Q: I absolutely loved the Robert Redford movie "Three Days of the Condor." I was in a bookstore the other day and saw a paperback called "Six Days of the Condor." Is that a sequel? Did they make a movie of it?
All movies based on books have to cut something out to make a two-hour run time. In this case, director Sydney Pollack ("Tootsie," 1982) had to cut out three whole days. That is to say, Pollack's 1975 cinematic classic "Three Days of the Condor" was based on the novel "Six Days of the Condor" by James Grady, published the previous year.
Secret Celebrity Renovation, on CBS
Nischelle Turner hosts this series that gives celebrities a chance to give back to those who inspired them or had a meaningful impact on their lives. Big names in sports, music and entertainment arrange home renovations for their biggest supporters.
Why The Heck Did I Buy This House?, on HGTV
Designer, renovator and "Survivor" Season 24 winner Kim Wolfe soothes homeowners with buyer's remorse in this renovation series. After visiting the house and chatting with the owners, Kim and her team use their skills to create beautiful, lively spaces.
Q: I know the Jason Statham movie "The Mechanic" is supposed to be a remake of an old Charles Bronson one, but how close is it to the original?
It depends who you ask. If you ask Simon West, director of the new version of "The Mechanic" (2011), it's radically different. If you ask Irwin Winkler, who produced the 1972 original, and David Winkler, who helped his dad produce the remake, the new version is "very faithful." It all comes down to differences in perspective.
Bad Hair Day, on TLC
Jamie has transitioned from male to female but needs help from Dr. Angie to leave the wigs behind in this second episode of the new reality series. Meanwhile, Neshia's body hair causes painful sores and she hopes Dr. Meena can help. Dr. Isha aids Eric.
Pawn Stars, on History
Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Chumlee Russell return for a new episode of this hit unscripted series. Today, a customer walks into the shop with a "Tommy Boy" movie poster signed by the film's late star, Chris Farley. Later, a cannon from the 1600s.
Q: Why is "Young Rock" on NBC described as fiction, with no characters intended to represent real people? Of course many of them are real.
The short answer to why that little bit of fine print appears at the end of each episode of NBC's "Young Rock" is: legal reasons. Essentially, it's a way for the people behind the show to pre-empt any chance of a lawsuit.
Kevin Can F**K Himself, on AMC
Annie Murphy continues her plight as sitcom housewife Allison in a new episode of this dark comedy's second season. Tired of playing second fiddle to her husband Kevin (Eric Petersen) and being relegated to menial tasks, Allison plots her revenge.
New Releases for the week of Aug. 28 - Sept. 3
The Phantom of the Open
Maurice Flitcroft (Rylander) is a dreamer and an unrelenting optimist, who, as a professional crane operator from Barrow-in-Furness, managed to qualify for the British Open golf championship in 1976 despite never having played a game of golf. This true story follows Flitcroft as he managed to play the worst round of golf in Open history, simultaneously displeasing the golfing elite and turning him into a folk hero. Above all, Flitcroft was able to show his family firsthand the importance of pursuing your dreams.
Director: Craig Roberts. Stars: Mark Rylance, Sally Hawkins, Rhys Ifans, Jake Davies, Christian Lees, Jonah Lees, Mark Lewis Jones, Johann Myers. 2021. 106 mins. Comedy. Drama.
American Carnage
J.P. (Lendeborg Jr.) is a fast food worker who tries to hustle his way to a better job while his sister, Lily (Morales), gets ready to move away for college. Their lives take a turn, however, when the governor (Cullen) starts arresting the children of undocumented immigrants and naturalized citizens. J.P. realizes the only way he can reunite with his sister is to enter a program that will commute his sentence and claim his immediate family through his American citizenship. But as J.P. and others like him are bused off to commute their sentence by caring for the elderly in a nursing home, things are not as they seem.
Director: Diego Hallivis Stars: Jenna Ortega, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Allen Maldonado, Eric Dane, Brett Cullen, Jorge Diaz, Bella Ortiz, Yumarie Morales, Catherine McCafferty, Andrew Kaempfer, Paloma Bloyd. 2022. 98 mins. Comedy. Horror.
Men
After the death of her husband, Harper Marlowe (Buckley) retreats to the English countryside to spend some time in a secluded manor owned by a man named Gregory (Kinear), who welcomes her with open arms. It doesn't take long for her to realize that something or someone in the surrounding woods is stalking her. What starts out as a feeling of dread soon turns into something much more sinister. Worse yet, it appears there is nowhere to hide.
Director: Alex Garland. Stars: Jessie Buckley, Rory Kinnear, Gayle Rankin, Paapa Essiedu. 2022. 100 mins. Horror.
House of the Dragon, on HBO
The Targaryen family saga continues in a new episode of this fresh "Game of Thrones" spinoff set 200 years before the original series. As the drama continues to unfold, viewers learn more about the king's brother, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith), this episode.
