Must-see TV: Jason Momoa's 'Chief of War' tops this week's watch list
Debut
Executive produced and written by Jason Momoa, the nine-episode series is based on true events and follows warrior Ka'iana as he tries to unify the islands of Hawaii before Western colonization in the late 18th century.
When: Friday on Apple TV+
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Dexter: Resurrection
New Episode
After dispatching the murderous 'Dark Passenger,' Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) accepts an invite to a dinner party where all the guests are serial killers — just like him.
When: Friday on Paramount+
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Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took Over the World
Special
CNN goes behind the scenes to reveal how Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and singer-songwriter Midge Ure organized a star-studded benefit concert that brought in more than $127 million for famine relief in Ethiopia in 1985.
When: Sunday on CNN
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Trainwreck: P.I. Moms
Documentary
Investigates an early 2000s reality show about private eye moms and the drug scandal that sabotaged the series and its stars.
When: Now streaming on Netflix
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Globe and Mail
14 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Apple TV+ triples down on Seth Rogen with the hilarious second season of Platonic
It all started with a mullet. Or at least what Seth Rogen recalls when asked about the second season production of his hilarious Apple TV+ series Platonic, in which his character, a bar manager named Will, adopts the business-in-the-front-party-in-the-back hairstyle that thematically signifies the ne'er-do-well's arrested development. 'There was this gentleman who came in as a grip as we were finishing shooting The Studio, and he had this mullet and instantly my hair and makeup team, who we share across shows, knew that oh yeah, we like that,' Rogen says with his trademark chuckle. 'It was the perfect look for my character. I don't even know the guy's name, but maybe he'll see this interview and clue in.' The mullet – which Rogen is careful to emphasize was in fact a wig that was removed at the end of every shooting day ('it was a merkin situation') – is just one of the many small but significant details that make up Platonic's delightfully hilarious and eccentric vision of Los Angeles, where Will and his best friend Sylvia (Rose Byrne) endure all manner of comic misadventures. Picking up where the first season left off – with Will set to marry the CEO of a brewing empire, and Sylvia finding some level of peace with her ultra-considerate lawyer husband Charlie (Luke Macfarlane) – the second batch of Platonic episodes represents something of the platonic ideal of a streaming-era sitcom. Each 30-minute-or-so episode offers the kind of warm and straight-shooting humour that most television series these days seem allergic to. There is no hidden darkness, no trauma needing to be unearthed. Every tightly edited episode simply provides a great opportunity to hang with characters who you love, even – or perhaps especially – when they get themselves into all manner of forehead-slapping predicaments. In other words, this ain't The Bear – it's just funny for funny's sake. 'We were very clear from the beginning that it's kind of like trivial, but also in a way relatable – it's not about things that are extraordinary,' Rogen says in an interview. 'You know, divorce, midlife crises, losing your job, having kids, trying to start over. It's not life or death stakes, or like true trauma. It's more everyday stuff, and that's what's really funny about the show.' 'And it's light, it's not heavy stuff,' adds Byrne, sitting alongside her longtime collaborator (in addition to the first season of Platonic, the pair played a married couple in 2014's Neighbors and its severely underrated 2016 sequel, Neighbors: Sorority Rising). 'It's very clear about that.' As conceived by Nicholas Stoller and his wife Francesca Delbanco, Platonic has so far not earned the excitable chatter, or Emmy nominations, of Rogen's other Apple TV+ series, The Studio. Yet it is undoubtedly the more affable and even purely enjoyable of the two, its breezy pacing and note-perfect casting making it one of the more witty small-screen comedies to come along in years. Its extreme levels of comfort might not be possible, though, were it not for the close relationships that make up its behind-the-scenes team. In addition to the obvious domestic closeness shared between Stoller and Delbanco, the former has been friends with Rogen since their days on Fox's short-lived campus comedy Undeclared. That sitcom also co-starred Carla Gallo, who appears in Platonic as Cynthia's best friend, a divorced mom and aspiring podcaster named Katie (and whose adventures with Will this season will surely fulfill the dreams of all the Undeclared fan-fiction writers out there). Meanwhile, Stoller directed the whole gang – Rogen, Byrne, Gallo, plus The Studio's Ike Barinholtz – in both Neighbors films. 'I've known Nick since I was 18, which is also when I met Carla on the show. And with Rose now it's been almost 15 years, so it feels familial at this point,' Rogen says. 'I mostly just think that it's nice that we can get along and also work so well together. Our sensibilities are still the same, and none of us has done anything that has, you know, exiled us from the industry. I mean, the day is young, but those are all things that aren't lost on me.' 'I mean Nick gave me my break in comedy,' Byrne adds. 'I'd done all this dramatic, very serious stuff. I was solving cases with Glenn Close on Damages, so it was all crime, crime, crime, and I was not the first candidate to be a funny actress by any means, and he took a chance on me.' Also getting a second chance here is the Canadian actor Macfarlane, who was originally set for big-screen stardom with Stoller's 2022 comedy Bros, before that same-sex romcom ended up underwhelming at the box office. While the actor got a sizable amount of screen time in the first season of Platonic as Sylvia's put-upon husband, the character gets a big boost this time around as Charlie endures a midlife crisis that revolves around a deeply strange yet intensely funny appearance on Jeopardy! (This results in the second-best Jeopardy! sitcom moment ever filmed, following John Ratzenberger's immortal moment with Alex Trebek during a Season 8 episode of Cheers.) 'Nick is a super-busy guy and he came up to me at an event and said, 'Oh I have this super-funny thing that's going to happen to you!' But then I didn't see any scripts for a long time,' Macfarlane recalls in a separate interview. 'But the funny thing was that no one actually knew I was a huge fan of the show. So when I stepped onto the set of Jeopardy!, I was such a fan that I noticed it was a slightly new set. They update it every few months or so. And I noticed that because I do truly watch the show. All the time.' As for the opportunity to once again work with not only his onscreen wife Byrne and fellow Canadian Rogen but also Stoller, Macfarlane is, as most of the Platonic characters are, gracious to a fault. 'Nick and Francesca are so good at finding these little pieces of comedy. It's not pratfalls, it's not gross-out moments, it's just comedy that comes from observing humans every single day,' the actor says. 'The show doesn't feel loud. It's grounded in the small things. And that's where we laugh the most in our lives, isn't it?' The first two episodes of Platonic Season 2 are available to stream Aug. 6 on Apple TV+, with new episodes premiering weekly until Oct. 1.
Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Canada News.Net
From curiosity to craze, saxophone finds a home in China
HARBIN, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- At the opening ceremony of the 20th World Saxophone Congress in late July, as a melody filled the venue, 57-year-old Yin Zhifa was swept back to that distant morning in 1976 when he first glimpsed the shimmering saxophone. Little did he know then that over the next five decades, he would travel across China with his saxophone in hand, bringing fresh melodies to the lives of countless Chinese listeners. Yin is a veteran saxophonist and currently serves as president of the professional saxophone committee of the China Popular Music Association (CPMA). He said he still vividly remembers seeing a saxophone for the first time at a public performance when he was eight. "The golden gleam of its brass body and its vibrant, soaring melody instantly captivated me." Yin began formal training at nine and joined a local performance troupe at 17, becoming one of China's few saxophonists of that era. At the time, the saxophone still carried an air of mystery in China. While it occasionally appeared in military honor guard shows or parades, for most people it remained a rare and exotic import from the distant West. "Back then, only a handful of factory and school bands had saxophones. It looked and sounded incredible, so I worked hard to learn how to play," Yin said, adding that a light music tape released in 1982 helped introduce the instrument to a wider audience in China. Recorded by a Beijing-based orchestra, the tape featured the saxophone as the lead instrument, backed by drums and guitar. Its fresh, vibrant sound soon became a symbol of the country's spirit of opening up. In 1991, Yin joined the Art Ensemble of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions as a saxophonist. During performances across the country, he noticed audiences responding with growing enthusiasm, often erupting in applause during his saxophone solos. "That's when I decided to popularize the saxophone among the public because only with widespread affection can it truly thrive," he said. Over the next three decades, Yin's life would closely mirror the saxophone's growing popularity in China. In 1993, he compiled China's first saxophone grading exam textbook, laying the foundation for a standardized evaluation system. Thanks to Yin's persistent advocacy, institutions like the Central Conservatory of Music began launching saxophone programs from 1997 onward, formally introducing the Western instrument into China's higher music education. "At first, many thought it lacked the foundation of traditional Chinese instruments among the people, but music knows no borders. A beautiful melody always resonates with listeners," Yin said, noting that this was best illustrated by the nationwide saxophone craze ignited by the iconic piece "Going Home." In 2002, American saxophonist Kenny G performed it in China, and its tapes and CDs quickly became a "signature melody" heard in shopping malls, school bells and even over park loudspeakers across the country. "Emphasizing family bonds in traditional culture, Chinese people hold a special connection to the idea of 'returning home,' making the name and melody deeply resonate with our emotions," said Yin Shenghua, Yin's daughter and a young saxophonist. Having grown up watching her father promote the saxophone, the junior Yin was struck by the deep passion for the instrument she witnessed upon returning from her studies in France. She observed retired seniors practicing in groups with speakers in Beijing parks, while many five-year-olds began learning the saxophone in training classes in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. According to the CPMA, there are now approximately 800,000 people learning the saxophone in China. To further promote the saxophone's popularity, Yin Zhifa compiled simplified notation textbooks for middle-aged and elderly enthusiasts and encouraged manufacturers to produce smaller instruments tailored for children in recent years. For him, the saxophone has been more than a source of joy for Chinese music lovers; it has also served as a bridge for cultural exchange beyond the realm of art. From July 26 to 31 this year, the World Saxophone Congress was held in China for the first time, drawing musicians from 33 countries to Harbin. Yin and many saxophonists believe that this gathering of diverse musical ideas and cultural styles paved a brighter future for the saxophone in China. The staggering sheer number of saxophonists, as well as the presence of many large saxophone orchestras, is a remarkable achievement, said Arno Bornkamp, president of the International Saxophone Committee. "Though it originated in the West, the saxophone has taken root in China," the senior Yin said.
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Must-see TV: Eddie Murphy comedy 'The Pickup' tops this week's watch list
Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson in a scene from their new action-comedy "The Pickup." Photo by Prime Video The Pickup Film One bad thing leads to another after two mismatched armoured truck drivers (played by Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson) are ambushed by a group of ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind (Keke Palmer). When: Wednesday on Prime Video This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Platonic Season 2 Premiere A pair of longtime friends (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) continue to contend with more midlife drama, including work, weddings and partners in crises. When: Wednesday on Apple TV+ Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen star in 'Platonic.' Photo by Apple TV+ American Ninja Warrior New Episode Athletes face six obstacles, including Shrinking Steps, Swinging Frames and Salmon Ladder, as the finals begin in Las Vegas. When: Monday on NBC, CTV Wednesday Season 2: Part 1 Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where new foes and woes await. When: Wednesday on Netflix Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service New Episode Chef Gordon Ramsay must help a stubborn father and his frustrated son keep their outdated restaurant alive. When: Wednesday on Fox, CTV Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. MasterChef New Episode Chefs try to master one of the toughest desserts in the world – the beloved macaron. Contestants must bake not just a dozen macarons, but a giant tower of perfectly formed delicacies. When: Wednesday on Fox, CTV SEC Football: Any Given Saturday Docuseries Takes fans deep inside the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2024 season, offering unprecedented access to the players, coaches, and programs that define the sport's most dominant league. Produced by Box To Box Films — the team behind Sprint , Full Swing , Formula 1: Drive to Survive , and Break Point . When: Tuesday on Netflix The Christine Jessop Story Docuseries Revisits the devastating, decades-long case of nine-year-old Christine Jessop, who was tragically murdered in a rural Ontario town in 1984. For the first time ever, Christine's loved ones share their ordeal including a desperate search for answers, a falsely accused suspect, corrupt policing, revolutionary forensics, and a family forced to go through the unthinkable. When: Friday on Crave This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Taurasi Docuseries Follows WNBA star Diana Taurasi's 20-year basketball journey, which was highlighted by three NCAA Championships at the University of Connecticut, three WNBA titles with the Phoenix Mercury, six Olympic gold medals, and six Euroleague crowns. When: Thursday on Prime Video King of the Hill Season 14 Premiere After years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn their retirement nest egg, Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Arlen, Texas. When: Monday on Disney+ Riff Raff Film A former criminal's (Ed Harris) ordinary life is turned upside down when a pair of gangsters (Bill Murray and Pete Davidson) turn up unannounced and upend his peaceful existence. Also stars Jennifer Coolidge, Lewis Pullman and Gabrielle Union. When: Now streaming on Prime Video This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise Special Event Part 2 of 3 Now police officers in Providence Falls, star-crossed lovers Liam (Lachlan Quarmby) and Cora (Katie Stevens) partner up on a murder investigation. When: Saturday on W Network The Monkey Film When twin brothers (Theo James) find their father's cursed monkey toy in the attic, a series of gruesome deaths start to unfold around them. Based on the Stephen King short story. When: Monday on Prime Video mdaniell@ Read More Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls Homes Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
