What to watch, and more, Aug. 22 – Aug. 28
A superhero splurge, the new Bill Murray flick & Chris Hemsworth’s quest for a better life
FRIDAY, Aug. 22
Long Story Short
Animated comedy from the creator of BoJack Horseman follows the ups, downs, ins and outs, joys and disappointments of a family voiced by Paul Reiser, Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco and Max Greenfield (Netflix).
James Can Eat
What’s it like to be a competitive eater, able to down a pan of hot dogs or nearly 60 doughnuts? This documentary takes you inside the ups, down and urrrps of James Webb, Australia’s top-ranked eater, as he pushes his gastro boundaries on his quest to dethrone the “sport’s” icon, Joey Chestnut (Prime).
SATURDAY, Aug. 23
Girl in the Cellar
A single mom resorts to extreme measures to control her teenage daughter, locking her away in the basement—the same place the mother was held captive by her abusive father years ago. Yikes! (8 p.m., Lifetime).
DC Movie Marathon
Fans can geek through the p.m. with these three movies based on comic books: Justice League (2017), Black Adam (2022) and Man of Steel (2013) (starts 12 noon, TBS).
SUNDAY, Aug. 24
Unforgotten on Masterpiece
In the new season, Inspectors James (Sinéad Keenan) and Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) return to uncover the truth behind a dismembered body found in a marsh and connect the dots of people with whom the victim was somehow linked (10 p.m., PBS).
Solo
Talented young individuals confront challenges and distractions, including stage fright and substance abuse, as they chase their dreams in Norway’s vibrant arts scene (Viaplay).
MONDAY, Aug. 25
Limitless: Live Better Now
Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and actor Chris Hemsworth team up for this docuseries filmed across six countries over two years, blending cutting-edge science with age-old wisdom about how we can all start living better, addressing such issues as pain, fear and cognitive decline. (8 p.m., National Geographic).
The Friend
Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star in this heartwarmer (above) about a writer, her best friend and a 150-pound Great Dane named Apollo (Paramount+).
TUESDAY, Aug. 26
Playing Nice
Brit series about two couples who face a difficult decision when they discover their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up. With James Norton, James McArdle, Jessica Brown Findlay and Posy Sterling (BritBox).
Baby Assassins 3
Martial-arts comedy franchise’s newest entry, about a group of young women taking on a brutal freelancer who hopes to take their place in the stone-cold-killer food chain (check streaming services).
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
New original series from the bestselling author of The Terminal List stars Taylor Kitsch as a former Navy SEAL who dives into the world of espionage with CIA Special Ops. With Chris Pratt (Prime Video).
THURSDAY, Aug. 28
The Thursday Murder Club
Chris Columbus directs this lively romp, based on the bestselling novel, about a group of retires into solving cold-case murders for fun who find themselves in a real-life whodunit. Starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie (Netflix).
Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story
Ripped-from-the-headlines true crime thriller about a British model (Nadia Parkes) whose kidnapping creates a media firestorm accusing her of faking it all (AMC+).
NOW HEAR THIS
John Fogerty marks the big 8-0 birthday with his new album, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (Concord), and its new re-recordings of 20 classic CCR tunes including “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Run Through the Jungle” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” It’s a family affair, produced by Fogerty’s son, Scott, with wife Julie as executive producer.
Knock knock. Who’s there? Right! It’s The Who, with Live at the Oval 1971, a newly released live recording of the iconic British band’s robust 15-song set for a Bangla Desh famine relief effort in South London. Tracks include “Substitute,” “I Can’t Explain,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Pinball Wizard” and, of course, “My Generation.” And you’ll also hear drummer Keith Moon and guitarist Pete Townshend smash their gear—a Who in-concert signature—at the close.
BRING IT HOME
Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson top the cast of The Unholy Trinity (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a tale of Old West revenge, secrets and buried treasure in 1870s Montana. And hey, there’s David Arquette, Tim Daly (from TV’s Wings) and Yellowstone’s Q’orianaka Kilcker, who starred as Pocahontas in The New World.
Holy moly! The Conjuring, the 2013 demons-among-us film that spawned a franchise, is now available as a 4K Ultra HD restoration (Warner Bros, Discovery Home Entertainment). Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson star as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Newman, caught in the middle of the most terrifying case of their lives. And it’s all based on a true story!
READ ALL ABOUT
When does science fiction become science fact? Find out in Madeline Schwartzman’s Alive (Thames & Hudson), a brisk and timely look at rebellious AI, realistic robots, synthetic biology, digital snacks and other once-implausible realities of modern life. Indeed, it will make you ponder what it means to be “alive,” and just how humankind may (or may not) fit into the future.
The Media Tourist 