Giancarlo Esposito in Kaleidoscope; A still from Star Wars: The Bad Batch; Brianne Howey in Ginny & GeorgiaPhoto: David Scott Holloway/Netflix; Lucasfilm Ltd.; Amanda Matlovich/Netflix
Welcome to What’s On, our weekly picks of must-watch shows. Here’s what you need to watch from Sunday, January 1, to Thursday, January 5. All times are Eastern. [Note: The weekend edition of What’s On drops on Fridays.]
Netflix experiments with non-linear viewing with Kaleidoscope, a crime action drama from Eric Garcia. No, it’s not interactive like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch or Kimmy Vs. The Reverend. Instead, Kaleidoscope’s first seven episodes can be played in any order by viewers, leading up to the eighth and final outing. The show follows Giancarlo Esposito’s Leo Pap, a heist crew leader who plans on breaking into the world’s most secure vault to steal $7 billion. Tati Gabrielle, Paz Vega, Rufus Sewell, and Peter Mark Kendall co-star.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Disney+, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 | Official Trailer | Disney+
After no new episodes in 2022, Star Wars: The Bad Batchfinally returns for a second season. The 16-episode season will follow elite clone troopers dubbed the Bad Batch as they take on daring mercenary missions. In the series’ sophomore run, months have passed since the events on Kamino, and the Bad Batch are continuing to navigate the Empire after the fall of the Republic.
Ginny & Georgia (Netflix, Thursday, 3:01 a.m.)
Ginny & Georgia Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix
Sarah Lampert’s Ginny & Georgia—often referred to as Gilmore Girls–lite—is back for season two. The show follows the titular mother-daughter duo, played by Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentry, as they move to a small New England town for a fresh start. The new episodes will deal with the aftermath of Ginny discovering why her mother uprooted their lives.
Hidden gems
Paul T. Goldman (Peacock, Sunday, 3:01 a.m.)
Paul T. Goldman | Official Trailer | Peacock Original
Created by Jason Woliner, with Seth Rogen as an executive producer, Paul T. Goldman is a mind-bending six-episode comedy that has been filming for a decade. It might also be a contender for the weirdest series on TV, after The Rehearsal that is, as the show blurs fact and fiction about the making of, well, Paul T. Goldman.
Will Trent (ABC, Monday, 10 p.m.)
OFFICIAL TRAILER: Will Trent – Premieres Tuesday, Jan 3 on ABC
A new year brings another new procedural to ABC, this one in the form of Will Trent, whichis based on Karin Slaughter’s novels. Ramón Rodríguez plays Trent, an agent for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations who was raised in Atlanta’s foster care system. He’s now determined to ensure no one else has to endure the difficult circumstances he faced growing up. Jake McLaughlin, Erika Christensen, and Sonja Sohn also star in the crime drama.
The Lying Life Of Adults (Netflix, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
The Lying Life of Adults | Official Trailer | Netflix
After the success of My Brilliant Friend, Netflix wants to cash in on more of Elena Ferrante’s acclaimed work. The streamer’s six-part miniseries, The Lying Life Of Adults, follows protagonist Giovanna (Giordana Marengo) as she comes of age in ’90s Naples, Italy.
More good stuff
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (CNN, Sunday, 9 p.m.)
Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over – Official Trailer
Co-directed by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner, the documentary Don’t Make Me Over traces the career of music superstar Dionne Warwick. The film explores her range and versatility, and details how Warwick’s career soared, including six Grammy wins, despite behind-the-scenes drama. It will also depict how Warwick became a fierce advocate for social issues like racial equality and LGBTQ+ rights.
America’s Got Talent: All Stars (NBC, Monday, 8 p.m.)
First Look | NBC’s AGT: All-Stars
Terry Crews will host the new iteration of America’s Got Talent, titled All-Stars, with franchise judges Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, and Howie Mandel. The contestants are winners, finalists, fan favorites, and viral sensations from previous seasons worldwide. Each week, 10 acts will compete for the chance to move on to the finals.
Madoff: The Monster Of Wall Street (Netflix, Wednesday, 3:01 a.m.)
MADOFF: The Monster of Wall Street | Official Trailer | Netflix
Prolific documentary maker Joe Berlinger is back with another true-crime docuseries to kick off 2023. The Monster Of Wall Street’s four one-hour episodes will unpack how financier and fraudster Bernie Madoff was able to pull off a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. It will include never-before-seen depositions from Madoff himself, as well as clips and interviews with whistleblowers, investigators, and even his victims.
