Weekend Preview: ‘The U.S. Vs. Billie Holiday,’ The Golden Globes, And The Return Of ‘The Walking Dead’

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Hulu Original film) — Directed by Lee Daniels and starring Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Andra Day, this film follows the legendary jazz musician who was targeted in the 1940s by the federal government. This was all part of an effort to radicalize the war on drugs, which led to the feds attempting to stop Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” ballad from happening. It’s an at-times heart-wrenching portrait of a powerful civil rights activist and musical icon whose work still resonates, 80 years later and beyond.

The Golden Globes (Sunday, NBC 8:00 p.m.) — Nothing is normal about this past year, and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are undoubtedly going to embrace that sentiment as co-hosts (from separate coasts) of this year’s ceremony. Check out all of the nominees here and then consider all of the snubs and the shenanigans afoot before the big night. Please join us for live coverage of this event.

The Walking Dead (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Expect the beginning of the end to arrive for this long-running flagship series of AMC’s expanding zombie-apocalyptic universe. Maggie is back and toughened up by what she’s gone through since leaving, and Negan’s not happy about it. Well, Negan might have it coming, for real this time?

Wandavision: Episode 7 (Disney+ series) — This week’s emotionally charged penultimate episode had one heck of a post-credits scene that points toward some possible Paul Bettany trolling of the Marvel-loving audience. One thing is clear, though: Kathryn Hahn does not miss.

Tom And Jerry (Warner Bros. film) — This live-action/CGI-animation hybrid follows the continuing legendary rivalry between the title cat and mouse. They’re taking a New York City hotel by storm and launching mayhem-filled adventures as a massive, high-profile wedding looms. Chloe Grace Moretz stars as a wedding planner who’s there to wrangle them, and I believe we can all guess how well that goes. Godspeed.

Punky Brewster: Season 1 (Peacock reboot series) — Hear me out here on this one. Reboot madness won’t stop (no matter what we do), and after NBCU’s streaming service did the Saved By The Bell thing (which is already renewed for a second season), the progression toward Punky Power shouldn’t be too surprising. In this series, Punky’s a single mom who finds herself inspired by meeting a young orphan who possesses of all her old spunk. Both Soleil Moon Frye and Cherie Johnson reprise their roles, and Freddie Prinze Jr. plays Punky’s ex-husband. Did she go by “Punky” or “Penelope” while taking wedding vows? I kind-of need to know.

Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:

Hip Hop Uncovered (Friday, FX 9:00 & 10:19 p.m.) — This six-part docuseries will air two episodes again tonight. This week, the OG’s must choose between keeping with their existing code of the street or joining the establishment. They also move toward becoming modern-day Robin Hoods while hoping to transform their communities to ensure a better future for all.

Saturday Night Live (Saturday, NBC 11:29 p.m.) — Nick Jonas doubles as both host and musical guest.

Supermarket Sweep (Sunday, ABC 8:00 p.m.) — Leslie Jones and every bit of her enthusiasm will host contestants in this revival of the grocery-shopping game show.

Batwoman (Sunday, CW 8:00 p.m.) — Batwoman finds her ability to protect Gotham hindered by Ryan Wilder’s Kryptonite wound, but there might be a serum that can fix things up.

Charmed (Sunday, CW 9:00 p.m.) — New nemeses in the human and magical world plague the Charmed Ones, and Macy learns of a shocking inheritance.

Allen V. Farrow (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — This four part documentary series continues this weekend to dig into a notorious and still-raging scandal of what, exactly, happened with Woody Allen and his family. That includes daughter Dylan Farrow’s allegations of sexual abuse against her father along with Allen’s relationship with Farrow’s daughter, Soon-Yi, and the custody trial that grew especially ugly. In the aftermath, a sprawling family fractured, and that divide continues to this day with continuing disputes that revolve around the allegations.

Shameless (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — This week’s Hall Of Shame edition zeroes in on Frank Gallagher, who has so much to be ashamed about that I’m surprised this isn’t a feature-length film.

Last Week Tonight: Season 8 Premiere (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — Everyone’s favorite sarcastic and satiric late-night host returned a few weeks ago, and not a moment too soon.

Here are a few more recent streaming picks:

Crazy About Her (Netflix film) — An enigmatic woman has a “magical one night stand” (those are Netflix’s words, and they’re impossible to make better in this context), and she lives in a mental institution. That’s not the strangest thing that happens here. Rather, her one-night-stand partner is so taken with this lady that he decides to admit himself too. Ain’t love grand? Naturally, the dude gets a lot more than he bargained for after making his decision, so enjoy the romantic hijinks.

Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures film on Hulu) — Frances McDormand stars this tribute to the American West as a widow (Fern) who loses her house and travels (nomadically, naturally) in her van. Freedom and danger abound, and one of the goals here is to figure out what Fern’s looking for, and whether she can possibly find it, or whether wandering is an escape or a solution, or whether the virtue is in the journey itself.

I Care A Lot (Netflix film) — Rosamund Pike’s got the Gone Girl hair again, which sends out some palpable vibes to be certain. She portrays a court-appointed guardian for elderly wards, and she’s siphoning their assets in an elaborate racket. However, she meets her match in a gangster played by Peter Dinklage, who’s got his own game while representing a mark (Dianne Wiest), who has no living heirs or family but has ruthless designs of her own. Dinklage has got a stare that can bore straight into your soul, and Pike can be as cold as they come, so this movie should be a deliciously dark treat for all.

Tell Me Your Secrets: Season 1 (Amazon Prime series) — Viewers of The Undoing are gonna dig this series for a few reasons, including the presence of Lily Rabe (who portrayed Grace’s best friend, Sylvia) as Emma, who’s a very Gillian Flynn-esque character with a mysterious and troubling past. Two other mysterious and troubling characters — John (Hamish Linklater), a former serial predator and Mary (Amy Brenneman) is a grieving mother of a missing daughter — make up one neck of a mysterious and troubling triangle. The motives of all involved grow murkier as the season wears on, and this show is bingeable as heck.