1.

Sprint

Available now on Netflix

The Olympics has us in our sports era, or so it seems. Sprint is a thrilling sports drama that delves into the world of competitive sprinting. Following a young and ambitious sprinter striving to make it to the Olympics, the film explores themes of dedication, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of greatness. Sports dramas have a unique way of capturing the raw emotion and intensity of athletic competition, and Sprint. It’s the perfect show to watch before it passes the baton to the official Olympic games.

2. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

In Theaters July 4

This film focuses on the true, inspiring tale of Possum Trot, a small community in Texas known for its extraordinary act of kindness. In an unprecedented effort, the dozens of residents from this town adopted 77 of the most hard-to-place foster children, transforming their lives and demonstrating the power of compassion and community. As executive producer Letitia Wright told RELEVANT, “It’s not just a movie — it’s a movement.” Angel Studios, the faith-based company behind the movie, believes this will be a catalyst to encourage families to step up and protect children in the foster care system.

3. Quad Gods

Available on Max July 10

Quad Gods is a high-octane reality series that follows the lives of elite quadriplegic athletes who push the boundaries of physical limitations. With gripping personal stories and intense competitive spirit, this show promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions and adrenaline. As the world is gearing up to watch the summer Olympics, this series serves as a reminder that all of us have our own inspiring stories to tell.

4.

Exploding Kittens

Available on Netflix July 12

Based on the wildly popular card game, Exploding Kittens is an animated series that brings the quirky, explosive fun of the game to life — with a theological twist. The adaptation will showcase the timeless battle between good and evil, personified by God (Tom Ellis) and Satan (Lucy Liu) who find themselves reincarnated as Earth-bound felines. But Exploding Kittens is more than a tale of two cats. It’s a commentary on the absurdity of cosmic conflicts played out in the most mundane of settings. Considering the series was developed by The Office co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’ animation company Bandera Entertainment, we fully expect more laughs and less philosophical introspection.

5. Futurama (Season 12)

Available on Hulu July 29

After a far-too-long hiatus, the iconic animated series Futurama is finally making its return. Set in the 31st century, the show follows the adventures of Fry, Leela, Bender, and the rest of the Planet Express crew as they navigate the quirks and challenges of the future. Futurama has always been a brilliant mix of sharp wit, clever satire and heartfelt moments. And with many of the original cast and creators back on board, we can expect the same level of creativity and laughs that made it a cult favorite.

The series follows the 2023-24 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders squad from the audition process to the NFL season, giving viewers an inside look at the personal lives of the performers. In the fourth episode, several cheerleaders are shown attending a Social Dallas service and speaking with Madu and his wife, Taylor, backstage. The cheerleaders share why they came to Social Dallas and how their faith has impacted their mission and career.

Then, throughout the episode, a portion of Madu’s Vision Sunday sermon is played. The church’s vision statement for the year was “God loves Dallas,” which became a recurring theme throughout the episode.

“Maybe you need a vision for your life, a vision that is bigger than you,” Madu preached on the show. “A vision lets you know what to say yes to and what to say no to. There are some of you who have so many decisions in front of you and the reason you’re struggling to make a decision is because you have not brought clarity to the vision for your life. And I’m trying to tell you the moment you get clarity on vision, you’ll know what decision to make.”

America’s Sweethearts is now streaming on Netflix.

While this list could have been a mile long, we kept it holy and found seven times The Simpsons referenced Christianity in the most hilarious way possible.

Ned Flanders’ Oral Roberts University Degree

Flander’s ORU education comes up in two episodes: In Season Six’s “I Love Lisa” and “Dead Putting Society.”

The Crystal Cathedral

The famous Crystal Cathedral can be seen in season nine’s “Natural Born Kissers,” which even features a pastor that resembles a young version of Robert Schuller, the church’s founder. You can see the clip (which features some cartoon nudity) here.

Praiseland (a Heritage USA Spoof)

In the episode “I’m Goin’ to Praiseland” (season 12), Flanders opens a Christian amusement park, “Praiseland,” in honor of his late wife that was inspired by the now defunct Heritage USA theme park started by televangelist Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in the late ’70s.

Homer’s Obsession with the End Times after Seeing ‘Left Below’

Season 19’s “Thank God, It’s Doomsday” is a send-up of evangelicalism ends times culture. Homer, after seeing Left Below, tries to calculate the exact date of the rapture and warn the people of Springfield. Irreverent satire ensues.

The Creationism Debate

In the episode “The Monkey Suit” (season 17), Springfield gets embroiled in a debate over the teaching of creationism (vs. evolution) in public schools. The case Lisa Simpson v. God is eventually decided in favor of Lisa after Homer’s ape-like antics are put forth as evidence by an ACLU lawyer.

Christian Rock Band Kovenant

Fronted by Rachel Jordan (voiced by singer Shawn Colvin), Christian rock outfit Kovenant has appeared in two episodes: “Alone Again, Natura-Diddily” and “I’m Goin’ to Praiseland.” Fun fact: Their bass player was from yet another fictional CCM band: Saintanica

Sunday School Stories

In the episode “Simpsons Bible Stories,” the entire family dozes off during a Rev. Lovejoy sermon, only to each have their own Bible-inspired dream. The episode examines the story of Adam & Eve, the exodus, the wisdom of King Solomon, David and Goliath and even the apocalypse.

Whether you’re in the mood for a drama, a comedy or something that will inspire you, we’ve got you covered. Here are six limited series you can — and should — stream right now:

Station Eleven

Available on Max

This show starts off extraordinarily harrowing, given its prescient glimpse of a world reeling from a sudden, mysterious pandemic (sounds familiar, we know). But its focus slowly evolves over time, and time is key to Station Eleven’s development. The gentle balancing of multiple eras before, during and after a flu wipes out much of humanity is one of its great feats. This sickness leaves only a few survivors, the remains of their culture and the struggle to build something new without sacrificing the things they loved. A remarkable achievement.

When They See Us

Available on Netflix

If you haven’t watched this yet (or even if you have), you should add this to the top of your “must-watch” list right away. Led by award-winning director Ava DuVernay, When They See Us is a gripping portrayal of the notorious Central Park jogger case, which saw five teenagers of color wrongfully convicted of a brutal assault. Spanning over decades, the series takes a closer look at the lives of the “Central Park Five” and their fight for justice. Despite enduring systemic injustice and societal prejudice, the boys and their families never give up and work tirelessly to never be defined by their past. It’s a reminder for everyone to not give up when faced with injustice, no matter how long it may take.

Testament: The Story of Moses

Available on Netflix

Earlier this year, the surprising No. 1 show on Netflix was about the story of one of the Bible’s most central figures. The three-part docudrama follows the life of Moses from his exile as an outcast to eventual prophet and leader. Narrated by actor Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), the series also weaves in expert interviews to go deeper into Moses’ story, providing further detail about one of the Bible’s most famous characters. One-part documentary, one-part dramatic retelling, it’s fascinating to see the story of Moses come to life in a compelling and realistic way.

Maid

Available on Netflix

Based on Stephanie Land’s stunning memoir, Maid follows the journey of a single mother named Alex (Margaret Qualley), who escapes an abusive relationship and struggles to build a better life for herself and her daughter. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Alex finds employment as a maid and begins her journey toward self-sufficiency. Through Alex’s resilience and determination, Maid explores themes of survival, empowerment and the transformative power of love and community. It portrays the strength and resilience of women facing adversity, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Beef

Available on Netflix

Beef follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers: Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a troubled contractor, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made business owner. The 10-episode series dives into the intricacies of their lives and their growing feud, keeping you on edge the entire season. The show does an excellent job fleshing out the characters and their backgrounds, particularly Danny, whose struggle with his faith was one of the most compelling scenes on TV in recent years. The series picked up a few awards and a second season is on the way, which means now is the perfect time to catch up.

Fargo

Available on Hulu

Inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film of the same name, this darkly comedic anthology series explores crime, morality and the human condition through interconnected stories set in the icy landscapes of the American Midwest. While it’s not technically a limited series, each season follows a different storyline, so you can really pick up wherever you want. We recommend the most recent season, which follows a seemingly normal housewife (Juno Temple) who is hunted by a sinister sheriff (Jon Hamm). You’ll quickly be drawn in by its richly drawn characters, intricate storytelling and the out-of-left-field plot twists.

Derrick posted a video on TikTok talking about the impact the documentary has had on her life and the negative backlash she’s received.

“Before this documentary, my husband and I, we felt safe,” Derrick said. “Now that this documentary is out, we feel like our lives have been put in danger. We have both been followed in our car, we have received hate mail, death threats. People have been sending us messages to commit suicide. We’ve been stalked.”

Derrick shared a few of the alarming messages she has received through DMs and comments, including someone who threatened to “gut her” and another who said grab her if they saw her on the street.

“I honestly don’t understand how my parents and my sister thought that this documentary would help me, or help our relationship in any way,” she said. “I have been getting together with my family for the past couple of years privately to work on our relationship to make things right, to mend what has been broken, and I’ve been loving it. Getting together, laughing, just enjoying each other’s company.

“This documentary has made it very difficult to continue doing that,” she continued. “Honestly, I think my parents and sister have focused so much on this documentary that they’ve forgotten about working on any relationship with me. And that hurts — that hurts me to say.”

@itsmirandaderrick

♬ original sound – Miranda Derrick

Derrick has been in the spotlight ever since Netflix released Dancing With the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, a three-part documentary examining Los Angeles-based Shekinah Church and the charismatic pastor who many say abused his spiritual authority and led it like a religious cult.

At the center of the story is a group of very influential TikTok dancers — including Derrick — who joined the church and ultimately signed with the pastor’s talent management company, 7M, which was then used to control many aspects of their lives. Derrick’s sister and parents spoke about the impact the church has had on their relationship, and the lengths they’ve gone to to reestablish a connection.

Last week, Derrick shared in an Instagram story that she had seen the series but did not believe it told the full story.

“I believe that this documentary is a one-sided story,” Derrick wrote. “I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God. My family didn’t honor the space I asked for and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before. Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic.”

On Tuesday, Derrick shared an IG story that refuted claims made by her family and others in the documentary. Derrick clarified she couldn’t go into too much detail because of legal purposes, but she felt compelled to share her side after the series premiered on May 29.

“I love my Mom, Dad and Melanie and they will forever be a part of my life,” she wrote. “The truth is, we just don’t see eye to eye at this time. I believe that this documentary is a one-sided story. I gave my life to Jesus Christ in 2020 and asked my family for some space in the very beginning to collect my thoughts and process my new walk I wanted to take with God.

“My family didn’t honor the space I asked for and I saw a different side of them I’ve never seen before,” she continued. “Honestly, it made me mad, frustrated and annoyed that they were being so overbearing and chaotic.”

Derrick also explained why she missed her grandfather’s funeral, which her family claimed in the documentary that 7M had not allowed her to attend. Derrick said that she chose not to attend with her family because she “felt threatened by them.”

“Before we went into the hospital to [say our last goodbyes], I started to pray for our Papa in the car and Melanie got offended, angry with me and told me to stop and to never pray around her,” Derrick wrote. “Fast forward about a month and a half, Melanie and I are in LA and we’re about to head back to Michigan for our Papa’s funeral. I was at a place with my family where I felt like I was being harassed. My parents and sister are not religious. They immediately called me going to church twice a week a ‘cult.’ I felt that if I went back for the funeral they would try to keep me there and not let me come back to LA.”

Derrick concluded her statement by saying that she has tried to keep this issue private, but the documentary has caused a “public attack.”

“No one likes to be portrayed as their brainwashed/not in control of her own life/shell of herself/human trafficked daughter/sister when that just isn’t the truth,” she wrote. “I am just a woman trying to live my life. I am not a victim, I am not in any harm, I am not being abused. I’ve never asked my family or anyone else to ‘help’ me in any way. Respectfully, what I choose to do with my life is up to me.”

Following the docuseries’ release, social media users were shocked by what they saw, pointing out the importance of keeping an eye out for false pastors and false doctrine.

If you’re into documentaries, please watch “Dancing for the Devil” on Netflix. The way these false pastors manipulate the bible is insane. But this is why it is so important you read the bible for yourself and ask God for discernment.

— MEL (@ada3z3x) May 29, 2024

Dancing with the devil on Netflix is so sad bro. People do anything for money like Robert 1. A false prophet preaching lies and making gullible, naive, & vulnerable young people fall into a pit of true destruction

— Lynadia Whiting (@lynadiasmusic) June 1, 2024

This Dancing for the Devil doc on Netflix has me perplexed. Sounds like they were creating a collab/influencer house but it was really a cult and this was happening right in front of our eyes on the clock app.

— Nikki (@yesthisisnikki) May 31, 2024

The Dancing for the Devil documentary is proof of what happens when you follow “leaders” who take the Bible out of context and just run with it. Be mindful of false doctrine and false teaching. You cannot follow everyone just because they says they are a man or woman of God.

— L J (@LondonJac11) May 31, 2024

You can watch all three episodes of Dancing With the Devil on Netflix now.

The first episode will be released as a livestream on The Chosen’s social media pages and The Chosen App on Sunday, June 2, at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the second episode on Thursday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m ET. New episodes will be released on Sundays and Thursdays over four weeks until the finale on June 27. UPDATE: The CW has announced the fourth season will make its’ broadcast debut this fall beginning Sunday, Sept. 1.

No word yet on when the season will release on major streaming platforms.

“To be clear, if you want to watch The Chosen season four over the next month, you either need to watch our livestreams, watch it via streaming on The Chosen App, or order our Season 4 DVD in our gift store, which will allow you to binge all eight episodes at once,” Jenkins announced in a livestream on Wednesday.

Season 4 of The Chosen initially debuted in theaters in February. The series has been held up pending legal issues that prevented it from being released on streaming until now.

Good news for fans of great TV: FX‘s hit series The Bear is set to return this summer for its third season.

The show follows the story of Carmen “Carmy“ Berzatto (played by Golden Globe-winning actor Jeremy Allen White) as he comes back to Chicago to turn his family  sandwich shop, The Original Beef of Chicagoland, into a high-end restuarent. Carmy tries (and occasionally succeeds) to juggle the struggles of small business ownership, a strong-willed kitchen staff and his strained family relationships.

The teaser trailer shows Chef Carmy arguing with Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Cousin Richie (Ebon Moss-Barach) in a chaotic kitchen, which is exactly what we anticipated.

“This is a dysfunctional kitchen,” Sydney says, to which Carmy and Richie respond together: “Show me a functional one!”

Known as “StreamSaver,” the bundle will be offered to all Comcast broadband, TV and mobile customers, and today the services announced it would cost just $15 a month. That is, of course, before the inevitable price raises that are sure to come.

This is the second major streaming service bundle announced this month. Last week, Disney and Warner Bros. announced a bundle combining Max, Disney+ and Hulu that would launch later this summer (pricing TBA). And a sports streaming bundle from ESPN, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox is already in the works.

The bundles are obviously enticing to some consumers who are currently paying more and more every year for a half-dozen individual services. Since 2022, nearly every major streamer has raised their prices multiple times and introduced ad-supported plans. Many subscribers have begun to drop services because of those raising prices, leaving streamers looking for bundle options to help save on cost.

With streamers turning to a “cable 2.0 model,” customers will now get sucked into tricky bundle subscriptions where you’ll be paying for a ton of content that you never engage, but don’t want to cancel because of the bundle savings. We’re essentially talking about unregulated cable, just over the internet.

With streaming channels offering us less options, less shows — seriously, when was the last time a streamer dropped a new series with more than 10 episodes? — and more ads? How much longer before old school cable makes a full comeback?

According to Variety, HBO has greenlit the untitled series that will be “set on a college campus, centering on an author’s complicated relationship with his daughter.” Carell will play the author, and he’ll also serve as the executive producer alongside Lawrence.

Since leaving The Office, Carell’s career has taken an interesting turn. He’s starred in serious dramas like The Patient and The Morning Show, and received multiple award nominations for both. But as for his comedy career, the last sitcom he starred in was Netflix’s not-great Space Force, which was canceled after two seasons in 2022. He’s also set to star in a new Netflix comedy with Tina Fey, titled The Four Seasons. The series is based on the 1981 film of the same name about three couples vacationing together until one of them leaves his wife, leaving others to deal with the mess.

Carell is not set to appear in the upcoming Office spinoff, which began production earlier this month. The new show, starring an ensemble cast including Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore, will be set in the Dunder Mifflin Cinematic Universe at a dying Midwestern newspaper.

As you probably know, the show is the most expensive television series of all time, with Amazon spending a reported $1 billion on its development. The first series set up Tolkien’s Middle-earth, exploring unseens kingdoms and lands and slowly introducing characters who are primed to become major players in the upcoming season.

The teaser for season two gives fans of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films some reason for excitement. It looks like the upcoming season will take a look at Sauron, the series most notable villain, and his rise to power. We don’t get Jackson’s trilogy without Sauron, and while we know how his story ends, it will be interesting to see how his journey began.

Meanwhile, Galadriel is leading an army of good against the rising forces of evil. Does she have what it takes to face Sauron? We’ll find out when season two premieres on Prime Video August 29.

Peacock has picked up the still-unnamed series set in the broader Dunder Mifflin Cinematic Universe. Peacock has also revealed some key details, namely what the “documentary crew” will be following.

Production for the new series is scheduled to begin in July, meaning the show could premiere in late 2024 or early 2025.

The show, which has been filmed primarily in Charleston, South Carolina, has put out a casting call for its fourth season, looking for several skilled and intermediate-level skateboarders and BMX riders to appear in the background of the show. Additionally, they’re seeking men who can portray soldiers and actual Civil War re-enactors. We have no idea why.

Anyone interested in applying for the BMX or skateboarding gig should have their own equipment and gear and submit an email to TRG4@gmail.com with “SKATEBOARD/BMX REQUEST” as the subject line. Be sure to include two current photos – a closeup and full length, along with your name, phone number, age, city and state where you reside. Add your skateboarding or BMX experience and include your height, weight, clothing sizes, shoe size and a description of visible tattoos and piercings.

For Civil War re-enactors, submissions should be sent to TRG4extras@gmail.com with “SOLDIER AVAIL” in the subject line. Include two current photos – a closeup and full length. Photos must reflect your current hair length and facial hair status.

More information about casting call details can be found here.

No details about the plotline have been revealed, but if we know the Gemstones, we know it will be something egregious and over-the-top. The comedy series follows a dysfunctional, world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and infighting. The series stars Danny McBride, John Goodman, Edit Patterson, Adam DeVine and Walton Goggins.

The first three seasons of The Chosen are now streaming on Disney+, with plans for the fourth season to be added soon. This is the second major streaming platform the series appears on. Viewers can still watch the first season of The Chosen on Netflix, or on the show’s own app.

Series creator Dallas Jenkins announced the news on his Facebook page, saying, “Seasons 1-3 are getting to another new audience.”

In the meantime, Jenkins is still working behind the scenes on releasing the fourth season of The Chosen, which premiered in theaters, on streaming. In an April 21 livestream, Jenkins shared the new season will release “in four to seven weeks.” The company behind The Chosen has been dealing with undisclosed legal issues related to season 4 since March.

Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars) and Sabrina Impacciatore (season two of The While Lotus) have signed on for whatever Daniels has up his sleeve.

For now, we know that Daniels, who created the U.S. version of The Office as well as other beloved sitcoms like Parks and Rec and King of the Hill, has been developing some version of a show that’s set in the same universe as the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Last month, it was reported that Nathan For You co-creator Michael Koman was joining the team to help bring the show to life. Now, The Hollywood Reporter shared the duo “have been casting a wide net to find talent availabilities for the latter half of this year.”

Which brings us to Gleeson and Impacciatore. Gleeson has a wide range of credits showing he can take on whatever hilariously embarrassing scenarios Daniels throws at him. And Impacciatore has certainly proven she can hold her own, earning an Emmy nomination for her role as Valentine in HBO’s White Lotus. But the casting is curious, considering the new Office is meant to be set in middle America (Gleeson is Irish and Impacciatore is Italian).

We’ll have to wait and see what Daniels does next.

“I’m a Christian quite simply because of what Jesus calls us to do: Love other people until death,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we’re all to be hung on a cross, but how can I suffer for you? That is a beautiful thing.”

Ritchson hasn’t been hiding his faith by any means. He’s active on InstaChurch, his YouTube channel where he posts videos exploring the Bible and how it relates to daily life and his work. He started the channel two years ago as a way to combat the rhetoric he saw from other Christians that frustrated him, particularly when it comes to politics.

“Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe,” he said. “It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

He also shared that he’s been upset with Christians who have so closely aligned themselves with former President Donald Trump.

“Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian Church seems to be treat him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal,” he said. “I don’t understand it.”

He’s not too happy with the Catholic Church, which he was raised in, either.

“It’s worth saying that the atrocities that are happening in the Church that are being actively covered up, even to this day with people not being held accountable, is repulsive,” he said. “I can’t for one second support the Catholic Church while there are still cardinals, bishops and priests being passed around with known pedophilic tendencies.”

Ritchson was heavily involved in church activities at a young age. He attended daily mass, was an altar boy and even served as the president of his youth group.

As he grew older, however, he faded away from his faith while pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. After a series of setbacks, mixed with years of sexual abuse he endured on a variety of sets, Ritchson reached a breaking point at 36 and attempted to take his life. He was able to stop himself from fully going through with it, but afterwards, he began seeking help and contemplating what he wanted his life to look like moving forward. Ultimately, he found that answer by turning to God.

“I came out of that whole thing asking myself, ‘OK, if I am going to choose to be alive here — a decision we all make, some to a greater degree than others — what am I doing? Why am I here?’” he said. “What I kept falling back on was the meaning and purpose of life as someone who believes that there is a creator and we are created beings, our purpose in life is, without qualification, to make the world a better place and serve others. That is what life is all about.”

Since then, Ritchson has been outspoken on his faith, both through personal channels like InstaChurch and being selective about the roles he takes. Earlier this year, he starred opposite Hilary Swank in the faith-based film Ordinary Angels. He’s hoping Hollywood executives take notice of the growing market for Christian movies and that people are hungry for stories that promote positive messages.

Variety reports that Prime Video is currently working on a TV spin-off of the 2001 hit movie Legally Blonde. Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle, is set to executive produce the series. Witherspoon has built up quite the resume as an exec producer on TV shows, including Big Little Lies, Little Fires Everywhere and The Morning Show. She’ll also be working writers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who created Gossip Girl and The OC. 

No word yet on whether Witherspoon is returning to her pink roots or simply playing a small side role. Witherspoon did star in the movie sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde but only served as a producer for the third direct-to-video film Legally Blondes. While the sequels were both duds, the 2007 Broadway stage musical was a hit, receiving numerous Tony nominations.

Testament: The Story of Moses follows the life of Moses from his exile as an outcast to eventual prophet and leader. Narrated by actor Charles Dance (Game of Thrones), the series also weaves in expert interviews to go deeper into Moses’ story, providing further detail about one of the Bible’s most central figures.

“Anyone who has seen The Ten Commandments as a child was well aware of the more epic elements of the tale,” producers Emre Sahin and Kelly McPherson said. “The burning bush, the plagues, Passover, the Red Sea, and, of course, the Ten Commandments. What really drew us in was the mystery of Moses’ inner life, his struggles with his own identity, his self-doubt, his humanness.”

It’s a fairly surprising show to land at the top of Netflix’s list. The other top shows of the week include everything from trashy reality TV (Buying Beverly Hills) to foul-mouthed dramas (The Gentlemen) to raunchy stand-ups (Dave Attell: Hot Cross Buns). Testament, on the other hand is none of those things. It’s a new kind of Netflix series, and one that we hope to see more of.

All three episodes of Testament: The Story of Moses are streaming now on Netflix.

But with countless options to choose on streaming, it can feel overwhelming to know which shows are worth the time and which ones are a total waste. Whether you’re in the mood for a drama, a comedy or something that will inspire you, we’ve got you covered. Here are five limited series you can — and should — watch on Netflix right now:

(Warning: Some of these shows do cover heavy topics and/or may contain strong language.)

Maid

Based on the memoir by Stephanie Land, Maid follows the journey of a single mother named Alex (Margaret Qualley), who escapes an abusive relationship and struggles to build a better life for herself and her daughter. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Alex finds employment as a maid and begins her journey toward self-sufficiency. Through Alex’s resilience and determination, Maid explores themes of survival, empowerment and the transformative power of love and community. It portrays the strength and resilience of women facing adversity, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Beef

Beef is a dark comedy starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as two strangers whose involvement in a road rage incident escalates into a prolonged feud. Their rivalry quickly grows into total absurdity as they compete in a series of increasingly outlandish challenges, shedding light on themes of pride, forgiveness and the absurdity of holding onto grudges, meaningful or not. In the midst of the show’s humor, Beef explores the destructive nature of holding onto bitterness and the liberating power of forgiveness and reconciliation. 

Painkiller

Painkiller follows the true story of the opioid crisis, focusing on the rise and fall of Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family’s involvement in the marketing of OxyContin. Through a mix of documentary footage and dramatized scenes, the series explores the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic on individuals, families and communities. Painkiller exposes the greed and corruption behind the opioid crisis, while also highlighting the resilience of those affected and the collective effort to seek justice and accountability. 

When They See Us

Directed by Ava DuVernay, When They See Us is a gripping portrayal of the notorious Central Park jogger case, which saw five teenagers of color wrongfully convicted of a brutal assault. Spanning over decades, the series takes a closer look at the lives of the “Central Park Five” and their fight for justice. Despite enduring systemic injustice and societal prejudice, the boys and their families never give up and work tirelessly to never be defined by their past. It’s a reminder for everyone to not give up when faced with injustice, no matter how long it may take.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit is one of Netflix’s most-watched original series, and for good reason. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War era, The Queen’s Gambit follows the journey of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), a young orphan with a natural talent for chess. As she rises through the ranks of the male-dominated world of competitive chess, Beth grapples with addiction, loss and the pursuit of greatness. Despite facing numerous setbacks and personal demons, Beth ultimately finds solace and redemption through her love for the game and the community she finds along the way. 

In The Chair Company, after experiencing an embarrassing work incident, a man begins investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.

The series is written by Robinson and his long-time writing partner Zach Kanin. The duo met while working together as writers on Saturday Night Live and have co-created two series starring Robinson: Detroiters for Comedy Central and Netflix’s sketch comedy I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. 

Robinson and Kanin are executive producers on the show along with Adam McKay, who’s known for his work on Anchorman, Step Brothers, The Other Guys and more hit comedies. 

Robinson is set to play the main role, and he’s definitely proven he’s got what it takes to be a lead comedy man. On I Think You Should Leave, Robinson plays a variety of larger-than-life characters who find themselves in ridiculous situations, from crashing a hot dog car into a store to trying to beat the “pay-it-forward” system.

This also marks the beginning of a new wave of comedy series from HBO. After ending Curb Your Enthusiasm and Barry, the network is looking to bring in new comedic talent. In addition to The Chair Company, HBO has also greenlit a new comedy show from Rachel Sennott (Shiva Baby) that follows a codependent friend group who reunites after time apart.

Some PKs go on to become pastors themselves. Some hightail it out of the Church as fast as possible. And some of them go on to be extremely famous entertainers. Here are a few stars that you probably didn’t know came from ministry families:

1. John Boyega

The Star Wars star is fairly private when it comes to his family, but he has shared that his father was a Pentecostal minister who has had a major impact on his faith and career. “The skill and ability that I’ve received has been from your prayers, and I cannot ignore what God has used my parents to do in my life,” Boyega wrote in an Instagram post about his parents.

2. Hunter Schafer

In a new interview with GQ, the Euphoria actress reveals that both her parents are church leaders in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her father, Mac, is the lead pastor at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, and her mother, Katy, is the director of children & family ministries at First Presbyterian Church.

3. Marcus Mumford

Before Marcus Mumford teamed up with his Sons, he grew up as a PK to John and Eleanor Mumford, who were international leaders of the Vineyard Church. In 1987, the couple established the first British Vineyard church in South West London and led the church until 2015. In a 2022 interview, Mumford shared that watching his parents lead a church shaped the way he led Mumford & Sons.

“I was watching my folks at the center of attention and, I think, dealing with that really well,” he said. “But it did provide some element of training for what I chose to do.”

4. Katy Perry

You may know that Katy Perry got her start in a church choir, but she’s not the only one who started their fame journey from the pulpit. Perry’s parents, Keith and Mary Hudson, served as traveling preachers and speakers for a few years while their daughter was gaining notoriety.

5. Adam Driver

The Star Wars actor was raised by his mother and stepfather, who was a Baptist pastor in Indiana. Driver grew up in the church, and even credits his time in the church choir as his first step into the entertainment world.

6. Kelis

The “Milkshake” singer grew up with a Pentecostal minister for a father, but he was also a musician and professor who helped Kelis develop her career.

7. Phil Jackson

Regarded as one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, Phil Jackson was known off the court for his New Age philosophy. That’s a stark contrast to his upbringing, where he was raised by two Assemblies of God preachers who assumed he’d one day become a minister.

8. The Jonas Brothers

Nick, Joe and Kevin grew up as PKs in New Jersey. Their father, Kevin Sr., began his ministry as a singer with Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas before becoming the senior pastor of a church in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Honorable mention: Frankie Jonas, the “bonus Jonas” and co-host of reality competition series Claim to Fame.

But the Jonases aren’t the only PK siblings who grew up to be musicians…

9. Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon’s Caleb, Nathan and Jared Followill grew up with a father who was a United Pentecostal Church preacher. The boys first developed their love of music by playing in church bands before their dad spoke from the pulpit.

10. Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington’s father served as a Pentecostal pastor in New York. Washington attended church for the first 14 years of his life before his parents’ divorce and he lost touch with his dad.

The kid’s entertainment studio is currently under scrutiny following the release of the bombshell docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which takes a closer look at what Nickelodeon did and didn’t do to protect young child stars and cast and crew members during its golden age of the ’90s and 2000s. At the center of the conversation was Dan Schneider, the creator of beloved Nickelodeon series like All That, The Amanda Show, iCarly, Drake & Josh, and Victorious. Dozens of former child stars who were interviewed detailed their discomfort with the shows’ jokes, which were often inappropriate humor for children’s television, as well as mental and sexual abuse they experienced on set. 

Thompson, who got his start in sketch comedy on Nickelodeon’s Kenan & Kel, was not featured in the documentary. However, during a recent appearance on Tamron Hall’s talk show, Thompson opened up about his view on the series and his experience with Schneider.

Here’s what Thompson had to say:

“It’s tough. It’s a tough subject, you know? It’s tough for me because I can’t really speak on things that I never witnessed, you know what I’m saying? Because all these things happened after I left, basically. Dan wasn’t really on Kenan & Kel like that. I mean, he got a ‘created by’ credit, but it was a different showrunner, so our worlds wasn’t really overly overlapping like that outside of All That, necessarily. And then all of that negativity kinda started happening outside of our tenure there. So I wasn’t really aware of a lot of it.

My heart goes out to anybody that’s been victimized, or their families. I think it’s a good thing that the doc is out and it’s putting things on display, stories that need to be told for accountability’s sake. But it’s definitely tough to watch because I have fond memories of that place and I have fond memories of my co-stars and stuff like that. So to hear that they’ve gone through terrible things like that is really tough… Investigate more. It’s supposed to be a safe place for kids. And to hear all about that is just like, ‘How dare you?’”

At the end of each episode, a statement from Nickelodeon appeared on screen saying, “Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.”

Quiet on Set is now streaming on Max. An additional episode with new interviews will release on April 7.

Each episode of The Saints will focus on a a singular saint, including Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi, John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, Mary Magdalene, Moses the Black, Sebastian and Maximillian Kolbe, “examining these extraordinary figures and their extreme acts of kindness, selflessness and sacrifice,” according to the show’s description.

“I’ve lived with the stories of the saints for most of my life, thinking about their words and actions, imagining the worlds they inhabited, the choices they faced, the examples they set,” Scorsese said. “These are stories of eight very different men and women, each of them living through vastly different periods of history and struggling to follow the way of love revealed to them and to us by Jesus’ words in the gospels. I’m so excited that this project is underway, and that I’m working with so many trusted and talented collaborators.”

This isn’t Scorsese’s only faith-based project in the works. The Killers of the Flower Moon director announced last year that he was working on a film about the life of Jesus. In January, the director revealed that while he was still in the early stages of development, the story will be based on the book A Life of Jesus by Shūsaku Endō — who also wrote Silence, which Scorsese adapted in 2016 — and focus on Jesus’ core teachings in a way that “explores the principles but doesn’t proselytize.”

The Saints will debut on Nov. 16 and run through May 2025 on Fox Nation, the streaming service of Fox News Channel.

There has been speculation for months on what Daniels’ new series will actually be, ranging from a complete reboot of The Office to a new premise simply set in The Office Extended Universe — which seems most likely. Daniels has shared that he’s leaning toward the latter, but the show is still in the early stages of development so who knows. But Deadline has finally reported some more concrete information about Daniels’ plan, including the fact that he’s bringing in Korman.

Korman, who happens to be married to The Office‘s Ellie Kemper, wrote for Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report and Late Night With Conan O’Brian before becoming the head writer for Important Things With Demetri Martin. There, he connected with Nathan Fielder and the two concocted the bizarre and hilarious Nathan For You. The prank show/social experiment gained prominence for its’ one-of-a-kind humor and seemingly never-ending cringe.

Even based off his most recent work as writer/co-executive producer on the criminally underrated comedy Girls5Eva, we’re pretty excited to see what Korman will bring Daniels’ Office universe.

Wiig, who was an SNL cast member from 2005 to 2012, is returning to host for the fifth time, which means she will officially be initiated into the coveted Five-Timers Club. That also means some SNL legends will likely stop by Studio 8H for a surprise appearance. Wiig will be joined by musical guest Raye, who is making her debut appearance after making Brit Award history with six awards at the British music event.

Gosling is hosting for his third time, seven years after his last hosting gig. Even though he’s there to promote his new film The Fall Guy, we’re sure there will be at least one Barbie sketch. However, after Gosling’s shockingly good “I’m Just Ken” performance at the Oscars, we aren’t too mad about it.

Gosling will be joined by another three-time musical guest Chris Stapleton.

SNL is currently on a break until March 30 when Poor Things‘ Ramy Youssef hosts with musical guest Travis Scott.

But with thousands of options to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to decide which show deserves your spring break time. We’ve got you covered. Whether you want to watch a hilarious comedy or award-winning show, or simply take in some easy viewing, here are eight shows you can binge-watch this week:

1. Beef

Watch on Netflix

Beef follows the aftermath of a road rage incident between two strangers: Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a troubled contractor, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made business owner. The 10-episode series dives into the intricacies of their lives and their growing feud, keeping you on edge the entire season. The show does an excellent job fleshing out the characters and their backgrounds, particularly Danny, whose struggle with his faith was one of the most compelling scenes on TV in recent years. The series picked up a few awards this year, and a second season is on the way, which means now is the perfect time to catch up.

2. Fargo

Watch on Hulu

Inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film of the same name, this darkly comedic anthology series explores crime, morality and the human condition through interconnected stories set in the icy landscapes of the American Midwest. Each season follows a different storyline, so you can really pick up wherever you want. We recommend the most recent season, which follows a seemingly normal housewife (Juno Temple) who is hunted by a sinister sheriff (Jon Hamm). You’ll quickly be drawn in by its richly drawn characters, intricate storytelling and out-of–left-field plot twists.

3. Abbott Elementary

Watch on Hulu

If you haven’t been watching Abbott Elementary, what exactly are you waiting for? The half-hour comedy follows a group of inner-city Philadelphia school teachers doing their best to provide a happy (and hilarious) education for their students. Along the way, the team has to handle curveballs from the school district, parents, significant others and their less-than-qualified principal. Sometimes the situations are a bit too real for teachers, but whether you’re in or out of the education system, you’ll definitely have a laugh.

4. Maid

Watch on Netflix

If you’re looking for something with an emotional and inspirational message, check out Maid on Netflix. The limited series follows a young mother (Margaret Qualley) who finds a job cleaning houses after she flees an abusive relationship. She works endlessly to build a better life for her child. The show is an emotional demonstration of the determination and grit inside all of us, while also reminding us that we could all be a little kinder to one another.

5. The Good Place

Watch on Netflix

Instead of rewatching The Office or Parks and Rec for the umpteenth time, try watching another Michael Schur classic, The Good Place. The series takes a humorous look at the afterlife while also exploring complex moral and ethical situations in a lighthearted way. The ability to create entertainment out of deep, philosophical thoughts means that no matter how any times you’ve seen an episode, there’s always something new that will stick out. Plus, it’s not a bad way to binge a few hours.

6. Only Murders in the Building

Watch on Hulu

Martin Short and Steve Martin are a no-brainer comedy duo. But Martin Short and Steve Martin and Selena Gomez? That’s a comedy trio that shouldn’t work, yet somehow makes total sense. The show is perfect for any true crime junkie fan who wonders what they would do in a real-life crime situation. Martin, Short and Gomez are strangers-turned-friends who investigate suspicious murders in their affluent Upper West Side apartment building. The Hulu series is filming its fourth season, with special guests Eugene Levy and Eva Longoria set to appear.

7. The Bear

Watch on Hulu

Hulu’s award-winning series is currently filming its third season, which means the time to catch up is now. To be clear, The Bear is not for the faint of heart. The show follows Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) as he comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop, The Original Beef of Chicagoland. While Carmy struggles to navigate the ins and outs of owning a small business, he also has to juggle a strong-willed kitchen staff and his strained family relationships. It’s a stressful show from start to finish, but we mean that in the best way possible.

8. The Great British Bakeoff

Watch on Netflix

Sometimes you need a sweet escape. Enter: The Great British Bakeoff. The quirky hosts and delightful contestants are the best company for a relaxing time on your couch. While American cooking shows are cutthroat and highly intense, things are softer and easier across the pond. Even as contestants are running around the tent trying to finish their last-minute creations, there’s an air of ease that keeps you in a chill and relaxing mood. The only downside of binging this series is that you will want a lot of sweet treats after a while.

We know, the words “faith-based family drama” probably bring flashbacks of some of the cringier 7th Heaven moments. But the trailer for The Baxters shows that this series is going beyond silly struggles to tackle real-life issues young adults can actually relate to.

Based on Karen Kingsbury’s best-selling series, The Baxters follows Elizabeth (Downey) and John Baxter (Ted McGinley) and their five adult children as they navigate relationships, careers, love and faith. The first season will center on daughter Kari (Ali Cobrin), who discovers that her husband, a college professor, has been secretly having an affair with one of his students. The revelation puts her marriage to the test, pushing her to find comfort in her faith and her family, all while trying to figure out if there’s any redemption in her relationship with her husband.

Redemption is the key theme throughout the series, as each family member has a relationship with someone — including at times, God — that needs to be redeemed. Can it happen? That’s the question we all have had to ask ourselves at various times in our life. Redemption is rarely an easy, straightforward path, and it seems like the Baxters understand that well.

In addition to McGinley, Cobrin and Downey — who also served as the series’ executive producer — the show will star Brandon Hirsch, Masey McLain, Josh Plasse, Cassidy Gifford, Reilly Anspaugh and Emily Peterson.

The series is the latest faith-based content from Prime Video. In January, Amazon announced a partnership with The Wonder Project, a faith-based production company from Jesus Revolution director Jon Erwin, to develop more series and films rooted in faith for Prime Video, including the upcoming series based on King David’s life.

The Baxters will premiere on Prime Video on March 28.

Butterfly in the Sky — a nod to the show’s iconic theme song — goes behind the scenes of the beloved PBS show and tells the story of the challenges the show’s creators faced getting a generation of kids to dive into books in an increasingly technologically centered world. The documentary also shines a spotlight on LeVar Burton, who hosted the show for its entire 23-year run.

“Having both grown up in Texas, Reading Rainbow not only reflected the diverse cultures that surrounded us, but LeVar Burton also introduced us to other worlds in colorful and magical ways,” the directors said. “We believe Reading Rainbow is among the most important shows ever produced and a true unsung hero of children’s programming. It’s important for us to honor its legacy and teach a new generation about this milestone in television history.”

The documentary will premiere in select theaters beginning March 17. If you can’t catch then, however, don’t fret. It will be released VOD on April 30.

An Ohio-native family comprised of host Shane Gillis, Heidi Garder, Molly Kearney and Andrew Dismukes had a rather enlightening experience attending a church in Jamaica led by Father Lawrence (Ego Nwodim). Despite Gillis’ insistence that “church is church” regardless of where you are, this skit proves that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, Masters of the Air, the latest miniseries from award-winning duo Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, follows the harrowing and heroic tales of the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces, men who took to the skies in B-17 Flying Fortresses to bring the fight to Nazi German during World War II. With a narrative that captures both the epic scale of their missions and the intimate struggles of individuals, the series weaves a tale of bravery, sacrifice, and the bonds formed in the crucible of war.

The cast, led by Austin Butler as Major Gale “Buck” Cleven and Callum Turner as Major John “Bucky” Egan, delivers performances that are as compelling as they are heartbreaking. Egan, a fiery leader driven by a fierce desire to make a difference, and Cleven, the calm and collected counterbalance, anchor the series with their dynamic relationship. Their portrayal of friendship, leadership and the toll of command adds depth to the high-stakes drama unfolding in the air and on the ground.

But it’s not just the exciting aerial sequences that capture our attention — although, to be clear, those are both technically astonishing and emotionally gripping. Rather, it’s the unwavering commitment to humanizing the soldiers who fought with conviction. The series doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of war, depicting both the physical and psychological scars carried by those who survive. It’s a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and the valor of those who pay its price.

The series also highlights the soldiers’ battle with their faith, resilience and redemption. Amidst the chaos of war, the airmen lean on God and one another as they engage in physical and emotional battles. Through it all, the series is an often-needed reminder that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can find light.

The series’ sixth episode premieres Feb. 23 on Apple TV+.

Before her audition, Breinholt told judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan about her adoption story.

“I was adopted as early as I was able to understand it. My mom struggled for several years trying to get pregnant and eventually they decided to go through the adoption process. I have the best family in the world. They’ve always supported me,” Breinholt said.

She knew some details about her birth mother, Amy Lopez, but wanted to know more. When Breinholt turned 21, she began looking for Lopez and discovered she was also a singer.

“I instantly knew where I got my ear from and where I got my voice from—it just all clicked.”

Sadly, Lopez had passed away in 2013 due to complications with Lupus. Brienholt still reached out to her birth family last summer to connect and discovered she came from a family of singers.

“My birth family was looking for me for probably the last eight years. Knowing that I have another family out there who’s equally excited to know and love me was amazing,” Breinholt told the judges.

She had only spoken to members of her birth family through Facetime but had been making plans to finally meet them in person in a few weeks.

Breinholt then moved on to the actual audition, performing “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton while playing the piano.

The judges gave her positive responses, but before they announced their decision, Perry asked Breinholt if she wanted to invite her family into the room to join her. When she opened the door, there was a surprise already waiting for her on the other side: her birth family was waiting alongside her adoptive parents.

Perry then suggested Breinholt should play one of her birth mother’s songs for the families.

“Music is connection. Music is emotion. Music is heart. You’re not the only person out there that’s searching for their birth family,” Perry said.

“It’s wonderful to have them all together and it’s so wonderful for your mom and dad to see this and to be so open and loving and supportive about this,” she continued. “I’m sure there was a big loss for your birth family, and for you to sing like that, I think it’s healing,” she added.

And, in front of her entire family, the judges told her she was “going to Hollywood” to compete on the show.

Everyone was excited, including Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, who shared their reaction to the audition on X.

“It’s amazing to see how God continues to use this song! Praying for McKenna and her family this season,” Zach Williams said.

The other day I was working with @dollyparton and we watched McKenna Breinholt’s audition performance of our song “There Was Jesus” on @AmericanIdol. Dolly saw it for the first time so we filmed this reaction. pic.twitter.com/3JJJhcRmh1

— Zach Williams (@zachwilliams) February 8, 2024

Television certainly isn’t lacking in murder mystery series, but few have been able to capture the nuanced ethical dilemmas humans face like Moriarty. Her adaptations are known for complex characters who are battling with even more complex moral conundrums, often resulting in significant twists and turns. It also helps that her previous series have been anchored by some stellar casts. And based on the first glimpse at Apples Never Fall, it looks like Moriarty’s got another hit on her hands.

The series will focus on the seemingly picture-perfect Delaney family, which includes retired tennis coaches Stan (Sam Neill) and Joy (Annette Bening) and their four children, Amy (Alison Brie), Troy (Jake Lacy), Logan (Conor Merrigan-Turner) and Brooke (Essie Randles). But things turn upside-down for everyone when Joy disappears, leaving behind a trail of mystery for her children to uncover.

Apples Never Fall drops Peacock on March 14.

1. The Office – “Valentine’s Day” (Season 2, Episode 16)

In this episode, Michael heads to New York City for a corporate meeting on Valentine’s Day, leaving the Scranton branch to celebrate in their own unique ways. Awkward workplace romances between Jim and Pam and Dwight and Angela mixed with Michael’s usual antics make this a memorable and heartwarming Valentine’s Day at Dunder Mifflin.

2. That ’70s Show – “First Date” (Season 1, Episode 16)

Valentine’s Day finds Eric and Donna on their official first date, where a series of comedic misfortunes unfold. Meanwhile, Hyde realizes he has feelings for Donna, adding a layer of complexity to the group’s dynamics. The episode captures the innocence and awkwardness of teenage love in the ’70s.

3. New Girl – “Operation: Bobcat” (Season 6, Episode 16)

Jess tries to make her first Valentine’s Day with Robby unforgettable, but her plans are thwarted when she learns they might be more than just friends. The loft mates all find quirky ways to celebrate, showcasing the show’s signature mix of humor and heart.

4. Friends – “The One with Unagi” (Season 6, Episode 17)

Although not a traditional Valentine’s Day episode, “The One with Unagi” explores the theme of love through the lens of self-awareness and protection. Ross’s hilarious attempts to teach Rachel and Phoebe about Unagi, a state of total awareness, leads to a series of comedic misunderstandings and a memorable Valentine’s Day.

5. Arrested Development – “Marta Complex” (Season 1, Episode 12)

As Valentine’s Day approaches, Michael’s feelings for Marta intensify, but he’s confused about whether she feels the same way. The episode is a brilliant showcase of the show’s complex relationships and comedic timing, making it a perfect watch for those who love humor with their romance.

6. How I Met Your Mother – “Desperation Day” (Season 6, Episode 16)

Barney declares February 13th “Desperation Day,” a last-minute opportunity for single people to find a Valentine’s Day date. The episode cleverly navigates through the characters’ various romantic dilemmas and friendships, all while maintaining the show’s characteristic wit and warmth.

7. The Office – “PDA” (Season 7, Episode 16)

Valentine’s Day in the office is taken to new heights when Michael and Holly can’t keep their hands off each other, showcasing their love without any boundaries. The episode is filled with awkward moments, heartfelt confessions, and the Office’s typical comedic charm.

8. Modern Family – “My Funky Valentine” (Season 1, Episode 15)

The Pritchett and Dunphy clans experience Valentine’s Day in their own hilarious and sometimes disastrous ways. Phil and Claire’s attempt at a romantic evening turns into a comedy of errors, embodying the show’s ability to blend humor with touching moments of family love.

9. Parks and Recreation – “Galentine’s Day” (Season 2, Episode 16)

Leslie Knope celebrates “Galentine’s Day” on the day before Valentine’s Day, dedicating it to her female friends with a brunch full of waffles and love. The episode is a beautiful tribute to female friendship and the idea that Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic love but also for appreciating the women in your life. Leslie’s efforts to set up her mother with an old flame and the hilarious outcomes further enrich the narrative, showcasing the show’s ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments.

10. Friends – “The One with the Candy Hearts” (Season 1, Episode 14)

Valentine’s Day takes a turn when Ross ends up on a date with his ex-wife Carol, and Joey accidentally sets Chandler up with Janice. The episode is a classic Friends mix of laughter and heartache, exploring the complexities of love and the strength of friendship.

11. New Girl – “Valentine’s Day” (Season 1, Episode 13)

Jess faces the challenges of dating as a single woman on Valentine’s Day, while the guys try to help her find a rebound. The episode is a hilarious and heartwarming look at the trials of finding love and the importance of friendship.

12. Everybody Hates Chris – “Everybody Hates Valentine’s Day” (Season 1, Episode 14)

Chris’s attempts to win the heart of a girl at school lead to unexpected consequences, providing a humorous yet insightful commentary on young love and the high stakes of Valentine’s Day in high school.

13. Community – “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” (Season 2, Episode 14)

While not a traditional Valentine’s episode, this installment of “Community” showcases the bonds between the study group members as they play an epic game of Dungeons & Dragons to lift a fellow student’s spirits. It’s a testament to the unconventional ways love and care can be expressed.

14. Abbott Elementary – “Valentine’s Day” (Season 2, Episode 14)

This episode details are pending as of my last update, but given the show’s track record, viewers can expect a heartwarming and humorous take on Valentine’s Day in the challenging yet rewarding world of public education.

Nearly every industry has increased prices for their products, but it’s especially true for digital media. Streaming services, who are borderline reinventing cable these days, saw a 23% increase in prices across the major film and television platforms:

• Amazon Prime Video: $8.99 → $11.98
• Apple TV+: $6.99 → $9.99
• Disney+: Premium $10.99 → $13.99
• Hulu: No ads $14.99 → $17.99
• Max: $14.99 → $15.99
• Netflix: Basic plan $9.99 → $11.99, premium $19.99 → $22.99
• Paramount+: Ad tier $4.99 → $5.99, $9.99 → $11.99
• Peacock: Premium (with ads) $4.99 → $5.99, premium plus $9.99 → $11.99

“The era of ‘streamflation’ is here,” said Scott Purdy, a U.S. national media industry leader for professional services firm KPMG.

Netflix has experienced several price increases over the years, and last year, the streaming service added commercials to their cheapest plan. Several other streamers followed suit, with platforms like Amazon Prime and Peacock increasing their price for the first time ever.

Services are trying to keep up with a growing market while production costs also increase. As of September 2023, Netflix was the only streaming service that was turning a profit, while every other service reported they were with losing both customers and revenue. With so many streaming subscription options, customers were cuting ties with services that cost too much but offered too little.

According to Fortune, “Half of the major streaming platforms in the U.S. now charge a monthly fee that’s double the price they charged when they initially came to market,” and most of them have only been around for a few years. With no endpoint in sight, it seems like customers should get ready to pay more for entertainment or be prepared to let some streaming services go.

The Americana band performed their single “Find Your People” off their latest album, Strangers No More. 

Holcomb spoke with RELEVANT about creating an album that could unite people from all walks of life through his music.

“There’s so many beautiful ingredients in music that connect with everybody in different ways. There’s so many different bands that connect with different people and everybody’s got their own experience. But in this beautiful way, music brings people from all ways of life together,” he said. 

He Gets Us began releasing black-and-white ads during the Super Bowl last year. This year, they’re changing things up with a colorful 60-second spot that will appear in the first quarter, followed by a 15-second spot in the second half. According to Greg Miller, a spokesman for the campaign, both ads “will emphasize loving our neighbors like Jesus did, encouraging people to respect and serve each other.”

Hallow, a prayer and meditation app, will also drop a commercial featuring some familiar faces: Mark Wahlberg (Father Stu) and Jonathan Roumie (The Chosen).

Wahlberg will also help lead Hallow’s Pray40 prayer challenge, which begins on Ash Wednesday on Feb. 14.

“The goal at Hallow has always been to reach out to as many folks as possible, both those who take their faith seriously and especially those who might have fallen away, and invite them deeper into a relationship with God. When we learned about the timing of the Big Game this year, we couldn’t have been more excited to work with Mark and Jonathan to use it as an opportunity to invite millions into prayer,”  said Alex Jones, Hallow’s CEO and co-founder (not the other Alex Jones).

This bit of dialogue was spat during the last three minutes of Orange is the New Black’s season 1 finale as antagonist Tiffany “Pennsatucky” Doggett tried to stab protagonist Piper Chapman with a wooden cross that had been sharpened to a point.

Yeah…

It’s a hard scene to digest and an even more difficult one to fathom actually happening. And while this is certainly an extreme example, it’s the type of behavior the writers of scripted television and films seem to assign any Christian characters they deem worthy of screen time.

Judgmental, ruthless, ignorant, empty of understanding or grace and with a heavy Southern accent—this is how the entertainment industry chooses to portray a large majority of Christians. Whether it’s a comedy such as The Office or a “dramedy” like The Righteous Gemstones, it just does not matter. If there’s a Christian character bouncing around, more than likely they’re going to viciously judge, ridicule, argue with or straight up murder the faithless, more secular characters, all while sporting a straight-from-the-trailer-park Southern accent.

But why?

Why is it that a very large majority of fictional Christian characters fed to us by mainstream media are so completely and insanely dogmatic? There is no grace, no understanding, no forgiveness in these characters.

Even on a show with lighter fare like Community, where the singular Christian character isn’t as rigid or downright mean (or Southern) as other shows, Shirley Bennett’s faith is still frequently played as a flaw.

Why are these types of character models accepted as the norm when representing today’s Christian?

Maybe it’s because our faith in the unseen but not unfelt makes us easier targets. Perhaps it’s because bad experiences with the Church and its people influence these writers and these easy-to-hate characters are their sweet revenge. Or maybe it’s simply because these fictional characters are based in everyday reality.

The truth is that there are some so-called Christians who quite closely mirror the Christian characters we watch on television and film. They’re loud and proud and angry in God. They stare down their “opponents” with judgmental eyes and damning language. They protest funerals and vomit epithets at people they’ve deemed sinners.

And on some level, most of us are guilty of some of this type of behavior. Maybe not to those extremes, but we too judge, condemn and feel “better than,” while refusing to admit our own faults. For the more dogmatic Christians and for us, it doesn’t matter that how we behave, how we treat people, how void we are of love and grace is a direct and vicious contradiction of everything the Bible teaches us of God and His ways.

But since this type of behavior and the actions of the hateful type of “Christian” are often more apparent than the self-sacrificing love that comes out of following Christ, this becomes how screenwriters and pundits view the Christian whole. The prudish, judgmental Christian is the standalone example we seem to be stuck with for the time being.

And while this portrayal is worrisome in and of itself to those of us who worry about these kinds of things, it’s also a hampering of our reach on the world. Those souls who may be unfamiliar with God and our faith may not be too willing to listen to the Gospel if all they know of Christians is what they see on television and movies.

So what can we do to alter how we Christians are portrayed and brandished to the world? How can we be the change we want to see happen?

In short order, we can be the exact opposite of the Christians they witness on those silver screens.

When we focus on Christ, we can allow His grace and love to flow through us, enabling us to approach the world’s citizens and each other with love and grace instead of fiery contempt and aching judgments. We can love this world as God loved it, wholly and completely, without reserve. We can give and give and then give some more. We can reach to those in need and share the mighty, life-shaking love we’ve been given. We can shrug off the dogmatic examples that fill our screens and be the antithesis of them. And most of all, we can quit arguing and fighting with each other over ducks and dynasties and everything in-between.

This doesn’t make us less committed to our faith in God. And it certainly doesn’t mean we’ll be swayed from what we believe and practice. It only means we’re doing as we are called to do in and through Him.

The fact of the matter is that those loud and proud and angry Christians will likely always draw a crowd. That’s just how the world works. But we can strive to show the true nature of the Gospel. We can push to become the true Christian example we want this world to witness and realize. We can show God’s love in all its life-altering glory, and when we inevitably mess up, we can apologize and admit that we are all sinners.

Maybe TV and film will always portray us as those reckless, judgmental souls who would rather condemn than love, but we can do our Godly best to prove it wrong and to share the Gospel not only with those outside of Christian circles, but also with those who are perhaps too entrenched in their form of “Christianity.” It’s our calling. It’s our honor. Now it’s time it becomes our priority. Not just so we’re portrayed in a better light, but so that every aspect of the Christian faith glorifies He Who blesses us with life in the first place.

Hauser, known for his roles in I, Tonya and Richard Jewell, recently won a Primetime Emmy for his role as serial killer Larry Hall in Black Bird. During the filming of Black Bird in New Orleans, Hauser underwent a deep transformation that restored his life and his family.

“This really changed my life because I ended up getting sober in the middle of the shoot,” he told Colbert about filming Black Bird. “You know, I was in a rough place personally. I was not the best version of myself — to put it vague and safe. But then I played this serial killer and you’re in New Orleans which is a very spiritually thick place to be … there’s an atmosphere of dark spirituality there at times.

“So I got sober in the middle of the shoot and I started going to therapy. It was like the catalyst for all these wonderful things that happened, including healing my family,” he continued.

Hauser then pointed to an “I Am Second” bracelet on his wrist.

“I did this video documentary thing called I Am Second and if you look it up on YouTube, you can see my wife and I, our whole story, where we very vulnerably talk about our problems and how we mended them and how we got back together. It’s a beautiful story,” Hauser said.

In the four-part video series, Hauser and his wife Amy open about about initially filing for divorce while pregnant with their first child. Hauser then began abusing alcohol while struggling with suicidal ideation before finding his faith in Christ.

The fifth-most popular streaming service pulled out the big guns for its new ad, utilizing a range of actors, celebrities and childhood cartoon characters from the platform’s massive catalog. Sir Patrick Stewart, promoting the Paramount+ original series Star Trek: Picard, leads the bizarre scene alongside Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Drew Barrymore (of the Drew Barrymore Show), Jeff Probst (Survivor host), and Thomas Lennon (Reno 911). Joining the team are the animated characters Arnold Shortman (Hey Arnold!), Dora the Explorer, Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog), Peppa Pig and the Master Chief from Halo. And if you thought the group couldn’t get any more random, the band Creed shows up to sing their hit song “Higher.”

We assume the pitch meeting went something like, “Everyone give your ideas for an ad, and we’ll say yes to all of them.” Watching the final product will make you feel like you’re in a fever dream, in the best way possible.

Check it out now:

But then things changed. Her priorities forcibly shifted after one pivotal moment in 2018.

“I was forced out from my job at The Talk, where I was co-host and the moderator for the last eight years of my life,” she said. “When I lost that job and was forced to step down, life as I knew it was like a snow globe turned upside down. And that made me go through a ball of emotions.

“There was a lot of anger,” she continued. “There was fear of what was going to become of me, my future, who I am. I was having this identity crisis because I was so wrapped in my identity as a broadcaster. I felt lost.”

But in the midst of her darkest moment,  light broke through in one tiny email. Moonves’ aunt reached out to her to share that a friend from back home in New Jersey was praying for her. It was a small act of kindness from a complete stranger. And it changed Moonves’s entire life.

She’d been thinking about attending church for a few months leading up to that moment. She’d never been interested in religion prior to that, although on nights when she had trouble sleeping as a kid she would repeat a prayer she’d heard on Little House on the Prarie. She had a negative view of Christianity after witnessing the rise of televangelism in the 1980s.

“For a long time, when I heard the word ‘Christian,’ I would think of people like Jim Bakker or Jerry Falwell,” Moonves said. “I had this image of Christians as judgmental, Bible-thumping people who didn’t accept others unless they were white. I’d say it wasn’t a good image.”

Yet as the pressure of work, rumors surrounding her husband (CBS honcho Les Moonves), and life in general were getting to be too difficult to handle, there was something about believing in something bigger than herself that had a bit of an appeal. After reading the email from her aunt, she knew what she had to do.

On a Thursday morning at 8:40 a.m., after dropping her son off at school, Moonves walked into a church near her house.

“I didn’t even know if I could go in if no one was there,” Moonves said.

She was the only person in the sanctuary, but there were a few candles lit around the room. Before she was even seated in a pew, she broke down.

“I immediately began sobbing and asking God to help me,” Moonves said. “I asked Him to show me why this was happening to me and to show me some light, love and hope.”

Moones then began attending church regularly, although she admits it was more out of obligation and hoping that something would eventually click.

And during 2020, it did.

Days before the pandemic began, Moonves was facing a major life change. Her father had unexpectedly died in a tragic accident, and her mother moved in for a few days to be around family while they grieved. What was supposed to be a 10-day period turned into six months of lockdown with her mother.

During that time, Moonves and her mother leaned on each other, and on God. She shared that during the time of grief and instability, God walked with the two of them and taught her some major lessons she’s carried with her since.

“I grew so much during lockdown,” Moonves said. “I learned you can’t hide your feelings from God. I learned God knows what’s in your heart, so you can’t fool Him. I learned that God loves all of us, even my enemy. He doesn’t play favorites.”

Most importantly, she discovered that God had a greater purpose for her life.

“God created us each with a different talent and purpose and a gift,” she shared. “No matter what that talent or gift is, it can serve Him and serve one another. So there is no such thing as a secular job. Whatever your talent is. You know, own it, run with it, and serve Him and serve others.”

Before she began her faith journey, Moonves described herself as “selfish” and “career-driven,” because she’d make her career an idol in her life. Now, she tries to maintain a new mindset when it comes to her work, one that thinks of others before herself.

“I have a level of gratitude that I don’t think existed before because I thought I had earned all that,” she said. “Now I’m thanking Jesus for everything. Acknowledging that I am just a small speck in His world.”

“God knows what’s in your heart, so you can’t fool Him.”

Moonves began incorporating that mindset into her work ethic. Instead of spreading herself thin, trying to achieve career highs, she’s taking things one step at a time. She realized quickly that the platform she had could be used for something greater.

“As I became more mature in Christ, I became more mature as a human — as well as more understanding, patient, empathetic and sympathetic,” she said. “So, I went from someone who was more self-serving to someone who wants to serve others. I just know that in so many different ways, I could be of help to someone.”

Now, she wants to remind others that the love of Christ is transformational. She’s even sharing that love with millions of people on every Big Brother episode.

“We need community and we need each other and we need to love one another, which is how I sign off Big Brother,” she explained. “That’s the second greatest commandment, the first being to love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind. And right behind that, love one another. You can’t say you love God if you don’t love everyone else — even the person who gets on your nerves.”

In 2020, Moonves decided to read through the Bible in a year, hoping for an audio version to make it more digestible. Although when she discovered all the audio versions “sounded like Shakespeare,” she reached out to her contacts at Simon and Schuster Publishers, offering to read the NIV version for free if they wanted to record it for use. They declined, instead asking her if she’d be interested in creating an audiobook of her own faith journey.

“I didn’t think anybody would be interested,” she admitted. “But they reminded me that everybody has an interesting faith walk. Whether or not people realize it, they’re on a faith walk. They may not know it, they may not acknowledge it.”

She began the project, eager to share what she had learned in a short amount of time while also cautiously recognizing that she still has a long journey ahead.

“Now, I’m about five years into my walk with Jesus, so I’m probably like an elementary school person,” she joked. “I started out crawling, learning how to walk. And now I feel like a third grader who still has so much more to go.”

In 2023, Moonves released But, First God: An Audio Memoir of Spiritual Discovery. She shared that as much as she enjoyed tracing the big and small moments over the last several years, she hoped it would help others see the way God is working in their own lives and the world around them.

“It was divine timing because coming out of the pandemic, it was such a shaky time in history for all of us, especially as a nation,” Moonves said. “It wasn’t just COVID, but also a very, very tense election and the Black Lives Matter movement. There was so much division going on. And I thought that we needed to find common ground. We needed unity. We needed God.

“I want everyone to know that if you feel hopeless, you need not because God is there, but you have to take the first step towards him,” Moonves continued. “My life verse is James 4:8: ‘Draw nearer to God and He will draw nearer to you.’ This is the right time for me to talk about all of this because I think the pandemic gave us a lot of time to reevaluate our lives, to really look at how we’re living, and to see, and to say to ourselves, is this the way I want to be living, and what is my purpose? For me, this is my purpose.”

Her purpose is already bearing fruit, too. Moonves shared that after making what she considered a few minor changes — wearing a cross necklace, signing her emails in “In Christ” — other Christians on set at CBS have shared they’re more comfortable sharing their own faith. And everyone has started taking notice of the new Moonves.

“People at Big Brother have come up to me and said, ‘There’s something different about you,’” she said. “‘There is a peace about you that wasn’t there before.’ Because I used to sweat the small stuff all the time. It’s live television, so when something went wrong I’d have this internal explosion of just frustration. And now it’s like, Well, that thing didn’t go as scripted, and I can just laugh about it.”

“I thought I had a very full life. But looking back, I realized now it was actually pretty empty because I wasn’t listening to God.”

Moonves is still working through myriad things these days – strengthening her prayer life, rethinking her idea of what it looks like to be a good spouse and parent — but she’s got her priorities straightened out. For the first time in her life, she is confident in her purpose, and she won’t let anyone derail it.

“Honestly, I’m coming into my own,” Moonves said. “I can be used as a vessel to promote His word and to spread His word. And a big part of that is letting people know it’s never too late to start a personal relationship with God.

“I waited until I was 48 years old, and I thought I knew the world,” she continued. “I thought I had a very full life. But looking back, I realized now it was actually pretty empty because I wasn’t listening to God. I didn’t make room for Him in my life. I didn’t acknowledge Him.”

Moonves is refreshingly honest and vulnerable about where she’s been and where she’s going. Part of it is because she “can’t help but be honest,” but a bigger part of that is because she knows the power that truth holds. She experienced a radical change in life because someone was honest with her about their prayers for her. They took a step of faith, and it changed her life.

She now hopes that by being honest about her own faith journey, others can discover the truth about God, too.

No matter where they find themselves on their journey, Moonves believes wholeheartedly that God is ready and willing to meet them at any moment.

“I know I’m repeating myself, but sometimes people need to hear this over and over again until they get it: It’s never too late,” Moonves said. “He is our only true source of hope. You need to invite God into your life, and you really need to spend quiet time with Him. You need to sit still. Only then can you hear Him and learn how to study His Word.

“It’s a journey that, once you get on the track, never ends until he brings us home,” she continued. “There will be ups and downs and stumbling blocks, but when that happens, you’re going to have hope and you’re going to know that God is going to get you through it and that you are not alone.

“He either allowed it or ordained it, and you have to grow stronger from that with His help guiding you, holding your hand. It’s never too late. It’s the best relationship you’re ever going to have.”

The comedian, who led the show for 16 years, will host each Monday beginning February 12. Stewart will also executive produce the show and work with a rotating line-up of comedians who will host the program for the rest of the week.

Stewart’s sharp-witted takes turned the Comedy Central program into must-see television. He became well-known for his biting monologues often aimed at politicians, so it makes sense that Stewart would make his return as the 2024 presidential election is heating up. It’s safe to say that Stewart will have plenty of things to say about this political season.

After leaving The Daily Show in 2015, Stewart was replaced by Trevor Noah, who hosted the show through 2022. Over the last year, the show has relied on a roster of guest hosts consisting of comedians and actors, although few were able to land the punches quite like Noah and Stewart.

“Stewart is the voice of our generation, and we are honored to have him return to Comedy Central’s The Daily Show to help us all make sense of the insanity and division roiling the country as we enter the election season,” Chris McCarthy, chief executive of Showtime and MTV Entertainment Studios, said in a statement. “In our age of staggering hypocrisy and performative politics, Jon is the perfect person to puncture the empty rhetoric and provide much-needed clarity with his brilliant wit.”

Another Bible-based TV show is in development, and this one is all about King David.

Amazon MGM Studios is partnering with The Wonder Project to launch House of David, which follows “the once-mighty King Saul as he falls victim to his own pride. A prophet prepares to overthrow him — anointing the outcast shepherd boy David as a second king. As Saul’s fury grows, David navigates love, violence and politics in the court of the very man he’s destined to replace. Two kings. One Kingdom. The outcome is war.”

Sounds intense.

Leading the charge on this series is The Wonder Project, a film and TV studio led by producer Jon Erwin (Jesus Revolution, I Can Only Imagine) and entertainment executive Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten. Dallas Jenkins, creator of a little show called The Chosen, is also a major shareholder in the company.

“When we met with Jon, Kelly, and Dallas, their clear and passionate vision for The Wonder Project and their ambition to nurture universal stories of love, triumph and spirituality moved us.” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “We are very excited about the scope, scale and storytelling involved with House of David and look forward to sharing this epic and many others with our global Prime Video customers.”

In December 2023, The Wonder Project signed a deal to develop more series and films rooted in faith for Prime Video.

“Our goal at The Wonder Project is to tell stories that restore faith in things worth believing in, and to do this at scale,” Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten said. “We’ve been blown away by Amazon’s commitment to help us do this — both through the significant resources they are dedicating and their trust in us to tell these stories authentically to our audience.”

Fully grown adults will compete in pairs, playing outsized versions of games from the restaurant, including pinball, air hockey, alley roller and the human claw. The competitors with the most tickets will have the chance to exchange their tickets for prizes off a massive version of the iconic Chuck E. Cheese’s prize wall.

Think of it like Netflix’s Squid Game, but with less death and more animatronic animals.

The production company behind Top Chef and Nailed It!, Magical Elves, is developing the series.

“Chuck E. Cheese is the place where a kid can be a kid — but as grown adults, we still have dreams of ruling the arcade, taking on the iconic games we love,” Magical Elves co-CEOs Jo Sharon and Casey Kriley said in a statement. “We’re excited to celebrate these legendary arcade games plus the best of today, all with a super-sized twist.”

From Netflix’s Floor Is Lava to ABC’s Holey Moley, TBS’ Wipeout to Peacock’s Frogger, outlandish adult competition shows has become a thing in recent years. So with all these happening, can we please get someone to reboot Legends of the Hidden Temple next?

Greg Daniels, showrunner for the American version of The Office, said he is starting work on a “follow-up series” this week. Daniels will be meeting with writers on Tuesday to work on the initial show development.

The series will not a reboot of the original — thankfully — but would likely be set in a new office with new characters within the same world as the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It would be another mockumentary-style series, a genre Daniels has a proven track-record in with both The Office and Parks and Rec.

Conversations about continuing The Office have floated around since before the show even aired its final episode over back in 2013. While Daniels has always maintained he has no desire in rebooting the series, it seems like he’s now open to the idea of evolving the show in a new way.

In the new series, individual cast members could presumably make special appearances, but don’t get your hopes up for a reunion. Writer and producer B.J. Novak, who portrayed Ryan Howard on the show, squashed the reboot rumors when he said, “Definitely you wouldn’t get everyone back together, that ship has sailed.”

Streaming and digital downloads have become the most popular way for people to watch movies, so it’s not really a surprise to see Best Buy get rid of their DVD and Blu-ray stock. Over the last decade, physical media sales have decreased significantly.

Unfortunately, most TV shows don’t capitalize on the fun of NYE as they should. Thankfully, however, a few of our favorite sitcoms have captured what the day and night is all about.

The Office – “Ultimatum”

Where to Watch: Peacock

This hilarious episode follows Michael try to keep his cool as Holly Flax, aka the love of his life, returns from the holiday break without an engagement ring despite her ultimatum. Meanwhile, Pam tries to get the rest of the office to commit to a New Year’s resolutions and the ideas they come up with are… inspirational. You might get some good ideas for your own resolutions.

Friends – “The One With All the Resolutions”

Where to Watch: HBO Max

Also known as “The One With Ross’s Leather Pants.” The friends try their best to stick to resolutions, but of course, Chandler can’t not make jokes about everyone, Rachel doesn’t know how to keep a secret, and Ross runs into some trouble with his pants.

Seinfeld – “The Millennium”

Where to Watch: Netflix

The turn of the century was a big time for everyone. What would happen when the calendar changed to the 2000s? Would the computers take over? What sort of gadgets would go out of style? These questions were consuming everyone’s mind — except for Kramer and Newman. Instead, the two friends were focused primarily on having the best millennium party, or the “Newmannium” in Newman’s mind.

Modern Family – “New Year’s Eve”

Where to Watch: Hulu

The beauty of Modern Family is that there’s something for every audience member in every episode, including the New Year’s Eve special. Whether you want to see a romantic NYE plan, an unexpected or spontaneous adventure, or a quiet night in, this heartfelt episode will remind you that while we all may ring in the New Year differently, the important thing is that we have each other.

30 Rock – “Klaus and Greta”

Where to Watch: Netflix

The 30 Rock gang is in full crisis mode as every single person is trying to solve the problems that stemmed for New Year’s Eve. Tracy thinks his wife’s pregnant with a girl, Jack and Kenneth try to erase an embarrassing phone message he left on New Year’s Eve, Liz’s cousin visits after she outs him and Jenna agrees to a publicity stunt that involves dating James Franco.

Friends – “The Routine”

Where to Watch: HBO Max

You didn’t think we’d make a NYE TV episode list with “The Routine,” did you? The iconic episode follows Joey and his current roommate/crush Janine, and Ross and Monica as extras on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” Joey tries to flirt with Janine, but the stars of this episode are the Gellar siblings, who perform their childhood “routine” to get the spotlight on them.

That ’70s Show – “That ’70s Finale”

Where to Watch: Peacock

On the last day of the 1970s, Kitty and Red are packing up to move to Florida, Donna is off to college, and Jackie finally realizes she loves Fez. It‘s a momentous time in the show, made even more special by the return of Ashton Kutcher. As the gang gathers one final time in the basement for a New Year‘s party, we‘re reminded of our own memories with friends, gathering together to make some ridiculous memories that will last a lifetime. 

The adaptation to the popular tabletop card game will showcase the timeless battle between good and evil, personified by God (Tom Ellis) and Satan (Lucy Liu) who find themselves reincarnated as Earth-bound felines.

But Exploding Kittens is more than a tale of two cats. It’s a commentary on the absurdity of cosmic conflicts played out in the most mundane of settings. The teaser hints at a series where the divine feud is less of a holy war and more a series of petty, comedic squabbles, bringing a ridiculous twist to the eternal conflict. Then again, the series was developed by The Office co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels’ animation company Bandera Entertainment, so we fully expect more laughs and less philosophical introspection.

(Warning, it does contain some strong language.)

No, most of the writers in the Bible seem to have a tough time even describing an angel, and different writers seem to have seen slightly different things Ezekiel described the cherubim as having four faces: a lion’s, an ox’s, an eagle’s and a person’s. He said they have straight legs, four wings and bull hooves that gleam in the light. They had two sets of wings — one to cover their body, the other to fly.

Isaiah said he saw what he called seraphim, which have six wings — four to cover their bodies and two for flying.

Ezekiel also saw what scholars call the ophanim or, “the wheels.” These guys really do defy description, with Ezekiel describing interlocking golden wheels covered with eyeballs.

Understandably, most movies and TV shows steer clear from these types of angels.

The Bible does have a few instances of Mal’akh, malakim or “Messengers” — heavenly beings sent to earth to deliver a message from God who seem to look more or less human, at least as far as the humans who look at them can tell. Named angels like Michael and Gabriel probably fall into this camp. The Bible doesn’t say anything about them having wings though. Hebrews 13 even warns Christians to be kind to strangers, because some of them might be angels in disguise.

So maybe you can see why movies and TV shows about angels tend to focus on this final category and less on the wheel-looking creatures. But have any shows ever really captured the angel aesthetic? Let’s take a deep dive.

Dogma

Kevin Smith’s spiritual satire featured the likes of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as angels of the “human-but-with-wings” variety who sport golden chest plates and get into all sorts of trouble. “Human-but-with-wings” isn’t a description that matches any angel in the Bible, but that goes for most of this list. The real problem here is Metatron, the seraph played by the late, great Alan Rickman. The name “Metatron” has a very old, extra-biblical history but unfortunately, no description of a seraph would be mistaken for Alan Rickman.

Angels in the Outfield 

The same year that Touched By an Angel debuted on TV, Angels in the Outfield dropped into theaters — the very weird story of a little kid who asks God to help the Angels win the pennant and God comes through. In retrospect, the movie featured a dynamite cast (Joseph Gordon Levitt! Danny Glover! Christopher Lloyd! Tony Danza! Adrien Brody! Neal McDonough! Matthew McConaughey!) but its depictions of angels was all over the place — sometimes Lloyd’s “Al” appeared as an enigmatic baseball fan (not bad) but sometimes he sported the white robe, halo and, of course, wings that are common in classic art but not really in the Bible.

Constantine

Long before the superhero movie boom, Keanu Reeves starred in this loose adaptation of Constantine, a DC Comics character who makes a living as a gruff, hard-living exorcists. In this movie, Tilda Swinton is Gabriel, a “half-breed” who wants to set demons loose on earth for some reason. Swinton has an appealingly otherworldly look that kind of makes sense for an angel, but other than that, the appearance makes about as much sense as her evil plot — feathery wings and an all-white get-up. It’s a good look. It just doesn’t look like an angel.

City of Angels

“What if angels just looked like Nicolas Cage?” isn’t the craziest idea Hollywood’s ever come up with. The idea that an angel might risk it all for love is a little more out there, but we’re strictly talking about appearance here, so let’s not get caught up on plot details. What does cost this movie a few points is that all the angels here dress in very conspicuous black robes and trench coats — like an early 90s riff on The Matrix.

Journey to Bethlehem

Lecrae isn’t necessarily known for his acting chops, although he does bring a certain depth to Gabriel and earns a respectable place on this list. As an archangel, it makes sense why he’s going to look a little flashier than the rest of the angels on this list. However, this isn’t quite what we have in mind when we think of one of the most well-known archangels. If the film wanted to lean into the prestige of being the second-highest ranking angels, there’s definitely a different direction they could have taken things. Still, props for not putting any wings on him.

It’s a Wonderful Life

Clarence might want to slow his role on getting those wings, since his wingless depiction is much more in line with the biblical description of angels. We’ll deduct a few points for the “every time a bell rings” thing but as far as actual angels go, he looks pretty good. Not bad for probably the best Christmas movie of all time.

Touched By an Angel

There were a lot of TV angels in the 90s, but none were more visible than Roma Downey’s Monica on Touched by an Angel. The show’s cheese factor hasn’t aged great but the depictions of angels could fit into the malakim description — especially since not everyone who interacted with her knew she was an angel. And while the Hallmark Channel lighting at the end might elicit a few eye rolls, it’s not not biblical.

The Preacher’s Wife

What puts Denzel Washington’s performance as “Dudley” over the top is that there’s really no tell that this guy is an angel. Sure, he might be a little more handsome than your average human but nobody suspects anything about Dudley for most of the movie. No halo. No wings. No bathrobe. That veers closest to the Bible’s depiction of malakim, and since Dudley never drops the act, it claims the top spot here. Sometimes, less is more.

The DIY duo’s Magnolia Network will produce four unscripted series with a family-friendly focus for HBO’s Max. The shows are being described as “ambitious large-scale competitions” and “out-of-the-box social experiments,” and after reading each series’ synopsis, we can confirm they are, in fact, out-of-the-box.

First up is Second Chance Stage, a series that will give contestants who’ve set their aspirations on the back burner the opportunity to turn their dreams into a reality. Seems straightforward enough.

Next up is Roller Jam, where “the top roller-skating crews in the country compete to see who will be crowned America’s best roller dancing team.” Because surely the one thing America needs right now is a roller dancing competition.

Back to the Frontier, which features families who leave modern life behind to live as 1800s pioneers, is like if The Office spin-off of Dwight Schrute’s beet farm was a real thing.

And finally, the crème de la crème: Human vs Hamster. That’s right, real-life human beings will compete against hamsters in “scaled games of strength, smarts and agility.” The goal? To find out the superior species, of course (our money is on the hamsters).

As the actor’s strike continues, we knew we were in for some out-there unscripted programming. But we never imagined Chip and Jo would be leading the charge.

“Our hope for this network has always been to give families the opportunity to watch authentic, thoughtful storytelling together, so we are thrilled to offer a new expansion of this vision to Max,” said the Gaineses. “These shows will celebrate second chances, risk taking, imagination, perseverance and family connection, with so many more ideas to come.”