From the hotly anticipated to the sneaker hit, and a hotly anticipated hit about sneakers (forgive me), this weekend is filled to the brim with worthy premieres. The Affleck/Damon duo is back, musical theater lovers are well-fed with Schmigadoon’s return, and a deserving band gets a deserving tribute. Let us help you sort out your weekend streaming plans, and maybe even convince you to make it out to the movie theater.
Air
Iconic onscreen duo Ben Affleck and Matt Damon team up again to tell the true story of the Nike shoe empire. Air follows the founders of the now-behemoth as they navigate the hurdles of creating one of the most enduring American brands, and the Michael Jordan collaboration that took them there.
Why it’s worth watching
This sports-meets-business story, which also features award-winners Viola Davis and Jason Bateman, is the type of high-profile biopic we might be talking about all year. Damon plays the visionary Sonny Vaccaro, whose unconventional blue-sky approach takes the company from an unknown shoe brand to stratospheric success. Critics praise Affleck’s understated yet snappy directing, and rich realization of the 1980s backdrop. Chicago Sun-Times writer Richard Roeper writes, “Thanks to Affleck’s sure-handed, period-piece-perfect direction, a crackling good screenplay by Alex Convery, and the lively, funny, warm, passionate performances from the A-list cast, Air is as entertaining and fast-paced as an NBA Finals game that is destined for overtime.”
Watch Air exclusively in theaters.
Schmigadoon! (S2)
The earnest and fun musical show Schmigadoon! returns to AppleTV+ with a new premise. While the first installment was a send-up of golden age musicals, the latest one will parody classic shows from the 60s and 70s and is aptly titled Schmicago.
Why it’s worth watching
Broadway lovers will be rewarded with countless references, Easter eggs, and send-ups of classic musicals like Cabaret, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, and Hair. Comedy fans will love seeing Cecily Strong (SNL) and Keegan-Michael (Key & Peele) as the central couple who get begrudgingly dragged through a musical version of couples therapy. The second season promises more campy, over-the-top numbers, sharply executed by greats like Kristen Chenoweth, Aaron Tveit, and Dove Cameron. Read our guide to jumping into season 2, and all the musical theater history nods you can expect here.
Stream Schmigadoon! on Apple TV+
Beef
A road rage incident between two strangers sets them off on a feud that embodies all the unspoken bitterness in their lives. The pair (played by Ali Wong and Steven Yeun) butt heads over wealth, gender, and family responsibility in the new Netflix miniseries that mixes biting comedy with grounded themes.
Why it’s worth watching
Beef promises to be a rare original work that brings out the hidden intensity that lurks in the mundane. Yeun’s character is a first-gen contractor, and Wong’s character is a successful entrepreneur, and their unexpected collision (vehicular and otherwise) reveals their own simmering resentments- big and small. The result is a show that toes the line between dark comedy and existential thinkpiece. Critics note the strength of the central performances–Roxana Hadadi writes for Vulture, “Yeun and Wong’s vibrating, hostile chemistry makes for engaging feel-bad TV that critiques the very notion of inner peace.”
Stream Beef on Netflix
A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys
This Sunday, a slew of performers including John Legend, Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlisle, Norah Jones, and Weezer pay tribute to one of rock and roll’s most beloved and enduring bands. The event will air on CBS and will be available to stream on Paramount+.
Why it’s worth watching
Watercooler contributor Sage Bava attended the taping, and writes, “Seeing so many artists I know and admire now, I’m grateful now to have had the opportunity to be close to this music and see firsthand how it affects a mass of people so deeply. Fans from all walks of the music industry had been invited by the Recording Academy or bought tickets for this TV taping to celebrate the incredible catalogue of music written by brothers of the same mother and brothers of choice.” Read Sage’s full recommendation here.
Watch A Grammy Salute to the Beach Boys on CBS or stream on Paramount+
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