This Week on TV: 'The Jinx', 'American Horror Story', and More
By H. Alan Scott
Here's a little thing about me: I love true crime. I know I'm usually very happy pop culture celebrity-focused, but there's just something about a good true crime story that just hits, you know?
Well, the one thing you need to watch this week is season two of HBO's The Jinx. (The first episode of the new season premiered Sunday night.) It's been nearly ten years since season one premiered and changed not only the true crime genre, but also the life of its subject, Robert Durst. Part of the Durst real estate dynasty, The Jinx documented Robert Durst's involvement in the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen McCormack; the 2000 murder of his friend, Susan Berman; and his acquittal for the 2001 killing of Durst's neighbor, Morris Black.
In season one Durst was caught on mic seemingly confessing to the murders. Season two documents the aftermath of that confession and his eventual conviction for the murder of Berman and his being officially charged with McCormack's disappearance. (Durst died before he could face trial for the disappearance charge.) This docuseries is essential viewing for literally everybody who likes true crime.
Besides that, on Tuesday you should watch the season two premiere of the Apple TV+ comedy series The Big Door Prize. It stars Chris O'Dowd and is about a magical machine in a small-town grocery store that can reveal one's hidden potential. Also on Tuesday is the finale of the FX limited series Shōgun, a real visual masterpiece rarely seen on TV that's very much worth checking out.
Wednesday is for scary stories because you've got the season finale of FX's American Horror Story and the season two premiere of Them on Amazon Prime, an excellent horror series that deserves more attention than it gets.
Thursday you've got the premiere of Dead Boy Detectives on Netflix, a new (and fun) supernatural thriller. If living on a prayer is more your speed, watch the documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the band's rise to fame.
And on Friday, you need to check out the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series We're Here on Max. In fact, I'll speaking with the creators of the series, Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram, and two of the drag queens hosting the fourth season, Sasha Velour and Latrice Royale, on the Parting Shot podcast. Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.
At the movies this weekend, I'm most looking forward to seeing Zendaya in Challengers. Just watch the trailer, it looks... steamy. Boy Kills World looks like a trip of a film, but if action is your thing, then go see that. Breathe, starring Jennifer Hudson and Milla Jovovich, is a futuristic sci-fi film about an oxygen-less world. (It looks like one of those bad but good movies, and I love a bad but good movie.)
Keep scrolling for more entertainment news. Lots to catch up on today!