Advertisement

A new sitcom from Kevin James and four other shows our TV critic is watching this week

February 12, 2021 at 3:09PM
CHERRIES WILD: Host Jason Biggs. CR: FOX. © 2021 FOX Media LLC.
Host Jason Biggs on “Cherries Wild.” (Fox/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

No deal

"Cherries Wild" wants to appeal to the same viewers who played "Deal or No Deal," but this time the centerpiece is a three-story slot machine instead of models with briefcases. The machine isn't nearly as entertaining. The pop-culture questions that earn contestants extra spins are also a bore. Only host Jason Biggs' self-deprecating jokes keep this game show from being a complete bust.

6 p.m. Sunday, KMSP, Ch. 9

Honest Abe

Those seeking a refresher course on the 16th president could do worse than enrolling in "Lincoln: Divided We Stand," a six-part series that hits all the highlights. Sterling K. Brown narrates the action, from Abraham Lincoln's impoverished childhood to his assassination. Commentators include Conan O'Brien, who dissects Lincoln's most telling anecdotes.

9 p.m. Sunday, CNN

Grease is the word

Reliable Kevin James is the main attraction in "The Crew," a new series set in the NASCAR world, but it's a couple of Broadway veterans who send the sitcom into overdrive. Jillian Mueller ("Beautiful: The Carole King Musical") elevates her role as the garage's disruptive boss while Sarah Stiles ("Tootsie") adds just the right amount of sass to her part as James' bestie. The only thing missing is the musical stars leading the cast in a rendition of "Greased Lightnin'."

Starts streaming Monday on Netflix

Live and let die

It's impossible to know exactly what drives Kim Jung Un, but "North Korea: Inside the Mind of a Dictator" comes about as close as any two-hour documentary can. The filmmakers make the story accessible by comparing his regime to "The Godfather," with Bond-like graphics and music lifted from suspense flicks. But there's nothing fictional about the Kim dynasty's influence and ambitions.

7 p.m. Monday, National Geographic

Advertisement
Advertisement

Amazing grace

Henry Louis Gates Jr., best known as the host of "Finding Your Roots," turns his attention to "The Black Church," a four-hour series that examines how faith played a significant role in music, social justice and women's liberation. Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson and John Legend are among the marquee names sharing their personal experiences. It's a hoot watching Gates sing along to the spirituals he grew up on, but the professor may want to keep his day job.

8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, TPT, Ch. 2

Neal Justin

573501817
Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. inside of Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on “The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song.” (McGee Media/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
573501818
“The Crew” features Sarah Stiles and Kevin James. (Netflix/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.

See Moreicon

More from No Section

See More

The man suspected of killing a Minnesota lawmaker and wounding another crawled to officers in surrender Sunday after they located him in the woods near his home, ending a massive, nearly two-day search that put the entire state on edge.

card image
Advertisement
Advertisement

To leave a comment, .

Advertisement