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August 23rd, 2024

Welcome to the HUNDREDTH ISSUE of Stream On, the weekly newsletter from Consequence that aims to help you answer that eternally confounding question: What films and TV shows should you be watching? 

Y'all... I can't believe it's been 100 issues. I really hope you've enjoyed them. From the beginning, my one rule has remained the same: I don't mention something in This Week's Picks unless I've seen it myself and genuinely believe it to be worth your time (depending on your taste). And ideally, this approach has led you to some great shows and movies you might not have learned about otherwise. (Or at least kept you in the loop on when summer blockbusters and Oscar nominees begin streaming!)

I've really come to enjoy connecting with you, gentle reader — your replies to this email arrive directly in my inbox, and every time someone writes in to say hi, it really makes my day. Along those lines, I'd like to ask everyone reading this a favor: I've created a survey to get your feedback on the current state of the newsletter, and potential changes for the future. Fill it out as much or as little as you like — I'd just like to know what's working for you, so that the next 100 issues can be even better than what's come before.

In the meantime, with all the love in my heart, thank you so much for reading. And now, to the picks!

- Liz Shannon Miller, Senior Entertainment Editor

This Week's Picks

The Chris Gethard Show: "One Man's Trash" (TV)

Created by: Chris Gethard
Cast: Chris Gethard, Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas
Streaming on: YouTube (Click here for a direct link)

Okay, for the 100th issue I wanted to do something special — in this case, showcase an episode of television that technically premiered in 2016, but remains to this day one of my all-time favorite pieces of entertainment, across all categories. I mean this from the bottom of my heart: This is so good, you guys.

What is it? Well, every episode of comedian Chris Gethard's unhinged freeform talk show, originally produced for public access television before moving to various cable channels, was so much fun. But this installment is proof that great art can be found in the chaos of live TV. Here's the set-up: There's a dumpster on the stage, and there's something inside it, and special guests Paul Scheer and Jason Mantzoukas, along with the live audience, have been invited to guess what that something is. What follows is difficult to explain... but magnificent to behold.

If you've already seen "One Man's Trash," here's my follow-up recommendation: Show it to someone else. I've rewatched it multiple times with friends and loved ones, and even when you know the secret, it's a joy to watch people discover the answer for themselves. Joy's the perfect word to use for these 43 minutes of television, and of all the emotions television brings us, joy on this level is a rare thing.

Evil (TV)

Created by: Robert and Michelle King
Cast: Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Kurt Fuller, Marti Matulis, Brooklyn Shuck, Skylar Gray, Maddy Crocco, Dalya Knapp, Christine Lahti, Michael Emerson, Ashley Edner, Andrea Martin
Streaming on: Paramount+

This week marks the series finale of a show that loved to push buttons and boundaries, play around in the murky space between science and religion, and tackle that great unanswerable question: Is it possible for a priest to be hotter than Fleabag's Andrew Scott? To the end, Evil was an opportunity for the creators of The Good Wife to express the full limits of their weirdness (and if you saw The Good Fight or BrainDead, you know that says a lot), a wild creative endeavor that I was glad to catch up on right before the end. No spoilers for that ending, except to say that my fingers are crossed for it to find new life elsewhere.

The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat (Film)

Directed by: Tina Mabry
Cast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Russell Hornsby
Streaming on: Hulu

The Supremes belongs to a very special subgenre of movies about female friendships enduring over decades — a subgenre that used to find its way into movie theaters, but let's not focus on that right now. Instead, let's celebrate three acclaimed actresses (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Uzo Aduba, and Sanaa Latham) getting a wonderful showcase for their talents in this story about a trio of women whose bond gets them through some very tough times. Weepy and heartwarming, with enough edge to call its characters out on their actions when necessary. Like a best friend does.

Industry (TV)

Created by: Mickey Down, Konrad Kay
Cast: Marisa Abela, Mark Dexter, Myha'la, David Jonsson, Harry Lawtey, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Conor MacNeill, Nabhaan Rizwan, Will Tudor, Ken Leung
Streaming on: Max

It's deeply funny to me how much Industry was designed in a lab to answer the question "What would it look like if Euphoria and Succession were the same show?" Now entering Season 3, HBO's current Sunday Night Drama (if that still means anything) is easy to catch up with and filled with engaging performances — Ken Leong gets the sort of incredible showcase he's deserved for years, and the younger cast easily holds their own. (A special shoutout to David Jonsson as Gus, though he sadly does not appear in Season 3, because of some offworld Alien problems.)

Blast From the Past

The home screens of streaming services are always packed with the latest new releases, but we don't spend enough time appreciating how much good library content is streaming across all of these platforms.

Each week, Stream On will spotlight one less-than-new favorite (must pre-date the founding of Consequence, so 15 years or older) that deserves attention from modern-day eyes.

Homicide: Life on the Street (TV)

Created by: Paul Attanasio
Cast: Daniel Baldwin, Richard Belzer, Andre Braugher, Clark Johnson, Yaphet Kotto, Melissa Leo, Jon Polito, Kyle Secor, Ned Beatty, Isabella Hofmann, Reed Diamond, Michelle Forbes, Max Perlich, Peter Gerety, Jon Seda, Callie Thorne, Toni Lewis, Michael Michele, Giancarlo Esposito
Streaming on: Peacock

A Blast From the Past that's legitimately seismic for TV fans — I couldn't have asked for a better show to premiere this week on streaming, after decades of it being unavailable. Not to get too hyperbolic about it, but Homicide, premiering in 1993, is the acclaimed blueprint for so much great TV that followed. It made sure Andre Braugher was an Emmy winner by the age of 40. It was the birthplace of Richard Belzer's Detective John Munch, who created the multiverse decades before Spider-Man got trapped in it. We would not have The Wire without Homicide. Dive in.

Ask Liz What to Watch!

Every person has different tastes and more importantly — different streaming services. So each week, Stream On will be offering tailored recommendations for individual subscribers! To request your own personalized film and TV picks, just fill out this Google form.

This Week: Scott!
Streaming Services: Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, Peacock, Paramount+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Shudder, AMC+
Recent Favorites: American Rust, Masters of the Air, Criminal Record, Slow Horses, Chucky

Scott, as always I am so thankful to you for reaching out! You're clearly a fan of what Apple TV+'s been putting out lately — which makes sense, because Apple TV+ has been making some very good shows — and I'm going to start this by noting that since you originally submitted your request, the streamer's Presumed Innocent remake has become quite the hot topic amongst TV fans, and is worth checking out just for the cast alone.

But otherwise, I want to look outside Apple TV+ for your recs, since you've got a bunch of streaming services to consider! AMC+ in particular feels like it's chock full of series you might enjoy: That's where the Gillian Anderson/Jamie Dornan two-hander The Fall can currently be found, along with unconventional crime drama Dark Winds and the action-packed Gangs of London. Also, your mentioning Chucky makes me think comedy/horror hybrid series Stan Against Evil might be your speed as well.

In the realm of Sad British Crime Drama Starring Actors Tangentially or Directly Connected to Doctor Who, one must mention Broadchurch (Peacock, Roku, Tubi, Prime Video) — though it's diminishing returns after Season 1. Instead, maybe check out the limited series Inside Man (Netflix), Criminal: UK (also Netflix), and Collateral (Netflix again!).

Also, this one's free of Doctor Who stars but I haven't stopped thinking about another Netflix series, Bodies, since I recommended it last fall — a really fun time-jumping crime story (pictured above). Bodies also reminds me a bit of Class of '09 (Hulu), which if nothing else is a show that confirms Brian Tyree Henry will be that good-looking at any age.

Finally, you made a note that sometimes you enjoy series, but other times a movie hits the spot. So here are a few recent and older flicks you might enjoy: The Death of Stalin (AMC+) is the kind of dark comedy I think you might appreciate, with a top-notch cast, while for more straightforward spy action Three Days of the Condor (Prime Video) remains a true classic. And finally, Ben Affleck's having a hard week so I'll do him this solid: his debut feature, Gone Baby Gone (Paramount+), holds up great.

We'll be back next week with more picks — in the meantime, stay safe out there, or better yet stay inside, where it’s definitely safe, and there’s so much film and TV to watch.

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