Category Archives: Books

May 30 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Photography, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! May 30 – June 5

All about Bono, a ‘Duck Dynasty’ reunion, a killer clown and golfing with Owen Wilson

Lindsay Lohan doubles up in ‘The Parent Trap,’ one of the flicks in Freeform’s Month of Disney programming.

FRIDAY, May 30
Bono: Stories of Surrender
Documentary about the U2 frontman as he pulls back the curtain on his new one-man show, based on his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, and his journey as a father, son, activist, husband and rock superstar (Apple TV+).

Mama June: Family Crisis
This season in the Honey Boo-Boo spinoff, June fights for custody of a child, searches for a new home and tries to keep a healthier lifestyle (8 p.m., We TV).

SATURDAY, May 31
Mountainhead
Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman and Ramy Youssef star in this drama (above) about a group of billionaire friends who get “high” against the backdrop of a roiling international crisis (HBO).

Antichrist
Director Lars von Trier’s intensely controversial 2009 flick stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg as grieving parents who run into unimaginable terror and violence perpetuated by nature (Mubi).

SUNDAY, June 1
Duck Dynasty: The Revival
Get reacquainted with the Robertsons as they balance family and the future of their Louisiana business (9 p.m., A&E).

30 Days of Disney
Yep, it’s Disney flicks for the whole month, with everything from The Lion King and The Parent Trap to Up, WALL-E, Beauty and the Beast, Bambi and dozens more (begins 7 a.m., Freeform).

MONDAY, June 2
Relative Secrets
Jayne Seymour hosts this new unscripted series unearths American families’ genetic connections to their United Kingdom heritage with evidence often full of colorful characters, heroes, villains and rouges (10 p.m., BBC America and Acorn TV).

The Quiz with Balls
Jay Pharoah returns as host of this fast-paced competition pitting brains against balls….literally (9 p.m., Fox).

TUESDAY, June 3
Caught in the Act: Double Life
Grammy-nominated singer and reality-TV star Tamar Braxton hosts this new series helping guide men and women suspicious of the hidden lives of their loved ones (9 p.m., MTV).

Love Island USA
Singles mix, mingle, mash and more in season seven of the romantic competition series staged on a lush tropical Pacific Island, with commentary by comedian Iain Stirling (9 p.m., Peacock).

Fatal Destination
Actress Jessica Biel hosts this new docuseries examining real-life mysteries and sinister secrets lurking in some of the world’s most beautiful places—sunlit beaches, idyllic mountains and hustle-bustle tourist destinations (Max).

WEDNESDAY, June 4
Stick
Owen Wilson stars in this new comedy series (above) as an over-the-hill ex-pro golfer who discovers a teenage golf prodigy. With Mark Maron, Mariana Treviño, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant (Apple TV+).

Rabil’s Place
The co-founder and president of the Premiere Lacrosse League, Paul Rabil, explores the sport’s origins, icons and rise to prominence in this new docuseries (ESPN+).

THURSDAY, June 5
The Killer Clown: Murder on the Doorstep
True-crime series about murder of a Florida woman who was brutally murdered on her front porch by someone dressed as a clown—and the three-decade hunt for the killer (10 p.m., SundanceTV).

Ginny and Georgia
In season three of the acclaimed comedy-drama series about two female besties, we learn what happens after the end of season two, as Georgia (Brienne Howery) was arrested for murder during her wedding! (Netflix)

BRING IT HOME

What do film editors do, and why is their work so important? The Cinema Within explores the process of how films are put together—from sometimes hundreds of individual “shots”—after all the “shooting” is over. With examples from dozens of movies across cinema history and insights from a film historian, an Oscar-winning film editor, a group of scientists…and a group of people in Turkey who’ve never seen a movie before! And when editing is done well, viewers don’t even think about all the hours that went into it. A must-watch for movie buffs!

Get all the yuks from all the episodes of the hit sitcom from the ’90s, now celebrating its 30th anniversary with The Drew Carey Show: The Complete Series. This roundup of all nine seasons also includes a special feature, “Life Inside the Cubicle,” going inside the making of the fan-favorite show about work, bosses, coworkers office shenanigans.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

How much do you know about the “cradle of civilization” and its deep roots in the arts? (Hint: It’s a lot more than Lawrence of Arabia and Zero Dark Thirty.) Artists of the Middle East 1900 to Now is a handsome, lavishly illustrated coffee-table tome exploring centuries of creativity in that part of the world. Author Saeb Eigner, an Arab and Middle East art and culture specialist, shares his extensive knowledge of the stylistic, literary and linguistic histories with biographies of nearly 100 culturally significant artists who made lasting imprints on the world, and establishes a through-line from their times to the global issues of today. (Thames & Hudson)

Critical essays, lecture transcripts and other texts give engrossing context to almost 400 19th century photographs in Black Chronicles (Thames & Hudson)depicting the long, storied history of Blacks and non-whites from around the world who settled in, or were brought into Victorian England, in history’s long shadow of European slavery. Actor Henry Louis Gates Jr. writes the foreword for author Renee Mussai’s chronicle.

May 23 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Music, Photography, Pop Culture, Television, Travel

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! May 23 – May 29

Pee-Wee tells all, Kevin Costner cowboys up & a Bob Dylan musical

FRIDAY, May 23
Pee-Wee as Himself
Comedian Pee-Wee Herman narrates this doc (above) about his life, career and the creation of his iconic pop-culture alter ago (Max).

Girl From the North Country
A community in Duluth, Minn., comes together in the Great Depression—to the tune of a lot of Bob Dylan songs—in this filmed Great Performance of the Broadway musical (8 p.m., PBS).  

Fountain of Youth
John Krasinski and Natalie Portman star as estranged siblings who reunite to search for the mythological stream on an epic adventure that they’re hoping will lead to immortality (Apple TV+). 

SATURDAY, May 24
Liberian Movie Marathon
Watch three of the fantasy-adventure made-for-TV movies starring Noah Wylie as the “Librarian” who protects a secret collection of rare artifacts, in today’s back-to back running of Quest for the Spear, Return to King Soloman’s Mines and Curse of the Judas Chalice (starts 1 p.m., TNT).

SUNDAY, May 25
Thunderbirds
For the first time ever, cameras take you inside the cockpit with the U.S. Air Force’s legendary flight squadron to witness the training, danger and sacrifice it takes to be part of one of America’s most revered aerial demonstration teams (Netflix).

MONDAY, May 26
The American Music Awards
Superstar Jennifer Hudson hosts the fan-voted awards show live from Las Vegas celebrating a cross-genre span of hits and artists, with Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan and Shaboozey leading the nominations (CBS).

Sheri Papini: Caught in the Lie
Docuseries about the woman who mysteriously “returned” after her 2016 alleged abduction sparked a media firestorm and a federal investigation—and the questions that still swirl around the incident nearly a decade later (9 p.m., ID).

TUESDAY, May 27
America’s Got Talent
The megahit TV talent competition kicks off its milestone 20th season tonight, hosted by Terry Crews with former Spice Girl Mel B returning to the judges’ table alongside Simon Cowell, Howie Mandell and Sofia Vergara (8 p.m., NBC). 

Kevin Costner’s The West
The Yellowstone star cowboys up to host this look (above) at the sweeping and sometimes complicated history of the American West (8 p.m., History).

Destination X
Jeffrey Dean Morgan hosts this new game show as contestants embark on the road trip of a lifetime on a blacked-out bus, not knowing where they’re going, turning Europe into an enormous “game board” (NBC).

WEDNESDAY, May 28
The Grocery List Show
Host Emily Strong, a former Top Chef contender, visits international grocery stores across America to show how cuisine can forge cultural connections (PBS).

Adults
New comedy series about a group of 20-somethings in New York, where they find out nothing about the “grown-up” world they’ve entered is simple. Starring Malik Elassal, Lucy Freyer and Jack Innaren (Hulu).

THURSDAY, May 29
The Better Sister
Jessica Biel, Elizabeth Banks and Corey Stoll star in this eight-episode series (above) about a murder—and some terrible things that drive sisters apart and ultimately bring them back together (Prime Video).

And Just Like That…
Season three continues the post-Sex and the City relationship and adventures of Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Seema, starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis and Sarita Choudhury (9 p.m., Max)

NOW HEAR  THIS

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Don Henley’s Inside Job (Rhino.com), the fourth solo album by the former Eagle, now newly remastered and available in double-LP, CD and digital versions. Originally released in 2000, it followed Henley’s 1984’s blockbuster Building the Perfect Beast with his return to the musical spotlight after an 11-year absence. Tracks include “Everything is Different Now,” “For My Wedding,” “Goodbye to a River” and “The Genie.”  

READ ALL ABOUT IT

How do you “sell” the outdoors?  The Outdoor Archive (Thames & Hudson) is a handsome hard-bound collection spanning a century of ad and catalogue graphics and photography, all intended to make going outside appealing to consumers. Design experts offer insights, like what makes those tent ads so inviting? What photo effects represent action? What colors suggest adventure? And you’ll dig the reproductions of pages from retro catalogues, like a 1927 L.L Bean.

BRING IT HOME

Robert De Niro stars—in two roles!—in The Alto Knights, a biographical drama now on DVD and Blu-ray, about two organized crime bosses, Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, vying for control of New York. Once the best of friends, they’re now on a collision course that will reshape the Mafia, and America, forever (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment).

What’s so scary about a woman in the yard? Watch The Woman in the Yard (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), the bone-chilling new horror flick from Blumhouse (The Black Phone, M3Gan, The Invisible Man) and you’ll find out—as a veiled in black, otherworldly woman suddenly appears outside a farmhouse, sending a grieving mother and her childing into a real-life nightmare. Starring Danielle Deadwyler and Okwui Okpokwasili.

Al Pacino is a blind retired military colonel. Chris O’Connell is the prep-school student who takes a part-time job as his companion and assistant. And they’re both in Scent of a Woman (Shout! Factory), a new 4K disc of the 1992 drama—about their wild weekend—that won three Golden Globes. With new bonus features, including an interview with director Martin Brest.

May 16 2025
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Books, DVDs, History, Movies, Music, Photography, Pop Culture

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, May 16 – May 22

Reba’s a host, Honey Boo Boo’s back & Alexander Skarsgård’s a bot!

FRIDAY, May 16
Academy of Country Music Awards
Luke Combs, Megan Moroney, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson are among the top nominees in this 59th annual live event honoring country music makers and their hits, and hosted by Reba McEntire (8 p.m., Prime Video).

Murderbot
Alexander Skarsgård stars in this new sci-fi comedy-thriller series, based on Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries, as a security robot given a dangerous mission, but needing to hide his abilities for free thought and emotion (Apple TV+).

SATURDAY, May 17
I Was Honey Boo Boo
Alana Thompson (above)—who became reality-TV famous as “Honey Boo Boo”—returns as a young adult in this biopic from her perspective, and all the forced smiles and silent tears, scandals and legal struggles that followed her childhood TV fame (8 p.m., Lifetime)

The Handmaid’s Tale
The Emmy-winning dystopian drama returns for its sixth and final season, with Elizabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Ann Dowd and Yvonne Strahovski (Hulu).

SUNDAY, May 18
Tucci in Italy
Actor Stanley Tucci takes a trip across Italy showcasing the country’s distinctive culinary flavors and traditions of his ancestral homeland (8 p.m., National Geographic).

Naked and Afraid: Last One Standing
Fan favorites take on new challengers to see who can last the longest in the Australian Outback…sans clothes, of course. Bring on the pixels! (8 p.m., Discovery).

MONDAY, May 19
Mr. Polaroid
Meet Edwin Land, the visionary scientist and inventor of the Polaroid camera (9 p.m., PBS).

White Lies
Investigative journalist in South Africa (Natalie Dormer) gets caught in the ugly underbelly of the city, dragging her back to her turbulent past (Acorn TV).

TUESDAY, May 20
A Tooth Fairy Tale
Animated kid-friendly flick about a tooth fairy with a rebellious streak, with voices of Jon Lovitz, Fran Drescher, Vivica Fox, Larken Bell and BooBoo Stewart (various digital platforms).

The Last Role of Charles LeBlanc
A young drifter (Jack DeCerchio) goes to work for an aging movie legend (Arthur Roberts) and learns the hard way in this streaming flick that great actors never stop acting (Apple TV).

WEDNESDAY, May 21
Nine Perfect Strangers
New season intros more strangers (above) who discover their connections in surprising ways. Starring Nicole Kidman as a mysterious health guru, plus Henry Golding, Lena Olin, Christine Baranski and Mark Strong (Hulu).

Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service
The star chef goes “undercover” to get the scoop on the culinary “crimes” of struggling restaurants—then shows them how to make the necessary changes to their space, their menu and their staff (9 p.m., Fox). 

THURSDAY, May 22
Not Her First Rodeo
Champion bull rider Jorden Halvorsen, joined by rookies and returning pros, begins a new season of her women’s bull-riding league, with each cowgirl hoping this will be the year to win the championship buckle (10 p.m., Freeform).

BRING IT HOME

Real-life Britpop star Robbie Williams takes us through formative stages of his life and career in Better Man (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment), with a twist of monkeyshines—he’s represented as talking, singing motion-capture chimpanzee. When you see it, you’ll get it!

Fans of the cinematic subgenre of the ‘70s, action films with Black actors made for Black audiences, will dig Blaxploitation Classics Vol. 1 (Shout! Factory), a 12-disc assemblage of low-budget, explosive firepower that left high marks with popular culture, featuring Issac Hayes, Pam Grier, Fred Williamson and other brand-names-to-be. Titles include Black Caesar, Hell Up in Harlem and Coffy.

May 09 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Photography, Pop Culture

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, May 9 – May 15

Ewan McGregor rides again, all about The Judds & Joan Rivers gets roasted

FRIDAY, May 9
Long Way Home
Actor Ewan McGregor and buddy Charley Boorman are back on the road for another motorcycle adventure (above), this time across Europe (Apple TV+). 

Nonnas
After the loss of his mother, a man risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with a group of local grandmothers and chefs. With Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Susan Sarandon, Brenda Manganiello and Joe Manganiello (Netflix).

SATURDAY, May 10
The Judd Family: Truth Be Told
New documentary (above) dives into the intricate, often troubled relationships of country music’s most iconic mother-daughter act. Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, actress Ashley Judd and others are interviewed (8 p.m., Lifetime, continues tomorrow night).

Nashville
Watch a two-day marathon of the hit series about Rayna James (Connie Britton), Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) and others navigating the cutthroat world of Music City, and catch all-star cameos from Kelly Clarkson, Zac Brown, Brad Paisley and more (12 p.m., AXS TV).

SUNDAY, May 11
The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood
Three-part docuseries about the trio of moms who banded together after each suffering the loss of a child to murder or disappearance—and discovering that all three cases were entangled with each other (8 p.m., ID).

Secrets of the Zoo Down Under
Go inside the Taronga Zoo in Sydney Harbor, home to more than 5,000 creatures and hundreds of committed keepers and vets ushering the facility into its second century of operation (9 p.m., National Geographic Wild).

MONDAY, May 12
The Light in the Hall
New British series about a woman trying to find the truth about a friend’s disappearance nearly 20 years ago—and finding that not everyone is eager to dig up the past. Starring Alexandra Roach and Joanna Scanlan (Acorn TV).

The Gilmore Girls
Fans of the classic show, this is for you: The series, which aired originally 2000-2007 and starred Lauren Graham and Alexis Bedel, is rerunning beginning today on Start TV.

TUESDAY, May 13
Cutthroat Kitchen—Knives Out
Host Brian Malarkey dishes out diabolical culinary challenges to test chefs on their cooking prowess, strategic thinking and abilities to innovate (9 p.m., Food Network).

Joan Rivers: A Dead Funny All-Star Tribute
The late comedianne is feted in this star-packed special with appearances, anecdotes and stand-up bits by Rachel Brosnahan, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Chelsea Handler, Neil Patrick Harris, Howie Mandell and many more (10 p.m., NBC).

WEDNESDAY, May 14
Ultimate Crash Test: Impact
Follow a first-of-its-kind experiment, in the second part of this two-part series, to discover what really happens in multi-vehicle pileups—and gain insights into how driver behavior and vehicle design could save lives (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, May 15
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
A swinging sex scandal makes international headlines and shakes the group of Mormon mom “influencers” (or #MomTok’ers) to its core in the new season (Hulu).

Duster|
New drama series about a gutsy getaway driver for a 1970s Southwestern crime syndicate and a tenacious young agent hellbent on taking down the crooks. Starring Josh Holloway, Keith David, Greg Grunberg and Rachel Hinson (9 p.m., Max)

READ ALL ABOUT IT

How did a single long-ago language morph and mold into a wide “family” of dialects now spanning the world? Find out in the fascinating Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global (Bloomsbury), in which author Laura Spinney traces the roots of the Indo-European language that that became the mother tongue for a great part of the globe.

Learn all about bugs from their POV in Insectopolis (W.W. Norton) a vividly illustrated saga of “graphic nonfiction” about a group of ants, cicadas, bees and butterflies, beetles and other crawling and flying things that visit a library exhibition—and learn about their contributions to history and the arts. “Most insect societies are matriarchal,” notes a dragonfly, buzzing through an exhibit of famed entomologists, all of them men. “You’d think humans would have seen fit to tip their hat to women.” It’s a “bug’s life” writ (and drawn) large by acclaimed artist/author Peter Kuper, who has ‘tooned for The New Yorker, The Nation and Mad magazine. 

In the previous century, the art world was rocked by new artists with revolutionary ideas. The vibrantly illustrated graphic novel Blow Up! The Explosion of Contemporary Art (Thames & Hudson) lays out the story of how artists like Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol and the Japanese woman known as “the polka dot queen” breathed new life into an old format with such diverse works as a banana taped to a wall, a picked shark, a can of soup, a pile of ashes and a camping tent. And, as a bonus, guest appearances by Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, the Beatles and the Velvet Underground!

What do you know one of history’s greatest empires…before it became one of history’s greatest empires? In Rome Before Romans: The Legends That Shaped the Romans (Thames & Hudson), author and historian Philip Matyszak excavates the ancient myths, stories and historical texts that shaped the Roman civilization and continue to reverberate today across the spectrum of popular culture.

If you’re an art lover, you’ll love The Foreign Invention of British Art (Thames & Hudson), which shows the profound influence of many “foreign” artists who’ve called Britain home over the centuries. With loads of biographical info and plentiful illustrations, it’s a primer on how immigration and diversity have so often been driving forces for creative innovation.

How did the Sixties get to be the Sixties? In The Last Great Dream (Da Capo Press), former Grateful Dead publicist Dennis McNally breaks it all down. It’s a funky, fact-filled and altogether fascinating probe into the seeds of anti-mainstream revolution that led to the countercultural “hippie movement” and its swirl of beat poetry, head-trippy music, underground publishing, and gloriously psychedelic everything. Dig it!

BRING IT HOME

Dune-iacs, rejoice! The acclaimed, fan-fave HBO spinoff of the iconic sci-fi Dune-iverse is now available! Dune: Prophesy: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong and Jodhi May, and the new set contains over an hour of bonus content.

Robert Pattison stars in Mickey 17 (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), based on Edward Ashton’s novel, a rip-roaring futuristic sci-fi black comedy about an “expendable” on a mission to colonize an ice planet for an employer who demands his ultimate commitment to the job. And every he time he dies, he just gets re-cloned. With Mark Ruffalo, Toni Collette and Stephen Yuen.

May 02 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Sports, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! May 2 – May 8

Back to Mayberry, a run for the roses & ‘Time’ put influencers in the spotlight

FRIDAY, May 2
Adult Best Friends
Delaney Buffett, Kate Corwin, Zachary Quinto and Mason Goodwin star in this new streaming flick about a couple of drifted-apart girlfriends, a boyfriend, a bachelor party…and what happens next (Max).

Bad Boy
Series is an international production based on the true story of a teenager (played by Daniel Chen) imprisoned in a juvenile detention facility, exploring youth, redemption, brotherhood, friendship and how creativity can help heal deep wounds (Netflix).

SATURDAY, May 3
The Kentucky Derby
The granddaddy of Southern horse racing bolts out of the gate in this annual “Run for the Roses” from Churchill Downs in—where else?—Kentucky (12 noon, NBC and Peacock).

SUNDAY, May 4
Month of Mayberry
Let Andy and Barney and the whole gang guide you through a month of classic-TV programming, including Andy Griffith’s “crossover” spots on Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C, The Danny Thomas Show and others, plus a couple of Mayberry reunion specials from 2003 and 1986 (MeTV).

TIME100: The World’s Most Influential People
Go inside the publication’s annual listing with this gala event, featuring musical performances and other appearances of some of the honorees, including Snoop Dogg, Ed Sheeran, Serena Williams and Demi Moore  (10 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, May 5
Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s
An intimate portrait of families facing the challenges of the devastating neurodegenerative disease and how it transforms role and relationships (10 p.m., PBS).

The Playboy Murders
Holly Madison returns to host season three of the true-crime series recounting shocking intersections of murder and mystery in the sexy world of America’s iconic “girly magazine” (9 p.m., ID).

TUESDAY, May 6
Ms. Pat Settles It
Stand-up comic Patricia Williams Lee, known as Ms. Pat, returns for another season of her “reality court” comedy series, in which “juries” of her family members and friends arbitrate real-life lawsuits, feuds and squabbles (10 p.m., BET).

WEDNESDAY, May 7
Humingbirds of Hollywood
In the showbiz capital of the world, a woman finds herself on a transformative journey nurturing hummingbirds, unraveling a visually stunning tale of love, fragility, healing and the delicate beauty found in acts of kindness (8 p.m., PBS).

Life or Death Negotiators
What does it take to navigate a situation in which one wrong move can be deadly? Find out in this high-stakes docuseries about negotiators skilled at handling matters in which life hangs in the balance (10 p.m., National Geographic).

THURSDAY, May 8
Poker Face
Season two begins of the award-winning mystery series starring Natasha Lyonne, with guest appearances by a buncha all stars, including Cynthia Erivo, Katie Holmes and Awkwafina (Peacock).

ACM Awards
Reba McEntire will host tonight’s 60th anniversary awarding of honors to country music’s top artists and writers, live from Frisco, Texas. Ella Langley leads the pack with eight nominations, followed closely by Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson (Prime Video).

BRING IT HOME

The wife (Michelle Pfeifer) of a university professor (Harrison Ford) believes that their lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost in What Lies Beneath. Is it, or is she losing her mind? This special remastered 25th anniversary re-release of director Robert Zemeckis’ classic cult-fave horror tale is loaded with bonus content, including commentary and a feature-length documentary about making the movie. What Lies Beneath remains Ford’s only “horror” film, and Zemeckis gave a nod to Alfred Hitchcock with Pfeifer as the film’s blond heroine, a recurring theme of Hitch’s meticulous casting.

The definitive documentary about the late, great pioneer of reggae music Bob Marley is now available on DVD, honoring what would have been his 80th birthday. Marley (MVD) delves into the life, legacy and achievements of the reggae superstar, who died in 1981, but not before putting the music of his native Jamacia on the global map, turning the world on to his Rasta vibes.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Movie buffs, you’re sure to dig these new books. Hollywood Boozers, Brawlers and Hard-Luck cases, by Laura Wagner, digs into sordid, scandalous, sometimes just sad and often career-upending tabloid tales from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s a big bunch of drunkenness, brawls and even murder among mid-level actors and actresses who weren’t always “protected” from news hounds by the big studios. Then, Aubrey Sullivan’s The Cinemascope Years leaps onto the screen with the story of what was once a theatrical game-changer—the widescreen technology of Cinemascope—with an inside scoop on more than 500 movies that “went big” during the 1950s and ‘60s, including The Bridge on the River Kwai, North to Alaska, The King and I and The Guns of Navarone, and many other films of all genres. (McFarland).

Ballastic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance
Find out about the ongoing study of how athletes move…and why they can get hurt, in author Henry Abbott’s fact-filled dive into strength training, psychology, biomechanics and pain, and the strides made by sports science to keep competitors safe. It makes great companion reading for the next football game, MMA match or just about anything where someone might get carted off in a stretcher (W.W. Norton).

Felony Juggler
The master magician Penn Jillette is known for mind-blowing tricks on TV and on stage with his partner Teller, but here he puts down the wand and picks up a pen. In this fictional twisty-turn-y tale, a street performer finds himself ensnared in a crime and must outwit his fellow conspirators with a feat of juggling so prodigious, it’s like…well, magic! So you can add “juggling novel” to Jillette’s long list of show-biz accomplishments! (Akashic).

Did ancient Romans play Monopoly? Not exactly, but there’s a through-line from those olden days straight to the modern world with “tabletop” games, the small-scale diversions we devise to engage us, entertain us and bond us. That’s what author G.T. Karber explores in Across the Board (Abrams), an engrossing dive into player-vs.-player pastimes from ancient Egyptians to Pokemon kids, and how those kind of games parallel the march of civilization across the centuries (Abrams).

Apr 25 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more April 25 – May 1

Nicole K goes all the way, celebs share their happy places & a classic romcom gets a reboot

FRIDAY, April 25
Babygirl
Nicole Kidman gives a brave and inhibited performance in this sexually saturated flick (above) as a successful CEO who begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern (Harris Dickinson). It’s h-o-t!! (Max).

WondLa
Season two of the animated adventure series launches with Jeanine Mason returning to provide the voice of Eva, a young woman continuing her epic journey to uncover her past while pursued by a relentless force (Apple TV+).

SATURDAY, April 26
Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
Have you ever wondered why would anyone jump from a rocky precipice to flip, twist and finally plunge into water far below? Maybe you can figure out one of the world’s most extreme sports if you watch this competition (12 noon, Vice.).

Brett Goldstein: The Second Greatest Night of Your Life
The Ted Lasso star (he plays Roy Kent) gets his first HBO standup comedy special (10 p.m., HBO).

SUNDAY, April 27

Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain
Eight-episode series (above) follows the award-winning actress, producer, director and social activist on a cuisine-centric pilgrimage through the land of her ancestors (9 p.m., CNN).

My Happy Place
In this new series, a group of celebrity hosts (including Alan Cumming, Taraji P. Henson, Billy Porter and Questlove) invite you along to learn about the places across the world that have become their restorative sanctuaries (10 p.m., CNN). 

MONDAY, April 28
The Voice
Welcome aboard the new mega mentor/coaches—superstar Sheryl Crow and country powerhouse LeAnn Rimes—as this season’s Playoffs begin (8 p.m., NBC).

Yes, Chef!
Martha Stewart co-hosts as rising-star chefs compete in this new culinary challenge testing their kitchen chops, while also trying to ferret out what might be holding them back—ego, intense personality, stubbornness or short fuses (10 p.m., NBC).

TUESDAY, April 29
Free for All: The Public Library
Learn the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea become reality—and also the modern-day librarians serving the public despite our contentious age of closures and book bans (10 p.m., PBS).

Pati Jinich Explores Panamerica
The James Beard Award-winning Mexican chef and TV personality explores the Panamerican Highway, stretching from Alaska to Argentina, celebrating the many cultures along the way (9 p.m., PBS). 

WEDNESDAY, April 30
Carême
New French drama (above) series follows the world’s first “celebrity chef” (Benjamin Voisin) as he rises from humble beginnings in Paris to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon’s court (Apple TV+).

In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin
The actor and his niece, chef Renee Guilbaut, cohost another season of celebrity guests, stories, dishes and dinner parties for their celebrity friends (11 p.m., AMC). 

THURSDAY, May 1
Another Simple Favor
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively star as friends who travel to a wedding in Italy, only to find themselves in a twisty-turning adventure of glamour, murder and betrayal (Prime).

The Four Seasons
A new spin on the 1981 romcom flick, about four couples (played by Tina Fey, Will Forte, Steve Carell, Kerri Kenni-Silver, Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani) who go out of town for a relaxing weekend retreat together, but then find out one of the them is headed for a split (Netflix).

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Fifty-five years after its original release in 1970, Chicago II, the album that made a Midwestern “horn band” into all-American musical heavyweights, has been remastered on Blu-ray (Rhino.com). Hear the Top 10 hits “Make Me Smile,” “Colour My World” and “25 or 6 to 4” in a sparkling new musical spotlight, along with other tracks that came to define the group’s radio-ready dexterity with classical, pop and rock.

Has it really been almost 40 years since Prince rocked Purple Rain? That awesome 1984 album—with hits like “Darling Nikki,” “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy” and, of course, the title song that became a movie and spent 24 weeks at No. 1—has now been remixed as a high-quality Blu-ray audio. A masterwork from the artist once known as His Royal Badness (before changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol and becoming “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince”) it’s a return to a genuine musical milestone for fans of the late rock star, who died in 2016 (Warner Music Group).

BRING IT HOME

Clint Eastwood Classics
He’s received four Oscars and been lauded for a durable career extending from early TV roles to theatrical westerns, crime dramas, war movies and comedies. Now you can squint like Clint with three Clint Eastwood classic flicks from Warner Bros., newly released for the first time on 4K Ultra HD. There’s the iconic Dirty Harry (1971), a special 40th anniversary edition of Pale Rider (1985), and The Outlaw Jersey Wales (1976), all with new bonus features, making-of docs and commentary.

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How did the former Diana Spencer become a princess for the world, a pop-cultural icon and—especially in her afterlife—an almost mythological figure? Edward White breaks it all down in Dianaworld: An Obsession, a wide-ranging deep dive into the life and legacy of the royal who connected with a wider, broader and more diverse group of people—including Hollywood filmmakers, sex workers and professional impersonators—than any member of the British monarchy before her. She was a princess so familiar to so many that she became known by her first name, and Dianaworld breaks down why she was so special to so many, and how her image continues to shine decades after her 1997 death. (W.W. Norton)

More than a decade after his passing, the work of the late James Gandolfini continues to be felt by those who remember his gravitas in TV and movie roles, like The Sopranos, Killing Them Softly and Zero Dark Thirty. Now film historian and film critic and movie historian Jason Bailey shines a spotlight on the man and his work in Gandolfini: Jim, Tony and the Life of a Legend (Abrams), which follows the actor’s rise from childhood to bit parts and ultimately his crowning role as Tony Soprano, the mobster kingpin and family man.

Apr 11 2025
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Books, DVDs, History, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Sports, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

Friday, April 11 – Thursday, April 17

Why we love our pets, rock stars align for vinyl & Marty Stuart goes to the movies

FRIDAY, April 11
Pets
It’s national Pet Day! So celebrate with this new doc (above) from director Bryce Dallas Howard about the extraordinary relationships between animals and their people—it’s a “different breed of love story” (Disney+).

Your Friends & Neighbors
Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn star in this new series about a hedge fund manager grappling with a divorce and stealing from his friends and neighbors, uncovering some dangerous secrets in the process (Apple TV+).

SATURDAY, April 12
Vinyl Obsession
Celebrate National Record Store Day with rock icons—including ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (above), STYX’s Tommy Shaw and Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach—as they visit two iconic vinyl retailers to toast the LPs that shaped their music (1:30 p.m., AXS TV).

Doctor Who
Alan Cumming guest stars in season two as a cartoon character, Mr. Ring-a-Ding, who suddenly realizes there’s a “real” world out there beyond the screen (Disney+).

SUNDAY, April 13
Patti Jinich Explores Panamerica
The James Beard Award-winning Mexican chef and TV personality explores the Panamerican Highway, stretching from Alaska to Argentina, celebrating the many cultures along the way (9 p.m., PBS). 

Godfather of Harlem
Season four of the drama series, about a bloody war for the control of Harlem against New York Mafia families, stars Forest Whitaker and Ilfenesh Hedera (MGM+).

MONDAY, April 14
Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid
The actor returns for another season of looking into some of history’s most remarkable legends, sacred objects, holy places and secret rituals (10 p.m., History Channel).

TUESDAY, April 15
Marty Goes to the Movies
Acclaimed country and bluegrass artist Marty Stuart joins host Alicia Malone to showcase six of his favorite films—tonight and continuing April 22—including Coal Miner’s Daughter, which brought Sissy Spacek an Oscar, and Door-to-Door Maniac, which featured Johnny Cash his first acting role back in 1966 (TCM).

The Carters: Hurts to Love You
Documentary traces the soaring rise to stardom of brothers Nick (of Backstreet Boys) and Aaron—but also the heartbreaking tragedies of drugs and addiction, mental health issues and Aaron’s death, at age 34, in 2022 (Paramount+).

WEDNESDAY, April 16
Government Cheese
Surrealist comedy starring Daniel Oyelowo, about an unconventional California family in the 1960s gloriously unfettered by the real world as their lives spin into chaos (Apple TV+).

Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero
Angelica Houston, Oliver Jackson Cohen, Emily Hyland and Matthew Rhys star in this new limited series (above) based on the mystery queen’s 1944 novel about a scandalous celebrity divorce, a tennis star, a mysterious valet and a web of jealousy, deceit…and murder (BritBox).

THURSDAY, April 17
Leverage: Redemption
In season three of the heist drama, the team of reunited vigilante do-gooders continues to take down rich, amoral criminals and fight for those in need of their aggressive social justice (Prime Video). 

Law & Order: Organized Crime
For the fifth season, Det. Stabler (Chris Meloni) returns to New York after a decade abroad to rebuild his life during a devastating personal loss, digging into work to dismantle the Big Apple’s most vicious and violent illegal enterprises (Peacock).

BRING IT HOME

Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll
Learn about a musical legend in this rootsy documentary about Huddie “Lead Belly” Leadbetter, born into Southern poverty in 1903 but growing up to become the king of the 12-string guitar, putting his stamp on folk songs, gospel tunes and blues in songs like “Pick a Bale of Cotton,” “Midnight Special,” “Cotton Fields” and “Willy and the Poor Boys.” His wide spectrum of real-life musical topics included prison, cowboys, drinking, women, politicians, despots, hard work and good times. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Lead Belly inspired countless other artists, including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers and Nirvana, all of whom covered his tunes. Interviews and performance clips from Paul McCartney, B.B. King, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez further testify to his enduring legacy. (MVD Entertainment).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Wonderlands
In “I Am the Walrus,” John Lennon sang about “sitting in an English garden, waiting for the sun.” Maybe he was sitting and waiting in one of the gardens Claire Colson spotlights in Wonderlands (Penguin-Random House), a spectacular display of private manor greenspaces (and the horticultural architects who crafted them) in Great Britain. From bucolic, immaculately manicured backyards to sprawling, idiosyncratic countryside ecosystems, it offers a guided tour of tranquility abroad without ever leaving your home. P.S., the photos are so good, and so inviting, you might want to take an antihistamine before settling in for a read.

How to Giggle
Why so serious? That’s a question the Joker once asked, ominously, in The Dark Knight. It’s also a question authors Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo (hosts of the wildly popular podcast Giggly Squad) address in How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously. It’s a suggestion to tee-hee when life gets tough, through all sorts of circumstances, like awkward moments, romantic red flags and everyday anxieties. Have fun with the interactive quizzes and tips on scaling down scary situations. And lay those everyday troubles down and pick up a copy. (Simon & Schuster)

Frank Lloyd Wright
One of the world’s most celebrated and masterful architects gets the coffee-table-book treatment in this splendid look at the life and work of the Wisconsin native who designed more than 1,000 structures over 70 years and was recognized as “the greatest architect of all time.” Author Robert McCarter analyzes Wright’s work chronologically, with archival drawings, photographs, floor plans and explanations about how every project “connects” to the discipline of architecture. (Phaidon)

Caitlin Clark
How big a deal is basketball phenom Caitlin Clark? Well, big-deal enough that she now has her own Little Golden Book Biography filled with facts about her childhood, her record-setting years at the University of Iowa and being the first player chosen in the WNBA draft. Learn from author Marisa DiNovis and illustrator Joanie Stone how the little sports-loving girl from Des Moines, Iowa, grew up to be the most famous female college basketball player in the entire realm of sports…not to mention becoming the player responsible for the explosion of new interest in women’s hoops and a hero to young girls everywhere! She shoots, she scores—big!

Mar 28 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch and more March 28 – April 4

Daniel Craig’s ‘Queer’ turn, a ‘Simpsons’ TV milestone & a taboo-bustin’ Oprah special

FRIDAY, March 28
Queer
Daniel Craig (above) takes a big swing away from his movie run as macho superspy James Bond to star in this heartfelt movie about a gay American in Mexico City in the 1950s, where sparks fly when he makes an intimate connection with a former U.S. soldier (Max).

The Rule of Jenny Penn
Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow star in this creepy film about sinister goings-on in a retirement home (Shudder).

Mid-Century Modern
New comedy series from the creators of Will & Grace stars Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer and Nathan Lee Graham—and a parade of guest stars—in a romp (above) about three gay best friends who decide to spend their golden years in Palm Springs (Hulu).

SATURDAY, March 29
Wife Stalker
Keisha Knight Pullam stars in this new drama thriller about a woman whose husband leaves her for another female with a nefarious past (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, March 30
The Last Anniversary
Original mystery drama series (above)—set on a beautiful remote island shrouded in secrets—stars Teresa Palmer as a young woman drawn into a tangled generational web (AMC+).

The Simpsons
The longest-running primetime scripted show in TV history returns tonight for season 36 (yes, 36!) as Bart tries to become a celebrity DJ and Homer finally pushes Flanders too far (8 p.m., Fox)

Mobland
Tom Hardy, Pierce Brosnan (above) and Helen Mirren are among the cast of this new crime series—about power struggles within a global crime syndicate—from action-centric director Guy Richie (Paramount+).

MONDAY, March 31
Truelove
A group of old friends reunited at a funeral and make a drunken pact to see that each other dies with dignity. But such a “good” idea turns into a shocking reality in this series with an ensemble cast (Acorn TV).

An Oprah Winfrey Special: The Menopause Revolution
The Queen of daytime TV hosts this primetime event all about the inevitable event all women who live past “a certain age” will face, diving into the once-considered-taboo topic with a panel of experts and a live audience (10:01 p.m., ABC). 

TUESDAY, April 1
Audrey
A wild, snarky dark comedy about a mom who’ll do anything to achieve her dreams—even assuming the identity of her daughter when she falls into a coma. With Jackie Van Beek and Lindsay Taylor (checking streaming services for availability).

American Masters—Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story
Screen icon Liza Minnelli—the daughter of legendary actor Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli—is spotlighted in this documentary with a look into her dynamic life from childhood to Broadway and the silver screen, where she found Oscar-winning superstardom in Cabaret (9 p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, April 2
Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America
Find out in this new series all about the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, 30 years ago, which claimed 168 lives and changed America forever (8 p.m., National Geographic).

THURSDAY, April 3
Pulse
New medical drama—from Emmy-winning writer Carlton Cuse—stars Wilia Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher and Chelsea Muirhead (Netflix).

NOW HEAR THIS

Five of the top albums from one of the world’s most acclaimed bands are now available together on Fleetwood Mac 1975-1985 (Rhino), which includes the LPs Fleetwood Mac, Rumors, Tusk, Mirage and Tango in the Night, available as six LPs or five CDs. Relive hits like “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” “Sara,” “Gypsy,” “Landslide,” “Say You Love Me” and “Rhiannon,” plus many more.

Forty years ago, Tina Turner exploded into the pop mainstream with her iconic breakthrough album Tiny Dancer. A new 5-CD set (from Parlophone) commemorates the milestone with a grand collection of remastered original tracks, plus B-sides, extended versions, rarities, previously unreleased cuts, two live in-concert discs and a Blu-ray of promo videos for “Let’s Stay Together,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Better Be Good to Me” and “Private Dancer.”

BRING IT HOME

A truly “modern” love story, Companion (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) stars Sophie Thatcher, Lukas Gage and Jack Quaid in this horror tale of a super-serviant android built for companionship that goes murderously rogue.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Vitamin V: Video and the Moving Image (Phaidon) takes a highly visual look at how film and video have become integrated into modern art, with more than 850 examples from some 100 artists from around the world who use “contemporary technologies in unexpected and often revolutionary ways.” And an essay explains how it all got started in the 1960s.

How could two very different songs, separated by an ocean, recorded within weeks of each other, offer so much insight into America in the 1970s, the British empire, and almost everything associated with global culture? Peter Silverton‘s engrossing London Calling New York New York (Trouser Press), breaks it all down in a fascinating tale-of-two-cities treatise built on these two seminal works of music from The Clash and Frank Sinatra.

Mar 21 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, March 21 – March 27

Nicole Kidman goes Dutch, ‘Wicked’ streams & David Blaine pushes boundaries

Nicole Kidman stars in ‘Holland.’

FRIDAY, March 21
Sing Sing
Acclaimed film about a theatrical program for inmates at the New York prison stars Dominique Colman and Paul Raci (Max).

Wicked
Yes, Wicked! If you missed it in theaters, or just want to see it again (and again, and again), the spectacular-looking Hollywood treatment of the hit Broadway musical with the backstory of the Wizard of Oz witches, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, below, comes to streaming (Peacock). 

SATURDAY, March 22
Single Black Female 3: The Final Chapter
Original network movie stars Raven Goodwin, Porsha Williams and Kennedy Chanel in the tale of a woman wrongly convicted of murder, then exonerated, but discovering that freedom can come at a price (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, March 23
Do Not Attempt
Join magician and “endurance artist” David Blaine on a globe-trotting exploration of the boundaries between the real world and the realm of magic. But kids, don’t try this at home! (National Geographic).

Marie Antionette
In season two, the seeds of revolution begin to take root, threatening the foundations of France’s long-standing monarchy. With Emila Schüle and Louis Cunningham (10 p.m., PBS).

MONDAY, March 24
Home Court
Documentary about a Columbian American high school basketball prodigy who finds her life intensifying amid college recruitment, injury and triumph (streaming on Independent Lens, the PBS App and PBS Passport).

TUESDAY, March 25
The Cleaning Lady
Season four begins about the increasingly dangerous double life of a former surgeon now an undocumented immigrant in Las Vegas and evading the law as part of a criminal organization. Cleaning can be complicated (8 p.m., Fox).

Family Legacy
Meet more kids of famous music-makers—including the Go-Go’s, Slipknot, Lil John and Matchbox 20—in the new season of this half-hour cross-genre docuseries (Paramount+).

WEDNESDAY, March 26
Side Quest
Four-part anthology based on the Mythic Quest universe and starring Rob McElhenney looks at the game’s impact on players and makers with a blend of docu-reality and comedy (Apple TV+). 

The Studio
New comedy series, above, stars Seth Rogen (who also writes and directs) as a newly appointed Hollywood exec walking the line between success and failure. With Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn and Ike Barinholtz (AppleTV+).

THURSDAY, March 27
Paul American
Reality series go into the world of internet-sensation “content creators” Jake and Logan Paul and their burgeoning empire of followers, fight promotion, sports drinks, men’s products and gaming (Max).

Holland
Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfadyen, Jude Hill and Gael Garcia Bernal star in this twisty tale of a teacher whose life is upended by suspicions, secrets and the realization that things—in picture-perfect Holland, Mich.—aren’t what they seem (Prime).

NOW HEAR THIS

Forty years ago, Tina Turner exploded into the pop mainstream with her iconic breakthrough album Tiny Dancer. A new 5-CD set (from Parlophone) commemorates the milestone with a grand collection of remastered original tracks, plus B-sides, extended versions, rarities, previously unreleased cuts, two live in-concert discs and a Blu-ray of promo videos for “Let’s Stay Together,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “Better Be Good to Me” and “Private Dancer.”

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of its release, Paul McCartney’s chart-topping 1975 album Venus and Mars has been remastered from the original tapes to sound even better than before. It has all the tunes (including “Rock Show,” “Listen to What the Man Said” and the title track) plus other goodies, like a pair of posters and a bookmark sticker.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

How can we trust what our eyes see? It’s getting hard, in the age of artificially generated images online and in other media. In the fascinating The Synthetic Eye: Photography Transformed in the Age of A.I. (Thames & Hudson), author Fred Ritchin, a digital photography expert, investigates how artificial intelligence continues to transform our sense of what’s real, and its enormous ramifications for the future.

Get the inside scoop on one of America’s formative festivals for music, art, politics and freakshows, in Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock’s Wildest Festival (St. Martins Press). It’s an oral history of the groundbreaking event as told by insiders and musicians who lived it during the ‘90s, including Pearl Jam, Jane’s Addiction, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and more.

Feb 28 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 28 – March 6

Hollywood biggest night, a murderous gigolo & Kevin Hart goes to ‘toon town

Will Conclave, Wicked or The Substance take home the night’s big Oscars?

FRIDAY, Feb. 28
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Guy Fieri loads up on barbecue, turkey legs and brisket fries on a trip to Memphis before heading to New York and blueberry pierogies, meatballs and cheddar chicken (9 p.m., Food Network).

Why You Like It: Decoding Musical Tastes
Composer and musicologist Dr. Nolan Gasser explores the science and culture behind our musical preferences (check local listings, PBS).

SATURDAY, March 1
Killing the Competition
Melissa Joan Hart stars in this new network movie inspired by the real-life story of a mother who turns to kidnapping when her daughter is cut from her high school dance team (Lifetime).

Million Dollar Zombie Flips
House flippers fix up dilapidated homes in the Seattle area, turning them into mansions (11 a.m., A&E).

SUNDAY, March 2
The Oscars
Conan O’Brien hosts, and we’ll see who comes out on top among top contenders including Emelia Peréz, The Brutalist, Conclave, Anora, A Complete Unknown and Wicked. And Karla Sofia Gascòn has already made history as the first openly trans woman to be nominated for Best Actress. But can she win after her “mean tweets” on social media?  (7 p.m., ABC).

Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue
Eric McCormack, Lydia Wilson and Adam Long are among the cast in this thriller series about survivors of a plane crash in the Mexican jungle who later begin to die in strange and violent ways. Ten passports, nine bodies, one deadly secret. (9 p.m., MGM+).

MONDAY, March 3
Recipes for Love and Murder
In the new season of the culinary murder mystery (above), a massive fire engulfs the small town of Eden, and a fateful chain of events brings together the lead characters in a multiple homidide investigation that uncovers the town’s darkest secrets (Acorn TV).

Celtic City
Nine-part documentary series chronicles the Boston Celtics, the city’s winningest sports franchise, from its founding to its triumphant 2024 season (HBO Sports).

Sin City Gigolo: A Murder in Las Vegas
Docuseries (above) about the investigation of a former cast member of the TV reality show Gigolos, who was arrested for killing a young woman in his home in a bloody tangle of sex work, fame and the lure of “Sin City” (Paramount+).

TUESDAY, March 4
The Rare Breed
No, it’s not the English Foxhound. Rather, it’s this rugged 1966 Western starring James Stewart, Maureen O’Hara and Brian Keith—a rather unlikely combo of stars from It’s a Wonderful Life, The Parent Trap and TV’s Family Affair, in a tale that mixes bull breeding, greedy criminals and untamed Texas (8:45 p.m., TCM).

WEDNESDAY, March 5
The Amazing Race
On your mark, get set…go! Go to the couch, that is, to watch as the 37th race in the hit TV competition begins tonight with a group of 14 new teams (above) kicking off their global trek in Japan (9:30 p.m., CBS).

THURSDAY, March 6
Deli Boys
Comedy about a pair of Pakistani-American brothers who uncover the secret life of their late convenience-store magnate father (Hulu).

Lil Kev
Adult animated comedy was inspired by Kevin Hart’s childhood in Philadelphia, with voices by Hart, Wanda Sykes and Deon Cole (BET+).

NOW HEAR THIS

The iconic 1986 Bon Jovi album Slippery When Wet, which catapulted the group into the rock mainstream and sold more than 12 million copies, has been re-released on multiple formats—including one with heavy-duty vinyl encasing a blue liquid…which looks slippery ‘n’ wet indeed! Hear classic hits (“You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “Lilvin’ on a Prayer”), plus newly added bonus features on the digital edition, including live tracks from the group’s 1987 tour.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

What do termite mounds, dolphins, rainbows, carnivals, the Roman poet Ovid, our sense of balance, caves and animal feces all have in common? They’re all in Phenomena: An Infographic Guide to Almost Everything (Thames & Hudson), an engrossing collection of charts, graphics and other “visualized” information. Dig in and prepare to be well-informed!

BRING IT HOME

When Santa (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped from the North Pole, his beefy head of security (Dwayne Johnson) springs into action with the help of a wisecracking bounty hunter (Chris Evans) to bring him home and save Christmas. It’s merry mayhem in Red One (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), with appearances by Lucy Liu, Bonnie Hunt and Nick Kroll.

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