Here’s what to watch this week
Catch up on
An American Werewolf in London: (Available on Amazon) The 1981 John Landis horror comedy tells the story of a couple of young Americans backpacking in the English moors. They stop in at a pub that has a pentagram on the wall and suspicious tightlipped patrons. When they return to the moors, they are attacked by what seems to be a wolf, leaving Jack (Griffin Dunne) dead and David (David Naughton) in the hospital where a nurse (Jenny Agutter) helps revitalize him. But something is up. He keeps being visited by his dead friend, whose flesh is hanging all over the place, and David has a once-a-month hungry feeling. “American Werewolf” is a Hammer studio horror film with an “SNL” mentality, with some terrific special effects from technical wizard Rick Baker that stand up today. Fun.
This week
Finding Your Roots: (8 p.m. Tuesday on PBS SoCal) Three guests who have helped to redefine Black America in the last decade — Ava DuVernay, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Janet Mock — find their identities challenged as they learn about their family origins.
At Home With Amy Sedaris: (10:30 p.m. Tuesday on truTV) In this new comedy-talk show, Sedaris offers a twisted take on the Martha Stewart formula by offering skewed advice on the domestic arts. (Sample topics: “Entertaining the Grieving” and “The Craft of Love Making.”)
Drop the Mic: (10:30 p.m. Tuesday on TBS) Celebrity rap battle series is based on a segment from James Corden’s “The Late Late Show.” Method Man and Hailey Baldwin (the 20-year-old daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin) host.
Jack Whitehall - At Large: (Available Tuesday on Netflix) Comedy stand-up special.
Wanted: (Available Tuesday on Netflix) American debut of Australian crime drama about two strangers who are prime suspects in a murder. Both seasons will be available to stream.
Rosehaven: (11 p.m. Wednesday on Sundance) Australian comedy set in rural Tasmania involves a real-estate agent (Luke McGregor) suddenly dealing with his best friend (Celia Pacquola) when her new husband dumps her on their honeymoon.
Blindspot: (8 p.m. Friday on NBC) Jaimie Alexander returns as the mysterious tattooed lady in the third season of the thriller.
Michael Jackson’s Halloween: (8 p.m. Friday on CBS) New onehour holiday animated special features the music of Michael Jackson and the voices of Christine Baranski, Kiersey Clemons, Alan Cumming, George Eads, Brad Garrett, Lucy Liu, Jim Parsons and Lucas Till.
Fearless: (Available Friday on Amazon) Six-episode British legal thriller stars Helen McCrory and Michael Gambon.
Joan Didion - The Center Will Not Hold: (Available Friday on Netflix) In the documentary, actor and director Griffin Dunne unearths a treasure trove of archival footage and talks at length to his “Aunt Joan” — the acclaimed author Joan Didion — about her work and remembrances.
Stranger Things 2: (Available Friday on Netflix) The love letter to ‘80s classic films returns a year later with a new sinister entity at work.
The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special: (11:30 p.m. Saturday on NBC) Tom Hanks and Peter Dinklage head the voice cast for this animated holiday special based on an SNL sketch.