Category Archives: DVDs

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, Sept. 5 – Sept. 11!

More ‘Murders,’ weather detectives, celebrity sex tapes and Charlie Sheen tells all!

Selena Gomez, Martin Short & Steve Martin return for more murder-mystery shenanigans in the new season of ‘Only Murders in the Building.’

FRIDAY, Sept. 5
Highest 2 Lowest
Denzel Washington stars in director Spike Lee’s neo-noir crime drama as a New York titan music mogul who finds himself in a life-or-death dilemma. With Jeffrey Wright, ASAP Rocky and Ice Spice (Apple TV+)

Dish It Out
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey’s daughter, Tilly, steps out from her famous dad’s impressive shadow her own cooking show (Prime).

SATURDAY, Sept. 6
The Girl Who Vanished
Lily and her parents are shocked when Emily, abducted when she was just a child, is found and returned to the family. But as strange events begin to unfold, they begin to question whether the past is truly behind them (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, Sept. 7
MTV Video Music Awards
What were the best music videos of the year? Find out in tonight’s three-hour simulcast, hosted by LL Cool J, of the iconic “Moon Man” trophy fest—and see what big award will be going to Mariah Carey (8 p.m., CBS, and streaming on Paramount+).

Task
Mark Ruffalo stars in this new series an FBI agent heading a task force to put an end to a string of violent robberies (9 p.m., HBO).

MONDAY, Sept. 8
Weather Hunters
Emmy-winning weatherman Al Roker is joined by Sheryl Lee Ralph, Holly Robinson Peete and LeVar Burton as voices in this new animated series about a “weather detective” and her family (PBS Kids).

Celebrity Sex Tapes
Want some juicy tabloid-y dirt? This provocative new docuseries looks at the most infamous, career-altering celebrity “leaks” of our time, including those from Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee (above), Kim Kardashian, Colin Farrell and more (9 p.m., A&E).

TUESDAY, Sept. 9
Only Murders in the Building
Season five starts tonight of the dramedy starring Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez as amateur sleuths and flatmates now discovering a dangerous web of secrets connecting billionaires, old-school mobsters and more (Hulu).

Becoming Thurgood: America’s Social Architect
Learn about the iconic lawyer and civil rights leader who became the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court (10 p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10
Downtown Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale
Cast members celebrate the show’s final chapter (above) and look ahead to the feature film about the phenomenally successful series, in theaters Sept. 12 (9 p.m., NBC).

Charlie Sheen
The actor revisits his journey through fame and addiction with unflinching honesty (and some epic stories) in this new original documentary ((Netflix).

THURSDAY, Sept. 11
Tyler Perry’s Zatima
This Sistas spinoff follows the characters Fatima (Crystal Renee Hayslett )and Zac (Devale Ellis)  as they prepare for parenthood while navigating deep emotional scars and explosive entanglements (BET+).

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Groove again to one cool cat with On the Road to Findout: Greatest Hits (A&M/UMe), the first-ever collection of music spanning the entire career of Cat Stevens/Yusuf. You’ll hear “Peace Train,” “Wild World,” “Morning Has Broken,” “Moonshadow,” “Old Schoolyard” and dozens of other tracks from albums ranging from 1967 to 2023, plus a 24-page booklet with reflections from Stevens.

War, the genre-defying ‘70s band, is celebrated in The CD Collection: 1971-1975 (Rhino), a roundup of five essential albums by the California-based soul band: War, All Day Music, The World is a Ghetto, Deliver the Word and Why Can’t We Be Friends. Groove again to the tunes, including “The Cisco Kid,” “Slippin’ Into Darkness” and “Gyspy Man.”

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Find out why the third season of HBO’s hit high-society satire broke viewership records by reliving all the drama, surprises and fan-favorite characters in The White Lotus: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), set in Thailand with a cast including Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Walton Goggins, Michelle Monaghan, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger—and a gollywhopper of an appearance by Sam Rockwell.

Get your retro groove with Spenser: For Hire: The Complete Series (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), marking the 40th anniversary of the 1980s ABC-TV drama starring hunky Robert Urich as a Boston P.I. looking into a new murder each episode. This new set marks the first time all three seasons—65 episodes—of the show have corralled into one collection.

The dinos roar again in Jurassic World: Rebirth (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), the latest entry in the franchise that began back in 1993. Featuring an all-new set of characters, this one stars Scarlett Johannson, Mahershala Ali and Rupert Friend coming across some mutated, mega-nasty CHI dino beasties on a tropical island—and planning to swipe some embryos for a “buyer” back home. Extras include a doc about making the movie, plus deleted scenes, an alternate opening and more.

Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp and Anna Chlumsky star in Bride Hard (Magenta Light Studios), a rollicking comedy about a wedding’s party that turns the tables on a mercenary group with designs on taking the guests hostage.

One of the year’s best horror flicks, Clown in a Cornfield, is now available in a 4K Steelbook edition. Katie Douglas, Aaron Abrams, Will Sasso and Kevin Durand star in the terrifying tale of a small community menaced by, yes, a clown in a cornfield, who comes to cleanse the town of its burdens, one victim at a time.

How did Brenda Lee go from being a teeny teenage singing sensation—Little Miss Dynamite—to later become a global icon, the first woman to enter both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame? You can find out in Brenda Lee: Rockin’ Around (Mercury Studios, TH Entertainment and Nashville PBS), which covers her life and career, and her interactions with The Beatles, Patsy Cline and Elvis. Rock on, Brenda!

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In Grime (City Lights), author Thea Matthews uses poetry to create an unflinching coming-of-age portrait of the glamour and the grit of San Francisco’s notorious “tenderloin district” and the squalor of its poverty and addiction. It’s a story of dirt and detritus, but also of survival, triumph and resiliency in the face of overwhelming odds.

Get an early jump on the Christmas spirit with the newly revised edition of Norman Rockwell’s Christmas (originally released in 1977), which pairs more than 80 pieces of timeless artwork from the archive of the iconic painter with a variety of Christmas poems, stories and carols…plus a “vintage” Christmas dinner recipe from 1896! (Abrams)

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, Aug. 22 – Aug. 28

A superhero splurge, the new Bill Murray flick & Chris Hemsworth’s quest for a better life

FRIDAY, Aug. 22
Long Story Short
Animated comedy from the creator of BoJack Horseman follows the ups, downs, ins and outs, joys and disappointments of a family voiced by  Paul Reiser, Abbi Jacobson, Dave Franco and Max Greenfield (Netflix).

James Can Eat
What’s it like to be a competitive eater, able to down a pan of hot dogs or nearly 60 doughnuts? This documentary takes you inside the ups, down and urrrps of James Webb, Australia’s top-ranked eater, as he pushes his gastro boundaries on his quest to dethrone the “sport’s” icon, Joey Chestnut (Prime).

SATURDAY, Aug. 23
Girl in the Cellar
A single mom resorts to extreme measures to control her teenage daughter, locking her away in the basement—the same place the mother was held captive by her abusive father years ago. Yikes! (8 p.m., Lifetime). 

DC Movie Marathon
Fans can geek through the p.m. with these three movies based on comic books: Justice League (2017), Black Adam (2022) and Man of Steel (2013) (starts 12 noon, TBS).

SUNDAY, Aug. 24
Unforgotten on Masterpiece
In the new season, Inspectors James (Sinéad Keenan) and Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) return to uncover the truth behind a dismembered body found in a marsh and connect the dots of people with whom the victim was somehow linked (10 p.m., PBS).

Solo
Talented young individuals confront challenges and distractions, including stage fright and substance abuse, as they chase their dreams in Norway’s vibrant arts scene (Viaplay).

MONDAY, Aug. 25
Limitless: Live Better Now
Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky and actor Chris Hemsworth team up for this docuseries filmed across six countries over two years, blending cutting-edge science with age-old wisdom about how we can all start living better, addressing such issues as pain, fear and cognitive decline. (8 p.m., National Geographic).

The Friend
Bill Murray and Naomi Watts star in this heartwarmer (above) about a writer, her best friend and a 150-pound Great Dane named Apollo (Paramount+).

TUESDAY, Aug. 26
Playing Nice
Brit series about two couples who face a difficult decision when they discover their toddlers were switched at birth in a hospital mix-up. With James Norton, James McArdle, Jessica Brown Findlay and Posy Sterling (BritBox).

Baby Assassins 3
Martial-arts comedy franchise’s newest entry, about a group of young women taking on a brutal freelancer who hopes to take their place in the stone-cold-killer food chain (check streaming services).  

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27
The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
New original series from the bestselling author of The Terminal List stars Taylor Kitsch as a former Navy SEAL who dives into the world of espionage with CIA Special Ops. With Chris Pratt (Prime Video). 

THURSDAY, Aug. 28
The Thursday Murder Club
Chris Columbus directs this lively romp, based on the bestselling novel, about a group of retires into solving cold-case murders for fun who find themselves in a real-life whodunit. Starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie (Netflix).

Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story
Ripped-from-the-headlines true crime thriller about a British model (Nadia Parkes) whose kidnapping creates a media firestorm accusing her of faking it all (AMC+).

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John Fogerty marks the big 8-0 birthday with his new album, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (Concord), and its new re-recordings of 20 classic CCR tunes including “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Run Through the Jungle” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” It’s a family affair, produced by Fogerty’s son, Scott, with wife Julie as executive producer. 

Knock knock. Who’s there? Right! It’s The Who, with Live at the Oval 1971, a newly released live recording of the iconic British band’s robust 15-song set for a Bangla Desh famine relief effort in South London. Tracks include “Substitute,” “I Can’t Explain,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Pinball Wizard” and, of course, “My Generation.” And you’ll also hear drummer Keith Moon and guitarist Pete Townshend smash their gear—a Who in-concert signature—at the close. 

BRING IT HOME

Pierce Brosnan and Samuel L. Jackson top the cast of The Unholy Trinity (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a tale of Old West revenge, secrets and buried treasure in 1870s Montana. And hey, there’s David Arquette, Tim Daly (from TV’s Wings) and Yellowstone’s Q’orianaka Kilcker, who starred as Pocahontas in The New World.

Holy moly! The Conjuring, the 2013 demons-among-us film that spawned a franchise, is now available as a 4K Ultra HD restoration (Warner Bros, Discovery Home Entertainment). Vera Farminga and Patrick Wilson star as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Newman, caught in the middle of the most terrifying case of their lives. And it’s all based on a true story! 

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When does science fiction become science fact? Find out in Madeline Schwartzman’s Alive (Thames & Hudson), a brisk and timely look at rebellious AI, realistic robots, synthetic biology, digital snacks and other once-implausible realities of modern life. Indeed, it will make you ponder what it means to be “alive,” and just how humankind may (or may not) fit into the future.

The Entertainment Forecast

What to Watch, and more! Aug. 15 – 21

John Cena kicks bad-guy butt, Sheryl Crow stands up to cancer & virgins compete for some lovin’!

FRIDAY, Aug. 15
The Rainmaker
Two friends at different law firms and find themselves on opposite sides of a weighty case in this new legal series starring Milo Callaghan, Lana Parrilla and John Slattery (8 p.m., USA Network).

Stand Up to Cancer Special
Sheryl Crow hosts this all-star benefit concert from Nashville, with appearances from Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Jonas Brothers and many other stars, some in pretaped segments (7 p.m., ABC, NBC and CBS).

SATURDAY, Aug. 16
I’ll Never Let You Go
Inspired by real stories, this torrid tale stars Meagan Good as a successful art gallery owner whose life takes a dark turn after an affair with a charismatic Italian artist (8 p.m., Lifetime).

The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Summer
Celeb bakers including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, June Diane Raphel and Andrew Rannells are about for this single-episode special of the popular food competition held under a big tent (Roku Channel).

SUNDAY, Aug. 17
Women Wearing Shoulder Pads
Quirky new stop-motion quarter-hour Spanish-language comedy series (with English subtitles) about a wealthy Spanish woman navigating life, business and love—and fighting guinea pigs in a bullfighting ring. OK! (Adult Swim).

Sister Act
Whoopi Goldberg stars in this 1992 comedy as a nightclub singer taking refuge from the mob in a church—and transforming the singers into a soulful chorus. With Harvey Keitel and Kathy Najimy (8:30 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, Aug. 18
Lego Masters Jr.
Kelly Osborne hosts this spinoff featuring kid builders paired with celebs for challenging building-block projects (8 p.m., Fox).

Are You My First?
Former NFL player Colton Underwood and former Bachelor contestant Kaitlyn Bristowe host this new reality-dating experiment with a group of—ahem—virgins, brought to a tropical paradise to explore…in every way (Hulu).

TUESDAY, Aug. 19
Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson
The Grammy-winning pop singer, daytime TV host and American Idol winner spreads the musical goodness around with this four-part primetime special featuring the Jonas Brothers, Teddy Swims and Lizzo (10 p.m. NBC).

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox
Grace Van Patten (above) stars in this based-on-a-true-story episodic saga of Knox, wrongly convicted for the tragic murder of her roommate, and her 16-year struggle to set herself free (Hulu).

Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe
Joe Manganiello hosts this one-hour special exploring the new Universal theme park in Orlando, with five immersive “worlds” built around movies including the Harry Potter franchise, Super Nintendo and How to Train Your Dragon. Guest appearances by Bowen Yang, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vin Diesel and more (9 p.m., NBC).

THURSDAY, Aug. 21
Churchy
Season two of the workplace comedy stars Kevin Fredericks as a pastor who, after being passed over for leadership at his father’s mega-church, moves to Lubbock, Texas, to build his own ministry from the ground up (BET+).  

Peacemaker
Vigilante superhero Chris Smith (John Cena) struggles in season two to reconcile his past with a newfound sense of purpose—which involves continuing to kick self-righteous evil-doers in the butt (9 p.m., Max)

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The band Van Halen marks the 30th anniversary of their 1995 album Balance with a new expanded edition full of songs and surprises. It’s got all the tunes from the original LP, plus some rarities and other goodies, including videos and live versions of the hits “Jump,” “You Really Got Me,” “L.A. Woman” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” (Rhino).

And if you need to dust the rust off your “Rebel Yell,” here’s a trio of newly remastered anniversary colored vinyl editions of classic Billy Idol albums—Charmed Life, Whiplash Smile and Don’t Stop—with hits including “Cradle of Love,” “Mony Mony” and “Dancin’ With Myself.” As Idol himself sings, it’s “more, more, more, more, more!”

BRING IT HOME

Revel in retro cinematic badassery with Blaxploitation Classics Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory), a 12-disc collection of six genre touchstones including Foxy Brown, Friday Foster, Cotton Comes to Harlem and Slaughter. You’ll see Jim Brown, Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Yaphet Kotto, Red Foxx, Eartha Kitt, Jim Backus, Ed McMahon and more! And it’s loaded with bonus features!

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Aug. 8 – 14

A hunka-hunka weeklong dose of Elvis, a new ‘Alien’ invasion & supermarket food that knows how to party!

Watch ‘Blue Hawaii’ and other Elvis flicks all this week!

FRIDAY, Aug. 8
Freaky Tales
Pedro Pascal, Ben Mendelsohn and Jay Ellis are among the cast of this movie, set in 1987, about a group of colorful characters (an NBA star, a corrupt cop, a female rap duo, teen punks, neo-Nazis and a debt collector) on a collision course in Oakland (HBO Max).

Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Prequel to the hit romantic series (below) stars Hermoine Corfield, Jeremy Irvine, Harriet Slater and Jamie Roy and is set in the Highlands of 18th century Scotland (8 p.m., Starz).

SATURDAY, Aug. 9
Finding Faith
Paula Patton stars as a woman whose life is shattered by an unexpected tragedy that makes her lose faith in God, but then embarks on a journey of rediscovery, hope an purpose (Lifetime).

American Prince: JFK Jr.
Documentary examines the remarkable life and enduring legacy of President John F. Kennedy’s son, John Jr., from his father’s assassination to founding the political magazine George and beyond (9 p.m., CNN).

SUNDAY, Aug. 10
Professor T
Season four of the British crime drama stars Ben Mlller as professor Jasper Tempest, a criminologist working at Cambridge University using his genius intellect to solve crimes, all while suffering from OCD and an overbearing mother (PBS Masterpiece).

MONDAY, Aug. 11
Irish Blood
Alicia Silverstone (who’s come a long way since appearing in Aerosmith’s 1993 video for “Cryin'”) stars in this new crime drama series (above) as a divorce lawyer who discovers the truth about her father…and about the family she never knew even existed (Acorn).

Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends
The title kinda says it all. The Marvel Comics superhero gets kid-sized for preschoolers in this new animated series also featuring Captain America, Black Panther and Iron Spider (Disney Jr.)

Elvis Week
Seven days of The King’s movies, including Roustabout, G.I. Blues, Blue Hawaii and Fun in Acapulco, starts today. It’s a hunka-hunka Elvis flicks, for sure! (4 p.m., AXS TV).

TUESDAY, Aug. 12
Alien: Earth
New series spinoff from the film franchise, about a ragtag group of soldiers who make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat. Starring Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther and Timothy Olyphant (FX and Hulu).

Chef Grudge Match
Boxing champ Laila Ali jumps into the ring for the new season of this series, a winner-takes-all culinary battle between elite chefs (9 p.m., Food Network).

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13
Sausage Party: Foodtopia
The bawdy for-adults-only animated comedy series—featuring various supermarket foods as characters—based on the 2016 movie now returns for season two (above), with voices of creator Seth Rogen plus Kristen Wiig, Michael Cera and Ed Norton, among others (Amazon Prime).

Butterfly
Character-driven spy thriller that explores complex family dynamics within the treacherous world of global espionage, starring Daniel Dae Kim and Piper Perabo (Prime Video).

THURSDAY, Aug. 14
It Could Have Been Us
Feature film sheds light on the harsh realities of exclusion while offering glimpses of resilience, hope, and moments of joy as Emma Örtlund and Ida Johansson, from the Catwalk docuseries, explore the historical treatment of individuals with disabilities (Viaplay).

True Crime Story: Smugshot
Season two begins tonight, spotlighting more privileged individuals with a lot to lose who think they can get away with elaborate misdeeds (Sundance TV and Sundance Now).

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Fleetwood Mac’s first album is 50, and the remixed re-release of the band’s self-titled 1975 debut is now available from Rhino. (Happy anniversary, all!) Rediscover what made the album the pop breakthrough for Stevie Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Lindsey Buckingham, John McVie and Christie McVie, with songs including “Rhinnon,” “Over My Head,” “Landside” and “Say You Love Me.”

BRING IT HOME

Ben Affleck returns to the action-packed world of The Accountant in The Accountant 2 (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) with more murder, another deadly conspiracy and some serious cloak-and-dagger. With Jon Bernthal and Cynthia Addai-Robinson.

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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more!

Goofball golf, natural disasters, criminal gangs, mud madness & more!

July 25 – July 31

FRIDAY, July 25
Happy Gilmore 2
Start the weekend by teeing up for more Adam Sandler goofball golf antics, this time with a “hole” lot of guest stars, including Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Travis Kelce and Sandler’s own wife and their daughters, Sunny and Sadie (Netflix).

Death of a Unicorn
When a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentaly hit a unicorn with their vehicle, their friends want to exploit its magical powers and, well, bad things start to happen (Max).

SATURDAY, July 26
Before Your Father Finds Us
A woman (Alexa PenaVega) forced to go into witness protection finds out her ex-husband has escaped from prison, causing her to flee with her teenage daughter into remote woodlands cabin (Lifetime).

Dinner and a Movie
Hosts Jason Briggs and Jenny Mollen welcome actor Nick Swardson for a screening of his 2011 comedy Just Got With It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston (8 p.m., TBS).

SUNDAY, July 27
In the Eye of the Storm
More horrendous weather disasters—from monstrous Iowa twisters to raging California wildfires and nearly apocalyptic Appalachian flooding—as recalled by ordinary people who lived it…and captured it on camera (10 p.m., Discovery).

Katrina: Race Against Time
Another wild-weather documentary series, this one covers one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history when it roared into Louisiana in 2005, killing more than 1,300 (National Geographic).

MONDAY, July 28
Slumlord Millionaire
Find out about a group of determined residents and lawmakers fighting corrupt landlords eager to swap long-term tenants for higher rent profits (10 p.m., PBS). 

Disability in Film
Watch a triple feature of movies featuring characters with disabilities, including Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) with Spencer Tracy and Ship of Fools (1965), starring Vivien Leigh, Jose Ferrer and Lee Marvin (TCM).7.29

Mud Madness
Climb aboard for another season following off-road subculture and extreme UTV and ATV mud racing. And maybe bring along some spot remover (8 p.m., Discovery).

TUESDAY, July 29
United Gangs of America
Current and former gang members reveal the innermost workings of some of the most dangerous gangs across the U.S. (9 p.m., Vice).

WEDNESDAY, July 30
The Challenge: Vets and New Threats
Former “veteran” contestants across 40 seasons of hit reality competitions—including Big Brother, Survivor and The Amazing Race—return to see who’s got what it takes to survive a gauntlet of new threats, betrayals and challenges (8 p.m., MTV).

Mr. and Mrs. Murder
Four-part true crime docuseries explores the mysterious disappearance of a Tallahassee man, Mike Williams, who failed to return from a duck hunting trip. But when his widow marries his best friend, new suspicions arise (Hulu).

THURSDAY, July 31
Twisted Metal
Season two of the futuristic drama (above) begins as John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) risk their lives to compete in a highly dangerous demolition derby. But can they beat the killer clown Sweet Tooth? (Peacock).

Project Runway
Reality competition about fashion design returns for season 21 with former superstar model Heidi Klum back as one of the judges (9 p.m., Freeform).

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The new deluxe edition of the Talking Heads’ classic 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food (Rhino), available in multiple formats, features the remastered album plus rarities, alternate versions, live recordings and performance video, and a 60-page hardcover book. Re-live the retro new age groovery with tunes including “Psycho Killer,” “Take Me to the River” and “Stay Hungry,” and much more.

Do you remember when rock was young? Elton John: Live from the Rainbow Theater with Ray Cooper (Universal Music Entertainment) is a new vinyl and CD re-release culled from EJ’s six-show 1977 residency at London’s iconic venue, stripped down from a full band with accompaniment by his percussionist—and former band member—Ray Cooper. Tracks include “Roy Rogers,” “Border Song,” “Sweet Painted Lady” and more.

The greatest band ever with a flute-playing frontman (Ian Anderson) rises again with Still Living in the Past, a new reissue of Jethro Tull’s cult-fave 1972 album (available on 5 CDs plus a Blu-Ray or an LP set). It’s been newly expanded with singles, album tracks, demos and outtakes, plus a live-in-concert Blu-ray recording from 1979s and four promo films (proto videos). Dig it!

BRING IT HOME

Fans of action flicks will flip over The Jet Li Collection (Shout! Studios), a roundup of five seminal Hong Kong classics from the legendary actor, martial arts expert and producer. (who found movie “crossover” fame in flicks like Lethal Weapon, Romeo Must Die and Kiss of the Dragon). The 10 discs also feature a bounty of bonus content, including commentary, interviews and deleted scenes.

Director Wes Anderson is up to his inspired quirkiness again in The Phoenician Project (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), starring Benico del Toro as an unscrupulous industrialist cooking up a mega project in the Middle East, dodging would-be assassins and meeting all sorts of colorful characters. The all-star ensemble cast includes Michael Ciera, Mia Threapleton, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson and  Bryan Cranston.

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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch and more

Friday, July 18 – Thursday, July 24

Worlds collide! Snoopy and sharks, Billy Joel and Mickey Mouse, LL Cool J, bagpipes, housewives with guns, and ‘Clueless’ turns 30!

FRIDAY, July 18
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang break out in original songs (by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds) in this franchise special about the magic of summer camp (Apple TV+).

Billy Joel: And So It Goes
New two-part documentary presents an expansive portrait of the singer-songwriter’s life and career. Continues on July 25 (HBO).

SATURDAY, July 19
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story
Chrissy Metz stars in this faith-based drama as a nurse torn between her duty to protest her patients and her desperation to find her missing husband and kids (Lifetime).

Clueless
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ‘90s high-school satirical classic (below) starring Alicia Silverstone as a Beverly Hills teen who upsets the pecking order and becomes a matchmaker, which will air three times in a row today—once for every decade it’s been around—on Pluto TV’’s 90s Throwback channel.

SUNDAY, July 20
Shark Week
Annual week-long event of shark-centric programming kicks off tonight, celebrating its 37th year. With shows like “Dancing with Sharks,” “Expedition Unknown Shark Files” and “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” it’s fin-tastic! (8 p.m., Discovery).

Shark Week Support Movie Marathon
Dive into this watery trio of shark-adjacent flicks: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Aquaman (begins 2 p.m., TBS).

MONDAY, July 21
The Hunting Wives
In this new ensemble drama (above) based on the hit mystery thriller by May Cobb, a woman moves to deep East Texas and becomes consumed by a socialite’s charms, tumbling into a world of obsession, seduction and murder. Starring Malin Ackerman, Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz and Dermot Mulroney (Netflix).

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
New animated incarnation of the iconic kiddie show, geared to preschoolers, continues the adventures of Mickey and his pals—and features the song “Hot Dog!” by They Might Be Giants (9 p.m., Disney Jr.).

Battle of the Bagpipes
Discover the history of Scotland’s musical heritage with performances from the military and  civilian “piper” bands, below (streaming on Acorn TV).

TUESDAY, July 22
The 1% Club
Joel McHale hosts season two of this game show in which contestants vie for cash prizes by attempting to answer questions that only 1% of the population can answer (8 p.m., Fox).

WEDNESDAY, July 23
Hip Hop Was Born Here
LL Cool J hosts this docuseries about the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of the music which became a global culture sensation (Paramount +).

Washington Black
New series follows the 19th-century odyssey of an 11-year-old boy, George “Wash” Washington Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.), on a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love (Hulu)

THURSDAY, July 24
The Congregation
Season two of the award-winning Swedish psychological drama is based on a real-life cult and its abuses, infidelities, threats and feverish prophecies (Viaplay).

Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
Learn the story of the civil rights era from the perspectives of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life (PBS on Prime).

BRING IT HOME

As the old saying notes, death comes to us all. One of the most successful modern-horror franchises returns with Final Destination: Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), with another group of young characters meeting their inevitable ends in more gruesome, nightmarish and horrifically inventive ways.

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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, read, hear and more!

Live Aid turns 40, sports in the spotlight & a home tour of Disney parks

July 11 – July 17

Freddy Mercury and Queen thrilled the crowd at Live Aid in 1995.

FRIDAY, July 11
The Wild Ones
No, not the Marlon Brando classic. This docuseries follows a trio of wildlife experts on a global trek to protect the planet’s most endangered species (Apple TV+).

One Night in Colorado
Four-part docuseries looks at the 2022 event in which four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the middle of the night (Prime Video).

SATURDAY, July 12
Mysteries From Above: Lost at Sea
Season two returns to the air to investigate a Pacific island that’s always intrigued scientists and geologists, using revealing images from drone, satellite and other aerial devices (9 p.m., History). 

CBS Weekend
Family friendly a.m. programming block includes Lucky Dog: Reunions, Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin, Mission Unstoppable and Tails of Value (CBS).

SUNDAY, July 13
Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World
New documentary commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1995 global concert event that raised tens of billions of dollars to offset world hunger, with iconic performance videos, backstage footage and interviews with organizer Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting and many more (9 p.m., CNN)

The Institute
New series about a kidnapped teen genius who finds out he’s being “held” at a special place (above) where all the kids have unusual abilities. Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Joe Freeman and Simone Miller (MGM+).

MONDAY, July 14
Life After People: Water World
What would happen in a world if suddenly there were no humans anymore? Tonight’s season three continues the “investigation” with convincing computer graphics and animations, depicting what a much more watery globe would look like (10:30 p.m., History).

A Killer Among Friends
Jennifer Love Hewitt narrates this new true-crime series about a group of friends haunted by memories of the murder of one of their own. Whodunnit? (10 p.m., ID).

TUESDAY, July 15
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
A homemade flying saucer lifts off, and a 6-year-old boy might be inside. National panic ensues—but what truly happened? This documentary investigates (Netflix).

The Kelly Clarkson Show
Kelly’s guests are Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, from the new movie Dying for Sex (syndicated, check local listings).

WEDNESDAY, July 16
The ESPYS
Sports celebs an others celebrate the year’s top athletic achievements and unforgettable moments, hosted by funnyman Shane Gillis (8 p.m., ABC).

Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful
Here’s your front-row ticket to the full-length “visual companion” to Cyrus’ latest album, a one-of-a-kind pop opera with 13 original new songs (Disney+ and Hulu).  

THURSDAY, July 17
The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster
True-crime docuseries dives into a 2018 event in the “furry community” that exposed a horrifying conspiracy of animal abuse lurking beneath the fandom of people who like to dress up as animals. Yes, it’s a thing (Sundance TV and Sundance Now).

Disney Resort POV Walkthrough
Can’t make it to a Disney park this summer? Well, sit back and enjoy this immersive “tour” of Disney resorts and attractions, and its salute to seven decades of Disney ingenuity. It’s the next best thing to being there (Disney+).

NOW HEAR THIS

Get down to one of the earliest recordings of the iconic funk band Sly & the Family Stone with the newly unearthed (and remastered) The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedrail 1967 (High Moon Records). It’s a time tunnel back to the young days of the band sowing seeds of greatness that would soon bloom bright with “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Higher” and “Dance to the Music.”

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, July 4 – 11

‘Jaws’ at 50, a lotta fireworks & families go back to the 1800s!

Learn all about the movie that created the concept of summer blockbusters back in ’75.

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, July 4
A Capitol Fourth
Celebrate our nation’s 249th birthday with this annual tradition, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, with fireworks along the Potomac and musical performances from multiple genres of music (8 p.m., PBS).

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
In addition to a lot of kaboomy razzle-dazzle up in the sky, there’ll also be ground-level performances from Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer and Trisha Yearwood (8 p.m., NBC). 

SATURDAY, July 5
The Summer Hikaru Died
Anime thriller based on an award-winning manga novel about a young man in a rural Japanese village who discovers his best friend has been “replaced” with a replicant (Netflix).

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Show
All this month, you can watch material from the groundbreaking talk show, spanning the 1960s into the early ’90s, with 50 episodes (never before seen after their original airings) featuring classic Carson bits, sketches, guests and musical acts. It’s a time capsule of retro TV, when Johnny ruled late night (MeTV).

SUNDAY, July 6
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
Yep, that Wild Kingdom, the great-grandaddy of wildlife TV series hosted by Marlin Perkins for more than two decades beginning in 1963, returns in reruns (7 a.m., MeTV).

The Princess Bride
Always worth a rewatch, this 1987 classic from director Rob Reiner has an all-star cast (Billy Crystal! Robin Wright! Chris Sarandon! Andre the Giant!) in a whimsical, swashbuckling bedtime-story tale of a princess, a giant and “true love” (9:03 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, July 7
Such Brave Girls
A young woman, her sister and their mother flee their cramped, crumbling home for a shot at love and adoration in this six-episode comedy series. With Kate Sadler, Lizzie Davidson and Louise Brealey (Hulu).

Bachelor in Paradise
Returning cast members from across the franchise hit the beach in Costa Rica for season 10 or the hit reality-show matchmaking competition (8 p.m., ABC).

TUESDAY, July 8
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
How the greatest works of art in western civilization sprung from one of the most turbulent periods in history (9 p.m., PBS).

Born to be Viral: The Real Lives of Kid Influencers
Six-episode docuseries follows the first generation of kids to be raised in the media spotlight, with their lives streamed to millions—and some of them becoming millionaires in the process (Hulu)

WEDNESDAY, July 9
South Park
The acclaimed animated grownup comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone (above) begins season 27 tonight. So they must be doing something right, right? (Comedy Central).

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The gang of chronic underachievers stoops even lower in season 17 in their cravings for money and societal privileges. With Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Katilin Olson and Danny Devito (FXX and Hulu).

THURSDAY, July 10
Brick
A couple becomes trapped in their apartment behind an impenetrable, futuristic wall that has materialized overnight, enclosing their entire building. Can everyone band together to find a way out, solve the mystery, and survive? (Netflix). 

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Go inside the making and behind-the-scenes shark drama of the movie that launched the era of summer blockbusters back in ’75—and made just about everyone afraid of going in the water (National Geographic).

Back to the Frontier
Chip and Joanna Gaines challenge three families in this new adventure/reality series to reimagine their lives as 1880s homesteaders, forgoing present-day comforts for old-fashioned life on the frontier (Magnolia Network and Max).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Everyone’s a photographer now, with cameras built into phones. But decades ago, when photography was a marvelous new thing, there were all sorts of innovations and experimentation to be found—and all sorts of new “high tech” trickery even danger. Anika Burgess’ fascinating Flashes of Brilliance (W.W. Norton) examines the long arc of photographic advancement, from early cameras attached to ballons, to X-rays, photography deep under the sea, on the moon and deep into the cosmos. It’s an engrossing combination of science, history, art and wild eccentricities about the human desire to document our existence in our world, and beyond.

Find out what it’s really like—and I mean really, really like—to be a stand-up comedian in Doing Time (Jawbone Press), author JT Habersaat’s refreshingly candid and gloriously uncensored look at the artistry and hard work that go into making people laugh. With reflections and recollections, and more than a few hard-earned battle scars, from Patton Oswalt, Bobcat Goldthwait, The Kids in the Hall, Dana Gould and dozens of others who share their anecdotes and stories.

Remember the promotional-tie-in toys you used to get with food at McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and other fast-food places? Author Jonathan Alexandrotos for sure does, in Free With Every Kids Meal (McFarland), he digs deep to examine the past and present, the cultural impact, and the full-throttle fun of all sorts of “happy meals.”

BRING IT HOME

Vampires attack the South in Sinners (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a tale of two brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home after World War II only to face an even greater (and graver) threat than the Klan. Hailee Steinfeld also stars in this horror show gloriously a-swirl with undertones about music, culture, history and race. Loaded with extras and bonus features, including making-of docs, interviews and a closer look at the movie soundtrack.

NOW HEAR THIS

Get deep into the retro grooves of The Legends of Surf Guitar, recorded live in California, with musicians from the ‘70s and ‘80s surf-music revival recreating such classics as “Wipe Out,” “Pipeline,” the Peter Gunn theme and “Baby Elephant Walk.” And some special guest stars take the stage, too!  Surf’s up! (Oglio Records).

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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, June 27 – July 3

Mormon wives, a new Capt. Nemo & Jayne Mansfield’s daughter tells all!

It’s a ‘Mormon Wives’ reunion!

FRIDAY, June 27
Smoke
Taron Edgerton stars in this based-on-real-event drama about an arson investigator who teams with a police detective in a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. With Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky (Apple TV+).

My Mom Jayne
Come along for actress and director Mariska Harigaty’s journey to understand and embrace the public and private legacy of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, in this probing documentary (8 p.m., HBO).

SATURDAY, June 28
Pretty Hurts
Hillary Duff stars in this new network movie as a mom who discovers the ugly truths behind the glamor of the teen pageant world, highlighting a disease for which young people are especially at risk (8 p.m., Lifetime).

What Would You Do?
Onlookers and bystanders react to a workers’ comp scam, customers being rude to an employee with Down Syndrome and a mother pressuring her gay son into conversion therapy (8 p.m., ABC).

SUNDAY, June 29
Nautilus
Epic adventure drama (above), inspired by Jules Verne’s classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, tells the story of an Indian Prince seeking a fabled Viking treasure—but you know him better as Capt. Nemo. Starring Black Mirror’s Shazad Latif (9 p.m., AMC).

Homeward Bound
Two dogs and a cat set off on a heartwarming adventure to reunite with their owners (9 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, June 30
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys
New season begins of the doc series about a Missouri mega-rancher and his family, now facing personal and business challenges including an FBI investigation and possible foreclosure (Bravo).

TUESDAY, July 1
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel
Featuring interviews with insiders and former staff, this exposé traces American Apparel’s journey from fashion phenomenon to financial flop (Netflix).

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
The cast of the show—all the #MomTok and #DadTok—congregates again in this reunion special to watch unseen footage, uncover new secrets and scandals and make a surprise announcement (Hulu).

WEDNESDAY, July 2
The Old Guard
Charlize Theron, Henry Golding and Uma Thurman are among the ensemble cast in this flick about a team of immortal warriors on a mission to protect the world (Netflix).

THURSDAY, July 3
The Sandman, Vol. I
Season two begins of the adaption based on the DC comic book series by Neil Gaiman about Morpheus, the King of Dreams, as he seeks to regain his power after a century of imprisonment (Netflix).

BRING IT HOME

The cheerleading comedy classic gets a rah-rah resurrection in the 25th anniversary re-release of Bring It On (Shout! Studios), starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union. Bonus content includes a making-of doc, audio commentary, wardrobe and makeup tests and deleted scenes. And didja know both Dunst and Union were real-life high school cheerleaders?

A wind-up toy simian causes all kinds of hellzapoppin’ in master horror director Osgood PerkinsThe Monkey (Neon Home Entertainment), based on a Stephen King story and starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany and Collin O’Brien.

Hell of a Summer (Neon) is a coming-of-age horror/slasher comedy (yes, really) about a young summer-camp counsellor (Fred Hechinger) who discovers something deadly lurking in the woods. Both familiar (to horror fans) and fresh at the same time, it also marks the co-directorial debut of Stranger ThingsFinn Wolfhard, who provides commentary in one of the bonus features.

6.27

NOW HEAR THIS

Bruce Springsteen breaks out the pedal steel, fiddle and other Nash-centric instruments with Somewhere North of Nashville (Sony), a previously unreleased collection of rockabilly, honky-tonk tunes and foot-tapping country. The Boss says the songs were recorded back in 1995, when he was working on what would become The Ghost of Tom Joad album. “I ended up making a country record on the side,” he says, but those side songs never made it onto an album…until now!

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, June 20 – June 26

‘The Bear’ roars, Janis Ian breaks the silence & see Nashville’s biggest party

Jeremy Allan White heats up the kitchen in season four of “The Bear.”

FRIDAY, June 20
Janis Ian: Breaking the Silence
All about singer-songwriter Janis Ian—who hit the charts in 1976 with “At Seventeen”—and how she continues to make music that challenges social norms and speaks her truth (9 p.m., PBS).

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Guy Fieri gets funky in Atlanta with chicken sandwiches, patty melt empanadas and hot fish (9 p.m., Food Network).

SATURDAY, June 21
Dateless to Dangerous: My Son’s Secret Life
Jody Sweeten stars in this network drama as a mom dealing with a son who tumbles into the dark online world of incels—celibates guys who they think they’re not attractive to girls, and hostile toward girls and boys who are sexually active (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, June 22
The Gilded Age
Season three of the Julian (Downton Abbey) Fellowes’ lavish period drama—set in 1880s New York—returns tonight with Carrie Coon (above), Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Taissa Farmiga among its sprawling cast (9 p.m., HBO).

WWE LFG
The LFG stands for “Legends and Future Greats” in this wrestling “greatest hits” smackdown competition (10 p.m., A&E).

MONDAY, June 23
Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything
Feature-length documentary examine the broadcast legend’s career, her pivotal role in journalism history and her pioneering example for women in the industry (Hulu).

TUESDAY, June 24
Chopped
The kitchen is buzzing tonight as four social media influencers take to the stoves for a bout of post-worthy food challenges (8 p.m., Food Network).

Enigma
Documentary explores transgender identity through the paths of women who helped shape trans culture and history (9 p.m., HBO).

WEDNESDAY, June 25
The Bear
Season four of the Emmy-winning series finds the restaurant team not just even more determined to survive, but also looking for ways to take The Bear to the next level. With Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Abby Elliot (Hulu)

Human Footprint
A biologist travels the globe in this docuseries, telling the ongoing story of how our everyday choices shape the planet and reflect who we really are (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, June 26
Butchers of L.A.
True-crime doc about three predators whose horrifying crimes terrorized Southern California for more than two decades, killing more than 50 victims (Sundance Now).

CMA Fest
In case you didn’t make it to Nashville for June’s annual week of country music shows and fan events, you can watch this special of on- and offstage highlights hosted by entertainers Ashley McBride and Cody Johnson (8 p.m., ABC).

Rush Hour Marathon
Watch all three of the 1998-2006 buddy-cop comedy flicks starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in this back-to-back movie “rush” (10 p.m., TNT).

NOW HEAR THIS

Dance like it’s the ‘80s again with this splendid reissue of albums by the B-52s, the era’s ultimate party band. The Warner and Reprise Years (Rhino) collects all the Georgia-based band’s 1979-1992 albums—on 9 vinyl discs or 8 CDs—into a rainbow-hued set with the songs “Rock Lobster,” “Private Idaho,” “Good Stuff,” “Love Shack” “Roam” and dozens of other shake-your-groove-thing tracks.

The golden cinematic era of Western movies made in Italy, with their signature soundtracks, is revisited in Jeymes Samuel’s Spaghetti Western Collection (CAM Sugar/UME), a roundup of classic film music from composers of 1963-1972 flicks like Django, In a Colt’s Shadow and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Didja ever wonder what classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs would sound like as bluegrass? Well, now you find out, with Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival (CMH Records), a new take on CCR hits like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and more, all performed by the group Iron Horse, the crackerjack acoustic ensemble behind all the “Pickin’ On” toe-tapping tribute projects to Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers and The Beatles, Taylor Swift, U2 and ZZ Top.

BRING IT HOME

Remember when Mel Gibson and Danny Glover teamed up in the ‘80s for the rip-roaring’ buddy-cop action comedy Lethal Weapon? Now that 1987 classic is available for the first time on digital and 4K, accompanied by a later “director’s cut” with footage never seen in theaters, plus a salute to the film’s late director, Richard Donner. (Warner Bros.  Discover Home Entertainment).

The first-ever live-action movie spinoff of the popular videogame, A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and made big box-office bucks in theaters earlier this year. Now it’s available on 4K UHD, Blue-ray and DVD (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), loaded with extras, including features on the film’s special effects and music.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Visit an apocalyptic, post-nuclear world in artist/author Ben Mauro’s Huxley, the fantastically detailed, six-part graphic novel about a A.I.,  cloned humans, interplanetary wars and a robot named Huxley, all with chilling overtones about where we might be headed, indeed, in our world. And it’s probably no coincidence that the robot has the name of the British author of the classic Brave New World, about a future where humanity is dehumanized to uphold an authoritarian ideal. (Thames & Hudson)