TV Watchlist: 'Doctor Who' Arrives on Disney+ and Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman Heat Up Netflix

Plus Baz Luhrmann's "Faraway Downs" hits Hulu and "The Kardashians" returns Week of November 25 – December 1 Thanksgiving is over and the holidays are just around the corner, which means the first “Doctor Who” Christmas special is here (and this time it’s on Disney+), with a Christmas movie starring Eddie Murphy (“Candy Cane Lane”), a holiday special from DreamWorks Animation (“The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday”) and a Christmas body swapping comedy from McG (“Family Switch”). But if you haven’t put up the tree or hung up the stockings, that’s OK too – there’s a documentary on Harrison Ford and Indiana Jones (“Timeless Heroes”), a Dickensian sequel (“The Artful Dodger”) and a miniseries from Baz Luhrmann (“Faraway Downs”). And if that wasn’t enough, one of the best movies of the year debuts on Netflix (“May December”). Thanksgiving might be over but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still be stuffed … with quality programming. On with the television! Doctor Who: The Star Beast Saturday, November 25, Disney+ Source: BBC/Disney+ “Doctor Who” returns. And for the 60th anniversary of the series, one of the most beloved British television shows of all time, David Tennant returns as the Doctor (meaning he serves as both the 10th and 14th iterations), as does Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble. If this doesn’t mean anything to you, let us briefly catch you up to speed: “Doctor Who” originated in 1963 and was created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson. The title character is an immortal who regenerates every-so-often, which allows for different performers to inhabit the role of a time-and-space-traveling figure who travels throughout the galaxy with a human “companion,” righting wrongs and attempting to thwart evil plots. The series is perhaps best known for its most recent run of episodes, which began with the 2005 revival and continues today. Part of what made the 2005 series so special was the presence of legendary British writer Russell T. Davies (who recently wrote “Years and Years” and “It’s a Sin”), who returns for the 60th anniversary after departing “Doctor Who” in 2010. And, of course, the return of Tennant. What’s more is that Disney has signed on to co-produce theses three Christmas specials (beginning with “The Star Beast”) and beyond, meaning “Doctor Who” won’t look quite so chintzy anymore (but hopefully chintzy enough to maintain its rubber monster charm). While specifics are being kept under wraps for the three Christmas specials (the others air on December 2 and December 9), we do know that Neil Patrick Harris will play the villain, there will be some callbacks to other earlier incarnations of the character and that, by the end of the three episodes, a new Doctor Who will be introduced – Ncuti Gatwa. Who’s ready? [[TRAILER](] The Kardashians Thursday, November 30, Hulu Source: Hulu Somehow, “The Kardashians” is ending its fourth season on Hulu even though it premiered just last year. This has to do with the show airing two seasons of ten episodes each, which premiere at different points in the year. And if this has meant somewhat lighter storytelling – a common refrain from fans and critics alike is that the show is “boring” – it has only increased the demand. Recently Disney CEO Bob Iger said that “The Kardashians” was the #1 nonfiction show in the history of streaming giant Hulu. Which says a lot. As has been the style of previous seasons, we’re guessing that this episode will end on a hugely dramatic cliffhanger. Don’t worry, though, the Kardashians (and “The Kardashians”) will be back soon enough, most likely in the spring of 2024. Bring it on. [[TRAILER](] May December Friday, December 1, Netflix Source: Netflix Todd Haynes is one of the most adventurous and artistically ambitious filmmakers currently working and his latest left turn is one of his most emotionally satisfying and beautifully told. “May December” is the story of Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman), a film and television actress who is shadowing Gracie (Julianne Moore), a woman who had an affair with a teenage boy and was imprisoned for it (she had their child while in jail). Once out of prison, she continued the relationship with her now-husband Joe (Charles Melton). Elizabeth’s visit coincides with Gracie and Joe’s twins graduating from high school, adding pressure to an already-volatile scenario. As Elizabeth pokes around the town, old secrets come to light and it’s very there is way more to the story than anybody – including the tabloids – have ever told. Delicate and funny, at turns dark and oddly gorgeous, “May December” will take your breath away. It’s one of the year’s very best movies. And the latest example masterpiece from one of the most underappreciated voices in modern cinema. [[TRAILER](] Timeless Heroes: Indiana Jones & Harrison Ford Friday, December 1, Disney+ Source: Disney+ Billed as the “untold story of how Harrison Ford became Indiana Jones,” this feature-length documentary charts Harrison Ford’s unlikely rise to superstardom, thanks to his role as Han Solo in “Star Wars” and then his star-cementing performance in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” released just a year after he returned as Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back.” The documentary features archival footage and interviews, alongside newly conducted interviews with people like Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, his co-star in this year’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (which, not coincidentally, also debuts on Disney+ today). This might be super self-serving and corporate but it’s also hard to deny the impact that Ford and his most iconic character have had on the world. Timeless indeed. [[TRAILER](] Doctor Who Max Source: BBC One aspect that’s notable about the new Disney/”Doctor Who” arrangement is that Disney+ won’t be the home for the archival seasons of the seasons – just the new stuff going forward. If you want to watch earlier adventures of the good Doctor, you’ll have to head to Max. Max is the home to the past 13 seasons, starting in 2005 with the revival that starred Christopher Eccleston as the ninth Doctor and continuing through to Jodie Whitaker’s 13th Doctor. Thankfully the seasons are pretty short and the show is compulsively watchable, especially at this time of year (there are always Christmas episodes and the show’s cozy vibe makes it perfect for winter). While it’s not wholly necessary to watch all of the older seasons before checking out the new specials on Disney+, it’s also not an entirely bad idea. But don’t blame us. It’s Doctor’s orders. [[WATCH](] Source: Prime Video “Faraway Downs” Sunday, November 26, Hulu Remember “Australia,” Baz Luhrmann’s historical drama starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman? Well it’s back, this time as "A Baz Luhrmann Film Told in Six Chapters." The new telling utilizes footage from the original production that went unused for the theatrical cut, including a new opening and new ending, plus several key differences in the narrative. There’s also new music. If you never saw the original, this will probably be the version to watch. And if you did see the original, this should be a fascinating extension/alternate version. [[INTERVIEW](] “The Artful Dodger” Wednesday, November 29, Disney+/Hulu A television version of one of those literary novels that images the lives of characters from a beloved piece of fiction, “The Artful Dodger” follows the title character from Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” (played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster), now working as a surgeon in 1850s Australia. When his old chum Fagin (David Thewlis) shows up, he’s forced back into a life of crime. And honestly this looks like a fun, compulsively watchable new series, which is good since all of the episodes drop on Hulu today. [[TRAILER](] “The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday” Thursday, November 30, Netflix “The Bad Guys: A Very Bad Holiday” is a half-hour Christmas special based on the DreamWorks Animation feature from last year. Unlike the movie, the new special doesn’t feature any of the starry voice cast, but it does feature the same fun characters and cool stylization. A prequel to the movie, it follows the titular characters, who give up on a citywide heist to help bring the holiday spirit back to the impacted citizens. Isn’t that sweet? [[TRAILER](] “Family Switch” Thursday, November 30, Netflix Who doesn’t love a good body swapping comedy? What about one where various family members switch places with others, so the kids become the parents and the baby swaps places with the dog? We agree: it sounds delightful. Jennifer Garner and Ed Helms star as the parents in this adaptation of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s book “Bedtime for Mommy,” with direction courtesy of McG (“Charlie’s Angels,” “The Babysitter”). This could be an all-ages hoot. [[TRAILER](] “Candy Cane Lane” Friday, December 1, Prime Video Last time Eddie Murphy made a holiday movie it was the extremely R-rated “Trading Places.” Now he’s back with a yuletide romp for the whole family. Murphy plays a man driven to win his neighborhood Christmas decorating contest, but when he makes a deal with a devilish elf (Jillian Bell), he finds himself having to avoid being transformed into a tiny plastic doll. (Yes, this is the actual plot of the movie.) “Candy Cane Lane” sees Murphy re-teaming with his “Boomerang” director Reginald Hudlin and co-starring with Tracee Ellis-Ross, Ken Marino and Nick Offerman. This is one Christmas present we can’t wait to unwrap. [[TRAILER](] 2034 Armacost Ave. | Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](