Category Archives: Television

Jul 18 2025
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DVDs, Movies, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch and more

Friday, July 18 – Thursday, July 24

Worlds collide! Snoopy and sharks, Billy Joel and Mickey Mouse, LL Cool J, bagpipes, housewives with guns, and ‘Clueless’ turns 30!

FRIDAY, July 18
Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical
Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang break out in original songs (by Emmy Award nominees Jeff Morrow and Ben Folds) in this franchise special about the magic of summer camp (Apple TV+).

Billy Joel: And So It Goes
New two-part documentary presents an expansive portrait of the singer-songwriter’s life and career. Continues on July 25 (HBO).

SATURDAY, July 19
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story
Chrissy Metz stars in this faith-based drama as a nurse torn between her duty to protest her patients and her desperation to find her missing husband and kids (Lifetime).

Clueless
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ‘90s high-school satirical classic (below) starring Alicia Silverstone as a Beverly Hills teen who upsets the pecking order and becomes a matchmaker, which will air three times in a row today—once for every decade it’s been around—on Pluto TV’’s 90s Throwback channel.

SUNDAY, July 20
Shark Week
Annual week-long event of shark-centric programming kicks off tonight, celebrating its 37th year. With shows like “Dancing with Sharks,” “Expedition Unknown Shark Files” and “How to Survive a Shark Attack,” it’s fin-tastic! (8 p.m., Discovery).

Shark Week Support Movie Marathon
Dive into this watery trio of shark-adjacent flicks: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Aquaman (begins 2 p.m., TBS).

MONDAY, July 21
The Hunting Wives
In this new ensemble drama (above) based on the hit mystery thriller by May Cobb, a woman moves to deep East Texas and becomes consumed by a socialite’s charms, tumbling into a world of obsession, seduction and murder. Starring Malin Ackerman, Brittany Snow, Chrissy Metz and Dermot Mulroney (Netflix).

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
New animated incarnation of the iconic kiddie show, geared to preschoolers, continues the adventures of Mickey and his pals—and features the song “Hot Dog!” by They Might Be Giants (9 p.m., Disney Jr.).

Battle of the Bagpipes
Discover the history of Scotland’s musical heritage with performances from the military and  civilian “piper” bands, below (streaming on Acorn TV).

TUESDAY, July 22
The 1% Club
Joel McHale hosts season two of this game show in which contestants vie for cash prizes by attempting to answer questions that only 1% of the population can answer (8 p.m., Fox).

WEDNESDAY, July 23
Hip Hop Was Born Here
LL Cool J hosts this docuseries about the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of the music which became a global culture sensation (Paramount +).

Washington Black
New series follows the 19th-century odyssey of an 11-year-old boy, George “Wash” Washington Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.), on a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love (Hulu)

THURSDAY, July 24
The Congregation
Season two of the award-winning Swedish psychological drama is based on a real-life cult and its abuses, infidelities, threats and feverish prophecies (Viaplay).

Eyes on the Prize: America’s Civil Rights Years 1954-1965
Learn the story of the civil rights era from the perspectives of the ordinary men and women whose extraordinary actions launched a movement that changed the fabric of American life (PBS on Prime).

BRING IT HOME

As the old saying notes, death comes to us all. One of the most successful modern-horror franchises returns with Final Destination: Bloodlines (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), with another group of young characters meeting their inevitable ends in more gruesome, nightmarish and horrifically inventive ways.

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Jul 11 2025
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DVDs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Sports, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, read, hear and more!

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+).

NOW HEAR THIS

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.”

Jul 04 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Music, Photography, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, July 4 – 11

‘Jaws’ at 50, a lotta fireworks & families go back to the 1800s!

Learn all about the movie that created the concept of summer blockbusters back in ’75.

All times Eastern.

FRIDAY, July 4
A Capitol Fourth
Celebrate our nation’s 249th birthday with this annual tradition, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, with fireworks along the Potomac and musical performances from multiple genres of music (8 p.m., PBS).

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
In addition to a lot of kaboomy razzle-dazzle up in the sky, there’ll also be ground-level performances from Eric Church, the Jonas Brothers, Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer and Trisha Yearwood (8 p.m., NBC). 

SATURDAY, July 5
The Summer Hikaru Died
Anime thriller based on an award-winning manga novel about a young man in a rural Japanese village who discovers his best friend has been “replaced” with a replicant (Netflix).

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Show
All this month, you can watch material from the groundbreaking talk show, spanning the 1960s into the early ’90s, with 50 episodes (never before seen after their original airings) featuring classic Carson bits, sketches, guests and musical acts. It’s a time capsule of retro TV, when Johnny ruled late night (MeTV).

SUNDAY, July 6
Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom
Yep, that Wild Kingdom, the great-grandaddy of wildlife TV series hosted by Marlin Perkins for more than two decades beginning in 1963, returns in reruns (7 a.m., MeTV).

The Princess Bride
Always worth a rewatch, this 1987 classic from director Rob Reiner has an all-star cast (Billy Crystal! Robin Wright! Chris Sarandon! Andre the Giant!) in a whimsical, swashbuckling bedtime-story tale of a princess, a giant and “true love” (9:03 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, July 7
Such Brave Girls
A young woman, her sister and their mother flee their cramped, crumbling home for a shot at love and adoration in this six-episode comedy series. With Kate Sadler, Lizzie Davidson and Louise Brealey (Hulu).

Bachelor in Paradise
Returning cast members from across the franchise hit the beach in Costa Rica for season 10 or the hit reality-show matchmaking competition (8 p.m., ABC).

TUESDAY, July 8
Renaissance: The Blood and the Beauty
How the greatest works of art in western civilization sprung from one of the most turbulent periods in history (9 p.m., PBS).

Born to be Viral: The Real Lives of Kid Influencers
Six-episode docuseries follows the first generation of kids to be raised in the media spotlight, with their lives streamed to millions—and some of them becoming millionaires in the process (Hulu)

WEDNESDAY, July 9
South Park
The acclaimed animated grownup comedy from Trey Parker and Matt Stone (above) begins season 27 tonight. So they must be doing something right, right? (Comedy Central).

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The gang of chronic underachievers stoops even lower in season 17 in their cravings for money and societal privileges. With Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day, Katilin Olson and Danny Devito (FXX and Hulu).

THURSDAY, July 10
Brick
A couple becomes trapped in their apartment behind an impenetrable, futuristic wall that has materialized overnight, enclosing their entire building. Can everyone band together to find a way out, solve the mystery, and survive? (Netflix). 

Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
Go inside the making and behind-the-scenes shark drama of the movie that launched the era of summer blockbusters back in ’75—and made just about everyone afraid of going in the water (National Geographic).

Back to the Frontier
Chip and Joanna Gaines challenge three families in this new adventure/reality series to reimagine their lives as 1880s homesteaders, forgoing present-day comforts for old-fashioned life on the frontier (Magnolia Network and Max).

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Everyone’s a photographer now, with cameras built into phones. But decades ago, when photography was a marvelous new thing, there were all sorts of innovations and experimentation to be found—and all sorts of new “high tech” trickery even danger. Anika Burgess’ fascinating Flashes of Brilliance (W.W. Norton) examines the long arc of photographic advancement, from early cameras attached to ballons, to X-rays, photography deep under the sea, on the moon and deep into the cosmos. It’s an engrossing combination of science, history, art and wild eccentricities about the human desire to document our existence in our world, and beyond.

Find out what it’s really like—and I mean really, really like—to be a stand-up comedian in Doing Time (Jawbone Press), author JT Habersaat’s refreshingly candid and gloriously uncensored look at the artistry and hard work that go into making people laugh. With reflections and recollections, and more than a few hard-earned battle scars, from Patton Oswalt, Bobcat Goldthwait, The Kids in the Hall, Dana Gould and dozens of others who share their anecdotes and stories.

Remember the promotional-tie-in toys you used to get with food at McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and other fast-food places? Author Jonathan Alexandrotos for sure does, in Free With Every Kids Meal (McFarland), he digs deep to examine the past and present, the cultural impact, and the full-throttle fun of all sorts of “happy meals.”

BRING IT HOME

Vampires attack the South in Sinners (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment), a tale of two brothers (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home after World War II only to face an even greater (and graver) threat than the Klan. Hailee Steinfeld also stars in this horror show gloriously a-swirl with undertones about music, culture, history and race. Loaded with extras and bonus features, including making-of docs, interviews and a closer look at the movie soundtrack.

NOW HEAR THIS

Get deep into the retro grooves of The Legends of Surf Guitar, recorded live in California, with musicians from the ‘70s and ‘80s surf-music revival recreating such classics as “Wipe Out,” “Pipeline,” the Peter Gunn theme and “Baby Elephant Walk.” And some special guest stars take the stage, too!  Surf’s up! (Oglio Records).

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Jun 27 2025
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DVDs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, June 27 – July 3

Mormon wives, a new Capt. Nemo & Jayne Mansfield’s daughter tells all!

It’s a ‘Mormon Wives’ reunion!

FRIDAY, June 27
Smoke
Taron Edgerton stars in this based-on-real-event drama about an arson investigator who teams with a police detective in a twisted game of secrets and suspicions. With Jurnee Smollett, Rafe Spall, Greg Kinnear, John Leguizamo and Anna Chlumsky (Apple TV+).

My Mom Jayne
Come along for actress and director Mariska Harigaty’s journey to understand and embrace the public and private legacy of her mother, Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, in this probing documentary (8 p.m., HBO).

SATURDAY, June 28
Pretty Hurts
Hillary Duff stars in this new network movie as a mom who discovers the ugly truths behind the glamor of the teen pageant world, highlighting a disease for which young people are especially at risk (8 p.m., Lifetime).

What Would You Do?
Onlookers and bystanders react to a workers’ comp scam, customers being rude to an employee with Down Syndrome and a mother pressuring her gay son into conversion therapy (8 p.m., ABC).

SUNDAY, June 29
Nautilus
Epic adventure drama (above), inspired by Jules Verne’s classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, tells the story of an Indian Prince seeking a fabled Viking treasure—but you know him better as Capt. Nemo. Starring Black Mirror’s Shazad Latif (9 p.m., AMC).

Homeward Bound
Two dogs and a cat set off on a heartwarming adventure to reunite with their owners (9 p.m., ABC).

MONDAY, June 30
The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys
New season begins of the doc series about a Missouri mega-rancher and his family, now facing personal and business challenges including an FBI investigation and possible foreclosure (Bravo).

TUESDAY, July 1
Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel
Featuring interviews with insiders and former staff, this exposé traces American Apparel’s journey from fashion phenomenon to financial flop (Netflix).

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
The cast of the show—all the #MomTok and #DadTok—congregates again in this reunion special to watch unseen footage, uncover new secrets and scandals and make a surprise announcement (Hulu).

WEDNESDAY, July 2
The Old Guard
Charlize Theron, Henry Golding and Uma Thurman are among the ensemble cast in this flick about a team of immortal warriors on a mission to protect the world (Netflix).

THURSDAY, July 3
The Sandman, Vol. I
Season two begins of the adaption based on the DC comic book series by Neil Gaiman about Morpheus, the King of Dreams, as he seeks to regain his power after a century of imprisonment (Netflix).

BRING IT HOME

The cheerleading comedy classic gets a rah-rah resurrection in the 25th anniversary re-release of Bring It On (Shout! Studios), starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union. Bonus content includes a making-of doc, audio commentary, wardrobe and makeup tests and deleted scenes. And didja know both Dunst and Union were real-life high school cheerleaders?

A wind-up toy simian causes all kinds of hellzapoppin’ in master horror director Osgood Perkins’ The Monkey (Neon Home Entertainment), based on a Stephen King story and starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany and Collin O’Brien.

Hell of a Summer (Neon) is a coming-of-age horror/slasher comedy (yes, really) about a young summer-camp counsellor (Fred Hechinger) who discovers something deadly lurking in the woods. Both familiar (to horror fans) and fresh at the same time, it also marks the co-directorial debut of Stranger Things’ Finn Wolfhard, who provides commentary in one of the bonus features.

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NOW HEAR THIS

Bruce Springsteen breaks out the pedal steel, fiddle and other Nash-centric instruments with Somewhere North of Nashville (Sony), a previously unreleased collection of rockabilly, honky-tonk tunes and foot-tapping country. The Boss says the songs were recorded back in 1995, when he was working on what would become The Ghost of Tom Joad album. “I ended up making a country record on the side,” he says, but those side songs never made it onto an album…until now!

Jun 20 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more, June 20 – June 26

‘The Bear’ roars, Janis Ian breaks the silence & see Nashville’s biggest party

Jeremy Allan White heats up the kitchen in season four of “The Bear.”

FRIDAY, June 20
Janis Ian: Breaking the Silence
All about singer-songwriter Janis Ian—who hit the charts in 1976 with “At Seventeen”—and how she continues to make music that challenges social norms and speaks her truth (9 p.m., PBS).

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Guy Fieri gets funky in Atlanta with chicken sandwiches, patty melt empanadas and hot fish (9 p.m., Food Network).

SATURDAY, June 21
Dateless to Dangerous: My Son’s Secret Life
Jody Sweeten stars in this network drama as a mom dealing with a son who tumbles into the dark online world of incels—celibates guys who they think they’re not attractive to girls, and hostile toward girls and boys who are sexually active (8 p.m., Lifetime).

SUNDAY, June 22
The Gilded Age
Season three of the Julian (Downton Abbey) Fellowes’ lavish period drama—set in 1880s New York—returns tonight with Carrie Coon (above), Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Taissa Farmiga among its sprawling cast (9 p.m., HBO).

WWE LFG
The LFG stands for “Legends and Future Greats” in this wrestling “greatest hits” smackdown competition (10 p.m., A&E).

MONDAY, June 23
Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything
Feature-length documentary examine the broadcast legend’s career, her pivotal role in journalism history and her pioneering example for women in the industry (Hulu).

TUESDAY, June 24
Chopped
The kitchen is buzzing tonight as four social media influencers take to the stoves for a bout of post-worthy food challenges (8 p.m., Food Network).

Enigma
Documentary explores transgender identity through the paths of women who helped shape trans culture and history (9 p.m., HBO).

WEDNESDAY, June 25
The Bear
Season four of the Emmy-winning series finds the restaurant team not just even more determined to survive, but also looking for ways to take The Bear to the next level. With Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Abby Elliot (Hulu)

Human Footprint
A biologist travels the globe in this docuseries, telling the ongoing story of how our everyday choices shape the planet and reflect who we really are (9 p.m., PBS).

THURSDAY, June 26
Butchers of L.A.
True-crime doc about three predators whose horrifying crimes terrorized Southern California for more than two decades, killing more than 50 victims (Sundance Now).

CMA Fest
In case you didn’t make it to Nashville for June’s annual week of country music shows and fan events, you can watch this special of on- and offstage highlights hosted by entertainers Ashley McBride and Cody Johnson (8 p.m., ABC).

Rush Hour Marathon
Watch all three of the 1998-2006 buddy-cop comedy flicks starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in this back-to-back movie “rush” (10 p.m., TNT).

NOW HEAR THIS

Dance like it’s the ‘80s again with this splendid reissue of albums by the B-52s, the era’s ultimate party band. The Warner and Reprise Years (Rhino) collects all the Georgia-based band’s 1979-1992 albums—on 9 vinyl discs or 8 CDs—into a rainbow-hued set with the songs “Rock Lobster,” “Private Idaho,” “Good Stuff,” “Love Shack” “Roam” and dozens of other shake-your-groove-thing tracks.

The golden cinematic era of Western movies made in Italy, with their signature soundtracks, is revisited in Jeymes Samuel’s Spaghetti Western Collection (CAM Sugar/UME), a roundup of classic film music from composers of 1963-1972 flicks like Django, In a Colt’s Shadow and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Didja ever wonder what classic Creedence Clearwater Revival songs would sound like as bluegrass? Well, now you find out, with Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival (CMH Records), a new take on CCR hits like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and more, all performed by the group Iron Horse, the crackerjack acoustic ensemble behind all the “Pickin’ On” toe-tapping tribute projects to Aerosmith, the Allman Brothers and The Beatles, Taylor Swift, U2 and ZZ Top.

BRING IT HOME

Remember when Mel Gibson and Danny Glover teamed up in the ‘80s for the rip-roaring’ buddy-cop action comedy Lethal Weapon? Now that 1987 classic is available for the first time on digital and 4K, accompanied by a later “director’s cut” with footage never seen in theaters, plus a salute to the film’s late director, Richard Donner. (Warner Bros.  Discover Home Entertainment).

The first-ever live-action movie spinoff of the popular videogame, A Minecraft Movie stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa and made big box-office bucks in theaters earlier this year. Now it’s available on 4K UHD, Blue-ray and DVD (Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment), loaded with extras, including features on the film’s special effects and music.

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Visit an apocalyptic, post-nuclear world in artist/author Ben Mauro’s Huxley, the fantastically detailed, six-part graphic novel about a A.I.,  cloned humans, interplanetary wars and a robot named Huxley, all with chilling overtones about where we might be headed, indeed, in our world. And it’s probably no coincidence that the robot has the name of the British author of the classic Brave New World, about a future where humanity is dehumanized to uphold an authoritarian ideal. (Thames & Hudson)

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

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

NOW HEAR THIS

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

What to watch, and more!

June 6 – June 12

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TUESDAY, June 10

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

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

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

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

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

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

READ ABOUT IT

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

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

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

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

NOW HEAR THIS

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

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

May 30 2025
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Books, DVDs, Movies, Photography, Pop Culture, Television

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

May 23 2025
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The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOW HEAR  THIS

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

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

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

The Entertainment Forecast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BRING IT HOME

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

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

READ ALL ABOUT IT

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

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

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

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

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