Month: April 2022

What To Watch: 04/27/2022

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For the best options tonight, be ready to go back to the 1940s & ’50s or to the vast MCU. Here’s what we got for you on this random Wednesday.

KATHERINE’S PICK:
The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes [Netflix]
Netflix explores the mystery surrounding the death of Marilyn Monroe through what they claim are previously unheard interviews with her inner circle.

JASON’S PICK:
The Survivor [HBO, 8p]
The words “based on a true story from the Holocaust” are not generally going to suggest a fun watch, nor should they. This Barry Levinson-directed film tells the story of Harry Haft who literally fought for his life in a concentration camp before returning to boxing after he survived and was freed. It boasts a great cast, with Foster as Haft, alongside Danny DeVito, Peter Sarsgaard and John Leguizamo, among others.

BRAD’S PICK:
Moon Knight [Disney+]
Wow, was last week’s episode a doozy. We have two episodes left to figure out who or what that hippo thing was. The most important thing about this week’s episode will be certain revelations about Marc/Stephen’s childhood. Marvel does it again.

What To Watch: 04/22/2022

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In 1979, Illinois State faced off against Michigan State for the NCAA Championship, but the excitement was less about the teams than their respective stars: Larry Bird & Magic Johnson. The latter is already getting feted by a mini-series about his NBA team’s glory days (which essentially started when they drafted him) and now gets his own profile to boot. Today also brings us an awaited drama based on a popular webcomic and graphic novel–one that features perennial Oscar nominee Olivia Colman–a second Prime-via-BBC scandal that’s very much of a certain group of people, the 14th seasonal winner of RuPaul’s grand and glorious competition, and a new short from a show that’s already created 33 seasons and a movie.

KATHERINE’S PICK:
They Call Me Magic [Apple TV]
Apple offers “a rare glimpse into the incredible real-life story” of Magic Johnson, who inspires on and off the court. A must watch for anyone watching Winning Time.

FIONA’S PICK:
Heartstopper [Netflix]
Nick and Charlie and the rest of the gang are finally here! This series follows Nick and Charlie (and a host of friends) as they navigate love, relationships and school. This highly anticipated series began as a wildly popular webcomic by creator Alice Oseman. There are four volumes out in print with a fifth volume planned for next year. 

BRAD’S PICK:
The Simpsons: When Billie Met Lisa [Disney+]
It’s only a little over three minutes, but the new Simpsons short on Disney+ is a fun little slice of pop culture. Lisa needs a place to practice the sax and Billie Eilish and Phineas find her. Get ready to enjoy a new version of the Simpsons theme!

BUT, WAIT, THERE’S MORE:

  • In a rare (unprecedented) turn, the finale of season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race features five drag queens–Daya Betty, Bosco, Lady Camden, Angeria and Willow Pill, listed in reverse order of our view of the chances of each performer winning it all. It’s hard to not see a unique and versatile force of nature like Willow Pill not win, but the charismatic Southerner Angeria and dark horse Brit Lady Camden would also be worthwhile choices. It all plays out on VH1 and Paramount+.
  • In celebration of Earth Day, Disney+ checks in on the Chesters who moved from the city to create Apricot Lane Farms in The Biggest Little Farm: The Return.
  • For more Earth Day goodness, Catherine Keener narrates the documentary Polar Bear for Disney+, examining the plight of the endangered Arctic species.
  • The Canadian crime comedy Pretty Hard Cases returns on IMDb TV. The original title was “Little Dicks” so that gives you an idea of the level of comedy here.
  • Claire Foy and Paul Bettany star in A Very British Scandal as UK nobles who gained notoriety in 1963 for an affair. If the Amazon Prime series sounds familiar, it’s because the same production company brought us A Very English Scandal just four years ago.
  • Netflix brings us a fifth season of attractive people battling each other to sell the most California real estate as Selling Sunset comes back.
  • The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball tells the remarkable tale of Makur Maker, who had the skillz to go directly to the NBA or to go to a big name basketball college, but chose to rep HBCUs by taking his talents to Howard, hoping many others will follow, ultimately changing the balance of power in college basketball.