Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Friday, March 14th, 2025:
PRODUCTION NOTES
The newsletter is shorter than normal tonight. It's a VERY slow news day in Hollywood and honestly, I think we all need a break going into the weekend.
THINGS ARE GOING WELL FOR CNN ON THE 'WE'RE REALLY NON-PARTISAN' FRONT
President Donald Trump gave a speech and press conference Friday at the Department of Justice headquarters and among other things, railed against the media, including two of the three major cable news networks:
“I believe that CNN and MSDNC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me, are political arms of the Democrat party, and in my opinion, they are really corrupt and they are illegal,” Trump said, again using his nickname for MSNBC.
He also bashed other outlets, including CBS, NBC, ABC, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, for their reporting. He claimed that the mainstream outlets were influencing judges and “I don’t believe it’s legal.”
WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a fairly light weekend for new premieres, so it feels like a good time to do some deep dive recommendations of things you might have missed the first time around.
Tales From The Loop (Prime Video)
There are some shows that are worth watching, even if it is difficult to describe why they matter. This five-year-old Prime Video Original is inspired by the paintings of Simon Stalenhag, which portrayed a child's remembrances of living above the Loop, a machine built in Norway to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe.
The TV series resets the location to Ohio, but the overall wistful and almost magical tone remains. There are mysteries and a horror or two. But much of the series is a rarity for the sci-fi genre. It's often seen from the perspective of children living in the town and at first glance, a lot of the episodes don't have the high stakes you'd associate with the normal mythology series. There are times when you watch one of the eight episodes and while it's interesting, it doesn't feel as if much is happening. Then the episode ends and you find yourself sitting back and thinking "huh."
If it helps, here is a trailer from the series.
Canadian Bacon (Tubi/Pluto TV/Prime Video/MGM+)
When you think of Michael Moore, "comedy film writer/director" might not come immediately to mind. And you likely won't think that after seeing this 1995 movie either. But what it lacks in punchlines, it makes up for with a jarringly impressive look at the world we're living in today.
Here is the logline for the movie: In a desperate bid to revive his abysmal peacetime approval rating, the president of the United States (Alan Alda) agrees to a scheme proposed by corrupt cabinet member Stu Smiley (Kevin Pollak) and launches a top-secret propaganda campaign to vilify Canada. As U.S. citizens get caught up in a xenophobic hysteria, a group of residents of Niagara, N.Y., wielding machine guns, organize a vigilante invasion that could trigger a real war with America's gentle neighbor to the north.
John Candy co-stars as Sheriff Bud Boomer, who gets caught up in the propaganda and decides to invade Canada. Rhea Pearlman, Jim Belushi and Rip Torn also have small roles in the film.
As I mentioned, it's not an especially funny movie. And that is probably why a film with an $11 million budget only managed to make $178,000 at the box office. But it's a fascinating twist on the current state of relations between the U.S. and Canada. But it's a great conversation starter with your favorite movie fan.
Adolescence (Hulu)
In the category of "a great limited series that is difficult to watch," this four episode show follows the legal aftermath of a 13-year-old boy (Owen Cooper), who is charged with the murder of a classmate. Director Phillip Barantini structures each episode as a single continuous shot, which allows the story to unfold in an almost documentary nature. And the nature of the crime ultimately feels like something that could happen anywhere in 2025.
Without giving too much away, there is a scene in episode three that made me gasp with surprise and horror. This series will leave you thinking a lot about your children and the world they are growing up in.
ODDS AND SODS
* Disney+ has ordered a third season of Percy Jackson & The Olympians, ahead of the season two premiere in December.
* The MTV Movie & TV Awards are on "pause" for a second straight year.
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND THIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH:
Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years (Hulu)
Dope Thief Series Premiere (Apple TV+)
The Electric State (Netflix)
What Would You Kill For? (LMN)
SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH:
Royal-ish (Hallmark)
Taken At A Baseball Game (Lifetime)
SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH:
A Body In The Snow: The Trial Of Karen Read (Investigation Discovery)
Playing With Fire (Lifetime)
MONDAY, MARCH 17TH:
A Body In The Snow: The Trial Of Karen Read (Investigation Discovery)
CoComelon Lane Season Premiere (Netflix)
iHeart Music Awards (Fox)
Inside (Netflix)
SEE YOU ON MONDAY!