Betty White tribute becomes memorial
Hulu begins streaming episodes of the 1992 sitcom spinoff “The Golden Palace.” Originally intended to anticipate Betty White’s 100th birthday, it now provides a way to appreciate the timeless comedian, who died at 99 on Dec. 31.
A sequel to the long-running “Golden Girls,” “Palace” starred three members of that series, White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty. It marked the first regular series role for Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”).
“Palace” picked up the story without actress Bea Arthur. It ran only one 24-episode season, following in a long tradition of networks trying to extract more magic out of a beloved sitcom, as they had done with several comedies starring Mary Tyler Moore and Lucille Ball, among others. ›
Netflix streams the third season of the Dutch police procedural thriller “Undercover,” following agents who have infiltrated the world of a Flemish-speaking
drug kingpin. ›
A mystery comedy blending criminal investigation with the world of detective novelists, “Queens of Mystery,” streaming its second season on Acorn, follows Matilda Stone (Olivia Vinall in season 1; now played by Florence Hall), a young detective assigned to the bucolic small village that happens to be the home of her three aunts, each writing detective novels in their own particular style.
“Queens of Mystery” walks that fine line separating “clever,” “cute” and “whimsical,” recommended for viewers steeped in the genre who appreciate (and/or forgive) all things British.
› Streaming on Netflix since New Year’s Eve, the media satire and political spoof “Don’t Look Up” was clearly inspired by apocalyptic thrillers like the 1998 Michael Bay blockbuster “Armageddon” (9 p.m., Syfy, TV-14) and the 2004 climate-change disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow” (8 p.m., HBO), directed by Roland Emmerich.
While watching “Don’t Look Up,” I was also reminded of the shock-value 2004 marionette thriller-satire-musical
“Team America: World Police,” concocted with scabrous adolescent abandon by Matt Stone and Trey Parker.
In assembling a cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchette and Mark Rylance, director Adam McKay seemed to announce that he could attract the “greatest actors of a generation” to his project. In contrast, Stone and Parker made their movie with puppets and included a backstory that conveyed their loathing for actors, particularly those all too eager to share their political opinions and outrage.
In the DVD extras (remember them?) for “Team America,” Stone and Parker explained how they were obviously trying to spoof expensive thrillers of this variety. They explained that only in producing it did they realize how hard it was to make a dumb “Jerry Bruckheimer movie.”
In a perfect world, “Don’t Look Up” and “Team America” would run as a drive-in double feature! The good news is, both movies are streaming on Netflix. Start making some popcorn!
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
› An ice storm cripples Austin on “9-1-1: Lone Star” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14).
› In their search for a serial killer, the team discovers they have company on “NCIS” (9 p.m., CBS, repeat, TV-14).
› Jimmy Fallon hosts “That’s My Jam” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-PG), featuring celebrity guests Taika Waititi, Rita Ora, Normani and Taraji P. Henson.