Happy Monday!
If you are looking for extra content this week check out my Patreon bonus episodes.
Here's what to watch this week:
The Big Conn (Apple TV+) tells the unbelievable true story of the larger-than-life attorney, Eric C. Conn, who defrauded the government over half a billion dollars in the largest Social Security fraud case in history. Conn's massive con was the largest theft of government money through the Social Security program, landing him in jail for 12 years with an additional 15 years added after his attempt to flee the country. You will love this if you enjoyed The Invisible Pilot and McMillions. (May 6)
Meltdown: Three Mile Island (Netflix) tackles the near catastrophe at Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania through the lens of chief engineer and whistleblower, Richard Parks, as well as the community it impacted. (May 4)
Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo TV) reunion, part one airs on Tuesday. Here’s what you can expect: yelling.
Petit Rat (PBS) is a documentary for your heart and soul. In 1940, a French Jewish girl's dream of becoming a ballerina is cut short by World War II. She vows that if she has daughters, they will become dancers. Nearly 80 years later, she and her two daughters confront the impact of that pledge. Petit Rat is a portrait of three women, bonded by the intergenerational trauma of war and uplifted by the resilience of familial love. (May 4)
Sheryl (Showtime) is great for music lovers. Sheryl is an intimate story of song and sacrifice about musical icon Sheryl Crow” and her seminal yet hard-fought musical career battling sexism, depression, perfectionism, cancer, and the price of fame – before harnessing the power of her gift. (May 6)
The Staircase on HBO Max explores the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling N.C. family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson; based on a true story. (May 5)
You can listen to my episode with author Diane Fanning to get more background on the case here:
If you want something else scripted, watch Under the Banner of Heaven (Hulu) (streaming now). I loved HBO’s series Big Love about a polygamous family led by Bill Paxson’s character Bill Henrickson.
In the Hulu series Detective Jeb Pyre investigates the murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty and her baby daughter in a suburb in the Salt Lake Valley, and he uncovers buried truths about the origins of the LDS religion and the violent consequences of unyielding faith. This is based on Jon Krakauer’s fantastic book of the same name.
Important to note Under the Banner of Heaven was created by Dustin Lance Black (Milk), who was brought up in the Mormon church. His goal over seven episode, he told Vanity Fair, was to explore how “patriarchal the church had been, and in many ways still was. And how such an absolute patriarchal structure threatens the safety of many women.” Specifically, in those fundamentalist sects that continue to embrace polygamy, the custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time, despite it being outlawed by the LDS Church in 1890.
Enjoy!