Top TV picks, from Britney to Jon Stewart
‘Daily Show’ host returns, Amazon offers an inside look at the Maple Leafs
With so many different streaming platforms and cable offerings to navigate, choosing what to watch has never been harder. To make things easier, here are our best tune-in tips for the week ahead.
Family Feud Canada
The third season of the game show hosted by Gerry Dee features families going head to head for a chance to take home up to $30,000 per family.
Mondays-Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBC, starting Sept. 27
NCIS: Hawai’i
Well, it wouldn’t be a new fall season without yet another “NCIS” spinoff, would it? The latest version sees the series’ first female special agent in charge as Jane Tennant (played by Vanessa Lachey) presides over the Pearl Harbor Field Office. The two-part premiere began Sunday with a second episode slated for Monday night. Sept. 27, 10 p.m., Global
Ordinary Joe
“Ordinary Joe” is the story of a man who made a life-altering decision after his college graduation. The audience follows Joe Kimbreau as he takes a journey through three parallel timelines a decade after his departure from Syracuse University. It sees Joe follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a police officer; as a music star after he decides to pursue his true passion; and as a nurse after he decides to get married. The lead character is played by James Wolk (“Lone Star”), who hasn’t yet been able to find the show that will define his career. This one might finally be it.
Sept. 27, 10 p.m., Citytv and Citytv.com
Britney vs. Spears
Unquestionably the most anticipated title of the week, Spears’ disturbing search for freedom is explored in this highly anticipated film. The doc features years of investigative work and delves deeply into the tangled history of the conservatorship that has held the pop star hostage for so long.
Sept. 28, Netflix
Attack of the Hollywood Clichés!
This Netflix special is a riveting retrospective as Hollywood Alisters, screenwriters and critics walk the audience through some of the most controversial clichés that have ever appeared on the big screen. Hosted by Rob Lowe, subjects include the origins of “Females Running in Stilettos” and the prevalence of “Walking Away From an Explosion.” The best part is the number of movies the show is able to pull from in driving its point home.
Sept. 28, Netflix
La Brea
What would you do if a massive sinkhole opened up on the road in front of you on your drive? That’s the question “La Brea” attempts to answer. The fantastic special effects add to the non-stop thrill ride that begins five minutes into the first episode. The most fascinating aspect of the show is seeing the unlikely bonds that strangers form in their attempts to survive. Sept. 28, 10 p.m., CTV
Survivor
Speaking of alliances, “Survivor” fans have waited more than a year to see their favourite castaways survive the elements and each other. The wait is finally over. Host and executive producer Jeff Probst has promised that this Fiji-filmed shortened season will revolutionize the series and has referenced the presence of a “monster” that this year’s winner will have to slay to succeed. Maybe the comparisons to “Lost” weren’t that far off after all. After two contestants were booted from the show’s premiere last week, the 41st season picks back up on Wednesday. This year’s cast features the show’s first Torontonian in 32-year-old Erika Casupanan. Sept. 29, 8 p.m., Global
The Chestnut Man
The latest binger from Netflix is an adaptation of the debut novel by Søren Sveistrup (the creator of “The Killing”). The Nordic thriller begins with the discovery of a young woman’s body in a Copenhagen playground. A small doll made of chestnuts and matchsticks lies next to her and the mystery only widens from there.
Sept. 29, Netflix
The Problem With Jon Stewart
Fans clamouring for Jon Stewart’s return to “The Daily Show” will finally be able to get their fix of the funny man. The comedian and political commentator returns to the small screen for the first time since 2015 in a series that homes in on important national topics. The premiere episode focuses on U.S. military veterans being denied health care and features Stewart going one-on-one with the secretary of Veterans Affairs. New episodes will drop biweekly.
Sept. 30, Apple TV Plus
69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez
This doc unpacks the life of polarizing rap sensation and internet feuder Tekashi69. Known for his sensationalist music videos, director Vikram Gandhi explores who Danny Hernandez was before his meteoric rise and fall from fame.
Sept. 30, Amazon Prime Video
All or Nothing: Toronto Maple Leafs
Amazon Prime Video’s critically acclaimed “All or Nothing” series has been around since 2016, pulling the curtain back on the inner workings of sports teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys and Tottenham Hotspur. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the first hockey team to be featured. The series explores how the team coped with playing in an empty arena and the aftermath of another first-round playoff exit.
Oct. 1, Amazon Prime Video
Billions
While Sunday’s season finale will be bittersweet for “Billions” fans, it isn’t all bad as a sixth season of the Showtime series has already been confirmed. Led by the powerful performances of Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff and Asia Kate Dillon, the show has always left a mark in its seasoncloser episode and this one should shock again. Oct. 3, 9 p.m., Crave