It’s another week of unstoppable television. As we roll toward the end of Emmy eligibility, the mix of nerd prestige fare (like “The Staircase”) and four-quadrant blockbusters (like the Mike Myers-directed “The Pentaverate”) keeps coming. . Plus, we’ve got new documentaries about Sheryl Crow and a Social Security crook you won’t believe, Guillermo del Toro’s masterful “Nightmare Alley” like you’ve never seen it before, and the Muppets invading “Holey Moley.” . Buckle up. It’s a big week.
On the way with television!
“The Pentaverate”
Thursday, May 5, Netflix
Mike Myers was off the radar for a little while. His last film appearances were in 2018 (including a small role in Oscar-winning ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’), the same year he came out as Dr. Evil in a pair of appearances. in “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”. Now he’s back. And true to form, it’s a hugely ambitious, genre-changing comedy that sees Myers take on multiple roles. ‘The Pentaverate’ picks up on an idea Myers first introduced in his 1993 comedy ‘So I Married An Ax Murderer’ – that a secret society has been working for the good of mankind since the days of the Black Death. . In other words, a benevolent Illuminati! Little is known about the series except for a brief trailer and a supporting cast including Ken Jeong, Keegan-Michael Key, Debi Mazer, and Jennifer Saunders. We’re ready for a dose of unfiltered Myers madness. Schwing! [TRAILER]
“Knight of the Moon”
Wednesday, May 4, Disney+
By far the most experimental and quirky Marvel Studios series since “WandaVision,” “Moon Knight” stars Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector/Steven Grant, a man who suffers from dissociative disorder and may be the human avatar of an immortal Egyptian god (voiced with gritty intensity by F. Murray Abraham), who transforms him into the nocturnal vigilante Moon Knight. The show has played so much ping pong in its first five episodes, both sonically and aesthetically (from superhero spectacle to “Mummy” style horror adventure to WTF-worthy mind-bending thriller) , which makes the finale even more unpredictable and exciting. Will Marc/Steven come to terms with his mental instability and defeat fanatic Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), who wants to resurrect a genocidal god? And perhaps most temptingly, how does this character fit into the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? (Can you imagine this guy fighting alongside, say, Captain Marvel?) The only way to find out is to watch. [RECAP]
“Sheryl”
Friday, May 6and 9 p.m. Showtime
This documentary, which focuses on the life of singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, promises to lift the curtain, promises to be both raw and revealing. “Sheryl,” directed by Amy Scott (who directed Hal Ashby’s 2018 documentary “Hal”), premiered at this year’s South by Southwest film festival and features talking head interviews with Laura Dern, Keith Richards, Joe Walsh and Emmylou Harris and charts the singer’s track record from The Breakthrough of the 90s to his battle with cancer in the early 2000s to his life and career today. Even if you haven’t listened to it since “All I Wanna Do” was released in the year of Grace 1993 (and you’ve been humming it ever since), this documentary should be a must-watch. [TRAILER]
“The Great Conn”
Friday, May 6, Apple TV+
How many crooks is too many crooks? Although we’ve been riddled with scam artists, both in drama series based on real cases (like “The Dropout” and “WeCrashed”) and documentaries (like “The Invisible Pilot” and “The Tinder Swindler” ), there is still something completely captivating about their tales of scam and greed. The latest documentary to follow in this long succession is “The Big Conn,” a fiery, unbelievable, at times deeply tragic tale of a clairvoyant West Virginia Social Security attorney who somehow succeeded. another to mislead the federal government and all of its customers. Directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the filmmakers behind HBO’s highly addictive “McMillion$,” the four-part “Big Conn” shows you that when it comes to con stories, the more crazy. [TRAILER]
“Nightmare Alley: Vision in Darkness and Light”
HBO Max / Hulu
Just before Guillermo del Toro’s masterful “Nightmare Alley” racked up a handful of Oscar nominations, it was briefly shown in a black-and-white version, which played for a few weeks in a limited number of theaters. Now, that black-and-white version is finally available to stream. And that might be the definitive way to watch the film, which stars Bradley Cooper as a morally compromised drifter who falls into a traveling circus (run by Willem Dafoe) and ends up becoming a mentalist for the wealthy, teaming up with an even more unscrupulous. psychiatrist (Cate Blanchett). The velvety black and white emphasizes the film’s film noir origins (it was once made in 1947 by Edmund Goulding) and gives the images a deeper resonance and greater dimension. If you’ve seen “Nightmare Alley” once in color and didn’t like it, try it again in black and white and you might love it. [WATCH or WATCH]
“Ziwe”
Sunday, May 1 at 11 p.m., Showtime
The singular late-night talk show/variety show returns after nearly a year. “Ziwe” features comedian Ziwe Fumudoh, whose interview style is both lovable and antagonistic. Frankly, this season tops our most anticipated list, if only because we can’t wait to see her interview Chet Hanks about his faux “island” accent and frequent appropriation of black culture. (Also, because Adam Pally has, for some reason, decided to return.) If you’ve never seen this charming lo-fi wonder produced by A24, it’s never too late to start. And don’t worry, there will be more “Ziwe” very soon. After these first six episodes, there will be others in the fall! [TRAILER]
“Holey Moley”
Tuesday, May 3 at 8 p.m. ABC
No kidding, “Holey Moley,” ABC’s insanely competitive miniature golf show, might be one of TV’s best shows. If you’ve never seen it before, it features elaborate (and sometimes deeply silly) courses that get mini-golf enthusiasts into some insane situations. (One year, the final course involved flaming windmills.) Hosts Rob Riggle and Joe Tessitore add even more comedic commentary (as does executive producer and occasional star Steph Curry). And if things weren’t weird enough, this year’s episode (“Holey Moley Fore-Ever,” because, you know, it’s season four) also features the Muppets. Talk about Gonzo. [CLIP]
“Disney Gallery: The Book of Boba Fett”
Wednesday, May 4, Disney+
After specials detailing the making of “The Mandalorian” seasons one and two, we get one for “The Book of Boba Fett.” Have you already forgotten about this “Mandalorian” spin-off? Fair enough! But we’re sure the series’ making, from the recreation of the iconic armor to the technology used to bring the oversized sets to life, will be no less captivating. Hope we can see how they built a better Rancor! [RECAP]
“The Staircase”
Thursday, May 5, HBO Max
The 2004 true-crime documentary series “The Staircase” (directed by French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade) is still one of the genre’s greatest of all time, especially since it hit before the boom in high-profile true-crime series and podcasts. Now the inevitable dramatic narrative is here. And it looks like a humdinger. Colin Firth plays Michael Peterson, a novelist accused of killing his wife after she is found in a bloody heap at the bottom of the titular staircase. It only gets wilder from there. The supporting cast is incredible and includes Toni Collette, Rosemarie DeWitt, Juliette Binoche, Parker Posey, Sophie Turner, Dane DeHaan and Michael Stuhlbarg, with directing duties split between Antonio Campos (who directed episodes of “The Sinner”) and Leigh Janiak (last of the year’s excellent “Fear Street” trilogy). Hope they don’t forget the owl theory. Either way, it will be a hoot. [REVIEW]
“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”
Thursday, May 5, Paramount+
There is a season, round, round, round. As season 2 of “Picard” draws to a close, a new “Star Trek” series is coming to Paramount+. A spinoff of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ and a prequel to the original ‘Star Trek’ series, ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ follows Captain Pike (Anson Pike), Number One (Rebecca Romjin) and Spock (Ethan Peck ) as they travel the galaxy on the USS Enterprise. If you love this new show, you’ll have reason to be happy — filming for season 2 has already begun, starring Paul Wesley as a fringe “Star Trek” character named James T. Kirk. Go boldly. [TRAILER]