The Winchesters - CW
By Digital Editor Mike Nam
Did 15 seasons of Supernatural not satisfy your hunger for monster-of-the-week, hour-long dramas? Well, if that's the case, the CW has ushered in a new prequel series set in 1972, following the exploits of the vampire and demon-hunting duo of Mary Campbell and John Winchester, played by Meg Donnelly and Drake Rodger respectively. The cast and creators of the new series came to New York Comic Con to give it a big pitch and announce a surprise, so for long-time fans and for the curious bystander who may not want to dive into a decade-and-a-half of the original show, it may be worth your time to check this one out.
The Redeem Team - Netflix
Picked by Reporter Lawrence Banton
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade teamed up to executive produce and retell the story of the 2008 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, famously known as the Redeem Team. They had just come off a depressing tournament loss that only landed them the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens games so it was time to run it back. But this time, Kobe Bryant was at the helm and while the documentary is an in-depth look back at the 2008 squad as a whole, much of the film focuses on the grit, determination, and the one-track-minded focus of the "Bean" to win the gold medal — and settle for nothing else. We also get to hear behind-the-scenes takes and never before heard stories from figures like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Coach K, Carlos Boozer, and even the late Kobe Bryant himself.
The Great British Baking Show - Netflix
Picked by Newsletter Writer Graison Dangor
It's a great time to dip into the current season of the cozy standby from across the pond. The weekly contest is now halfway through its 10-episode run, providing low-stakes suspense as bakers attempt ambitious cakes, breads, and the ever-expansive British category of puddings. Contest and fan favorites have emerged, such as jolly Janusz and wacky aunt Carole, whose pronunciation of guacamole (“gwocky molo”) was so awful that it distracted from the rest of the cringefest that was Mexican Week, which is the only episode worth skipping.
Brillo Box (3 Cents Off) - Netflix
Picked by Sr. News Editor Dina Ross
This 2017 documentary is for all of you Antiques Roadshow fans out there. Have you ever looked around your home and thought, "Is any of this stuff worth anything?" Filmmaker Lisanne Skyler fondly recalls a yellow Brillo box that lived in her family's home when she was a child, but it wasn't just any box of steel wool. It was one of artist Andy Warhol's famed Brillo Box pieces. At some point, the family's Brillo Box was sold to buy new art, and decades later, after Warhol became an art world juggernaut, she decided to find out what ever happened to her parents' former piece. You'll be amazed by what she found.
Halloween Throwback
Halloween III: Season of the Witch - Peacock
Picked by Reporter Alex Vuocolo
The latest entry in the Halloween franchise is coming out Friday, and there is no shortage of listicles and retrospectives about the storied horror series. I'm a big fan of many of these films, no less the 1978 classic from director John Carpenter, and like any fanboy, I have plenty of opinions about which sequels are the best. But putting all that aside, I'd like to recommend Halloween III: Season of the Witch. It might not be the best Halloween, but it's certainly one of the most original. The masked Michael Myers is nowhere to be seen in its 98-minute runtime, and instead it concerns a conspiracy by an evil Halloween costume company. That may sound out of left field, but if you have any love for the spooky season, you'll enjoy its weird charms.