What's on the box this week?

'Addicted To Money' (RTE 1, Tuesday) - With the help of some of the world's leading authorities, David McWilliams uncovers what amounted to a systemic crime syndicate pushing the most dangerous economic drug ever invented: easy credit. Our insatiable desire for cheap money was pushed from top to bottom through the entire economy with little recognition of the long-term risk. Consumers, businesses, even entire Governments were hooked on an insatiable need for the 'have now, pay later' culture. But this addiction was no accident - it was knowingly fuelled by a financial sector that was paid huge amounts to cut and dice and distribute toxic credit at every level, regardless of the dangers. As economist McWilliams makes his way up the various levels of the drug pyramid, from consumers taking on unsustainable mortgage debt to the middle men creaming huge commissions on the way through, the viewer learns that regulators, ratings agencies and, ultimately, politicians were all corrupted by their money addiction. And at the apex of the syndicate sat the Dons, the investment banks which cynically pushed their risky products fully aware that they had the capacity to undermine global stability. This new series, which began last week, is a lesson for our times. _____________________________________________________________ 'The 11th Hour' (RTE 2, Wednesday) - Dave Fanning is back with a brand new series bringing some of the hottest new music along with interviews from the biggest artists and specially recorded performances from some of the bands of the moment. This week Fanning talks to Mick Fleetwood and Lyndsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac, who play a couple of sold-out shows in Dublin's O2 later this month. 'The 11th Hour' will also feature music from Bat For Lashes, Air and Julie Feeney, along with a report on the making of Lady Gaga's album. Actor Simon Delaney talks about his favourite music, plus there's live music from Irish band Codes and Adrian Crowley, whose album 'Season Of The Sparks' is one of the best of the year. _____________________________________________________________ 'Ryan Confidential' (RTE 1, Thursday) - In the first episode of a new series of 'Ryan Confidential', Gerry Ryan travels to the fabled Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles to interview the man who has helped shape sexual attitudes not just in the USA, but around the world. Almost 60 years have now passed since Hugh Hefner founded Playboy magazine and laid the foundations for what was to become a global media empire. In that time, he has been denounced as a depraved pornographer and praised as a champion of free speech and sexual liberation. 'Hef' talks candidly to Ryan about his problems with religious fundamentalism and radical feminists. He tries to explain why both his marriages failed and why, at 83 years-old, he still likes to date young girls. He reminisces about the famous grotto at the Playboy Mansion where generations of rock and movie stars, models and athletes, politicians and writers have shed their clothes and inhibitions. He also talks about his long-standing commitment to social activism and why he continues to regard himself as 'a true romantic'. _____________________________________________________________ 'Electric Revolution: Micro Men': (BBC 4, Thursday) - Martin Freeman and Alexander Armstrong star in this one-off drama which provides an affectionately comic account of the race for home computer supremacy in the 1980s. 'Micro Men' documents the lengthy rivalry between maverick visionary Sir Clive Sinclair and his former colleague Chris Curry as they go head-to-head to achieve domination of the growing home computer market. Profiling the brilliant and eccentric characters that triggered the beginning of the UK computer revolution, 'Micro Men' is part of 'Electric Revolution', a season of programmes giving viewers a unique insight into how developments in technology have shaped our lives over the past 50 years. The season also charts the rise of today's globally linked, instantly gratified digital culture _____________________________________________________________ Movie Of The Week: 'All About Eve' (RTE 1, Saturday) - This 1950 drama starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, directed by Joseph L Mankiewicz, still holds the record for most Oscars won in a Hollywood melodrama that stands the test of time. An ageing stage star is flattered by the attention of an adoring fan, and decides to take the young woman under her wing and make her a personal assistant - unaware that her new protegée is really a ruthlessly ambitious, budding actress who will do all that it takes to steal the limelight. A knockout.