"House of Usher" holds #1 spot / "Unstable" Season 2 / "Mary & George" to Starz / "Love Island USA" renewed

Plus the weekend calendar, classic "Doctor Who" on Tubi, Letterman returns to "The Late Show," Trevor Noah Netflix special, and more

Inside Streaming For November 17, 2023

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Happy Friday, and thanks for reading today's Inside Streaming daily brief. Quick recommendation: I very much enjoyed the first episode of Showtime's "The Curse," which is now streaming on Paramount+ if you have the Showtime add-on. It's a seamless fusion of the aesthetic of the Safdie Brothers (the indie filmmaking duo behind "Uncut Gems" and "Good Time") and the comic perspective of "Nathan for You" vet Nathan Fielder, but it's also uniquely its own thing. Fielder and Emma Stone co-star as an influencer couple hosting an HGTV show in which they attempt to either revitalize or gentrify a mid-sized New Mexico town, depending on who you ask. But this isn't just sharply satirical commentary about reality TV and insincere limousine liberals... It is that, but it's also an offbeat, absurd, vaguely sinister character study about this deeply troubled couple, their gleefully immoral producer (played by Safdie), and their barely-concealed rage and insecurities. And that's all just from the pilot! There's a ton going on. It's definitely worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of Emma Stone, Fielder or the Safdie Brothers movies. Lon p/lon-harris

1 Netflix's "Fall of the House of Usher" held the #1 spot on Nielsen's streaming charts for the second week in a row between October 16 through 22. That makes the horror drama series the only show to top "Suits" in viewership for two consecutive weeks since June. More: "House of Usher" was streamed for around 1.5 billion minutes, a 19% increase in viewership from its debut week. The only other show that has managed to top "Suits" on the Nielsen charts was Netflix's "Virgin River," which claimed the #1 spot for a single week in September. "Suits" was still viewed for 1.1 billion minutes on the week in question, the 18th consecutive week in which it topped the 1 billion minute milestone. Disney's "Goosebumps" managed to crack the top 10 between Oct. 16-22, in its first full week online; the show was streamed for 594 million minutes across both Hulu and Disney+.

2 Netflix renewed the family comedy series "Unstable" for a second season. Rob Lowe and his real-life son John Owen Lowe co-star as a father-son duo working together at a high-tech bio-research facility. More: "Platonic" vet Andrew Gurland will take over showrunning duties from Victor Fresco, who co-created the series with the Lowes. Strike-related delays of the broadcast TV season pushed back production on Lowe's Fox series, "9-1-1: Lone Star," clearing his schedule for more "Unstable" episodes.

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3 WEEKEND CALENDAR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS: Debut sci-fi action series from Legendary Entertainment, spun off from the "Monsterverse" film franchise. Two siblings investigate their family's connection to Monarch, the covert organization that tracks the activities of Godzilla and the other "Titans" around the globe. Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, Elisa Lasowski, Kurt Russell, and Wyatt Russell co-star; "Sliders" and "Star Trek: Enterprise" vet Chris Black co-created the series with Matt Fraction ("Hawkeye"). [Apple TV+] RUSTIN: 2023 biographical drama feature, starring Colman Domingo as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington. Chris Rock, Glynn Turman, Aml Ameen, CCH Pounder, Jeffrey Wright, Audra McDonald, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph co-star. Oscar-winning "Milk" scribe Dustin Lance Black co-wrote the script, George C. Wolfe ("Ma Rainey's Black Bottom") directed, and Barack and Michelle Obama executive produced. [Netflix] SCOTT PILGRIM TAKES OFF: Debuted animated action-comedy series, based on the "Scott Pilgrim" graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley and the 2010 live-action film adaptation, "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World." 20-something music lover Scott falls for the charming Ramona Flowers, but must defeat all of her evil exes in combat before they can date. The original film cast -- including Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, and Chris Evans -- reprises their roles for the series. [Netflix] STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING: Documentary feature inspired by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award winner of the same title, exploring the history and evolution of racist ideas in American culture. The film features interviews with Dr. Kendi, Brittney Cooper, Angela Davis, and other experts along with scripted historical reenactments and animation. [Netflix] COCOMELON LANE: This debut animated series for preschoolers is the first-ever dialogue-driven project from "CoComelon" studio Moonbug Entertainment. It follows JJ and his friends as they experience important milestones, like getting their first haircut, going to the dentist's office, and getting invited over to a friend's house for dinner. [Netflix] THE DADS: Documentary short from filmmaker Luchina Fisher in which Dennis Shepard -- the father of slain gay college student Matthew Shepard -- joins fathers of trans children for a contemplative fishing trip. Together, they share thoughts on parenting, manhood, and a father's love for their children. [Netflix] HOLY FAMILY (SAGRADA FAMILIA): The Spanish thriller series, about a family with dark secrets who move to Madrid seeking a fresh start, returns this week for a second season. Najwa Nimri, Alba Flores, Álex Garcia, Macarena Gómez, and Álvaro Rico co-star; "The House of Flowers" vet Manolo Caro created. [Netflix] BELIEVER 2 (DOKJEON 2): 2023 action thriller from Korea, a sequel to 2018's "Believer," in which determined Detective Won-ho (Cho Jin-woong) continues his investigation into "Mr. Lee," the shadowy leader of an international drug cartel. Baek Jong-yeol ("The Beauty Inside") directed. [Netflix] THE QUEENSTOWN KINGS: Drama feature from South Africa, produced in a combination of Xhosa and English, about a small-town soccer player who's at a crossroads in life when his estranged, former pro footballer father returns to town. Zolisa Xaluva, Likhona Mgali, and Unathi Faku co-star; Jahmil X.T. Qubeka ("Blood Psalms") co-wrote and directed. [Netflix] ALL-TIME HIGH (NOUVEAUX RICHES): Raunchy romantic comedy feature from France about a con artist who falls for a woman who's about to receive an enormous cryptocurrency fortune. But is their love real or is one of them getting scammed? Nassim Lyes and Zoé Marchal co-star; Julien Hollande ("The Misadventures of Hedi and Cokeman") wrote and directed. [Netflix] DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW: Fantasy-comedy feature, starring Chris "Ludacris" Bridges as a holiday-hating dad who goes on a wild Christmas Eve adventure with a mysterious stranger who may or may not be Santa Claus (Lil Rel Howery). Teyonah Parris, Madison Skye Validum, and Oscar Nuñez co-star; Tim Story ("Ride Along," "The Blackening") directed. [Disney+] PLEASE DON'T DESTROY: THE TREASURE OF FOGGY MOUNTAIN: Comedy feature written by and starring the "Saturday Night Live" comedy team, made up of Ben Marshall, John Higgins, and Martin Herlihy. They play three childhood friends who embark on a quest to recover a legendary stash of gold hidden in a nearby mountain. Bowen Yang, Conan O'Brien, Meg Stalter, X Mayo, and Nichole Sakura co-star; John Goodman narrates. [Peacock] A WORLD RECORD CHRISTMAS: Holiday drama feature from Hallmark, about an autistic boy who decides to set a new Guinness World Record, unexpectedly uniting his entire community behind him. The film was inspired by real teen record-holder Auldin Maxwell. Nikki DeLoach, Lucas Bryant, and Aias Dalman co-star. [Peacock] BLUE BEETLE: The 2023 superhero film, inspired by the DC Comics character, stars Xolo Maridueña as recent college grad Jaime Reyes, who accidentally bonds with an ancient super-weapon from space following an awkward job interview at Kord Industries. Bruna Marquezine, George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, and Adriana Barraza co-star; Ángel Manuel Soto ("Charm City Kings") directed. [Max] TOM & JERRY: SNOWMAN'S LAND: 2022 direct-to-VOD holiday special starring the classic cartoon duo. After Jerry's nephew builds a snow mouse who comes to life, the race is on to the fabled Snowman's Village, the only place that can prevent him from melting. [Max] MAXINE'S BABY: THE TYLER PERRY STORY: Documentary profile of the actor, writer, filmmaker, and producer, directed by his long-time partner Gelila Bekele over the course of 10 years. The film particularly explores Perry's relationship with his late mother, Maxine, who passed away in 2009 following a long illness. [Amazon] TWIN LOVE: Debut reality dating series from the "Love Island" team, in which ten sets of identical twins will be split into two identical houses. After searching for new romantic partners as individuals, will the siblings end up making similar choices? Identical twins Nikki Garcia and Brie Bella co-host. [Amazon] LOVE IS FOR THE STRONG (AMAR É PARA OS FORTES): Debut drama series from Brazil about two women whose lives become intertwined when their sons are involved in an incident involving police violence. Tatiana Tibúrcio, Breno Ferreira, and Clara Moneke co-star. The series was inspired by the writings of rapper Marcelo D2, who also co-created. [Amazon] EXMAS: Original holiday romantic comedy feature from BuzzFeed Studios, starring Robbie Amell as a guy who visits home for the holidays, only to discover that his family is hosting his ex-fiancée (Leighton Meester) as well. Michael Hitchcock and Kathryn Greenwood co-star; Jonah Feingold ("At Midnight") directed. [Freevee] BIOSPHERE: 2023 indie sci-fi comedy starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass as the last two survivors on a depopulated Earth, who now live together within a protected, domed habitat. Mel Eslyn co-wrote the script with Duplass and directed, in her feature debut. [AMC+] BLACK ICE: 2023 Canadian sports documentary examining the lingering history of anti-Black racism in the sport of ice hockey, with a particular focus on the Coloured Hockey League of the Maritimes, founded in Nova Scotia in the late 19th Century. Hubert Davis ("Invisible City") directed; executive producers include Future, Drake, LeBron James, and Maverick Carter. [Hulu] THE SECRET LIFE OF DANCING DOGS: 6-part reality series from ABC News following a group of international handlers and their dogs as they prepare for live performances at England's Crufts Dog Show. [Hulu] SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18 NAVIGATING CHRISTMAS: Holiday romantic comedy from Hallmark, starring Chelsea Hobbs as a recently-divorced mom who visits a remote island with her son, and winds up running the local lighthouse. Stephen Huszar co-stars as the cute but aloof property owner. [Peacock] MISS UNIVERSO: The 72nd Miss Universe pageant streams live on Peacock from El Salvador starting at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT. The stream is taken from Telemundo's Spanish-language broadcast. [Peacock] THE RAILWAY MEN:  Hindi-language period drama miniseries from India, based on the true story of the 1984 Bhopal chemical plant disaster. The series relates the story of a few real-life heroes who came together to save thousands of lives. R Madhavan, KK Menon, Divyenndu, and Babil Khan co-star; Shiv Rawail directed. [Netflix] SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 PERIODICAL: Documentary from MSNBC Films exploring the science and politics of menstruation, and the ongoing social stigma around discussions of the female menstrual cycle, through interviews and mixed-media storytelling. Angel Shari Brown, Anna Konkle, Gloria Steinem, Megan Rapinoe, Naomi Watts, and others make appearances. [Peacock] A MERRY SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS: Holiday comedy from Hallmark starring Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf as estranged siblings who reunite for a Christmas trip to Scotland with their mom (Janet Grene). [Peacock] THE ELF ON THE SHELF: SWEET SHOWDOWN: Debut Food Network competition series in which teams of dessert experts prepare edible showpieces based on challenges issued by Santa and his elves, for a shot at a $25,000 grand prize. Kardea Brown and Ashley Holt serve as judges; Duff Goldman hosts. [Max]

4 The historical drama series "Mary & George" will now stream on Starz in the US instead of AMC. The seven-part series -- produced in the UK by Sky Studios -- lands sometime in 2024. More: Julianne Moore stars as Mary Villiers, the calculating Countess of Buckingham who prepped her son George (Nicholas Galitizine) to become the influential court favorite of King James I of England. The cast also features Nicola Walker, Niamh Algar, Laurie Davidson, and Simon Russell Beale. "Killing Eve" vet D.C. Moore wrote the script, which was inspired by the nonfiction book "The King's Assassin" by Benjamin Woolley.

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5 Peacock renewed the reality dating series "Love Island USA" for two additional seasons, taking the show through Season 7. According to Peacock's internal data, "Love Island USA" is the platform's most popular reality show. More: Season 5 of "Love Island USA" debuted in July, and features cast members searching for new partners in Fiji. Peacock recently launched a spinoff series, "Love Island Games," in which cast members from international "Love Island" shows return for a second chance at love. The "Love Island" franchise launched in the UK in 2015 before becoming a global phenomenon.

6 600 classic episodes of the UK sci-fi favorite "Doctor Who," originally released between 1963 and 1989, will stream for free in the US on the Tubi service. Episodes from the show's classic era -- featuring the First through the Seventh Doctor -- were previously exclusive to the BritBox subscription service in the US. More: The "Who" episodes are available as video-on-demand, but there's also a dedicated FAST channel running them on a schedule. Tubi will also feature a "New to Who" collection of recommended episodes for newcomers to the franchise. Episodes from the "Doctor Who" revival era -- running from 2005 through the present day, and including the Ninth through Thirteenth Doctors -- stream on Disney+ in the US.

7 QUICK HITS The The Kubernetes Cookbook is your comprehensive companion equipping you with the knowledge and techniques to harness the full potential of Kubernetes.* Former "The Late Show" host David Letterman will return to the Ed Sullivan Theater on Monday, November 30, as a guest; he'll be interviewed by his successor, Stephen Colbert. The latest stand-up special from former "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah, titled "Where Was I," hits Netflix on December 19; the special features material from Noah's recent "Off the Record Tour." "Baby Shark's Big Movie" -- the debut animated feature starring Pinkfong's viral YouTube character -- premieres December 8 on Paramount+ and the Nickelodeon cable network. Co-creator and star Donald Glover gave Entertainment Weekly an early peek at his upcoming Amazon Prime Video series based on the 2005 spy movie "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"; Glover and "Pen15" vet Maya Erskine play a married couple who realize they are both covert spies working for rival agencies. "Sand Land," an anime series based on a short story by "Dragon Ball" creator Akira Toriyama, will stream on Hulu in the US. ABC announced its midseason schedule, starting on January 22 with "The Bachelor" season premiere. The legacy horror sequel "The Exorcist: Believer" comes to Peacock on December 1. "Netflix Cup" host Bert Kreischer discussed the viral moment in which he tackled an attempted protester in a new interview with Deadline. YouTube loosened its monetization policies around some forms of "mature" content; videos featuring sensual dancing that's not sexually graphic, such as twerking, can now receive ad revenue on the platform, along with clips that include breastfeeding. In a post-screening Q&A, actor/director Bradley Cooper claims he spent six years learning how to conduct music for a six-minute sequence in his Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro"; the film hits Netflix on December 20. A line-up of shorts from MTV Documentary Films hit the Paramount+ platform next week; all the shorts were produced by MTV executive Sheila Nevins, who also directed one of them, "The ABCs of Book Banning." Samsung's free ad-supported streaming service, Samsung TV Plus, added a number of new channels; the expanded Kids and Family hub features content from "Blippi," "Barney and Friends," "Teletubbies," "Sonic the Hedgehog," PBS Kids, Moonbug, "Ryan and Friends," and more. "A Disturbance in the Force," a feature documentary chronicling the making of the infamous 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special," hits VOD platforms and Blu-Ray on December 5. "Chicago Fire" regular Kara Killmer, who portrays paramedic Sylvie Brett, will exit the series during its 12th season. *This is sponsored content

Upcoming Events NOV 25 AI in Financial Services with Saroop Bharwani Virtual Watch On Demand NOV 25 The Future of Fractional Work with David Berkowitz Virtual Watch On Demand * This is a sponsored event

Knowledge Hub Term of the Day Editorial calendar: An editorial calendar is a plan or schedule outlining which content a company intends to create, publish, and promote online Read More Question of the Week What perks would convince you to return to the office? Join the conversation

Lon Harris Writer Lon Harris is the writer and editor of Inside Streaming and was the very first person to ever write an Inside newsletter. He lives in Los Angeles, California, and also writes about TV and film for Fandom, Screen Junkies, Rotten Tomatoes, Gamma Ray and others. Plus he has a Game of Thrones podcast called "Casterly Talk" and competes on The Movie Trivia Schmoedown as "The Professor." This newsletter was edited by Lon Harris

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