Streaming this week
WHAT’S NEW ON DISNEY+ “I Am Groot” - Season 1
After stealing the hearts of Marvel fans all over the world in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Baby Groot is back and ready for his closeup. The new, photorealistic animated series “I Am Groot” premieres on Disney+ Wednesday, Aug. 10. Following Groot (voiced once again by Vin Diesel, “F9: The Fast Saga,” 2021), who is now a mischievous toddler, the series explores his glory days growing up and getting into trouble in the galaxy Andromeda. Across five original shorts, Baby Groot goes on adventures and meets all sorts of new and unusual characters. Written and directed by Kristen Lepore (“Hi Stranger,” 2016), the series is produced by Marvel Studios and executive producers Kevin Feige (“Black Panther,” 2018), James Gunn (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” 2014), Louis D’esposito (“Iron Man,” 2008), Victoria Alonso (“Avengers: End Game,” 2019) and Brad Winderbaum (“Thor: Love and Thunder,” 2022).
WHAT’S NEW ON HULU “This Fool” - Season 1
Learn to live life for yourself with the new comedy series “This Fool,” premiering on Hulu Friday, Aug. 12. Inspired by the life and stand-up comedy routines of series star and cocreator Chris Estrada (“Entre Nos”), “This Fool” is an irreverent comedy following the life of Julio Lopez (Estrada), who has a heart of gold and goes out of his way to help everyone but himself. Thirty years old and still living with his family in South Central Los Angeles, Julio finds any excuse to avoid dealing with his own problems. While working for Hugs Not Thugs, a gang-rehabilitation non-profit, Julio tries to succeed in his stagnating life but encounters troubles in dating, with his family and frequently butts heads with his cousin Luis (Frankie Quinones, “Ozzy,” 2016), who just got out of prison. Featuring 10 episodes in the series’ first season, “This Fool” is directed by Diego Velasco (“The Zero Hour,” 2010) and Pat Bishop (“Corporate”), and written by Bishop, Estrada and Matt Ingebretson and Jake Weisman (both of “Corporate”). The series also stars Michelle Ortiz (“MADTV”), Anna Lamadrid (“Derelict,” 2019), Sandra Marcela Hernandez (“American Crime Story”), Mia Hunt (“Good Girls”), Julia Vera (“Elena of Avalor”), Laura Patalano (“Gentefied”), David Alvarado (“The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez”), Jamar Malachai Neighbors (“Keanu,” 2016) and new talent Cruz Legaspe Garcia.