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What to Watch List – January 3, 2025

I It’s a new year, and there’s plenty to watch—but not everything is worth your time. Every Friday on Foolishness Friday, I break down what’s worth watching and what you should skip. Some of these picks will have you hooked, others might leave you screaming at the screen (for the right or wrong reasons), and a few are so bad they deserve a public service announcement.

January’s list has everything—thrillers, dramas, documentaries, and even a little foolishness. Whether you’re into big performances, wild stories, or just want to know what everyone will be talking about, there’s something here for you. Check out the full list below!

1. Luther: Never Too Much

“Luther: Never Too Much,” the documentary film from award-winning director Dawn Porter, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack. The film relives the many stunning moments of Luther’s musical career, while exploring his personal life, health struggles, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.  Streaming on Max >

2. Squid Game: Season 2 

Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history at the 74th Primetime Emmys® becoming the first Asian to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, once again helms the series as director, writer, and producer. Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from Season 1 with an impeccable list of new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an rounding out the ensemble of colorful characters in the new season.  Streaming on Netflix >

3. Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall

Herstory will be made y’all: Michelle Buteau: A Buteau-ful Mind at Radio City Music Hall premieres globally December 31, only on Netflix. As the first female comic to record a special at the iconic Radio City Music Hall, Buteau returns to Netflix for her second comedy special. Celebrate the New Year right as Buteau reflects on motherhood, marriage, and more.  Streaming on Netflix >

4. Earth Abides

Ish, a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life, awakens from a coma only to find that a global plague has all but wiped out humanity. In the aftermath, Ish is forced to look for what he was so certain he could live without, other people. These last few shattered survivors will be humanity’s second chance, the last hope against the slide into extinction.  Streaming on MGM+ >

5. Bookie

This darkly funny comedy follows veteran Los Angeles bookie Danny (Sebastian Maniscalco) as the potential legalization of sports gambling threatens to upend his business. Full of relatable mishaps, Bookie chronicles one man’s journey to adapt to an ever-changing world as he attempts to charm and con his way to the top.  Streaming on Max >

BONUS WATCH: Beyoncé Bowl

The iconic Beyoncé takes the field for a special hometown halftime show on NFL Christmas Gameday from Houston, Texas.  Streaming on Netflix >

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What to Watch List – January 10, 2025

I It’s a new year, and there’s plenty to watch—but not everything is worth your time. Every Friday on Foolishness Friday, I break down what’s worth watching and what you should skip. Some of these picks will have you hooked, others might leave you screaming at the screen (for the right or wrong reasons), and a few are so bad they deserve a public service announcement.

January’s list has everything—thrillers, dramas, documentaries, and even a little foolishness. Whether you’re into big performances, wild stories, or just want to know what everyone will be talking about, there’s something here for you. Check out the full list below!

1. Missing You

What would you do if your ex disappeared and came back into your life after 11 years? Your next Harlan Coben New Year’s Day watch is almost here. MISSING YOU, only on Netflix January 1. Streaming on Neflix >

2. Will Trent

Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) is determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was. Streaming on ABC via Hulu >

3. The Agency

Martian (two-time Academy® Award nominee Michael Fassbender) is a covert CIA agent, ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind reappears, romance reignites. His career, his real identity and his mission are pitted against his heart—hurling them both into a deadly game of international intrigue and espionage. The Agency is streaming November 29th on the Paramount+ with SHOWTIME Plan. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME >

4. DOC

A doctor with memory loss must navigate an unfamiliar world. Streaming on Hulu >

5. Traitors, Season 3

The Emmy award-winning series, The Traitors is a nail-biting psychological adventure in which treachery and deceit are the name of the game. The entertainment industry’s most competitive reality stars and famous faces play the ultimate murder mystery game. Hosted by award-winning actor Alan Cumming at an ancient castle set deep in the Scottish Highlands, contestants work together on a series of exhilarating missions to build a prize fund worth up to $250,000. Hidden amongst the Faithful are the Traitors, whose goal is to eliminate the Faithful and claim the prize for themselves. Under the cover of darkness, the Traitors murder the Faithful one by one in a treacherous spree, while the Faithful try to uncover the Traitors and banish them from the game. If the Faithful contestants banish all the Traitors, they will share the prize fund, but if a Traitor or Traitors makes it to the end, they will steal all the money. Streaming on Peacock >

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SiriusXM Launches “Women’s Empowerment Network,” a New Podcast Network Executive Produced by Karen Hunter

SSiriusXM today announced the launch of the Women’s Empowerment Network, a new podcast network executive produced by SiriusXM Urban View host and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Karen Hunter. Launching on Monday, December 9, the Women’s Empowerment Network will debut with two new podcasts, with more original content set to premiere in the coming months.

Available on the SiriusXM app and all other major podcast platforms, The Women’s Empowerment Network will offer a wide variety of new original shows, which will feature interviews with influential women from various industries and backgrounds, self-improvement tips, financial advice, mental health discussions, and more news relevant to women’s lives and careers. The network will also spotlight stories of resilience, activism, entrepreneurship, and community, with a focus on uplifting women in all walks of life.

Among the first podcasts to premiere under the network is “Karen Hunter Is Awesome!”, a daily podcast where Hunter dives deep into a wide range of thought-provoking topics. In what she considers a companion piece to her regular Urban View radio show, Hunter will challenge her listeners in new ways, covering everything from Bible prophecy to the purpose of race, and even the latest TV shows and movies, while still delivering her signature blend of intellect and candidness.

Also launching on December 9 is Financially Speaking,” a daily podcast designed specifically to help women navigate the complex and evolving financial landscape. Hosted by a team of renowned financial experts, including Dr. Tonya Evans (cryptocurrency and intellectual property), Dr. Tisa Silver Canady (financial wellness and student loan debt eradication), Jacquette Timmons (financial behaviorist), and Ruchi Pinniger (financial coach and founder of Watch Her Prosper), this podcast will offer listeners practical advice and insights to help them make informed financial decisions and build lasting wealth.

“The Women’s Empowerment Network is a destination where women can come together and be heard in ways that are authentic, uplifting, and transformative,” said Karen Hunter. “I’ve always believed in the power of women supporting each other, and I’m excited to have this new platform where we can rise together.”

“Karen has a great talent for identifying emerging voices and building communities through audio,” said Dave Gorab, Vice President and General Manager of SiriusXM’s Talk Programming. “I’m excited to see Karen’s vision for a new podcast network thrive while it has a meaningful impact on all who listen.”

In addition to her new podcast, Hunter will continue to host “The Karen Hunter Show” weekdays from 3-6pm ET on Urban View channel 126.

Among her many accomplishments, Hunter is the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Confessions of a Video Vixen, On the Down Low, and Wendy’s Got the Heat. She is also an assistant professor in the Film & Media Department at Hunter College.

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Rev. Al Sharpton has two regrets in his life

R“Regrets, I’ve had a few,” sang the late great Frank Sinatra. And during a candid conversation with SiriusXM Urban View host Karen Hunter, the Rev. Al Sharpton revealed he has two.

“I used to eat bad, and I used to sleep too late,” said the 62-year-old civil rights activist.

But it seems Sharpton has remedied both. He’s lost a significant amount of weight since he first rose to prominence, and wakes up at 5 am to get a workout in before he starts his day.

Just scrolling through his social media feeds, it’s obvious that Sharpton is non-stop. He hosts a two-hour radio show, as well as MSNBC‘s Politics Nation. And that’s not including all of his activism and preaching that takes place outside of the media realm.

He attributes a lot of his success to sage advice from an “old civil rights leader” which he never forgot.

“Leadership is like playing football. … Half the stadium is going to cheer you, the other half is going to jeer you, your job is to get the ball across the goal line.”

“Don’t get intoxicated by the cheers and distracted by the jeers. Just keep your eye on the goal line. And that’s how I’ve lived.”

Sharpton, who ran for president in 2004, considers President Donald Trump’s unconventional pathway to the nation’s highest office a “good thing.”

“The only good thing that I can see out of Trump is that he has changed all the rules,” Sharpton said. “Politics is much different now. The bar is much lower.”

“You can do whatever you want to do and run and win. Because Trump has defied all of what has been acceptable behavior and background, and won.”

Hear The Karen Hunter Show weekdays on SiriusXM Urban View (Ch. 126) at 3 pm ET.

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Denzel Washington on why ‘Fences’ needed a Black director: ‘It’s not color, it’s culture’

IIn a 1990 essay, August Wilson made it clear he’d only allow a Black director to helm an on-screen adaptation of his Tony-winning Fences.

More than two decades later, Denzel Washington is fulfilling that wish, directing and starring in the film about an African-American family in 1950s Pittsburgh. During a Town Hall with the cast, SiriusXM Urban View’s Karen Hunter asked why this was so important to the late playwright.

“It’s not color, it’s culture,” Washington said. “Steven Spielberg did Schindler’s List. Martin Scorsese did Goodfellas, right? Steven Spielberg could direct Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese probably could have done a good job with Schindler’s List. But there are cultural differences. I know, you know, we all know what it is when a hot comb hits your head on a Sunday morning, what it smells like. That’s a cultural difference, not just color difference.”

he A-lister also discussed how the parts available for bBlack men in Hollywood have changed since he entered the business.

“It’s much better now. There were no roles like this,” he said. “I’ve been in the game whatever it is, 35, 40 years. Obviously it wasn’t like that when I started, if you got a role at all, which is why I thought I’d just be doing theater the rest of my life. I really didn’t aspire to be a quote unquote ‘movie star’ because I didn’t see anybody that looked like me anyway. So I didn’t tell jokes, and I wasn’t going to be that third what’s-his-name from the back I got too much ego for that, so I said, ‘Well, I’ll do theater.’ But it is much better.”

“If it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage, so you got to write it,” he added, to applause. “August Wilson is writing how we feel. That’s why I’m producing all 10 of [his plays]. Because of all those people who laid the groundwork for me to be in the position I’m in, I’m going to make sure that there’s hundreds of roles for the next generation and utilize the power that I have at this moment in order to do that, and nobody’s going to get in my way.”

Viola Davis is doing the same for Black women with her Emmy-winning turn as defense attorney Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder. Hunter remarked how powerful the scenes invoking Annalise’s culture, like her experience in a hair salon, were to her.

Still, “the only reason you’re seeing that is I demanded that,” Davis said. “I demanded the weave scene, I demanded the taking off the makeup, because as an artist you always have to ask the reason why a character is the way they are, and a lot of times what happens when you get a role, people are more into image and message and not execution. Especially us. We always want to see the images that are going to uplift us, uphold us, make us look good, make us look strong, but not make us messy, flawed, joyful, beautifully human, and that’s what August does. He takes the average everyman — my dad, born in 1936, groomed horses, didn’t know how to read and write until he was 14, someone who was a janitor at McDonald’s, okay? Who would be invisible. August takes them and he honors their life.”

The Fences Town Hall airs Thursday at  5 pm ET, Friday at 2 am ET, Saturday at 2 am and 9 pm ET and Sunday at 9 am and 4 pm ET on SiriusXM Urban View (Ch. 126). It also airs Thursday at 8 pm ET on SiriusXM Insight (Ch. 121).

For a free 30-day trial, check out http://www.siriusxm.com/freetrial/blog

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SiriusXM Town Hall with Stephen A. Smith: The State of Sports, Media and Culture Today

S SiriusXM hosted an in-depth Q+A with one of sports media’s most intriguing and provocative personalities, Stephen A. Smith. The interview took place in front of an audience of SiriusXM listeners at our New York City studio and was conducted by SiriusXM host Karen Hunter. Smith discussed such hot-button issues as racism, sexism, abuse and the role media plays in today’s sports scene.

During the Town Hall, Smith discussed his controversial comments on domestic violence. While discussing the NFL’s decision to suspend then-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice in the wake of video surfacing of him dragging his then-fiancée out of an elevator, Smith made comments on ESPN First Take that led to the company suspending him for a week.

“There’s never an excuse to put your hands on a woman,” Smith said in 2014. “We also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about elements of provocation. Not that there’s real provocation, but the elements of provocation, you got to make sure that you address them, because we’ve got to do is do what we can to try to prevent the situation from happening in any way. And I don’t think that’s broached enough, is all I’m saying. No point of blame.”

Smith then came under fire from people who received those statements as him making an excuse for Rice. Rice was later suspended by the NFL for the entire 2014 season after video was released of him striking his then-fiancée and knocking her unconscious. Journalism colleagues criticized Smith for seemingly blaming women for provoking men and thereby condoning domestic abuse. Smith clarified the situation during the Town Hall.

“It was devastating to me because people who know me, people who love me, people who are familiar with my work know my longstanding position,” Smith said. “Think about the world that I live in. I cover professional sports, I’ve dealt with professional athletes who have made the mistake of putting their hands on women; ask them what happened to them when they had to deal with me because they made that kind of error in judgment. I’ve written about it, I’ve spoken about it, I have a career spanning in excess of 20 years that shows my position on that.”

He continued, “For me to be stained as somebody who would even come close to thinking that is OK, it is truly the one time in my entire career that I can sit here before a live studio audience and tell you that I was genuinely hurt and felt betrayed by an industry that allowed me to be projected in that way.”

Smith also discussed issues of racism in America. When posed with the question of how he thinks he would be treated if he were White, Smith pulled no punches.

“If I was a white man I think I’d be even better off,” Smith said. “The fear factor wouldn’t be attached to me.”

He continued, “The reality of the situation is clear. If you are outspoken, and you happen to be Black, and you happen to have a level of intellect attached to you… There are still some folks out there who may fear that impact, and the kind of impact it could potentially have on society at large.

“SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Stephen A. Smith: The State of Sports, Media and Culture Today” will air nationwide on March 18, 2016 at 12 pm ET on Urban View (Ch. 126) and through the SiriusXM App on smartphones and other connected devices, as well as online at siriusxm.com. It will also rebroadcast on Sunday, March 20, on Insight (Ch.121) at 8 pm ET. After the broadcast, “SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Stephen A. Smith” will be available on SiriusXM On Demand for subscribers listening via the SiriusXM App for smartphones and other mobile devices or online at SiriusXM.com. Click herefor more info on SiriusXM On Demand.

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