Puppies bowl, monsters mash and a little girl becomes a chess queen!
FRIDAY, Feb. 6 Queen of Chess Doc about a Hungarian girl named Judit Polgar and how she became the No. 1 chess player in the world (Netflix).
Shall We Dance Acclaimed 1996 film, now restored in hi-definition, about an unhappy Japanese accountant who finds a missing passion in his life when he starts taking ballroom dancing lessons (Mubi).
SATURDAY, Feb. 7 Engineering Europe Learn about the science and ingenuity of some of Europe’s most impressive engineering feats, like the Eiffel Tower and the London Bridge, plus electric flying machines and seaborne ports (Disney+).
Monster Movie Marathon Settle in for the oversized fun of Godzilla Vs. Kong (above), Godzilla Vs. Kong: The New Empire and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (begins 3 p.m., TBS).
SUNDAY, Feb. 8 Puppy Bowl XXII The cutest dogs on any gridiron—a televised live event promoting pet adoption—features 150 canines from more than 70 shelters across America (2 p.m., Animal Planet, Discovery, TruTV, HBO Max, Discovery+).
The ‘Burbs A contemporary reimagining of the 1989 Tom Hanks cult horror comedy about couples whose lives become hilariously upended on their once peaceful little cul-de-sac, where a possible mass murderer looms. This one stars Keke Palmer, Julia Duffy, Jack Whitehall and Mark Proksch (Peacock).
MONDAY, Feb. 9 The Librarians Independent Lens doc about the front-line workers fighting the national battle for control of what Americans are able to read (PBS).
Matter of Time Documentary follows singer Eddie Vedder and a passionate community uniting to cure epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic skin disorder (Netflix).
TUESDAY, Feb. 10 The Artful Dodger Australian comedy-adventure heist drama—based loosely on the character from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist—returns for season two (above), starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis and Maia Mitchell (Hulu and Disney+).
Chef’s Kiss Set against the scenic backdrop of Tuscany, this delectable romcom follows a young marketing exec (Adrienne Bailon-Houghton) assigned to revitalize a family-owned pasta-sauce brand. But her mission gets sidetracked when she meets a hunky chef (Tim Robards). The Roku Channel.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 11 Mammal Origins How did humans, and other mammals, first appear on the Earth? This probing NOVA documentary digs deep into the history of the warm-blooded dominance of the animal kingdom (9 p.m., PBS).
THURSDAY, Feb. 12 Soul Power Four-part docuseries explores the rise and fall of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and its lasting impact on sports and American culture with superstar players like Julius Irving, Moses Malone and Spencer Haywood (Prime Video).
Can You Keep a Secret? New comedy series about a domineering granny (Dawn French) and her late husband (Mark Heap)…who, it turns out, isn’t so “late” after all (Paramount+).
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Celebrate what would have been the 89th birthday of the late, great Roberta Flack and get With Her Songs: The Atlantic Albums, 1969–1978 (Rhino), an 8-CD retrospective collection that rounds up a decade of her recorded work from the late 1960s thru the ‘70s. You’ll hear hits including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Killing Me Softly,” “Where is the Love,” “The Closer I Get to You,” plus all the album tracks.
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 celebratesMel 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, Spaceballsand 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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 Flintstones milestone, another Mormon cult & the new NCIS spinoff!
FRIDAY, Aug. 29 Vice is Broke Doc about the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Vice, which started as a scrappy alt-punk ‘zine and become a media empire, before its bankruptcy as a sleazy exemplar of disaster capitalism (Mubi).
The Twin Haunted by the tragic loss of his son, a man (Logan Donovan) struggles with grief and a strained relationship with his wife, has troubling visions of himself and becomes aware of supernatural forces that threaten to consume him (Shudder).
SATURDAY, Aug. 30 Dinner & A Movie Hosts Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen welcome Superman star Skyler Gisondo for a screening of Man of Steel (8 p.m., TBS).
Summer Under the Stars As TCM’s annual movie-fest month draws to a close, settle in for a dozen films starring Kirk Douglas, including Paths of Glory (above), Ace in the Hole, Lust for Life and Detective Story (starts 6 a.m.)
SUNDAY, Aug. 31 The Flintstones: 65 Years and Still Rock’n! All-day marathon celebrating the 65th anniversary of the classic ‘toon, with more than two dozen back-to-back episodes plus two full-length movies, A Man Called Flintstone and The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons (begins 6 a.m., MeTV Toons).
Let the Devil In Four-episode documentary about a decades-old tragedy in New Jersey that some people insist was Satan taking possession of a vulnerable teenage boy—but others insist more earthly demons were to blame (MGM+).
MONDAY, Sept. 1 Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence Four-part docuseries about a couple of Mormon women influencers whose microcosm of control, manipulation and brutality led to devastating emotional and physical child abuse (9 p.m., ID).
The Runarounds New drama series (above) about a group of Southern high schoolers who form a rock band, learning about love, life and lifelong friendship along the way (Prime Video).
TUESDAY, Sept. 2 Bobby’s Triple Threat A trio of top-notch chefs hand-picked by Bobby Flay take on highly skilled competitors in cooking rounds with surprise featured ingredients for a chance to win $25,000 (8 p.m., Food Network).
True South The crew travels to Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina to shine the spotlight on cooks, eaters and everyday heroes (8 p.m., SEC Network).
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3 Mountain Men New season of the reality series intros viewers to more individuals and couples with the modern-day pioneer spirt and a yen for wild-n-wooly wilderness living (8 p.m., History).
The Last Wright: Building the Final Home Design of America’s Greatest Architect Designers take on the ambitious challenge of building a home in Ohio based on the last set of plans created by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright before his death in 1959 (8 p.m., Magnolia Network).
THURSDAY, Sept. 4 NCIS: Tony & Ziva New spinoff of the franchise featuring former series regulars (played by Michael Weatherly, above, and Cote de Pablo) as their reprise their special-agent characters, now on the run with their daughter in search an unconventional happily ever after (Paramount+).
The Paper A mockumentary (like the Emmy Award-winning series The Office) about a historic Midwestern newspaper and the publisher trying to revive it. Starring Domhnall Gleeson, Sabrina Impacciatore and The Office’s Oscar Nuñez (Peacock).
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Everybody on the dance floor—once more! The 40th anniversary white vinyl re-release of Dancing in the Street (Parlophone) rekindles the magic of the 1995 superstar collaboration of David Bowie and Mick Jagger on the Motown classic, originally done as a cheeky video for part of the global humanitarian Live Aid project to combat global hunger. And the newly mastered groovery has never sounded groovier.
Hey! Ho! Let’s go! And go get these newly remastered first four albums of the ultimate NYC punk rockers in 1-2-3-4: The Ramones Atmos Collection (Rhino). It’s a revved-up, head-banging 50-track set with “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat on the Brat,” “Judy is a Punk,” “Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” “Sheena is a Punk Rocker,” “I Wanna Be Sedated,” “Do You Wanna Dance?” and other ’70s punk-rock mainstays.
Relive the musical magic of The King’s reign in Los Angeles in Sunset Boulevard (RCA/Legacy), a window into the hitmaking work of Elvis Presley in the City of Angels during the ‘70s. It’s nearly 90 tracks of rarities, rehearsal cuts, never-heard-before mixes and other goodies on five CDs, with hits including “Burning Love,” “Always on My Mind,” “Separate Ways,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and “Promised Land.”
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First published in 1985, In the American West was a landmark photography project from photographer Richard Avedon. Out of print for more than a decade, it’s now re-released as a 40th anniversary edition by Abrams, filled with over 100 striking portraits of “ordinary” people who were living, working and visually representing what will always be known as America’s frontier. It’s an art gallery at your fingertips.
In The Shape of Nature (Abrams), photographer David Maitland explores the many structures, shapes, geometric patterns and recurring symmetries in the natural world, with analysis into their biological origins and significance, from plankton to frogs, fish scales and snake skin, and far beyond. You’ll never look at the world—or a flower, or a tree leaf— the same way after you’ve absorbed the extraordinary imagery and insights.
Young readers can learn all about the biggest-selling musical act in South Korea history in BTS: A Little Golden Book Biography, by Jan Ann and illustrated by Hyesung Park. It’s about the global-hit “boy band” that formed in 2010 and began showing the world what they could do, defying adolescent stereotypes and setting positive examples for other young people. It’s intended for ages 4-8, but parents and grandparents will dig it, too! They’re the top of K-pop!
John Cena kicks bad-guy butt, Sheryl Crow stands up to cancer & virgins compete for some lovin’!
FRIDAY, Aug. 15 The Rainmaker Two friends at different law firms and find themselves on opposite sides of a weighty case in this new legal series starring Milo Callaghan, Lana Parrilla and John Slattery (8 p.m., USA Network).
Stand Up to Cancer Special Sheryl Crow hosts this all-star benefit concert from Nashville, with appearances from Dolly Parton, Jelly Roll, Jonas Brothers and many other stars, some in pretaped segments (7 p.m., ABC, NBC and CBS).
SATURDAY, Aug. 16 I’ll Never Let You Go Inspired by real stories, this torrid tale stars Meagan Good as a successful art gallery owner whose life takes a dark turn after an affair with a charismatic Italian artist (8 p.m., Lifetime).
The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Summer Celeb bakers including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, June Diane Raphel and Andrew Rannells are about for this single-episode special of the popular food competition held under a big tent (Roku Channel).
SUNDAY, Aug. 17 Women Wearing Shoulder Pads Quirky new stop-motion quarter-hour Spanish-language comedy series (with English subtitles) about a wealthy Spanish woman navigating life, business and love—and fighting guinea pigs in a bullfighting ring. OK! (Adult Swim).
Sister Act Whoopi Goldberg stars in this 1992 comedy as a nightclub singer taking refuge from the mob in a church—and transforming the singers into a soulful chorus. With Harvey Keitel and Kathy Najimy (8:30 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, Aug. 18 Lego Masters Jr. Kelly Osborne hosts this spinoff featuring kid builders paired with celebs for challenging building-block projects (8 p.m., Fox).
Are You My First? Former NFL player Colton Underwood and former Bachelor contestant Kaitlyn Bristowe host this new reality-dating experiment with a group of—ahem—virgins, brought to a tropical paradise to explore…in every way (Hulu).
TUESDAY, Aug. 19 Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson The Grammy-winning pop singer, daytime TV host and American Idol winner spreads the musical goodness around with this four-part primetime special featuring the Jonas Brothers, Teddy Swims and Lizzo (10 p.m. NBC).
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20 The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox Grace Van Patten (above) stars in this based-on-a-true-story episodic saga of Knox, wrongly convicted for the tragic murder of her roommate, and her 16-year struggle to set herself free (Hulu).
Inside the Worlds of Epic Universe Joe Manganiello hosts this one-hour special exploring the new Universal theme park in Orlando, with five immersive “worlds” built around movies including the Harry Potter franchise, Super Nintendo and How to Train Your Dragon. Guest appearances by Bowen Yang, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vin Diesel and more (9 p.m., NBC).
THURSDAY, Aug. 21 Churchy Season two of the workplace comedy stars Kevin Fredericks as a pastor who, after being passed over for leadership at his father’s mega-church, moves to Lubbock, Texas, to build his own ministry from the ground up (BET+).
Peacemaker Vigilante superhero Chris Smith (John Cena) struggles in season two to reconcile his past with a newfound sense of purpose—which involves continuing to kick self-righteous evil-doers in the butt (9 p.m., Max)
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The band Van Halen marks the 30th anniversary of their 1995 album Balance with a new expanded edition full of songs and surprises. It’s got all the tunes from the original LP, plus some rarities and other goodies, including videos and live versions of the hits “Jump,” “You Really Got Me,” “L.A. Woman” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love.” (Rhino).
And if you need to dust the rust off your “Rebel Yell,” here’s a trio of newly remastered anniversary colored vinyl editions of classic Billy Idol albums—Charmed Life, WhiplashSmile and Don’t Stop—with hits including “Cradle of Love,” “Mony Mony” and “Dancin’ With Myself.” As Idol himself sings, it’s “more, more, more, more, more!”
BRING IT HOME
Revel in retro cinematic badassery with Blaxploitation Classics Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory), a 12-disc collection of six genre touchstones including Foxy Brown, Friday Foster, Cotton Comes to Harlem and Slaughter. You’ll see Jim Brown, Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Yaphet Kotto, Red Foxx, Eartha Kitt, Jim Backus, Ed McMahon and more! And it’s loaded with bonus features!
FRIDAY, July 25 Happy Gilmore 2 Start the weekend by teeing up for more Adam Sandler goofball golf antics, this time with a “hole” lot of guest stars, including Ben Stiller, Julie Bowen, Travis Kelce and Sandler’s own wife and their daughters, Sunny and Sadie (Netflix).
Death of a Unicorn When a father (Paul Rudd) and daughter (Jenna Ortega) accidentaly hit a unicorn with their vehicle, their friends want to exploit its magical powers and, well, bad things start to happen (Max).
SATURDAY, July 26 Before Your Father Finds Us A woman (Alexa PenaVega) forced to go into witness protection finds out her ex-husband has escaped from prison, causing her to flee with her teenage daughter into remote woodlands cabin (Lifetime).
Dinner and a Movie Hosts Jason Briggs and Jenny Mollen welcome actor Nick Swardson for a screening of his 2011 comedy Just Got With It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston (8 p.m., TBS).
SUNDAY, July 27 In the Eye of the Storm More horrendous weather disasters—from monstrous Iowa twisters to raging California wildfires and nearly apocalyptic Appalachian flooding—as recalled by ordinary people who lived it…and captured it on camera (10 p.m., Discovery).
Katrina: Race Against Time Another wild-weather documentary series, this one covers one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history when it roared into Louisiana in 2005, killing more than 1,300 (National Geographic).
MONDAY, July 28 Slumlord Millionaire Find out about a group of determined residents and lawmakers fighting corrupt landlords eager to swap long-term tenants for higher rent profits (10 p.m., PBS).
Disability in Film Watch a triple feature of movies featuring characters with disabilities, including Bad Day at Black Rock(1955) with Spencer Tracy and Ship of Fools (1965), starring Vivien Leigh, Jose Ferrer and Lee Marvin (TCM).7.29
Mud Madness Climb aboard for another season following off-road subculture and extreme UTV and ATV mud racing. And maybe bring along some spot remover (8 p.m., Discovery).
TUESDAY, July 29 United Gangs of America Current and former gang members reveal the innermost workings of some of the most dangerous gangs across the U.S. (9 p.m., Vice).
WEDNESDAY, July 30 The Challenge: Vets and New Threats Former “veteran” contestants across 40 seasons of hit reality competitions—including Big Brother,Survivor and The Amazing Race—return to see who’s got what it takes to survive a gauntlet of new threats, betrayals and challenges (8 p.m., MTV).
Mr. and Mrs. Murder Four-part true crime docuseries explores the mysterious disappearance of a Tallahassee man, Mike Williams, who failed to return from a duck hunting trip. But when his widow marries his best friend, new suspicions arise (Hulu).
THURSDAY, July 31 Twisted Metal Season two of the futuristic drama (above) begins as John Doe (Anthony Mackie) and Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) risk their lives to compete in a highly dangerous demolition derby. But can they beat the killer clown Sweet Tooth? (Peacock).
Project Runway Reality competition about fashion design returns for season 21 with former superstar model Heidi Klum back as one of the judges (9 p.m., Freeform).
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The new deluxe edition of the Talking Heads’ classic 1978 album More Songs About Buildings and Food (Rhino), available in multiple formats, features the remastered album plus rarities, alternate versions, live recordings and performance video, and a 60-page hardcover book. Re-live the retro new age groovery with tunes including “Psycho Killer,” “Take Me to the River” and “Stay Hungry,” and much more.
Do you remember when rock was young? Elton John: Live from the Rainbow Theater with Ray Cooper (Universal Music Entertainment) is a new vinyl and CD re-release culled from EJ’s six-show 1977 residency at London’s iconic venue, stripped down from a full band with accompaniment by his percussionist—and former band member—Ray Cooper. Tracks include “Roy Rogers,” “Border Song,” “Sweet Painted Lady” and more.
The greatest band ever with a flute-playing frontman (Ian Anderson) rises again with Still Living in the Past, a new reissue of Jethro Tull’s cult-fave 1972 album (available on 5 CDs plus a Blu-Ray or an LP set). It’s been newly expanded with singles, album tracks, demos and outtakes, plus a live-in-concert Blu-ray recording from 1979s and four promo films (proto videos). Dig it!
BRING IT HOME
Fans of action flicks will flip over The Jet Li Collection (Shout! Studios), a roundup of five seminal Hong Kong classics from the legendary actor, martial arts expert and producer. (who found movie “crossover” fame in flicks like Lethal Weapon, Romeo Must Die and Kiss of the Dragon). The 10 discs also feature a bounty of bonus content, including commentary, interviews and deleted scenes.
Director Wes Anderson is up to his inspired quirkiness again in The Phoenician Project (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment), starring Benico del Toro as an unscrupulous industrialist cooking up a mega project in the Middle East, dodging would-be assassins and meeting all sorts of colorful characters. The all-star ensemble cast includes Michael Ciera, Mia Threapleton, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson and Bryan Cranston.
Live Aid turns 40, sports in the spotlight & a home tour of Disney parks
July 11 – July 17
Freddy Mercury and Queen thrilled the crowd at Live Aid in 1995.
FRIDAY, July 11 The Wild Ones No, not the Marlon Brando classic. This docuseries follows a trio of wildlife experts on a global trek to protect the planet’s most endangered species (Apple TV+).
One Night in Colorado Four-part docuseries looks at the 2022 event in which four University of Idaho students were brutally stabbed to death in the middle of the night (Prime Video).
SATURDAY, July 12 Mysteries From Above: Lost at Sea Season two returns to the air to investigate a Pacific island that’s always intrigued scientists and geologists, using revealing images from drone, satellite and other aerial devices (9 p.m., History).
CBS Weekend Family friendly a.m. programming block includes Lucky Dog: Reunions, Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin, Mission Unstoppable and Tails of Value (CBS).
SUNDAY, July 13 Live Aid: When Rock ‘n’ Roll Took on the World New documentary commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1995 global concert event that raised tens of billions of dollars to offset world hunger, with iconic performance videos, backstage footage and interviews with organizer Bob Geldof, Bono, Sting and many more (9 p.m., CNN)
The Institute New series about a kidnapped teen genius who finds out he’s being “held” at a special place (above) where all the kids have unusual abilities. Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Barnes, Joe Freeman and Simone Miller (MGM+).
MONDAY, July 14 Life After People: Water World What would happen in a world if suddenly there were no humans anymore? Tonight’s season three continues the “investigation” with convincing computer graphics and animations, depicting what a much more watery globe would look like (10:30 p.m., History).
A Killer Among Friends Jennifer Love Hewitt narrates this new true-crime series about a group of friends haunted by memories of the murder of one of their own. Whodunnit? (10 p.m., ID).
TUESDAY, July 15 Trainwreck: Balloon Boy A homemade flying saucer lifts off, and a 6-year-old boy might be inside. National panic ensues—but what truly happened? This documentary investigates (Netflix).
The Kelly Clarkson Show Kelly’s guests are Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Rob Delaney and Jay Duplass, from the new movie Dying for Sex (syndicated, check local listings).
WEDNESDAY, July 16 The ESPYS Sports celebs an others celebrate the year’s top athletic achievements and unforgettable moments, hosted by funnyman Shane Gillis (8 p.m., ABC).
Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful Here’s your front-row ticket to the full-length “visual companion” to Cyrus’ latest album, a one-of-a-kind pop opera with 13 original new songs (Disney+ and Hulu).
THURSDAY, July 17 The Furry Detectives: Unmasking a Monster True-crime docuseries dives into a 2018 event in the “furry community” that exposed a horrifying conspiracy of animal abuse lurking beneath the fandom of people who like to dress up as animals. Yes, it’s a thing (Sundance TV and Sundance Now).
Disney Resort POV Walkthrough Can’t make it to a Disney park this summer? Well, sit back and enjoy this immersive “tour” of Disney resorts and attractions, and its salute to seven decades of Disney ingenuity. It’s the next best thing to being there (Disney+).
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Get down to one of the earliest recordings of the iconic funk band Sly & the Family Stone with the newly unearthed (and remastered) The First Family: Live at Winchester Cathedrail 1967 (High Moon Records). It’s a time tunnel back to the young days of the band sowing seeds of greatness that would soon bloom bright with “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” “Higher” and “Dance to the Music.”
Back to Mayberry, a run for the roses & ‘Time’ put influencers in the spotlight
FRIDAY, May 2 Adult Best Friends Delaney Buffett, Kate Corwin, Zachary Quinto and Mason Goodwin star in this new streaming flick about a couple of drifted-apart girlfriends, a boyfriend, a bachelor party…and what happens next (Max).
Bad Boy Series is an international production based on the true story of a teenager (played by Daniel Chen) imprisoned in a juvenile detention facility, exploring youth, redemption, brotherhood, friendship and how creativity can help heal deep wounds (Netflix).
SATURDAY, May 3 The Kentucky Derby The granddaddy of Southern horse racing bolts out of the gate in this annual “Run for the Roses” from Churchill Downs in—where else?—Kentucky (12 noon, NBC and Peacock).
SUNDAY, May 4 Month of Mayberry Let Andy and Barney and the whole gang guide you through a month of classic-TV programming, including Andy Griffith’s “crossover” spots on Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C, The Danny Thomas Show and others, plus a couple of Mayberry reunion specials from 2003 and 1986 (MeTV).
TIME100: The World’s Most Influential People Go inside the publication’s annual listing with this gala event, featuring musical performances and other appearances of some of the honorees, including Snoop Dogg, Ed Sheeran, Serena Williams and Demi Moore (10 p.m., ABC).
MONDAY, May 5 Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s An intimate portrait of families facing the challenges of the devastating neurodegenerative disease and how it transforms role and relationships (10 p.m., PBS).
The Playboy Murders Holly Madison returns to host season three of the true-crime series recounting shocking intersections of murder and mystery in the sexy world of America’s iconic “girly magazine” (9 p.m., ID).
TUESDAY, May 6 Ms. Pat Settles It Stand-up comic Patricia Williams Lee, known as Ms. Pat, returns for another season of her “reality court” comedy series, in which “juries” of her family members and friends arbitrate real-life lawsuits, feuds and squabbles (10 p.m., BET).
WEDNESDAY, May 7 Humingbirds of Hollywood In the showbiz capital of the world, a woman finds herself on a transformative journey nurturing hummingbirds, unraveling a visually stunning tale of love, fragility, healing and the delicate beauty found in acts of kindness (8 p.m., PBS).
Life or Death Negotiators What does it take to navigate a situation in which one wrong move can be deadly? Find out in this high-stakes docuseries about negotiators skilled at handling matters in which life hangs in the balance (10 p.m., National Geographic).
THURSDAY, May 8 Poker Face Season two begins of the award-winning mystery series starring Natasha Lyonne, with guest appearances by a buncha all stars, including Cynthia Erivo, Katie Holmes and Awkwafina (Peacock).
ACM Awards Reba McEntire will host tonight’s 60th anniversary awarding of honors to country music’s top artists and writers, live from Frisco, Texas. Ella Langley leads the pack with eight nominations, followed closely by Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson (Prime Video).
BRING IT HOME
The wife (Michelle Pfeifer) of a university professor (Harrison Ford) believes that their lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost in What Lies Beneath. Is it, or is she losing her mind? This special remastered 25th anniversary re-release of director Robert Zemeckis’ classic cult-fave horror tale is loaded with bonus content, including commentary and a feature-length documentary about making the movie. What Lies Beneath remains Ford’s only “horror” film, and Zemeckis gave a nod to Alfred Hitchcock with Pfeifer as the film’s blond heroine, a recurring theme of Hitch’s meticulous casting.
The definitive documentary about the late, great pioneer of reggae music Bob Marley is now available on DVD, honoring what would have been his 80th birthday. Marley (MVD) delves into the life, legacy and achievements of the reggae superstar, who died in 1981, but not before putting the music of his native Jamacia on the global map, turning the world on to his Rasta vibes.
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Movie buffs, you’re sure to dig these new books. Hollywood Boozers, Brawlers and Hard-Luck cases, by Laura Wagner, digs into sordid, scandalous, sometimes just sad and often career-upending tabloid tales from Hollywood’s Golden Age. It’s a big bunch of drunkenness, brawls and even murder among mid-level actors and actresses who weren’t always “protected” from news hounds by the big studios. Then, Aubrey Sullivan’s The Cinemascope Years leaps onto the screen with the story of what was once a theatrical game-changer—the widescreen technology of Cinemascope—with an inside scoop on more than 500 movies that “went big” during the 1950s and ‘60s, including The Bridge on the River Kwai, North to Alaska, The King and I and The Guns of Navarone, and many other films of all genres. (McFarland).
Ballastic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance Find out about the ongoing study of how athletes move…and why they can get hurt, in author Henry Abbott’s fact-filled dive into strength training, psychology, biomechanics and pain, and the strides made by sports science to keep competitors safe. It makes great companion reading for the next football game, MMA match or just about anything where someone might get carted off in a stretcher (W.W. Norton).
Felony Juggler The master magician Penn Jillette is known for mind-blowing tricks on TV and on stage with his partner Teller, but here he puts down the wand and picks up a pen. In this fictional twisty-turn-y tale, a street performer finds himself ensnared in a crime and must outwit his fellow conspirators with a feat of juggling so prodigious, it’s like…well, magic! So you can add “juggling novel” to Jillette’s long list of show-biz accomplishments! (Akashic).
Did ancient Romans play Monopoly? Not exactly, but there’s a through-line from those olden days straight to the modern world with “tabletop” games, the small-scale diversions we devise to engage us, entertain us and bond us. That’s what author G.T. Karber explores in Across the Board (Abrams), an engrossing dive into player-vs.-player pastimes from ancient Egyptians to Pokemon kids, and how those kind of games parallel the march of civilization across the centuries (Abrams).
Why we love our pets, rock stars align for vinyl & Marty Stuart goes to the movies
FRIDAY, April 11 Pets It’s national Pet Day! So celebrate with this new doc (above) from director Bryce Dallas Howard about the extraordinary relationships between animals and their people—it’s a “different breed of love story” (Disney+).
Your Friends & Neighbors Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn star in this new series about a hedge fund manager grappling with a divorce and stealing from his friends and neighbors, uncovering some dangerous secrets in the process (Apple TV+).
SATURDAY, April 12 Vinyl Obsession Celebrate National Record Store Day with rock icons—including ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons (above), STYX’s Tommy Shaw and Skid Row’s Sebastian Bach—as they visit two iconic vinyl retailers to toast the LPs that shaped their music (1:30 p.m., AXS TV).
Doctor Who Alan Cumming guest stars in season two as a cartoon character, Mr. Ring-a-Ding, who suddenly realizes there’s a “real” world out there beyond the screen (Disney+).
SUNDAY, April 13 Patti Jinich Explores Panamerica The James Beard Award-winning Mexican chef and TV personality explores the Panamerican Highway, stretching from Alaska to Argentina, celebrating the many cultures along the way (9 p.m., PBS).
Godfather of Harlem Season four of the drama series, about a bloody war for the control of Harlem against New York Mafia families, stars Forest Whitaker and Ilfenesh Hedera (MGM+).
MONDAY, April 14 Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid The actor returns for another season of looking into some of history’s most remarkable legends, sacred objects, holy places and secret rituals (10 p.m., History Channel).
TUESDAY, April 15 Marty Goes to the Movies Acclaimed country and bluegrass artist Marty Stuart joins host Alicia Malone to showcase six of his favorite films—tonight and continuing April 22—including Coal Miner’s Daughter, which brought Sissy Spacek an Oscar, and Door-to-Door Maniac, which featured Johnny Cash his first acting role back in 1966 (TCM).
The Carters: Hurts to Love You Documentary traces the soaring rise to stardom of brothers Nick (of Backstreet Boys) and Aaron—but also the heartbreaking tragedies of drugs and addiction, mental health issues and Aaron’s death, at age 34, in 2022 (Paramount+).
WEDNESDAY, April 16 Government Cheese Surrealist comedy starring Daniel Oyelowo, about an unconventional California family in the 1960s gloriously unfettered by the real world as their lives spin into chaos (Apple TV+).
Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero Angelica Houston, Oliver Jackson Cohen, Emily Hyland and Matthew Rhys star in this new limited series (above) based on the mystery queen’s 1944 novel about a scandalous celebrity divorce, a tennis star, a mysterious valet and a web of jealousy, deceit…and murder (BritBox).
THURSDAY, April 17 Leverage: Redemption In season three of the heist drama, the team of reunited vigilante do-gooders continues to take down rich, amoral criminals and fight for those in need of their aggressive social justice (Prime Video).
Law & Order: Organized Crime For the fifth season, Det. Stabler (Chris Meloni) returns to New York after a decade abroad to rebuild his life during a devastating personal loss, digging into work to dismantle the Big Apple’s most vicious and violent illegal enterprises (Peacock).
BRING IT HOME
Lead Belly: The Man Who Invented Rock & Roll Learn about a musical legend in this rootsy documentary about Huddie “Lead Belly” Leadbetter, born into Southern poverty in 1903 but growing up to become the king of the 12-string guitar, putting his stamp on folk songs, gospel tunes and blues in songs like “Pick a Bale of Cotton,” “Midnight Special,” “Cotton Fields” and “Willy and the Poor Boys.” His wide spectrum of real-life musical topics included prison, cowboys, drinking, women, politicians, despots, hard work and good times. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, Lead Belly inspired countless other artists, including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers and Nirvana, all of whom covered his tunes. Interviews and performance clips from Paul McCartney, B.B. King, Janis Joplin and Joan Baez further testify to his enduring legacy. (MVD Entertainment).
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Wonderlands In “I Am the Walrus,” John Lennon sang about “sitting in an English garden, waiting for the sun.” Maybe he was sitting and waiting in one of the gardens Claire Colson spotlights in Wonderlands (Penguin-Random House), a spectacular display of private manor greenspaces (and the horticultural architects who crafted them) in Great Britain. From bucolic, immaculately manicured backyards to sprawling, idiosyncratic countryside ecosystems, it offers a guided tour of tranquility abroad without ever leaving your home. P.S., the photos are so good, and so inviting, you might want to take an antihistamine before settling in for a read.
How to Giggle Why so serious? That’s a question the Joker once asked, ominously, in The Dark Knight. It’s also a question authors Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo (hosts of the wildly popular podcast Giggly Squad) address in How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously. It’s a suggestion to tee-hee when life gets tough, through all sorts of circumstances, like awkward moments, romantic red flags and everyday anxieties. Have fun with the interactive quizzes and tips on scaling down scary situations. And lay those everyday troubles down and pick up a copy. (Simon & Schuster)
Frank Lloyd Wright One of the world’s most celebrated and masterful architects gets the coffee-table-book treatment in this splendid look at the life and work of the Wisconsin native who designed more than 1,000 structures over 70 years and was recognized as “the greatest architect of all time.” Author Robert McCarter analyzes Wright’s work chronologically, with archival drawings, photographs, floor plans and explanations about how every project “connects” to the discipline of architecture. (Phaidon)
Caitlin Clark How big a deal is basketball phenom Caitlin Clark? Well, big-deal enough that she now has her own Little Golden Book Biography filled with facts about her childhood, her record-setting years at the University of Iowa and being the first player chosen in the WNBA draft. Learn from author Marisa DiNovis and illustrator Joanie Stone how the little sports-loving girl from Des Moines, Iowa, grew up to be the most famous female college basketball player in the entire realm of sports…not to mention becoming the player responsible for the explosion of new interest in women’s hoops and a hero to young girls everywhere! She shoots, she scores—big!
The Media Tourist 