Worth Watching: ‘Dead to Me’ and ‘Tuca & Bertie’ on Netflix, HBO on the Gymnastics Scandal, Diane Sawyer on Screen Addiction
A selective critical checklist of notable Friday TV:
Dead to Me (streaming on Netflix): Good grief! As women who meet and bond at a survivors’ support group, Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are the terrific stars of a dark female-buddy comedy where nothing and no one are exactly what or who they seem. The list of “do not spoil” plot points never end for this slick, macabre series, with game-changing twists in each brisk episode. (See the review.)
Among other premieres on a typically busy Netflix Friday: the colorfully surreal animated comedy Tuca & Bertie, from BoJack Horseman alum Lisa Hanawalt. It’s another female buddy caper, featuring Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong as, respectively, a free-spirited toucan and her more insecure songbird BFF; and Zac Efron in a sinister change-of-pace as serial killer Ted Bundy in the true-crime docudrama movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile, which unfolds from the POV of Bundy’s former girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer (Les Misérables‘ Lily Collins).
At the Heart of Gold: Inside the USA Gymnastics Scandal (8/7c, HBO): Documentary director Erin Lee Carr (Mommy Dead and Dearest, which covered the story that became Hulu’s The Act) gives voice to the athletes who suffered sexual abuse for more than 20 years at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar, former national team doctor for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University osteopath. At the Heart of Gold features interviews with survivors, coaches, lawyers, journalists and Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, who after hearing a week of powerful testimony from Nasser’s victims sent Nassar away with a 175-year sentence.
ScreenTime: Diane Sawyer Reporting (8/7c, ABC): Yes, it’s kind of ironic to be preaching about the dangers of our obsession with on-screen technologies — phones, tablets, video games, social media — on a medium that once represented the nadir of glued-to-the-tube inactivity. Diane Sawyer tackles the issue in a wide-ranging two-hour report that takes her across the country to look at the impact of screen use on families, schools and consumers’ own self-esteem. She also explores more recent concerns about online privacy and tech companies’ use of personal data. So put down your devices and watch.
Inside Friday TV: You have our permission to get up and dance during PBS’s broadcast of Emilio & Gloria Estefan: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (9/8c, check local listings at pbs.org), because “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You” at the gala tribute, taped in March, honoring the infectiously entertaining Cuban-American musicians. Rita Moreno and Andy Garcia host, with performances including Gloria Estefan, Jose Feliciano, Il Volo, Cyndi Lauper and the Broadway cast of On Your Feet!, based on the duo’s life… What happens in Vegas should probably stay there, when Fox’s The Cool Kids (8:30/7:30) heads there for the wedding of Hank’s (David Alan Grier) son. Guests include Jackée Harry as Hank’s ex, and Rick Fox as her boyfriend, who wounds Hank’s pride by paying for the whole shindig… Hulu’s horror anthology Into the Dark acknowledges Mother’s Day early with All That We Destroy, about a geneticist who creates clones of her possibly psychopathic son in hopes of keeping him from turning into a serial killer. These stories never end well.
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As usual, I'll go from the millennials (MacGyver) to the middle-aged (Hawaii Five-O), to the musty veterans of law enforcement (Blue Bloods).
As for new "screen technologies," the development of "deepfakes" is pretty scary. Within a few years we won't be able to literally believe our eyes when we see a photo or video. It'll be practically impossible to prove guilt or innocence, even based on what we see with our own eyes.
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Cool Kids, Last Man Standing, Black Lightening season 2 on Netflix. I guess my DVR with movies and classic METV\Antenna Tv episodes of shows will get a workout this weekendas usual. I've said it before Friday nights are a perfect night for comedy so I'm happy that both comedies I really enjoy and actually make me laugh happen to air on Friday night. I've been especially happy with LMS this past year. I didn't know if it was going to work with the move and cast changes but they pulled it off. The key is consistency and unlike everyone else keeping it funny without preaching or agenda pushing. Reminds me of Amen that way.
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Looks like MacGyver and Graham Norton for me again! Although, I really like Diane Sawyer and might check out her special if I'm home when it's on!
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I always admired Diane Sawyer too, but this subject will likely bore me. What topical subjects did she toss away before she settled on "Screen Time"? I guess she wasn't interested in a salacious celebrity interview like Robin Roberts and Gayle King have been doing.
I'll be watching FOX all night : Last Man Standing, Cool Kids and Proven Innocent. If the segment is compelling and I'm up I'll catch 20/20 at 10:00.
Saturday Night Ransom
Sunday Night American Idol live
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Oh, I forgot about Cool Kids! Diane is more of a real news reporter, and I'd be willing to bet she picks topics which are of interest to her.
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Although I'm almost certain she interviewed Whitney Houston about her drug issues. Maybe it was Barbara Walters (she had her share of sensationalism style interviews).
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I seem to remember Barbara interviewing her, but who didn't back in the day? I seldom watched celebrity interviews except for Barbara's yearly Most Interesting People specials.
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Gayle King from CBS early morning show just put her female cohost Norah O'Donnell under the bus calling her toxic! I watched some of that program this morning just out of sheer curiosity. Gayle King was MIA. Norah interviewed fine, but the show is dull and cover s more hard news (even the later supposedly lighter 8:00 AM hour) compared to ABC and NBC. That's probably why ratings are so low for CBS in the morning.
CBS wants to shake up the early morning program yet again.
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Did she call her that on the show or elsewhere? If I did watch a "morning show," I'd rather it be all news than the ridiculous banter and fluff pieces of Today and GMA. I used to watch the BBC News on PBS occasionally.
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I never watch those fluffy morning shows either. Just that I was curious to see how Gayle and Norah would be together and of course Gayle wasn't on.
Not sure where or who Gayle told, but it is all over the media.
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I looked, but all I saw were denials that she said anything. CBS is supposedly getting rid of both her co-anchors and putting 2 new ones on with her.
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I read Gayle King was granted a huge raise after the R.Kelly interview and that Norah O'Donnel will be transitioned to another CBS news program.
CBS has been trying to create a successful morning news program for many decades to no avail. For some reason ABC's GMA and NBC's Today show are the most popular
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I forgot to mention that the last new episode of For The People was the strongest one of the season. It actually deserves an Emmy nomination. Grade A.
Ratings are low, but with Shonda involved , it may earn another season, hope so.
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