Happy Monday!
I hope you enjoy this list, as well as my Bonus Episodes on Patreon. I have been covering a lot of the royal family updates, both media strategy (or lack there of) and intel. Stay tuned for my Tuesday episode too. Brian Moylan and I are going to talk about the parallels between the royals and reality stars of present.
Documentaries:
Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (ID) uncovers the toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The documentary reveals an insidious environment rife with allegations of abuse, sexism, racism, and inappropriate dynamics with its underage stars and crew by pulling back the curtain on an empire, built by creator Dan Schneider, that had an undeniable grip on popular culture. Series such as All That and The Amanda Show, among others, were obsessively consumed by children across the country, and defined comedy for a generation. The painful behind the scenes story is exposed. (March 17 and 18)
Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told (Hulu) is a celebratory exploration of the boisterous times of Freaknik, the iconic Atlanta street party that drew hundreds of thousands of people in the 80s and 90s, helping put Atlanta on the map culturally. What began as a Black college cookout, soon became known for lurid tales of highway hookups and legendary late-night parties that ultimately led to the festival’s downfall. At its height, Freaknik was a traffic stopping, city-shuttering, juggernaut that has since become a cult classic. Rooted deep in its history of Civil Rights, thriving Black leadership, and focus on the uplifting of Black culture and education, Atlanta became the only place a festival like this could grow and thrive. (March 21)
I think this is a great new concept, which I hope more shows do. The making of Young Royals Forever (Netflix) is the concept behind this documentary. From casting to the final take, this special shows how the cast and crew of Young Royals bring Wilhelm and Simon’s heartwarming journey to life. (March 18)
Reality Shows:
Top Chef (Bravo) has host Kristen Kish joining head judge Tom Colicchio and perennial judge Gail Simmons at the judges’ table as they head to the Midwest to call Wisconsin home. (March 20)
Buying Beverly Hills (Netflix) follows top agents from Mauricio Umansky’s The Agency, including his daughters Farrah, Alexia and Sophia as they navigate the high stakes world of luxury real estate, relationships, and friendships. (Netflix)
Dinner Party Diaries with José Andrés (Amazon Prime Video and Freevee) - Andrés invites Jamie Lee Curtis, Bryan Cranston and O’Shea Jackson Jr., over for food and conversation. His guests join him in the kitchen, getting their hands dirty with approachable Spanish-influenced recipes, and laughing through the stories that inspire them. Andrés cultivates deep connections with his celebrity guests through hilarious and poignant conversations that reflect his authentic relationships. Unlike most instructional food specials, Andrés embraces imperfection and spontaneity in the kitchen, giving viewers important takeaways to apply in their own homes. (march 19)
The Valley (Bravo) debuts this week. The show follows a group of close friends as they trade bottle service in West Hollywood for baby bottles in the Valley all while they navigate bustling businesses, rocky relationships and feisty friendships. Spoiler: Two of the couples already split. Fun! (March 19)
I also highly recommend the reality series The McBee Dynasty: American Cowboys on Peacock TV. It’s basically if Yellowstone was about a real family. (Streaming)