This weekend’s watch list has a little bit of everything: a reality TV farewell 15 years in the making, the first authorized scripted series about Muhammad Ali, a Sundance-winning documentary with Nas behind it and a new hour of stand-up. Here is what to watch and where to find it.
Love & Hip Hop: The Final Chapter
Where to watch: VH1, BET and MTV, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET. Episode 2 airs Nov. 17.
The franchise that changed reality TV is taking a victory lap. The six-part limited series premiered Nov. 10 and brings back familiar faces from the New York, Atlanta, Hollywood and Miami shows to look back on 15 years of drama, music and relationships. Angela Yee, Nina Parker and Jess Hilarious weigh in on the legacy. Catch up on episode 1 this weekend before the next one drops.
The Greatest
Where to watch: Prime Video, all eight episodes streaming now.
If you have not started this yet, this is your binge. The Greatest is the first authorized scripted series about Muhammad Ali, executive produced by his widow Lonnie Ali. Newcomer Jaalen Best plays Cassius Clay on his way to becoming Ali, with Omari Hardwick as Cassius Clay Sr., Michael Ealy as Malcolm X, Amin Joseph as Sonny Liston and Giovanni Ribisi as Angelo Dundee. Ben Watkins created the show, and Roc Nation and Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society are among the producers. It dropped Nov. 4, so the whole season is waiting for you.
Soul Patrol
Where to watch: In select theaters from Kino Lorber. It opened in New York on Nov. 6 and in Los Angeles today, Nov. 13.
Director J.M. Harper won the U.S. Documentary Directing Award at Sundance this year for this film about the Vietnam War’s first Black special operations team. The surviving members reunite to tell a story that went untold for decades, and the film draws on veteran Ed Emanuel’s 2003 memoir. Nasir Jones, yes, Nas, is one of the producers. It is a limited release for now, so keep an eye out for it near you.
Janelle James: How Romantic
Where to watch: Netflix, streaming now (premiered Nov. 10).
Ava from Abbott Elementary gets her first hour-long stand-up special. Taped at the Vic Theatre in Chicago, the 57-minute set covers everything from body counts and bank accounts to why women should wrestle men. Grown folks only: it is rated TV-MA.
Watch Live: CIAA Football Championship
Where to watch: CIAA Sports Network, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
For the sports side of the culture, No. 1 Virginia Union and No. 2 Johnson C. Smith run back last year’s CIAA title game in Durham. JCSU won last year 45-21. Planning to go in person? Our NC Weekend Guide has the details.
Coming Up Next
- America’s Funniest People (VH1, Monday, Nov. 16): Ms. Pat hosts a new 12-episode comedy competition where content creators battle for a cash prize. Two episodes air back to back at 9 and 9:30 p.m. ET.
- Soul Train Awards (BET and CBS, Friday, Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. ET): Anthony Anderson hosts from Chicago, with Chaka Khan receiving the Classic Soul Honor and Durand Bernarr and Elmiene also being honored.
- You Can Go Home Again (BET, Friday, Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. ET): A Queen Latifah documentary on her early years in Newark and her mission to build affordable housing named for her late mother.
- The Tupac Tapes (Netflix, Nov. 27): Angie Martinez finally shares her long-unreleased 1996 conversation with Tupac across four episodes, with Joe Budden, Big Boy and Charlamagne Tha God joining the discussion.
Sources
- Paramount Press Express (BET/VH1)
- Entertainment Now
- Amazon News: The Greatest
- Nonfics
- Park Pictures
- BLK Script
- RogerEbert.com
- TheGrio
- Chicago Sun-Times
- NC Football News
- VICE
