Summer TV Roundup, Week 7

 

We’re making our way through July, and we’ve hit the Summer Olympics. Both those things bring us to a time with fewer new show options. With some big options in theaters and the Olympics vying for your time, you will have to be choosy about your new shows. So, what of these new offerings is worth your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted, and select unscripted, series this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Time Bandits, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered July 24)
About: In 1981, we got a Time Bandits movie from Terry Gilliam. This series isn’t a sequel, but rather a re-make or re-imaging of the concept. It’s a 10-episode season, with two episodes releasing each week for five weeks. The series was created by Taika Waititi, Jermaine Clement, and Iain Morris. Clement and Waititi have supporting roles, with Waititi directing five episodes as well. The rest of the cast includes Lisa Kudrow, Charlyne Yi, and Kal-El Tuck as the young protagonist Kevin. The movie is a cult classic that had a storytelling and comedy style all its own. This series emulates that tone. It also feels like a series that’s aimed at younger viewers and was in fact placed among the youth and kids feed on Apple TV+. For adults, especially those that weren’t fans of the original film, this might feel like something of an odd slog.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Dirty Pop: The Boy Band Scam, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 24)
About: The docuseries is about Lou Pearlman, the music mogul behind the creation of The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, among others. He ushered in a new age of music, but he was a creepy person and a criminal who died in prison. The series includes interviews with collaborators and clients, chronicling his rise in the music industry, and the pyramid scheme he ran behind the scenes that led to his downfall. It’s a fascinating news-magazine style exploration of the man and his career. For fans of this kind of series, this three-episode journey moves at a good pace.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Charlie Hustle & The Matter of Pete Rose, Now Streaming on Max (Premiered July 24)
About: This four-part docuseries chronicles the life and career of baseball star Pete Rose. He was a larger-than-life personality on the field, and a troubled man off the field. The series looks at his career and the gambling and other vices that led to him earning a lifetime ban. The series also includes contemporary interviews with Rose and focuses on the work that’s ongoing to help restore his eligibility for Baseball’s Hall of Fame. It’s a fascinating exploration for sports fans but, at times, the episodes are a bit dry. Each of the four episodes runs about an hour.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Decameron, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 25)
About: We don’t typically think of the era of the Black Plague as a good time, but this new series from Netflix seeks to change that perception. It’s inspired by the 14 th Century short-story collection of the same name. The series is set in 1348 in Italy as a group of nobles and servants try to ride out the plague at a villa in the countryside. It’s got comedy and romance, along with a cast that includes Zosia Mamet, Karan Gill, and Tony Hale, among others. It’s a potentially clever idea and it has a memorable opening credits sequence. But the period is kind of grim and I wasn’t taken with the characters or the overall story. Episodes run about 45-50 minutes, though the pilot was a bit longer. All eight episodes are available to stream, making it a quick binge for those who are interested.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C