Top US apps and telecasts of 2021 / "Real Time" returns to HBO / George R.R. Martin on "House of the Dragon"

Plus the holiday weekend calendar and more

Inside.com Part of   Network December 30, 2021

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This will be the final Inside Streaming for this year, so we've included the full weekend streaming calendar below. We'll be back again with a new issue on Monday. Have a safe and happy New Year celebration, and we'll see you in 2022!

According to analytics company Apptopia, HBO Max ranked among the 10 most downloaded apps in the US in 2021. Netflix and Disney+ both appeared on last year's list, but dropped off the 2021 edition. More: Apptopia reports that HBO Max was downloaded 45 million times between December 21, 2020, and December 20, 2021, putting in the 10th overall spot on the list. YouTube placed just above HBO Max, with 47 million downloads during the year. TikTok was the most-downloaded app in the US last year, with around 94 million installs. No streaming services made the Top 10 most downloaded apps internationally; TikTok also topped that list with 656 million downloads worldwide. Apptopia only measures iOS downloads in China. DEADLINE

Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" For the first time in recent memory, the Academy Awards didn't rank among the Top 100 most-watched US primetime telecasts of the year. In 2020, the Oscar ceremony was the second most-watched primetime telecast, with about 24.3 million viewers; it was only topped by the post-Super Bowl edition of "The Masked Singer." More: A number of CBS shows -- including "NCIS," "FBI," "60 Minutes," and "The Equalizer" -- featured prominently on the list; 21 different episodes of "NCIS" made the Top 100. CBS led the overall rankings with 39 programs in the Top 100, followed by NBC, Fox, ESPN, Paramount Network, and then ABC. 2 CBS primetime specials -- "Oprah with Meghan and Harry" and "Adele One Night Only" -- also cracked the list. Five episodes of Paramount Network's "Yellowstone" were also included. Most award show telecasts saw major audience drop-offs in 2021, including the Grammy Awards, The Golden Globes, the Emmys, and the American Music Awards; some of these shows were held in a limited capacity, or virtually, due to COVID restrictions. VARIETY

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WEEKEND CALENDAR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30 HILDA AND THE MOUNTAIN KING: Animated film spun off from the series "Hilda," bridging the gap between the show's second and third seasons. It finds Hilda living as a troll in the Stone Forest, attempting to find a way back home to her human mother. The film and series are based on the graphic novels by creator Luke Pearson. [Netflix] KITZ: Mystery-drama series from Germany about a group of wealthy friends who get trapped together at a tony Kitzbühel ski resort following an avalanche. As time passes, the long-buried tensions and conflicts within the group begin to come to the surface. Valerie Huber, Felxi Mayr, Sofie Eifertinger, and Bless Amada co-star. [Netflix] SERGIO MENDES IN THE KEY OF JOY: 2020 feature documentary profiling the legendary Brazilian musician and his band, Brasil '66, with a focus on his global impact and various collaborations. Will i am, Quincy Jones, Harrison Ford, and others make appearances; John Scheinfeld ("The Happy Days of Garry Marshall") directed. [Peacock] FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 COBRA KAI: The "Karate Kid" sequel series returns for a fourth season, which finds the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang dojos joining forces to defeat Cobra Kai at the big All Valley Karate Tournament. Regulars Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Xolo Maridueña, Marin Kove, Mary Mouser, and Tanner Buchanan return; Thomas Ian Griffith reprises his role as "Karate Kid Part III" baddie Terry Silver this season. The show has already been renewed for Season 5. [Netflix] THE LOST DAUGHTER: Maggie Gyllenhaal makes her directorial debut with this 2021 drama, based on the novel by Elena Ferrante. Olivia Colman stars as a middle-aged divorcée on a beach vacation, where encounters with a young family trigger dark memories of her own early experiences with motherhood. Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, and Peter Sarsgaard co-star. Gyllenhaal won the Golden Osella Award at the Venice Film Festival for her screenplay. [Netflix] QUEER EYE: Season 6 of the reality TV mainstay finds the Fab Five -- Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, and Jonathan Van Ness -- traveling to Austin, Texas to help more people makeover their homes, wardrobes, and personal lives. [Netflix] STAY CLOSE: Crime drama series from the UK, based on the novel by Harlan Coben. It centers on three very different people -- a working mom, a struggling documentary filmmaker, and a driven detective -- who are connected by a dark secret from their pasts. Richard Armitage, Sarah Parish, Cush Jumbo, and James Nesbitt co-star. [Netflix] SEAL TEAM: 2021 animated family comedy feature about a group of seal friends who join forces to fight back against the gang of sharks that are threatening their home. The voice cast includes JK Simmons, Kristen Schaal, Patrick Warburton, Dolph Lundgren, Sharlto Copley, and Matthew Rhys. [Netflix] MILEY'S NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY: NBC will forego its usual Carson Daly-hosted New Year's Eve special for the first time since 2003, in favor of this event -- airing and streaming live from Miami -- featuring hosts Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson. Performers include Saweetie, Brandi Carlile, 24KGoldn, Jack Harlow, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Anitta. The show starts at 10:30 pm ET on both NBC and Peacock. [Peacock] THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF DALLAS: Season 5 of the Bravo reality series debuted on TV in early 2021 and comes to Peacock today. This season's cast includes Stephanie Hollman, Brandi Redmond, D'Andra Simmons, Kameron Westcott, Kary Brittingham, and Tiffany Moon. Bravo hasn't yet announced plans for a sixth season. [Peacock] NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH: The CBS New Year's Eve live special features a number of country music stars performing from multiple venues around downtown Nashville, including Jason Aldean, Jimmie Allen, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Dan + Shay, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, and Blake Shelton. Bobby Bones and Rachel Smith host. The show kicks off at 8:00 pm ET on both CBS and Paramount+. [Paramount+] THE ESTABLISHED HOME: Debut unscripted series from Magnolia Network featuring designer Jean Stoffer exploring and sharing some of her favorite projects from around her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. [Discovery+] RESTORATION ROAD WITH CLINT HARP: The Magnolia Network reality series follows carpenter Clint Harp as he travels the US, tracking down noteworthy historical structures in need of a renovation and upgrade. Season 2 comes to Discovery+ today. [Discovery+] THE '80s: TOP TEN: Clip series from National Geographic, featuring expert-curated "Top 10" lists of watercooler moments, gadgets, toys, fast food, commercials, streetwear, and more that defined pop culture in the 1980s. Rob Lowe hosts. All six episodes arrive on Disney+ today. [Disney+] DISNEY'S HOLIDAY MAGIC QUEST: Holiday special that aired in early December on Disney Channel, featuring the cast of "Zombies" competing in a string of late-night challenges inside the Walt Disney World Resort. Competitors include Milo Manheim, Kylee Russell, Meg Donnelly, and Trevor Tordjman; Yvette Nicole Brown hosts. [Disney+] GARY OWEN: BLACK FAMOUS: The actor and comedian's fifth special was recorded at the Memorial Hall OTR in his hometown of Cincinnati, and centers on his recent and very public divorce. [Showtime] DISHMANTLED: In this unconventional cooking competition series, originally developed for Quibi, two blindfolded chefs are blasted with mystery foods from a cannon, then attempt to identify and recreate the original dish. Titus Burgess hosts. Season 2 hits Roku Channel today. [Roku] SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 HARRY POTTER 20th ANNIVERSARY: RETURN TO HOGWARTS: Reunion special bringing together cast members from the "Harry Potter" franchise, recorded at the Warner Bros. Studios Tour London on some of the original sets from the films. In addition to stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, the special also features appearances from Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, and filmmakers David Heyman, Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates. [HBO Max] HARRY POTTER: HOGWARTS TOURNAMENT OF HOUSES: Trivia game show for hardcore Hogwarts fanatics that aired earlier this year on TBS. Helen Mirren hosts; several actors from the "Potter" films make special guest appearances. The full four-part series hits HBO Max on Saturday. [HBO Max] THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE: 2021 biopic starring Jessica Chastain as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, who rose to prominence alongside her husband Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) in the '70s and '80s, but saw her empire crumble following a string of scandals. Cherry Jones and Vincent D'Onofrio co-star; Michael Showalter ("The Big Sick") directed. [HBO Max] BATMAN: SOUL OF THE DRAGON: This 2021 animated Batman feature is based on an original story rather than being adapted from a comic book or graphic novel. Set in the 1970s, it finds Bruce Wayne (David Giuntoli) on a quest to find his former martial arts instructor, who has mysteriously gone missing. The voice cast features Mark Dacascos, Kelly Hu, Michael Jai White, James Hong, and Jamie Chung. [HBO Max] JUSTICE SOCIETY: WORLD WAR II: Another animated film from DC, this one finds The Flash (Matt Bomer) traveling back in time to World War II, where he helps the Justice Society of America stop a Nazi incursion into the United States. Stana Katic, Omid Abtahi, Darren Criss, and Chris Diamantopoulos co-star. [HBO Max] SËR BI (LES TISSUS BLANCS): Wolof-language short film from Senegal following a young woman on the day before she is due to get married, as she searches for strategies to hide the fact that she is no longer a virgin. [HBO Max] GHOST HUNTERS: TAPS RETURNS: Debut revival of the ghost-hunting reality series featuring returning paranormal investigators Jason Hawes, Steve Gonsalves, and Dave Tango, alongside newcomer Shari DeBenedetti. The TAPS team will catch up with some of their classic cases while also looking into new reports of supposed hauntings over the course of 12 new episodes. [Discovery+] MRS. BROWN'S BOYS NEW YEAR SPECIAL 2022: The Irish-British sitcom "Mrs. Brown's Boys" centers around loud-mouth matriarch Agnes Brown (Brendan O'Carroll), who frequently breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the viewers directly. This is the second of two holiday specials spun off from the show this year, which originally aired on the BBC. [BritBox] FALLING FOR FIGARO: Romantic comedy feature from the UK starring Danielle Macdonald as an American who travels to Scotland to pursue her dream of singing opera, then signs up for an intense training course taught by a legendary former diva (Joanna Lumley). Ben Lewin ("The Catcher Was a Spy") co-wrote and directed. [Hulu] THE HOOK UP PLAN (PLAN CŒUR): The French romantic comedy series, centering around Elsa (Zita Hanrot) and her increasingly desperate search for love, returns on Saturday for a third and final season. Sabrina Ouazani, Joséphine Draï, Syrus Shahidi, and Marc Ruchmann all return for the new episodes. [Netflix] CHIEF DADDY 2: GOING FOR BROKE: Comedy feature from Nigeria, serving as a sequel to the 2018 holiday hit "Chief Daddy." In this new adventure, the Beecroft family fights amongst themselves, and new arrivals, over their shared inheritance. Folarin Falz Falana, Funke Akindele-Bello, Kate Henshaw, Ini Edo, Patience Ozokwo, Nkem Owoh, and Linda Ejiofor co-star. [Netflix] SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 THE EQUALIZER: The CBS crime drama series returns from hiatus on Sunday night for the second half of its second season. Queen Latifah stars as Robyn McCall, a divorced single mom and ex-CIA operative her uses her elite training and knowledge to help everyday people in need. [Paramount+] NCIS: LOS ANGELES: The action-procedural series is also back, finishing out the remainder of its 13th season. The cast includes Chris O'Donnell, Daniela Ruah, Eric Christian Olsen, and LL Cool J. [Paramount+] WIPEOUT: Reboot of the syndicated obstacle course-themed game show, which debuted on TBS in April 2021. Season 1 comes to HBO Max today. John Cena, Nicole Byer, and Camille Kostek co-host. [HBO Max]

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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." Editor Jonathan Harris is a writer for Inside.com. Previously, he wrote for The Huffington Post, TakePart.com, and the YouTube channel What’s Trending.

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