Something to Stream Every Day; ‘DWTS’ Finale, NBA In-Season Tournament Championship, More
As the first full week of December arrives, the customary end-of-year expressions of “Where did the time go?” come with it. This year has been highly consequential in the future of TV, as cord-cutters will outnumber pay-TV subscribers for the first time, and new deals for Hollywood’s top writers’ and actors’ unions will keep new TV episodes and movies coming for the next three years at least.
The approach of the holidays can lead to some manic weekdays, filled with meal planning, relatives who want attention and of course, gift shopping. Luckily, there are some fantastic new shows and movies heading to streaming this week to help take your mind off the holiday madness!
Monday, Dec. 4
‘Midsomer Murders’ Season 24 Premiere | Acorn TV
The Barnaby boys are back! Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby may be working his cousin Tom’s old bailiwick, but that just means that he knows full well the mysterious, sometimes quirky but often deadly nature of crimes in the small town of Midsomer.
Homicide, blackmail, greed, and betrayal: just a taste of what goes on behind the well-trimmed hedges of Midsomer County. But they’re no match for Barnaby, and this darkly comedic British murder mystery series will keep viewers guessing (and laughing) for an impressive 24th season.
Tuesday, Dec. 5
‘Dancing with the Stars’ Season 32 Finale | Disney+
“Dancing with the Stars” is the hit series in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Derek Hough.
From a field of 14, only five remain! Actresses Xochitl Gomez and Alyson Hannigan, “Bachelorette” star Charity Lawson, “Vanderpump Rules” personality Ariana Madix and singer-songwriter Jason Mraz are the only contestants left standing, but which one will win America’s favor (and incidentally, this season of “DWTS”)? There’s only one way to find out!
Wednesday, Dec. 6
‘John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial’ Series Premiere | Apple TV+
“John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial” is a deeply researched examination of John Lennon’s 1980 murder, which shocked and saddened the world. The production was granted extensive Freedom of Information Act requests from the New York City Police Department, the Board of Parole, and the District Attorney’s office; and the series includes exclusive interviews with people who were there that fateful day.
The docuseries features exclusive eyewitness interviews and previously unseen crime scene photos, shedding new light on the life and murder of music and cultural icon John Lennon, and the investigation and conviction of Mark David Chapman, his confessed killer.
Thursday, Dec. 7
‘Coach Prime’ Season Premiere | Prime Video
Love him or hate him, there’s no getting away from Coach Prime. Deion Sanders parlayed two successful seasons at the Historically Black Jackson State University into a blockbuster offer from the University of Colorado, and this season of “Coach Prime” will feature his first season as the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes.
The series will detail the feverish atmosphere that followed Colorado’s defeat of 2022 national championship game participant TCU in the first week of the season, as well as the sometimes-exciting, often-frustrating season that followed it. No fan of college football will want to miss this season of the show, regardless of how they feel about the man himself.
Friday, Dec. 8
‘Culprits’ Series Premiere | Hulu
“Culprits” kicks off where most crime stories end: after a high-stakes heist, when the crew of elite criminals have gone their separate ways and have tried to leave their old lives behind. Past and present collide when a ruthless assassin starts targeting them one by one. Why are they being stalked, who is behind the mayhem, and will they be able to find one another in time to protect themselves and the people they love?
If the premise of this show isn’t quite enough to pull you in, a cast headlined by Eddie Izzard and Gemma Atherton should be more than enough to convince the uncertain that this crime drama will be well worth the watch.
Saturday, Dec. 9
NBA In-Season Tournament Championship | ABC, watch with a five-day free trial of DIRECTV STREAM
The NBA’s in-season tournament champion is about to be named! The 2023-24 season is the inaugural one for the tournament, which will award the winner a $500,000 prize for each player on the team, along with the NBA Cup. The tournament has been a fascinating experiment for the NBA but has garnered good ratings for the league thus far.
As of the time of this writing, there are still eight teams in the mix to be the NBA’s in-season tournament champion: the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans in the Western Conference, and the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference. But who will win the first-ever NBA Cup???
Sunday, Dec. 10
‘Sunday Night Football,’ Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys | NBC, stream with a subscription to Peacock
Another early holiday treat for sports fans, this edition of “Sunday Night Football” is shaping up to be one of the most consequential NFL games of the entire season. It’s always a rough-and-tumble showdown when the Eagles and Cowboys meet, but this game has extra implications for the bitter NFC East rivals.
That’s because the Eagles sit at 10-2, just one game ahead of the Cowboys at 9-3. The winner of this game has an excellent chance of winning the division, with a good shot at claiming the NFC’s top overall seed in the playoffs as well. The Eagles won the first matchup of the season in Philly, but will they be able to fly into Texas and take down the Cowboys on their own turf?