Sharp comedy and secrets to start your new TV year

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This article was published 30/12/2023 (875 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the new year dawns, this batch of TV highlights contains many things revealed — by an acclaimed, occasionally caustic comedian; a crime family; a dead husband; a newbie detective; and a very live wife.

Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer

Comedy special premières Sunday on Netflix

Ready? He is back with a seventh Netflix standup special and is guaranteed to do what Dave Chappelle does — thrill and offend. “What happens to a dream deferred?” Morgan Freeman asks, narrating the trailer. “Lucky for Dave, he doesn’t know.” Chappelle’s last outing, The Closer, sparked criticism and a Netflix staff walkout for his comments about trans people. (The company stood by Chappelle, stating it supports “creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful.” His more aggressive stylings can be offputting, but its always fun to watch him work.

 

The Brothers Sun

Series premières Thursday, Jan. 4, on Netflix

Secrets? Rage? Revenge? Enough about your holiday family gathering! These are the threads of the plot in the crime-family drama headed by Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crazy Rich Asians). After being targeted by a “mysterious” enemy — the best kind! — a Taipei gangster heads to L.A. to protect his ungrateful sibling and overbearing mom. That sounds like a lame sitcom, but the trailer looks like a cross between a flashy CW “drama” and a Sam Peckinpah bloodbath sprinkled with some arch dialogue. We’re in for at least a couple of episodes.

 

Good Grief

Movie premières Friday, Jan. 5, on Netflix

Daniel Levy (Schitt’s Creek, Happiest Season) writes, directs and stars in this gorgeous-looking weepie about a man grieving the death of his beloved husband, until a secret is revealed. A trip to Paris provides a lovely backdrop for some straight talk from his supportive besties (Preacher’s Ruth Negga and Station Eleven’s Himesh Patel). We give it six tissues. At least.

 

Criminal Record

Series premières Wednesday, Jan. 10, on Apple TV+

Are you already missing London after the Dec. 27 conclusion of the latest season of the spy drama Slow Horses (a fourth season of which was ordered in 2022, though no première date yet)? Apple TV+ has you covered with a new London-based thriller. An anonymous phone call brings an old murder case back into focus for a grizzled old detective (one-time Doctor Who Peter Capaldi) and a young keener played by Cush Jumbo (Good Wife, Deadwater Fell). The press bumph promises a story that touches on “race, institutional failure and the quest to find common ground.” And violin-shrieking suspense, it should have added, judging from the trailer.

 

Role Play

Movie premières Friday, Jan. 12, on Prime Video

Where to start for this one? How about this line from the trailer: “Do you and your wife role-play often?” Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo are a husband and wife just trying to have some sexy fun and along comes Bill Nighy, buzzkiller. And killer killer. In fact, lots of killing. And comedy. It looks kooky, which seems about right for comic chameleon Nighy and Flight Attendant star Cuoco (Have you seen her Groundhog Day-esque movie with Pete Davidson, Meet Cute, also on Prime Video? Recommended!). But Oyelowo of Selma, Silo and Lawmen: Bass Reeves? We shall see.

 

Broadcast dates subject to change. Questions, comments to denise.duguay@winnipegfreepress.com.