PARAMOUNT – Say it isn’t so. I have kept my promise of not weeping & wailing about the next big transaction. I was never happy with either option; both were bad for WB & HBO in my opinion. Unless regulatory issues can topple this buyout, it seems a certain outcome as Netflix has dropped the pursuit. All I can say is —
And let’s just focus on the content for the month ahead.
A few quick points:
- We can Drop Names like Steve Carell & Lisa Kudrow This Month
- We can blush at DTF ST. LOUIS
- Witness a Kick-Ass BALLERINA
- Plus, See International Fare from Poland
- Witness the shenanigans from within FRACKHAM HALL
- And, learn about Professional Bowling!
HBO Original Series: We start pretty big with two new limited series, a literal comeback, and end with some favorites. We lead off with DTF ST. LOUIS. It is from creator Steven Conrad (Patriot) and debuts its seven-episode run beginning SUNDAY, MARCH 01 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO, with episodes available to stream on HBO Max. It will debut weekly leading up to the series finale on Sunday, April 12 at 8:00 pm ET/PT, ahead of the season three premiere of EUPHORIA.
It rests on a very simple premise. It is about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-aged malaise that leads to one of them ending up dead. It stars Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Linda Cardellini, Richard Jenkins, Joy Sunday, Arlan Ruf, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Perfetti. It is written and directed by showrunner Steven Conrad. Executive producers include Steven Conrad, Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, and Steve Tisch for Escape Artists; Molly Allen; Bruce Terris; Michael Nelson; Michael Costigan for Bateman’s Aggregate Films; KC Wenson for Bravo Axolotl; Jennifer Scher for Elephant Pictures; James Lasdun; and MGM Television. The series is also presented with ASL.
I love the tagline: “You never know which way a friendship will swing.”
–S1, Ep. 01 – “Cornhole”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 01 (9:06 – 10:03 pm ET/PT)
When Clark and Floyd learn that both their marriages have stalled, they begin to explore a new dating app for extramarital affairs.
–S1, Ep. 02 – “Snag It”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 08 (9:00 – 10:00 pm ET/PT)
After meeting at the cornhole party, Clark quickly hits it off with Floyd’s wife, Carol. Later, detectives Homer and Plumb dig deeper into Clark’s relationship with Carol – and Floyd’s time on the DTF app.
The following week sees the debut of Steve Carell’s HBO Original work, entitled ROOSTER. This original comedy series debuts SUNDAY, MARCH 08 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes of the 10-episode season, from Warner Bros. Television, will debut weekly through Sunday, May 10.
This half-hour comedy, set on a college campus, follows an author (Steve Carell) navigating a complicated relationship with his daughter (Charly Clive). Well, that leaves it wide open for just about anything! A bit more insight comes via the premiere description and the trailer presented below:
– S1 Ep. 01 – “Release the Brown Fat”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 08 (10:00 – 10:35 pm ET/PT)
Writer Greg Russo arrives at Ludlow College to support his daughter Katie as her marriage begins to implode.
So, he is going to end up following the advice & antics of the student body. Well, I certainly can see where the comedy lies, but there will be deep issues packed in too. The series stars Steve Carell, Charly Clive, Danielle Deadwyler, Phil Dunster, John C. McGinley, and Lauren Tsai and is from co-showrunners Bill Lawrence and Matt Tarses. Can you crow about ROOSTER?
Then there is the comeback. That’s right, she’s back….Valerie Cherish is back!. Who, you might ask? It is understandable if you don’t remember her; she hasn’t been on HBO since 2014. She is the character personified by Lisa Kudrow in THE COMEBACK. The third and final season of the HBO Original comedy series, from Michael Patrick King and Lisa Kudrow, debuts SUNDAY, MARCH 22 at 10:30 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes of the eight-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the series finale on Sunday, May 10. Check out the trailer.
NEIGHBORS still has three installments to go. It’s all about your crazy neighbors. It picks back up on FRIDAY, MARCH 06 (9:00 – 9:30 pm ET/PT).
–S1 Ep. 04 – “White Privilege Card”
Debut Date: FRIDAY, MARCH 06 (9:00 – 9:33 pm ET/PT)
Nashville neighbors Joanne and Steven’s friendship ruptures beyond repair. In San Antonio, Jeff obsesses over Alexa’s 8-foot concrete wall.
–S1 Ep 05 – “Halloween Competition” –
Debut Date: FRIDAY, MARCH 13 (9:00 – 9:33 pm ET/PT)
An annual Halloween decoration competition in New Jersey leads to growing resentment between Otis and Nelson. In Simi Valley, California, Linda and Ruby’s long-standing fence debacle takes a legal turn.
–S1 Ep. 06 – Season Finale – Debut Date: FRIDAY, MARCH 30 (9:00 – 9:33 pm ET/PT)
Ouch! Under a new regime, Season 13 might prove unlucky for LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER. Only time will tell, but for now, the show continues SUNDAY, MARCH 01 at 11:00 pm and runs for 30-41 minutes per week. Season 24 of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER keeps rolling through the big issues continuing on FRIDAY, MARCH 06 (10:00-11:00 pm ET/PT).
Original Series Exclusive to HBO Max: The Emmy-winning medical saga THE PITT continues its rounds in March as the shift now moves into the late afternoon hours. A new episode uploads beginning 
THURSDAY, MARCH 05 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO Max. New episodes of the 15-episode season will debut weekly leading up to the season finale on Thursday, April 16. The month’s episodes play out as follows:
–Episode # 9 “03:00 A.M.” Debut Date: THURSDAY MARCH 05 (9:00-10:00 pm)
–Episode # 10 “04:00 P.M.” Debut Date: THURSDAY, MARCH 12 (9:00-10:00 pm)
–Episode # 11 “05:00 P.M.” Debut Date: THURSDAY, MARCH 19 (9:00-10:00 pm)
–Episode # 12 “06:00 P.M.” Debut Date: THURSDAY, MARCH 26 (9:00-10:00 pm)
HBO International Titles: Here is a new series we were able to find out about. It is titled WOMEN’S HELL. HBO has announced this Polish series, which will premiere on FRIDAY, MARCH 06. It tells the story of how female friendship and solidarity emerge in a male-dominated world. A modern-sounding tale about freedom of choice, mutual respect, understanding, and accepting different perspectives. The story is set in the 1930s. Warsaw – the pulsating heart of the country – is a city of contrasts and social inequality. This is a world where women are forced to fight for their own voice, the right to choose, and their dignity.
At the center of events is Helena Wróblewska, editor of the marriage magazine Fortuna Amandi. Her life changes forever when she learns about the death of a young dancer due to an illegal abortion. With each new rumor about the tragic fates of the dancer and other women, Helena begins to understand that the newspaper she runs with her husband, Maximilian, may be connected to these events. Soon, Emil Heckmann – the brother of the deceased dancer – appears in her path, seeking justice for his sister. Together with Helena, he plunges into a world where forbidden desires and hypocrisy intertwine with violence, and every decision could cost a life. I’d show you the trailer, but it is in Polish. If you take the show in, you’ll need the English subtitles HBO Max will provide. The uploads begin FRIDAY, MARCH 06, on the streamer.
Two mysterious titles also debut in March, but I know little about them. First, is the debut on FRIDAY, MARCH 13 of MIRA: LIFE AFTER DIVORCE. I think it is a little miniseries about the title character bouncing back from legal separation. The other title is COLOSIO: POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, which drops on FRIDAY, MARCH 19. Colosio was a famed Mexican presidential nominee who was murdered in the early 1990’s. Perhaps this is a movie or a documentary about him. The series PORTOBELLO, MADAM BEJA, and BANKSTERS continue their run. So does LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. For this latter title, we have episode breakdowns for the first installments of the month.
–S2 Ep. 03 – “Champandongo”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 01 (7:00 – 8:00 pm)
As the sisters mourn Mama Elena, Pedro lands in his uncle’s crosshairs, and Rosaura sets out to reestablish herself and Las Palomas.
–S2 Ep. 04 – “Day of the Dead Bread”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, MARCH 08 (7:00 – 8:00 pm)
As Rosaura attempts to speed up the wedding, Tita is haunted by her mother, and Pedro learns disturbing truths about his uncle.
HBO & HBO Max Theatrical Movies: Two completely different movie genres for the month. The British comedy of FRACKHAM HALL and the intense action of FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA.
From Bleeker Street Film comes a spoof that crosses Downton Abbey with Airplane! and Monty Python. FACKHAM HALL follows lovable pick-pocket Eric Noone as he lands a job at a unique English manor house. He quickly rises through the ranks, and a forbidden romance with lady-of-the-house Rose Davenport, blossoms. But when an unexpected murder occurs, Eric gets framed, leaving Rose and her family’s future perilously uncertain. It stars Thomasin McKenzie, Ben Radcliffe, Katherine Waterston, Emma Laird, Tom Goodman-Hill, Ramon Tikaram, Tim McMullan, Anna Maxwell Martin, Sue Johnston, Tom Felton, and Damian Lewis. It is written by Steve Dawson, Andrew Dawson, Tim Inman, Jimmy Carr, and Patrick Carr. Directed by Jim O’Hanlon. Find FRACKHAM HALL debuting SATURDAY, MARCH 07 (8:00 – 9:40 pm ET/PT) and appearing on HBO Max the night prior. Our other title offers an offshoot moment from John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. On SATURDAY, MARCH 28 (8:00 – 10:05 pm ET/PT) and appearing on HBO Max the night prior is FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA. The film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), who is beginning her training in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma. Joining Armas are Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus, with Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves.
Plus a whole cadre of titles upload as of SUNDAY, MARCH 01. 42nd Street, 5 Centimeters Per Second, A Lost Lady, A Stolen Life (1946), Above Suspicion, All the President’s Men, Along the Great Divide, Badman’s Country, Blair Witch, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, Call Me by Your Name, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Flamingo Road, Gentleman Jim, Happy Death Day, Humoresque, In This Our Life, Jimmy the Gent, The Greatest Showman, The Secret Bride and The Woman on Pier 13, just to name a few.
HBO Documentary Films: In March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake – the strongest ever recorded in Japan – unleashed a tsunami that devastated the country’s northeast coast. Entire towns were erased, and 20,000 lives were lost, but an even greater threat loomed at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where the giant wave disabled the cooling systems of three reactors. As radiation levels soared and hydrogen explosions tore through the facility, Japan’s leaders faced the unimaginable prospect of evacuating Tokyo – the world’s largest city with 35 million people.HBO Documentary Films presents FUKUSHIMA: A NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE, a Blast Films Production in association with Dogwoof. Directed by James Jones. Findit debuting on TUESDAY, MARCH 10 (9:00 – 10:43 pm ET/PT).
HBO Original Specials: This comedy gig actually debuted FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, but wasn’t on the slate for February’s post, so we include it here as a stand-up you may want to catch. It is CHRIS FLEMING: LIVE AT THE PALACE. From the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, comedian Chris Fleming bursts onto the screen in his comedy debut with a fun and lighthearted blend of skillful storytelling and wild physicality in his first HBO stand-up special. A high-energy performer who seamlessly pivots from one everyday topic to another – from Trader Joe’s to Oreos, NPR, and dog breeds – Fleming bounds across the stage as he shares his unique takes on masculinity, conga lines, and more. A lively mix of relatable humor, dancing, and even a song, offers an utterly refreshing, laugh-out-loud hour of comedy. Check a glimpse here, but find his gig on HBO and on HBO Max.
IYANU Season 2 (03.22)
HBO Max Kids & Family: IYANU returns for Season 2 on SUNDAY, MARCH 22.
HBO Sports: The HBO Original Five-Part Documentary Series BORN TO BOWL gives viewers a deep dive into professional bowling. It takes viewers inside the colorful world of professional bowling, chronicling five stars of the sport – Kyle Troup, Anthony Simonsen, EJ Tackett, Cameron Crowe, and Jason Belmonte – as they chase glory, respect, and much-needed prize money on the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour. It is narrated by Liev Schreiber and is in association with A24. It airs weekly beginning MONDAY, MARCH 16 on HBO.
Other Shows On HBO or HBO Max: Hey, I’ll admit it is a cop-out this month. You know what you like, seek it out. And your search should start with the beloved comedy SCHITT’S CREEK, which is trending pretty strongly on the streaming service. follows rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose, his soap-star wife Moira, and their two kids, son David and socialite daughter Alexis. When they lose their fortune and suddenly find themselves broke, they are forced to leave their pampered lifestyle behind and regroup in the quirky small town of Schitt’s Creek.
Next Month’s Tease: Should be a no-brainer. Finally, Rue returns.
Last Month’s Tease: The show is DTF ST LOUIS, but did you pay attention to what the DTF stood for? It stands for Down To Fuck and references the title city’s swingers app.
Final Clip: We leave you with FUKUSHIMA: A NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE.
Enjoy HBO and HBO Watch
