What to watch, and more! Week of May 22 – May 28
A world of women, Tom Hanks on WWII, and a time when a joke could cost you your head!
FRIDAY, May 22
Ladies First
A ladies’ man finds his life upended when he wakes up in a parallel world dominated by women, above. Starring Sasha Baren Cohen and Rosamund Pike (Netflix).
America’s Awesome Kids
Meet some great kids from across America and learn what’s special about them, where they live, what they love to do, and how they make positive impacts in their communities (check local listings, PBS).
Comics Unleashed
Byron Allen hosts new series with guest comedians talking about making people laugh (11:35 p.m., CBS).
SATURDAY, May 23
When I Said I Do
Romance movie inspired by the Clint Black/Lisa Harman duet hit of 1999 stars Sarah Drew and Eric Johnson (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, May 24
F1 Canadian Gran Prix
Tune in to see who wins in the final laps of the international racing event, which has been a part of the Formula One World Championship since the 1960s (Netflix).
WWE Rivals
Tune in for an roundtable discussion with WWE legends and superstars diving into classic matches and defining moments (9 p.m., A&E).
MONDAY, May 25
World War II with Tom Hanks
20-episode documentary series reexamines World War II through the lens of a new century, offering a portrait of how the modern world was forged in the fires of global conflict (8 p.m., History Channel).
The American Music Awards
Queen Latifah hosts this annual televised event, live from Las Vegas, honoring influential songs and artists—like Taylor Swift, who leads with eight nominations (8 p.m., CBS).
TUESDAY, May 26
Evil Lives Here: My Child the Killer
Parents come to face a horrible truth: that the child they loved has grown up to be a killer. Series finale tonight (9 p.m., ID).
Stagebound: Robert “Silk” Mason’s Journey to Opening Night of “CATS: The Jellicle Ball”
What’s it like to take a Broadway show from rehearsals and costume fittings to press appearances, and finally standing ovations? Find out in this music-filled documentary with actor Robert “Silk” Mason (12 noon, streaming at pbs.org/gperf).
WEDNESDAY, May 27
What’s the Story, Wishbone?
Documentary about how a small dog with a big imagination brought classic literature to life for millions of kids and earned one of television’s highest achievements (check listings, PBS).
Spider-Noir
Live-action series based on Marvel Comics’ web-slinging hero stars Nicholas Cage, above, as an aging and down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero. With Lamorne Morris, Jack Houston and Brendan Gleeson (Amazon Prime).
Room to Move
Documentary about follows acclaimed choreographer, dancer and educator Jenn Freeman as she navigates her life and career with a neurodevelopmental disorder necessitating lifelong alterations (Netflix).
THURSDAY, May 28
Deli Boys
Season two begins of the comedy series about two spoiled Pakistani-American brothers forced to take over their CEO father’s secret crime syndicate, starring Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh and Alfie Fuller (Hulu).
The Four Seasons
New season of the comedy series about a group of friends who vacation together…now with a baby in tow. Starring Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Colman Domingo (Netflix).
READ ALL ABOUT IT
If you think today’s political climate is fraught with peril—like when a U.S. president threatens to shut down comedians who mock him—well, good thing you didn’t try tickling funnybones back in the era of the Third Reich. Rudolph Herzog’s Dead Funny: Telling Jokes in Hitler’s Germany (Melville House) examines a little-known wrinkle of WWII history, a dark and dangerous time when humorous jabs at the Nazi empire could get you banned, exiled or executed by guillotine. Yikes!
Movie buffs will love Armed Farces (McFarland), a collection of academic explorations—on topics including Full Metal Jacket, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, JoJo Rabbit, Dr. Strangelove and The Producers—about how Hollywood has dealt with war and conflict, often with an arsenal of satire and humor.
BRING IT HOME
Based on a popular videogame, season two of the Amazon Prime sci-fi series Fallout takes its characters (Ella Purnell, Kyle McLachlin, Walton Goggins and Frances Turner) into a post-apocalyptic hellscape, the Mojave Wasteland, that was once Las Vegas. (Amazon MGM Home Video)
There are laughs aplenty in Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie (Neon Home Entertainment) about two hapless guys (Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol) in a Nirvana cover band who come up with a last-chance scheme to find success. It’s based on the duo’s cult-hit Canadian mocumentary TV sitcom series.
NOW HEAR THIS
Grammy winner and rock icon Peter Frampton’s first album in 16 years, Carry the Light (Ume), features guest appearances from a who’s-who of collaborators, including Sheryl Crow, H.E.R., and Graham Nash. He calls it “one of my most enjoyable projects ever,” as he got to write and produce it with his son, Julian.
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of its initial release, The Beach Boys’ all-time classic album has been has been newly remastered and repackaged in a deluxe edition, The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights (UmE). It includes audio goodies like alternate takes, a cappella versions, isolated vocals and instrumental tracks. Classic cuts include “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B.,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations” and more. Good vibrations, indeed!
Neil Diamond’s new Wild at Heart (Capitol/Ume) marks his third collaboration with uber-producer Rick Rubin, featuring ten previously unreleased tracks originally recorded during the prolific sessions for Home Before Dark, Diamond’s 2008 album and his first to ever top that charts at No. 1.
