TV Watchlist: The Oscars Are Here, Taylor Swift Crashes Disney+ and Apple Has a New 'Manhunt'

Plus the streaming debut of "Poor Things" and Netflix has an acclaimed Frida Kahlo documentary Week of March 9 – 15 Congratulations! You made it through Oscar season! The big night is this weekend and while that is obviously what everybody will be watching, there is plenty more to watch this weekend and beyond – from a new Annette Bening prestige series from the author of “Big Little Lies” (“Apples Never Fall”) to the streaming debut of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour movie (finally!) to new documentaries about Frida Kahlo and World War II, there’s something to get everybody excited, even if they don’t give a hoot about Hollywood’s starriest night. On with the television! Apples Never Fall Thursday, March 14, Peacock Source: Peacock A new prestige drama, with thriller elements, based on a novel from Australian author Liane Moriarty, who also wrote “Big Little Lies” and “Nine Perfect Strangers” (both turned into prestige dramas with thriller elements). This yarn focuses on a pair of retired tennis coaches, played by recent Oscar nominee (and national treasure) Annette Bening and Sam Neill. After celebrating their retirement, Bening’s character goes missing, leading their children (played by Alison Brie, Jake Lacy and others) to suspect foul play. Did something happen to her or did she just run away from her mundane life that she’d gotten so tired of? (The trailer ominously shows a bicycle splattered with blood.) Expect just as much about the dynamics of a marriage (and a family) as much as there is mysterious intrigue. And that’s the way we like it. At the very least “Apples Never Fall” will be an acting powerhouse, with some of our best actors working their little tails off. And the mystery does seem genuinely involving and compelling. Ready to get wrapped up in “Apples Never Fall?” [[TRAILER](] Ancient Aliens Friday, March 15 at 9 p.m., History Source: History “Ancient Aliens” has been on the air for 20 (!) seasons. How is this possible? Friday's finale involves “The Mystery of the Stone Spheres,” which is a perfectly “Ancient Aliens”-y subject matter and one that is rightly being investigated. It used to be that the History Channel almost exclusively showed World War II documentaries. We were always aware of our very recent past and cautious to repeat the same mistakes. Now the History Channel shows multi-part documentaries about the creation of our favorite snack foods and has spent 20 years detailing the potential intervention of otherworldly visitors on earth’s history. You can draw your own conclusions there. But we still love watching “Ancient Aliens” for the wacky theories, chunky man jewelry that our dude Giorgio Tsoukalos is constantly wearing and grave, creepy voice over narration (big ups to Robert Clotworthy). The truth is out there. [[TRAILE](R] Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Thursday, March 14, Disney+ Source: Disney+ Are you ready for it? The highest-grossing concert film of all time finally comes to streaming as “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” finds its home on Disney+. As is usually the case with bespoke TS releases, the streaming version of the concert film includes extra goodies: The performance of “Cardigan” which was not in the theatrical or digital release, but four additional songs that weren’t featured in those releases either. What they are is a secret for now but fingers crossed for “Exile.” In the meantime, whether you’re reliving the live experience or checking out “The Eras Tour” for the first time, it’s no understatement to say this is a historical event. [[TRAILER](] Frida Friday, March 15, Prime Video Source: Prime Video According to the official synopsis, “Frida” (which recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival), is a “raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, told through her own words for the very first time, drawn from her famed illustrated diary, revealing letters, essays, and candid print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork.” The documentary marks the feature debut of editor Carla Gutiérrez and covers 40 years of the fabled artist’s life, a “living portrait emboldened by the magical realism befitting Kahlo's remarkable life emerges.” Produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, this promises to be one of the year’s must-watch documentaries. [[TRAILER](] Poor Things Hulu Source: Netflix If you haven’t seen “Poor Things,” currently nominated for a whopping 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture (see below), well, now is your chance. “The Favourite” team of director Yorgos Lanthimos, star Emma Stone and screenwriter Tony McNamara reconvene for this off-the-wall adaptation of Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel. Willem Dafoe plays a Frankenstein-ian mad scientist who resurrects Stone’s suicidal waif, implanting the brain of her unborn child into her adult woman body. Somehow, from there, things get even weirder, as Stone’s Bella Baxter encounters weirdos while fully embracing all that this singularly surreal, steampunk-inspired world has to offer. With a starry supporting cast of movie stars playing a bunch of off-putting weirdos (Mark Ruffalo as a horny scoundrel is standout) and a unique style that combines silent movie aesthetics with progressive sexual politics, “Poor Things” is a strange brew but an intoxicating, utterly fulfilling one. At the very least try to squeeze this one in before the Oscars ceremony. You’ll want to have an opinion. [[WATCH](] Source: Apple TV+ 96th Academy Awards Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT, ABC The showdown of “Barbie” versus “Oppenheimer,” initially staged as a box office battle this past summer, has transferred to awards season, culminating in this year’s Academy Awards. The ceremony, once again airing on ABC and once again hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, starts a full hour earlier – we cannot stress this enough – so make sure you tune in at the right time. Given how starry the ceremony should be, between the presenters and the nominees, this is must-watch stuff. Also, it ends the grueling, months-long awards season, which is also worth celebrating. What’s that? The Emmys are around the corner (again)? [[TRAILER](] “Boat Story” Tuesday, March 12, Freevee This sounds wonderful. “Boat Story” hails from the producers of “Fleabag” and, according to the official synopsis, “follows two strangers, Daisy Haggard (Back to Life, Breeders) and Paterson Joseph (Wonka, Timeless) as Janet and Samuel, who can't believe their luck when they stumble upon a shipwrecked boat full of cocaine. With each of them desperate for a fresh start, they agree to sell the drugs and split the cash. But on their tail are the police, masked hit men, and a sharp-suited gangster known only as “The Tailor.” When two ordinary people are pushed to the very edge, can they trust each other and get away with their lives and money?” How great does that sound? [[TRAILER](] “Little Wing” Wednesday, March13, Paramount+ Inspired by the New Yorker article by Susan Orlean, “Little Wing” “follows Kaitlyn, a 13-year-old girl who, reeling from her parents' divorce and the pending loss of her home, is drawn into the world of pigeon racing. She hopes to solve her family's financial woes by stealing a valuable bird but instead forms a bond with the owner who cultivates her love of the sport.” The cast includes Brian Cox, Kelly Reilly and Brooklynn Prince. And the film was written by John Gatins (“Flight”) and directed by Dean Isrealite (the underrated recent “Power Rangers” movie). Sounds like the perfect fodder for family movie night. [[TRAILER](] “The Bloody Hundredth” Friday, March15, Apple TV+ This Friday “Masters of the Air” ends and along with it “The Bloody Hundredth,” a documentary about the real-life bombers that the acclaimed limited series dramatizes. The documentary is produced by Playtone, narrated by Tom Hanks and features rarely seen footage. History comes alive! [[TRAILER](] “Manhunt” Friday, March15, Apple TV+ Based on James L. Swanson’s bestselling, edge-of-your-seat nonfiction book “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer,” the new miniseries follows Lincoln’s (Hamish Linklater) assassination and the pursuit of his murderer, John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle). The great Tobias Menzies plays Edwin Stanton, the leader of the investigation. And if you think you know the story, there are considerably more twists and a growing conspiracy that shrouded the murder and its aftermath. With direction by genuine suspense legends like Carl Franklin and John Dahl and scripts from Monica Beletsky, a veteran of “Friday Night Lights,” “Fargo” and “The Leftovers,” this should be some gripping television indeed. [[TRAILER](] 2034 Armacost Ave. | Los Angeles, CA 90025 [Unsubscribe](