Category Archives: DVDs

May 10 2024
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Books, DVDs, Television, Pop Culture, Movies, Sports

The Entertainment Forecast

May 10 – May 16

A ‘Partridge Family’ marathon, worlds collide for ‘Young Sheldon’ & Peyton Manning spotlights female hoopsters

Watch a marathon of ‘The Partridge Family’…and one of TV’s coolest moms!

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, May 10
The Chi
The sixth season’s second half of the hit series begins tonight unfolds tonight, with the continuing saga about life in a dangerous neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side (Paramount+ with Showtime).

The Iron Claw
Acclaimed feature film about pro wrestling’s famous (and famously ill-fated) Von Erich family stars a beefed-up Zach Efron (below), plus Jeremy Allen White (from The Bear), Maura Tierney and Lily James, who swaps her British accent for a Texas twang (Max).

SATURDAY, May 11
The Partridge Family Mother’s Day Marathon
C’mon, get happy! And celebrate TV’s greatest pop-star mom (Shirley Jones as Shirley Partridge) with 16 classic episodes of the iconic musical sitcom of yesteryear, with guest appearances by Johnny Cash, Farrah Fawcett, Dick Clark, Mark Hamill and Jacyln Smith! (1 p.m., AXS).

Full Court Press
College-bound basketball queen Caitlin Clark (below) is among the hot hoopsters featured in this series produced by Peyton Manning and profiling women’s b-ball superstars (1 p.m., ABC).

Nikki Glaser: Someday You’ll Die
The comedian/actress fearlessly digs into a wide range of topics in this special recorded in Seattle, Wash., including why she doesn’t want kids, the realities of getting older and her plans for her death (10 p.m., HBO). 

SUNDAY, May 12
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire
It doesn’t have Brad Pitt and Tom Hanks (who starred in the 1994 movie version), but season two of the fan-favorite hit streaming series (about an ancient vampire recounting his life story to a journalist) begins tonight, with Jacob Anderson and Delainey Hayles (AMC+).

Time100: The World’s Most Interesting People
Coverage of last month’s live gala honoring Dua Lipa, Taraji P. Henson, NFL QB Patrick Mahomes, Kylie Minougue, Michael J. Fox and more industry-spanning individuals honored by the venerable weekly publication (10 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, May 13
Summer Baking Championship
Jesse Palmer hosts as bakers from around the world heat up the kitchen to prove their talents in summer-travel themed challenges, from tropical fruit to beach vacations (8 p.m., Food).

After the Flood
British thriller series set in a small town hit by a devastating deluge, exposing secrets and putting fortunes and reputations at stake. Starring Peaky Blinders’ Sophie Russell (below, on BritBox).

TUESDAY, May 13
Pillowcase Murders
Three-night series sheds new light on the serial killer who preyed upon one of America’s most vulnerable populations—senior citizens in retirement communities (Paramount+).

WEDNESDAY, May 15
In the Kitchen with Harry Hamlin
Joined by his trained-chef niece Renee Guilbault, the actor welcomes celebrity guests (Ted Danson! Mary Steenburgen! Bobby Miynihan! Ed Begley Jr.!) to share favorite recipes, offer kitchen tips and set the table for some elegant Hollywood-worthy dinners (11 p.m., AMC+ and IFC).

Secrets in Your Data
Are you worried about how much info about you—name, address, phone number, workplace, family—is available online? This eye-opening doc reveals how easily our privacy is compromised and how we can better maintain it (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, May 16
Bridgerton
Season three of the hit Shondaland period drama dresses up new plotlines for Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan), Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) and other characters with complicated lives in London’s high society (Netflix).

Young Sheldon
Worlds collide! Jim Parsons and Mayam Bialik reprise their roles from The Big Bang Theory on tonight’s finale about the young(er) life of brainiac Sheldon Cooper (above, 8 p.m., CBS).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Ol’ Scratch has been around for centuries, but now journalist Randall Sullivan takes a new look at the figure of the Devil, and how humankind has “used” the satanic figure to help embody crime, violence and otherwise inexplicable unpleasantries. Engrossing, fascinating and full of detail, The Devil’s Best Trick (Grove Atlantic) is an eye-opening descent in the historical, religious and cultural concepts that have been funneled into our dark fascination with the Big D.

Tom Selleck tells all in You Never Know (Dey Street), in which the iconic TV and movie star relates his entertaining, engaging story of growing up, coming to Hollywood, finding superstar success and making friends with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Carol Burnett. How did he put his career on the line for Magnum P.I.? Or walk away from a show that could have easily continued for years to come? It’s all here, and more!

The movie industry has often portrayed motherhood as scary, and sometimes crazy, from Mommy Dearest and Carrie to Rosemary’s Baby and Hereditary, and beyond. In Hollywood’s Monstrous Moms (McFarland), author Kassia Krone turns a keen academic eye to a wide range of real-world mental illness, their depiction in the movies across time, how serious psychological disorders and disabilities often became horrifying film stereotypes.

BRING IT HOME


The gigantic sandworms are back in Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), director Denis Villeneuve’s spectacular looking follow-up to his epic sci-fi 2021 film, starring Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh and Rebecca Ferguson. And it’s loaded with bonus features, including how the cast learned to ride those massive sandworms!

Apr 26 2024
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DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

April 26 – May 2

Beyonce shakes up country music, the Bon Jovi story & how Walt Disney built an American empire

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, April 26
Call Me Country: Beyonce and Nashville’s Renaissance
New doc (above) about the first Black woman to ever top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and how her trailblazing success became the latest explosion in America’s culture wars (Max).

Broken Horses
Documentary follows New York Times reporters as they examine the systemic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have come to light in the sport of horse racing (10 p.m., FX).

Art Happens Here
Author, actor and former Monty Python funnyman John Lithgow joins students and teachers at four different California locations to discuss his passion for arts education (10 p.m., PBS).

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story
Four-part, all-access docuseries chronicles four decades of the iconic working-class New Jersey-based rock band that gave the world hits including “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” (Hulu).

SATURDAY, April 27
My Husband Hired a Hitman
When a greedy husband seeks an assassin to get rid of his wife and get her money, she will stop at nothing to fight back and seek revenge. And you thought your relationship was a bit rocky! (Tubi).

SUNDAY, April 28
How It Really Happened
Host Jesse L. Martin investigates the most famous shipwreck of all time—the 1912 sinking of the Titanic—and how a more recent underwater voyage to its ruins turned into another tragedy (9 p.m., CNN).

How Disney Built America
Explore the history of Walt Disney, his groundbreaking movies and his iconic theme-park empire in this six-part docuseries (10 p.m., History).

MONDAY, April 29
Honeymoonish
Romantic comedy from Kuwait about a series of comical misunderstandings, surprises, mistaken identities and second chances as a couple embarks on their honeymoon (Netflix).

TUESDAY, April 30
The Veil
Elizabeth Moss stars in this new twisty international drama about a woman with a secret, and another on a mission to reveal it before thousands of lives are lost (Hulu).

The Green Veil
In this new drama/thriller/sci fi series (above) set in the 1950s, John Leguizamo stars as an immigrant pursuing the American dream, and Aram Rappaport plays a government agent tasked with unraveling a secret mission. Find out how their lives intersect (streaming on The Network).

WEDNESDAY, May 1
Dance Moms: The Reunion
Original “Moms” come together (below) to look back on the show that created a worldwide pop culture buzz 2011-2019 (8 p.m., Lifetime).

Behind the Music
New installments of the musical documentary series put the spotlight on country singer Trace Adkins, Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang, and Bell Biv DeVoe, an original member of New Edition who later went on to even more solo stardom (Paramount+).

Shardlake
Tudor murder mystery (below) set in 16th century English monastery stars Sean Bean, Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle. What are those monks hiding? (Hulu)

THURSDAY, May 2
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Harvey Keitel stars in this new drama series as a Holocaust survivor who was made to ink identification numbers onto fellow prisoners’ arms. Decades later, he faces his dark past when he shares his story with the world. And there’s a song by Barbra Streisand! (Peacock).

The Contestant
Find out the true story of a Japanese reality TV contestant left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine coupons to win his food, clothing and other amenities—eventually finding television fame and winning one million yen  (Hulu).

Chivalry
Steve Coogan and Sarah Solemari star in this workplace comedy (below) set in Hollywood, as an acclaimed female director steps in to save a wayward production helmed by a seasoned male producer (The Network).

BRING IT HOME

The latest Marvel adventure Madame Web is the origin story of a New York paramedic (Dakota Johnson) who may have clairvoyant abilities, joining forces with three young women destined for powerful futures. With Sydney Sweeney, Mike Epps and Emma Roberts (Sony Home Entertainment).

Geography class might teach you there’s more, but for movie fans, there are three Oceans—Oceans Eleven, Oceans Twelve and Oceans Thirteen. Now you can own all three in Oceans Trilogy collection (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), with all the stars (George Clooney! Brad Pitt! Matt Damon! Andy Garcia! Elliot Gould! Julia Roberts!) and a heist-worthy load of bonus features.

Apr 19 2024
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

April 19 – April 25

A new ‘Spiderwick,’ Sly & Arnold face off & a docuseries about a couple of dope brothers

All sorts of creative people get the spotlight in ‘The Express Way with Dule Hill’ on PBS.

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, April 19
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Christian Slater, Joy Bryant and Jack Dylan Grazer star in this fantasy flick (above) about two teen boys and their sister who discover that magic (and magical creatures) are real when they move with their mom into their ancestral home. Based on a popular sci-fi series of YA books, it was previously made in to a theatrical movie in 2008 with Freddie Highmore, Seth Rogen and Martin Short (Roku).

The Never Ever Meets
New relationship series takes online dating into the real world by “introducing” couples who’ve been “seeing each other” virtually, but never met in person, putting them in a house together for three weeks. Can their love survive?  (8 p.m., Own).

SATURDAY, April 20
High Hopes
All the stoners will dig the “4.20” premiere date of this new reality series (above) about a pair of Belarus-born brothers with “high hopes” of taking their California cannabis business to the next level (Hulu).

Predator v Prey
It’s like a very high-tech version of the old Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, with a forensic look at the world’s most formidable apex predators (below), including lions, cheetahs and crocodiles and what makes them so good at what they do (8 p.m., BBC America).

SUNDAY, April 21
Secrets of the Octopus
Actor Paul Rudd narrates this new installment of the Emmy-winning “Secrets Of…” franchise, about one of the most unique creatures on the planet—the octopus, with three hearts, blue blood and the ability to squeeze through spaces the size of their eyeball (NatGeo, streaming tomorrow on Hulu and Disney+).

The Jinx—Part II
Documentary series continues the convoluted tale of the late real estate heir and convicted murderer Robert Durst, who became a suspect after the disappearance of his first wife, the murder of his longtime friend and the killing of his neighbor (10 p.m., HBO).

MONDAY, April 22
Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy of Love Canal
The true story of one of the nation’s most notorious environmental disasters and the women who fought the chemical industry and the government…and won! (9 p.m., PBS).

The Proof is Out There: Military Mysteries
Two combat veterans delve into weird and unexplainable things happening from World War I into present day (10 p.m., History).

Independent Lens:  One with the Whale
Find out why hunting whales is a matter of life or death for residents of a coastal Alaska community through the experience of a teen who becomes the youngest in his village to harpoon a whale, only for his family to face a barrage of online critics who fail to understand the importance of the hunt to the community (PBS You Tube channel).

TUESDAY, April 23
TMZ Presents Arnold & Sly
Hollywood’s two icon muscle men—Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone—sit down together for a first-time TV discussion of their once-fierce rivalry that turned into an equally fierce friendship (8 p.m., Fox).

The Express Way with Dulè Hill
The actor from TV’s rebooted The Wonder Years and Psyche embarks on a cross-country road trip in this new four-part series, exploring local visionaries, activists, changemakers and pioneers who are using their creative talents to bring change to their communities (9 p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, April 24
A Brief History of the Future
Is the future bleak, or bright? This documentary, which weaves together history, science and other factors from an array of thinkers, developers and storytellers, leans toward the latter (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, April 25
My Mane Problem
Celebrity stylist Dr. Boogie gives advice to people on very personal “hair journeys” by examining their scalps and addressing what’s going on inside their heads. And who wouldn’t want to take advice from an expert named Dr. Boogie? (ALLBLK).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Now available in paperback, Greg Melville’s engrossing Over My Dead Body (Abrams) is a fascinating dive into cemeteries, our traditions of commemorating and memorializing death, and how “final resting places” have shaped the work of poets, architecture and pop culture.

If you’re “of the age” to remember songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles,” you’ll enjoy Mr. Bojangles Dance (McFarland). Author Ryan B. Case traces the life of the song through the overlapping trajectories of the “down and out” man in a New Orleans jail cell who inspired it, former President Richard M. Nixon—who was moved to tears by it—and Sammy Davis Jr., who turned it into a pop hit. It’s a wide-ranging ride through the turbulent Sixties and Seventies, all sung to the tune of “Mr. Bojangles.”

BRING IT HOME

Jason Statham stars in the action-packed The Beekeeper (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), about a man—yes, a beekeeper—whose violent past as part of a clandestine organization past puts him on a brutal path of vengeance. Watch out for his stinger! With Josh Hutcherson, Jeremy Irons, Phylicia Rashad and Minnie Driver.

The new remastered 4K re-release of director Martin Scorsese’s classic double-cross gangster tale The Departed (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) comes loaded with extras, including deleted scenes, a making-of doc and the true story on which it’s based. The all-star cast includes Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg.

Apr 05 2024
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Photography, Pop Culture, Sports, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

April 5 – April 11

Kelsea gives trophies, Julianne Moore schemes & darkness creeps across America

All times Eastern.

Kelsea Ballerini hosts the CMT Music Awards.

FRIDAY, April 5
Scoop
Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell lead the cast of the dramatized inside story of the explosive BBC television interview with Britain’s Prince Andrew, in which he disastrously tried to defend and distance himself from the Jeffery Epstein sex-trafficking scandal (Netflix).

Mary & George
Julianne Moore and Nicholas Galitzine star in this new psychodrama limited series (below) based on the scandalous true story of a treacherous mother and son who schemed, seduced and killed to conquer the 17th century Court of England…and the bed of King James I (9 p.m., Starz).

On the Case with Paula Zahn
New season, new cases, including murder mysteries two teen girls in Alabama, a popular DJ’s wife in Atlanta and a U.S. Navy recruit in Florida, plus a love triangle gone very bad (10 p.m., ID).

SATURDAY, April 6
Two For One
New series features 12 nights of double features curated by celebrated Hollywood filmmakers, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Olivia Wilde and Paul Thomas Anderson, and hosted by TCM’s own Ben Mankiewicz (8 p.m., TCM).

CMT Music Awards
Kelsea Ballerini hosts the ceremony—and is among the top nominees—live from Austin, Texas, with accolades for the top-voted videos and artists in country music (8 p.m., CBS)

SUNDAY, April 7
Collector’s Call
Host Lisa Whelchel returns for season two, spotlighting collectors and their collections celebrating “Weird Al” Yankovic, Star Wars, Pearl Jam, Bozo the Clown, and more pop-culture icons (6:30 p.m., MeTV).

MONDAY, April 8
My Parkinsons
Three individuals navigate their lives with the neurodegenerative disease (10 p.m., PBS).

The First 1,000
Primetime special takes a look inside the TV-verse of NCIS, celebrating the milestone of 1,000 episodes of the wide-ranging worldwide hit franchise (9 p.m., CBS). 

Eclipse Across America
In ancient times, people thought the daytime darkening of a total solar eclipse meant the world was ending. But they didn’t have TV platforms to team up and tell them what was going on, like in this live telecast of the event hosted by David Muir with coverage spanning 10 cities across North America (2 p.m., ABC, National Graphic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, Disney+ and Hulu).

26.2 to Life
Documentary about incarcerated men at San Quentin Prison training for a 26.2 marathon. Ready to run, indeed! (9 p.m., ESPN).

TUESDAY, April 9
Brandy Heville & The Cult of Fast Fashion
Documentary uncovers the toxic culture of the clothing brand popular with young girls, and the global ramifications of mass-produced, Instagram-fueled clothing known as “fast fashion” (9 p.m., HBO).

Mud Madness
Get down and dirty with this series (above) that follows the off-road subculture of extreme Big-Tire mud racing and its passionate fans (9 p.m., Discovery).

WEDNESDAY, April 10
The Challenge: All Stars
Former contestants and winners reunite in South Africa for the latest installment of the reality-show competition spinoff of The Real World and Road Rules (Paramount +).

Tryouts
Seven-episode series looks at intense competitions for spots as lifeguards, cheerleading, Monster Truck drivers, women’s fast-pitch softball and dancers (ESPN+).

THURSDAY, April 11
Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker
The relationship guru (the CEO of Millionaire’s Club International) helps looking-for-love people find romance, with the help of The Bachelor’s Nick Vaill (8 p.m., The CW).

Lovers & Liars
New dating competition is built around 24 women and three men on a tropical island and a chance to win $100,000—if the guys can tell the 12 “real” contestant lovers from the “liars” who’ve been “planted” there to deceive them and bring home the big bucks (9 p.m., The CW).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Meet some eye-popping “body artists” and marvel at photos of their masterpieces in Tattoo You (Phaedon), a highly visual collection of contemporary groundbreaking tattoo lovers and doers. With almost 700 photos, it’s an ink-tastitic journey into how an ancient artform continues to evolve at the intersection of art, culture, fashion and self-expression. 

Do you take pics of your cute kitties and adorable doggies? Well, why? In Why We Photograph Animals (Thames & Hudson), naturalist author Huw Lewis-Jones digs into the reasons that our “wildlife” friends are favorite camera fodder…and what our animal pics say about us. Highly recommended for pet lovers of all kinds.

BRING IT HOME

Kathryn Newston and Cole Sprouse star in the wickedly dark comedy Lisa Frankenstein (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), about a misunderstood high school girl and her crush…who happens to be a handsome corpse. It’s a wink-wink tribute to the teen-slasher movies of the ‘80s with a Gothic movie-monster twist.

Mar 22 2024
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Books, DVDs, History, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

March 22 – March 28

A day of Hobbits, all about TV “sluts” and & Holy Moses!

Hobbits, trolls, ogres and dragons—all in the Hobbit Trilogy!

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, March 22
The Fox
A farm laborer in Austria finds an orphaned fox cub amidst the carnage of World War II and adopts it in this heartwarming tale based on a true story (Prime & Apple TV).

Shirley
Regina King stars (below) as America’s first Black congresswoman and political icon Shirley Chislom in her trailblazing run for president in 1972 (Netflix).  

SATURDAY, March 23
The Hobbit Trilogy
Middle Earth-ers, unite—for all three Hobbit movies (An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies), based on author J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic fantasy novels (begins 7 a.m., TNT).

SUNDAY, March 24
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon
This docu-bio examines the life and music of the famed singer-songwriter (below) from his Simon & Garfunkel days to his massive concert in Central Park and the recording of his latest album (MGM+).

MONDAY, March 25
Greener Pastures
Independent Lens documentary follows the lives of four Midwestern families over five years as they deal with climate change, the pandemic and the rise of megafarms that have led to economic uncertainty and isolation (10 p.m., PBS).

Lethally Blonde
Using your physical beauty and sexuality to climb the ladder of success can lead to some dangerous—and deadly—outcomes, as shown in this true-crime series hosted by Holly Madison, who knows a thing or two about it as the former girlfriend of Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner (10 p.m., ID).

TUESDAY, March 26
The Invisible Shield
Four-part documentary series examines the “hidden” public health infrastructure that makes modern life possible, protecting us from the constant threat of death and disease through a massive, inter-connected network of largely unsung heroes—physicians, nurses, scientists, engineers, reformers and government officials all working to make our lives more livable (10 p.m., PBS).

Godzilla Movie Marathon
He’s the king of the monsters, for sure, and today you can watch two of his contemporary big-screen movies, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Godzilla vs. Kong. Didja know: Godzilla’s been a movie star since 1954? The original Godzilla rubber suit weighed well over 200 pounds? And his name is a mashup of words for “gorilla” and “whale”? Now you do! 

The Truth vs. Alex Jones
Grieving Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting parents face the blustery conspiracy theorist  in four years of landmark defamation trials (9 p.m., HBO).

WEDNESDAY, March 27
AI Revolution
Is artificial intelligence taking over the world? Meet some of the scientists at the forefront of this new frontier as they explore the promise, perils and possible future of the unprecedented technology taking the world by storm (9 p.m., PBS).

Testament: The Story of Moses
From outcast and murderer to prophet and liberator of the Hebrew people, this three-part series (below) explores the life, redemption and legacy of one of most iconic VIPs of the Bible (Netflix).

THURSDAY, March 28
The Baxters
New faith-based family drama series stars Roma Downey and Ted McGinley as a couple with five adult children, all working through the challenges of life (Prime Video).

We Were the Lucky Ones
In this limited series based on the bestselling novel, a Jewish family separated at the start of WWII is determined to survive and reunite (Hulu).

BRING IT HOME

The newly restored Paint Your Wagon (Kino Larber) is a classic Western musical comedy from 1969, starring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood. It features the song “They Call the Wind Maria,” and a musical appearance by a very young group that would come to be known as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Fun fact: Marvin drank alcohol every day of the shoot and was often drunk on the set—and it showed. Co-star Jean Seaburg said Marvin’s singing voice was “like rain gurgling down a rusty pipe.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT

A supplement to the previous volume spanning TV’s earlier years, the new Encyclopedia of Television Shows (McFarland) by Vincent Terrace covers 2017-2022 and lists more than a thousand programs released on broadcast, cable TV and streaming services, along with cast, airdates, plots and other details. If you’ve ever wondered about all those dramas and sitcoms you never had time to check out—like America’s Most Musical Family, Living Biblically or Moonbase 8—this is your book!

Wanna go on a road trip back in time? A Travel Guide to the Middle Ages (wwnorton) by Anthony Bale is a road map to a nearly forgotten time—long before airplanes and automobiles—when explorers traipsed across forests and deserts and sailed the ocean in search of riches, lands to conquer, or adventure. What was that like? Now you can know!

In “Sluts” on the Small Screen (McFarland), author Libbie Searcy spotlights television’s fascination with “promiscuous women” in TV shows including Frazier, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Golden Girls, Grey’s Anatomy and more, showing the variety of ways sexually voracious characters are portrayed—and the roles they play in furthering our fascination with empowerment, entertainment and exploitation.   

 

Mar 15 2024
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

March 15 – March 21

All times Eastern.

Kristen Wiig resorts to comedy, Lindsay Lohan gets her ‘Wish’ & all about a porn star, hush money and a president

Kristen Wiig stars in Palm Royale.

FRIDAY, March 15
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
Calling all Swifties! The mega-hit theatrical treatment of Taylor Swift’s record-setting tour had fans literally dancing in the aisles. Now you can watch it at home—and experience songs that weren’t included in the theater! (Disney+)

Manhunt
Tobias Menzie (from The Crown, Game of Thrones and Outlander) stars in this new conspiracy thriller series about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the hunt for his killer, John Wilkes Booth (Apple TV+).

Irish Wish
Lindsay Lohan (yep, that Lindsay Lohan, from Mean Girls and The Love Bug) stars in this romcom (above) about a bridesmaid who travels Ireland and makes a wish for her own true love after a painful breakup. And guess what happens? With Jane Seymour and Ayesha Curry (Netflix).

SATURDAY, March 16
Friday Night Sext Scandal
This lurid telemovie was inspired by real stories of teenage boys “hunting” for nude pics of female classmates (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, March 17
Nolly on Masterpiece
Helena Bonham Carter stars in this new series as a real-life soap opera actress of the 1960s and ‘70s, Noele Gordon, whose firing at the height of her career created fan outrage and front-page news (9 p.m., PBS).

Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV
Two-night docuseries reveals the insidious environment of children’s TV programming in the late 1990s, where allegations of cover-up, abuse, sexism and inappropriate conduct with underage stars swirled around shows including All That, Zoey 101 and The Amanda Show (9 p.m., ID).

MONDAY, March 18
Stormy
Documentary about the former porn actress and stripper (above) brought into the public spotlight when she was paid hush money to cover up her dalliances with then-president Donald Trump (Peacock).

Photographer
In this highly visual new series, award-winning filmmakers chronicle the impressive work of nine different photographers covering everything from fashion to warfare (National Geographic).

TUESDAY, March 19
The Valley
Vanderpump Rules spinoff follows a group of close-couple friends as they relocate from West Hollywood to San Fernando Valley while navigating bustling businesses, rocky relationships and feisty friendships (9 p.m., Bravo).

WEDNESDAY, March 20
Top Chef
The kitchen is open for season 21, heating up the culinary scenes of Milwaukee and Madison, Wisc., with a new batch of rising-star chefs competing for the coveted title (9 p.m., Bravo).

Palm Royale
New all-star comedy series, set in the tony high-society circles of Palm Beach, stars Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern and Allison Janney, along with Ricky Martin, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Leslie Bibb (Apple TV+).

THURSDAY, March 21
Road House
Remake of the ‘80s classic about an ex-UFC fighter named Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) who takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys nightclub (below). Rest in peace, Patrick Swayze (Prime).

The Long Shadow
After a woman is murdered in England, local police struggle to catch her killer while a desperate mother makes a difficult decision to keep her family financially afloat in this new British series based on a real-life case (Sundance Now and AMC+).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Rock fans will flip for Zip It Up! The Best of Trouser Press Magazine 1974-1984 (Trouser Press), a new 440-page collection of the iconic rock ‘zine’s coverage of seminal classic rock, glam rock, prog rock, art rock and reggae music and its makers of the time, including Todd Rundgren, R.E.M., Peter Tosh, T. Rex, New York Dolls, the Go-Gos and hundreds of others. Dig it, dig it, dig it!

BRING IT HOME

One of the year’s top movie romcoms is Anyone But You (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment), about a couple (Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell) who have to pretend—after a disastrous first date—they’re still lovey dovey to not ruin a destination wedding in Australia. It’s sexy fun, and you can now own it on Blu-ray.

Mar 08 2024
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DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Friday, March 8 – Thursday, March 14

Hollywood’s biggest night, Millie Bobbie Brown & the dragon, and real American cowboys

All times Eastern.

Host Jimmie Kimmel pre-tapes an Oscars segment with “Weird Barbie” (Kate McKinnon).

FRIDAY, March 8
Damsel
Millie Bobby Brown stars in this grim fairy tale action-adventure as a young woman who agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to find that the royal family has “chosen” her as a sacrifice. What will she do when she’s thrown into a cave with a terrifying fire-breathing dragon? (Netflix)

Watch out for those dragons, Millie!

First Time Female Director
Comedy flick about a young writer (Chelsea Peretti, who also wrote and directed) struggling to corral the eclectic cast and misguided production of a Southern-style play. With Megan Mullally, Amy Poehler, Andy Richter and Max Greenfield (Roku Channel).

SATURDAY, March 9
Hunting Housewives
When four gal friends head out for a much-needed retreat away from their husbands and kids, they find themselves stranded in the wilds after a plane crash—and running from stalkers who consider them prey. With Denise Richards and Nene Leakes (9 p.m., Lifetime). 

SUNDAY, March 10
The Academy Awards
What films, actors and others will take home a golden statue, Hollywood’s most prestigious movie award? Tune in tonight for the 96th annual bestowal of the Oscars, hosted again by late-night personality Jimmy Kimmel (7 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, March 11
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys
Docuseries looks at the high-stakes word of farming and ranching in rural Missouri, where the McBee family is on the brink of becoming a billion-dollar business (Peacock).

TUESDAY, March 12
Password
New season of the iconic game show begins tonight with hosts Keke Palmer and Jimmy Fallon and a slew of upcoming celebrity players, including Lauren Graham, Johnny Knoxville, Howie Mandell, Meghan Trainor and Wiz Khalifa (10 p.m., NBC).

Wildcard Kitchen
New culinary competition combines poker and kitchen expertise. Interesting! Hosted by Eric Adjepong (9 p.m., Food Network).

The Boat
New streaming series stars Daisy Haggard and Paterson Joseph (above) as friends who stumble upon a shipwrecked boat full of cocaine—and attract the attention of some dangerous people who want it back (Amazon Freevee).

WEDNESDAY, March 13
The Amazing Race
Meet the new 13 teams who’ll compete on the hit series’ 36th race around the world (9:30 p.m., CBS).

Little Wing
Brian Cox and Kelly Reilly star in this adaptation of a New Yorker magazine article, a heartwarming coming-of-age story about a teenage girl, a broken family and a bird (Paramount+).  

THURSDAY, March 14
Apples Never Fall
Family life can be complicated indeed, especially on TV—as this new series (starring Sam Neill, Annette Bening, Jake Lacy and Alison Brie) shows. Based on the book by Laine Moriarty (Peacock).

The Girls on the Bus
Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, Natasha Benham and Christina Elmore star in this new drama series (above) about four female journalists in the traveling press corps covering the campaign trail to the White House (Max).

BRING IT HOME

The Color Purple (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) is a bold and rousing remake—produced by Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones—of the 1985 classic featuring an all-new, all-star cast (Taraji P.Henson, Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins and Halle Bailey) and pull-out-the-stops musical numbers from the later Broadway play. Extras include documentaries and making-of features.

Time to get wet again with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), as Aquaman (Jason Momoa) teams with his brother, the King of Atlantis (Patrick Wilson), to defeat an old, malevolent underwater foe. With Dolph Lundgren, Amber Heard, Randall Park, Martin Short…and Nicole Kidman as the Queen of Atlantis.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

What kind of music goes with outer space? In The Music of Space (McFarland), author Chris Carberry takes a wide-ranging look at the music and the composers who’ve helped create, define and fine-tune the “sounds” of space in movies and TV, from The Day the Earth Stood still to Star Wars and beyond And what’s that sound coming from the International Space Station? Is that a guitar? Yes!

Mar 01 2024
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DVDs, Movies, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

March 1 – March 7, 2024

Adam Sandler’s in space, Kate Winslet rules, all about Jackie O, and Zac Efron’s imaginary friend

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, March 1
Spaceman
Adam Sandler leads the cast in this far-out sci-fi drama (above) about an astronaut sent on a mission to the far reaches of the galaxy, where he meets a spider-like creature that helps him deal problems he left back on Earth. With Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayyar and Isabella Rossellini (Netflix).

The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin
A legendary 18th British highwayman comes to life in this new comedy series as the legendary British robber (Noel Felding) sets on a series of wildly absurd escapades when he’s made the reluctant leader of a band of outlaws (Apple TV+).

SATURDAY, March 2
Single Black Female 2: Simone’s Revenge
Amber Riley, Raven Goodwin and K. Michelle reprise their roles in this sequel about an investigative-crime TV host, her new love interest, amnesia and some serious sister issues (8 p.m., Lifetime).

OWN Spotlight
Host Oprah Winfrey sits down for an insightful chat with Angela Bassett about the award-winning actor’s four-decade-spanning career and her recent honorary Academy Award (9 p.m., Own).

SUNDAY, March 3
The Regime
Kate Winslet stars in this dark comedy series (above) about an authoritarian regime unraveling from within. With Hugh Grant and Martha Plimpton (9 p.m., HBO)

I Am Jackie O
Find out in this new doc all about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, who became a media sensation after her husband’s assassination, eventually marrying a Greek tycoon and reinventing herself in the literary world—and forever living in pop consciousness as the embodiment of youth, culture and sophistication (8 p.m., The CW).   

MONDAY, March 4
So You Think You Can Dance
A new crop of hoofers put ‘em down and pick ‘em up for the judges of the 18th season of the primetime dance competition, hosted again by Cat Deeley (9 p.m., Fox).

MasterChef Junior
Look out! The kids are back in the kitchen. Season nine of the pint-size cooking competition begins tonight, with judges that include superchef Gordon Ramsay and his daughter, Tilly (8 p.m., Fox).

Queens
Angela Bassett narrates this new series about notable matriarchies of the animal kingdom, bringing the natural world into focus through a fem-centric lens. (8 p.m., NatGeo).

TUESDAY, March 5
Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda
Special recorded in London features a lineup of Gadsby and other genderqueer comedians (Netflix).

The Cleaning Lady
New season begins tonight of the crime drama about a Cambodian doctor who comes to America for medical treatment to save her son, eventually forced to take matters into her own hands and becoming entrenched in the criminal underbelly of Las Vegas (9 p.m., Fox).

WEDNESDAY, March 6
Full Swing
Hit the greens (while you’re just sit on the couch!) for season two of this documentary about pro golfers on the PGA tour (Netflix). 

Extraordinary
Becoming an adult is rarely easy, and season two of this British import comedy series (above) continues the drama of a group of 20-somethings who’ve discovered something in common: They all have superpowers (Hulu).

Animal Control
Joel McHale returns for season two of this workplace comedy (below) about a group of animal control workers who discover that critters may be simple, but humans are not (9 p.m., FOX).

THURSDAY, March 7
Ricky Stanicky
When three childhood best friends pull a prank that gets them into trouble, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to take the fall. Twenty years later, the now-grown buddies take “Ricky” to a whole ‘nother level—hiring a celebrity impersonator to bring him to real life. Starring Zac Efron, John Cena, Andrew Santino and Jermaine Fowler (Prime).

The Gentlemen
Director Guy Richie extends his hyperactive Gentleman-ly film empire with this new streaming entry, starring Theo James as a young cannabis heir in the criminal underworld (Netflix).

BRING IT HOME

Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz and Shailene Woodley star in Ferrari (Neon Films), set in 1957 as the former auto racer faces bankruptcy, personal problems at home and the prospect of a big race across Italy.

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Feb 09 2024
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, Uncategorized

The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 9 – Feb. 15

Marissa Tomei gets ‘Upgraded,’ Justin Hartley tracks bad guys, plus Black spacemen & pet shenanigans

Sara Silverman gets ‘stupid’ with all kinds of pets.

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, Feb. 9
Upgraded
Camila Mendes and Archie Renaux star in this romcom set in the art world, where an intern at an art museum pretends to be the director, setting off a white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of romance, perks and opportunity…like flying first-class—and causes some very serious problems (Prime). 

Gospel Live!
Henry Lewis Gates Jr. hosts a celebration of roof-raising gospel music, with performances by John Legend, Erica Campbell, Anthony Hamilton and others, performed in front a live audience at a church in Los Angeles (9 p.m., PBS).

SATURDAY, Feb. 10
Super Bowl Soulful Celebration 25th Anniversary
Cedric and Entertainer and Tichina Arnold (of TV’s The Neighborhood) host this pre-taped pre-game concert blowout (ahead of tomorrow’s game), which has come along way from its humble roots as a gospel-themed brunch in Miami (8 p.m., CBS)

CMT’s Campfire Sessions
A sweet lead-up to Cupid’s big day, country stars gather ‘round the campfire for acoustic performances of some of the format’s greatest love songs. Performers include Chris Young, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans, Caitlyn Smith and Tenille Townes (10 p.m., CMT).

SUNDAY, Feb. 11
Tracker  
Justin Hartley (from This is Us) stars in this new series (above) as a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country tracking down bad guys and using his expert skills to help law enforcement and ordinary citizens (on CBS, following the Super Bowl).

MONDAY, Feb. 12
Gospel
Two-night special event traces the history of Black spirituality through worship and song, hosted by professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. (check listings, PBS).

The Space Race
Documentary (above) about pioneering Black astronauts, scientists and engineers who joined NASA to serve America’s space program in the 1960s, even as their country was failing to achieve equality for them back on Earth (NatGeo).

TUESDAY, Feb. 13
Five Blind Dates
Australian import movie about a woman told by a fortune teller that she’ll meet her soulmate in the next five blind dates she goes on (Prime).

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 14
The New Look
Ben Mendelsohn stars as Christian Dior and Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel in this new drama series (above) about how the iconic designers (and others) navigated the horrors of World War II and launched modern fashion (Apple TV+)

Players
Romcom about moving from one-night stands into a steady relationship stars Gina Rodriguez and Daymon Wayans Jr. (Netflix).

THURSDAY, Feb. 15
Bold & Bougie
Reality series follows a group of Black female entrepreneurs (above) who have charted their own professional—and personal—courses (9 p.m., AMC). 

Far North
Tonight’s two-episode premiere of the international crime caper dramedy is inspired by New Zealand’s largest meth bust, as an Australian gang’s lucrative drug deal with a global cartel goes away and they’re left stranded with 500kg of speed, nowhere to turn…and a boatload of lies (AMC+).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Memory is one of the mysteries of the mind, but psychology and neuroscience professor Charan Ranganath sheds some eye-opening new light on the subject in Why We Remember (Doubleday), a fascinating tour of the role our recollections play in our lives, from recalling faces and names to learning new things, making decisions, charting career courses, dealing with trauma and finding happiness. Also, why we keep forgetting to lock doors, turn off ovens, and…hey, where’s my car keys?

Now that technology has advanced to the point where everyone has a camera on standby (on our ever-present mobile phones), the lavishly illustrated Collaboration: A Potential History of Photography (Thames & Hudson) is a fascinating examination of why—and how—photographs are mementoes, historical records, art, souvenirs…and “collaborations” representing what’s in front of the camera and who’s behind it. This deep dive into the wide world of photography should be required reading for all shutterbugs.

2.15

BRING IT HOME          

Jack Black’s cult-classic gonzo movie masterpiece from 2006, Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny, now finally debuts on Blu-ray, with his cohort and collaborator Kyle Glass and musical guests and celeb cameos from Fred Armisen, Amy Poehler, Dave Grohl and Ronnie James Dio. Plus commentary, behind the scenes and more! (Shout! Factory)

Jan 26 2024
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Jan. 26 – Feb. 2

Nicole K’s in the Far East, Tom Hanks puts flyboys in the air, & the inside story of the ’80s biggest global anthem

All times Eastern.

Nicole Kidman stars in ‘Expat.’

FRIDAY, Jan. 26
Expats
Nicole Kidman stars in this new series (above) based on the internationally best-selling novel about three women in Hong Kong whose lives fatefully intersect after a family tragedy (Prime Video).

Masters of the Air
Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman—the producers of Band of Brothers and The Pacific—now turn their wartime storytelling mojo to this action-packed series (below) that presents the true story of an American bomber group in World War I. Starring Austin (Elvis) Butler and Barry (Saltburn) Keoghan (Apple TV+).

SATURDAY, Jan. 27
Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero
Rock doc follows the Grammy-winning rapper as he embarks on his first-ever headlining U.S. tour (8 p.m., Max)

SUNDAY, Jan. 28
The Many Lives of Martha Stewart
You might think you know her, but this docuseries sheds new light on the barrier-breaking former stockbroker who became a self-made billionaire and media mogul…then a prison inmate (9 p.m., CNN).

MONDAY, Jan. 29
The Greatest Night in Pop
Remember the ‘80s event that was “We Are The World”? This new doc (above) tells the story of how dozens of the biggest names in music (Michael Jackson! Bruce Springsteen! Dionne Warwick! Huey Lewis!) came together in 1985 to record an anthem for charity that would alter global pop culture forever (Netflix).

TUESDAY, Jan. 30
Quantum Leap
The revamped sci-fi series, starring Raymond Lee as a physicist who can “leap” through time, leaps itself into a new weeknight slot…tonight(10 p.m., NBC).

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31
FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans
The second juicy installment of creator Ryan Murphy’s anthology (above) centers on iconic author Truman Capote and a group of high society women whom he befriended—and then betrayed, leading to his downfall in a spiral of self-destruction. Starring Tom Hollander, Noami Watts, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, Calista Flockhart and Diane Lane (10. p.m., FX).

Choir
Six-part original series (below) follows kids of the Detroit Youth Choir (which appeared on America’s Got Talent in 2019) as they prepare for an important performance that will put them back in the national spotlight (Disney+)

THURSDAY, Feb. 1
Genius: MLK/X
New installment of the anthology series will focus on Dr. Martin Luther King (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre), exploring the two men’s formative years as they are molded by strong fathers and traumatic injustices (9 p.m., National Geographic).

Farmer Wants a Wife
It’s a hit in some 32 countries and has resulted in more than 200 marriages and 514 children. What is it? It’s this series (above) about “farmer” dudes finding love outside the city, hosted by country singer/actor Jennifer Nettles, and its new U.S. season begins tonight (9 p.m., Fox).

BRING IT HOME

Patrick Dempsey and Gina Gershon star in Thanksgiving, director Eli Roth’s creatively terrifying tale of a serial killer terrorizing Turkey Day in the New England town where the holiday first took place. Hey, is that blood, or just juice from the leftover cranberry sauce? (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)

READ ALL ABOUT IT

You want your mummy, you say? Well, Mummy Movies (MacFarland) is for you! Author Bryan Senn’s comprehensive rundown unravels the cinematic history of mummies from 1932 (and The Mummy, starring Boris Karloff) onward, throughout the world and in an array of genres. Even Scooby-Do, Tom Cruise and Abbott & Costello met “their” mummies, and so did hundreds of other actors, in both no-budgets romps and Hollywood blockbusters. It’s a must for movie-monster fans!

Can creativity be copyrighted? In Who Owns This Sentence (wwnorton) authors David Bellos and Alexandre Montagu present an engaging exploration of history and concept of “copyright,” which arose in 1700s London and has today become a labyrinth of confusing legislation, now tackling such intangibles as jokes, ideas and other “intellectual property.”

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