This Week's TV Highlights
by Lindsay O'Haaalloran
Officer Balloon (BTV-2)
Enthusiastic police officer Xie Fei attaches helium balloons to his body and becomes Beijing's leading expert in high-rise crime and prevailing wind directions. This week, Officer Balloon drifts lazily over Chaoyang Park and cracks a forgery ring operating in the open air on top of an apartment building.
Spider-man 2 in Slow Motion (HLJTV)
Sam Raimi's blockbuster sequel slowed to 25% of its original speed and shown in half-hour episodes.
Episode 8 of 16: Peter Parker very slowly calls Mary-Jane to apologise, while Dr Octavius gradually unveils his new invention.
Answer the Shoe (CCTV-1)
Whose Line Is It Anyway? second-stringer Tony Slattery makes an assault on the Middle Kingdom in this new quiz show, in which contestants are grilled alternately by a mute, gesticulating Slattery and a giant talking shoe.
Metaphor Chronicles 3000 (XJTV)
Futuristic children's animation. A sudden sneak attack by the evil insectoid Rising Sun Empire cuts off a space station belonging to the peace-loving but heavily armed Central Republic, just as the Republic is celebrating having hosted the best Space Olympics ever. Will Space Cruiser Red Star come to the rescue in time?
The Step (HEBTV)
Reality show set in front of a convenience store in Shijiazhuang.
This week: Shop-owner Lu Wei throws some dirty water on to the pavement from a plastic tub. Li Yijian shouts hello at what she thinks is a foreigner going past on a bike.