Epic adventures, exotic locales and cocktails mixed to order by bartenders — they may be largely off limits for the moment, but not on a device near you
March 30, 2020, 6:37 PM
7 min read
Epic adventures, exotic locales and cocktails mixed to order by bartenders — they may be largely off limits for the moment, but not on a device near you.
This week's fresh offerings include a recently-released Pixar animated tale, a marathon of James Bond films and new music from country star Sam Hunt. Also out this week is the reissue of a rare Nina Simone record from her time in Paris when feelings of loneliness crept in. And the ladies of “The Talk” return — at a safe social distance — from their own homes.
Here's a collection curated by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists of what's arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
MOVIES
— “ Never Rarely Sometimes Always ”: Most people missed what is arguably the best movie of the year so far in theaters. Eliza Hittman’s film about a teenage girl trying to get an abortion came out right as they began to close. But thankfully Focus Features has released it for rental starting Friday. (Read the AP review here.)
— James Bond Marathon: Get the martinis ready, Amazon Prime has 21 James Bond pics in 4K ultra high definition available starting Wednesday. You can start from the beginning with Sean Connery in “Dr. No” and “From Russia With Love” and check in with George Lazenby in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” before heading into the Roger Moore years up through Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan.
— “The Other Lamb”: Raffey Cassidy plays a teenager who has been part of a cult since birth in Małgorzata Szumowska’s beautifully disturbing film. Available for rental Friday from IFC, it’s not quite a horror, but it is haunting. And it’s only 97 minutes.
— “ Onward ”: Parents rejoice, there’s another fresh option to keep the family occupied: “Onward” is coming to Disney Plus on Friday. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that “its eccentric odyssey of two brothers delving into a fantastical past to find their way through grief and self-doubt is a worthy addition to the studio’s canon.”
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
MUSIC
— Nina Simone, “Fodder on My Wings”: For a new generation who may have learned about the incomparable Nina Simone in the epic 2015 Netflix documentary “ What Happened, Miss Simone?” — here’s a chance to discover her talents again in album form. “Fodder on My Wings” was recorded in 1982 not long after Simone moved to Paris. She was said to be lonely and her mental illness worsening while she recorded the album, and the mood is perfectly captured on the title track. There are more gems here: The song “Alone Again (Naturally)” is lyrical improvisation about the death of her father. “Fodder on My Wings” was originally recorded for a small French label but was not made widely available — until Friday. The original album will be expanded with three bonus tracks from the recording sessions from a rare French reissue released in 1988. Simone, who died at age 70 in 2003, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
— Sam Hunt, “Southside”: Sam Hunt couldn’t fall into the trap of the sophomore slump if he tried — his second studio album will reach gold status even before it is released on Friday. That’s because “Southside” includes the hit “Body Like a Back Road,” has already sold six million tracks. It comes a whopping six years after Hunt released his uber-successful debut album, “Montevallo,” which launched five hits and earned him Grammy nominations for best new artist and best country album. Instead of rushing out a follow-up, he took time to create the album, releasing singles randomly (“Body Like a Back Road” came in 2017, “Downtown's Dead" in 2018 and "Kinfolks" last year) and staying on the road. “Southside” features his signature sexy-talk delivery and is a mix of personal tunes and upbeat jams.
— Thundercat, “It Is What It Is”: Talented multi-instrumentalist Thundercat pays tribute to his friend and collaborator, the late rapper Mac Miller, on “Fair Chance,” one of the songs from his new album, “It Is What It Is.” It’s a special moment, but the new album, out Friday, isn’t all somber: Just press play on “Dragonball Durag,” a smooth, West Coast groove and you’ll be in the right mood. Thundercat is accomplished, having worked with everyone from Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae to Travis Scott to Kendrick Lamar, with whom he won a Grammy for the song “These Walls” in 2016. “It Is What It Is” includes more great collaborations, including guest appearances from Childish Gambino, Ty Dolla $ign, Kamasi Washington and BADBADNOTGOOD.
— AP Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu
TELEVISION
— “Desus & Mero.” — Coming to you from the entertainment centers of the world, New Jersey and the Bronx, Showtime’s “Desus & Mero” are back at 11 p.m. EDT on Mondays and Thursdays. Pals Desus Nice (Daniel Baker) and The Kid Mero (Joel Martinez) bring their comedic chemistry and a younger — sorry, network hosts! — perspective to late-night from their respective homes. Fans or the curious can tune in free, with Showtime’s 30-day, no-cost trial.
— “The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show” — Comedian-writer-actress Iliza Shlesinger (“Spenser Confidential”) and an ensemble cast tear into pop culture and gender tropes in Netflix’s six-part series, debuting Wednesday. Even catheter commercials have to beware the show’s quick-hit parodies.
— CBS is saying good-bye to “Hawaii Five-0” after 10 seasons and welcome back to Pauley Perrette, the network’s onetime “NCIS” star. The two-hour series finale of “Hawaii Five-0,” a reboot of the police drama born in 1968, will air 8 p.m. EDT Friday. Perrette switches gears with the sitcom “Broke,” debuting 9:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, playing a single mom who takes in her sister (Natasha Leggero) and brother in-law (Jaime Camil) after they fall on hard times.
— If you’re starting to run out of conversation at home, with yourself or others, the hosts of CBS' “The Talk” (daily, 11 a.m. EDT) are back to help. Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba and Marie Osmond will practice social distancing on the temp-titled “The Talk@Home,” joined by this week’s guests including Wayne Brady and Sean Hayes.
— AP Television Writer Lynn Elber
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Catch up on AP’s entertainment coverage here: https://apnews.com/apf-entertainment.
