On the flipside of the NZ Media - Review of the Paul Henry Show

The Paul Henry Show debuted on Monday morning this week with Jim Kayes, Hilary Barry and Perlina Lau.

The start of Monday's show Paul was a bit serious and staid but as the show progressed he really did liven up with great banter between him and Hilary.  As the NZ Herald has suggested, Perlina was a bit awkward, and I share those thoughts.  She really wasn't needed, nor was Jim.  Hilary and Paul are enough and it's great to see a smart woman alongside an opinionated man.  It makes for a nice change.  I can't really see Perlina and Jim adding much to the show.

The stories were good and contrasting, there was the fluff and then the more serious stories like the Auckland mayoralty and Labour MP Phil Goff possibly standing.  Great charisma and discussion between Paul and Phil.  Paul had that great connection with all of his guests actually.  He was very engaging.

You can tell the show was catering to their radio audience in addition to TV, with no reference to the pictures on the screen.  It would have been good if he'd made reference to how people could view the pictures online or if this could be added later on.

I've been a fan of Paul Henry for a few years now, since I was 18 actually and I've always thought he was engaging and the Paul Henry Show really brings that out in him.  He's very engaging and little known fact, Henry is FUNNY, yes, you heard me say funny, well actually you READ me say funny.  He brings a real liveliness to morning (though I watch at night due to country time differences and after I've finished work and the gym) TV that has been lacking for several years since well....since Paul Henry was last on the airwaves.

The show loses a few points because he interrupts his guests and because Perlina and Jim aren't needed, but otherwise I have to give the show a four out of five star rating.