These girls are a ‘Riot,’ Will Smith explores the world, and movie awards season begins!
A group of women form a punk band in ‘Riot Girls.’
FRIDAY, Jan. 9 A Thousand Blows Season two begins in the series about a group of characters battling to survive in the brutal East End of London in the 1880s. Starring Malachi Kirby, Erin Doherty and Stephen Graham (Hulu).
People We Meet on Vacation A young pair of longtime friends begins to question if they’re a perfect romantic match. Starring Emily Bader and Tom Blyth (Netflix).
SATURDAY, Jan. 10 Accused: The Karen Read Story When a Boston police officer is found dead in a snowbank, his girlfriend is charged, creating and a firestorm of national attention (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, Jan. 11 The Golden Globes Comedian Nikki Glaser hosts tonight’s movie awards, voted by critics around the world and kicking off the film awards season (CBS).
Bookish Six-part murder-mystery drama about an antiquarian bookshop owner (Mark Gatiss) who helps cops solve baffling crimes (10 p.m., PBS).
MONDAY, Jan. 12 American Sons Documentary follows a brotherhood of U.S. Marines a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan as they deal with the traumas of combat and the loss of their comrades (10 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Jan. 13 Tell Me Lies Eight-episode third season premieres tonight, following a young couple (Grace Van Patten and Jackson White) and their college friends. And I’m telling you the truth (Hulu).
Pole to Pole with Will Smith The actor joins expeditions to the earth’s more extreme environments—like the ice fields of Antarctica, the jungles of the Amazon, and the mountains of the Himalayas—in this new docuseries (National Geographic).
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 14 Riot Women Women “of a certain age” form a punk band for a talent contest, and find they have a lot more to shout about than they thought (Britbox).
Hijack A Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage. And corporate business negotiator Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) is one of those passengers. What can he do? Find out in season two, beginning today (Apple TV+).
THURSDAY, Jan. 15 Star Trek: Starfeet Academy Newest chapter in the iconic space-adventure franchise centers on a group of young cadets. Starring Holly Hunter, Paul Giamatti and the voice of Stephen Colbert (Paramount+).
Ponies Two “Ponies” (“persons of no interest”) working as secretaries at the American Embassy in Moscow become CIA operatives after their husbands are killed under mysterious circumstances. Starring Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson, above (Peacock).
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Since we’re all taking pictures with our phones now, it’s good to reflect on what real photographers are doing. Exposure (Thames & Hudson) showcases the eye-popping work of 40 contemporary shutterbug pros, with subjects from whimsical to wild, all capturing moments in time through a lens.
The ‘Angels’ return to TV, meet the Donkey King & movie awards season begins!
‘Charlie’s Angels’ return to TV in a salute to the work of producer Aaron Spelling.
FRIDAY, Jan. 2 MonsterQuest The hunt continues in season two, looking for more evidence of bigfoot, UFO encounters, hauntings and killer beasts on land and sea (10 p.m., History).
SATURDAY, Jan. 3 Donkey King Half-hour docuseries about a 75-acre nonprofit donkey rescue and sanctuary in California, where Ron King and dozens of volunteers have rescued and re-homed more than 400 donkeys (check listings, ABC).
Stolen Girl Kate Beckinsale and Scott Eastwood star in this tale based on real events about a mom who goes to the Middle East to track down her ex-, who has abducted their young daughter (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, Jan. 4 The Critics Choice Awards Chelsea Handler returns as host of this annual event, voted by movies critics and kicking off the movie awards season. Sinners (above) and One Battle After Another lead the nominations (7 p.m., E! and USA Network).
Aaron Spelling Sundays |New weekend programming block features hit-show nostalgia from the iconic TV producer/director, including Charlie’s Angels, Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat (2 p.m., MeTV).
MONDAY, Jan. 5 My Life is Murder Season five begins as sharp-witted investigator Alexa Crowe tackles her most perplexing and personal case yet (Acorn TV).
Antiques Roadshow Season 30 begins with all-new searches for America’s hidden treasures (8 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Jan. 6 Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. |The heralded genealogical series kicks off season 12 tonight, looking ahead to upcoming celebrity guests including Kristin Chenoweth, America Ferrera, Spike Lee, Tracy Letts, Barry Diller, Wiz Khalifa and many more (PBS).
Best Medicine New comedy series set in a Boston hospital stars Josh Charles, Abigail Spencer, Josh Segarra and Annie Potts (8 p.m., Fox).
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 7 The Masked Singer The hit competition—with masked and heavily costumed celebs singing, until they’re “revealed”—returns for season 14 with more stars, more songs and new twists on pop culture. Hosted by Nick Cannon (8 p.m., Fox).
Harlan Coben’s Final Twist Author Harlan Coben—whose books include Missing You and Fool Me Once—hosts this new true-crime series (10 p.m., CBS).
THURSDAY, Jan. 8 The Hunting Party Crime procedural about a team of investigators assembled to track down a dangerous serial killer who’s escaped from prison. Starring Melissa Roxburgh, Patrick Sabongui, Josh McKenzie and Sara Garcia (NBC).
Alfie Allen in ‘Girl Taken.’
Girl Taken New series about the abduction of an English girl, her escape from captivity, and her discovery that freedom brings its own challenges. Starring Alfie Allen, Jill Halfpenny, Tallulah Evans and Delphi Evans (Paramount+).
Golden Globe Awards| Tonight’s movie awards are voted by international journalists who cover Hollywood. Helen Mirren will receive the organization’s highest honor, the Cecil B. DeMille Award (8 p.m., CBS).
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Author Carrie Gibson’s The Great Resistance (Atlantic Monthly Press) chronicles dramatic stories of slavery. It’s a powerful reminder of the horrors, and an inspiring saga about some 12 million Africans who were brought to the Western Hemisphere as slaves and the four-hundred-year fight to end the abomination of a system that treated them as subhuman.
David Gilmour: Luck and Strange Studio/Live (Thames & Hudson) is a photographic chronicle by Polly Samson of the former Pink Floyd band member’s latest solo project, “Luck and Strange,” as he makes it and then takes his new music on the road. Includes song lyrics and a Q&A interview.
What if the key to healthier living wasn’t to be found in fads or extreme diets? Find out more in Eat Your Ice Cream (W.W. Norton) by Ezekiel J. Emmanuel, a common-sense guidebook for beneficial behaviors and healthy habits…including, yes, having some ice cream now and then.
All about Chevy, a celebration of Latin music & how to ring in the New Year!
FRIDAY, Dec. 26 Romcom Marathon Beat those post-Christmas blahs with Maid in Manhattan, The Preacher’s Wife, Never Been Kissed and Bridesmaids, back to back (begins 1 p.m., TNT).
The Jester 2 On Halloween night, a teen magician finds herself locked in a brutal showdown with the Jester, a nightmarish and supernatural trickster. No tidings of comfort and joy here! (Shudder).
SATURDAY, Dec. 27 The Copenhagen Test Espionage thriller about a Chinese-American intelligence analyst who realizes his brain has been hacked, giving bad guys access to everything he sees, hears and does. Starring Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera (Peacock).
Home Reimagined Host/designer Vern Yip travels across the country to mentor brave innovators converting unusual spaces into family homes (1 p.m., Magnolia Network).
SUNDAY, Dec. 28 A Grammy Celebration of Latin Music Wilmer Valderrama and singer-songwriter, actress and producer Roselyn Sánchez co-host the evening highlighting Latin music’s lasting impact and widespread influence in the United States (8 p.m., CBS).
Adventure in Wonder A Texas family abandons their comfort zone for the Croatian seas, where they discover how adventures—and connections—happen when you’re brave enough to navigate the unknown together (Wonder Project on Amazon).
MONDAY, Dec. 29 Turner Classic Movies: Art Deco Part three of the series shines the spotlight on classic films from the 1920s and ‘30s showcasing the eras’ predominant architectural style, as host Dave Karger explores the history and significance of the décor in Hollywood (TCM).
TUESDAY, Dec. 30 Building Outside the Lines Builder Jared “Cappie” Capps transforms unexpected objects into beautiful designs with the most creative person he knows: his teenage daughter (8 p.m., Magnolia Network).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash The Music City celebrates with this live concert event featuring Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam and Bailey Zimmerman (8 p.m., CBS and Paramount+).
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest Hosted by Ryan Seacrest—with assists from Chance the Rapper and Julianne Hough—live from Times Square, the show rings out the old and in with new with a night of superstar performances by Demi Levato, Mariah Carey, Post Malone and many more (10 p.m., ABC).
THURSDAY, Jan. 1 Rose Bowl Parade Get a ringside seat for the 137th annual procession of eye-catching floats, bands and more down the streets of Pasadena, Calif. (11 a.m., NBC).
The Cult of the Real Housewife Three-part docuseries unpacks the allegations against The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her cult-like megachurch (8 p.m., TLC).
I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not Documentary peels back the comedy curtain to show the complexities of the real person known from Saturday Night Live and movies including National Lampoon’s Vacation, Fletch and Caddyshack. Interviewees include Dan Aykroyd, Beverly Angelo, Goldie Hawn and Martin Short (8 p.m., CNN).
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The hitmaking duo of Tears for Fears mark the 40th anniversary milestone of their 1985 album Songs From the Big Chair with a new edition on multiple formats, reminding us how it topped the charts and spawned five hit singles. Re-experience the ‘80s with “Shout,” “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Head Over Heels” and other tracks, including alternative mixes and other bonus aural goodies.
If you love jazz, and love to rock too, well, check out jazz singer Deborah Silver‘s Basie Rocks! (Green Hill), a hip collaboration that melds classic rock tunes—like Elton John‘s “Bennie and the Jets,” Steve Miller‘s “Fly Like an Eagle,” Bob Seger‘s “Old Time Rock & Roll,” The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” and The Police hit “Every Breath You Take”—with the music of the iconic swingin’ big band. And Peter Frampton even guest stars on “Baby I Love Your Way.” Groovy, baby!
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Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like Ethan Hawk terrorizing kids from beyond the grave, right? Get Black Phone 2 on DVD or Blu-ray, reuniting the cast of the first fright flick in a new bone-chilling setting. Extras include deleted scenes, a meet-the-cast feature and an inside look at the movie’s set and effects. Oh, and if that payphone rings, don’t answer it. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment).
Emma Thompson stars in Bugonia, a freakout bonkers of a film about a healthcare CEO kidnapped by a couple of yahoos (one of them played by Jesse Plemons) who think she’s really a space alien. And just when you think you know where it’s headed…surprise! (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment).
The new ‘Knives Out,’ celebrating Dick Van Dyke and Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
FRIDAY, Dec. 12 Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Adventure Det. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) “goes to church” for his most baffling case yet in the third Knives Out murder mystery, with a cast that also includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washinton, Cailee Spaeny and Thomas Haden Church (Netflix).
Starring Dick Van Dyke Celebrate the life and career of legendary actor—known for films like Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, TV ‘s Diagnosis Murder and his classic CBS sitcom—on his 100th birthday (9 p.m., PBS).
One More Shot A woman (Emily Browning) finds a bottle of tequila that lets her time-travel to try to win back her old flame (Sean Keenan) in this time-loop comedy (check streaming listings).
SATURDAY, Dec. 13 The Family Film and TV Awards Who says they’re nothing worthwhile about movies or TV? Tonight’s 28th annual ceremony, hosted by Julie Chen Moonves, will honor excellence in family-oriented programming. Jeff Probst, the host of Survivor, and magicians Penn & Teller will receive special honors (8 p.m., CBS and Paramount+).
A Charlie Brown Christmas Lucy recruits Charlie Brown to direct the gang’s holiday play. Can he find the perfect tree, and discover the true meaning of Christmas? (Apple TV+).
The Heisman Trophy Ceremony Who’ll be the 2025 honoree as college football’s top player? Tune in tonight to find out in the live ceremony hosted by Sunday Night Football play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler (7 p.m., ABC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 14 Best Elf Marathon Back-to-back showings of Elf, Fred Claus and The Polar Express (begins 4:30 p.m., AMC).
Avatar: The Way of Water The 2022 sci-fi action epic, about human-like creatures who are quite at home on a moon called Pandora. Until, that is, they’re threatened again by humans (7 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Dec. 15 Hope of the Season: Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir The world-renowned choir’s new holiday spectacular is packed with classic carols and holiday favorites for a 90-minute concert featuring songs and stories of hope for audiences of all ages (8 p.m., PBS).
The FBI As the holidays approach, the team finds three slain sex workers inside a brownstone and uncover the murderer has a larger plan in place that they must rush to stop (8 p.m., CBS).
TUESDAY, Dec. 16 Great Performances: Nutcracker from English National Ballet For many, it wouldn’t be Christmastime with this classic stage portrayal of Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday musical featuring some 100 dancers and musicians (8 p.m., PBS).
The Secrets We Bury A Long Island family unearths a decades-old mystery around their father’s disappearance (9 p.m., ID).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17 IHeart Jingle Ball 2025 The season’s iconic holiday music event features the year’s top artist performances and star-studded appearances to ring in holiday cheer (8 p.m., ABC).
THURSDAY, Dec. 18 The Wolf Wars Docuseries details Europe’s most expensive wildlife battle—the killing of wolves—and uncovers a tale of threats, harassment and secret networks where money, power and high-stake politics reign (Viaplay).
Jimmy Fallon’s Holiday Seasoning Spectacular The late-night host searches for the holiday spirit in New York, corralling Meghan Trainor, Cara Delevingne, Dolly Parton, the Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, The Roots, LL Cool J and “Weird Al” Yankovic into the holiday spirit (9 p.m., NBC).
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Comic books ain’t what they used to be. Case in point: Fantastic Adventures in the Comics (McFarland), in which author William Schoell looks back (fondly) at the genre from the 1940s into the ’80s, when pulpy pioneers were venturing boldly into the unknown, particularly outer space, where all sorts of strange creatures thrived, “space babes” were welcome aboard any mission, and imaginations were free to run wild.
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Laugh again to ‘toondom’s classic cat and mouse with Tom and Jerry: The Golden Era Anthology (1940-1958), a roundup of more than 100 theatrical shorts starring the acclaimed, Oscar-winning Hanna-Barbera duo that became global icons for gags, chases and slapstick violence. This special edition also includes a booklet and commentary.
Clooney is ‘Jay Kelly,’ Melissa McCarthy stays up late & Shaq has a dunk-athon
FRIDAY, Dec. 5 Jay Kelly George Clooney teams with Adam Sandler for this heart-tugging comedy (above) about an actor confronting his past, which also features Billy Crudup, Riley Keough, Laura Dern, Isla Fisher, Greta Gerwig, Stacy Keach and Patrick Wilson among its sprawling cast (Netflix).
Spartacus: House of Ashur The gladiator drama kicks off with two back-to-back episodes about arena fighters, nobles, villains, champions and backstabbers in ancient Rome (Starz).
The Family McMullen Connie Britton, Tracee Ellis Ross and Edward Burns (who also directed) star in this followup to Burns’ acclaimed ‘90s indee The Brothers McMullen (HBO Max).
SATURDAY, Dec. 6 Reindeer in Here Based on the award-winning Christmas book, you’ll be charmed by the heartwarming story of how a young reindeer and his friends band together to save the future of Christmas (8 p.m., CBS).
Dinner & a Movie Tonight hosts Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen swoon over Reese Witherspoon’s 2002 romcom movie Sweet Home Alabama (8 p.m., PBS).
Saturday Night Live Melissa McCarthy returns tonight to host the iconic late-night show for the sixth time (11:30 p.m., NBC).
SUNDAY, Dec. 7 The Wonderful World of Disney: The Santa Claus Tim Allen takes over for Santa in this 1994 Christmas comedy featuring Judge Reinhold (9 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Dec. 8 Predators Dive deep into an unnerving investigation of Dateline’s to Catch a Predator, pulling back the curtain on the show’s complicated legacy (Paramount+).
Password Holiday Special Keke Palmer host a special holiday-themed episode of the classic game show, with Jimmy Fallon and Jonathan Groff as celebrity guests (8 p.m., NBC).
TUESDAY, Dec. 9 Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House Three-part series finds Chip and Joanna Gaines remodeling a 1960s mountain property into a family retreat nestled in the Rockies (9 p.m., Magnolia).
A Motown Christmas Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey host this two-hour special of music from Motown legends and today’s hottest stars celebrating iconic Hitsville USA classics and holiday favorites (9 p.m., NBC).
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season two begins in the YA fantasy series (above) based on The Sea of Monsters, the second book in the best-selling series by Rick Riordan (Disney+).
Merv When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into an awkward co-parenting arrangement (Amazon Prime).
THURSDAY, Dec. 11 Little Disasters Four new moms (Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, Shelly Conn and Emily Taafe) become entangled in a web of circumstances that threatens to destroy their friendship and their families, above (Paramount+).
Dunkman Shaquille O’Neal rounds up 40 of the world’s greatest dunkers to compete for the coveted title of Dunkman (7 p.m., TNT).
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You can rock and roll all night, and long after that, with the new remastered 50th anniversary set of the landmark KISS album Alive! Released in both CD and LP formats, it’s a deluxe box set loaded with 120 tracks, 88 of them previously unreleased, and including rehearsals. Re-live the sonic boom of “Strutter,” “Deuce,” a Peter Criss drum solo…and, of course, “Rock And Roll All Night.” Plus a reprint of a 1975 press kit, pics, a T-shirt iron-on and much more!
A new John Lennon doc, a JoBros Christmas, Ken Burns’ Revolutionary War and Charlie Brown’s T’Giving TV tradition
FRIDAY, Nov. 14 One on One Documentary offers a rare inside at the first year of former Beatle John Lennon and wife Yoko Ono living in New York City in the early 1970s, when the city was rocked by an explosion of creativity and political activism (8 p.m., HBO).
A Very Jonas Christmas The Jonas Brothers usher in the holidays with this lively movie in which they face a series of escalating problems as they try to make it from London to New York for Christmas. Watch for guests Billie Lourd, Laverne Cox, Andrea Martin, Kenny G, Randal Park…and Jessie Tyler Ferguson as Santa! (Disney+).
SATURDAY, Nov. 15 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving It’s over 50 years old, but this Peanuts classic never gets old as Peppermint Patty invites the gang to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving, and Snoopy decides to cook his own feast with some help from his friends (Apple TV+).
SUNDAY, Nov. 16 Landman Taylor Sheridan’s series about oilmen in the boomtowns of West Texas begins season two tonight, with Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia and Ali Larter returning to their roles (Paramount+)
The American Revolution Peter Coyote narrates director Ken Burns‘ new docuseries, a sprawling, six-part, 12-hour examination of America’s war for independence. The all-star cast also features Kenneth Branagh, Josh Brolin, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and Samuel L. Jackson (PBS).
MONDAY, Nov. 17 Gingerbread Land: The Biggest Little Holiday Competition Top bakers face off in the “biggest little gingerbread competition” ever, building edible worlds from scratch. Hosted by Oliver Hudson (9 p.m., Food Network).
June Farms New original unscripted series about June Farms, in West Sand Lake, N.Y., and its staffers during the hustle-bustle wedding season (Prime).
TUESDAY, Nov. 18 Smurfs When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is taken by a pair of evil wizards, the Smurfettes lead a mission into the real world to rescue him. Other voices in the new animated adventure include Rihanna, Nick Offerman, James Corden, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham and Alex Winter (8 p.m., MGM+).
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 19 The 59th Annual CMA Awards Morgan Wallen and Laney Wilson (above, also the night’s host) lead the pack of nominees—with five nods each, including Entertainer of the Year—for the live ceremony honoring the best in country music, with performances by BigXthaPlug, Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey and more (8 p.m., ABC)
Champagne Problems Minka Kelley stars as an ambitious M&A executive who travels to France to secure the acquisition of a world-renowned Champagne brand, but her plans are upended when she falls into a whirlwind romance with a charming Parisian—who turns out to be the founder’s son (Netflix).
Man on the Inside Season two finds Charles (Ted Danson, above) going undercover at a college to become a “mole” in a PI’s secret investigation. Mary Steenburgen, Max Greenfield, Stephanie Beatriz and more make guest appearances (Netflix).
THURSDAY, Nov. 20 Ghosts Sam and Pete get on each other’s nerves during a book tour road trip, when an air strike threatens their ability to get home in time for Thanksgiving (8:30 p.m., CBS).
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In Splitsville, two couples discover the farcical downside to open marriage. Starring Adrina Arjona, Kyle Marvin, Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino (who also directed).
In the bonkers true tale of Secret Mall Apartment (Music Box Films), a group of young artists build a habitable place for themselves inside, yes, a shopping mall—and live there for four years, while filming it all. But their squirreled-away apartment wasn’t a prank, they say. Instead, it was a living art project, one with a meaning and message about community.
The first two seasons of the Emmy-winning The Morning Show, about the turbulent highs and lows of a fictitious New York news network—with an ensemble cast led by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Anison and Billy Crudup—now comes to DVD and Blu-ray. Time to catch up on all the scandal, rivalry, loyalty, power grabs and more!
A college quarterback with his eye on prize of going pro meets his NFL idol…and a hella lot of weirdness. Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers star in Him, a grueling gridiron-centric horror show. (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment).
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For young readers (and Swifties!) in your realm, consider giving them What Are Taylor Swift’s Eras (Penguin Young Readers), with all the deets about her record-setting Eras Tour, which spanned five continents and included more than 150 shows. See the outfits! Re-live the albums and the songs! All all hail, Taylor Swift!
Learn about the long history of what we surround ourselves with inside the places we live, in The Story of the Interior (Thames & Hudson), which explores the social, cultural and technological history of interior design from prehistory into the modern era. And how what we live “in” shapes how we live, work, learn and play.
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Frank Sinatra’s “melancholy masterpiece” album of lost love and heartbreak, In the Wee Small Hours (Blue Note), celebrates its 70th anniversary with a newly remastered vinyl release. Tracks include “Mood Indigo,” “Ill Wind,” “Dancing on the Ceiling” and “This Love of Mine,” with tunes from the songbooks of Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, Duke Ellington, Hoagy Carmichael and others.
Fans of classic rock will dig Bold as Love, the newly released and freshly remixed box set commemorating the 1967 album from The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Sony). It’s four discs of guitar-god goovery, with tracks in both stereo and mono, rarities, rehearsals, live cuts and TV and radio promo appearances. Plus a 44-page book, and Hendrix’s version of another band’s hit song of the day, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”
The 25th anniversary reissue of Brian Wilson: Live at the Roxy Theatre (Oglio Records) shows the genus co-founder of The Beach Boys on stage in Hollywood performing the magic of his music. Available in a variety of formats (single CD, an expanded version, digital and LPs), it includes performances of Beach Boys classics including “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and more, plus other songs.
Paul McCartney’s post-Beatlesband, Wings, is the subject of the new hit-filled musical anthology available in multiple formats (LPs, CDs and Blu-ray discs). It charts the band through its course of becoming one of the biggest-selling acts of all time, and it’s packed with songs including “Band on the Run,” “Listen to What the Man Said,” “With a Little Luck,” “Junior’s Farm,” “Live and Let Die,” “Helen Wheels,” “Silly Love Songs” and much more (Umusic).
Get your ya-ya’s out with the new Super Deluxe Edition of Black and Blue (Interscope/Ume), an colossolly expanded remix collection of The Rolling Stones’ groundbreaking 1976 album. Available as 5 LPS or 4 CDs, it contains all the hits—“Hot Stuff,” “Fool to Cry,” “Hand of Fate”—plus a gollywhopping amount of extras, including a Blu-ray of a live Stones concert, a 100-page book, outtakes and jams. I know: It’s only rock ‘n’ roll. But I like it!
Reba’s ‘Happy’ again, a $200 million-dollar picture & oh, those minx-y ‘Morman Wives’
FRIDAY, Nov. 7 Happy’s Place Reba McEntire (above) kicks off season two of her hit workplace sitcom with two back-to-back episodes as her character inherits her father’s tavern and discovers a new business partner—the half-sister she never knew she had (8 p.m., NBC).
Pluribus New series from the creative team that brought us Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad is also set in Albuquerque, and stars Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra and Carlos Manuel (Apple TV+).
Frankenstein Director Guillermo del Toro’s bold new take on author Mary Shelley’s iconic horror classic stars Oscar Issac, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz and Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi as the monster (Netflix).
SATURDAY, Nov. 8 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Tune in to watch Bad Company, Chubby Checker (above), Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes receive rock’s highest honor and be lauded in all-star tribute performances (8 p.m., Disney+).
Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love After her release from prison, a former rap star (Karrueche Tran) finds a romantic soulmate in a charismatic young minister (Mark J.P. Hood) (8 p.m., Lifetime).
SUNDAY, Nov. 9 Killer Grannies Oscar-nominated actress June Squibb hosts this new true-crime series about senior citizens who kill (8 p.m., Oxygen).
The Critics Choice Documentary Awards Find out which films were voted by critics as the best documentary productions this year, with nominees including Orwell: 2+2 = 5, The Alabama Solution, Pee-Wee as Himself and The Perfect Neighbor (streaming on Facebook, YouTube and X).
MONDAY, Nov. 10 The Warfighters: Battle Stories Two-hour documentary spotlights America’s elite Special Operations Forces and its war on terror fought by Army Rangers, Navy SEALS, Green Berets and Marines (8 p.m., History).
A Salute to Service 2025 Country star Trace Adkins (above) is featured in this program featuring rousing musical performances by the U.S. Army Field Band and others, plus profiles of veterans across the generations (9 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Nov. 11 The Great War and the Great Gatsby Carnegie Hall hosts this musical production—a concert with suspense and drama—exploring the experiences of World War I (8 p.m., PBS).
Mysteries Unearthed with Danny Trejo Actor Trejo returns to host season two of this exploration of mysteries and buried treasures…like the remnants of a killer asteroid twice the size of the Superdome and a 1938 comic book worth a cool quarter of a million dollars (10 p.m., History)
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 12| Picturing Shakespeare There are only two accepted portraits of William Shakespeare that are considered “official,” but one that’s been hanging over a mantlepiece for the last 50 years could be the third. It could be worth as much as $200 million…if it is genuine (10 p.m., PBS).
Palm Royale Kristen Wiig returns for season two of the comedy series set in the tony circles of Palm Beach high society. With Laura Dern, Carol Burnette, Allison Janney, Mindy Cohn and Ricky Martin (Apple TV+).
THURSDAY, Nov. 13 The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season three of the Emmy-nominated series (above) brings more drama as friendship loyalties shift, trust is tested and a war over morality begins between #Momtok and #Dadtok groups (Hulu).
Tiffany Haddish Goes Off Six-episode docuseries follows the Emmy award-winning comedian/actress on a journey to Africa on a girls’ trip with three childhood friends (Peacock).
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You probably knew some monumental creativity came from Italy, but you had no idea just how deep artistamazoic roots went down over the centuries. Find out in Italy: In the Footsteps of Great Artists (Thames & Hudson), author Nick Trend’s fascinating guided tour of more than 20 great artists who lived, worked and created timeless masterpieces in Florence, Bologna, Naples, Milan and other places on the Italian peninsula.
How did the universe begin? In First Light: Switching on the Stars at the Dawn of Time (Bloomsbury), British astrophysical expert Emma Chapman lays out the science of tracing the history of the cosmos and the very beginnings of the Cosmic Dawn, when the first stars burst into light. If you’re interested in what’s up there and how it all went down, it’s very enlightening!
Find out the full story about how a book by British author P.L. Travers made it to the screen in Making Mary Poppins (W.W. Norton), author Todd James Pearce’s wide-ranging, deep-digging tale of Walt Disney, the songwriting Sherman brothers (who wrote the iconic music for the 1964 film), and how the movie became a pop-cultural milestone. A must-read for Disney buffs!
The beat goes on in Backbeats: A History of Rock and Roll in Fifteen Drummers (Simon and Schuster). Music-historian author John Lingan unspools six decades of musical history through profiles of its backline timekeepers—the drummers—and their contributions to some of rock’s greatest hits. The guest list includes Ringo Starr, Hal Blaine, Dave Grohl and more. Totally dig-able.
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A ’70s classic now available for the first time in 4K and Blu-ray, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest stars Jack Nicholson in his first Oscar-winning role, as a patent in a mental facility who inspires his fellow patients to assert themselves. Louise Fletcher also got an Oscar for her role as the icy Nurse Rached.
It’s classic yuks galore with Laurel & Hardy: The Definitive Restorations Vol. 2, with newly remastered versions of eight “shorts” (from the late 1920s and ‘30s), plus a load of bonus content, including a 1936 promotional film, Galaxy of Stars, and This is Your Life: Laurel & Hardy, from 1954.
You’re never too old to rock ‘n’ roll! Or to get a giddy thrill watching Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, as David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls (Michael McKeen, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer) reunite for one final concert…with a couple of VERY special guests stopping by.
Get ready to laugh, ’cause The Naked Gun is back! The new hilarious remake of the 1988 cop-comedy stars Liam Neeson as the son of the investigator played by Leslie Nielsen in the original, putting his own spin on his role as a bumbling police lieutenant out to save the world from an evil genius. With Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston.
One of the year’s best horror flicks comes to DVD with Together (Neon), starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple who encounter a mysterious malevolent force that threatens to infect their lives, their love and their flesh in ways, that, well…make your skin crawl. It’s “body horror” in a twistedly original way.
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Just ahead of its milestone 100th anniversary, the venerable Grand Ole Opry is releasing Opry 100: Country’s Greatest Songs (Virgin Music Group), a hand-picked selection of 20 classic tunes (like “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “El Paso,” “Crazy” and “Ring of Fire”) pulled from Opry broadcast archives of live performances by original artists (Hank Williams, Marty Robbins, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash and more) as well as “next-gen” Opry members, like Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs and The Old Crow Medicine Show.
A ‘Halloween’ marathon, the return of Robin Hood & how Harry Chapin’s ‘Cat’s in the Cradle‘ touched just about everyone
FRIDAY, Oct. 31 Halloween on Halloween Happy Halloween! How better to celebrate than with this marathon of Halloween movies, starting with the original and continuing through its five sequels! (Begins 6:30, AMC).
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Marathon Tune in for a full day (well, 17 hours) of spook-tacular stuff in this 11th annual event featuring the characters from TV’s longest running comedy series—and a parade of alien invasions, horror film parodies and frights bigger than Homer’s donut cravings (starts 7 a.m., FXX).
SATURDAY, Nov. 1 Oktoberfest: Beer and Blood In 1900s Munich, an ambitious brewer uses brutal tactics to build a beer hall that will dominate the city’s lucrative Oktoberfest event (Netflix).
SUNDAY, Nov. 2 Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking Actors James and Oliver Phelps (who played Fred and George Weasley) return for season two of the six-episode competition built around the enduring fantasy franchise, with appearances by other cast members sharing their memories about working on the films (8p.m., Food Network).
Robin Hood Welcome to Sherwood! The new reimagined 10-episode series—based on the classic tale of the roguish outlaw hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor—stars Jack Patten, Lauren McQueen, Sean Bean and Connie Nielsen (MGM+).
MONDAY, Nov. 3 Malice Jack Whitehall and David Duchovny star in this new twisty psychological revenge thriller about an extended family vacation in Greece that takes a very wrong turn (Prime Video).
Life After Film investigates assisted dying when death seems like the only option (10 p.m., PBS)
Crutch This new comedy series set in the world of CBS’ The Neighborhood stars Tracy Morgan as a Harlem shop owner whose life gets tossed a curve ball when his son and daughter move back home (Paramount+).
TUESDAY, Nov. 4 All’s Fair Watch the first three episodes of this new series (above) about a team of female divorce attorneys who leave their male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice. Starring Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close (Hulu).
Cat’s in the Cradle is a fine music doc about Harry Chapin’s heart-wrenching ode to parenthood and how it impacted an entire generation of music makers who heard it, including Pat Benatar, Billy Joel and Dee Snider of Twisted Sister (check streaming services).
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 5 Operation Space Station Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the continuous human presence in space with this doc all about the International Space Station—an object the size of a football field orbiting the Earth at 17,000 mpg—and the technology and people power that made it possible (9 p.m., PBS).
Finding Joy An unlucky-in-love New York fashion designer (Shannon Thornton) finds her romantic life is change with some Colorado holiday magic (Prime Video).
THURSDAY, Nov. 6 Wicked: One Wonderful Night Ahead of the much-anticipated theatrical part two of the smash film musical on Nov. 21, you can gear up with this two-hour special featuring stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, joined by their costars and other guests as they perform songs from the first movie…and throw in some bewitching surprises (8 p.m., NBC).
All Her Fault Sarah Snook stars in this new drama (above) about a mom who experiences every parent’s worst nightmare in a play-date mix-up with her son. The ensemble cast features Jake Lacy, Dakota Fanning and Michael Peña (Peacock).
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It’s beginning to look—and sound—a lot like Christmas! Especially with the Classic Holiday Singles Box Set (Universal Music), which corrals 28 holiday tunes from classic crooners (Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Brenda Lee, Elvis and The Beach Boys, to cite a handful) on 14 color vinyl 7” 45s. Settle in for some spins of this retro Yule treat!
Vroom! The Cars celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of their biggest, quadruple-platinum albums with Heartbeat City (Deluxe Edition), a 4-CD/1 LP set that contains hits like “Magic,” “Drive,” “YouMight Think” and “Hello Again,” plus rare cuts and a complete 1984 concert. As The Cars themselves once told us in song, “Let’s go!” (Rhino).
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How much do you know about the Japanese animation form known as anime? Well, you’ll know a lot more after reading Ultimate Anime: 100 Essential Films and Series (Thames & Hudson). Author Joe O’Connell breaks down the format with wide-ranging explorations on its creators, genres and cultural influence, in this visually rich spotlight.
Rock fans, you’ll dig The Royal We (Akashic Books), the memoir from Roddy Bottum—who co-founded the bands Faith No More and Imperial Teens—about his early career in the freewheeling punk scene of San Francisco to his mainstream breakthrough as an outwardly queer man in a homophobic hard rock scene. Plus, his intersections with Courtney Love and Robert Plant, and opening for Metallica.
In The Far Edges of the Known World (W.W. Norton), author Owen Rees takes us down a time tunnel, centuries ago, to when dwellers all over the ancient world thought the edges of their cultures marked the harsh boundaries between civilization and a realm of monsters, heathens and myths. It’s a fascinating journey across the globe—and a chance to get to know the people who actually called the distant hinterlands home.
You’ll be humming “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and a lot of other tunes too, when you read The Music of Baseball (McFarland), author George Boziwick’s spritely look at how the soundtrack of “America’s Pastime” has evolved throughout a century of wars, social upheaval, racial integration and a move to the west Coast.
Dig into the history behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror and sci-fi classics in Creature Feature Creators (McFarland), author Tom Weaver’s wide-ranging spotlight on filmmakers, actors, special-effects artists and other who worked on all sorts of scary movies from the 1940s through the ‘70s.
Read—or read again—the only full story of the Beatles, as told and written by the Beatles, in this splendid 25th anniversary edition of The Beatles Anthology, which traces the lives of the lads from Liverpool through childhood through their superstar career paths. And it’s loaded with rare pics, handwritten notes, set lists and more. It’s a Beatles bonanza! (Chronicle Books).
Paul McCartney himself (and a bunch of his friends!) tell how they became one of the world’s most successful bands in Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run (Liveright, W.W. Norton). It’s a first-person record of the record-setting group, their treks across America and their success across the decades, with insights from Linda McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, producer George Martin and many more—like supermodel Twiggy, actor Dustin Hoffman and Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.
BRING IT HOME
The critically hailed East of Wall (Sony Pictures Classic) is now available on DVD. It’s about a young, rebellious horse trader (Tabitha Zimiga) in South Dakota struggling after the death of her husband with grief and financial insecurity, all while caring for a group of wayward teens on her broken-down Badlands ranch.
What to watch, and more! Week of Oct. 24 – Oct. 30
A classic reimagined, a house of dynamite & Stephen King’s ‘It’ makes a comeback
Tessa Thompson stars in a new, modern version of ‘Hedda.’
FRIDAY, Oct. 24 A House of Dynamite When a missile is fired at the United States, the gut-wrenching race begins for who to blame and how to respond. Timely drama is directed by Katheryn (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty) Bigelow, and stars Iris Elba as the U.S. President (Netflix).
Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost Documentary looks at the family of comedy icons Jerry Stiller and wife Anne Meara, whose son—actor and director Ben Stiller—also directed the doc (Apple TV+).
SATURDAY, Oct. 25 Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! It wouldn’t be Christmas season without a(nother) Hallmark movie, and this one has Robert Buckley and Kimberley Sustand in a tale of a Yuletide reunion with an old classmate (8 p.m., Hallmark).
Mayor of Kingstown Jeremy Renner and Edie Falco return to their roles for season four’s kickoff tonight, as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake (Paramount+).
SUNDAY, Oct. 26 Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order The latest series based on a novel by the literary author-queen of the undead stars Delainey Hayles, Jennifer Ehle and Ella Ballentine in another fangs-n-all tale of a secretive society trying to contain all the witches, vampires and other creatures lurking around the world (9 p.m., AMC)
Witches: Truth Behind the Trials Learn what really happened at the infamous Salem witch trials and other incidents where people (mostly poor women, elderly, indigenous or disabled) were accused, and executed, for witchcraft (6 p.m., National Geographic).
It: Welcome to Derry Just in time for Halloween, this spinoff drama set in the world of Stephen King’s killer-clown universe expands the story set down in the two It theatrical films (9 p.m., HBO).
MONDAY, Oct. 27 Kissinger Two-part, three-hour film explores the enigmatic power broker Henry Kissenger, who served in the topmost echelons of American foreign policy under six presidents, Democrats and Republicans, with equal dedication (9 p.m., PBS).
TUESDAY, Oct. 28 Don’t Date Brandon True-crime docuseries follows a modern online romance that spirals into a dangerous game of deception, lies and secrets exposed on a podcast (Paramount+).
Hunted by My Husband: The Untold Story of the DC Sniper Aligned with Domestic Awareness Month, this drama reveals the story of the man known as the D.C. Sniper—and the horrific domestic drama that preceded his murderous rampage (9 p.m., ID).
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29 Hedda Reimagining of Henrick Ibsen’s classic play stars Tessa Thompson as a woman torn between the lingering ache of a past love and the quiet suffocation of her present life. But all that changes during one long, charged night as hidden desires erupt in spiral of manipulation, passion and betrayal (Prime Video).
Down Cemetery Road New thriller series stars Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson (above) in a tale of a conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead back among the living, and the living fast joining the dead (Apple TV+).
Ballad of a Small Player When his past and his debts start to catch up with him, a high-stakes gambler laying low encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation (below). Starring Colin Farrell (below), Fala Chen and Tilda Swinton (Netflix).
THURSDAY, Oct. 30 Sorry, Baby Something bad happens to Agnes (Eva Victor, who also wrote and directed). But life goes on…for everyone around her, at least. How can she move forward? (8 p.m., HBO).
Jurassic World Rebirth The latest in the Jurassic movie franchise stars Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey in a tale of a team on a mission to extract dino DNA from a long-abandoned island research facility…now overrun with dinos! (Peacock).
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Bon Jovi gathered a bunch of friends for the band’s new Forever (Legendary Edition) album, a “reimaging” of its 2024 studio album with a big load o’ guest stars for vocal collaborations on its 14 tracks—including Bruce Springsteen, Jason Isbell, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne and Robbie Williams. But the kickoff tune, “Red, White and Jersey,” is all Bon Jovi, appropriately enough for the band now spanning three decades, still flying its New Jersey flag high and proud.
Let’s hear it for Vince Gill, who just signed a lifetime recording contact with MCA Records, his longtime label home, and his plans to release a new EP of music every month for a year. The first, 50 Years From Home: I Gave You Everything I Had, includes six all-new songs plus his classic ode to peaceful afterlife “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” recently certified double Platinum for sales of two million. Way to go, Vinny! (Digital only)
A rock ‘n’ roll classic turns the big 5-0 with the new re-release of Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John‘s smash-hit breakthrough 1975 album that he wrote while taking a leisurely cruise. Newly released on CD and LP, with bonus live-performance tracks, it’s a concept album about how Elton (Captain Fantastic) and musical collaborator Bernie Taupin (the Brown Dirt Cowboy) struggled in their early years, and features the hit ballad “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.”
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Remember the ‘90s? Author Henry Carroll sure does, in The 1990s: A Visual History of the Decade (Thames & Hudson), a collection of the culture, it’s people and its impact, from reality TV to the O.J. trial, crop circles, conspiracy theories, hip-hop, the Spice Girls and supermodels, the beginning of the Internet. As they used to say back then, it’s rad, phat, dope and righteous!
How did football get to be the sports juggernaut it is today? You’ll find out in Every Day is Sunday (Grand Central Publishing) by NFL reporter Ken Gelson, about how over the past three decades, Jerry Jones, as president of the Dallas Cowboys, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodall and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, reshaped the game into much, much more than just a game.
If you loved his songs (and a lot of folks did), you’ll enjoy curling up with Living in the Present with John Prine (W.W. Norton), author Tom Piazza’s touching and insightful first-person account—which sprouted from an assignment Piazza was doing for Oxford American magazine and blossomed into several story-filled cross-country road trips. Enjoy this vivid snapshot of the last two years in the life of the pop-cultural icon whose musical musings gave us “Angel From Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Paradise” and “Hello,” among many other gems.
We may think of “criminal profiling” as something modern and new-ish, but in The Monsters We Make (W.W. Norton), author Rachel Corbett traces the practice—of studying the people behind heinous crimes and what makes them tick—back to the Victorian Period. Then she takes us on a true-crime narrative across the centuries, from Jack the Ripper to Adolph Hitler, Ted Bundy and many more case where psychologists tried to unravel crimes…from inside the minds of the perpetrators.
Laugh again—and learn things you didn’t know—with The Pink Panther: A Complete History. Author Howard Maxford puts together the story of the iconic Peter Sellers franchise, which stretched across 11 films, with interviews from director Blake Edwards, co-stars and others. And learn about the darker side of the leading man, and what led Sellers and director Edwards to agree they’d never work together again.
BRING IT HOME
Fly back to the ‘70s with Airport: The Complete 4-Film Collection (Kino Larber), with all four of the star-packed “disaster” movies of the air, starting with the 1970 original and continuing through three big-screen sequels. How popular were these flicks back in the day? Well, almost all of Hollywood wanted a seat on these imperiled flights. You’ll see Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Helen Hayes, James Stewart, Christopher Lee, George Kennedy, Susan Blakley, Eddie Albert, Charo and many, many more.
A heartwarming flick about a group of miscreant kids who turn out be perfectly in tune with the true spirit of the season, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Lionsgate) stars Judy Greer, Pete Holmes and Lauren Graham.
You’ll laugh until you turn blue with Smurfs (Alliance Home Entertainment), a family-friendly romp as Papa Smurf is taken away by a couple of evil wizards and Smurfette (voiced by pop star Rihanna) heads out to save him. Other voices by James Corden, Nick Offerman, Daniel Levy, Nick Kroll and many others.
Riz Ahmed, Sam Worthington and Lily James star in Relay (Alliance Home Entertainment), about the repercussions when a corporate whistle-blower changes her mind about exposing some big-business secrets. If you missed it last year in the theater, catch it on Blu-ray. It’s from director David McKenzie, who also gave us the excellent Hell or High Water.
Miley Cyrus, Sidney Sweeney and Paul Walter Hauser star in Americana ( Lionsgate), a modern-day Western drama about a group of characters in a small South Dakota town who clash over possession of a rare Native American artifact. And then things get really messy.
Oh, the horror! The special 3-disc collector’s edition of A24’s The X-Trilogy has all three of director Ty West‘s “tributes” to ’70s slasher films. X, Pearl and Maxxxine all starred Mia Goth as a female serial killer—who leaves the slasher life behind (or so she thinks) to become a Hollywood porn performer. The set also includes a 64-page booklet, more than 90 minutes of extras, and crew commentary on all three movies. It’s terrifyingly good.
A new ‘Sheriff’ comes to town, country music hits ‘The Road’ and Charlie Brown re-discovers the Great Pumpkin!
Morena Baccarin stars in ‘Sheriff Country.’
FRIDAY, Oct. 17 Mr. Scorsese Documentary explores the life, career and movie masterpieces of the acclaimed filmmaker, whose decade-spanning works include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Cape Fear and The Last Temptation of Christ (Apple TV+).
Sheriff Country Fire Country spinoff stars Morena Baccarin as a straight-shootin’ sheriff in California balancing crime fighting, competition for her job and motherhood (9 p.m., CBS).
SATURDAY, Oct. 18 It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown It’s time again for the timeless adventure as Charlie Brown preps for a party, Snoopy sets his sights on the Red Baron and Linus awaits a pumpkin patch miracle (Apple TV+).
Anything But Gray| New Southern-fried series follows designer Gray Benko as she transforms homes in Charleston, S.C., to bring out their character through color, whimsy and imaginative touches (1 p.m., Magnolia Network).
SUNDAY, Oct. 19 The Road New singing competition is hosted by country stars Keith Urban, Blake Shelton and Gretchen Wilson (9 p.m., CBS).
Hal & Carter Lili Reinhart, Betty Gilpin and Mark Ruffalo star in this drama about siblings whose closeness is both a blessing and a curse of co-dependence (Mubi).
MONDAY, Oct. 20 Ratified Explore the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) through Virginia’s pivotal ratification battle led by Black women and a multi-racial, multi-generational coalition, which enshrined gender equality in America nearly a century after it was proposed (10 p.m., PBS).
Summertide Drama about a marine biologist (Frank Rautenbach) who loses his wife to tragedy and moves with his rebellious teens back to his childhood home to begin again. But can the calm coastal waters hide the painful secrets roiling just beneath their surface? (Acorn TV).
TUESDAY, Oct. 21 Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud Documentary about the first American journalist to die while reporting on the war in Ukraine, and how the Arkansas native covered some of the world’s most dangerous conflicts (9 p.m., HBO).
The Rise of RFK Jr. Learn about the dramatic and controversial rise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and how this son of a storied dynasty broke with the Democratic party and his family, stoked conspiracy theories and is now reshaping government and public health as the U.S. secretary of health (10 p.m., PBS).
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22 Riot Women Joana Scanlan, Rosalie Craig and Tamsin Greig star in this episodic drama about menopausal British women who form a punk band to enter a talent contest, but then find out they have a lot more to shout about than they imagined (BritBox).
Lazarus Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy star in this new series about a man who becomes entangled in the mysteries surrounding the deaths of two family members (Prime).
THURSDAY, Oct. 23 Nobody Wants This Season two begins of the romcom about a gentile podcaster (Kristen Bell) who falls in love with a Jewish rabbi (Adam Brody) (Netflix).
The Red King New series about a police sergeant (Anjli Mohindra) reassigned to an isolated island with an eerie past, strange rituals and unexplained deaths (AMC+).
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You know her as lead singer of The Pretenders. Now Chrissy Hyde is singing a new tune, and she’s got a bunch of musical friends with her. On Duets Special (Rhino), her fourth album under her own name, she’s harmonizing with k.d. lang, Blondie’s Deborah Harry, Julian Lennon, Lucinda Williams, Rufus Wainwright and more in 13 stripped-down arrangements with minimal instrumentation on tunes like “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” “It’s Only Love,” “Always on my Mind” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
How kool is this? Re-live all the smooth funky groovery of Kool & The Gang on the new reissue of the band’s Greatest Hits (Umusic), available on limited-edition vinyl as well as CD. You’ll get “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Ladies Night,” “Too Hot,” “Celebration,” “Get Down On It” and more!
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Find out all sorts of inventive do-ers in Lives of the Great Makers (Thames & Hudson), with 40 biographies of people like furniture magnate Thomas Chippendale, painters and glass artists, goldsmiths, sculptors, designers and many more men and women who’ve made our world a better place through the craftiness of their hands. It’s a testament to the creativity and artistry all around us.
How do Bob Dylan’s song lyrics reveal his story? If the answer, my friend, isn’t “Blowin’ in the Wind,” you may find it in Bob Dylan: Things Have Changed (Melville House). Read as former Village Voice reporter Ron Rosenbaum takes an intriguing dive into the life of the enigmatic, shape-shifting Nobel-Prize-winning music-maker via the words of his songs, tracing his trajectory from hippie folkster to Greenwich Village cultural revolutionary, countrified crooner and proselytizing Christian.
In Wild Ocean, acclaimed wildlife photogs Peter and Beverly Pickford highlight the eye-popping, pristine beauties of our planet’s seas, inhabitants and coastal areas, at a time when overfishing, pollution and global warming have plunged their futures into question. (Thames & Hudson)
Named Vogue Living‘s Designer of the Year in 2024 and recognized by Architectural Digest (Germany) as one of the world’s true design influencers, author Fiona Lynch is renowned for her mastery of mood. Her bold style and intuitive ideas are on full display in Material Wonder (Thames & Hudson), a stunningly illustrated book in which she explores new materials and techniques for her brand of “spirited minimalism” to make spaces look like…well, like they should be in a book!
Curb Your Enthusiasm fans will love No Lessons Learned (Black Dog & Leventhal), with first-person interviews from cast members (Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Richard Lewis and many more), directors, producers and others (guests like Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Kind and Ben Stiller) who helped make it a huge hit on its HBO run, all the way back to 2000. Plus it’s packed with plot outlines, scripts, sketches, quotes and gads of never-before-seen behind-the-scenes pics.
Can you name the Black family who founded one of the country’s most durable construction dynasties? You’ll find the answer in The Black Family Who Built America (Black Privilege Publishing), about Moses McKissak, a former slave who became an exceptional craftsman and launched a family business now its fifth generation. It’s written by Cheryl MicKissack, a fifth-generation descendant of Moses who now leads the company.
Perfect bedtime reading the Halloween season, The Screen Chills Companion (McFarland) by Chris Fellner is a treasure trove for fans of scary movies during Hollywood’s “second wave” of horror in the 1940s, when monsters (Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, Dracula, the Wolf Man and more) were spawning all sorts of movie sequels.
BRING IT HOME
Re-bask in the opulence and intrigue of a bygone New York in The Guilded Age: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros. Discovery), with all eight episodes of the HBO period drama starring Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Nathan Lane and Andrea Martin.
If you’re of an, ahem, certain age, you might remember Shari Lewis, the Peabody Award-winning ventriloquist, puppeteer and TV show host. Shari and Lamb Chop (kinolarber.com) tells her wide-ranging story—and how she created a puppet, Lamb Chop, for TV’s Captain Kangaroo in the mid-1950s, then parlayed that into success as a well-known children’s-TV icon through the decades to come.
Tom Cruise is back, baby, in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (Paramount), starring again as special agent Ethan Hunt in all kinds of perilous spy stuff, including escaping from a sunken submarine and hanging outside a biplane. Oh yeah, and trying to save the world! All in a day’s work!
The Media Tourist 