Former Playmate says Hugh Hefner’s mansion had ‘cult-like’ atmosphere: ‘He believed he owned these women’
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A former Playmate has denounced the “cult-like atmosphere” she says Hugh Hefner cultivated around him.
Miki Garcia was a Playmate and head of promotions from 1973 to 1982. She’s one of the participants in Secrets of Playboy, a new documentary about Hefner and Playboy set to start airing on A&E.
The documentary series features several former members of Hefner’s entourage, reflecting and sharing their accounts of the culture they say Hefner created at the Playboy mansion starting in the Seventies.
“It was cult-like,” Garcia says at one point. “The women had been groomed and led to believe they were part of this family. And he really did believe he owned these women.”
She adds: “We had Playmates that overdosed. There were Playmates that committed suicide.”
Garcia says she thought about writing a book, because she thought “maybe all of this stuff would go away” if she did.
“Hefner even sent someone to buy me off,” she says. “When you get someone that powerful to be that fearful, anything could happen. Anything. I had a bodyguard. I was that afraid.”
Through a mix of interviews and archival footage, Secrets of Playboy , a 10-hour documentary series, will explore “how the Playboy machine was a powerful force that, at its worst, manipulated women in a toxic environment, silencing their voices, pitting them against one another, and opening the door to sexual predators”, according to A&E.
Ahead of the documentary’s release, the PLBY Group, the company behind the magazine and its related properties, issued an open letter seeking to separate the current Playboy magazine from Hefner, who died in 2017 aged 91.
“We want to reach out to you in light of the forthcoming A&E docuseries that we understand will recount allegations of abhorrent actions by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and others,” the statement reads in part.
“First and foremost, we want to say: we trust and validate women and their stories, and we strongly support the individuals who have come forward to share their experiences. As a brand with sex positivity at its core, we believe safety, security and accountability are paramount, and anything less is inexcusable.”
It adds: “As you know, the Hefner family is no longer associated with Playboy, and today’s Playboy is not Hugh Hefner’s Playboy.”
“Please join us in doing the most important thing we can do right now — listen,” the statement goes on. “It is critically important that we listen as these women share their stories and that we continue to fight harassment and discrimination in all its forms, support healing and education, redefine tired and sexist definitions of beauty and advocate for inclusivity across gender, sexuality, race, age, ability, and zip codes.”
Secrets of Playboy started airing with a two-hour premiere on A&E on Monday (24 January) at 9pm ET/PT. The programme will also be available on demand and to stream on aetv.com and on the A&E app. New episodes will keep airing on Mondays until the finale on 21 March.
48 Most Intriguing Women of Arizona for 2022
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48 Arizona Women and the Arizona Historical Society have selected the 48 Most Intriguing Women of Arizona for 2022, among them an astronaut, a fire department chief and a young collegiate golfer with Downs Syndrome.
Now 11 years old, 48 Arizona Women, the sponsoring organization based in Scottsdale, started as an official Arizona Centennial Project in 2010 to recognize the state’s most remarkable women having a remarkable impact in their communities, often with little fanfare. The organization’s mission is to transform lives, build stronger communities and help positively shape Arizona and the nation.
The 48 Arizona Women project honors professional and non-professional women from diverse backgrounds whose leadership and commitment are contributing in a positive way to the future of Arizona.
Honorees hail from 15 cities across the state and include:
Avondale: Betsy Hargrove
Bullhead City: Nancy Mongeau
Chandler: Kristine Mill
Flagstaff: Coral Evans, Lyndel Manson
Fountain Hills: Ginny Dickey
Gilbert: Cara Christ
Kingman: Krystal Burge
Maricopa: Evandra Catherine
Paradise Valley: Juanita Francis
Phoenix: Amy Bockerstette, Katie Cobb, Helen Collins, January Contreras, Naomi Cramer, Abbie Fink, Sybil Francis, Diana Gregory, Dawn Grove, Michele Halyard, Katie Hobbs, Kara Kalkbrenner, Pardis Mahdavi, Ruth McGregor, Cindi Nannetti, Sian Proctor, Reena Rastogi, Denise Resnik, Mary Jane Rynd, Jennifer Sands, Jannah Scott, Ann Timmer, Ginger Torres
Scottsdale: Susan Eastridge, Alexa Kasselman, Mitzi Krockover, Barbara Peters
Somerton: Emma Torres
Tempe: Sarah Davis, Miki Garcia, Liz Lerman, Tiffany Lopez, Colleen Jennings Roggensack
Tucson: Lisa Lovello
Yuma: Gladys Brown, Shelley Mellon
A special Honorary category includes Tammy Caraway, architect and owner of Avid Architects of Glendale and Lorraine Bergman, owner of Caliente Construction of Tempe.
“The 48 Arizona Women project was created to raise awareness for the impact of the work women are doing to improve and enhance their communities and the lives of all Arizonans,” said Connie Robinson, chair of the 48 Arizona Women Steering Committee. “In their unique way, from social justice and education to technology, entrepreneurship and the arts, these 48 women are working in a meaningful way to support and better their cities and towns throughout our state.”
Categories included Education/Scholars, Entertainment/Sports, Arts/Culture/History, Government/Legislative/Judicial, Social Change/Environmental, Business/Economics, Science/Medicine/Research, Technology/Innovation/Entrepreneurs, Philanthropy/Non-Profit, Military/Public Safety, Family/Community and Construction/Industrial/Transportation.
A committee comprised of a diverse group of public and private sector leaders and residents evaluated nominees on several key factors: the impact that their leadership, accomplishments and dedication have had on the state and the nation; their influence as role models and visionaries; and their ability to relate to a wide range of people.
Honorees will be featured in a 140-plus page coffee table book titled: Arizona’s 48 Most Intriguing Women—A New Decade, telling each woman’s story in words and photos. Honorees will also be formally recognized during a 48 Women Luncheon as well as a VIP reception for the launch of the book. The book will be available for purchase throughout Arizona in April 2022.
“Our goal for the book is to incorporate it into the Arizona school curriculum as well as make it available in libraries around the state,” Robinson pointed out. “Children need everyday role models who are bringing meaningful change to their lives and the communities in which they live.” She added, “We also want to create awareness among Arizonans of the richness and uniqueness of the state’s history and the dedicated people who have contributed to it.” To pre-order, call 602-896-9000 or email cbrobinson@cox.net.
In addition, to recognize a new decade of Arizona’s 48 Most Intriguing Women honorees, 48 Arizona Women will launch in April 2022 the Legacy Project, an initiative to bridge the urban and rural divide through the renovation and naming rights of the Orientation Theater to a state-of-the-art technology space at the Arizona Historical Society’s Heritage Center in Tempe. It also includes the development of onsite and digital educational programming, renowned guest speakers and other learning opportunities with emphasis on young women, girls, and youth with electronic outreach to every corner of the state.
48 Women, Arizona’s Most Intriguing Women is a partner of Friends of Arizona Historical Society, Inc. a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
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Winter TV Watch List: The Afterparty is Appointment TV
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Welcome to the 500th week of January! Somehow, this month keeps plugging along. But that’s OK if there is still some great TV to watch and, thankfully, there is, including one of the most inventive comedies to come around in a long time, a sudsy new primetime soap, and a documentary that everyone will be talking about.
On with the television!
Apple TV+
“The Afterparty”
Friday, January 28, Apple TV+
Apple’s latest buzzy series is co-written and directed by “21 Jump Street” filmmaker Christopher Miller (his creative partner-in-crime, Phil Lord, is a producer), someone who has gotten very good at upending expectations. (Consider: “The LEGO Movie,” “21 Jump Street” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”) “The Afterparty” takes place at (duh) an afterparty following a high school reunion, where a bunch of friends (and potential enemies) gather after an awkward evening reliving the past. Oh, and one of them ends up dead. The ridiculously starry cast includes Sam Richardson, Tiffany Haddish, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, Dave Franco and Jamie Demetriou. And there’s a nifty conceit where each episode is structured around the interrogation of one of the characters (and the design of that episode matches the style in which the character is telling the story). This could be your next streaming obsession and proof that Apple TV+ can create a comedy favorite that isn’t called “Ted Lasso.” [TRAILER]
The CW
“Nancy Drew”
Friday, January 28 at 9 p.m., The CW
“Nancy Drew” doesn’t get much attention. It’s not as dark or strange as its channel-mate “Riverdale” and doesn’t have the edge of the dearly departed “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (an obvious point of comparison). But it is a nicely contemporized version of the plucky girl detective, created by publisher Edward Stratemeyer as the feminine counterpart to his Hardy Boys series and played here by Kennedy McMann, which weaves in supernatural and outlandish elements to her sleuthing without ever losing the show’s inherent humanity. (The show was co-created by “Gossip Girl” creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage.) Fans of the show will be looking forward to the finale, and maybe it’ll give those who have never watched a reason to tune in. These mysteries won’t solve themselves. [SPINOFF NEWS]
Disney
“The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild”
Friday, January 28, Disney+
The “Ice Age” continues. One of the biggest “gets” when Disney acquired Fox was ownership of the animated “Ice Age” franchise, one of the most popular and profitable series of animated films ever. (Sadly, Disney decided to shutter Blue Sky, the animation studio that produced the “Ice Age” movies. A third-party vendor handled the animation here.) This time around, Buck Wild (voiced once again by Simon Pegg), the one-eyed weasel-type creature, rescues a pair of possum brothers from dinosaur domination. Other characters from the franchise return but original voice stars like Ray Romano and John Leguizamo sat out this new go-around (they are replaced by Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes and Jake Green respectively). No matter who is starring, this should be a fun animated romp the whole family can enjoy. [TRAILER]
Getty Images
“Janet”
Friday, January 28 at 8 p.m., Lifetime/A&E
Following the terrific New York Times documentary on the Super Bowl scandal comes this two-night, four-hour event that includes participation from Janet Jackson herself (Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty). Timed to the 40th anniversary of her very first album, this new documentary that airs on both A&E and Lifetime, promises an “intimate, honest and unfiltered look at her untold story.” Jackson is, of course, one of the most celebrated and controversial figures in pop culture and a perpetual, endlessly creative force of nature. Peeling back the curtain promises to be incredibly illuminating. [TRAILER]
Warner Bros/Bad Robot
“Fringe”
HBO Max
“Fringe” was recently added to HBO Max, which is a good enough reason to encourage others to seek out this oddly underseen gem from creators J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci. Ahead of its time in many ways, particularly in its fascination with parallel universes and an emphasis on “Altered States”-style body horror science experiments (both of which would become commonplace in pop culture thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and “Stranger Things” respectively), “Fringe” concerns a group of oddball investigators led by Anna Torv (pre-“Mindhunter”), Joshua Jackson (post-“Dawson’s Creek”) and John Noble (who just flew in from Middle Earth), who look into cases of science gone awry and how those mysteries connect to a morally nebulous tech conglomerate called Massive Dynamics. If you’re a fan of Abrams’ other series, like “Lost” or “Alias” (which Kurtzman and Orci contributed to), or want a series that feels like a more contemporary version of “The X-Files,” well, look no further. “Fringe” is your new (old) obsession. [WATCH]
“The Gilded Age”
Monday, January 24 at 9 p.m., HBO
This new prestige project from “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes has been in development for ages and was first announced for NBC back in 2018 before being moved to HBO the following year. (Unclear if the move to HBO comes with more foul language and an emphasis on full-frontal nudity.) Set during the glitzy heyday of late-19th-century New York City, when economic growth exploded, this will undoubtedly have all the hallmarks that made “Downton Abbey” so much fun – upstairs/downstairs dynamics, colorful characters and rich period detail. But, you know, without so many accents. Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon and Taissa Farmiga are just some members of the cast, who will undoubtedly look fabulous in their historically-appropriate wardrobe. [REVIEW]
“Promised Land”
Monday, January 24 at 10 p.m., ABC
Described by the network as “an epic, generation-spanning drama about a Latinx family vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley,” this primetime soap from creator Matt Lopez and executive producer Michael Cuesta features an almost completely Latin cast, led by the always-wonderful John Ortiz, Cecilia Suárez, Augusto Aguilera, Christina Ochoa and former “Grey’s Anatomy” player Bellamy Young. It looks like over-the-top fun (even if you have little-to-no understanding of wineries and how they work) and the fact that ABC is positioning it as the Next Big Thing is a good sign that they appreciate this particular vintage and think you will too. [REVIEW]
“Secrets of Playboy”
Monday, January 24 at 9 p.m., A&E
As scandalous as basic cable will allow, this new documentary about Hugh Hefner’s empire promises to unearth the “glamorous mythology created by the brand over several decades, the series features archival footage and exclusive interviews with insiders from all facets of the Playboy world.” According to A&E, the new 10-part doc series (which begins with a two-part premiere) will include interviews with “former Director of Playmate Promotions Miki Garcia; past girlfriends of Hefner’s including Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Sondra Theodore; Hefner’s personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum; Bunny Mother PJ Masten; Playboy Mansion West resident Jennifer Saginor; and members of Hefner’s staff and inner circle, including his personal bodyguard and butler.” We want a historical account free of airbrushing or touch-ups. [TRAILER]
“Resident Alien”
Wednesday, January 26 at 9 p.m., Syfy
One of the biggest surprises of last year was how delightful “Resident Alien,” the Syfy series based on the Dark Horse comic by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, truly was. If you didn’t see the inaugural season, it was an awkward and infectious bouillabaisse of tones and genres, including (but not limited to) science fiction (Alan Tudyk plays an alien that murders and then inhabits the life of a small-town doctor), medical drama, and conspiratorial mystery. Imagine if “The X-Files” met “ER,” with a splash of “Northern Exposure” and maybe a little “Simpsons” thrown in for good measure. Anyway, it is a joy and we hope season 2 is just as effervescent. [TRAILER]
“Home Team”
Friday, January 28, Netflix
The latest Adam Sandler/Kevin James joint is actually a based-on-a-true-story drama, of all things. “Home Team” dramatizes the life of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton (played by James) who, after being suspended from the NFL for a year due to a very weird and sordid scandal known as Bountygate (look it up), returns to his hometown and coaches his young son’s Pop Warner team. Looking past the morally nebulous nature of making a feel-good movie about a dude who did some pretty awful stuff, this should please fans of James, especially with its roster of Sandler-approved performers including Rob Schneider, Taylor Lautner and Sandler’s wife, Jackie. Plus, kids sports movies are always fun, even if they’re being coached by a guy who gave out bonuses to his players for grievously injuring opposing players. [TRAILER]
What’s New This Week – TV + Streaming – January 23rd-29th, 2022
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What’s New This Week – TV + Streaming – January 23rd-29th, 2022
Looking for something new to watch? Our guide to all of the new and returning shows and movies will help you find something perfect this week. Before you dive in, here is a quick look at my top 5 in order of premiere date in case you need a recommendation.
Top 5 of the Week
Promised Land When: Monday, January 24th at 10/9c on ABC What: A juicy new wine country drama about a Latinx family whose glamorous lifestyle is at risk of being stolen out from under them.
The Gilded Age When: Monday, January 24th on HBO/HBO Max What: From the creator of Downton Abbey , the cast includes Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski and looks to be a lavish period drama.
Janet Jackson. When: Friday, January 28th at 8/7c on Lifetime A&E What: Featuring the superstar’s involvement, this documentary series promises to tell all about Ms. Jackson.
The Afterparty When: Friday, January 28th on AppleTV+ What: A comedy/mystery whodunnit starring Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ben Schwartz, Ike Barinholtz, Ilana Glazer, Jamie Demetriou, and Dave Franco.
The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window When: Friday, January 28th on Netflix What: Kristen Bell stars in this comedic thriller, executive produced by Will Ferrell.
Sunday, January 23rd
New TV Shows
Billions – Season 6 Premiere – 9/8c on Showtime “Cannonade” – Prince revamps the team in his image with mixed results. Chuck clears his head upstate, leading a crusade against a local blue blood. Meanwhile, Wags, Wendy and Taylor try to wrap their heads around their new positions. Click here
Season 6 Premiere – 9/8c on Earnin’ It: The NFL’s Forward Progress – Series Premiere – Streaming on Peacock Earnin’ It is a story told through the lens of the women who help make the NFL season happen. Our epic, behind-the-scenes series will start at Super Bowl 55 and be a non-stop rollercoaster ride until the end at Super Bowl 56. In the series, viewers will experience football like never before. From the field to the front office, these Women are defining the direction of America’s most popular sport and opening doors for those who dream to follow in their footsteps. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on
New Movies
Love on the Road – 7/6c on UP – NR When restaurant makeover show host Abby gets a new assignment to turn a rustic small-town diner into a place on the culinary map, she knows she’s way out of her element. But as Abby and diner owner Tom spend time together in and out of the kitchen, Abby discovers the joy of good comfort food, a place she just might call home, and a thing she just might call love. Click here
– 7/6c on UP – NR Deadly House Call – 8/7c on Lifetime A busy working mother hires a nurse to care for her wealthy father who has early onset dementia. Soon a bizarre deception creeps into play when the seductive nurse makes a play for the family fortune. Joanne Jansen, Neville Edwards, and Sierra Woolridge star.
Monday, January 24th
New TV Shows
March – Series Premiere – 8/7c on The CW March showcases the eclectic and energetic group of college students at Prairie View A&M University—from drum majors and dancers to the flag team and all the section players—as they navigate performing in one of the most prestigious HBCU marching bands along with tackling a rigorous academic schedule and maintaining a high grade point average. The series chronicles their pressure-filled journey to become the highest ranked HBCU band in the land, including electrifying performances at homecoming, Texas A&M and Southern University. As March shares the personal and unique stories of individual members and staff of the over 300-person marching band, it also explores the legacy and culture of Prairie View A&M and highlights how the Marching Storm band is an integral part of that rich history. Click here
– Series Premiere – 8/7c on Secrets of Playboy – Series Premiere – 9/8c on A&E Secrets of Playboy will explore the hidden truths behind the fable and philosophy of the Playboy empire through a modern-day lens. The series delves into the complex world Hugh Hefner created and examines its far-reaching consequences on our culture’s view of power and sexuality. Unravelling the glamourous mythology created by the brand over several decades, the series features archival footage and exclusive interviews with insiders from all facets of the Playboy world, many sharing their stories for the first time. Interviews include former Director of Playmate Promotions Miki Garcia; past girlfriends of Hefner’s including Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Sondra Theodore; Hefner’s personal valet Stefan Tetenbaum; Bunny Mother PJ Masten; Playboy Mansion West resident Jennifer Saginor; and members of Hefner’s staff and inner circle, including his personal bodyguard and butler. Click here
– Series Premiere – 9/8c on The Gilded Age – Series Premiere – 9/8c on HBO The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost. Against the backdrop of this transformation, HBO’s The Gilded Age begins in 1882 with young Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) moving from rural Pennsylvania to New York City after the death of her father to live with her thoroughly old money aunts Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon). Accompanied by Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), an aspiring writer seeking a fresh start, Marian inadvertently becomes enmeshed in a social war between one of her aunts, a scion of the old money set, and her stupendously rich neighbors, a ruthless railroad tycoon and his ambitious wife, George (Morgan Spector) and Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon). Exposed to a world on the brink of the modern age, will Marian follow the established rules of society, or forge her own path? Click here
– Series Premiere – 9/8c on Snowpiercer – Season 3 Premiere – 9/8c on TNT “The Tortoise and the Hare” – While Wilford emphasizes his rule aboard his icy train, Layton’s pirate train continues its dangerous quest for warm spots, and comes across something entirely unexpected. Click here
– Season 3 Premiere – 9/8c on Promised Land – Series Premiere – 10/9c on ABC Promised Land is an epic, generation-spanning drama about a Latinx family vying for wealth and power in California’s Sonoma Valley. Click here
– Series Premiere – 10/9c on American Dad! – Season 19 Premiere – 10/9c on TBS “Langley Dollar Listings – A CIA agent will do anything to protect his homeland and family.
– Season 19 Premiere – 10/9c on
New Movies
Three Songs for Benazir – Streaming on Netflix The story of Shaista, a young man who—newly married to Benazir and living in a camp for displaced persons in Kabul—struggles to balance his dreams of being the first from his tribe to join the Afghan National Army with the responsibilities of starting a family. Even as Shaista’s love for Benazir is palpable, the choices he must make to build a life with her have profound consequences. Gulistan and Elizabeth Mirzaei’s remarkable access sheds light on the experience of modern-day Afghans who live, love, and seek space for themselves amid constant instability. Nominated for the 15th Annual Cinema Eye Honors and winner of six jury awards, including Best Short at Full Frame. Click here
– Streaming on
Tuesday, January 25th
New TV Shows
Botched – Season 8 Premiere – 9/8c on E! – Medical – TV-14 Famed plastic surgeons, Dr. Terry Dubrow & Dr. Paul Nassif, re-make the victims of plastic surgery disasters. Click here
– Season 8 Premiere – 9/8c on E! – Medical – TV-14 In My Own World – Series Premiere – 10/9c on Vice – Docuseries – NR Peer into the unlikely communities thriving at the fringes of society. Subjects unpack their peculiar passions with a licensed therapist and embark on a real-life quest to align an extraordinary identity with the expectations of life in an ordinary world. Click here
– Series Premiere – 10/9c on Vice – Docuseries – NR Ada Twist, Scientist – Season 2 Premiere – Streaming on Netflix A series following the adventures of eight-year-old Ada Twist, a pint-sized scientist with a giant-sized curiosity, who aspires to discover the truth about absolutely everything. With the help of her two best friends, Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck, Ada unravels and solves mysteries for her friends and family. But solving the mystery is only the beginning, because science isn’t just about learning how and why and what… it’s about putting that knowledge into action to make the world a better place. Click here
– Season 2 Premiere – Streaming on Aziz Ansari: Nightclub Comedian – Special – Streaming on Netflix An intimate surprise gig filmed in New York City, December 2021. Click here
Neymar: The Perfect Chaos – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix One of the most famous and highest-paid athletes in history – like you’ve never seen before. NEYMAR is a hero on the field and a controversial figure off. This three-part docuseries, directed by David Charles Rodrigues, gets up close and personal with soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, tracks his rise to fame at Santos, his glory days at FC Barcelona and the rollercoaster ride with the Brazilian National team and with Paris Saint-Germain. All while lifting the veil behind Neymar’s marketing machine, led with a tight grip by his father. This star-studded series features interviews with Beckham, Messi, Mbappé and many other legends, as they weigh in on Neymar’s place in sports history. Click here
Wednesday, January 26th
New TV Shows
Let’s Make a Deal Primetime – Special – 8/7c on CBS Let’s Make a Deal Primetime is back and celebrating its return in a BIG way, with over three quarters of a million dollars in cash and prizes up for grabs – the most in the entire 58-year history of the show! The special’s amazing prizes include dream trips to Portugal, Croatia and Greece, a Mercedes-Benz SUV, and a 2022 Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder, worth over $347,000! Plus, at least one trader is guaranteed to win $50,000 in cash. Click here
– Special – 8/7c on Resident Alien – Season 2 Premiere – 9/8c on SYFY Based on the Dark Horse comics, SYFY’s Resident Alien follows a crash-landed alien named Harry (Alan Tudyk) whose secret mission is to kill all humans. In season two, Harry is once again stranded on Earth where he must confront the consequences of having failed his people’s mission to destroy the human race. On his new quest to protect the people of Earth, Harry struggles to hold on to his alien identity as his human emotions grow stronger by the day. In an adventure that takes Harry and Asta (Sara Tomko) all the way to New York City, Asta brings Harry into the arms of someone he can call family. While back in Patience, Sheriff Mike (Corey Reynolds) and Deputy Liv (Elizabeth Bowen) find themselves closer to unraveling the mystery of Sam Hodges’s murder. Click here
– Season 2 Premiere – 9/8c on Astrid & Lilly Save the World – Series Premiere – 10/9c on SYFY High school is hard enough when you’re different, but when outcast BFFs Astrid (Jana Morrison) and Lilly (Samantha Aucoin) accidentally crack open a portal to a terrifyingly quirky monster dimension, it gets a lot more complicated. It’s up to them to vanquish the creepy creatures and save the world, becoming the badass heroes they were meant to be. That is, if they can survive the horrors of high school. Click here
– Series Premiere – 10/9c on American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda – Season 2 Premiere – Streaming on discovery+ Lt. Joe Kenda is one of the most successful homicide detectives in the country, and he’s back to tip his cap to the other great men and women who answered the call. Over the years, Kenda has heard about cases that defy logic and expose the depravity of human nature: investigations so confounding that the twists and turns feel more scripted in Hollywood than reality. Now, Kenda trades in his own case files to bring viewers astounding investigations from across the country, with each episode profiling a different homicide detective whose tireless efforts helped bring justice for the victim.
– Season 2 Premiere – Streaming on American Rock Stars – Series Premiere – Streaming on Peacock Narrated by Nick Offerman, American Rock Stars follows Team Shuster from USA Men’s Olympic Curling as they prepare to defend their gold medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics. The series from Five Films and director Scott Boggins goes behind the scenes with the underdogs that stole our hearts in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Anchored by the team’s captain, John Shuster, the series shows a new side to each of the team members – Matt Hamilton, Chris Plys, and John Landsteiner – from their smalltown roots all the way to the dramatic trials. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on
Thursday, January 27th
New TV Shows
Swamp People – Season 13 Premiere – 9/8c on History – Docuseries – TV-PG In the season premiere, hunters scramble to fill as many tags as possible before Hurricane Ida, an unprecedented Category 4 storm, shuts down their season.
– Season 13 Premiere – 9/8c on History – Docuseries – TV-PG grown-ish – Season 4 Winter Premiere – 10/9c on Freeform “It Was Good Until It Wasn’t” – The gang deals with the fallout of the explosive events that took place at the luau: Aaron must deal with the accountability of his actions at the party, Zoey turns to Pops and Ruby for advice, and Ana and Vivek do their best to keep the secret of their hookup under wraps Click here
– Season 4 Winter Premiere – 10/9c on Fast Foodies – Season 2 Premiere – 10/9c on truTV – Cooking – TV-14 Guests in the deliciously fun cooking competition series include Jillian Bell (“22 Jump Street”), Keith and Kenneth Luca Modern Family Click here
– Season 2 Premiere – 10/9c on truTV – Cooking – TV-14 Babble Bop! – Episodes 4-6 – Streaming on Peacock Babble Bop! is a foot-tapping, hand-clapping, baby-bottom wiggling, sing-along world of music, dance and preschool play. With a mix of new takes on classic nursery rhymes and original songs, this inclusive short-form series is intended for social and emotional learning for the pre-k set. Click here
– Episodes 4-6 – Streaming on Bunker – Series Premiere – Streaming on HBO Max Vladimiro, who lost the respect of his wife and children, can only find peace in an old bunker located in the basement of his house. Out there, a series of entanglements coexist, all of them involved in completely crazy stories. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Chosen – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix Emma has always felt different from anyone else in Middelbo – a small Danish town that became world famous when it was said that a meteor entered the atmosphere and crashed into it 17 years earlier. Now, Middelbo is no longer what it has been, and the question is whether it has ever been what it pretends to be at all? When Emma accidentally discovers that the whole story of the meteor is a lie, a dangerous and improbable truth about the sleepy town reveals itself – something that is far more perilous and incredible than she could have ever imagined. Was it a meteor that hit the little town 17 years ago or was it something far more powerful? With this newly discovered realization Emma is forced to realize that she is on her own and that friends and society will not save her in a time of life where she needs them the most. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on The Cut (O Grande Look) – Series Premiere – Streaming on HBO Max A show that brings together the best hairstylists in Brazil in a competition that will leave us speechless. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix After two hapless TV technicians stumble upon a murder scene, every step they take to avoid becoming suspects lands them in deeper trouble. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Gomorrah – Season 5 Premiere – Streaming on HBO Max Based on the book of the same name by Roberto Saviano, Gomorrah finds organized crime clans fighting bloody wars and forging fleeting alliances in the ruthless underworld of Naples, Italy. Dark, dynamic, and highly addictive, the series winds through dimly lit street corners, garish homes, abandoned warehouses, and smoky discos to find a merciless cast of characters sacrificing themselves at the altar of power, riches, and turf. Gennaro (Salvatore Esposito), the hot-headed heir of the Savastano clan, and Ciro Di Marzio (Marco D’Amore), the family’s most formidable killer, have unrelenting ambitions to advance to ever-greater heights, but the path forward is paved with agony and bloodshed. Click here
– Season 5 Premiere – Streaming on I Am Georgina – Season Premiere – Streaming on Netflix Georgina Rodríguez, with more than 28 million followers on Instagram, is, among many other things, a model, mother, influencer, businesswoman, dancer and Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner. I Am Georgina is an emotional and in-depth portrait of the woman behind the covers, the photos, the stories and the big headlines. Soy Georgina will reveal all aspects of her life, from the most public and well-known to the most personal ones. We will experience her day-to-day life with her, her motherhood, her relationship, her travels, her parties… We will get to know who Georgina Rodríguez really is. Click here
– Season Premiere – Streaming on Take Out with Lisa Ling – Series Premiere – Streaming on HBO Max In Take Out with Lisa Ling , award-winning journalist Lisa Ling — who’s own family story began in a Chinese restaurant — travels from the bayous of Louisiana to Orange County’s Little Saigon, exploring the foods we love while shining a long overdue spotlight on the contributions Asian Americans have been making to the United States since before the United States was even the United States. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on
New Movies
The Fallout – Streaming on HBO Max Bolstered by new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances, high schooler Vada (Jenna Ortega) begins to reinvent herself, while re-evaluating her relationships with her family, friends and her view of the world. Moving away from her comfortable family routine, she starts taking chances with a series of quicksilver decisions that test her own boundaries and push her in new directions. As she spends more time with Mia (Maddie Ziegler), they grow closer, and Vada slowly redefines herself through their shared experiences, leading her further away from that day and closer to living her life in the now. Click here
– Streaming on
Friday, January 28th
New TV Shows
Janet Jackson. – Series Premiere – 8/7c on Lifetime A&E With no stone left unturned, Janet Jackson. lifts the lid on her private life for the very first time and reveals the most intimate moments of the star ever caught on camera. The two-night, four-hour documentary event joins Janet as her family is going through another extremely difficult time, mourning the loss of her father Joseph, the pivotal figure in the Jackson dynasty. The documentary details Janet’s return to the world stage following a sudden break from music. Speaking like never before, Janet also discusses everything including her Superbowl appearance with Justin Timberlake in 2004, the death of her brother Michael and becoming a mother later in life. And with her own romantic relationship having broken down, she starts to look back at her own life and reflect on her fight to the top. Click here
– Series Premiere – 8/7c on Ready to Love – Season 5 Premiere – 8/7c on OWN Host, Tommy Miles is back following a dynamic Season 4 to help a new group of single men and women find love in the DMV area. The new cast of men and women are looking for love from Maryland, Virginia and the D.C. area. With the shift to online dating apps, swiping right, and DMs, the journey to find love has turned into a numbers game. This season, Tommy will guide the singles to find more meaningful and lasting relationships by shifting the focus from quantity to quality, and announcing that there will be only 14 singles to start the journey: seven men and seven women. Every week, the power shifts between the fellas and the ladies as they decide who just isn’t ready to love. But just like the mighty Potomac River, Tommy has twists and turns planned, including surprise blind dates to add NEW SINGLES to the mix. By the end, only the strongest couples will remain to decide whether they are genuinely Ready to Love. Click here
– Season 5 Premiere – 8/7c on My Killer Body with K. Michelle – Series Premiere – 10/9c on Lifetime As one of the very first celebrities to come forward with her personal health struggles after silicone injections nearly took her life, R&B chart topper K. Michelle will help men and women desperate to reverse plastic surgery procedures that now threaten their lives in My Killer Body with K. Michelle . With the number of cosmetic surgeries on the rise and an alarming number of these procedures resulting in post-surgery suffering and trauma, each episode will follow two patients who desperately need help as well as K. Michelle’s ongoing personal story.
– Series Premiere – 10/9c on The Afterparty – Series Premiere – Streaming on AppleTV+ The Afterparty centers on a murder mystery at a high school reunion. Each of the eight episodes features a retelling of the same night told through a different character’s perspective, each with its own unique visual style and film genre to match the teller’s personality. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on All of Us Are Dead – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix A group of students trapped in a high school and find themselves in dire situations as they seek to be rescued from a zombie invasion of their school. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Angry Birds: Summer Madness – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix Angry Birds: Summer Madness sees much-loved birds Red, Bomb and Chuck, as well as a cast of brand new feathered friends, as tween birds at summer camp under the questionable guidance of their counselor Mighty Eagle. Explosive antics, improbable pranks and crazy summertime adventures see the birds pushing boundaries and breaking all the rules while fending off the brash and obnoxious Pigs on the other side of the lake, who seem hell-bent on causing as much mayhem as possible! Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Doomlands – Series Premiere – Streaming on The Roku Channel – Adult Animation – NR Doomlands looks at the life of the infamous Danny Doom and aspiring bartender, Lhandi, as they sling beers across a hellish wasteland in their mobile pub: The Oasis. Facing ruthless desert gangs, memory-stealing creeps, and even mean bathroom graffiti, all this crew’s got to do to survive is not kill each other.
– Series Premiere – Streaming on The Roku Channel – Adult Animation – NR Feria: The Darkest Light – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix Created by Carlos Montero and Agustín Martínez and directed by Jorge Dorado and Carles Torrens, is a fantastic thriller of 8 episodes of 50 minutes that begins in a disturbing way. What if two teenage sisters discover that their parents are murderers? Eva and Sofia will have to face the horrible crime that their parents seem to have committed, which, before disappearing, has left behind 23 victims. This is the journey that Eva and Sofia will undertake in Feria, a small white village in the Andalusian mountains in the mid-nineties, where the inhabitants are not as naive as they appear. Where reality hides a fantastic universe. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness is an unabashedly smart and quirky exploration into topics and questions that make Jonathan curious. From skyscrapers to bugs, or from gender identity to snacks, each episode follows Jonathan as he meets with experts in various fields to uncover complexities in a wide range of subjects. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on In From the Cold – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix During a European vacation with her daughter, an American single mom’s life is turned upside down when the CIA forces her to confront her long-buried past as a Russian spy who was also the product of a highly classified KGB experiment granting her special abilities. After a mysterious string of manic and murderous incidents suggests someone with her exact abilities is targeting innocent people, Jenny (Margarita Levieva) is forced out of hiding to stop this villain or risk losing the family and new life she has built. Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on The Legend of Vox Machina – Series Premiere – Streaming on Prime Video Based on the beloved characters and adventures of Critical Role’s first livestreamed tabletop role-playing game (RPG) campaign, The Legend of Vox Machina is an animated fantasy-adventure series for adults that follows Vox Machina, a band of misfits with a fondness for boozing and brawling. In a desperate attempt to pay off their mounting bar tab, these unlikely heroes end up on a quest to save the realm of Exandria from dark magical forces. From a sinister necromancer to a powerful curse, the group confronts a variety of obstacles that not only test their skills, but also the strength of their bond. Click here to view the trailer.
– Series Premiere – Streaming on The Orbital Children – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix The story begins in the year 2045, when AI has advanced and anyone can travel into space. Children born on the moon and children from Earth who are on a trip to space meet at the Japanese-built Anshin space station. The series will consist of six episodes and will be distributed worldwide! Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window – Series Premiere – Streaming on Netflix For heartbroken Anna (Kristen Bell), every day is the same. She sits with her wine, staring out the window, watching life go by without her. But when a handsome neighbor (Tom Riley) and his adorable daughter move in across the street, Anna starts to see a light at the end of the tunnel. That is until she witnesses a gruesome murder… Or did she? Click here
– Series Premiere – Streaming on
New Movies
Home Team – Streaming on Netflix Two years after a Super Bowl win when NFL head coach Sean Payton is suspended, he goes back to his hometown and finds himself reconnect Click here
– Streaming on The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild – Streaming on Disney+ The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild continues the hilarious escapades of the beloved sub-zero heroes from the wildly successful global Ice Age franchise as they create more prehistoric pandemonium. Eager for a little independence, the thrill-seeking possum brothers Crash and Eddie set out to find a place of their own, but quickly find themselves trapped beneath the ice in a massive cave inhabited by dinosaur Click here
– Streaming on
Saturday, January 29th
New TV Shows
Great Chocolate Showdown – Series Premiere – 8/7c on The CW Great Chocolate Showdown is a new ooey-gooey, decadent chocolate dessert competition series where 10 home bakers go head-to-head in the indulgent world of chocolate, vying for the grand prize in a range of creative and exciting chocolate-based challenges. In order to survive the competition from week-to-week and avoid elimination, the chocaholic dessert-makers must dazzle our panel of world-renowned chocolatiers and food expert judges with their delicious, inventive creations. In the end, three bakers take on the biggest chocolate challenge of their lives, but only one is crowned “Great Chocolate Showdown Champion” and wins the $50,000 grand prize. Click here to view the trailer.
– Series Premiere – 8/7c on Million Dollar Hustle – Series Premiere – 10/9c on Lifetime – Reality – NR Welcome to the world of transformational marketing, a multi-billion-dollar industry dominated by women whose glamorous lifestyles are supported by a gritty, competitive world of selling products and events and self-branding at all costs. Million Dollar Hustle follows health and fitness influencer, author, entrepreneur and self-made millionaire Stormy Wellington and her elite group of unstoppable leaders, called the Circle of Bosses, including Dianna Williams (aka Coach D from Bring It! ), Maniya Essence Canty (Stormy’s daughter), Nathalie Nicole Smith, Bawselady, Tammy Price, Bianca Shadai and Ana Cantera.
– Series Premiere – 10/9c on Lifetime – Reality – NR
New Movies
Butlers in Love – 9/8c on Hallmark – NR Since finding out about the International Butler Academy, it has been Emma’s (Stacey Farber) big dream in life to attend and make a home for herself among the elite rank of graduates. Emma finds herself in a world where teamwork is everything, even though she likes to work alone. Henry (Corey Cott) is her fiercest competition, and she thinks he cops an attitude because he comes from a family of royal butlers. Henry wants to be a chef, not a butler, which is something his family doesn’t understand or support. Through Henry, Emma starts learning the power of working with a team instead of trying to do everything herself. Conversely, Emma encourages Henry to find a more constructive way of winning over his family as opposed to being distant and caring so little about the profession she loves. Their connection makes all the difference in the world as Emma starts reevaluating her ambitions in life. Click here
– 9/8c on Hallmark – NR The Falls – Streaming on Netflix While quarantining, the relationship between a mother and daughter takes an unexpected turn. Click here
– Streaming on
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