The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • March 12 - 18, 2023 •19 "History of the World, Part II" Hulu is setting out to make history with the new series sequel to legendary director, writer, producer and actor Mel Brooks' 1981 comedy film, "History of the World, Part I," when the eight-episode special, "History of the World, Part II," premieres on the streamer Monday, March 6. Set up with a similar anthology of sketches set during key periods throughout human history, the series explores some of humanity's greatest triumphs, advancements and failures through an outlandishly comedic lens. Brooks, now 96 years old, writes and executive produces the series, alongside David Stassen ("The Mindy Project"), Nick Kroll ("Big Mouth"), Wan- da Sykes ("The Upshaws") and Ike Barinholtz ("The Mindy Project"). The series' all-star cast features ap- pearances from Stassen, Kroll, Sykes and Barinholtz, as well as Johnny Knoxville ("Jackass: The Movie," 2002), Zazie Beetz ("Atlanta"), Taika Waititi ("Our Flag Means Death"), Dove Cameron ("Schmigadoon!"), David Duchovny ("The X-Files"), Tyler James Williams ("Ab- bott Elementary"), Seth Rogen ("Superbad," 2007), Danny DeVito ("It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"), Sarah Silverman ("Don't Look Up," 2021), Kumail Nanjiani ("The Big Sick," 2017), Jason Mantzoukas ("Brooklyn Nine-Nine"), Zahn McClarnon ("Dark Winds"), Josh Gad ("Avenue 5"), Andrew Rannells ("A Simple Favor," 2018), Sam Richardson ("Veep"), Rich- ard Kind ("East New York"). "The New York Times Presents: Sin Eater" A new installment of "The New York Times Presents," "a series of standalone documentaries representing the unparalleled journalism and insight of The New York Times, bringing viewers close to the essential stories of our time" (per Hulu), premieres Friday, March 10, on Hulu. Titled "Sin Eater," this two-part documen- tary looks at the story of infamous Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano. Prolific in the 1990s for making any and all of Hollywood's filthiest scandals disappear, Pellicano played by his own set of rules and worked outside the law to hide the sins of his rich, famous and powerful clients. Accused of harassment and intimidation by many of his victims, Pellicano was ultimately sent to prison for wiretapping and racketeer- ing — but now he's free once again and he's talking to The Times, having obtained the FBI case file, including audio recordings of some of his celebrity clients. Now, "Sin Eater" digs into how Pellicano was able to cover up would-be scandals so seamlessly, and the ways his clients skirted the legal system, keeping their secrets buried deep and facing few to no consequences when Pellicano was exposed. Produced and directed by John Pappas ("The Weekly"). "Life Below Zero" - Season 19 Living in a remote area is a one-of-a-kind experience, even if it comes with far more challenges than you'd expect, as documented in the series "Life Below Zero." Season 19 is available now on Disney+. Produced by BBC Studios, this National Geographic series chronicles the daily and seasonal activities, as well as the extreme lifestyles, of people living in remote areas of Alaska, where they have adapted to life in the rugged wilder- ness by subsisting solely on what is foraged or hunted. But winter is coming in Season 19, and for the resilient residents featured throughout the series — Sue Aikens, Andy Bassich, Ricko DeWilde, Chip and Agnes Hail- stone, Jessie Holmes, Erik and Martha Mae Salitan, and Glenn Villeneuve — the deep cold and the dark win- ters of the Arctic make every task especially difficult. This Emmy-winning documentary series is executive produced by Travis Shakespeare ("Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie"), Joseph Litzinger ("Ice Road Truckers: Off the Ice"), Kevin Tao Mohs ("Parched") and Chris Kugelman ("Naked Science"). "The Proof is Out There" - Season 1 Embrace the unknown and join host Tony Harris on a quest for answers with "The Proof Is Out There." Sea- son 1 is available now on Disney+. The investigative series takes a closer look at videos, photos, audio re- cordings and eyewitness accounts of seemingly unex- plained phenomena — from UFOs to giant beasts, and even alleged mutants from the deep. Physicists and national security specialists are just a few of the top ex- perts consulted in each episode, and they'll review the evidence to help Harris separate fact from fiction. As the recipient of a George Foster Peabody Award winner and former anchor of "CNN Newsroom," Harris brings a journalist's instinct to these unusual stories, ulti- mately focusing on the most credible evidence and de- bunking claims that don't hold up under closer scrutiny. Some of the subjects tackled in Season 1 include the story of Joseph of Cupertino's miraculous levitation; a strange sound recorded in a North Carolina backyard; a flying object caught on government cameras; and the theory that Mars was colonized centuries ago. The History Channel series is executive produced by Steve Ascher ("So Much So Fast"), Kristine Sabat ("The Toys That Built America"), Amy Savitsky ("Leah Remini: Sci- entology and the Aftermath"), Michael Stiller ("9/11: Four Flights") and Miguel Sancho ("48 Hours"). "Moonshine" - Season 1 Settle in for some laughs — and enjoy some serious storytelling, too — as Season 1 of the quirky dramedy "Moonshine" lands on Freevee, Friday, March 10. The story centers on the Finley-Cullens, a dysfunctional clan of half-siblings who are locked in a battle for control of the family business: The Moonshine, a summer resort owned by Bea (Corrine Koslo, "Anne with an E") and Ken Finley-Cullen (Peter MacNeill, "This Life"). Eldest sibling Lidia (Jennifer Finnigan, "Salvation") is an architect who is hoping to overcome past disappoint- ments by redevelopping (and exploiting) the valuable coastal property, but younger and often-overlooked sister Rhian (Anastasia Phillips, "Reign") has her own designs on the place. The rest of the family members also have a vested interest in the resort's future, includ- ing sister Nora (Emma Hunter, "Fridge Wars"), a local DJ who knows all the family secrets; adopted brother Sammy (Alexander Nunez, "Avocado Toast"), who has more than a few secrets of his own; Rhian's twin, party boy Ryan (Tom Stevens, "Wayward Pines"), who runs an illegal business out of The Moonshine; family friend Jill (Allegra Fulton, "The Shape of Water"), who has her own personal motives and plans; and Lidia's husband, fellow architect Daniel (Jonathan Silverman, "Weekend at Bernie's"), who is seemingly in the throes of a mid-life crisis. Created by Sheri Elwood ("Luci- fer"), who also serves as showrunner and executive producer, "Moonshine" is "an epic tale of lust, legacy and lobster," according to Canadian broadcaster CBC, which premiered the series back in 2021. It filmed in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and is produced by Six Eleven Media and eOne. "Shrek" (2001) and "Shrek 2" (2004) It's more than a meme — make time for some fun- for-all-ages storytelling and funny gags that make the original "Shrek" film (2001) and its 2004 sequel so memorable. Both are available now on Prime Video. Released in 2001, "Shrek" first introduced audiences to the grumpy ogre voiced by Mike Myers ("Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," 1997) and his donkey sidekick, voiced by Eddie Murphy ("Beverly Hills Cop," 1984). The two cut a deal with evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow, "3rd Rock From the Sun") to save their home by rescuing Princess Fiona (voiced by Cameron Diaz, "The Mask," 1994), who is harbouring a secret that changes everything. The film's modern take on classic fairy tales is further explored in "Shrek 2," in which Shrek and Fiona visit the Kingdom of Far Far Away, where they struggle to be accepted for who they are. "Luther: The Fallen Sun" (2023) Idris Elba ("Beasts of No Nation," 2015) returns to his role as a brilliant but disgraced detective in the new crime drama "Luther: The Fallen Sun," which premieres Friday, March 10, on Netflix. A continuation of the award-winning British television series "Luther," this film reimagining of the story picks up with Det. John Luther (Elba) sitting behind bars as a serial killer (Andy Serkis, "Black Panther," 2018) blazes a gruesome, ter - rifying trail through London. Haunted by his failure to catch the psychopath who is now taunting him, Luther breaks out of prison to finish the job once and for all — and by any means necessary. Written by Neil Cross ("The Mosquito Coast"), the creator of the original BBC series, "The Fallen Sun" is directed by Jamie Payne ("Outlander"). Series regular Dermot Crowley ("The Death of Stalin," 2017) returns for the film, alongside Cynthia Erivo ("Harriet," 2019), Thomas Coombes ("Save Me"), Hattie Morahan ("Beauty and the Beast," 2017), Jess Liaudin ("Irma Vep"), Henry Her - eford ("Crossbones"), Lauryn Ajufo ("Boiling Point," 2021), Vincent Regan ("300," 2006). "Outlast" - Season 1 Sixteen lone wolves work to prove they have what it takes to make it in the wilderness in the raw new sur - vival competition series "Outlast," premiering Friday, March 10, on Netflix. With storied pasts and a broad depth of skills, these hardcore survivalists know how unforgiving nature can be. Across the series' eight- episode run, the competitors set out to beat the harsh Alaskan wilderness (and each other) for a shot at the $1 million grand prize. But, as they work towards their final goal, they must abide by the cutthroat game's only rule: they must be a part of a team to win. Taking on the challenge in the first season of "Outlast" are Amber Asay (Phoenix), Andrea Hilderbrand (Charlotte, N.C.), Angie Esparza (San Antonio), Brian Kahrs (Holi - day, Fla.), Corey Johnson (Parker, Colo.), Dawn Nelson (Creston, Wash.), Javier Colon (San Francisco), Jill Ashock (New Haven, Ky.), Joel Hungate (McCordsville, Ind.), Jordan Williams (Fort Collins, Colo.), Justin Court (La Grange, Ky.), Lee Ettinger (Bigfork, Mont.), Nick Radner (Tampa, Fla.), Paul Preece (Knoxville, Tenn.), Seth Lueker (Winchester, Va.) and Timothy Spears (Fort Collins, Colo.). Sue Aikens from "Life Below Zero" Jennifer Finnigan stars in "Moonshine" Idris Elba stars in "Luther: The Fallen Sun" Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes and Ike Barinholtz in "History of the World, Part II" STREAMING NOW