Escape the everyday: Tropical comedy 'The White Lotus' premieres on HBO
Murray Bartlett, Jolene Purdy, Natasha Rothwell, Christie Volkmer and Lukas Gage as seen in "The White Lotus"
After months of sticking close to home, it's time for a holiday. For those of us who can't afford a five-star luxury resort, a new comedy offers a look at life in paradise. Well, almost paradise anyway.
Escape the everyday: Tropical comedy 'The White Lotus' premieres on HBO
Murray Bartlett, Jolene Purdy, Natasha Rothwell, Christie Volkmer and Lukas Gage as seen in "The White Lotus"
After months of sticking close to home, it's time for a holiday. For those of us who can't afford a five-star luxury resort, a new comedy offers a look at life in paradise. Well, almost paradise anyway.
Love Island, on CBS
Don't miss this hit unscripted series' Season 3 premiere. Hosted by Arielle Vandenberg, all-new contestants take to the sun-soaked Hawaiian Islands to take part in a competition to find love. The show is an Americanization of the British series.
Q: I've recently discovered "The Orville," and there are a lot of similarities with other series. Have there been any issues with the creators of "Star Trek" or other shows around copyright?
You aren't the first person to wonder about this, but "The Orville's" network, Fox, isn't worried.
"We're not really concerned," Fox CEO Dana Walden said in response to this question (but specifically about "Star Trek") at a 2017 press tour shortly before the show premiered. "We obviously have a big legal team. We vet things, so it's not like we're just flying by the seat of our pants out here."
Forrest Gump, on AMC
While waiting for a bus, Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) shares his remarkable life story with unsuspecting strangers, chronicling the ways American history at large became unwittingly influenced by the life and love of one simple man. Sally Field also stars.
The Celebrity Dating Game, on ABC
Zooey Deschanel and Michael Bolton co-host a slew of celebrity singles from television, film, music, comedy and more as they try their hardest to (hopefully) find love. This hilarious game show is a reboot of the 1960s classic "The Dating Game."
Q: Are they making more "Archer"? I feel like I haven't seen it in a while.
There are a couple of possible reasons why you might feel you haven't seen "Archer" in a while, but regardless, there's more on the way. The show has been renewed for a 12th season, which is scheduled to debut Aug. 25 on FXX.
That channel situation is one reason you might be missing it (in both senses of the word). It used to air on the more popular FX network but was moved to the higher-numbered FXX in 2017.
Late Laughs for the week of July 4 - 10, 2021
The Late Late Show with James Corden
The fact-checking site Snopes has now determined that Donald Trump, at his speech in North Carolina on Saturday, did not — I repeat, did not! — wear his pants backwards. ... Even Trump's pants lie! ... At the very least, his tailor should be impeached.
The Simpsons, on Fox
Kick the Fourth of July off with America's favorite cartoon family. In this rebroadcast, Mr. Burns goes undercover as 'Fred' and makes friends with Homer and the gang at the power plant. David Harbour and Phil Rosenthal lend their voices as guest stars.
New Releases for the week of July 4 - 11
Equal Standard (2020)
Following the shooting death of an unarmed Black man by local police and escalating racial tensions in the community, NYPD Det. Chris Jones (Truvillion) is off duty and out with a friend when the pair are antagonized by two plainclothes detectives. While identifying himself as a fellow officer and attempting to locate his credentials, he is shot by Det. Peter McKenzie (Minutoli). In self-defense, Jones returns fire, killing McKenzie. Amid the fallout over Jones' actions, the NYPD and the local community come together to investigate, while witnesses mark an obvious divide between law enforcement and the people they are expected to serve and protect.
Director: Brendan Kyle Cochrane. Stars: Ice-T, Hassan Johnson, Robert Clohessy, Jules Willcox, Marc John Jefferies, Maurice Benard, Tobias Truvillion, Anthony 'Treach' Criss, Syleena Johnson, Rob Minutoli. 2021. 101 mins. Action.
Georgetown (2019)
When recently widowed, accomplished Georgetown journalist and author Elsa Brecht (Redgrave) reconnects with smooth-talking Ulrich Mott (Waltz) after the death of her husband, the pair begin a mutually beneficial relationship. Brecht gets a bit of help around the house and beautiful home-cooked meals, while Mott gets to use Brecht's desirable connections to climb the social ladder in Washington, D.C. When a suspicious death befalls Brecht, her daughter, Amanda (Bening), begins to examine her mother's relationship with the mysterious Mott. "Georgetown" is inspired by the true story of the murder of Viola Herms Drath by her husband, Albrecht Gero Muth.
Director: Christoph Waltz. Stars: Christoph Waltz, Vanessa Redgrave, Annette Bening, Corey Hawkins, Laura de Carteret, Dan Lett, Amin Bhatia, David Reale. 2019. 99 mins. Drama.
Death in Texas (2021)
After serving seven years for manslaughter, Billy Walker (Blevins) emerges from prison on compassionate release due to his mother's (Boyle) critical need for a liver transplant. Having exhausted all the legal options to secure his mother's health, he is made aware of a less-than-ideal option: buy a liver on the black market. Turning to crime to pay for the exorbitant price of saving his mom, Walker's choice sets him on track to collide with dangerous cartel boss Reynolds (Dern).