Category Archives: Photography

May 15 2026
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Books, DVDs, Humor, Movies, Music, Photography, Pop Culture, Sports, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Week of May 15 – May 21

Twain twang, another ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff & monsters in a retirement home!

Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser return in the new spinoff of ‘Yellowstone.’

FRIDAY, May 15
It’s Not Like That
Scott Foley and Erinn Hayes star in this character-driven family drama about love, loss, and starting over, from the producers of Parenthood (Prime Video).

Dutton Ranch
Both a spinoff and a sequel, this new series stars Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser reprising their Yellowstone roles as the Duttons fight to build a new future far from where they used to be (Paramount +). 

SATURDAY, May 16
Faith & Forgiveness: A Duck Dynasty Love Story
This tale of a love tested, broken and ultimately rebuilt is based on the real-life couple, Lisa and Al Robertson, from TV’s Duck Dynasty family (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, May 17
The Academy of Country Music Awards
Megan Moroney, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top and Cody Johnson lead the nominees for these annual honors, live from Las Vegas and hosted by Shania Twain (Prime Video).

Naked and Afraid: Global Showdown
They’re naked, they’re afraid (especially of losing out on the show’s biggest cash prize ever!), they’re all previous winners, and they come from all over the world to try to outlast each other in Africa (8 p.m., Discovery).

MONDAY, May 18
You’re Killing Me
Brooke Shields stars in this six-episode murder-mystery drama series about a bestselling novelist who forms an unlikely alliance with an aspiring writer to find the killer of a close friend (Acorn TV).

TUESDAY, May 19
W.E.B. Dubois: Rebel with a Cause
Stirring doc about the late, great civil rights activist, who died just before the March on Washington in 1963, but whose legacy continues to resonate and inspire today (9 p.m., PBS).

Forever Young: A Grammy Tribute to Rod Stewart Live
Two-hour TV special honors the GRAMMY Award-winning two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the best-selling artists in music history, bringing viewers on stage and behind the scenes for an all-access concert experience (8 p.m., CBS).

WEDNESDAY, May 20
Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed
New dark-comedy thriller stars Tatiana Maslany as a mom who thinks she’s witnessed a crime and starts her own investigation, but falls down a rabbit hole of blackmail, murder…and youth soccer (Apple TV).

Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War
John Krasinski returns for another season as the iconic supersleuth on a new international covert mission that unravels a deadly conspiracy (Prime Video).

THURSDAY, May 21
Alien: Romulus
2024 sequel in the hit sci-fi franchise (the seventh film in the Alien series) stars Cailee Spaeny in the latest tale of space scavengers encountering the deadliest beastie in the universe (Hulu).

The Boroughs
Residents in a retirement community (Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard and Bill Pullman) deal with a little problem plaguing their placid golden years in the sun-drenched desert of New Mexico—and it involves monsters (Netflix).

BRING IT HOME

Based on a popular videogame, season two of the Amazon Prime sci-fi series Fallout takes its characters (Ella Purnell, Kyle McLachlin, Walton Goggins and Frances Turner) into a post-apocalyptic hellscape that was once Las Vegas. (Amazon MGM Home Video)

In The Yeti (Well Go USA), a team of explorers runs across a terrifying oversized monster in a remote region of Alaska. It’s a creature feature on ice! With Brittany Allen, Eric Nelsen and Corbin Bernsen.

Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon and Matthew Fox star in the zippity live-action Speed Racer (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), the latest incarnation of the 1960s Japanese TV series.

The latest adaptation of the classic Wuthering Heights is a steamy affair, with a pair of eye-candy stars (Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi) in the leading roles as their intoxicating romance turns toxic. Directed by Emerald Fennell, whose proclivity for provocation put the spice in Saltburn and Promising Young Woman. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment).

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The Bride is much more than just Frankenstein’s sweetie. Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale star in director Maggie Gyllenhaal’s gruesomely fem-centric take on the familiar Gothic horror story. With Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal and Penélope Cruz. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment).

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Elvis fans will love dropping the needle on the double-disc vinyl set of Epic (Legacy Records), the soundtrack to the hit documentary—with a title that noted it stood for “Elvis Presley in Concert.” Tracks include “I Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Hound Dog,” “Polk Salad Annie,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and some two dozen more Elvis in-concert staples.

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It took more than a bunch of miners and gold-rushers to settle California, as you’ll learn in Unsung Heroines (City Lights Publishing). Journalist Rae Alexandra puts the spotlight on 35 largely overlooked women who made important, impactful strides in San Francisco and northern California across the centuries.

May 08 2026
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Week of May 8 – 14

Sally Field and an octopus, Johnny Knoxville brings the fear & a new ‘Amadeus’

FRIDAY, May 8
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Sally Field, Lewis Pullman and an octopus (yes, you read that right) star in this adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s mystery drama, above (Netflix).

Amadeus
Will Sharpe stars as Mozart, and Paul Bethany as his jealous rival Salieri, in this new adaptation of the play that was previously made into a hit movie in 1984 (Starz).

SATURDAY, May 9
K-Everything
Daniel Dae-Kim explores the cultural impact of Korea’s explosive global influence (CNN).

SUNDAY, May 10
America’s Funniest Home Videos
Ten of the season’s biggest winners vie for a $100,000 cash prize. Hilarious highlights include birthday blunders, summer snafus and kids saying the silliest things (7 p.m., ABC).

Mothers’ Day Marathon
Celebrate with mom-centric programming, including hand-picked episodes of Friends and Modern Family (begins 8:30 a.m., TBS)

MONDAY, May 11
BBQ Brawl
If you love ‘cue, you’ll dig digging into the new season of the team competition to find the ultimate pitmaster, hosted by Bobby Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Brooke Williamson (9 p.m., Food Network). 

TUESDAY, May 12
Squatters
Homeowner-rights advocate Flash Shelton and his team take on high-stakes missions to run squatters out of their roosts and help property owners reclaim their homes (10 p.m., A&E).

Chopped Castaways
Twelve elite chefs are “stranded” on a remote island in this new food competition series, where their culinary talents must align with basis survival skills (9 p.m., Food Network).

WEDNESDAY, May 13
Off Campus
College-based soap based on the bestselling book series by Elle Kennedy follows the “opposites attract” romance of an elite ice hockey star and a quiet songwriter, starring Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, above (Prime Video).

Mistakes That Made America
Host Michael McBride explores the unexpected accidents, mishaps, and misunderstandings that ended up changing the course of American culture (on History’s YouTube channel and available on history.com).

THURSDAY, May 14
Fear Factor: 48 Hours of Fear
Johnny Knoxville (above) is the ringleader as six contestants compete in epic challenges testing their endurance, with one critical catch: no sleeping! (9 p.m., Fox)!

Nemesis
What happens when an unstoppable force (an expert criminal) meets an immovable object (a brilliant police detective)? Find out in this new series starring Matthew Law and Y’lan Noel (Netflix).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Trees: A Rooted History (Abrams Books) is an illustrated tree-riffic treasury of just about everything related to trees, from the many ways the benefit our world to their roles in lore and legend, and their vital importance to our global ecosystem. 

Launch your imagination into orbit with Space Journal: Art, Space & Cosmic Inspiration (Thames & Hudson), which weaves together memorabilia, revolutionary experiments and spectacular scenes to celebrate space exploration through the imagination of great dreamers—artists, photographers, filmmakers, rocketeers, astronauts, cosmonauts and scientists—across the centuries.

How did “soap operas” get to be such a pop-cultural touchstone? In Love in the Afternoon, and Evening (W.W. Norton), authors Charlotte Druckman and Mayukh Sen dig into the roots, and the reach, of so-called daytime dramas, the “art” of TV storytelling, and why soaps so often aren’t taken seriously.

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Shutterbugs, you’ll love Brooke DiDonato: Take a Picture, It Will Last Longer (Thames & Hudson), packed with beguiling pics by the highly creative photographer who loved looking at “normal” things through a lens of the fantastical and surreal—like a bouquet of flowers overflowing from a toilet, a nude body covered in books on a fireplace mantle, or a woman balancing brooms on her neck.

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Get down with your bad self, and get watching Soul To Soul (MVD Entertainment Group), a new DVD of the 1971 cross-cultural concert film—recorded in South Africa—featuring Wilson Pickett, Santana, Ike & Tina Turner, the Staple Singers and more.

The totally rockin’ reissue of 1972’s The J. Geils Band “Live” Full House (Rhino) reminds me of how much I loved hearing front man Peter Wolfe and crew tear through high-energy rave-ups like “First I Look at the Purse,” “Whammer Jammer” and “Lookin’ for a Love.” With new liner notes from Wolf, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl, it’s a whammer jammer, indeed!

Mar 06 2026
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! March 6 – March 12

Miley gets Muppet-ized, it’s a wrap for ‘Outlander’ & NatGeo hunts for elephants

Miley Cyrus kicks off a new season of ‘Sesame Street’ Monday night.

FRIDAY, March 6
Outlander
Tonight begins the eighth and final season of the time-traveling romance starring Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, based on author Diana Galbaldon’s international best-selling book series (Starz).

Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese
When 16-year-old Skylar Neese vanishes from her West Virginia home, her family and community are thrown into turmoil. As the search for answers intensifies, attention turns toward Skylar’s closest friends, uncovering a tangled web of secrets, betrayal and identity (Hulu).

SATURDAY, March 7
Vanished in an Instant
A widowed high school teacher (Vinessa Antoine) and rebellious teen daughter (Arista Arhin) find themselves on parallel paths of terror during what was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway. Don’t you just hate it when that happens? (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, March 8
Rooster
Steve Carell stars in this new college-set comedy series about an author and his complicated relationship with his daughter (HBO Max).

Ghost Elephants
Come along with National Geographic explorers in this documentary about the search in South Africa for legendary “ghost” elephants, long believed to exist only in myth. It’s directed and narrated by Werner Herzog (Disney+ and Hulu). 

MONDAY, March 9
The Ultimate Baking Championship
Sixteen elite pastry chefs vie to be crowned the best of the best. Hosted by Duff Goldman (9 p.m., Food Network).

Sesame Street Vol. 2
New season of the newly revived iconic kids’ show features well-known Muppet characters and guests, like tonight’s Miley Cyrus (Netflix).

TUESDAY, March 10
One Piece: Into the Grand Line
Season two, based on Japan’s high-rated animated series, goes live-action for more high-seas adventure (Netflix).

Fukushima: A Nuclear Nightmare
Documentary examines the devastating 2011 9.0 earthquake in Japan and the following tsunami that washed away entire towns—and destroyed cooling systems of three nuclear reactors, causing a chain reaction of high radiation and hydrogen explosions (9 p.m., HBO).

WEDNESDAY, March 11
Sunny Nights
In this dark comedy, a brother and sister (Will Forte and D’Arcy Carden, above) try to set up a spray-tanning business in Australia, only to run afoul of Sydney’s criminal world (Hulu). 

Scarpetta
A doctor tries to unmask a serial killer in this thriller series produced by Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, with an all-star cast including Bobby Cannavale, Ariana DeBose and Simon Baker (Prime Video).

THURSDAY, March 12
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
More secrets, more TikTok-ing wives, more drama (above). Season four starts tonight (Hulu).

The Stroke
Polish dark-comedy drama about an openly gay, middle-aged cultural tastemaker whose stroke shatters not only his body, but his ego, status, and carefully constructed persona (Viaplay).

BRING IT HOME

If you’re a fan of “hair metal,” you know Cinderella. The new Cinderella in Concert (MVD Entertainment) takes you back to glory days of glam rock, filmed on the Philly-based band’s tour in 1991, and featuring most of the group’s songs you ever heard on the radio (or watched on MTV), including “Nobody’s Fool,” “Gypsy Road” and “Shelter Me.”

The Band’s Levon Helm narrates Elvis ’56 (MVD Entertainment), a chronicle of Presley’s breakthrough year, with his hip-shakin’ early TV appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and other programs. You’ll see rare live performances of “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel” and much more.

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Looking forward to passing along all those souvenirs, family photos and heirlooms to your kids when they leave the nest? Well, guess what? In Nobody Wants Your Sh*t (Skyhorse Publishing), author Messie Condo offers practical—and motivational—advice for the art of decluttering, dealing with all your “stuff” and moving on.

It’s been 50 years since Blondie sang about “Freddy” in the hit rap song “Rapture.” Now Fred Brathwaite (aka Fab 5 Freddy) is telling his own story in Everybody’s Fly: A Life of Art, Music and Changing the Culture (Viking). It’s an essential street-level cultural history with an intimate look into New York City’s underground art and music scene, and how it transformed culture into the late ‘70s and beyond.


With spring just around the corner, Flower Power by plant advocate and gardening expert Jac Semmler provides a beautifully illustrated, step-by-step guide to planning and designing your own parcel of year-round botanical goodness. Just add water and sunshine and see! (Thames & Hudson)

The Art of the Book: 75 Years of Thames & Hudson looks at the company founded in 1949 by Walter and Eva Neurath and how it grew into a pinnacle of publishing, with books ranging across art, archaeology, architecture, history, photography and fashion. With covers, reproductions of inside pages and more, it’s a book for book lovers, for sure! 

What’s a Nordic house? Well, find out in The Iconic Nordic House (Thames & Hudson), a visually sumptuous look inside (and outside) architecturally splendid Scandinavian homes, spanning more than a century in some of the most beautiful, and extreme, geographic locations on the planet.

Jan 23 2026
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Jan. 23 – Jan. 29

When daytime TV was wild, the drama of African animals & the return of Patrick Dempsey

FRIDAY, Jan. 23
Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV
Revist the not-so-long-ago era when sensational, tabloid-style talk shows like Jerry Springer (above), Geraldo and Maury dominated ratings with explosive, often scandalous, content, pushing boundaries with fights, paternity tests, and outrageous guests (9 p.m., ABC).

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie
Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) and Grandma Gigi (Gloria Estefan) set off on a magical road trip to Cat Francisco. But when her dollhouse is swiped by the eccentric cat lady (Kristen Wiig), Gabby embarks on a real-world rescue mission (Peacock).

SATURDAY, Jan. 24
Kingdom
New natural history series chronicles the drama of real-life sagas of four African animal families in one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by BBC Studios Natural History Unit (8 p.m., AMC+ and BBC America).

Toni Braxton’s Breathe Again
The Grammy-winning singer kicks off the network’s winter slate in a tale of three women who meet on a reality dating show and suffer heartbreak in the spotlight (10 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, Jan. 25
It’s Not Like That
Scott Foley, Erinn Hayes and J.R. Ramirez star in this new faith-based drama about a recently widowed pastor with three kids who meets a newly divorced mom with two teens (Prime Video).

Memories of a Killer
Patrick Dempsey returns to broadcast TV alongside Michael Imperioli and Gina Torres in this new drama about a hitman living a double life (10 p.m., Fox).

MONDAY, Jan. 26
American Idol
The hit singing competition returns for its ninth season with superstars Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Carrie Underwood in the judges’ seats, and making a trip to Nashville for round one (8 p.m., ABC).

TUESDAY, Jan. 27
33 Photos from the Ghetto
Documentary tells the story of civilian photos taken inside the notorious Warsaw Ghetto during the 1943 uprising and purge by German forces (HBO Max).

Moonshiners: Master Distiller
New series of the backwoods competition tests competitors turning beer into spirits, making prison ‘shine and distilling. Yee-haw! (9 p.m., Discovery Channel).

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 28
Shrinking
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford return for season three of the dramedy about a therapist who breaks the rules and tells his clients exactly what he’s thinking (Apple TV+).

Queens of Combat
Experts search for evidence to prove that women once fought among men in Rome’s infamous gladiatorial arena (10 p.m., PBS).

The Wrecking Crew
Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa (above) star as two estranged half-brothers who reunite after their father’s death, only to discover a conspiracy that threatens to tear their family apart (Prime Video).

THURSDAY, Jan. 29
Scenes After a Marriage
New imported drama series strips relationships down to their core and captures the universal struggles of love, loss and the uncertainties of divorce (Viaplay).

Cross
Aldis Hodge returns to season two of the pulse-pounding thriller series about a brilliant homicide detective/forensic psychologist now hunting down a ruthless vigilante targeting crooked millionaires (Prime Video).

BRING IT HOME

Channing Tatum is a real charmer starring in Roofman (Paramount Home Entertainment), based on the surprisingly true story of a real-life prolific robber known for breaking into establishments (you guessed it!) through the roof…and for stealing hearts. With Kristen Dunst, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple and Peter Dinklage.

Ready for a good scare? In Shelby Oaks (Decal-Neon Films), a film crew uncovers a disturbing lead in a woman’s search for her missing sister, steering her into a terrifying mystery and an unknown evil. Starring Camille Sullivan and Keith David. Loaded with extras, including commentary and a making-of feature.

Groove to the amazing story of the South African band Ladysmith Black Mambazo—who, you might recall, broke into the musical mainstream by performing with Paul Simon on his hit “Graceland—in Beyond Graceland (MVD Entertainment). Tracing the history and success story of the group, it includes commentary from Simon, Oprah Winfrey, Dolly Parton and Whoopi Goldberg.

Reach for the sky! And your remote, to start watching the Outlaws & Lawmen: 10 TV Westerns Collection (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment). Ride alongside Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott in this wild-West roundup of episodes from shows including Crossfire Trail, Rough Riders and Conagher. Special features include commentary, insights and cast profiles.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson’s sprawling drama One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a movie-awards favorite this year, stars Leonardo di Caprio as a former counterrevolutionary who reunites with some of his old colleagues when his daughter (Chase Infiniti Payne) goes missing. With Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall and Alana Haim.

In Keeper from director Osgood (The Monkey) Perkins, a romantic retreat takes a dark turn when a sinister presence reveals the cabin’s chilling past. Starring Tatiana Maslany and Rossif Sutherland (pssst…he’s Kiefer’s brother!)

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It rose into pop-cultural prominence after Jurassic Park III when it bested a mighty T-Rex, but how much do you know about the Spinosaurus? In Spinosaur Tales, paleontologists David Hone and Mark P. Whitton explore the ins, outs and all abouts of one of the Earth’s largest land predators of all time—and one of the strangest-looking and most enigmatic dinosaurs.

Explore a master of 20th century photography in Louis Stettner: Photofile (Thames & Hudson), about the New York lensman of the 1940s and ‘50s whose career lasted nearly 80 years and stretched from the streets of the Big Apple into the battles of World War II.

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Why do we love monsters? And why do we love them so much there used to be scuds of magazines about them? In The Great Monster Magazines (McFarland), author Robert Michael Cotter digs into the graveyard of publications that once fed readers’ appetites for fear and fantasy, including Famous Monsters of Filmland, Midnight Marquee, Fangoria, Terror Tales and dozens more, plus monster-adjacent comic books.

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The new remix of Yes Symphonic Live (Mercury Studios)—originally a 2001 LP recorded by members of the prog-rock pioneers with a live orchestra—is a feast for the ears, with lush versions of radio hits like “Close to the Edge,” “I’ve Seen All Good People,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart” and “Roundabout.” Available as a 4-LP set, which includes a Blu-ray documentary, or 2 CDs with a fold-out poster. 

Jan 16 2026
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Friday, Jan. 16 – Thursday, Jan. 22

A landmark Mel Brooks birthday, celebrating Black movies and TV & HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff

HBO Max celebrates Mel Brooks turning 99!

Friday, Jan. 16
How to Lose a Popularity Contest
New comedy for young adults about a charming underachiever and a type-A overachiever teaming up to win student body president…and perhaps more. Starring Chase Hudson and Sara Weisglass (Tubi).

The Nowhere Man
Six-part drama series—unrelated to The Beatles’ song—about an ex-mercenary drawn back into a world of violence after witnessing a home invasion. With Bonko Khoza and Naturi Naughton-Lewis (Starz).

Saturday, Jan. 17
I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco
The wife of the convicted child rapist tells her own story, for the first time, three decades after she was thrust into the spotlight when her husband tried to kill her (8 p.m., Lifetime).

“One Battle After Another”

Celebration of Black Cinema & Television
Spike Lee, David Alan Grier and One Battle After Another stars Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti and Regina Hall will be among the honorees in this ceremony held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Hollywood (streaming on Starz).

SUNDAY, Jan. 18
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
New half-hour drama series—related to the realm of Game of Thrones—follows two unlikely Westeros heroes, a tall young knight (Ser Duncan) and his diminutive squire (Daniel Ings) (10 p.m., HBO).

The Hillside Strangler
Doc about 1970s Los Angeles serial killer known for striking without warning, abducting, raping and murdering a dozen women and leaving their bodies displayed on hillsides like gruesome trophies (9 p.m., MGM+).

MONDAY, Jan. 19
Alma’s Way
Emmy-nominated kids show kicks off its new season with a spotlight on Black cowboy culture, the self-expression of hair and quintessential New York City eats (check local listings, PBS Kids). 

Hoops, Hopes & Dreams
Animation brings to life the untold story about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a team of civil rights activists took to basketball courts to connect with young voters (Hulu).

TUESDAY, Jan. 20
Breaking the Deadlock
Eight-episode series asks when it comes to your health and your body, who knows best: You, your doctor, or the government? (9 p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 21
Steal
Sophie Turner from Game of Thrones stars in this action thriller (above) about the heist of the century, and an ordinary office worker who finds herself in the middle of it (Prime).

Drops of God
The International Emmy-winning multilingual drama series begins season two tonight, about lead characters (Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita) continuing their quest to uncover the origin of the world’s greatest wine (Apple TV).

THURSDAY, Jan. 22
The Curse
Two sisters plagued by misfortune discover they’re victims of a family curse, embarking on a comical quest to end it in this Polish feature film (Viaplay).

Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man
Two-part documentary on the filmmaker comedy genius behind Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Spaceballs and Robin Hood: Men in Tights. The title comes from one of his earliest comedy routines (HBO Max).

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Take a wondrous plunge beneath the waves in Ocean: From the Shore to the Abyss, marine biologist Asha de Vos’ amazing visual project celebrating the diversity of life in the sea. It’s full of pics of marine life of all sorts, at various depths, from jellyfish to gigantic squids, plus graphs and charts with insights into ocean science, whale communication, underseas volcanoes and even the history of scuba diving.

Meet renowned Japanese architecture master Fumihiko Maki in Maki Opus and see some 60 buildings he’s made (from the 1960s onward) in Japan and around the world. It’s a visual chronicle of his understanding of how people use and experience structures, his use of materials and the changes in building technology over the years.

BRING IT HOME

Zip back to a ‘60s Saturday morning with Lippy the Lion and Hardy Har Har: The Complete Series (AV Entertainment), with all the merry misadventures of a happy-go-lucky lion and his pessimistic hyena sidekick (voiced by the era’s king of cartoon voices, Mel Blanc). Order at https://www.moviezyng.com/lippy-the-lion-and-hardy-har-har-the-complete-series-bluray-blu-ray-daws-butler/840418339619

Look out below! Falling Skies (AV Entertainment), the hit TV series about the aftermath and survivors of an alien invasion, is now assembled in a cool box set. Falling Skies: The Complete Series is a 10-disc set with all the episodes of the TNT post-apocalyptic drama starring Noah Wylie and co-produced by Steven Spielberg. (Order at https://www.moviezyng.com/falling-skies-the-complete-series-bluray-blu-ray-noah-wyle/883929844791).

Meet the sexpot photographer whose work fed America’s growing appetite for “girlie magazines” in the 1950s in Naked Ambition (Bright Iris/Music Box Films). It’s a documentary about Bunny Yeager, whose groundbreaking lens work helped pinup queen Bettie Page go mainstream, popularized the bikini, most likely invented the selfie, and influenced Hugh Hefner in shaping Playboy magazine.

Jan 02 2026
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Jan. 2 – Jan. 8

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.

Oct 31 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Oct. 31 – Nov. 6

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.

Oct 17 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Oct. 17 – Oct. 23

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+).

NOW HEAR THIS

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!

Oct 10 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch and more, Oct. 10- 16

Why we love John Candy, the horrors of John Wayne Gacy & a whole night of ‘NCIS’

FRIDAY, Oct. 10
John Candy: I Like Me
Heartfelt documentary tribute to the legendary and much-loved Canadian comedy icon, with stories and memories from Candy’s family, friends, collaborators and admirers—including Tom Hanks, whose son, Colin, directed (Prime Video).

Vicious
Dakota Fanning stars as a young woman who receives a mysterious gift from a late-night visitor, drawing her into a waking nightmare (Paramount+).

The Woman in Cabin 10
While on a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Kiera Knightly) witnesses a passenger thrown overboard, only to be told it didn’t happen. With Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddington (Netflix).

SATURDAY, Oct. 11
Monster in the Family: The Stacy Kananen Story
Based on a true story, this drama follows a young woman (Elisha Cuthbert) who finds herself entangled in a web of buried bodies and manipulation (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, Oct. 12
Matlock
In tonight’s “sneak peek” of season two, Kathy Bates returns to the TV role of lawyer Madeline Matlock (above) for the revived series that gender-flipped the 1980s original, which starred Andy Griffith (8:30 p.m., CBS).

The Chair Company
New comedy series debut about a man who finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy after witnessing an embarrassing incident at work. Starring Tim Robinson, Lake Bell and Sophia Lillis (10 p.m., HBO Max).

MONDAY, Oct. 13
DMV
New workplace comedy starring Harriet Dyer and Tim Meadows, about a crew of lovable misfits (above) tackling bureaucracy, bad attitudes and busted printers—with minimum wage and maximum sarcasm (8:30 p.m., CBS).

Solar Opposites
Sixth and final season of the animated series about space aliens trying to live on a budget. Dan Stevens and Thomas Middleditch provide voices (Hulu).

TUESDAY, Oct. 14
NCIS Night
It’s all NCIS, all night, with season premieres of the flagship drama’s 23rd season, plus spinoffs NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney (begins 8 p.m., CBS).

Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore
An intimate look at the life of the actress, the first deaf performer to win an Academy Award, as she shares her story in her native America Sign Language (9. p.m., PBS).

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15
From Rails to Trails
Documentary narrated by actor Edward Norton about the movement, which began 60 years ago, to convert abandoned railroad trackways to public trails for cycling and walking (check local listings, PBS).

Murdaugh: Death in the Family
Series based on the real-life family drama of Maggie and Alex Murdaugh and the murder of the fourth-generation scion of a local legal dynasty. Starring Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette (Hulu).

THURSDAY, Oct. 16
Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy
Limited series (above) dramatizes the evils of the notorious Gacy, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering 33 young men in the 1970s. Starring Michael Chernus (from Severance), Gabriel Luna (The Last of Us) and James Dale Badge (1923) (Peacock).

NOW HEAR THIS

The political New York City activism of John Lennon and wife Yoko One is celebrated in Power to the People (Capitol/UME), a 12-disc boxed set with more than 100 tracks, a new remix of Lennon’s only full-length concert appearances after the Beatles, outtakes, home recordings, jam sessions and much more. Son Sean Lennon produced the project.

Get a big dose of downhome Texas Blues with The Last Real Texas Blues Album (Antone’s Records), part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the iconic Austin nightclub Antone’s. Fittingly, the album is filled with artists who’ve performed there, including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughn, Charlie Sexton, Lil’ Ed Wilson and McKinley James, performing classics like “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” “The Sky is Crying,” “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “Going Down.” Put it on, turn it up, and dig it.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Fans of the British supergroup led by brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher will dig Oasis: Trying to Find a Way Out of Nowhere (Thames & Hudson), a photo-packed visual chronicle by acclaimed rock photog Jill Furmanovsky—who was given unparalleled access to countless worldwide performances, recording sessions and offstage moments, beginning in the band’s early ‘90s heyday.  With written commentary and insights by Noel about the wild ride of being in one of the top-selling groups of all time. 

Wanna look like a million bucks? Author Natalie Hammond tells (and shows) you how in Style Codes: Cher (Abrams), a guide to looking your best based on the singing star’s own “reinvention” to become an icon of class, glamor, success sand style. From gowns to jackets, boots, bell bottoms and hairstyles, you’ll find out what worked for Cher, and how to find inspiration for your own assets.

Look! Up in the sky! No, it’s not superman, but rather Aviary: The Bird in Contemporary Photography (Thames & Hudson), a stunning look at how more than 50 modern photographers artistically “captured” winged splendor, illustrating not only the eye-popping spectrum of color and “design” in the aerial world, but also the ways it’s always inspired us down here on the ground.

How do borders define our world? In Atlas of Borders (Thames & Hudson), geopolitical experts Delphine Papin and Bruno Tertrais reflect on the world through the lens of the seen and unseen things that split it up and separate it. Filled with maps and infographics, it’s a fascinating crash course in the ways, and the whys, the Earth has been subdivided and sliced up, leading to walls, migrations and wars.

As foodies know, there’s something special about good ol’ Southern cookin’. Author and food historian Michael J. Twitty’s Recipes From the American South (Phaidon) is a lip-smackin’ guide to more than 260 yummies of all sorts from our country’s Southland, from bread and biscuits, stews, sauces, sweets to main courses like chicken and dumplings, red-eye gravy and mint julips.

Do you believe in magic? Well, you might, after reading podcaster Pam Grossman’s Magic Maker (Penguin Random House), about how magic and spiritualism have been long associated with creativity—and how you can make the most of those same “supernatural” vibes. It’s trippy and cool and a combination of guidebook and history of spells, magic and witchery, and how they’ve been channeled for centuries to fuel creative arts of all kinds.

What’s in a word? In Unabridged: The Thrill of (and Threat to) the Modern Dictionary (Grove Atlantic), author Stefan Fatsis dives into the exotic world of America’s most famous publisher of dictionaries, Merriam-Webster, at a time when words are changing in many ways, including how we create, define, use and consume language. It’s a vibrant, colorful history of dictionaries and the company that made them household items, how spoken language makes winds its way into our lexicon, and who decides what those words mean. Word up!

Michael Jackson insiders reveal the high-stakes battle to revive the superstar’s reputation and sales mojo in the mid-‘90s after tabloids had started calling him “Wacko Jacko” and his personal life was widely known for its eccentricities. You’ve Got Michael (Trouser Press) avoids the controversies but goes right for the nuts ‘n’ bolts of keeping an outsized supersized career alive, as told by author Dan Beck, the Epic Records exec who worked for five years with the troubled superstar.

It’s been a while for most of us, likely, since we unfolded a paper map and used it for navigation. But such orienteering tools used to be the language essential to exploring and getting around—and they often had to be redrawn and rejiggered, as civilization advanced the geography morphed. The Library of Lost Maps (Bloomsbury) by geographer James Cheshire offers a scholarly tour, across the 19th and 20th centuries, of how maps remind us of our past…and provide gateways to the future for an ever-changing world in progress.

Dig into The Maya Myths: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes and Ancestors (Thames & Hudson), in which author Mallory E. Matsumoto presents a richly detailed look at the legends, beliefs and culture that over previous centuries built a thriving, complex society in what is now Mexico and Central America—before mysteriously collapsing and vanishing.

A spinoff of the popular TikTok series, F*cked Up Fairy Tales (W.W. Norton) by Liz Gotauco offers “grown-up” tellings of classic folktales from around the world, with gritty details that the “Disney-fied versions” conveniently omitted—of homicidal royals, cursed commoners, carnal couplings and all manner of beasts…and beastly behavior. For anyone who likes their mythology refreshingly bawdy, dig in!

Don’t ever tell anybody they’re “irreplaceable,” especially after you read Mary Roach’s Replaceable You (W.W. Norton), a sprightly exploration of the human body. You’ll better understand the many ways science and technology have risen to the challenges of altering (or outright replacing) our skin, our hair, our organs, our breasts and bones and teeth and just about everything else. (W.W. Norton)

BRING IT HOME

Ready for a good scare? Weapons, one of the year’s best supernatural horror flicks, depicts an unsettling scenario about a town in a panic when all the children from a classroom mysteriously disappear—all, that is, except one. Starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner. Bonus features take you inside the making of the flick (Warner Bros. Discovery).

Joaquin Phoenix, Austin Butler, Emma Stone and Pedro Pascal star in director Ari Aster’s Eddington (A24), a dark comedy set in a small town during the COVID-19 pandemic where disagreements cause political and social turmoil.

Sep 12 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more! Sept. 12 – 18

A new morning for ‘The Morning Show,’ honoring TV’s top performers & meet the real ‘Top Guns’

Reese Witherspoon & Jennifer Aniston return to ‘The Morning Show.’

FRIDAY, Sept. 12
Lost in the Jungle
True story about a deadly plane crash that stranded four young siblings deep in the Columbia rain forest, sparking a dramatic rescue mission in a race against time (9 p.m., National Geographic).

Vampirina: Teenage Vampire
New series about a tween bloodsucker (Mykal-Michelle Harris) who leaves the safety of Transylvania to attend an arts boarding school and cultivate her passion for music (8 p.m., Disney Channel). 

SATURDAY, Sept. 13
A Husband to Die For
The horrifying story of a pregnant woman who is savagely attacked in her home and left for dead, only to discover it was all orchestrated by her very own husband. Starring Keana Lyn Bastidas and Marilu Henner (Lifetime).

Grace for the World
Live performances from Pharrell Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Andrea Bocelli, John Legend, Jelly Roll and more will air from St. Peter’s Square, marking the first time such a musical televised event has ever occurred from the heart of Vatican City (streaming on Disney+, Hulu and ABC News Live) 

SUNDAY, Sept. 14
The Ride With Norman Reedus
Climb aboard for season seven with motorcycle enthusiast and Walking Dead star Norman Reedus on more epic road trips around the world (AMC and AMC+).

The Emmy Awards
Comedian Nate Bargatze hosts tonight’s 77th annual presentation honoring the year’s top TV shows and talent (8 p.m., CBS).

MONDAY, Sept. 15
Celebrity Weakest Link
Jane Lynch returns as host of the cutthroat game show with stars from TV, sports and standup comedy (8 p.m., Fox). 

Antiques Roadshow
The durable docuseries continues its 29th season with all-new “vintage” episodes, looking back at memorable objects from 15 years ago and accessing what they’re worth today (8 p.m., PBS).

TUESDAY, Sept. 16

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
Season six begins with a supersized crossover episode as the girls prepare to charter the boat and crew of Below Deck Down Under for a glamorous cruise (8 p.m., Bravo).

Top Guns: The Next Generation
There’s no Tom Cruise, but this new six-part series does take you inside the U.S. Navy’s elite aviation program to meet the student pilots and go inside their rigorous  training program (8 p.m., National Geographic).

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17
Academy of Country Music Honors
Carly Pearce hosts this celebration of country superstars, including Clint Black, Tim McGraw, K.T. Oslin, Mary Chapin Carpenter (8 p.m., Fox).

Electric Bloom
New music-themed comedy mockumentary series about the young women (above) who make up the “world’s biggest band” (Disney +).

The Morning Show
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston return to lead the star-stuffed cast for season four of the award-winning drama about goings-on (AI, love triangles, coverups, cutthroat competition, corporate meddling and ghosts of the past) at a NYC TV network in a highly polarized America (Apple TV+).

THURSDAY, Sept. 18
Sounds of Summer
Feel-good true story about Swedish pop sensation Gyllene Tilder, one of the most successful bands in Sweden ever, led by Pat Gessle, who would go on to co-found the group Roxette (Viaplay).

Black Rabbit
A rising-star restaurateur (Jude Law) is forced into New York’s criminal underworld in this limited thriller series when his chaotic brother (Jason Bateman) returns to town with loan sharks on his trail (Netflix).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Since the beginning of time, humans have wondered what it would be like to fly above the earth, like birds. The new 25th anniversary edition of Earth from Above, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, combines original images with new photography and contemporary insights from environmental experts to show worldwide, bird’s-eye-view splendors of our planet while gauging our progress as caretakes over the past three decades.

Here, kitty kitty. Feline fanciers will love City Cats of Instanbul (Thames & Hudson), a photographic journey by photographer Marcel Heijnen into the lives of the felines that live on the streets of Turkey’s largest metropolis, one of civilization’s oldest outposts.

Take an eye-popping tour of some prize-winning buildings in Assemble: Building Collective (Thames & Hudson), a look at some 40 major works from a design group that’s been called the future of architecture for its emphasis on community-based, collaborative projects in Great Britain, rural Japan and France.

You’ve no doubt hear about “making a deal with the Devil.” Devil’s Contract (Melville House) by Ed Simon takes a deep dive into the history of the Faustian bargain—from ancient times to bluesman Robert Johnson, into modern day—illustrating how sacrificing our principles in pursuit of power can invite all kinds of social ills. It’s a fascinating plunge into the many twists of the enduring mythology of selling our souls.   

NOW HEAR THIS

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Phil Collins’ hit 1985 album No Jacket Required (Atlantic) with this newly remastered 4-LP box set. In addition to the hits repressed on 180-gram hi-fidelity vinyl (“Sussido,” “One More Night,” “Don’t Lose My Number,” “Only You Know and I Know”), there are additional live tracks, including demos and a recording from Collin’s appearance at Live Aid.

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Get a taste of down-home Texas Blues with The Last Real Texas Blues Album (Antone’s Records), honoring the 50th anniversary of the iconic Austin nightclub Antone’s. Fittingly, the album is filled with artists who’ve performed there, including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jimmie Vaughn, Charlie Sexton, Lil’ Ed Wilson and McKinley James, performing classics like “You’ll Lose a Good Thing,” “The Sky is Crying,” “Flip, Flop and Fly” and “Going Down.” Put it on, turn it up, and dig it.

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