The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • November 22 - 28, 2020 •19 By Dana Simpson TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" Learn that "Christmas is a time for sharing" and join in on the magic with this new Christmastime tale, coming to Netflix on Sunday, Nov. 22. Taking hints from Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Christmas Carol," and with an occasional nod to Frank Capra's 1946 holiday heartwarmer "It's a Wonderful Life," this new musical tells the sto - ry of the rich and crotchety Henry F. Potter-like Regina Fuller (Christine Baranski, "Mamma Mia!," 2008) as she returns to her hometown in the wake of her father's death and announces a town-wide eviction notice, effective Christmas Eve. But when she gets an unexpected visit from a sassy Christmas-loving an - gel (two-time Oscar nominee Dolly Parton, "9 to 5," 1980), she begins to see the error of her ways. Slowly opening her heart to the spirit of the season — and in the hope of rediscovering her own capacity for happiness — Regina listens to stories told by the locals, considers the sage advice of the angel at her heels and even rekindles a romance from days gone by, all while singing a few songs along the way. Di - rected by Debbie Allen (winner of a Golden Globe award for her perfor- mance in the 1982 classic "Fame") and written by Primetime Emmy winner Maria S. Schlatter ("Sinatra: 80 Years My Way," 1995), "Christ- mas on the Square" features 14 all- new songs by the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton. And this film isn't Dolly's only step into the holi- days this year, as she will also be re- leasing "Holly Dolly Christmas," her first Christmas album in 30 years. "Christmas on the Square" also stars Treat Williams ("Everwood"), Jenifer Lewis ("Black-ish") and Josh Segarra ("Arrow"). WHAT'S NEW ON PEACOCK "Saved by the Bell" Don't be late for class! "Saved by the Bell" is back and coming to Peacock on Wednesday, Nov. 25. A follow-up spinoff to the origi- nal 1990s fan-favorite, this new series tells the story of three low- income California students who are transferred to the upper-class Bayside High School in the Pacific Palisades following a new program implemented by the state governor, none other than Bayside's own Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar, "Franklin & Bash"). Created by "Saved by the Bell" pioneer Sam Bobrick, the new series focuses on the lives of high school trans- plants Davante (Dexter Darden, "The Maze Runner," 2014), Aisha (Alycia Pascual-Peña, "Chase") and Daisy (Haskiri Velasquez, "The Forty-Year-Old Version," 2020) as they navigate a life full of privilege, money and possibility like they've never seen. Among the rich kids are Belmont Cameli ("The Husband," 2019) as Jamie Spano, Mitchell Hoog ("Harriet," 2019) as the governor's son, Mac Morris, and Josie Totah ("Champions") as the beautiful and popular cheerleader, Lexi. And, as you may have already guessed, this new series will have many familiar faces returning to the screen as well. Fans of the original series can expect to see the likes of now-coach A.C. Slater (Mario Lopez, "Pacific Blue") and Jessie Spano (Elizabeth Berkley, "Show- girls," 1995), mother to Jamie, return alongside Zack's character of the governor. WHAT'S NEW ON HULU "Happiest Season" (2020) Make this holiday season the happiest one of all with the new ro- mantic comedy "Happiest Season," premiering Wednesday, Nov. 25, on Hulu. First expected to hit theaters this winter, this Clea DuVall ("The Intervention," 2016) film is taking a familiar approach during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been picked up by Hulu for its premiere. Starring Kristen Stewart ("Snow White and the Hunstman," 2012) and Mackenzie Davis ("Blade Runner 2049," 2017) as Abby and Harper, respectively, "Happiest Sea- son" tells the story of how difficult it can be to open up and be vulner- able to family — especially during a time like the holidays, when there may be extra pressure to attain perfection. When Mackenzie agrees to visit Abby's family for the first time during Christmas, Abby waits until they have almost arrived to re- luctantly tell her girlfriend that she has not yet come out to her family as gay. Desperate not to "ruin" her family Christmas, Abby struggles to be honest to herself and fair to her girlfriend without completely blindsiding those she loves. Dan Levy ("Schitt's Creek"), Alison Brie ("GLOW") and Mary Steenburgen ("Step Brothers," 2008) also star. "Bombshell" (2019) Some women are called "bomb- shells" for a reason. Find out why when the Academy Award-winning film "Bombshell," comes to Hulu on Thursday, Nov. 26. When Fox News broadcaster Gretchen Carl- son (portrayed by Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies") files a lawsuit against the network's founder, Roger Ailes (masterfully played by John Lithgow, "The Crown"), alleging sexual misconduct, the entire institution threatens dis- solution and the American public is up in arms. Carlson's decision, however, leads to her colleague, Fox News correspondent Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron, "Monster," 2003), coming forward, as the in- formation and women's display of courage sends shockwaves across the country. Based on a true story, this Jay Roach ("Trumbo," 2015) film also stars Margot Robbie ("The Wolf of Wall Street," 2013) as Fox newcomer Kayla Pospisil, Allison Janney ("The West Wing") as lawyer Susan Estrich, "Saturday Night Live" funny-woman Kate McKinnon as Kayla's street-smart co-worker, Jess Carr, and the legendary Malcolm McDowell ("Halloween," 2007) as news icon Rupert Murdoch. WHAT'S NEW ON PRIME "Uncle Frank" (2020) Spend this Thanksgiving with "Uncle Frank," as the Amazon original film premieres Wednesday, Nov. 25, on the streamer. Set in the early 1970s, teenaged Beth Bledsoe (Sophia Lillis, "It," 2017) begins to question why her Uncle Frank (Paul Bettany, "A Knight's Tale," 2001) is treated so poorly by her grandfather (Stephen Root, "Office Space," 1999) and other members of the family. After a meaningful conversation that changes her perspective on life, Beth resolves to visit her uncle in the city, only to realize that he is not the man he has led everyone to believe he is. Struggling to process how he could be leading a life so different from the one he preached to her, the two begin a trusting relationship unlike any other in their family. But when the family patriarch dies and Beth and Frank are required to return home for the funeral, the rest of the family begins to get wind of the real Frank Bledsoe after all. Peter Macdissi ("The Losers," 2010), Steve Zahn ("Sahara," 2005), Judy Greer ("27 Dresses," 2008) and Margo Martindale ("August: Osage County," 2013) also star in this heartwarming Alan Ball ("American Beauty," 1999) film. WHAT'S NEW ON DISNEY "Black Beauty" (2020) Come along for the ride as Disney unveils a new adaption of one of the most beloved children's stories of all time. "Black Beauty" is back, and coming to Disney+ on Friday, Nov. 27. Taken from the pages of Anna Sewell's 1877 novel of the same name (and its 10 other subse- quent film and stage adaptations), this iteration of the tale will set itself apart from the others in one very crucial way: Black Beauty — the horse whose story is being told — will be voiced, this time, by a woman. And it isn't just any woman taking on the task, but none other than the Oscar-winning starlet Kate Winslet ("Titanic," 1997). Tradition- ally told from the perspective of a male horse, "Black Beauty" is the autobiographical telling (from the horse's point of view) of the bond between a young girl, Jo Green (Mackenzie Foy, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn," 2012), and her raven-haired horse. Disney has deemed their take on the story a "contemporary adaptation," with the friendship made that much more special by the fact that it is a bond between two females of different species. Adapted for the screen and directed by Ashley Avis ("Adolescence," 2018), "Black Beauty" also stars Claire Forlani ("Meet Joe Black," 1998) and Patrick Lyster ("Black Sails") in the roles of Mrs. and Mr. Winthorp, re- spectively, as well as Hakeem Kae- Kazim ("Hotel Rwanda," 2004) as Terry and Iain Glen ("Game of Thrones") as John Manly. Dolly Parton stars in "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" Mackenzie Davis and Kristen Stewart in "Happiest Season" Mackenzie Foy as seen in "Black Beauty"