Category Archives: DVDs

Jun 13 2025
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Books, DVDs, History, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, June 13 – June 19

Henry Winkler’s ‘Hazardous History,’ the Swedish mafia & ride, Sally, ride!

The former Fonzie finds looks for dangerous playthings and precarious products.

FRIDAY, June 13
Twin Peaks
The genre-bending murder-mystery freak show from David Lynch and Mark Frost that redefined television in the early ‘90s—about a special agent (Kyle McLachlin) investigating the death of Laura Palmer, a teenage girl—gets a new streaming home for repeats of its two seasons, plus its follow-up, Twin Peaks: The Return (MUBI).

Not a Box
New kid-centric animated series encourages preschoolers to embrace the power of imagination through the character of a bunny who uses a cardboard box to conjure up magical worlds, new friends and fantastic adventures (Apple TV+). 

Cleaner
Daisy Ridley and Clive Owen star in this new movie about a window cleaner trying to save 300 hostages held prisoner by radical activists (Max).6.15

SATURDAY, June 14
Hazardous History with Henry Winkler
The Happy Days star hosts this new series looking into things we used to do that have been deemed unadvisible by the passage of time, from perilous playthings to precarious products. Can you believe asbestos was once widely used just about everywhere? Or that there was radioactivity in toys? Fast-paced, fun and a bit scary! (10 p.m., History).

The Chosen: Last Supper
The global-hit life-of-Christ drama (above) enters season five as Jesus is welcomed as a “king” into Jerusalem, shares a final meal with his closest followers and prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice (Prime). 

SUNDAY, June 15
Sally
National Space Day was May 2, but it’s never too late to learn about pioneering astronaut Sally Ride, the first American woman to travel into space, in this new award-winning documentary. Ride, Sally, ride! (9 p.m., National Geographic).

Underdogs
Actor Ryan Reynolds narrates this celebration of nature’s unsung animal heroes, demonstrating a spectrum of bizarre mating strategies, surprising superpowers, deception, dubious parenting skills and gross-out behaviors (9 p.m., National Geographic).

MONDAY, June 16
Walking with Dinosaurs
Six-part BBC production uses science and cutting-edge visual effects to bring prehistoric creatures—and their stories of domination and survival—to life (8 p.m., PBS).

TUESDAY, June 17
American Cats: The Good, The Bad and the Cuddly
Celebrate Animal Rights Awareness Week with this documentary about the controversial world of cat declawing and the multimillion-dollar industry behind the procedure (available on digital).

Hell Motel
Will and Grace’s Eric McCormack stars in this new horror anthology series about dark history repeating itself at the site of an unsolved mass murder at a motel (Shudder).

WEDNESDAY, June 18
Outrageous
New period drama series is based on the true story of headstrong, aristocratic sisters in the 1930s who lived by their own rules…with sometimes disastrous consequences. Starring Bessie Carter, Joanna Vanderham and Shannon Watson (Britbox).

We Were Liars
In this twisted YA drama based on a novel, a teenage girl returns to her summer home in Martha’s Vineyard searching for answers after a mysterious accident has left her with a traumatic brain injury—and no memory of how it happened. Starring Emily AlynLind and Shubham Maheshwari (Prime).

THURSDAY, June 19
The Waterfront
Drama about a North Carolina fishing family trying to keep their sinking business afloat. Starring Holt McCallany, Maria Bello and Melissa Benoist (Netflix).

Mafia
Nordic crime drama about the violent rise of a crime boss and a lone cop facing his menace—inspired by real events in Sweden in the 1990s (Viaplay).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Take a tour inside a citadel of rock history with Buzz Me In: Inside the Record Plant, a fascinating look at the sprawling recording studio operation—in New York, California, plus multiple mobile recording trucks—that became a recording icon of the ‘70s. Authors Martin Porter and David Goggin—two veteran journalists who now run the Record Plant Facebook page—interviewed countless music professionals and artists to recount, session by session, what it was like to catch lightning in a bottle by Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Bob Marley, John Lennon, the Eagles and more rock legends. It’s a previously untold story of classic rock’s most famous hit factory. (Thames & Hudson)

The late great multi-instrumentalist for The Band gets his due in Richard Manuel (Shiffer Publishing), author Stephen T. Lewis’ masterful examination at his talents and influence in one of the founding groups for rootsy rock. A quiet but essential presence in The Band, Manuel, who died in 1986, never gave many interviews, but others sing his praises here, including Eric Clapton and Van Morrison. Other recount his musical life and his role in The Band’s progression, including helping Bob Dylan “go electric,” performing at Woodstock and making one of the greatest in-concert documentaries of all time, The Last Waltz.

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Get retro groovy with Gratest Hits (Dead.net), the newly released 60th anniversary collection of the Grateful Dead’s “greatest” (get it?) studio tracks, including “Truckin’,” “Touch of Grey,” “Friend of the Devil” and more on CD, vinyl and digital. A testament to one of the world’s most iconic bands across more than half a century, it’s jam-tastic!

BRING IT HOME

One of the most widely celebrated war heroes of WWII, Audie Murphy went on to become a Hollywood superstar, appearing in more than 40 films, mostly war movies and Westerns. The Audie Murphy Collection rounds up three of his “cowboy” films from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s—Walk the Proud Land, Seven Ways From Sundown and Bullet for a Badman—in a package jam-packed with other stars, including Anne Bancroft, Jay Silverheels (Tonto from The Lone Ranger), Darren McGavin and Beverly Owen, who played Marilyn on TV’s The Munsters (kinolarber.com).

Jun 06 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more!

June 6 – June 12

The Black Mafia, going deep into our oceans & secrets of a notorious brothel

Brice Dallas Howard (center) goes under “Deep Cover” to find criminals.

FRIDAY, June 6
BMF
Season four begins of the family crime drama about the Black Mafia Family, a drug trafficking and money laundering operation based on the true story of two Detroit brothers who started what would become one of America’s most influential crime families (Starz).

Straw
Taraji P. Henson and Sheri Shepherd star in director Tyler Perry’s drama about a struggling single mom facing an unexpected path and involved in a situation she never imagined—and facing suspicion in a world that seems indifferent to her very existence (Netflix). 

SATURDAY, June 7
Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story
Yes, another “ripped from the headlines” flick from Lifetime, this one about a woman who’d been abducted as a baby and raised by the family of…drum roll, please…the serial killer…another drum roll, please….who’d murdered her mom (8 p.m., Lifetime).

Ocean with David Attenborough
Documentary special highlights the importance of the world’s oceans and their crucial role in the future of our planet (9 p.m., National Geographic). 

SUNDAY, June 8
The 78th Tony Awards
Live awards show from New York’s Radio City Music Hall honors the best of Broadway, hosted by Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo (8 p.m., CBS).

SNL50: The Anniversary Special
If you missed it the first time around, here’s an encore, with cast members past and present (above) joined by the biggest stars from five decades (hosts, performers) for a big blowout evening of skits, music and more (7:30 p.m., NBC).

MONDAY, June 9
Art Detectives
New British series about a duo (Stephen Moyer and Sina Singh) solving murders connected to the tony world of high-end art and antiques (Acorn TV).

Tyler Perry’s Divorces Sistas
New series follows five close friends as they navigate life, love and the challenges that come with breakups, marriage and dating. Starring LaToya Luckett, Porscha Coleman and Briana Price (BET). 

TUESDAY, June 10

Big Brother
New season of the reality show begins season 27 tonight with a 90-minute kickoff, Julie Chen Moonves returning as host and a new group of “guests” who’ve agreed to be part of the nationally televised, constantly monitored social experiment (8 p.m., CBS).

The Snake
New “social survival” competition series puts contestants to the task of winning others over—to the point of not becoming eliminated by the “Snake” in each episode’s closing moments (9 p.m., Fox).

WEDNESDAY, June 11
Our Times
South Korean sci-fi about a time-traveling high-schoolers who form an alliance to help each other find their dream dates (Netflix).

Snow White
Disney’s live-action remake of its 1937 classic, based on a German fairy tale, stars Rachel Ziegler as fair-skinned princess who sings “Someday My Prince Will Come” (Disney+)

THURSDAY, June 12
Deep Cover
Bryce Dallas-Howard stars in this action comedy as a London-based acting coach offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to infiltrate the city’s notorious gangland by going undercover to impersonate dangerous criminals. With Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed (Prime Video).

Secrets of the Bunny Ranch
Uncover the dark underbelly in this six-part series of one of the world’s most famous brothels, open since the 1950s outside Las Vegas (9 p.m., A&E).

READ ABOUT IT

We take color photography for granted, but there was a time when it was new, novel and something to really wow the eyes. The Color of Clothes (Thames & Hudson) is itself an eye-popping look at how the fashion world responded to autochrome, or glass-plate photography, with dramatic new splashes, flamboyance and even flights of fantasy, as fashion-historian author Cally Blackman examines in this highly visual exploration of the early stages of color imagery, how the equally young world of commercial fashion ran with it, and the visionary practitioners—many of them women—who were critical to the advancement of photography in the vibrant shades of “living color.”

In Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience (Harper Collns), former TV producer/reporter Bill McGowan (now a public speaking guru) breaks down how anyone, of any age, can “develop” a strong, distinctive communicating voice—especially in our modern world’s “lazy era” of texting, looking at screens and constant distractions. His helpful tips and advice will help you understand why he’s been the go-to guy for Alex Rodriguez, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian and more.  

All aboard for Mexico! In Casa Mexicana (Thames & Hudson), architecture photographer Edmund Sumner takes you inside off more than 25 new homes, all curated and designed to fit into the extraordinary landscapes of the country, from the jungle to the seaside and the city. If you can’t live in one, you can at least see what it would be like. Viva la Mexico, and these fine homes!

BRING IT HOME

If you’re a fan of the Japanese artform known as anime, you’ll dig Dan Da Dan: Season One (Shout! Studios), about a young girl in a family of spirit mediums fighting ghosts and space aliens. Based on the serialized manga comics of Yukinobu Tatsu and “popularized” by such major streamers as Disney+, Hulu and Netflix on it’s eye-popping, beautifully bonkers entertainment.

Jason Statham slams down the hammer in A Working  Man (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment) as a former black ops military man who comes out of “retirement” when his boss’ daughter gets nabbed by human traffickers. And it was written by Sylvester Stallone, who knows a thing or two about action flicks! 

Fresh off season three of The White Lotus, Meghann Fahy stars the twisty-turny nail biter Drop (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment) as a widowed mom whose first date turns into a nightmare when she starts receiving anonymous threatening messages on her phone. Bonus features include commentary from director Christopher Landon and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

His name is Bond, James Bond—and six of his classic films, starring Sean Connery in the iconic superspy role, have been rounded up and remastered for the 6-Film Sean Connery Collection (MGM/Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), marking their first time in 4k Ultra hi-definition. You’ll thrill anew to Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. Good to see you again, James, in such rich new light!

Learn about the original rock ‘n’ roll wildman—who made The Muppet’s drum-thrashing Animal look like a lightweight—in Beware of Mr. Baker (Kino Larber), the 2012 documentary (now on Blu-ray) about Ginger Baker. He was the volatile, hard-living Brit who helped Eric Clapton launch Cream and became known as rock’s first superstar stickman in the ‘60s and ‘70s. 

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Celebrating their 25th year in country music with Life is a Highway: Refueled Duets (Big Machine), Rascal Flatts corralled a bunch of their musical friends—Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and more—to “reimagine” hits, like “Life is a Highway” and “Fast Cars and Freedom,” as new duets.

The landmark album “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by WAR celebrates its 50th anniversary in the new three-CD re-release reminding us of the group’s unique fusion of funk, soul, jazz, Latin, rock and street music. The 1975 original featured the breakthrough hits “Why Can’t We Be Friends” and “Low Rider,” and the new collection contains new bonus tracks, rare jam sessions and mixes and a recording about the making of the band’s feel-good signature song, “Why Can’t We Be Friends.” (Avenue/Rhino).

May 30 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW HEAR  THIS

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

May 09 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

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

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more April 25 – May 1

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

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

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

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

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

SUNDAY, April 27

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW HEAR THIS

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

Apr 18 2025
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DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! April 18 – 24

Ralph Fiennes is pumped, meet the new Wolf Man and penguin secrets

Ralph Fiennes stars in a new take on Odysseus in ‘The Return.’

FRIDAY, April 18
Jane
Tonight begins season three of the Emmy-winning kid-centric series based on the early life of Dr. Jane Goodall (played by Ava Louise Murchison) as the young budding environmentalist begins her lifelong quest save endangered animals (Apple TV+).

Wolf Man
A new take on another Universal monster-movie classic (like The Invisible Man), this one stars Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner in a modernized tale of a husband with some beastly behavior (Peacock).

SATURDAY, April 19
Desire: A Temptation Story
Tasha Smith and Adrian Holmes star in twisty tale—which kicks off a broader network franchise—about a talk-show host who marries her new suitor, only to find that her desires have led her down a dangerous path (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, April 20
Secrets of the Penguins
Discover never-before-filmed secret traditions, surprising intelligence and the close-knit societal bonds of penguins in this eye-opening series filmed in some of the world’s most extreme places. Narrated by Blake Lively (Nat Geo).

The Rehearsal
Season two of the mock-doc comedy series begins tonight, with Nathan (Nathan For You) Fielder helping more people “prepare” for difficult conversations and encounters through the use of actors and extensively recreated sets (HBO).

MONDAY, April 21
Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out
Zits alive! Dr. Sandra Lee (TV’s “Dr. Pimple Popper”) returns in this all-new reality series about all kinds of oozy-doozy derma drama (10 p.m., Lifetime).

The Return
Mythology comes alive in this new drama starring Ralph Fiennes as Odysseus, returning to his kingdom 20 years after the Trojan War—and not quite the mighty warrior he used to be (Paramount+).

TUESDAY, April 22
America’s Most Wanted
Calling all armchair detectives! John Walsh returns, joined with his son, Callahan, for another season of using viewers’ leads to ferret out bad guys and crack crimes (9 p.m., Fox).

Deep in the Heart
Actor Matthew McConaughey narrates this celebration of the diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife that share his home state of Texas (Pluto TV).

WEDNESDAY, April 23
Changing Planet: River Restoration
Learn how ongoing projects are bringing back life to two rivers essential to humans and nature (10 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, April 24
Étoile
Dance-world dramedy set in New York and Paris—from the director of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel— follows two world-renowned ballet companies trying to save their institutions. With Maisel’s Luke Kirby, plus Charlotte Gainsbourgh and David Alvarez (Prime Video).  

Black Snow
Crime drama returns for season two with more gripping missing-persons cases set in Australia’s Glasshouse Mountains. Starring Travis Fimmell and Jana McKinnon (AMC+).

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

The Entertainment Forecast

Friday, April 11 – Thursday, April 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

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

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

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