare insights into how ordinary Russians and the political leadership are coping amid the country's international isolation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. It is drawing heavy attention internationally, with hundreds of thousands of viewers engaging with the documentary within days of release.

German TV presenter Annika Lau has spoken publicly about her son's ADHD diagnosis, saying she often cries in her car while processing the emotional strain. Her candid account of parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is drawing attention and resonating with parents facing similar challenges.

Carlo Acutis, the Italian teenager who died in 2006 and became the Catholic Church's first millennial saint, is back in the spotlight as Italian media revisit the miracles attributed to his intercession. A new TV and cinema documentary tells his story, recalling his hospital stay and the healings recognized by the Vatican that paved his path to sainthood.

A new Chinese television series uses artificial intelligence to recreate the Red Army's Long March, the historic 1930s military retreat that became a founding myth of the People's Republic. According to China Daily, the production applies AI technology to bring historical scenes and figures vividly to life on screen. The series highlights how Chinese broadcasters are increasingly turning to AI tools in historical drama production.

Tracie Andrews, the British woman convicted of the 1996 road rage murder of her fiancé Lee Harvey, is back in the news, with a TV listing noting she claimed to be 'inspired by' real-life road rage killer Kenneth Noye. The case remains one of the UK's most notorious crimes, and interest in Andrews has resurfaced around coverage of her story.

Russian media are reporting that a producer has spoken about the last minutes of the life of Sergey Sosedov, the music critic and singer known widely by the name Aziza. The account, published by MUZ-TV, is circulating among Russian-speaking audiences and prompting reactions about the circumstances of his death. Details of what the producer said were not provided in the available coverage.

The TV movie 'Doppia colpa' is broadcast this evening on Rai 2, drawing attention for its plot in which a mystery upends the life of a professor. Italian viewers are discussing the thriller ahead of and during its airing, with coverage highlighting the suspenseful storyline that will be shown on the public broadcaster's second channel tonight.

Peppino Mazzullo, the Italian actor who voiced Topo Gigio, the beloved mouse puppet that charmed American audiences on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' has died at the age of 100. Tributes and obituaries are celebrating his role in bringing the internationally famous character to life for generations of viewers.

Italian TV presenter Mia Ceran gave a new interview recalling that she started at CNN at age 20 and later worked with the Gialappa's Band, describing them as 'cruel' in training her. She also spoke about her personal life, saying her partner remains private and calling herself a 'serial monogamist'. Italian media and readers are picking up her candid remarks about both her career and relationships.

Comedians Nagano and Kuruma are set to appear in a one-hour special of the talk show 'Hikakkari Nietzsche', according to TV Life. The episode features frank conversations with a top idol who 'says everything' and a veteran comedian who 'runs wild'. The format centres on unfiltered, honest talk rather than rehearsed celebrity promotion.

A Chinese reality television show about finance interns is drawing wide attention online, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the high-pressure world of banking and investment careers. Commenters are discussing the grueling hours, workplace culture and career ambitions the show portrays, with many comparing it to their own experiences in the competitive finance industry and debating whether it glamorizes or honestly depicts intern life.

Japanese TV personality Kazushige Nagashima is joining the 'Gochi' ordering segment of the Nippon TV variety show 'GuruNai' for the third time, his first appearance in about eight years. He lost both previous appearances, paying roughly 400,000 yen out of his own pocket in total, though he says he does not remember the details.

Dutch singer André Hazes Jr is drawing attention with a new reality series, and viewers are asking whether his ex-partner Monique Westenberg will feature in it. The question is being raised in Dutch TV guides and entertainment coverage, reflecting continued public interest in the singer's personal life and family following their much-publicised relationship and breakup.

Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster best known for presenting BBC's That's Life! and founding the helpline ChildLine, has died at the age of 86. In later years she became a prominent campaigner for assisted dying after a terminal cancer diagnosis, helping push the issue up the UK political agenda. Tributes are being paid to her broadcasting career and advocacy.

Apple TV has announced a second season of 'Carême', its drama about Marie-Antoine Carême, the celebrated chef of the Napoleonic era who became a spy. The series, which follows the famous cook's double life in the political intrigue of early 19th-century Europe, will continue after its first run drew attention for its blend of culinary history and espionage drama.

TV Tokyo broadcast 'DOORS: The Person Who Gave Me Life's Key' (人生の鍵をくれた人), a Japanese television program under the DOORS franchise. The programme's airing has drawn attention among Japanese TV viewers, with the episode title circulating across television-related listings and social feeds. Beyond the broadcast itself, no further details about guests, ratings or reactions are currently available.

A 32-year-old former idol who went on to become a businesswoman appeared on the Japanese TV program "Ueda to Onna," prompting a wave of surprised reactions from viewers. Social media users remarked that they had not seen her in a long time, questioned whether she had lost weight, and expressed shock that she is now appearing on television after a path from idol to so-called NEET to successful entrepreneur.

A BuzzFeed listicle rounds up 18 celebrity breakups marked by unusually dramatic twists, with allusions to everything from truth serums to mob-style hits. The piece recounts the messiest splits in entertainment history, framing them as more sensational than scripted TV drama, and invites readers to compare the real-life sagas with their favorite soap operas.

TV Tokyo-style travel programming has a new entry: 'Zekkei & World Heritage: Tuesday no Yoshizumi Kotaro' launched with a special first episode in which actresses Ryoko Yonekura and Manami Higa travel to Egypt. The announcement, carried by TV LIFE web via Yahoo! News, includes comments from the cast. Details about the show's regular format and broadcast schedule remain limited in the available coverage.

Japanese rock band Suchmos will have a behind-the-scenes documentary about their joint-billing tour broadcast exclusively on the music channel Space Shower TV, as reported by Billboard JAPAN. The film follows the band through the tour, offering fans a close-up look at their performances and life on the road.

A new television ad from Bennett promises a fight to make life more affordable and an end to the war with Iran. The spot, covered by the New Jersey Globe, frames affordability and foreign policy as the campaign's central themes. It signals the candidate is pairing pocketbook messaging with a push to wind down the Iran conflict.

A Tufts Daily piece argues the traditional 22-episode American broadcast TV season is effectively dead. Streaming-era shows typically run 6 to 10 episodes per season, replacing the long network seasons that once dominated television. Commenters are weighing in on whether shorter seasons mean better storytelling or less of the filler episodes that made long-running shows feel like part of daily life.