A list curated by The Associated Press of what’s coming to streaming services, music platforms, movies and television in the United States. Dates may vary in other countries.
WHO
— Just in time for the Academy Awards, the tennis drama “King Richard” with Will Smith arrives Thursday on HBO Max. Reinaldo Marcus Green’s film, nominated for six Oscars including best picture, was available for streaming for 30 days when it debuted simultaneously in theaters and HBO Max in November. If you missed it then, it’s back now so you can watch the performance that’s likely to win Smith his first Academy Award. His portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams, has been hailed as his most moving and sensitive. Smith, along with a cast that includes fellow nominee Aunjanue Ellis, paints a loving portrait of Williams as a mentor to her five daughters in Compton, California.
— It didn’t make it to the Oscars, but Fran Kranz’s heartbreaking “Mass,” available this Saturday on Hulu, shouldn’t be overlooked. The film brings together two groups of parents who are warily meeting with raw wounds to speak six years after a school shooting that brought their families together. The four main cast members — Ann Dowd, Reed Birney, Martha Plimpton and Jason Isaacs — are fantastic at tackling heartbreaking topics that are rarely treated with such empathy and sincerity. In my review, I praised “Mass” as “an intensely emotional dialogue of pain, regret, and perhaps catharsis, brilliantly performed by a quartet of actors.”
— Jake Coyle
SONG
— Maren Morris has no reason to be nervous this week despite the name of her latest single. The fabulous “Nervous” is a genre-mixing tune with some alternative rock, pop and grunge along with country. It’s part of the “Humble Quest” album she releases on Friday that Morris has said chronicles her life as a new mom, the lockdown and the death of her dear friend and collaborator Michael Busbee. The album, produced by Greg Kurstin, also includes the singles “Background Music” and “Circles Around This Town.”
— Pop punk is having a moment again and Machine Gun Kelly is very much in fashion with his new album, “Mainstream Sellout”. The 16-track disc features contributions from Lil Wayne, Willow, Blackbear, Gunna, Young Thug, Bring Me the Horizon and Pete Davidson. One of the first singles is “ay!” featuring Lil Wayne and a reminder of Machine Gun Kelly’s hip hop roots. Another single, an early 2000s blast called “emo girl,” features Willow and drummer Travis Barker. Fun fact: Machine Gun Kelly and Barker got matching tattoos of “born with horns”, which was going to be the name of the album until MGK changed it.
— Mark Kennedy
TELEVISION
— Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson host NBC’s “American Song Contest,” which opens Monday with a two-hour premiere. Musicians from across the United States will campaign to win the nation’s vote for best song. Newcomers, emerging and established artists are among the soloists, duos and groups representing every state and territory with a new original tune. Participating stars include Macy Gray, representing Ohio; Michael Bolton, for Connecticut; and Joya, from Alaska. NBC created an interactive map with details of each artist.
— Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” returns to FX Thursday for its highly anticipated third season. The plot takes place mainly in Europe, with music director Earn (Glover), rapper Alfred aka Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (LaKeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz) on tour. All 10 episodes will be available on Hulu after debuting on FX, with past seasons also available on the streaming service. The second season ended in May 2018, but less patience will be required for the fourth and final season, as it has already been filmed and will be released this fall.
— With Daphne and the Duke “happily ever after” in the first season of “Bridgerton,” the second focuses on the romantic fate of Daphne’s older brother, Lord Anthony (Jonathan Bailey). A charming newcomer catches his eye, but her protective sister proves a threat on several fronts. Another key story: the queen intends to unmask the author of the gossip sheet that haunts society. Viewers learned who writes her under the pseudonym Lady Whistledown last season, which we didn’t mention for those trying to catch up before the Netflix series returns on Friday.
— Lynn Elber
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