This weekend I have … two hours, and I like a fresh spin.
‘Great Performances: Merry Wives’
When to watch: Friday at 9 p.m. on PBS. (Check local listings.)
This production of the Shakespearean comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor” was filmed in Central Park last summer and was also the subject of the HBO documentary “Reopening Night.” Adapted by playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Saheem Ali, this version is set in present-day South Harlem, and the streamlined script and contemporary staging have a lavish, almost sitcom-like atmosphere. Game wise, the draw here witnesses the ecstatic energy between the performers and the audience; live theater during a pandemic is hard to come by, and the sense of joy and relief captured here is its own important artifact.
… four hours, and I like comedy.
George Carlin’s American Dream
When to watch: Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., on HBO.
Comedian George Carlin remains a fixture in American cultural discourse more than a decade after his death, and this two-part documentary offers an extensive, if diffused, exploration of his life and work. The archival material excavated here, especially personal letters and diary entries, is powerful and enlightening, and some of the commentaries offer real depth and insight. However, that impact is mitigated by the use of too many “talking-head” segments whose purpose seems to be to tell us things that are already self-evident. Might it be better to just watch or re-watch one of Carlin’s stand-up specials, many of which are streamed on various platforms? Maybe! But if you want more context in your comedy, check here.
… several hours, and I like historical dramas.
‘The suitcase carrier’
When to watch: Now, on BET+.
Holy moly, a robust drama that is not a police show, not a supernatural show and not a mystery in a split timeline. This dazzling eight-episode Canadian import is set in the early 1920s among black train carriers, some of whom try to organize their racist and dangerous workplace, and some of whom find more satisfaction – and certainly more money – in smuggling. The show doesn’t shy away from violence, grief, or the degradation of the characters, but it’s not a misery factory; Tonally similar to ‘Call the Midwife’, storylines cover a lot of ground, including bad fathers, hard mothers, disappointing boyfriends, party brothels, the labor movement, corporate espionage, colorism in show business, and racism in medical care. “The Porter” has a refreshingly candid approach and the performances are great across the board.