Here at brioux.tv, we’re making August the smallest month — TV listings-wise. Several reasons: there’s a lot going on, including the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour, albeit a virtual edition, and, oh yeah, my daughter’s wedding.
There’s also really nice weather outside and so you’re getting a late start and fewer recommendations. If you want a more comprehensive list, go where I go, to metacritic. Otherwise, here is a summary of the month’s new offerings, which will gradually be updated over the next few weeks (as it was on August 14):
WED/AUG. 3
Reservation Dogs (Hulu: coming to Canada later on Disney+). Funny and authentic, this half-hour series, written, produced, directed and starring First Nation talent from both sides of the border, is truly for everyone.
THURS/AUG. 4
Mike Judge’s Beavis and Butt-Head (Paramount+). Can the MTV cult classic ‘toon series from the ’90s return and entice you to subscribe to Paramount+? The streamer is banking on it; they’ve already ordered a second season.
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FRI/AUG. 5
Luck (AppleTV+). Eva Noblezada, Simon Pegg, Jane Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg, Flula Borg, and Lil Rel Howery head the voice cast in this animated feature about a luckless lass who somehow winds up in the land of luck — and turns everything upside down. From ousted former Pixar boss John Lasseter.
The Sandman (Netflix). DC Comics’ Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) looks to restore his rule after a century in the slammer. Developed by original author Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg. Gwendoline Christie plays Lucifer and Vivienne Acheampong plays the librarian Lucienne. Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Patton Oswalt, Mark Hamill, Boyd Holbrook, Charles Dance, David Thewlis, Joely Richardson, Stephen Fry, and Jenna Coleman all make appearances. Ten episodes.
Thirteen Lives (Prime Video). The true story of the rescue of the members of a boys soccer team from a flooded cave in 2018 is told in this fictional account directed by Ron Howard. Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton star.
TUES/AUG. 9
Password (NBC; CTV). The classic game show returns with Keeke Palmer as host.
FRI/AUG. 12
A League of Their Own (Prime Video). This isn’t the first time somebody has tried to make a series out of director Penny Marshall’s 1992 movie about an all-female baseball team from the ’40s. CBS took a swing at this idea way back in 1993. Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) and Will Graham (Mozart in the Jungle) step up to the producers plate this time was an new eight episode season. Jacobson stars with D’Arcy Carden, Kelly McCormack, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Chanté Adams, and Kate Berlant. Nick Offerman plays the team’s manager. Look also for Rosie O’Donnell to make a return appearance.
Returning: Never Have I Ever (Netflix). The third and final season of the high school comedy starring Mississauga, Ont.’s Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.
SAT/AUG. 13
The Princess (HBO). A new documentary about the life of Princess Diana, released on the 25th anniversary of her death.
SUN/AUG. 14
Chesapeake Shores (Hallmark; Super Channel). Filmed on Vancouver Island, the sixth and final season features Robert Buckley, Meghan Ory, Treat Williams, Barbara Niven, Laci J. Mailey, Emilie Ullerup, and Brendan Penny. Ten episodes.
Tales of the Walking Dead (AMC). Yet another spinoff, this time a six-episode anthology set in the same world as the original, but featuring a different set of characters each episode. Look for Anthony Edwards, Terry Crews, Olivia Munn, Samantha Morton, Poppy Liu, Jessie T. Usher, Parker Posey, Embeth Davidtz, and Jillian Bell among the new dead.
MON/AUG. 15
Legacy: The True Story of the L.A. Lakers (Hulu; Disney+ in Canada). Director Anthony Fuqua’s 10-part documentary, made with the cooperation of Lakers’ CEO Jeanie Buss, should address some impressions left after Adam McKay’s entertaining if sometimes inaccurate HBO dramedy about the same team. This doc takes the story right up to the present day.
TUES, AUG. 16
Dark Side of Comedy (Vice). Comedians Richard Pryor, Maria Bamford, Roseanne Barr, Andrew Dice Clay, and Chris Farley are profiled.
Leonardo (Thee CW). This eight-episode historical drama stars Aidan Turner as the great Leonardo da Vinci. With Freddie High more.
THURS/AUG. 18
She Hulk: Attorney at Law (Disney+). Canadian Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black) plays lawyer Jennifer Walters, who turns big and green when angry thanks to a blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner (yes, The Hulk, played once again by Mark Ruffalo). It’s all part of a nine episode series from Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tim Roth, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Jameela Jamil also star.
SUN/AUG. 21
House of the Dragon (HBO; Crave). Has everybody scrubbed that bad ending out of their memories by now? HBO’s long-awaited Game of Thrones spin-off is a prequel set in Westeros. Co-created by George R.R, Martin, the action takes place 200 years before Thrones when things were not going so well for the House Targaryen. Paddy Considine, Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Eve Best, and Fabien Frankel are among the stars. Ten episodes.
MON/AUG. 22
Returning: Kevin Can F**k Himself (AMC). Second and final season of the dark comedy starring Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) as a very fed up sitcom wife.
WED/.AUG. 24
Welcome to Wrexham (FX; Hulu). Giddy investors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney take a crash course in running a soccer team in Wales in this true life docuseries. Premieres with two back-to-back episodes.
THURS/AUG. 25
The End is Nye (Netflix). Bill Nye the Science Guy is back to save the world in this six-episode series that looks at potential natural disasters that could wipe out the planet — and how to possibly avoid them.
Little Demon (FX). An animated horror series about a single mother and her teenage daughter who have a problem — the child’s father is Satan. Danny DeVito plays the Devil with his real-life daughter, Lucy DeVito, voicing his cartoon daughter in the series. Audrey Plaza speaks for the mom. Mel Brooks, William Jackson Harper, Pamela Adlon, Rhea Perlman, Dave Bautista, June Diane Raphael, Sam Richardson, Lamorne Morris, and Arnold Schwarzenegger also have bit speaking parts.
Mike (Hulu; Disney+). An eight episode biographical miniseries about Mike Tyson, with Trevante Rhodes starring as the former heavyweight champion. One problem: Tyson himself calls this series “tone-deaf.” Do you really want to piss off Mike Tyson? Russell Hornsby (as promoter Don King), Harvey Keitel (as Tyson’s coach Cus D’Amato), Laura Harrier (as Tyson’s former wife, actress Robin Givens), and Li Eubanks star.
