Springsteen’s Broadway Gig on Netflix, ‘Dannemora’ Documentary and Docudrama, Matt Damon on ‘SNL’

Matt Roush
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A critical checklist of notable weekend TV:

Springsteen on Broadway (Sunday, Netflix): This very special event pays for your entire year’s Netflix subscription — if you consider how much tickets cost for Bruce Springsteen’s acclaimed solo act on Broadway. As the show ends its run after more than a year, Netflix brings the intimate, acoustic set to home viewers, giving an unusually personal glimpse into the Boss’s life and music.

Dannemora Prison Break (Saturday, 7/6c, Oxygen): If you’re as fascinated as you should be by the ongoing Showtime docudrama Escape at Dannemora, you’ll probably want to check out this two-hour special, hosted by correspondent Troy Roberts, that looks into the psyches of the actual participants of the infamous 2015 prison break: inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat (told in his own words) and prison employee Joyce Mitchell, who was seduced and manipulated into helping them carry out their audacious scheme. The special features an in-depth interview with Mitchell, as well as family members, a prison guard and inmate, giving new perspective on the riveting story.

Oxygen's 'Dannemora Prison Break' Details the Real-Life Escape Behind the Showtime Drama (VIDEO)
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Oxygen's 'Dannemora Prison Break' Details the Real-Life Escape Behind the Showtime Drama (VIDEO)

Escape at Dannemora (Sunday, 10/9c, Showtime): Director Ben Stiller’s sensational limited series has arrived on the day of the escape. Racial tensions in the prison yard add to the anxiety of Sweat (Paul Dano), Matt (Benedio Del Toro) and Joyce “Tilly” Mitchell (Patricia Arquette), who’s on the verge of collapsing with a panic attack as she indulges unknowing husband Lyle (Eric Lange) with dinner at a Chinese restaurant. The suspense builds sharply as the men claw their way to freedom.

Ray Donovan (Sunday, 9/8c, Showtime): Escape’s companion series is going down so many dark rabbit holes it makes Escape look like a walk in the park. Turns out Ray (Liev Schreiber) isn’t the only one in his family suffering the consequences of having turned on his employer, Sam (Susan Sarandon), and her mayoral candidate. And while things are looking up for Bunchy (Dash Mihok) now that he’s found the woman who stole the ransom money, by hour’s end all the Donovans are back in the throes of despair. Except maybe an unrepentant Mickey (Jon Voight), who’s donned yet another disguise in his attempt to flee the country.

Ho-Ho-Holiday Movies: The feel-good blizzard continues.

Hallmark: Entertaining Christmas (Saturday, 8/7c) stars Jodie Sweetin as the daughter of a Martha Stewart-type lifestyle diva who has never measured up. A Gingerbread Romance (Sunday, 8/7c) pairs Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Duane Henry in the story of an architect and pastry chef who bond while creating a life-sized gingerbread house.

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Hallmark Movies & Mysteries: Northern Lights of Chritmas (Saturday, 9/8c) stars Ashley Williams as a pilot who inherits an Alaskan ranch and becomes attached to the local reindeer and a hunky ranch Hand (Corey Sevier). Small Town Christmas (Sunday, 9/8c) stars Kristoffer Polaha as a bookstore owner who pines for Ashley Newbrough, who hasn’t forgiven him for standing her up. (He had a good and tear-jerking reason.)

Lifetime: Christmas Pen Pals (Saturday, 8/7) stars Grey’s Anatomy’s Sarah Drew as a tech wiz and creator of a dating app who returns home, where she engages in a holiday pen-pal service that could lead her back to her high-school beau (Niall Matter). Hometown Christmas (Sunday, 8/7c) stars 7th Heaven’s Beverley Mitchell as Noelle, who teams with her high school boyfriend (One Tree Hill’s Stephen Colletti) to create a live Nativity, but their relationship is complicated by the fact that their parents are falling for each other as well.

Elsewhere: TV One’s Coins for Christmas (Sunday, 7/6c) stars Essence Atkins as a cash-strapped single mom whose new “gig economy” job puts her to work for an arrogant jock (Stephen Bishop) who’s also got money woes. Ion’s A Royal Christmas Fashion (Sunday, 9/8c) stars Cindy Busby as a PR assistant in charge of a global fashion show/auction who catches the eye of a prince (Diarmaid Murtagh) who mistakes her for her boss. Will he still love her when he finds out she’s just a commoner? It’s been known to happen.

Inside Weekend TV: Matt Damon, so impressive spoofing Brett Kavanaugh in a cameo earlier this season, returns to NBC’s Saturday Night Live (11:30/10:30c) for his second gig as guest host for the annual Christmas show. Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus are musical guests… In anticipation of the third season of his HBO comedy Crashing comes a new HBO stand-up special, Pete Holmes: Dirty Clean (Saturday, 10/9c)… Classic movie alert: ABC devotes all of Sunday to its annual holiday showing of the Rodgers & Hammerstein perennial, The Sound of Music (7/6c), while Turner Classic Movies presents 1944’s Judy Garland fan favorite Meet Me in St. Louis (8/7c), without which we wouldn’t have the beloved standard “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” … Steve Harvey hosts the 2018 Miss Universe competition (Sunday, 7/6c) from Bangkok… An emotional turning point on CBS’s God Friended Me (Sunday, 8/7c) when the God Account pushes Miles (Brandon Micheal Hall) to confront the drunk driver responsible for his mother’s death 17 years ago… To mark the 30th anniversary of The Simpsons, FXX presents a 15-hour marathon of 30 Simpsons classics all day Sunday, starting at 9 am/8c.

Dannemora Prison BreakEscape at DannemoraRay DonovanSaturday Night LiveBruce Springsteen



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  1. G

    GreenElephant

    Watched the Matt Damon ep of "SNL". Mostly hilarious and I loved Miley Cyrus' version of "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" which had the participation of John Lennon's son Sean on guitar to the right of her.

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Oh, I wasn't paying that much attention and missed him.

    2. G

      GreenElephant

      It didn't air during the actual broadcast but at the end, Miley mentioned him after the performance was over. It's on YouTube.

    3. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I just watched it on Yahoo. I haven't seen him for years, and I've never seen him perform before. I could do without all that hair and beard. He looks like a wild man.

      1

  2. C

    CyanCandy

    Christmas movies, are there hundreds ? Number I'm watching, zero. Can't stand them. Bah humbug!

    1. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I'd watch Meet Me in St. Louis if I could get that channel. It's not exactly a Xmas movie, but part of it is...sorta. 😉 Anyway...it's a good movie I haven't seen in years.

    2. C

      CyanCandy

      You can watch it, if you want to pay 3.99, on YouTube, itunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play and Vudu.

      1

    3. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Comcast has it On Demand for that price too, or I could probably borrow it for free from the library.

    4. R

      RedCupcake

      Is Meet Me in St. Louis considered a Christmas movie because of the Judy Garland song? Similar to It's a Wonderful Life: the vast majority of the movie takes place at various times of the year, but because of the beginning/ending scene, it's considered a holiday movie. (Which is fine with me, I really don't care.)

    5. G

      GoldSubmarine

      It's like Holiday Inn, its considered a Christmas Movie because of the song White Christmas . And one the holidays featured is Christmas. But the vast majority of the movie is about numerous holidays celebrated at the Inn.

      The "feel good" movie White Christmas is more of a Christmas movie to me. I watched it twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. I can see why its a classic. Bing Crosby , Rosemary Clooney and the others were SUPER TALENTED performers. Very classy musical movie.

    6. R

      RedCupcake

      You're right. In any case, I'm glad you appreciate HI for the gem that it is. 😀

    7. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Oh yes, Holiday Inn is something very special. Another "feel good" movie. Great talents involved with this movie.

    8. C

      CyanCoathanger

      I doubt if anyone considers it a Christmas movie, but it's the kind of wholesome family entertainment which they like to air during the holidays.

    9. G

      GoldSubmarine

      Yes these wholesome classic movies are perfect this time of year. That's all I've been watching lately.

    10. G

      GreenElephant

      Speaking of that song, when Ms. Garland sings 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", it has slightly different lyrics than what is sung today. Like instead of "Hang a shining star upon the highest bough", it's "Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow". Since this song was written during World War II, I always wondered if it was written to address the fact that many soldiers/sailors were away during the holidays and there was uncertainty of how many would actually make it home for the following year since some of the lyrics begin with "Next year" concerning "all our troubles will be out of sight/miles away"...

      1

    11. C

      CyanCoathanger

      Hugh Martin's original lyrics refer to the movie family's father moving away for a job. He may have had soldiers away from home in mind when he wrote it, but I don't think he ever said that he did.

      Frank Sinatra had Martin change some of the lyrics (including the muddle through part) when he wanted to record it in 1957 because he found the words too depressing for a Christmas song.

      1

    12. R

      RedCupcake

      I know I've heard a version or the song with the "muddle through somehow" line. I have no idea who sang that version, but yeah, I've heard it. And more than once, too, I'm sure.

      1

  3. C

    CyanCoathanger

    If not for new episodes of shows on Animal Planet, there wouldn't be much I'd want to watch this weekend. Otherwise, I'll be watching the shows on my DVR that I've been trying to catch up on.