Latest news with #Demascus
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Demascus' review: A sci-fi comedy about one man's alternate realities
In the sci-fi comedy 'Demascus,' a man attending therapy tries a new technology that allows him to visit alternate versions of his life that exist in his subconscious in an effort to figure out why he's feeling so bleh. But which version is closest to his real life? Actually, which one is his real life, anyway? The show premieres on the free, ad-supported streaming platform Tubi, but it almost never made it to light. From writer-producers Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm and Mark Johnson, it was originally created for AMC and shot in its entirety, and then canceled in early 2023 before it could air (the network cited cost-cutting measures). It languished on the shelf until now. Kudos to Tubi, which offers only a limited number of originals, for taking a chance on it. But while the premise of 'Demascus' is enticing — what might our lives look like with small changes? — the six-episode series doesn't live up to its initial promise. There is a 'solution' offered by the final episode that explains everything we've seen up to that point, but instead of resonating, it felt somewhat pat. Okieriete Onaodowan plays the title character, a 33-year-old Everyman who moves through his days in a numb haze. His therapist (Janet Hubert) asks: Are you unhappy? What's making you unhappy? 'It's 2023 and I'm a Black man,' he says. 'The world is as inhospitable as ever.' Then he offers up an anecdote from work: Walking toward the break room, he hears someone sharing an anecdote about him, of which he only hears the last line: 'Y'all know how Demascus is, right?' Everyone in the break room laughs uproariously. 'Nobody knows me,' Demascus tells his therapist, confused by what this person could have meant. 'My one dominant quality is I'm unknowable.' You pride yourself on that, comes the response? 'Yeah, actually, I do. I can be anybody. Or nobody. And that's a good quality for a Black man to have, right?' But in your effort to remain unknowable, his therapist says, perhaps you have made yourself unknown even to you. This is good, interesting stuff and had me locked in. Then his therapist places a white contraption on his head that sends him into something called digital immersive reality therapy. 'By identifying commonalities across your alternate timelines, you'll be able to combat the issues you're facing in your everyday life.' It also comes with a warning. 'Attempting to take control of the narrative can permanently corrupt your primary reality.' In one of those alternate realities, he has a sister whose boyfriend has been roughing her up; she wants Demascus to round up some friends to set the guy straight. Demascus is reluctant — this is not his thing — but agrees and calls up Uncle Forty (Martin Lawrence), an aging no-bull type, and his best friend Redd (Caleb Eberhardt), who is ready, willing and eager. Not surprisingly, things go horribly, comically awry. And so it continues. We meet his girlfriend Budhi (Sasha Hutchings), who he is seriously involved with in one timeline, less so in another. In another timeline, it's Demascus and Redd who are a couple. In yet another, Demascus is a priest. In another, he and Budhi are on an instant marriage reality show. Everyone's styling is different each time. At one point, Demascus does the therapy while he's already in a therapy session, which is like staring into an infinity mirror, or waking from a dream, only to still be dreaming — when does the trance stop? The show is commenting on all kinds of ideas, from how we run away from (or suppress) our deepest pain, to the psychological issues — the addiction — that can result from people pretending they have a relationship with computer-generated reality. As his therapist said early on, he's created a world where he's unknowable not only to those around him but to himself as well. The larger issue is that he also remains unknowable to the viewer, and I think that is where the show loses me. Ultimately, who are we supposed to become invested in? 'Demascus' — 2 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Tubi
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
With the must-watch ‘Demascus,' Tubi rescues a reality-bending comedy
The road to 'Demascus' — premiering Thursday on Tubi — runs through AMC, which had commissioned the series and then, though a six-episode season was completed, declined to air it. Not being privy to any boardroom discussions or the thoughts of executives and accountants, I won't claim to know why that was — most everything these days is a calculation instead of a gamble. But simply as regards its quality, AMC was wrong and Tubi is right. Created by playwright Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm ('Hooded: Or Being Black for Dummies'), it sits alongside some of the most interesting series of the last several years — comedies from Black creators that mess with form and time and space and reality — 'I'm a Virgo,' 'Government Cheese,' 'The Vince Staples Show' and 'Atlanta' and the cartoons 'Lazor Wulf' and 'Oh My God ... Yes!' Perhaps if one already feels outside the system, there's less temptation to play it safe. It's not necessarily a recipe for success in the show-business terms, but it can produce good results. Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan), 33, is entering his 'Jesus year, my year to be a martyr, and I've chosen this to be my martyrdom.' That martyrdom is therapy, he tells Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert), as the series begins in a jungle — though this turns out to be a Holodeck projection. We're in a version of 2023 — the year the series was first set to air — in which self-driving cars fill the road and a voice-activated assistant (here called Shekinah, played by Brie Eley) is everywhere, setting the stage for the series' science-fictional central conceit. 'Nobody knows me. My one dominant quality is I'm unknowable,' Demascus tells her. 'I can be anybody or nobody. … That's a good quality for a Black man to have, right?' But does he know himself? Bonnetville suggests that Demascus might be a candidate for DIRT (Digital Immersive Reality Therapy), an experimental psychological virtual alternate reality rig that 'follows the path of your conscious and subconscious impulses, allowing you to visit alternate visions of yourself, but only as a voyeur. … Attempting to take control of a narrative can permanently corrupt your primary reality.' (Of course he will do just that.) But just what reality is primary is something the series purposely confuses and doesn't quite settle or really needs to. The gizmo is an excuse for episodes and parts of episodes set in various contexts that work both as short stories and pieces of a bigger puzzle, and as a bonus allows the main cast to try on different roles — in repertory, if you will. In what may or may not be his primary reality, Demascus is a graphic artist employed by the government — he's working on a campaign to encourage Black participation in the space program — which makes for some office-based satire. He has a best friend, Redd (Caleb Eberhardt), a District of Columbia public defender, who will reappear in other forms (in one episode, 'Thanksgiving,' they're a couple); an uncle, Forty (Martin Lawrence), now dissolute, now respectable; and, in some scenarios, a sister, Shaena (Brittany Adebumola). He's slowly losing interest in his 'algorithmically compatible' girlfriend, Budhi (Sasha Hutchings), and becoming interested in Naomi (Shakira Ja'nai Paye), who appears variously as an artist, a nun and a nurse in a psychiatric ward. There's a tentative pan-dimensional love story between them, the sort of thing that could easily be overdone, but is just … nice. The series itself takes different forms — a relationship reality show, a 'sad Thanksgiving' domestic comedy, a setting out of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' Notwithstanding a change of hair or profession, Demascus remains more or less himself as shapes shift around him — the protagonist, basically a good guy, a little buttoned-up, a little insecure. He's surrounded by more colorful, unpredictable characters, more acted upon than acting and dealing with the same issues from scenario to scenario. 'There are rules and I know some of them and there are rules that I don't know and they're just ever-changing,' he tells Dr. Bonnetville. According to press materials, the show explores the 'gulf between Black male perspectives' and as with any culturally specific work, it may play to an audience that shares those specifics. But like all good art, it doesn't limit its meanings to the artist's statement. 'Demascus' isn't parochial or polemical; the emotional beats are accessible to any moderately sensitive human. And there's pure pleasure to be found in the writing, which is sharp and smart and natural; the direction, which shapes and is shaped by the evolving material without getting in its way; and uniformly marvelous performances. I finished the sixth episode, titled 'Season Two Prequel' (following the penultimate episode, 'Penultimate'), wanting more, though that possibility, given the series' previous wandering in the wilderness, seems an open question. A line of dialogue hearkens back to the beginning in a way that might be thought of as closure, as a circle closes without going anywhere, and yet things are not the same. An ending you can take as a beginning, as with any fairy tale or romantic comedy, it's a beautifully managed moment, as J. Cole's 'Love Yourz' — 'No such thing as a life that's better than yours' and 'It's beauty in the struggle' — makes its complementary points on the soundtrack.
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch ‘Demascus' on Tubi (it's *free*) — stream the six part sci-fi series from anywhere now
This convention-defying sci-fi comedy series featuring Martin Lawrence, thrillingly exploring identity in the digital age, almost didn't see the light of day. Shelved by cash-strapped studio AMC in 2023, 'Demascus' was recently saved from obscurity by streaming service Tubi. That means, as we explain in depth below, that audiences can watch 'Demascus' online absolutely FREE now – and from anywhere with a VPN. All six episodes of "Demascus" arrive Thursday, August 7.• U.S. – Tubi• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free Executive produced by Mark Johnson ('Breaking Bad') and created by playwright Tearrance Chisholm (FX drama 'Clipped'), this six-part Tubi Original series charts the mind-bending odyssey of 33-year-old Demascus (played by Okieriete Onaodowan). Feeling utterly disconnected from himself, he signs up for an experimental, 'digital immersive reality therapy' that allows him to explore the many potential versions of his life that exist. What's the worst that could happen? 'Brain death' his therapist Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert) warns him. 'Or just death period.' Reminiscent of anthology series 'Black Mirror' and Netflix's 'They Cloned Tyronne', and starring comedy icon Martin Lawrence ( 'Bad Boys'), Caleb Eberhardt ('Judas and the Black Messiah'), and Shakira Ja'nai Paye (2023's 'House Party') alongside Onaodowan, 'Demascus' looks to take viewers on a wild, genre-blending ride: one full of heart, humour, and that Tubi describes as exploring 'the gulf between Black male perspectives.' Catch Tubi's compelling sci-fi comedy now. Simply following our guide explaining how to watch 'Demascus' online and stream every episode absolutely free and no matter where you are in the world. Thanks to the Fox-owned streaming service, you can watch "Demascus" online and 100% free on Tubi, with all six episodes being uploaded from Thursday, August 7. Currently away from home? Download NordVPN or another VPN service to connect to your usual regional services from outside of your home country. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Demascus"? As Tubi isn't available in every country outside the U.S., you might be unable to access it while abroad. You can still connect to your regional services, however, thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. For a limited time only, new subscribers in the US and Canada can also get up to $50 of Amazon vouchers. Get up to 70% off now! It is really easy to watch, here's how. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in Canada and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select USA from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Tubi or another streaming service and watch the action. Tubi is available in numerous countries, and those in the Great North can also watch "Demascus" online in Canada when the show lands on Thursday, August 7. Unable to access "Demascus" outside the U.S? Download a VPN to easily connect to the streaming services and connect you'd normally view back home. U.K. viewers will be able to watch "Demascus" online and 100% free via Tubi from August 7. NB: U.S. citizens in Blighty may want to purchase a VPN to watch geo-blocked programmes you'd normally watch back home while abroad traveling. "Demascus" will be also be available on the Aussie version of the Tubi streaming service. A U.S. citizen Down Under? Simply use a VPN to connect to Tubi's American content library, and no matter where you are in the world. The Fox-owned streaming service is currently accessible in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, in addition to several Latin American countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. However, not every region will have the same library of titles due to licensing restrictions. That means if you want to watch your usual content while visiting another country, you'll need a VPN to access your region-specific version of Tubi from abroad. Amazon Fire TV/Stick and Kindle Fire tablets (Tablets must be 2013 or later) FireTV (newer than 7.1.1000) Amazon Echo Show Android mobile devices (smartphones/tablets) Android TV (newer than 7.1.1000) Apple TV 4th Generation Chromecast Comcast Xfinity X1 Cox Contour Google Nest Hub Hisense Smart TVs iOS devices (iPhones/iPads) LG Smart TVs Nvidia Shield Playstation 4 and 5 Roku platforms Samsung Smart TVs Sony Smart TVs & Blu-ray disc devices TiVo Vizio Smart TVs Web - Xbox One, Series S, Series X We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Demascus review: Martin Lawrence comedy series premiere
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. After months of speculation, the new Martin Lawrence comedy series Demascus has just been released — and the first review is in. STREAMING, TUBI Demascus On a quest of self-discovery, Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan) is urged by his therapist (played by The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air's Janet Hubert) to try an experimental treatment that allows him to visit alternative realities. Each version – where the same friends and relatives (including Martin Lawrence as an aged uncle) keep popping up but reshaped by their new context – sees Demascus gain new insights into himself and his fear of commitment as he navigates one awkward situation after another. There has been a lot of buzz around this comedy in the US media as it was uncertain fans would be able to see it until it was snapped up by free streaming service Tubi. The first review of new Tubi series Demascus has landed. Picture: Tubi STREAMING, FOXTEL AND BINGE If You Liked: Shōgun Try: Chief Of War STREAMING, APPLE TV+ Visually spectacular, this epic historical drama (created by and starring Jason Momoa) recreates the bloody battles over the unification and colonisation of Hawaii. Momoa plays warrior Ka'iana who, having forged a simpler life on one of Hawaii's smaller islands, is talked into returning to battle by King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison). Told in traditional language, the series is a deep dive into a lesser-known chapter of history. Momoa is believable as a wave-riding hero who can lead an army to victory without any armour, let alone trousers. Jason Momoa stars in Chief of War for Apple TV+. Picture: Getty Images If You Liked: Sandition Try: Miss Austen 9PM, SUNDAY, ABC TV AND STREAMING, ABC iVIEW If you have a passion for Regency romance then you're in for a treat with this new drama starring Keeley Hawes (pictured). Based on Gill Hornby's book, this delightful series casts the other Miss Austen – author Jane's sister, Cassandra – as the heroine. Austenites will already be familiar with Cassandra's diabolical act of literary vandalism (destroying almost all of her sister's correspondence to protect the family's privacy). This series imagines her motivations, offering glimpses into the inspirations for Jane's most famous stories. The Couple Next Door STREAMING, BINGE In the aftermath of the last murderous neighbourly entanglement, the remaining residents of the tight-knit cul-de-sac are trying to get on with their lives. Here in this fancy Leeds neighbourhood, we find surgeon Charlotte (Annabel Scholey, pictured second from right) and her anaesthetist husband Jacob (Sam Palladio, pictured second from left), who struggle to find time for each other amid the pressures of their careers and caring for her elderly father. So when disarmingly confident nurse Mia (Aggy K Adams, pictured right) and Charlotte's old flame (Sendhil Ramamurthy, pictured left) begin working at the hospital, the stage is set for another dangerous love quadrangle. Some of Kylie Minogue's most successful hits were written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. Picture: Getty Images Hitmakers STREAMING, NETFLIX In the 1980s, the songwriting team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman famously wrote Kylie Minogue's hit I Should Be So Lucky in 40 minutes, proving that when inspiration strikes, magic can happen fast. In this reality series, aspiring hitmakers are thrown together and given a few short hours to write the next big pop song for musicians such as John Legend (pictured left) and Lisa of Blackpink (and The White Lotus). You may not know their names, but you will already know some of their lyrics, as the cohort has penned hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and boy band BTS. Creativity flourishes and rivalries flare in the pressure-cooker environment. Lisa from Blackpink at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Picture: AFP Dancing With The Stars 7.30PM, MONDAY, SEVEN The glittering stage is set as six celebrities – comedian Felicity Ward, journalist Michael Usher, footy player Trent Cotchin, actor Kyle Schilling, TV host Shaun Micallef (pictured with Ash-Leigh Hunter) and radio personality Brittany Hockley – and their partners hit the floor in the final. While Ward makes no secret of her desire to win and newlywed Hockley dances in tribute to her husband, it's clear everyone is keen to put their best foot forward. The Decline Of Western Civilization Part Ii: The Metal Years STREAMING, TUBI In Black Sabbath's farewell concert last month, held just weeks before the July 22 death of frontman Ozzy Osbourne (pictured with his family), the singer reunited with his bandmates to feel the love of fans and fellow musicians such as Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose. In this 1988 doco, Osbourne joins another legendary line-up to reflect on his headline-grabbing career. The late Ozzy Osbourne, pictured in 1997. Picture: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, file In Case You Missed It … The Kennedys If the Kennedy clan is basically America's answer to royalty, then this 2011 series is its equivalent to The Crown. With a star-studded cast that includes Tom Wilkinson as domineering patriarch Joe, Greg Kinnear as JFK and Katie Holmes (pictured) as Jackie, the four-part miniseries takes real people and events and serves them up as a salacious soap opera. The series attracted some fierce criticism from the family's inner circle, who feared it wasn't an accurate portrayal of the Kennedy legacy. Certainly this is not a historically accurate account of JFK's time in the White House. But it doesn't claim to be. And, if you enjoy a good biopic (as I do) then this one will be your next guilty pleasure – if only to watchHolmes's wardrobe and breathless impersonation of the fashionable First Lady. Katie Holmes stars in The Kennedys. Picture: Getty Images One Show. Two Views The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer Siobhan Duck Whether it's an old-school classic like Perry Mason (and its grittier reboot starring Matthew Rhys), a series playing the legal system for laughs like Ally McBeal, or TV justice served with a sidebar of politics such as The Good Wife, I love courtroom dramas. Certainly, this series starring Sam Neill as wily defence barrister Brett Colby is the best Aussie take on the genre since Janet King. In this new season, Colby is called upon to defend an old friend accused of killing a woman who was digging into a cold case murder. Complicating matters further for Colby is the fact he's squaring off against his former protégée, Gabe Nicholls (Danielle Cormack) in court. Against the backdrop of the whodunnit are the equally intriguing machinations of the sequestered jury. As the case unfolds, viewers will also learn about the private lives and prejudices of these 12 strangers sitting in judgement – and you will start to judge them as well. Sam Neill and Danielle Cormack in a scene from The Twelve. Picture: Daniel Asher Smith James Wigney As the guilty verdict from one of the most fascinating murder trials in living memory still rings in our ears, it's a tough ask for any homegrown courtroom drama to top a woman killing her lunch guests with death cap mushrooms. Indeed, with the proliferation of top-notch true crime documentaries and podcasts, I'm finding it harder to look past the factual in favour of the fictional, no matter how well made. That said, while the format is starting to show a few familiar signs in its third season, The Twelve is still solid, thanks to its one constant: Sam Neill as the cunning and calm Brett Colby. Smartly, he's now a reluctant defence barrister, concerned about being compromised thanks to his connection with the accused. And if the time shifts between the current crime and a historical double murder, secret lives of jury members and many twists get too much, just crack a bottle of Neill's Otago pinot noir and enjoy the stunning Margaret River scenery. Read the full reviews inside today's issue of The Watchlist, in The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA). For more from Stellar and The Watchlist, click here.
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Demascus review: Martin Lawrence comedy series premiere
Don't miss out on the headlines from TV. Followed categories will be added to My News. After months of speculation, the new Martin Lawrence comedy series Demascus has just been released — and the first review is in. STREAMING, TUBI Demascus On a quest of self-discovery, Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan) is urged by his therapist (played by The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air's Janet Hubert) to try an experimental treatment that allows him to visit alternative realities. Each version – where the same friends and relatives (including Martin Lawrence as an aged uncle) keep popping up but reshaped by their new context – sees Demascus gain new insights into himself and his fear of commitment as he navigates one awkward situation after another. There has been a lot of buzz around this comedy in the US media as it was uncertain fans would be able to see it until it was snapped up by free streaming service Tubi. The first review of new Tubi series Demascus has landed. Picture: Tubi STREAMING, FOXTEL AND BINGE If You Liked: Shōgun Try: Chief Of War STREAMING, APPLE TV+ Visually spectacular, this epic historical drama (created by and starring Jason Momoa) recreates the bloody battles over the unification and colonisation of Hawaii. Momoa plays warrior Ka'iana who, having forged a simpler life on one of Hawaii's smaller islands, is talked into returning to battle by King Kahekili (Temuera Morrison). Told in traditional language, the series is a deep dive into a lesser-known chapter of history. Momoa is believable as a wave-riding hero who can lead an army to victory without any armour, let alone trousers. Jason Momoa stars in Chief of War for Apple TV+. Picture: Getty Images If You Liked: Sandition Try: Miss Austen 9PM, SUNDAY, ABC TV AND STREAMING, ABC iVIEW If you have a passion for Regency romance then you're in for a treat with this new drama starring Keeley Hawes (pictured). Based on Gill Hornby's book, this delightful series casts the other Miss Austen – author Jane's sister, Cassandra – as the heroine. Austenites will already be familiar with Cassandra's diabolical act of literary vandalism (destroying almost all of her sister's correspondence to protect the family's privacy). This series imagines her motivations, offering glimpses into the inspirations for Jane's most famous stories. The Couple Next Door STREAMING, BINGE In the aftermath of the last murderous neighbourly entanglement, the remaining residents of the tight-knit cul-de-sac are trying to get on with their lives. Here in this fancy Leeds neighbourhood, we find surgeon Charlotte (Annabel Scholey, pictured second from right) and her anaesthetist husband Jacob (Sam Palladio, pictured second from left), who struggle to find time for each other amid the pressures of their careers and caring for her elderly father. So when disarmingly confident nurse Mia (Aggy K Adams, pictured right) and Charlotte's old flame (Sendhil Ramamurthy, pictured left) begin working at the hospital, the stage is set for another dangerous love quadrangle. Some of Kylie Minogue's most successful hits were written by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman. Picture: Getty Images Hitmakers STREAMING, NETFLIX In the 1980s, the songwriting team of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman famously wrote Kylie Minogue's hit I Should Be So Lucky in 40 minutes, proving that when inspiration strikes, magic can happen fast. In this reality series, aspiring hitmakers are thrown together and given a few short hours to write the next big pop song for musicians such as John Legend (pictured left) and Lisa of Blackpink (and The White Lotus). You may not know their names, but you will already know some of their lyrics, as the cohort has penned hits for the likes of Beyoncé, Justin Bieber and boy band BTS. Creativity flourishes and rivalries flare in the pressure-cooker environment. Lisa from Blackpink at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Picture: AFP Dancing With The Stars 7.30PM, MONDAY, SEVEN The glittering stage is set as six celebrities – comedian Felicity Ward, journalist Michael Usher, footy player Trent Cotchin, actor Kyle Schilling, TV host Shaun Micallef (pictured with Ash-Leigh Hunter) and radio personality Brittany Hockley – and their partners hit the floor in the final. While Ward makes no secret of her desire to win and newlywed Hockley dances in tribute to her husband, it's clear everyone is keen to put their best foot forward. The Decline Of Western Civilization Part Ii: The Metal Years STREAMING, TUBI In Black Sabbath's farewell concert last month, held just weeks before the July 22 death of frontman Ozzy Osbourne (pictured with his family), the singer reunited with his bandmates to feel the love of fans and fellow musicians such as Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Guns N' Roses vocalist Axl Rose. In this 1988 doco, Osbourne joins another legendary line-up to reflect on his headline-grabbing career. The late Ozzy Osbourne, pictured in 1997. Picture: AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, file In Case You Missed It … The Kennedys If the Kennedy clan is basically America's answer to royalty, then this 2011 series is its equivalent to The Crown. With a star-studded cast that includes Tom Wilkinson as domineering patriarch Joe, Greg Kinnear as JFK and Katie Holmes (pictured) as Jackie, the four-part miniseries takes real people and events and serves them up as a salacious soap opera. The series attracted some fierce criticism from the family's inner circle, who feared it wasn't an accurate portrayal of the Kennedy legacy. Certainly this is not a historically accurate account of JFK's time in the White House. But it doesn't claim to be. And, if you enjoy a good biopic (as I do) then this one will be your next guilty pleasure – if only to watch Holmes's wardrobe and breathless impersonation of the fashionable First Lady. Katie Holmes stars in The Kennedys. Picture: Getty Images One Show. Two Views The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer Siobhan Duck Whether it's an old-school classic like Perry Mason (and its grittier reboot starring Matthew Rhys), a series playing the legal system for laughs like Ally McBeal, or TV justice served with a sidebar of politics such as The Good Wife, I love courtroom dramas. Certainly, this series starring Sam Neill as wily defence barrister Brett Colby is the best Aussie take on the genre since Janet King. In this new season, Colby is called upon to defend an old friend accused of killing a woman who was digging into a cold case murder. Complicating matters further for Colby is the fact he's squaring off against his former protégée, Gabe Nicholls (Danielle Cormack) in court. Against the backdrop of the whodunnit are the equally intriguing machinations of the sequestered jury. As the case unfolds, viewers will also learn about the private lives and prejudices of these 12 strangers sitting in judgement – and you will start to judge them as well. Sam Neill and Danielle Cormack in a scene from The Twelve. Picture: Daniel Asher Smith James Wigney As the guilty verdict from one of the most fascinating murder trials in living memory still rings in our ears, it's a tough ask for any homegrown courtroom drama to top a woman killing her lunch guests with death cap mushrooms. Indeed, with the proliferation of top-notch true crime documentaries and podcasts, I'm finding it harder to look past the factual in favour of the fictional, no matter how well made. That said, while the format is starting to show a few familiar signs in its third season, The Twelve is still solid, thanks to its one constant: Sam Neill as the cunning and calm Brett Colby. Smartly, he's now a reluctant defence barrister, concerned about being compromised thanks to his connection with the accused. And if the time shifts between the current crime and a historical double murder, secret lives of jury members and many twists get too much, just crack a bottle of Neill's Otago pinot noir and enjoy the stunning Margaret River scenery. Read the full reviews inside today's issue of The Watchlist, in The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland) and Sunday Mail (SA). For more from Stellar and The Watchlist, click here. Originally published as Much-buzzed-about comedy Demascus finally releases
