Disney+ finally welcomes mature content
Disney+ finally welcomes mature content
What to know:
The Netflix Marvel shows are coming to Disney+, platform to introduce parental controls… The internal struggle at Disney over family-friendly content has been fascinating to behold. It’s clear the company wants Disney+ to be all ages and considers Hulu its edgier cousin. Remember the ill-fated Lizzie McGuire reboot? This time brand synergy won out — despite the Netflix Marvel shows having much more adult-oriented content. The Mouse’s solution? Parental controls. Seems like a fine compromise.
The studios are pulling their movies from Russia… I’m not sure if you heard, but Russia invaded Ukraine. Alongside the various economic sanctions the U.S. and others are imposing on Russia, movie studios including Warner and Disney are pulling their movies from the nation’s cinemas. Let this be a lesson, if you invade a sovereign nation, you will not get to see The Batman. 🇺🇦
HBO pulls Larry David documentary at the last second… This is odd. Hours before the premiere, HBO announced The Larry David Story would be postponed, saying “Larry has decided he wants to do it in front of an audience.” Does that mean he wants to premiere the doc before a live audience or he wants to perform it in front of a live audience? Why does this feel like a real-life Curb episode? 🤔
The Batman eyeing $100M weekend… Not surprising, Bruce Wayne is one of comic’s most beloved heroes. I’d actually take the over on $100M considering the good reviews. 🦇
Euphoria becomes second-most watched HBO show behind Game of Thrones… I mean that makes sense, they have a lot in common. One’s a heightened, fantastical drama and the other is Game of Thrones. 📺
Ariana DeBose joins expanded Spider-Man universe film Kraven the Hunter as Calypso… Good for her! Ride that West Side success, girl. 🕸
Sam Elliott spouts homophobic take on Power of the Dog, Netflix subtly fires back… Hey Sam Elliott, nobody asked for this. 🤬
Kevin’s famous chili recipe is buried in the Peacock terms and conditions… the trick is to undercook the onions 🌶
Brad Pitt’s company is producing a Beetlejuice sequel… Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt! Dang, I for sure thought that would conjure him. 👻
Apple TV+ greenlights Sam Esmail’s Metropolis series… Apple loves its sprawling sci-fi epics, but at least this time they’ve got Mr. Robot Sam Esmail. 🤖
Tim Robinson to write and star in HBO Max comedy series… Clearly, no one thinks Robinson should leave… Hollywood that is! 🖥
What’s new this week:
Drive My Car — Mar 2 | HBO Max Japanese drama film | 🍅 98%
The Dropout — Mar 3 | Hulu drama limited series | 🍅 83%
Our Flag Means Death — Mar 3 | HBO Max comedy series | Ⓜ️ 64%
Joe vs Carole — Mar 3 | Peacock drama series | 🍅
Top Chef s19 — Mar 3 | Bravo cooking competition | 🍅
The Batman — Mar 4 | Comic book movie in theaters | 🍅 87%
For more pop culture news, discussion, and what-to-watch recommendations subscribe to my pals over on the Kickball Friends podcast. 🎙
What to watch:
If you’ve heard of Comedy Central’s South Side, whose two seasons are now available on HBO Max, I am going to consider you a real tastemaker. This hilarious and original single-cam sitcom about Black life on the South Side of Chicago has 20 episodes under its belt (with another 10 to come) but at its peak, it hit just 316,000 viewers on cable. South Side is under the radar, but who doesn’t love getting in on the ground floor? Comedy Central fans will recognize the show’s format as it follows the network’s narrative style set by Broad City, Detroiters, and Awkwafina’s Nora From Queens. Like those sitcoms it features comedic leads with distinct POVs, a tangible location, and a lot of heightened hijinks — but South Side has what those series didn’t, an exclusively Black voice. Series creators Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle portray the real struggles of Chicago’s South Side with swift comedic levity and absurdity. While never as experimental as Atlanta, Salahuddin and Riddle fill their world with delightful tangents and a wide ensemble of characters. When I wrote about Reservation Dogs, I praised peak TV for making room for more representation on TV. I feel similarly about South Side. It might be a small show, but it’s bringing to life a specific group of people and a neighborhood not always represented or represented accurately on TV — and it’s funny as hell while doing it. Give South Side the love it deserves.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!