This week at the movies, we’ve got desert battles (Gods of Egypt, starring Gerard Butler and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), a big city heist (Triple 9, starring Casey Affleck and Chiwetel Ejiofor), and winter games (Eddie the Eagle, starring Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman) What do the critics have to say?
Months before its release, Gods of Egypt drew heat for its lily-white casting. However, critics say a lack of diversity is only one of its many problems, which also include bombastic performances, cheesy special effects, and a surfeit of unintentional laughs. Set (Gerard Butler) has violently claimed the throne and ruled despotically, so it’s up to Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Bek (Brenton Thwaites) to break his grip on power. The pundits say Gods of Egypt is a spectacularly misconceived would-be epic that might be more fun if it fully embraced its utter preposterousness.
Star-studded it may be, but Triple 9 is pretty far from Ocean’s Eleven or Now You See Me territory. Critics say this violent crime drama delivers its share of pulpy thrills, but its plot is both overstuffed and predictable. A crew of ruthless thieves comprised of former soldiers and dirty cops are blackmailed by Russian mobsters into taking on a nearly impossible heist, and to succeed, they’ll need to create a major distraction — a 999, code for “officer down.” The pundits say Triple 9‘s top notch roster of acting talent (which includes Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, and Kate Winslet) helps to elevate this dark, occasionally brutal genre picture.
Die-hard sports fans will dimly remember Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, the British ski jumper whose indomitable spirit and last place finish at the 1988 Winter Olympics made him a folk hero. The critics say Eddie the Eagle, a fictional retelling of Edwards’ story starring Taron Egerton in the title role, is an occasionally over-saccharine inspirational sports film that nonetheless succeeds on the basis of its infections charm and strong performances.
Broad City returns with another strong season of Jacobson and Glazer’s hilarious outlook on the struggles of NYC life.
Togetherness returns with its charm intact, though its compelling characters could stand to have a few more laughs.
Judd Apatow’s Love is an honest look at building a relationship, helped along by its two appealing leads.
Also Opening This Week In Limited Release
Here it is: the ever-growing list of mid-season premieres for winter and spring, 2016. Included here are series and season premieres, as well as returns of shows that will have been on hiatus for a couple of months or more. So mark your calendars now. Will “peak TV” continue peaking in 2016? You be the judge.
January | February | March | April | TBA
Friday, Jan. 1
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride special event, 9 p.m., PBS
Sunday, Jan. 3
Galavant season two premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Downton Abbey season six premiere, 8 pm, PBS
Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life series premiere, FOX
Bordertown series premiere, 9:30 p.m., FOX
Monday, Jan. 4
The Bachelor, season 20 premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
The Biggest Loser season 17 premiere, 9 p.m., NBC
Tuesday, Jan. 5
The New Girl season five premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Teen Wolf season five return, 9 p.m., MTV
The Shannara Chronicles series premiere, 10 p.m., MTV
Wednesday, Jan. 6
American Idol season 15 premiere, 8 p.m., FOX
Mike & Molly season six premiere, 8 p.m., CBS
American Crime season two premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia season 11 premiere, 10 p.m., FXX
Man Seeking Woman season two premiere, 10:30 p.m., FXX
Thursday, Jan. 7
Angel from Hell series premiere, 9:30 p.m., CBS
Beyond the Tank season two premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Shades of Blue series premiere, 10 p.m., NBC
Todd Margaret season three premiere, 10 p.m., IFC
Sunday, Jan. 10
Shameless season six premiere, 9 p.m., SHO
Tuesday, Jan. 12
Pretty Little Liars season six return, 8 p.m., Freeform
Shadowhunters series premiere, 9 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Second Chance series premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
Younger season two premiere, 10 p.m., TV Land
Teachers series premiere, 11 p.m., TV Land
Thursday, Jan. 14
Colony series premiere, 10 p.m., USA
Workaholics season six premiere, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Idiotsitter series premiere, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Friday, Jan. 15
Hell’s Kitchen season 15 premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Jan. 17
Angie Tribeca series premiere, 9 p.m., TBS
Billions series premiere, 10 p.m., Showtime
Mercy Street series premiere, 10 p.m., PBS
Monday, Jan. 18
War & Peace series premiere, 9 p.m., A&E, Lifetime, History
Almost Royal season two premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Hit the Floor season three premiere, 10 p.m., VH1
Tuesday, Jan. 19
Marvel’s Agent Carter season two premiere, 9 p.m., ABC
Thursday, Jan. 21
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow series premiere, 8 p.m., CW
The 100 season three premiere, 9 p.m., CW
Baskets series premiere, 10 p.m., FX
London Spy series US premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Portlandia season six premiere, 10 p.m., IFC
Dark Net series premiere, 11 p.m., Showtime
Friday, Jan. 22
Chelsea Does series premiere, Netflix
Mad Dogs series premiere, Amazon Studios
Children’s Hospital season seven premiere, 11 p.m., Comedy Central, Adult Swim
Saturday, Jan. 23
Black Sails season three, 9 p.m., Starz
Beowulf series premiere, 10 p.m., Esquire
Sunday, Jan. 24
The X-Files season 10 premiere, 10 p.m., FOX
Monday, Jan. 25
The Fosters season three return, 8 p.m., Freeform
American Dad! season 12 premiere, 8:30 p.m., TBS
Lucifer series premiere, 9 p.m., FOX
The Magicians series premiere, 9 p.m., SyFy
Recovery Road series premiere, 9 p.m., Freeform
Tuesday, Jan. 26
Outsiders series premiere, 9 p.m., WGN
Wednesday, Jan. 27
Lucha Underground season two premiere, 9 p.m., El Rey
Suits season five return, 10 p.m., USA
Thursday, Jan. 28
You, Me and the Apocalypse series premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Friday, Jan. 29
The Vampire Diaries season seven return, 8 p.m., CW
The Originals season three return, 9 p.m., CW
Sunday, Jan. 31
The Venture Bros season six premiere, midnight, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim
Tuesday, Feb. 2
The Muppets season one return, 8 p.m., ABC
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson series premiere, 10 p.m., FX
Wednesday, Feb. 3
Madoff series premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Young & Hungry season three premiere, 8 p.m., Freeform
Baby Daddy season five premiere, 8:30 p.m., Freeform
Friday, Feb. 5
Sleepy Hollow season three return, 8 p.m., FOX
Animals series premiere, 11:30 p.m., HBO
Monday, Feb. 8
Castle season eight return, 10 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Tosh.0 season eight return, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Not Safe with Nikki Glaser series premiere, 10:30 p.m., Comedy Central
Thursday, Feb. 11
Grey’s Anatomy season 12 return, 8 p.m., ABC
Scandal season five return, 9 p.m., ABC
How to Get Away with Murder season two return, 10 p.m., ABC
Those Who Can’t series premiere, 10:30 p.m., TruTV
Friday, Feb. 12
The Amazing Race season 28 return, 8 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Feb. 14
The Walking Dead season six return, 9 p.m., AMC
Vinyl series premiere, 9 p.m., HBO
Monday, Feb. 15
11.22.63 series premiere, Hulu
Major Crimes season four return, 9 p.m., TNT
Better Call Saul season two premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
Bitten season three premiere 11 p.m., Syfy
Tuesday, Feb. 16
The New Yorker Presents series premiere, Amazon Studios
Rizzoli & Isles season seven premiere, 9 p.m., TNT
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Survivor season 32 premiere, 8 p.m., CBS
Broad City season three premiere, 10 p.m., Comedy Central
Thursday, Feb. 18
Vikings season four premiere, 8 p.m., History
Friday, Feb. 19
Love series premiere, Netflix
Sunday, Feb. 21
Girls season five premiere, 10 p.m., HBO
Togetherness season two premiere, 10:30 p.m., HBO
Thursday, Feb. 25
Prey miniseries premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Friday, Feb. 26
Fuller House series premiere, Netflix
Monday, Feb. 29
Gotham season two return, 8 p.m., FOX
The Voice season 10 premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Blindspot season one return, 10 p.m., NBC
Back to Top
Wednesday, Mar. 2
Rosewood season one return, 8 p.m., Fox
The Real O’Neals series premiere, 8:30 p.m., ABC
CSI: Cyber season two return, 10 p.m., CBS
Hap and Leonard series premiere 10 p.m., Sundance
Thursday, Mar. 3
The Family series premiere, 9 p.m., ABC
Friday, Mar. 4
House of Cards season four, Netflix
Sunday, Mar. 6
Once Upon a Time season five return, 8 p.m., ABC
I Am Cait season two premiere, 9 p.m., E!
Quantico season one return, 10 p.m., ABC
Monday, Mar. 7
Bates Motel season four premiere, 9 p.m., A&E
Damien series premiere, 10 p.m., A&E
Tuesday, Mar. 8
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season three return, 9 p.m., ABC
Of Kings and Prophets series premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, Mar. 9
The Carmichael Show season two preview, 10 p.m., NBC
Underground series premiere, 10 p.m., WGN
Thursday, Mar. 10
60 Days In series premiere, 9 p.m., A&E
Friday, Mar. 11
Bosch season two premiere, Amazon
The Characters series premiere, Netflix
Flaked series premiere, Netflix
Party Over Here series premiere, 11 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Mar. 13
And Then There Were None miniseries US premiere, 8 p.m., Lifetime
The Carmichael Show season two premiere, 9 p.m., NBC
Tuesday, Mar. 15
Crowded series preview episodes, 10:00 p.m., NBC
Faking It season three premiere, 10:30 p.m., MTV
Wednesday, Mar. 16
Happy Valley season two premiere, Netflix
Schitt’s Creek season two premiere, 8 p.m., POP
Nashville season four return, 9 p.m., ABC
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders series premiere, 10 p.m., CBS
The Americans season four premiere, 10 p.m., FX
Friday, Mar. 18
Marvel’s Daredevil season two premiere, Netflix
Sunday, Mar. 20
Crowded series premiere, 9:30 pm, NBC
Monday, Mar. 21
Dancing with the Stars season 22 premiere, 8 p.m., ABC
Tuesday, Mar. 22
Heartbeat series preview, 9 p.m., NBC
Stitchers season two premiere, 10 p.m., Freeform
Wednesday, Mar. 23
Heartbeat series premiere, 8 p.m., NBC
Rogue season four premiere, 9 p.m., DirecTV
The Carbonaro Effect season two premiere , 10 p.m., TruTV
Sunday, Mar. 27
Grantchester season two premiere, 9 p.m., PBS
Mr. Selfridge season four premiere, 10 p.m., PBS
Thursday, Mar. 24
The Catch series premiere, 10 p.m., ABC
Wednesday, Mar. 30
The Path series premiere, Hulu
Empire season two return, 9 p.m., FOX
Lopez series premiere, 10 p.m., TVLand
The Soul Man season five, 10:30 p.m., TV Land
Thursday, Mar. 31
Archer season seven premiere, FX
Rush Hour series premiere, 10 p.m., CBS
Friday, Apr. 1
The Ranch season premiere, Netflix
Banshee season four premiere, Cinemax
Motive season three premiere (US), 10 p.m., USA
Wynonna Earp series premiere, 10 p.m., SyFy
Sunday, Apr. 3
Call the Midwife season five premiere, 8 p.m., PBS
Thursday, Apr. 7
The Odd Couple season two premiere, 8:30 p.m., CBS
Friday, Apr. 8
Catastrophe season two premiere, Amazon
Saturday, Apr. 9
Outlander season two premiere, 9 p.m., Starz
Sunday, Apr. 10
The Girlfriend Experience series premiere, 8 p.m., Starz
House of Lies season five premiere, 9 p.m., Showtime
Dice series premiere, 9:30 p.m., Showtime
Fear the Walking Dead season two premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
Monday, Apr. 11
The Detour series premiere, 9 p.m., TBS
Hunters series premiere, 10 p.m., SyFy
Tuesday, Apr. 12
Ajin: Demi-Human series premiere, Netflix
The Mindy Project season four return, Hulu
Game of Silence series premiere, 10:00 p.m., NBC
Wednesday, Apr. 13
The Last Panthers series premiere, 10 p.m., SundanceTV
Thursday, Apr. 14
Bones season 11 return, 8 p.m., FOX
Orphan Black season four premiere, 10 p.m., BBC America
Friday, Apr. 15
Cuckoo season three US premiere, Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt season two premiere, Netflix
Monday, Apr. 18
12 Monkeys season two premiere, 9 p.m., SyFy
Tuesday, Apr. 19
Containment series premiere, 9 p.m., CW
The Night Manager miniseries premiere, AMC
Wednesday, Apr. 20
Deadbeat series 3 premiere, Hulu
Sunday, Apr. 24
Game of Thrones season six premiere, 9 p.m., HBO
Rebellion miniseries premiere, 9 p.m., Sundance
Silicon Valley season three premiere, 10 p.m., HBO
Veep season five premiere, 10:30 p.m., HBO
Monday, Apr. 25
Turn season three premiere, 10 p.m., AMC
The Last Man on Earth season two return, FOX
This week in TV news, Peter Capaldi warns Doctor Who fans about a very sad-but-clever departure, while Sean Bean theorizes about the fate of Game of Thrones‘ Jon Snow. Plus, Vice launches a 24-hour cable network, USA green-lights a new show with Dana Carvey, and The Muppets reboot with a new showrunner!
Get your hankies ready. Doctor Who’s Peter Capaldi says that the exit of his co-star Jenna Coleman has left him weepy. Coleman, who plays Clara in the current BBC America series, announced in September that she would be leaving the show to take the role as Queen Elizabeth in an upcoming ITV drama. Ending her character on the show has been done in a sad-but-clever manner according to Capaldi, who spoke on the UK’s Radio 1 Breakfast Show Wednesday morning. “It’s not quite what you think is gonna happen,” Capaldi told host Nick Grimshaw. “You think what’s gonna happen is gonna happen and then something else happens… It’s always clever the way these things are done on Doctor Who, so get lots of hankies ready. It’s sad over a number of weeks.” [Update: This post has been edited to remove possible spoilers] Additionally, showrunner Stephen Moffat said in an interview with Movie Player, “Clara is gone and will never return… I can only say that what will happen will shock, surprise and terrify. Strictly in that order.”
The Muppets, which came into the fall as one of the season’s most anticipated shows, has had a rocky go of it so far. First, the ratings, while better than last year’s Tuesday night show Selfie, are not as stellar as ABC had hoped. Then, critics were not so enthusiastic about the pilot, giving it a low Fresh score of 64 percent on the Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer. Now, just days after news that ABC has ordered three more episodes of The Muppets, it surfaces that showrunner Bob Kushell is leaving. According to insiders, there was a creative clash between Kushell and the reboot’s executive producer Bill Prady, who got his showbiz start working for Jim Henson. Galavant showrunner Kristin Newman is expected to take over for the season’s back half, which will air after the winter hiatus and serve as a creative reboot for the show.
[WARNING: Season five Game of Thrones spoilers ahead!] Sean Bean who played Ned Stark on the first season of Game of Thrones shared his theory about the fate of his character’s bastard son, Jon Snow (Kit Harington). Bean, whose own character met an untimely and jaw-dropping demise in season one, spoke to the final episode of season five, “Mother’s Mercy,” which ended with Jon Snow taking multiple knives, Julius Caesar-style, to the chest and lying face-up and staring dead-eyed into the sky. During a press conference for The Frankenstein Chronicles, Bean addressed whether or not Jon survived the attack, saying, “It kind of didn’t look like it, I have to admit, but who knows? Anything could happen. I guess that’s the big question… It used to be: ‘Who’s Jon Snow’s dad?’ Now it’s: ‘Is Jon Snow really dead?’ But I think he probably is. What do I know?” Season six of Game of Thrones is expected to return to HBO the first week of May.
This week in TV news, AMC greenlights a motorcycle-themed reality show with Norman Reedus, while Netflix gives a full-series order to YA project 13 Reasons Why with Selena Gomez. Plus, check out the happiest, fluffiest TV binge happening this weekend, and be on the lookout for HBO original series coming this winter — and figure out what that means for the next season of Game of Thrones! When is winter coming already?!
AMC announced Thursday its plans for a new non-scripted series, Ride With Norman Reedus, which stars The Walking Dead fan favorite (Daryl!) on the open road. In Ride, the actor and biker enthusiast will “explore local motorcycle culture and history and celebrate some of the best and brightest collectors, mechanics, and motorcycle craftsmen around the country.” Each episode will start in a different city and feature Reedus with a new riding companion — such as a fellow actor, musician, or bike fanatic — as they explore America’s motorcycle shops and collectors’ warehouses, as well as a few detours along the way (think tattoo parlors and roadside smokehouses). Ride With Norman Reedus, which will hit AMC in 2016 with six one-hour episodes, plans to showcase different motorcycles each week, adding to AMC’s existing unscripted programming: Comic Book Men and Talking Dead.
HBO set dates for three of its original series this week: Vinyl, Girls, and Togetherness. First up, Martin Scorsese‘s rock drama, Vinyl, starring Bobby Cannavale and written by Terence Winter of Boardwalk Empire fame, will premiere with a special two-hour episode on Valentine’s Day at 9 p.m. The following Sunday, Feb. 21, Vinyl will be the opening act for the season-five premiere of Girls, starring Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, and Adam Driver, and the season-two premiere of Togetherness with Mark Duplass and Amanda Peet. Over at Vulture, writer E. Alex Jung has calculated that these February dates mean a later start than usual for the next season of Game of Thrones. “As HBO only programs two hours of shows on Sunday nights,” Jung wrote, “it means that the sixth season of Game of Thrones likely wouldn’t return until May 1 at the earliest.”
Credit: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images
Pop idol Selena Gomez will executive-produce a 13-episode adaptation of the young adult novel 13 Reasons Why for Netflix, according to Variety. In the 2007 book of the same name from Jay Asher, a boy named Clay receives a shoebox from his late crush, Hannah Baker, after she commits suicide. The contents of the box are cassettes that Clay is to distribute to 12 of his classmates — each of whom Hannah blames for taking her own life. Gomez reportedly took the project to Anonymous Content after reading the book, along with her mother Mandy Teefey, who will also executive-produce the project. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Brian Yorkey, who penned the pilot, is attached to write the full series.