San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
California Streamin’:
Noteworthy films and shows streaming soon.
A proper night of “Netflix (or other streaming services) and chill” involves knowing exactly what is available to watch. Sure, you could binge through “Stranger Things” again, but there are a ton of new releases headed to streaming that can offer something you haven’t seen before.
Mark your calendars for these exciting premieres. From horror to family to inventive reality competitions, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
“Only Murders in the Building”:
When a man is mysteriously murdered in his apartment building, there’s only one thing for his neighbors to do: start a true-crime podcast. This incredible-looking series stars comedy legends Steve Martin and Martin Short as two grumpy old men who decide to get to the bottom of the grisly death and launch their careers as podcasters in the process. They’re joined by Selena Gomez (“Wizards of Waverly Place”) as their disaffected, morbid neighbor roped into the enterprise.
Martin co-created the show with John Hoffman (“Grace and Frankie”), and anyone familiar with his older, dark comedy work, like “The Man With Two Brains” or “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” will feel immediately at home.
Watch it: Comedy series. Premieres Tuesday, Aug. 31, on Hulu.
“Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles”:
We’ve all been missing the live concert scene, which is why we previously rounded up some virtual California concert experiences to help tide music fans over. Billie Eilish has joined the ranks of Beyoncé and Nick
Cave by putting out a concert experience for mass consumption in the form of “Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles.”
Performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the show is meant to capture Eilish’s music as well as her romanticization of the City of Angels. The intimate concert film will also be a chance for fans to see some of the tracks from Eilish’s latest album live before she is set to perform at San Francisco’s Chase Center on March 29.
Concert film. Premieres Friday, Sept. 3, on Disney+.
Watch it:
“Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.”:
“Doogie Howser” seems like an odd choice for a reboot, but if anyone can do the story justice, it’s producer Kourtney Kang (“How I Met Your Mother”). The new series stars Peyton Elizabeth Lee (“Andi Mack”) as a 16-year-old Hawaiian prodigy who has to learn to balance her new medical career with teenage life.
Thus far, it doesn’t look like there are any oblique references to the original series aside from Kamealoha’s age and nickname, but with Kang’s connection to Neil Patrick Harris through “HIMYM,” it’s hard to believe he won’t make some kind of cameo. In the meantime, a new generation of kids will get a chance to see how much of a difference a teenager with brains, and a drive to help people, can make.
Drama series. Premieres Sept. 8 on Disney+.
Are you tired of watching kindly British grandmothers cry when their cakes topple over or their scones don’t come out right? The cure for that is the upcoming reality competition “Metal Masters.”
Hosted by comedian Jo Koy, the show will pit a group of welders against one another as they try to craft different metal sculptures. These range from building giant robots and firebreathing fish to pimping out “Mad Max” wasteland rides. Welding is one of the nation’s most consistent growth industries,
Watch it:
“Metal Shop Masters”:
and with a massive infrastructure bill expected to pass Congress, the country is going to need a lot of metalworkers. Showing off the dented and demented wonders from a few masters is certainly one way to inspire the next generation.
Watch it:
Reality game show. Premieres Sept. 10, on Netflix.
One of the most anticipated comic book adaptations is finally about to hit the silver screen. Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s postapocalyptic book series followed a mysterious plague that wiped out half of all mammalian life, specifically the cis male half. The only ones left alive are Yorick Brown (Ben
“Y: The Last Man”:
very important part of what we’re going for with this one, adding more empathy into the world of these very traumatic situations.
Q: Director Nia DaCosta is a real up-and-comer. I’m sure it wasn’t hard to establish a rapport with her.
A:
I use the term “tribe” as a description for building the type of people that I want to work with, the type of people that I want to go forward with — she’s right there at the top of the list of the people I want in my creative tribe as I move forward.