Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Addams adventures: Tim Burton directs Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’
WHAT’S NEW ON NETFLIX
“Wednesday” - Season 1
The first family of all things freaky returns to the screen for a new adventure in the Netflix series “Wednesday,” premiering Wednesday, Nov. 23, on the streamer. Originally created by American cartoonist Charles Addams in the 1930s, the fictional Addams family has gained pop culture renown through a number of television, film and comic adaptations. This latest take on the Addams’ adventures follows a teenage Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega (“Scream,” 2022), through her years as a student at Nevermore Academy as she takes on a supernaturally infused mystery. While attempting to master her psychic ability and thwart a monstrous killing spree that has been terrorizing the local town, Wednesday puts her sleuthing skills to the test and tries to solve the mystery that caught her parents’ attention 25 years earlier. Created by “Smallville” and “Into the Badlands” writers Alfred Gough and Miles Miller, “Wednesday” is directed and executive produced by master of the macabre Tim Burton (“Corpse Bride,” 2005). The series also stars Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones”), Jamie McShane (“Bloodline”), Percy Hynes White (“The Gifted”), Hunter Doohan (“Your Honor”), Emma Myers (“Girl in the Basement,” 2021), Joy Sunday (“The Beta Test,” 2021), Naomi J. Ogawa (“Skylines,” 2020), Moosa Mostafa (“The Last Bus”), Georgie Farmer (“Evermoor”), Riki Lindhome (“Knives Out,” 2019) and Christina Ricci (“Yellowjackets”).
“Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would”
As he prepares for his departure from late-night television ahead of his final episode of “The Daily Show With Trevor Noah” (scheduled for Dec. 8), South African comedian Trevor Noah won’t keep his fans waiting for laughs. Teaming up with Netflix and director David Paul Meyer (“The Daily Show”) for his third stand-up comedy special, “Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would” premieres Tuesday, Nov. 22. Filmed live at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, this newest comedy set takes a lighter turn away from the current affairs discussed on “The Daily Show” as Noah jokes about learning German, speaking ill of the dead, judging people in horror movies and ordering Indian food in Scotland. For more of Noah’s beloved brand of comedy, fans can also catch his 2017 special, “Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark,” and his 2018 special, “Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia,” on the streamer.
WHAT’S NEW ON APPLE TV+ “Echo 3”
Based on the award-winning series and original novel “When Heroes Fly,” by Amir Gutfreund, the new Apple TV+ series “Echo 3” premieres Wednesday, Nov. 23, on the Apple streamer. When Amber Chesborough (Jessica Ann Collins, “Zero Dark Thirty,” 2012), a brilliant young scientist, goes missing somewhere along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her family is devastated by her disappearance. Determined to bring her home, Amber’s husband, Prince (Michiel Huisman, “The Flight Attendant”), and her brother, Bambi (Luke Evans, “Nine Perfect Strangers”) — both of whom have high-level military experience and complicated pasts — head to South America to find her. But, set against the explosive backdrop of a secret war, their mission to bring Amber home is more complicated than they could have ever imagined. Consisting of 10 action- and drama-packed episodes, “Echo 3” comes from creator Mark Boal (“The Hurt Locker,” 2008). The series cast is rounded out by James Udom (“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” 2021), Elizabeth Anweis (“Batwoman”), Maria del Rosario (“The Scent of Passion”), Martina Gusman (“The Innocent”), Pablo Cesar Sanchez (“Wild District”), Carlos Bardem (“El Cid”) and Juan Pablo Raba (“Six”).
WHAT’S NEW ON PARAMOUNT+ “Criminal Minds: Evolution” - Season 1
The best minds in the business are back: “Criminal Minds: Evolution” premieres Thursday, Nov. 24, on Paramount+. A revival of the hit procedural “Criminal Minds,” which ran from 2005 to 2020, the series follows the FBI’s elite team of criminal profilers as they face their greatest threat yet: an UnSub (unknown subject) who used the COVID-19 pandemic to build up a network of serial killers. As the world opens up and restrictions ease, the twisted network goes operational, leaving the team with no choice but to hunt down the murderers one at a time. Starring original series favorites Joe Mantegna (“As We See It”), A.J. Cook (“Higher Ground”), Kirsten Vangsness (“Pretty the Series”), Aisha Tyler (“Archer”), Adam Rodriguez (“CSI: Miami”) and Paget Brewster (“Grandfathered”), “Evolution” also stars new addition Zach Gilford (“The Midnight Club”).
WHAT’S NEW ON PRIME “Good Night Oppy” (2022)
The new documentary “Good Night Oppy,” premiering Wednesday, Nov. 23, on Prime Video, tells the inspirational true story of Opportunity, a rover robot that was sent to Mars for a 90-day mission but ended up surviving for 15 years. Launched alongside its twin rover, Spirit, in 2003, Opportunity, lovingly nicknamed “Oppy,” was sent off on a mission to analyze the rocks and soil on Mars for evidence of water. The film follows the rover’s journey as its resilience took it all over Mars’ tumultuous terrain and made it a part of the family for the humans millions of miles away at mission control. Featuring access to exclusive archival footage, “Good Night Oppy” follows the titular robot as it overcomes its life expectation while bolstering dreams and piquing the curiosity of humans around the world. Directed by Ryan White (“The Case Against 8,” 2015) and written by White and Helen Kearns (“The Keepers”), “Good Night Oppy” is narrated by Oscarnominated actress Angela Bassett (“What’s Love Got to Do With It,” 1993).