presented by
Week of September 19 – 25
We’re finally getting into the frenzy of the fall TV season, with a new comedy series starring “True Detective” alums Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey (“Brothers” on Apple TV), a new cycle of “American Horror Story” (on FX and Hulu) and shows starring Jon Hamm (“American Hostage” on MGM+), Peter Krause (“Line of Fire” on NBC) and Sharon Horgan (“Youth” on HBO). Plus there’s a Russell Crowe-led “Unabomber” movie (on Netflix), a Pulp documentary (“What Do You Do For An Encore?” on Mubi), a Tom Bateman/Lili Reinhart rom-com (“The Love Hypothesis” on Prime Video) and a long-awaited “A Different World” reboot (on Netflix). See what we mean? Things are heating up while the weather is cooling down!
On with the television!
Brothers
Wednesday, September 23, Apple TV
Source: Apple TV
Here’s a real story — years after the fact, Matthew McConaughey’s mother Kay confessed to having an intimate relationship with Woody Harrelson’s father Charles Harrelson, an underworld figure who was eventually arrested for the murder of a San Antonio judge and later claimed to have participated in dozens of murders.
In the years since their … encounter … was revealed, Harrelson has pushed for a DNA test to see whether the two are really brothers. (McConaughey, more sensitive, has resisted.) Now they are turning the potential that they are actually related into a new comedy series for Apple TV.
It’s every possible sibling’s dream! In “Brothers” the “True Detective” stars play heightened versions of themselves, who learn that they could be related and go on a hilarious existential quest to discover the truth.
Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez, Lisa Gilroy and Dax Shepard also star in this comedy from creators Harrelson, McConaughey, David West Read and Lee Eisenberg. The first two episodes of the eight-episode series premiere tonight, followed by new episodes every week until November 4.
Maybe if the show is a hit they could fold in other maybe brothers in the next season. Danny DeVito? Jessie Eisenberg? Mr. T? The sky’s the limit when it comes to just who could be “Brothers.” [TRAILER]
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Thursday, September 24, Paramount+
Source: Paramount+
The typhoon of streaming “Star Trek” material that has been produced in the last few years is slowing to a trickle. “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” a pseudo-comic, anything-goes series that takes place in the decade before the original “Star Trek” series and follows Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), was one of the undoubted highlights of this era of “Trek” television.
And it too will be boldly going off the air very soon. This week, the last episode of the fourth season premies, leaving a truncated fifth season with just six episodes left to go. Elsewhere, there’s a second season of “Starfleet Academy” on the way. And that’s it. Whether you were a fan of these shows or passively engaged, there was certainly something for everyone. It’s a bit of a bummer that we don’t have anything to look forward afterwards — at least not yet. [TRAILER]
Unabomber
Friday, September 25, Netflix
Source: Netflix
Ready to visit the origins of one of America’s most famous killers? In “Unabomber,” directed by Janus Metz (who has helmed episodes of “True Detective” and “Andor”), we flash back in time to 1958, where Ted Kacyznski (played by Jacob Tremblay) is a fresh-faced whiz kid attending Harvard University. That’s where Kaczynski, later known as the Unabomber, took part in what have been described as unethical psychological experiments, led by psychologist Henry Murray (played in the film by Russell Crowe).
The film cuts back and forth between dewy Ted taking part in the hugely detrimental experiments and the manhunt, decades later, for the man known as the Unabomber, who terrorized unsuspecting victims for more than 20 years. (Shailene Woodley plays a dogged FBI agent who is intent on identifying the man behind the deadly bombs and bringing him to justice.) Annabelle Wallis and Alexander Ludwig also star in the based-on-a-true-story thriller. [TRAILER]
Pulp: What Do You Do For An Encore?
Friday, September 25, Mubi
Source: MUBI
Pulp, the English rock band that was founded in 1978, has become something of an institution in the years since their formation — 1995’s “Different Class” and 1998’s “This Is Hardcore” are considered classic albums and their reach and influence has reverberated through the decades.
This new documentary, directed by the great Garth Jennings (yes, he made the two “Sing” movies for Illumination), captures the band on their 2025 tour. Narrated by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, “the film weaves together footage from their ingenious live show with four decades of never-before-seen archival material, charting the band’s circuitous journey from Sheffield outsiders to unlikely cultural icons,” according to the official synopsis.
This documentary features 20 songs from across their career and serves as “a tribute to a band of misfits whose sharp social commentary, sarcastic yet sincere wit, and enduring empathy with their audience continue to resonate across generations.” We can’t wait to party with Pulp for one more night. [TRAILER]
American Horror Story
Thursday, September 24 at 9 p.m., FX
Source: FX
This week, the 13th season of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's anthology series arrives. (The first season aired way back in 2011.) It’s the first season without a true subtitle (it’s simply dubbed “13”) and the first season with half-hour-long episodes instead of full hour-long episodes — they will air in clusters of three or two episodes each week, bizarrely.
And, much like Season 8’s “Apocalypse,” this season will remix elements from earlier installments, with each performer — among them mainstays like Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd and a returning Jessica Lange — essaying multiple characters from the series' continuum. So it's the right time to revisit those earlier scenes before the reunion.
We have a few questions though, mostly about what kind of framing device will allow for all of these characters to occupy the same narrative, and whether or not the show will acknowledge some of the least successful (or more forgettable) seasons. Will anybody pop up from “Roanoke?” “1984?” “NYC?” What about the failed “Delicate” (aka the one with Kim Kardashian)? Can we just get another season set in the “Asylum” universe? Please? [WATCH]
