EVEN beyond the Canada Post labour issue, it’s a fact of life that not all gifts arrive in time for the big day. Conversely, sometimes a gift presents itself, so to speak, so far in advance — say, bought on sale and stashed in the “gift drawer” and forgotten — that it’s doubly welcome for the surprise factor. Just me?
Perhaps, but that sets up the first item on this biweekly let’s-check-this-TV series-out-shall-we?
Laid (all two seasons streaming now on Tubi)
Noted and then long forgotten is the 2011-12 Australian series about a woman named Roo (Alison Bell) who discovers that her former lovers are dying.
The pace of this dry cringe comedy is slow, but the payoff increases the further and darker the story goes on.
Nestled in the free streaming app Tubi, it’s a worthy placeholder until sometime in the spring when Stack/W Network will host the première of livelier-looking U.S. version, filmed recently in Vancouver and starring Stephanie Hsu (Fall Guy, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) and Zosia Mamet (The Flight Attendant, Girls) as her BFF.
It might look like it’s premièring on Dec. 19, but that’s only on the Peacock app, which — !&*#@ — is not available in Canada.
Nate Bargatze’s Nashville Christmas (holiday special premières Thursday, Dec. 19, on CBS, Paramount+), Your Friend, Nate Bargatze (comedy special premières Tuesday, Dec. 24 on Netflix)
Jon Morgan/CBS
Comedian Nate Bargatze (left, with Darius Rucker) hosts a one-hour holiday-themed variety show on CBS.
The headliner of this year’s Great Outdoor Comedy Fest at Assiniboine Park in July has two new specials to look forward to.
The first one looks to be an old-style variety show shot in the Grand Ole Opry, featuring skits, bits and music by Saturday Night Live’s Mikey Day and Ashley Padilla and musicians Noah Kahan, Martina McBride, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Derrick Stroup, the Tennessee Titans and Carrie Underwood.
A few days later, that will be followed the first of his two new comedy specials for Netflix. The topics: “pizza-ordering strategies for guys’ night, wanting a second dog and relying on his responsible wife.”
The second new Netflix comedy special will follow in 2025. Anyone unfamiliar with Bargatze should check out his two earlier Netflix specials, The Greatest Average American and The Tennessee Kid and/or Hello World on Prime Video.
Virgin River (Season 6 premières with all 10 episodes Thursday, Dec. 19, on Netflix)
Netflix
When Virgin River returns Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge, left) and Jack (Martin Henderson) are getting married.
It’s been a long and winding road, but it looks like Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) are really getting married.
Likewise, love is all around for the series’ many other couples, including the silver-haired sweeties Hope (Annette O’Toole) and Doc (Tim Matheson).
There will also be, by turns, death, birth, news of a long-lost family member and a flashback to 1970s Virgin River. Pop some bubbly!
Squid Game (Season 2 premières Thursday, Dec. 26, on Netflix)
No Ju-han/Netflix
Lee Jung-jae returns as Seong Gi-hun in Season 2 of Netflix’s Squid Game.
When a freshman series lures 330 million worldwide to watch for 2.8 billion hours, as this Korean-language series has since its September 2021 debut, there is bound to be more… even though creator Hwang Dong-hyuk swore never more, after having lost “eight or nine” teeth during filming of the first-season, as he told Variety.
Those viewing statistics pursuaded him, and he relented with not one but two more seasons. As the action ramps back up, it’s three years later and Player 456 (Lee Jung-Jae) has come back for another round of the life-or-death $45-million game, with a slight change of strategy.
Six Triple Eight (movie premières Friday, Dec. 20, on Netflix after a limited theatrical release)
Laura Radford / Perry Wells Films
Kerry Washington plays Major Charity Adams in The Six Triple Eight.
Neither snow nor sleet nor sexism nor racism will stop the Women’s Army Corps from completing their Second World War mission in this new movie written, directed and produced by Tyler Perry.
Kerry Washington (Scandal) stars as Major Charity Adams, commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the Women’s Army Corps unit of colour.
Faced with mountains of undelivered mail to soldiers, “these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers,” says the press material. Supporting cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon and Dean Norris. Prepare to be humbled and inspired.
Broadcast dates subject to change. Questions, comments to [email protected].
