Highlights This Week
- Crave spreads holiday cheer with Carrie Underwood’s new HBO Max holiday music special MY GIFT: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FROM CARRIE UNDERWOOD, premiering Thursday, Dec. 3. In the special, Underwood performs a combination of beloved traditional favourites celebrating the joy of the holiday, as well as new original material from her first full-length Christmas album, My Gift. The special features a duet with Grammy® winner John Legend, singing Hallelujah, and an original song he co-wrote with Toby Gad. Viewers will also get an inside look behind the scenes of Underwood recording Little Drummer Boy with her five-year-old son, Isaiah.
- All eight episodes of the new HBO Max Original series STYLISH WITH JENNA LYONS drop on Thursday, Dec. 3. As president of J. Crew, Jenna Lyons became “the woman who dresses America,” a formidable business and style icon. Now, Jenna is experiencing a rebirth, and her reputation is on the line. In a refreshing mix of elevated documentary and formatted competition, the series follows Jenna as she tackles design projects that will help define her future business. These include renovating her friend’s Brooklyn townhouse, hosting mobile fashion makeovers, designing her new office, and launching LoveSeen, her fresh take on false lashes. Jenna’s staff, including her chief-of-staff, Kyle DeFord, and stylist, Sarah Clary, join her in this ambitious new venture, delivering a masterclass in taste, design, and fashion, with every episode.
- Created by Canadian YouTuber Denis Kopotun (DenisDaily), and animation writer/showrunner Diana Moore, the all-new, short-form animated comedy series DENIS AND ME joins Crave’s WOW! World Kids Collection on Friday, Dec. 4. WOW!’s DENIS AND ME follows the adventures of a quirky 12-year-old named Denis, and his best friend, an enterprising business cat named Sir Meows A Lot. Denis has a big, big heart and is both highly excitable, and highly entertaining, and through his misadventures with Sir Meows A Lot, viewers will see that it’s okay to be awkward, to make mistakes, to try again, to push yourself out of your comfort zone and to always stand up for your best friend.
- As was recently announced by HBO, a special new episode of the Emmy®-winning drama series EUPHORIA is dropping early as a special late-night premiere on Friday, Dec. 4. The new episode – the first of two – follows Rue (Zendaya) as she celebrates Christmas and the aftermath of being left by Jules (Hunter Schafer) at the train station while relapsing. This episode also stars Colman Domingo (Selma), who returns as Ali, a man also in recovery from a substance use disorder who frequently speaks at Rue’s Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Broadcast details for the second special will be announced in the coming weeks.
- The eleventh and final season of SHOWTIME’s hit comedy series SHAMELESS debuts Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET. This season finds the Gallagher family and the South Side at a crossroads with changes caused by the COVID pandemic, gentrification, and aging to reconcile. As Frank (William H. Macy) confronts his own mortality and family ties in his alcoholic and drug induced twilight years, Lip (Jeremy Allen White) struggles with the prospect of becoming the family’s new patriarch. Newlyweds Ian (Cameron Monaghan) and Micky (Noel Fisher) are figuring out the rules and responsibilities of being in a committed relationship while Deb (Emma Kenney) embraces her individuality and single motherhood. Carl (Ethan Cutkosky) finds an unlikely new career in law enforcement and Kevin (Steve Howey) and V (Shanola Hampton) struggle to decide whether a hard life on the South Side is worth fighting for. SHAMELESS follows a weekly release schedule, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
- SHOWTIME’s new limited series YOUR HONOR, starring Oscar® nominee and Emmy winner Bryan Cranston (BREAKING BAD), premieres Sunday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. ET. The 10-episode legal thriller stars Cranston as Michael Desiato, a respected New Orleans judge whose teenaged son, Adam (Hunter Doohan), is involved in a hit-and-run that leads to a high-stakes game of lies, deceit, and impossible choices. SAG Award winner Michael Stuhlbarg (Call Me By Your Name) stars as Jimmy Baxter, the much feared head of a crime family opposite Emmy and Golden Globe® nominee Hope Davis (FOR THE PEOPLE) and his wife Gina, who might be even more dangerous than her husband. YOUR HONOR follows a weekly release schedule, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.
- STARZ’s POWER BOOK II: GHOST returns with five new episodes to round out its first season, beginning Sunday, Dec. 6. The series picks up shortly after the earth-shattering events of POWER (the acclaimed STARZ drama series which recently ended its six-season run) as Tariq St. Patrick grapples with a new world order: his father dead and his mother, Tasha, facing charges for the murder her son committed. Truly on his own for the first time in his life, and with no better options, Tariq turns to the familiar drug game, entangling himself with a cutthroat family headed by Monet Stewart Tejada (played by Grammy®-winner Mary J. Blige). The series also stars Michael Rainey Jr. (Lee Daniels’ The Butler), Naturi Naughton (THE CLIENT LIST), and Method Man (THE WIRE).
- Following its World Premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, 40 YEARS A PRISONER is available for streaming on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. ET. The HBO Documentary chronicles the controversial 1978 Philadelphia police raid on the radical back-to-nature group MOVE and the aftermath that led to a son’s decades-long fight to free his parents. The film illuminates the story of a city grappling with racial tension and police brutality with alarming topicality and modern-day relevance. 40 YEARS A PRISONER is directed, produced, and shot by Tommy Oliver (1982) through his company, Confluential Films, with original music by The Roots.
What Critics Are Saying about HBO Max’s THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
“With slick directing from Susanna Fogel, a jazzy score from Blake Neely, and sporadic flashes to Cassie’s terrified subconscious, [THE FLIGHT ATTENDENT], quickly becomes a surreal noir with a solid screwball performance at its center. It’s just swapped the traditional hardboiled, probably alcoholic detective for a scatterbrained, probably alcoholic flight attendant. Pulpy and surreal, watching THE FLIGHT ATTENDENT feels like reading a page-turner you’d pick up in an airport for a flight and accidentally tear through in the first couple hours.”
– Karoline Framke, Variety
“The sleek ride Susanna Fogel, Steve Yockey, and especially star/producer Kaley Cuoco have cobbled together makes it hard to push the call button, let alone start looking for a parachute. Meshing together a handful of genres — part mystery-thriller, part dark comedy, part surreal romantic-fantasy — the hour-long series careens forward with a propulsive pace, curious side stories, and an enticing cast of characters. Suspension of disbelief is a requisite and nagging questions need to be held until the end, but all signs point to net positive trip, even if a safe landing is still up in the air.
– Ben Travers, IndieWire
Crave Audience Metrics
On Crave’s streaming platforms, viewership for HBO’s THE UNDOING grew week over week as buzz and anticipation built over who killed Elena Alves. Following the finale episode (which premiered last Sunday), the limited series was the #1 title on Crave for five consecutive weeks, and has become the second most-watched season of a show ever on the service, just behind HBO’s GAME OF THRONES.
Crave continues to have Canadians covered, delivering the best movies, TV series, and original hits all in one place. HBO’s THE UNDOING remains in the #1 spot for the fifth consecutive week following its highly anticipated finale, while the HBO Max Original Series THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT takes the #2 spot following its premiere last week. STAR TREK: DISCOVERY stays at #3 for the second consecutive week, and HBO Max Original Film SUPERINTELLIGENCE debuts on Crave at #4. Here are the Top 10 most-watched programs on Crave for the week of November 25 – December 1:
- THE UNDOING
- THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT
- STAR TREK: DISCOVERY
- SUPERINTELLIGENCE
- HIS DARK MATERIALS
- SEINFELD
- SOUTH PARK
- GAME OF THRONES
- MURDER ON MIDDLE BEACH
- THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR REUNION
*Source: Numeris / Adobe Analytics
What to Watch for the Week of December 3 –9
*All Programming Subject to Change
- The SHOWTIME docuseries, THE REAGANS, wraps up on Sunday, 6 at 8 p.m. ET. In the fourth and final episode, the Reagans’ second term – and near collapse of the administration in light of the Iran-Contra scandal – is examined. Nancy’s behind-the-scenes machinations to shape the Reagan legacy reveal her true power.
- The fourth and final episode of the HBO’s docu-series MURDER ON MIDDLE BEACH premieres Sunday, 6 at 10 p.m. ET. With the 10-year anniversary of his mother’s death approaching, Madison leaves no stone unturned in his quest for the truth – despite concerns that his documentary may be doing more harm than good. As Madison presses on, there are surprising roadblocks to his investigation.
- HBO’s fantasy-drama series HIS DARK MATERIALS, starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, continues its second season Monday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. ET. In the fourth episode, Will (Amir Wilson) and Lyra (Dafne Keen) make a plan, unaware of the dangers or the cost involved.
- All-new episodes this week include; THE FLIGHT ATTENDENT (Thursday, Dec. 3); STAR TREK: DISCOVERY (Friday, Dec. 4 at 9 p.m. ET); WARRIOR (Friday, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. ET); W5 (Friday, Dec. 4); THE REAGANS (Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET); SHAMELESS (Sunday, Dec. 6 at 9 p.m. ET); MURDER ON MIDDLE BEACH (Sunday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. ET); YOUR HONOR (Sunday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. ET); HIS DARK MATERIALS (Monday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. ET); THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL (Tuesday, Dec. 8); and THE VOICE (Wednesday, Dec. 9).
Complete listings for the week of December 3 – 9
*All Programming Subject to Change
HBO and HBO Max
HBO Max Original 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS, Season 1, Episode 4-6 (December 3)
HBO Max Original FLIGHT ATTENDANT, Season 1, Episode 4-5 (December 3)
HBO Max Original MY GIFT: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FROM CARRIE UNDERWOOD (December 3)
HBO Max Original STYLISH WITH JENNA LYONS, Season 1 (December 3)
EUPHORIA PART 1: RUE *Special* (December 4)
WARRIOR, Season 2, Episode 10 (December 4 at 10 p.m. ET)
MURDER ON MIDDLE BEACH, Season 1, Episode 4 *Season Finale* (December 6 at 10 p.m. ET)
HIS DARK MATERIALS, Season 2, Episode 4 (December 7 at 9 p.m. ET)
AXIOS, Season 3, Episode 20 *Season Finale* (December 7, live at 11 p.m. ET, on-demand the following morning)
40 YEARS A PRISOSNER *Documentary* (December 8 at 9 p.m. ET)
ALABAMA SNAKE *Documentary* (December 9 at 9 p.m. ET)
Movies
THE HUNT (December 4)
IMPRACTICAL JOKERS: THE MOVIE (December 4)
PAWS P.I. (December 9)
PUPPY SWAP: LOVE UNLEASHED (December 9)
SHOWTIME
MACHO: THE HECTOR CAMACHO STORY *Documentary* (December 4 at 9 p.m. ET)
THE REAGANS, Season 1, Episode 4 *Series Finale* (December 6 at 8 p.m. ET)
YOUR HONOR, Season 1, Episode 1 *Season Premiere* (December 6 at 10 p.m. ET)
LONG HOT SUMMERS: THE STORY OF THE STYLE COUNCIL *Documentary* (December 8 at 12:30 p.m. ET)
STARZ
EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS (December 4)
MAN ON THE MOON (December 4)
V FOR VENDETTA (December 4)
POWER BOOK IIL GHOST PART 1, Season 1, Episode 6 *Mid-season Premiere* (December 6)
RIGHT KIND OF WRONG (December 9)
More Riveting TV to Watch
ALIO’S JOURNEY – THE AMAZING ODYSSEY OF A NEWBORN *Documentary* (December 4)
DENIS & ME, Season 1 (December 4)
DISASTERS AT SEA, Season 2 (December 4)
GAME OF CLONES, Season 1 (December 4)
MIGHTY TRAINS, Season 1-2 (December 4)
RIDICULOUSNESS, Season 17 (December 4)
W5, Season 55, Episode 10 (December 4)
JEFF DUNHAM’S COMPLETELY UNREHEARSED LAST MINUTE PANDEMIC HOLIDAY SPECIAL (December 4)
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, Season 3, Episode 8 (December 4 at 9 p.m. ET)
*SHAMELESS, Season 11, Episode 1 *Season Premiere* (December 6 at 9 p.m. ET)
THE ORIGINAL SANTA CLAUS PARADE (December 7)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, Season 34, Episode 49-53 (December 8)
THE VOICE, Season 19, Episode 14-15 (December 9)
*Available to Crave + HBO + Movies subscribers
