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Thursday 22
“Equal” (HBO Max streaming anytime) Emmy winner Billy Porter narrates a docudrama series tracing the leaders, heroes and rebels who fought for LGBTQ+ rights throughout history. Among the people profiled: Dale Jennings, Christine Jorgensen, Lorraine Hannsberry, Sylvia Rivera and José Sarria.
Roald Dahl’s The Witches (HBO Max streaming anytime) British filmmaker Nicholas Roeg (Don’t Look Now, Walkabout) directed a much-admired 1990 adaptation of Roald Dahl’s spooky kids’ story The Witches starring Anjelica Huston. Now HBO Max gives it a whack with Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Forrest Gump) as director and Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch.
“Unleashed” (Nickelodeon 5pm) America’s most entertaining pets get their moment to shine as they compete in front of a jury composed of kids and celebrity judges. … Ya hear that, Mr. Fluffypants? You better step up your pet game. Learn the Macarena or something. Damn.
“The Photo Op” (VICE 5:30pm) VICE digs into the story behind the crushing of a peaceful BLM protest in front of the White House so that President Donald Trump could get the photo op he wanted, posing in front of a church he’d never attended and holding up someone else’s Bible.
Friday 23
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon streaming anytime) If you’ve spent that last 14 years waiting desperately for another prank-filled Borat film, I’ll try not to hold it against you. Have at it.
“Barbarians” (Netflix streaming anytime) Like your historical dramas with plenty of swords and blood? Well, Netflix is offering up this German-made series set in the year 9 A.D. It drops us among a ragtag group of Germanic tribes fighting off an invading army of Roman soldiers.
Bad Hair (Hulu streaming anytime) Elle Lorraine, Lena Waithe and Vanessa Williams star in a body horror satire from writer-director Justin Simien (Dear White People). Back in 1989 an up-and-coming young woman tries to fit into the image-obsessed world of music television by getting an expensive weave. But this hair has a mind of its own. (Cue spooky music.)
Bruce Spingsteen’s Letter to You (AppleTV+ streaming anytime) AppleTV follows music icon Bruce Springsteen as he records his 20th album—and his first with the E Street Band since 2014’s High Hopes.
Saturday 24
Christmas Unwrapped (Lifetime 6pm) Aw, jeez. Really? It’s not even Halloween and we’re already dealing with this holiday rom-com war between Lifetime and Hallmark? Overworked no-nonsense business woman travels to quaint small town, meets humble hunk, falls in love, learns the true meaning of Christmas. You know the drill.
JIngle Bell Bride (Hallmark 6pm) Seriously, Hallmark? Julie Gonzalo from “Dallas,” “Veronica Mars” and “Supergirl” as your first overworked, no-nonsense business woman? You’re not even gonna lead with Candice Cameron Bure? Wake me up when Lacey Chabert shows up to the party.
Sunday 25
“The Undoing” (HBO 7pm) TV’s new queen of high-profile, Emmy-worthy secrets and murder, Nicole Kidman, reunites with the director (Susan Bier) and creator (David E. Kelly) of “Big Little Lies” for another psychological thriller. The life of a rich, successful New York therapist (Kidman. Of course) begins to unravel after she discovers her husband (Hugh Grant) may be responsible for a widespread disaster.
Monday 26
“The Creepshow Halloween Special” (Shudder streaming anytime) Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill, pen the two episodes of this special, animated edition of Shudder’s horror anthology series. Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys, “24”) and Joey King (Crazy, Stupid, Love and Kissing Booth) provide voices.
“Essential Heroes: A Momento Latino Event” (KRQE-13 8pm) CBS celebrates America’s diversity by focusing on “the Latinx community that has been deeply impacted by and played an essential role in fighting COVID-19.”
Tuesday 27
“Kal Penn Approves This Message” (Freeform 8:30pm) Actor, comedian and former White House staffer Kal Pen (quite the resume) talks environmental policy with young people to discover whether politics or age is the greater dividing factor in America.
Wednesday 28
“Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb” (Netflix streaming now) Netflix gets all NatGeo with this archeological documentary about the unearthing of an Egyptian tomb that hasn’t been touched in 4,400 years. … Honestly? Is 2020 the right year to be unearthing ancient Egyptian tombs?