This is what is happening in the world of television on Friday December 18 and Saturday December 19. All times are Eastern.
Top choices
Ma Rainey’s black bottom (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 am)“It’s important to note that there wouldn’t even be a show to admire without the pioneering career of Ma Rainey, who recognizes and honors Davis with her otherworldly portrayal. Still, this is undoubtedly Boseman’s show and will likely live on as his greatest work. Seeing him rise to meet the vibrancy of titans like Davis and Turman (who luckily gets his own moment to shine with a wise monologue in the seat of a piano) is an unjust tease, promising something we won’t love. enjoy one more time. What makes the movie excruciatingly heartbreaking is how well the star fits the greats, uttering Wilson’s intoxicating words with the thrilling gusto of someone you’d think had decades worth of credits to his name. Read the rest of Shannon Miller’s A review of the movie here, which will mark the late Chadwick Boseman’s final appearance. Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman and Michael Potts also star.
Small ax: education (Amazon Prime Video, 12:01 p.m., finale): With Steve McQueen’s anthology, it comes to an end Education. In her review, Jourdain Searles writes that “the thoughtful, emotional power of Education. It’s a movie that is a good fit for the heart and shows how a caring community comes together and creates its own space to thrive. Education is a story about the work Caribbean immigrants have always done to preserve their culture and take care of each other. Sometimes it really takes a village. “
Regular coverage
The Mandalorian (Disney +, 3:01 a.m., Season Finale): No one is ready for any more Baby Yoda scenes and memes until season three, but at least here we are. In the final outing of season two, the Mandalorian and the Child – or as we now know Grogu – continue their journey through a dangerous galaxy, meeting enemies and allies in the tumultuous era following the collapse of the Galactic Empire. Mike Vanderbilt will sum it up.
Saturday Night Live (NBC, 11:29 PM): SNL close the year with host and returning star Kristen Wiig and musical guest Dua Lipa. Dennis Perkins will sum it up.
Jokers
A Creepshow Holiday Special (Shudder, Friday, 3:01 am): Somehow it makes sense in the year 2020 Scary show would offer us a special holiday. Written and directed by showrunner Greg Nicotero and starring Adam Pally and Anna Camp, the one-hour special is based on a short story by JA Konrath. In “Shapeshifters Anonymous”, a fearful man who fears he is a murderer searches for answers to his “unique condition” from an unusual support group. The episode airs on Shudder, AMC Network’s streaming service for horror, thriller and supernatural enthusiasts.
On Pointe (Disney +, Friday, 3:01 AM): Prepare for unprecedented access to New York City’s renowned School Of American Ballet (SAB) in this new six-part docuseries that follows the lives of 8 to 18-year-old students pursuing their dreams of becoming ballet dancers. As older students from around the country train rigorously for professional careers, younger students are put to the test as they rehearse and perform in New York City Ballet’s Christmas classic “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” on stage at Lincoln Center. Larissa Bills will direct the show, which was created by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein from Imagine Documentaries and Matthew O’Neill from DCTV.
Sweet home (Netflix, Friday, 3:01 am): This new South Korean horror series, based on the Webtoon of the same name, is an apocalyptic-style drama in keeping with the times. Cha Hyun-soo from Song Kang is a loner who moves into a new apartment to disrupt his peaceful life through strange incidents in his new building, where humans turn into monsters and the residents fight to survive.