What to Watch on TV: Pennyworth, The Expanse, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Welcome to a new week and another round of What to Watch on TV for the week of December 13th! We’ll be sharing our picks for what to watch this week, from marathons to big guest spots, and significant episodes of TV to look forward to while stuck inside.
This week’s picks include Pennyworth’s return, The Expanse’s final season, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’s debut, and more.
Here are our recommendations for what to watch on TV this week:
Pennyworth – Sunday, December 13
After a bit of a lengthy hiatus, Alfred and company are back, running a black-market club while England is in the midst of a civil war. Pennyworth returns Sunday, December 13 at 9/8c on Epix.
Episode Description: A year after the events of last season, England finds itself embroiled in a devastating civil war. Alfred Pennyworth, now running a black-market club, is in search of a way out before his country burns itself to the ground and he’s got his eye on America.
A Sugar & Spice Holiday – Sunday, December 13
Suzie returns to her hometown in Maine for the holidays and finds herself entering a gingerbread contest as she follows her grandmother’s footsteps. A Sugar & Spice Holiday debuts Sunday, December 13 at 8/7c on Lifetime.
Movie Description: Suzie, a rising young architect, returns to her small hometown in Maine for Christmas. When she gets there, she is pushed to follow her grandmother’s footsteps and enter the local gingerbread house competition.
Desus & Mero: The Obama Interview – Sunday, December 13
Desus and Mero’s next illustrious guest needs no real introduction. The special will have the duo talking to former President Barack Obama as they cover everything from pop culture and sports to politics and more. Desus & Mero: The Obama Interview drops Sunday, December 13 at 11:05/10:05c on Showtime.
Special Description: Desus Nice and The Kid Mero interview former President Barack Obama.
The Expanse – Wednesday, December 16
As the Prime series returns for a new seasom, the future of humanity throughout the Ring and beyond are at stake as Marco Inaros prepares to unleash an extinction-level event on the system. The Expanse returns Wednesday, December 16 on Prime Video.
Season Description: In different parts of the Solar system, the crew of the Rocinante and their allies confront the sins of their past, while Marco Inaros unleashes an attack that will alter the future of Earth, Mars, the Belt, and the worlds beyond the Ring.
Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 – Thursday, December 17
Inspired by #SunshineSongs, Laura Benanti gave high school theater students a chance to take the (streaming) stage and perform after the pandemic left them all with canceled spring performances. Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020 airs Thursday, December 27 on HBO Max.
Special Description: Inspired by Tony Award winning actress Laura Benanti’s (“My Fair Lady” and “She Loves Me” on Broadway, Younger, Supergirl, Nashville) online movement #SunshineSongs, in which she offered to be an audience for the students around the country whose spring musicals were cancelled because of COVID-19, this television event will give students the opportunity to sing and dance like the stars they are, from the safety of their homes.
Sesame Street: Holiday at Hooper’s – Thursday, December 17
It’s the holiday season on the most famous street on TV. As Elmo and Baby Bear find themselves staying at Hooper’s store for the night, Alan becomes determined to make the store more festive to help bring in the cheer. Sesame Street: Holiday at Hooper’s debuts Thursday, December 17 on HBO Max.
Special Description: It’s Holiday time on Sesame Street! When their parents run late from the holiday concert, Elmo and Baby Bear stay with Alan and Nina at Hooper’s store. But they are disappointed not to celebrate Christmas Eve and Hanukkah as they had planned. Alan wonders how to make Hooper’s feel more festive. What if they make their own holiday decorations? Elmo, Baby Bear, Nina, and Alan sing carols, eat latkes, and make lots of decorations. They create a wonderful holiday celebration all by themselves—and Elmo and Baby Bear realize that the best part of holidays is being together with friends and family.
The Stand – Thursday, December 17
Another one of Stephen King’s works is heading to the small screen, prepared to tell the story of a post-apocalyptic world where the world is plagued and rife with the battle for good and evil. The Stand debuts Thursday, December 17 on CBS AllAccess.
Series Description: “The Stand” is author Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors including Stu Redman, an ordinary working-class factory man; Nadine Cross, a deeply conflicted woman; Frannie Goldsmith, a pregnant young woman; and Nick Andros, a young deaf and mute man. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom – Friday, December 18
The highly anticipated adaptation of August Wilson’s play is finally here. It focuses on Ma Rainey and one night heading into a recording session where confrontations arise and truths come out, and there’s change on the horizon for the entire band. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom debuts Friday, December 18 on Netflix.
Movie Description: Tensions and temperatures rise over the course of an afternoon recording session in 1920s Chicago as a band of musicians await trailblazing performer, the legendary “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey (Academy Award® winner Viola Davis). Late to the session, the fearless, fiery Ma engages in a battle of wills with her white manager and producer over control of her music. As the band waits in the studio’s claustrophobic rehearsal room, ambitious cornet player Levee (Chadwick Boseman) — who has an eye for Ma’s girlfriend and is determined to stake his own claim on the music industry — spurs his fellow musicians into an eruption of stories revealing truths that will forever change the course of their lives.
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Those are our picks for the week! What are you planning to watch? Share in the comments below!
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Brianna Martinez
Brianna spends her time away from briefs, legal research, and pleadings, watching TV and writing about it. She generally has a lot of feelings about TV, which you can read about here and on Twitter.