The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • November 15 - 21, 2020 •19 By Dana Simpson TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "The Crown" Season 4 Treat yourself like royalty and tune in to Season 4 of "The Crown," debuting Sunday, Nov. 15, on Netflix. Nominated for over 170 awards and winning 65 — three of which were Golden Globes — "The Crown" tells a dramatized version of the story of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 up to the present day. Starring Claire Foy ("The Girl in the Spider's Web," 2018), Olivia Coleman ("The Favou - rite," 2018) and Imelda Staunton ("Downton Abbey," 2019) as Queen Elizabeth II through various stages of her life, this biographical drama series has become known for its attention to detail with respect to the costumes and set design, as well as, of course, the su - perb acting. Season 4 will focus on the time period between 1977 and 1990 and will introduce Australian actress Elizabeth Debicki ("The Great Gatsby," 2013) in the role of Lady Diana Spencer — something many fans have been waiting years for. Another notable character joining the plot this year will be Britain's notorious "Iron Lady," Prime Minister Margaret "Maggie" Thatcher (Gillian Anderson, "The X-Files") — there is even the very likely possibility that we will get to meet princes William and Harry this season, given that both of their births fall within Season 4's time - frame. Created by writer/producer/ actor Peter Morgan ("Frost/Nixon," 2008), this series is sure to have you feeling a part of history. Jonathan Pryce ("The Two Popes," 2019) and Helena Bonham-Carter ("The King's Speech," 2010) also star. "The Princess Switch: Switched Again" (2020) Lose yourself in the lookalike magic of "The Princess Switch: Switched Again," coming to Netflix on Thurs- day, Nov. 19. Following the success of the first Princess Switch franchise film — in which Stacy, a Chicago- area baker, and Lady Margaret, the royally acquainted fiancée of Belgravia's prince (both played à la "Parent Trap" by Vanessa Hudgens, "Spring Breakers," 2012) switch lives for two days when they meet around the time of a baking compe- tition — this sequel follows Stacy and Margaret as they switch places once again. This time, when Marga- ret unexpectedly inherits the throne to Montenaro and hits troubled waters with her beau, Kevin (Nick Sagar, "Queen of the South"), Sta- cy, now the Princess of Belgravia, steps in to help before (you guessed it!) a third doppelgänger threatens to ruin everything. This second film in the franchise is, like the first, directed by Mike Rohl ("When Calls the Heart"), and the premise for both films is an extrapolation of the basis of Mark Twain's 1881 novel "The Prince and the Pauper." Suanne Braun ("Starhyke") and Mark Fleischmann ("Wolfblood") also star. "Alien Xmas" (2020) Have an out-of-this-world Christ- mas this year with "Alien Xmas," coming to Netflix on Friday, Nov. 20. When kleptomaniac aliens descend to Earth and try to steal away its gravity, the only thing able to save the planet from certain chaos is the spirit of Christmas ... and a tiny ex- traterrestrial named X. Based on a 2015 story book of the same name by Jim Strain ("Jumanji," 1995) and Stephen and Charles Chiodo — two of the three Bronx-born brothers of "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" (1988) fame — they have been working tirelessly ever since to turn it into a stop-motion animated film. Now, five years later, they are releasing their 30-minute special on Netflix with the help of Hollywood heavyweight Jon Favreau ("Iron Man," 2008) in the role of executive producer. Sure to be an adorable little tale of the spirit of the season, "Alien Xmas" voice-stars Dee Bradley Baker ("American Dad"), Barbara Good- son ("Forest of Piano"), Keythe Far- ley ("Adventure Time") and Jessica Gee-George ("Zak Storm"). WHAT'S NEW ON HULU "Animaniacs" Calling all cartoon-heads, '90s ba- bies and Fanimaniacs! The animat- ed-creature sensation "The Anima- niacs" has risen from the dead and is coming directly to Hulu on Friday, Nov. 20. The Tom Ruegger ("Pinky and the Brain") classic series is getting a long-overdue reboot, but don't worry: the creator has no plan to gloss over the near-quarter- century-long hiatus the show has taken. In this new iteration of the zany, slapstick comedy adventure series, main characters Yakko, Wakko and Dot are fully aware that they've been in lockdown mode for the past 22 years ... a feeling some of us might share with the Animaniacs at this point. The trio will discover new trends from Beyoncé to social media, learn the meaning of the term "catfishing" and get up to plenty of the same antics for which we know and love them. And, yes, get ready to have that theme song stuck in your head once again! Original voice actors Rob Paulsen ("Darkwing Duck"), Jess Harnell ("Elena of Avalor") and Tress MacNeille ("Futurama") will be reprising their roles as Yakko, Wakko and Dot, respectively, while Frank Welker ("Guardians of the Galaxy") will once again step into his many roles — one of which is Ralph the Guard. WHAT'S NEW ON DISNEY+ "The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse" Celebrate Mickey's birthday this year with an all-new series debut- ing on Disney+. "The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse" pre- mieres Wednesday, Nov. 18, on the company's streaming service. From the team behind the Disney Channel's Emmy-winning "Mickey Mouse" animated shorts, this new series will release two shorts every Friday beginning on Nov. 27, following its Nov. 18 premiere. These shorts — each lasting seven minutes — will see all of the clas- sic characters, from Mickey and Minnie to Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto, return for a myriad of laughter-sparking slapstick and situational comedy and magical adventures that span decades and transcend age. Fun for the whole family, this modern series returns to a classic Mickey artwork style that is reminiscent of the famed mouse's humble beginnings back in 1928. Created by Paul Rudish ("Dexter's Laboratory") and show- casing new music from "Veep" composer Christopher Willis, this 10-episode season features the voices of Chris Diamantopoulos ("Silicon Valley"), Tress MacNielle ("The Animaniacs"), Tony Anselmo ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit," 1988), Kaitlyn Robrock ("Am- phibia") and Bill Farmer ("Space Jam," 1996). Fans of the show can also expect 10 more shorts to be released come summer of 2021. "The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special" (2020) A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ... there was a Lego movie. OK, so it's a new movie and it's on Disney+, but you get the point. Tune in to Disney's streaming platform on Tuesday, Nov. 17, for the premiere of its new holiday film, "The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special." In this holiday special, Rey (played by Daisy Ridley in "Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens," 2015) sets off on a solo adventure to gain a deeper knowl- edge of The Force while her friends prepare for Life Day back home. When she stumbles upon a myste- rious temple along the way, Rey is launched into a cross-timeline jour- ney. Now, the only question is: will she make it back in time for Life Day? Garnering inspiration from a highly unpopular Star Wars holiday special from 1978, this 45-minute Lego film special was written by Lego Star Wars veteran David Shayne ("Lego Star Wars: The Free- maker Adventures") and will be sure to delight fans of the franchise with its action and comedy. While it is unclear whether Daisy Ridley will be returning to her role as Rey, confirmed returning cast members include Matt Lanter ("Vampires Suck," 2010) as Anakin Skywalker, James Arnold Taylor ("TMNT," 2007) as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Kelly Marie Tran ("Sorry for Your Loss") as Rose Tico, and Billy Dee Williams ("The Lego Batman Movie," 2017) as Lando Calrissian. WHAT'S NEW ON PRIME "Christmas Crush" (2019) Be careful what you wish for this holiday season because you just might get ... your next-door neighbor? Inject a little fun-loving romance into your schedule on Sunday, Nov. 15, as "Christmas Crush" joins the Prime roster. When Addie (Cindy Sampson, "Private Eyes"), under the influence of the holiday spirit and an ill-guided piece of advice from a friend in her building, wishes that her neighbor would fall in love with her, her wish comes true ... sort of. Failing to specify which neighbor — she meant the cute, "normal" one named Sam (Robin Dunne, "Just Friends," 2005) — she acciden- tally causes her new and rather over-the-top neighbor Pete (Chris Violette, "Star Trek: Discovery") to fall head over heels in love with her. Never intending this to be the case, and still trying to make things work with Sam, Addie must find a way to break the Christmas love spell and return her life — and Pete's — to the way it was intended to be. Writ- ten by holiday filmmaker John Burd ("Snowmance," 2017), "Christmas Crush" was directed by Marita Gra- biak ("Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," 1991). Elizabeth Debicki stars in "The Crown" Simon Harrison and Félix Moati in "No Man's Land" A scene from "The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse"