Category Archives: Movies

Mar 08 2024
Leave a comment
DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Friday, March 8 – Thursday, March 14

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

All times Eastern.

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

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

Watch out for those dragons, Millie!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

Mar 01 2024
Leave a comment
DVDs, Movies, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

March 1 – March 7, 2024

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

All times Eastern.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 23 2024
Leave a comment
Movies, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 23 – Feb. 29

‘Priscilla’ streams, George Jones gets the all-star treatment & Timothy Chalamet is young Willy Wonka

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, Feb. 23
Priscilla
Director Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed fem-centric drama based on Elvis Presley’s former wife and her life with the King comes to streaming today. Starring Callee Spaeny as the child who became a bride, and Jacob Eldori as Elvis (Max).

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy
Animated sci-fi comedy sitcom follows a group of deep-space docs battling illegal time loops and cosmic STIs as they try to keep their personal lives from falling apart under the zero-gravity stress. It’s like a far-far far out ER, with voices by Keke Palmer, Maya Rudolph, Stephanie Hsu, Natasha Lyonne and Kieran Culkin (Prime).

SATURDAY, Feb. 24
George Jones: Still Playin’ Possum
The late, great county icon (above) is celebrated on the 10th anniversary of his death in a special concert by Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Brad Paisley, Jelly Roll, Wynonna and others, and their renditions of “Golden Ring,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” “Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” “The Race is On” and many other George Jones hits (9 p.m., PBS).

Sense and Sensibility
Part of the network’s Jane Austen “Loveuary” programming, this original movie takes a page or two from the late romance novelist with its tale of sisters torn between lovers when they move into a modest cottage in the British countryside (8 p.m., Hallmark).

SUNDAY, Feb. 25
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
How many ways can those dead people walk??? This newest spinoff of the franchise stars Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as two fan-favorite characters from the show, lovebirds who find themselves in yet another war with—you guessed it—the walking dead (AMC).

Vegas: The Story of Sin City
Cruise deep into the history of the iconic place that became the HQ for Elvis and the Rat Pack, sprouting from the desert like an oasis of vice and spicy, spectacular diversion from the seeds of visionary developers and infamous mobsters (10 p.m., CNN).

MONDAY, Feb. 26
The Voice
Limber up the vocal chords for season 25 of the hit singing competition, which kicks off tonight with host Carson Daly and returning judges Reba McEntire, Chance the Rapper, John Legend, joined by first-timers Dan + Shay (8 p.m., NBC).

TUESDAY, Feb. 27
As We Speak: Rap Music on Trial
Documentary follows rap artist Kemba as he explores the growing “weaponization” of rap lyrics by law enforcement and how they been used as evidence in criminal trials for decades (Paramount+).

Shōgun
Global event series (above), a new adaptation of the bestselling novel by James Clavell, is set in Japan in the year 1600 at the dawn of a century-defining war and features an acclaimed Japanese cast (Hulu).

God Save Texas
Trilogy of documentary films by Richard Linklater and other Texas filmmakers spotlight some of hot topics in one of the most controversial states in the country—a superprison in Huntsville, where one quarter of the town’s population is incarcerated; the downside of Houston’s oil boom; and a town on the border with Mexico where immigration issues really hit home (Max).

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28
Code 8 Part II
(Below). An ex-con janitor’s attempts at staying out of trouble run aground when he helps a young teen escape from corrupt police officers. Maybe his telekinetic powers can help! With Robbie Amell and Stephen Amell, who created and starred in the 2016 short scifi film on which the new series is based (Netflix).

Iwájú
New highly visual animated saga about a young Nigerian girl in the future who learns the dangers hidden in her world and that of her best friend (Disney+).

THURSDAY, Feb. 29
Elsbeth
Terry Preston (from The Good Wife, True Blood, The Good Fight and Claws) returns in this new drama series (below) as an unconventional attorney who helps the NYPD corner criminals (10 p.m., CBS).

Me, Hereafter
New true-crime docudrama innovatively takes you inside gripping murder investigations, as if they were voiced “from beyond” from the deceased victims (Hulu).

BRING IT HOME

Enter the wonderful world of Wonka (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), the delightful, candy-coated musical story of how a young chocolate maker (Timothee Chalamet) became the confectionary impresario we all know as Willie Wonka. The supporting cast includes Keegan-Michael Key, Sally Hawkins and Olivia Colman. 

Feb 16 2024
Leave a comment
Movies, Pop Culture, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 16 – Feb. 22

Dolly goes to the dogs, a classic flick gets musical & J-Lo reveals her love life

Musical icon Dolly Parton presents a parade of pets Wednesday night on CBS.

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, Feb.16
This is Me…Now: The Film
Jennifer Lopez takes center stage (below) in this highly visual “reimaging” of her highly scrutinized love life, which includes seven boyfriends and husbands before her (current) beau, actor Ben Affleck (Prime).

The Color Purple
It was mostly snubbed for major Oscar nominations, but the musical remake of The Color Purple (below) is nonetheless an exhilarating, emotional experience, with a heart-tugging story and standout performances by an all-star cast (Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Halle Berry, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, Ciara, and H.E.R.). Watch it streaming today (Max).

SATURDAY, Feb. 17
An American in Austen
A librarian (Eliza Bennett, below) who thinks no one can live up to Mr. Darcy suddenly finds herself inside her favorite Jane Austen novel, Pride & Prejudice, where the famous author offers advice on her love life (8 p.m., Hallmark Channel).

SUNDAY, Feb. 18
American idol
New season premieres tonight as judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Ryan Seacrest seek the cream of the crop of American’s new singing talent (8 p.m., ABC).

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Emmy-winning late-night satirical news show kicks off its 11th season (11 p.m., HBO).

MONDAY, Feb. 19
James Brown: Say It Loud
Two-night documentary event examines the legacy of the King of Soul as a creative force, cultural ambassador and internationally famous Black changemaker, with interviews from Mick Jagger, LL Cool J, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and many more (8 p.m., A&E).

The Madame Blanc Mysteries
Season three premieres about the respected antiques dealer (Sally Lindsay), whose expertise with “relics” comes in handy solving a series of murders in a lovely French village (AcornTV).

TUESDAY, Feb. 20
Ready to Sell Out
Comedian/actor Mike Epps takes the stage for his fourth Netflix standup special, with zing-y twists on where all his money’s gone, his love life, and more (Netflix).

Crime Nation
Dive into riveting true crime stories with expert analysis, exclusive reporting and interviews with people at the center of the investigations—including crime enthusiasts, digital detectives and social media sleuths who have sometimes helped solve cases (The CW).

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21
Constellation
Eight-part psychological thriller stars Noomi Rapice (below) and Jonathan Banks in a wild tale of an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space…only to discover that key pieces of her life are missing (Apple TV+).

Hunt for the Oldest DNA
Scientists decipher ancient genetic blueprints to reveal amazing new facts about creatures that once thrived in the once-lush Arctic (9 p.m., PBS).

Dolly Parton’s Pet Gala
The country superstar goes to the dogs (and other critters) in this star-studded runway show featuring celebs and the best in canine fashion from Parton’s pet line…and appearances by Young Sheldon’s Iain Armitage, Neil Patrick Harris, Jane Lynch, Jessica Simpson and more (9 p.m., CBS).

THURSDAY, Feb. 22
Avatar: The Last Airbender New animated spinoff of the hit blockbuster franchise furthers the adventures in the water, on the land, and in the air (Netflix).

Feb 09 2024
Leave a comment
Books, DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, Uncategorized

The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 9 – Feb. 15

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

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

All times Eastern.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

2.15

BRING IT HOME          

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

Feb 02 2024
Leave a comment
Books, Humor, Movies, Pop Culture, Television, Uncategorized

The Entertainment Forecast

Feb. 2 – Feb. 8

Spy shenanigans, dummies on stage, and big South American blockheads

All times Eastern.

They’re spies deep undercover—as a married couple!

FRIDAY, Feb. 2
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
New series stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine (above) as two employees of a mysterious spy agency that offers them a glorious life of sexy espionage, world travel and a home in a dreamy Manhattan brownstone. The catch: They have to change their names and get married (Prime).

The Tiger’s Apprentice
Based on this best-selling novel, this animated family film—about a Chinese American teenager and mythical tiger—features the voices of Soo Hoo, Henry Golding, Sandra Oh and Michelle Yeoh (Paramount +).

Love & WWE: Bianca and Montez
Go beyond the ring and into the lives of pro wrestling’s hottest couple, Bianca Belair and Montez Ford (above), in this new docuseries (Hulu).

SATURDAY, Feb. 3
Jeff Dunham: I’m With Cupid
Get ready for Valentine’s Day with this comedy special filmed in Tampa, Fla., featuring the ventriloquist and his dummy cohorts Walter, Bubba J, Peanu, Jose Jalapeno and more (8 p.m., Comedy Central).

SUNDAY, Feb. 4
The Grammy Awards
SZA, Phoebe Bridgers, Jon Batiste, Brandy Clark, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish are among the top contenders for this years’ live industry-voted ceremony honoring the best in all genres of music (9 p.m., CBS).

The Harlem Hellfighters
Hour-long documentary produced by Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts examines the predominately Black military unit fought nearly impossible odds to become an extraordinary fighting force in World War II (9 p.m., History).

Curb Your Enthusiasm
The Emmy Award-winning series begins its twelfth and final ten-episode season tonight, with Larry David wrapping it up as an over-the-top version of himself (Max).

MONDAY, Feb. 5
Sister Una Lived a Good Life
Touching documentary chronicles the inspring journey of a Boston-born, California-raised Irish Catholic nun, who lived a life full of bawdy humor, fun and good deeds, eventually succumbing to cancer and planning her own funeral (8 p.m., PBS). 

TUESDAY, Feb. 6
Cybersleuths: The Idaho Murders
True-crime fans will want to tune into this three-part docuseries which looks at the surging world of self-appointed online sleuths who sifting through clues to the savage slaying of four University of Idaho students in 2022 (Paramount+).

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 7
The Connors
John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Sara Gilbert head into season six of the prime-time comedy series, grappling with more financial pressures, parenting issues, marriage ups and downs and aging (8 p.m., ABC).

Easter Island Origins
Those enigmatic oversized stone heads facing the ocean on a South American island? Now new research reveals intriguing evidence of their origins and the ancient people who created them (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, Feb. 8
Tokyo Vice
Ten-episode second season of the dramatic series starring Ansel Elgort (above) goes even deeper into the Japanese criminal underworld (Max).

Impractical Jokers
The master pranksters (above) return for a tenth season of hidden camera hijinks featuring a host of celebrities in cameos (10 p.m., truTV).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

I’ve known the guys in Sawyer Brown since their earliest days, just after they won TV’s Star Search and got signed in the mid-80s to Nashville’s Capitol Records. In The Boys and Me (Forefront, Feb. 6), front man Mark Miller recounts his four decades in the hit-making, hard-touring band, which became a radio mainstay with “Step That Step,” “Thank God for You” and some 50 other hits. Find out how a kid from Ohio found went from stunt skiing at Disney World to leading a country music supergroup to the top of the charts.  

Jan 26 2024
Leave a comment
Books, DVDs, Movies, Television, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Jan. 26 – Feb. 2

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

All times Eastern.

Nicole Kidman stars in ‘Expat.’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

Jan 19 2024
Leave a comment
DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Sofia Vergara’s a mob boss, Awkwafina bugs out & ‘The Bachelor’ gets down to business

Sofia Vergara stars in ‘Greselda’ on Netflix.

FRIDAY, Jan. 19
Relighting Candles: The Tim Sullivan Story
She’s best known for her comedy, but Melissa McCarthy (and husband Ben Falcone) produced this serious film about the homeless and drug crisis in Los Angeles, and a man offering to help people rebuild their lives—through candle making (Hulu).

Hustlers Gamblers Crooks
Enter the secretive world of high-stakes gamblers and thieves in this new docuseries (below) with true stories, told by those who lived them (9 p.m., Discovery).

SATURDAY, Jan. 20
Dying in Plain Sight
An overweight high school student (Raffa Virago) develops a compulsive eating disorder because of her inattentive “clean eating” mother (Nicola Correla-Damude) (9 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, Jan. 21
The Way Home
Andi McDowell (below right) returns in season two to the leading role in the multi-generational family drama about time-traveling and truth-seeking (9 p.m., Hallmark).

The Woman in the Wall
Twisty, six-episode drama series thriller stars Ruth Wilson as a woman in a small Irish town who wakes up one morning to find a corpse in her house…and no idea if she’s responsible (9 p.m., Showtime).

MONDAY, Jan. 22
The Bachelor
Tennis pro Joey Graziadei, a former contestant on The Bachelorette, begins his journey to find love—winnowing down the field of 32 females vying for his hand (and TV exposure) in tonight’s two-hour premiere (8 p.m., ABC).

TMZ Investigates
Get the scoop of celebrities and other juicy items about who did what with (or to) whom in this with this inside-dirt series produced by Harvey Levin, the host and founder of the TMZ celebrity news website and franchise (8 p.m., Fox).

Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People
Documentary series takes you into the zingy world of self-proclaimed chili heads in search of blistering mouthfuls of some of the world’s hottest peppers (Hulu).

TUESDAY, Jan. 23
Nazi Town USA
Think racism and fascism are relatively new threats? This probing documentary looks at the late 1930s, when swastikas and dire warnings about “Jewish controlled media” took root in many cities and small towns across America. Could it happen again? (9 p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 24
A Real Bug’s Life
The actress Awquafina narrates this real-life adventure into micro insect worlds around the planet, where forces of nature play out on a miniature scale and tiny creatures rely on amazing powers and extraordinary alliances. They may be small, but the stakes are high (Disney+).

Trafficked
In tonight’s episode, “Sextortion,” host Mariana Van Zeller explores the blackmail scam of using compromising photos to extort victims online (9 p.m., NatGeo).

THURSDAY, Jan. 25
In the Know
Adult comedy puppetry series (above) about NPR radio hosts with voices of creator Mike (Beavis & Butthead) Judge and Zach Woods (Peacock).

Griselda
Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara in this true story, now a six-episode series about the woman who created one of the most profitable drug cartels in history (Netflix).

Sexy Beast
New streaming series (above), a prequel to the 2000 film of the same title, stars James McArdle and Tamish Greig in the origin story of a couple descending into the seductive madness of London’s criminal underworld in the 1990s (Paramount+).

BRING IT HOME

Now you can own The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming (Kino Lorber Classics), the star-packed 1966 comedy about a Soviet sub that accidentally runs aground off the coast of New England, nearly starting World War III. Starring Alan Arkin, Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint and Jonathan Winters, newly released on Blu-ray with extras including audio commentary.

And there’s also the new Kino Lorber Classics Blu-ray release of Academy Award-winning drama Coming Home. Rediscover one of the best films ever made about the aftermath of the Vietnam war, with some incredible acting from Jane Fonda, Jon Voight and Bruce Dern, which brought the film two of its three Oscars in 1979.

Jan 05 2024
Leave a comment
Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

Jan. 5 – Jan. 11

Spend a day in a galaxy far, far away, unearth the dark secrets of polygamy, & catch cheating spouses in the act

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ is part of an all-day marathon of Stars Wars on Saturday.

FRIDAY, Jan. 5
The Life
Three-night documentary event features an imprisoned Missouri woman eventually convicted of murdering her mother, telling her own story in in a swirl of events that included physical and psychological abuse and Munchausen Syndrome (8 p.m., Lifetime).

Good Grief
Schitt’s Creek’s Daniel Levy makes his debut as a feature-film writer and director in this movie about a man on a soul-searching trip to Paris after the death of his spouse (below). With Luke Evans, Ruth Negga and Himesh Patel (Netflix).

Daniel Levy & Luke Evans star in ‘Good Grief.’

SATURDAY, Jan. 6
Love on the Right Course
A struggling pro golfer (Ashley Newbrough) has to choose between a hot club owner (Marcus Rosner) and her old trainer (8 p.m., Hallmark).

Star Wars Marathon
Strap in and hold on—it’s an afternoon and evening of back-to-back galactic adventure with A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (11:30 a.m., TNT).

SUNDAY, Jan. 7
The Golden Globes
The kickoff to movie awards season begins tonight with this 81st live annual presentation honoring the year’s best movie and television performances. Among other things, the Globes make other award shows look kinda dull in comparison—that’s why it’s called Hollywood’s “party of the year” (8 p.m., CBS).

Grimsburg
John Hamm leads the voice cast in this animated grownup comedy series (above) about a detective trying to redeem himself in a town where everyone has a secret (following the NFL double-header, Fox).

MONDAY, Jan. 8
Secrets of Polygamy
If you liked watching Mormon Wives, you’ll dig this deep-dive investigative series about the shocking secrets of “extreme” polygamist groups with twisted religious roots like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Apostolic United Brethren (10 p.m., A&E).

Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project
Travel through time and space in this innovative documentary on the acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni (Max).

Cash Cab Music
The trivia game show that takes place inside a specially rigged NYC cab gets a new twist—all music trivia—and a new host, Adam Growe, above (10 p.m., AXS). 

TUESDAY, Jan. 9
Caught in the Act: Unfaithful
Remember when MTV showed music videos? Ah, the ‘80s. If you want to see cheating lovers get ratted out, tune in for the return of this “relationship” show hosted by Tami Roman, who helps guide readers into the realm of unfaithful spouses and suspicious partners (9 p.m., MTV).

LaBrea
Subterranean life—and the fight for survival—goes on in the deep, dark sinkhole beneath Los Angeles as season three begins of the contemporary sci-fi drama starring Natalie Zea, Jon Seda and Nicholas Gonzalez (9 p.m., NBC).

Big Little Brawlers
New series takes you inside the big lives of a group of “little people” who perform (and compete) in the Micro Wrestling Federation (9 p.m., Discovery).

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 10
Prison Brides
Documentary series follows seven women from around the world who believe they have found their soulmates in a most unexpected place—behind the bars of American prisons (9:30 p.m., Lifetime).

Criminal Record
New crime thriller series about two London detectives (Peter Capaldi, above, and Cash Jumbo) clashing over an historic murder conviction as one pushes to advance her career and the other tries to protect his connections and his legacy (Apple TV+).

THURSDAY, Jan. 11
Skymed
Tune in tonight to binge on all nine episodes of season two of the series drama about young medics and pilots flying air ambulances and making jaw-dropping rescues in Canada (Paramount+).

Ted
New streaming follow-up to the profanely hilarious 2012 and 2015 hit catches up with the randy Teddy Bear (voiced again by creator Seth McFarlane) as he’s settled into life with a new owner—a young boy—and his family (Peacock).

Dec 29 2023
1 Comment
Books, Movies, Pop Culture, TV

The Entertainment Forecast

Dec. 29 – Jan. 4

All about Burt, Rob Lowe has a new game, & Happy New Year!

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, Dec. 29
Prepare to Die
A young man trains in martial arts to seek vengeance on the corrupt landowner who murdered his family (Tubi).

SATURDAY, Dec. 30
Time Bomb Y2K
This darkly humorous tale, fashioned through archival footage, takes us back to the alarming days at the close of the 20th century and the widespread concerns that the world was facing the greatest technological disaster in the history of mankind (10 p.m., HBO).

I Am Burt Reynolds
Watch this acclaimed documentary about the late iconic movie Florida-born actor, who started in TV and went on to star in Smokey and the Bandit, Deliverance, The Longest Yard, Boogie Nights and Striptease (8 p.m., The CW).

The AFI Lifetime Achievement Award: 50th Anniversary
Host Ben Mankiewicz looks back at five decades of one of film’s highest honors and the cinematic achievements of a stellar list of actors and filmmakers, including Denzel Washington, Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Taylor (8 p.m., TCM).

SUNDAY, Dec. 31
The Simpsons
Kick off the new year with 24 hours—and 48 episodes—of the long-running primetime series (above) about Springfield’s first family of comedy (9 p.m., FXX).

Nashville’s Big Bash
Ring in the New Year with Thomas Rhett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Lainey Wilson performing live in Music City (7:30 p.m., CBS).

Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest have art: NewJeans
Ring in the new with hosts Ryan Seacrest and Rita Ora live from Times Square in New York City, with superstar performers (including Post Malone and the K-pop sensation NewJeans), lots of pumped-up revelers and remotes from Hollywood with Jeannie Mae (8 p.m., ABC).

The Lasts on the Lasts
Say goodbye to 2023 with this marathon of finale “farewell” episodes from classic TV series including The Andy Griffith Show, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, Leave It to Beaver and more (begins 12 noon, MeTV).

MONDAY, Jan. 1
America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League
New series spinoff features acts from across the global franchise competing for the $250,000 grand prize. Terry Crews hosts while Mel B., Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel return to the judges’ chairs (8 p.m., NBC).

The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks
The newest chapter in the twisted true-life saga of the little girl brought to America from a Ukrainian orphanage gives Natalia herself a chance to share her story and confront her adoptive parents—who claimed she was not really a child, but a homicidal adult with intentions to harm their family (9 p.m., ID Discovery).

TUESDAY, Jan. 2
The Floor
Actor Rob Lowe hosts this new game show (below), a trivia contest in which players compete for $250,000 on a gigantic playing field resembling a board game (check local listings, Fox).

Finding Your Roots
Singers Alanis Morissette and Ciara kick off the new season of the genealogy research series as host Henry Gates Jr. helps trace their (sometimes surprising) ancestry (8 p.m., PBS). 

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 3
We Are Family
Anthony Anderson and his mom, Doris, host this musical guessing-game show (below) featuring performances by celebs and their non-famous family members (9 p.m., Fox).

THURSDAY, Jan. 4
Society of the Snow
Based on a true story, this gripping movie shows what happened in 1972 after a Uruguayan Air Force Flight, which had been chartered to take a rugby team to Cuba, crashes in the heart of the Andes mountains (Netflix).

Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale
Which witch? Those witches? There are certainly a bunch in this spooky new horror-drama streaming series (below), starring Elaine Cassidy and Helen Doup about a group of contemporary witches in modern-day England (Sundance Now).

General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling
Primetime special celebrates the iconic daytime soap with fan-favorite cast members sharing their favorite memories of the show and pulling back the TV curtain with bloopers and other surprises (10 p.m., ABC).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

In House Cat: Inspirational Interiors & The Elegant Felines Who Call Them Home (Thames & Hudson), with photographs by Paul Barbera, you’ll get a meow-ful look at some fancy abodes and their pampered resident top-cat felines. It’s like an Architectural Digest for kitties.

← Older posts
Newer posts →