New to Streaming This Week (2/22/21), Including ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ and ‘Punky Brewster’
The great jazz singer Billie Holiday was revered in musical circles — but the government made her life a misery over her support for civil rights – and targeted her drug use to punish her. The ops were led by a black federal agent who had an affair with her. Audra Day stars in the Hulu drama about Holiday’s triumphs and tragedies.
The reboot of “Punky Brewster” on Peacock is an update of the original premise. Punky (Soleil Moon Frye) is now a single mother of three trying to cope when she meets Izzy, a youngster in the foster system who reminds Punky of herself.
Here’s a look at what’s premiering this week:
Monday, Feb. 22
- “Black and Cuba” (Peacock) A group of black Yale students travel to Cuba to see how its revolution turned out.
- “Cry” (Acorn) The abduction of a baby from a small coastal town in Australia is the psychological unraveling of its mother.
- “Boys of Summer” (Peacock) Charming doc showcases how Curacao has sent a team to the Little League World Series for seven years.
Tuesday, Feb. 23
- “Brian Regan: On the Rocks” A stand-up comedy special with a comic who avoids off-color humor. (Netflix)
- “Pelé” documentary premiere (Netflix) How the soccer star went from athlete to national icon.
- “The Vow” (Peacock) Paige (Rachel McAdams) and Leo (Channing Tatum) are happily married until a car accident leaves her in a coma.
- “Spring Baking Championship” (Hulu) The U.S.’ top bakers take on the challenge of spring treats in season seven.
Wednesday, Feb. 24
- “Ginny & Georgia” (Netflix) A mother, 30, heads to a New England town to give her daughter, 15, and son, a better life.
- “Two-Sentence Horror Stories” (Netflix) The second season of the anthology horror series; the first debuted with a Halloween flavor.
Thursday, Feb. 25
- “Punky Brewster” (Peacock) The revamp finds Punky all grown up and raising three kids as a single mom in San Francisco.
- “Geez & Ann” (Netflix) A teen romance runs into parental objection.
- “High-Rise Invasion” (Netflix) It’s an original horror-mystery Japanese anime series in which skyscrapers prominently feature.
Friday Feb. 26
- “The Secrets of Sulpher Springs” (Disney+) A family buys an abandoned hotel. But when the kids hear its haunted by the ghost a girl who disappeared decades ago, they decide to investigate. All five episodes are streaming.
- “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Hulu) The Federal Bureau of Narcotics launches a sting operation against the great jazz singer, played by Andra Day. Lee Daniels directs the biopic.
- “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry” (Apple TV+) Doc about the young musician who skyrocketed to fame.
- “The Informer” (Amazon Prime Video) A young law student can erase her criminal record — if she becomes a police informer.
- “Top Class: The Life and Times of the Sierra Canyon Trailblazers” (IMDb TV) The amazing California high-school basketball team takes to the court.
- “Lupe” (HBO Max) The drama takes on family, immigration and embracing one’s true identity.