What to watch this weekend September 20, 2024: TV awards contenders
Hot on the heels of an impressive showing at the Emmys, FX is hoping its newest anthology series, the uniquely American drama “American Sports Story,” will capture viewers’ attention in much the same way. The first installment is based on the podcast “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” from The Boston Globe’s award-winning Spotlight team and Wondery. It traces Hernandez’s (Josh Rivera) rise and fall, from his days as a high school standout in Bristol, Conn., to his death in prison in 2017, two years after being convicted of murder.
Across 10 riveting episodes — the first two of which are streaming on Hulu — the series explores Hernandez’s troubled life and career, and the issues that influenced and came to define it, including the commodification of brown and Black athletes and the reckless disregard for player safety. It’s an indictment of one of America’s biggest cultural institutions, and although one might not be eager to revisit this particular tragedy, especially given how recently it unfolded, it’s worth it for Rivera’s layered performance (with a special shout-out to Norbert Leo Butz’s humorous interpretation of then-Patriots head coach Bill Belichick). So even if you’re not a fan of football, “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez” is the awards contender to watch this weekend.
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However, if your interests lie elsewhere, other contenders include:
- “Agatha All Along”: To date, the genre-defying limited series “WandaVision” remains the high point of Marvel’s Disney+ experiment, the only series to earn multiple above-the-line Emmy nominations. Marvel is hoping this long-gestating spin-off featuring the villainous witch Agatha Harkness (Emmy nominee Kathryn Hahn) will follow in its footsteps. The nine-episode series, which also hails from “WandaVision’s” Jac Schaeffer, finds Agatha eager to regain her powers after spending three years trapped in a spell cast by Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), so she sets out with her new coven to traverse the Witches Road in order to make it happen. The cast also includes Patti LuPone, Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata and Debra Jo Rupp. The first two episodes are now streaming on Disney+.
- “The Penguin”: Straight from Marvel right into DC! Don’t tell the comic book gods. In this long-gestating limited series featuring a villainous character introduced elsewhere, Colin Farrell reprises his role as the Penguin (known in the show as Oswald “Oz” Cobb rather than the traditional Oswald Cobblepot) from Matt Reeves’ 2022 film “The Batman.” The show, which also stars Cristin Milioti, picks up not long after the events of the movie, and finds Oz making a grab for Gotham’s underworld following the death of Carmine Falcone. The series premiere is now streaming on Max.
- “A Very Royal Scandal”: A spiritual successor of sorts to the Emmy-winning limited series “A Very English Scandal” and “A Very British Scandal,” this three-parter dramatizes the infamous 2019 “Newsnight” interview involving Prince Andrew, Duke of York in which he was questioned about his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Ruth Wilson portrays journalist Emily Maitlis (who is also an executive producer), while Michael Sheen steps into the shoes of the disgraced royal. All three episodes are now streaming on Prime Video.
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