Netflix
“House of Cards”
March usually finds us attempting to shed layers of cold-weather clothing in favor of light jackets and sneakers, often unsuccessfully, considering Wisconsin winters. The TV world has much of the same mentality this month. Many outlets will launch lighter comedies (The Characters and Party Over Here) while still having the occasional blustery day (House of Cards).
House of Cards
Netflix, returns March 4
Don’t tell Frank Underwood, but I fell off the House of Cards bandwagon long ago (well, I more or less jumped off at a stop sign, Room-style). Back in 2013, I devoured the first season like it was about to expire from Netflix. The writing was rich, the plotlines were fascinating and even the mise-en-scène was right on the money. And of course, the acting was superb, with Kevin Spacey doing some of the best work of his illustrious career. When the second season came around, I couldn’t wait to watch. But after the first four or so episodes, I felt House of Cards had gone in a direction I wasn’t as interested in — with more focus on the governmental aspects and less on the media. And many of my point-of-identification characters were gone or fading into the background. That said, Spacey’s Emmy-worthy performance alone is enough to give the drama a shot as it moves into its fourth season.
Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl
PBS, premieres March 4
There are elements of contemporary country music that irk me, mainly that many performers today lack sincerity and depth in their songs. I have always had a special place in my heart for old-school country singers like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and a honky-tonk girl named Loretta Lynn. Sometimes I come away from watching biographical documentaries a little disappointed because they cover only the basic “Wikipedia facts” — but this is definitely not the case with Still a Mountain Girl, the latest and one of the better episodes of PBS documentary series American Masters. Just under two hours long, it features personal interviews with Lynn and her family, colleagues and friends that give great insight into the country music legend. The “You Ain’t Woman Enough” singer retraces her past, from growing up in rural Kentucky as a coal miner’s daughter to becoming a young wife and mother of six children to eventually transforming into the queen of country music. The personal interviews are what really pull the viewer in and give further insight to the layered Lynn (who at 83 years young is as sharp, funny and stunning as ever). Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl paints a clear picture of a strong, hardworking woman who lives her life as her authentic self.
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Logo, returns March 7
You better work! RuPaul’s Drag Race returns for its eighth season with more tea and plenty of shade. Its format is a parody of signature reality programs like America’s Next Top Model, Project Runway and American Idol. Each season, several drag queens (some seasoned and some newbies) compete in challenges ranging from standup comedy and impressions to costume design, acting and more. Unlike the aforementioned reality shows, you need to be all-around great at almost everything to take the crown (in host RuPaul’s words, you’ve got to have “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent”). Not only is this series fantastically fun to watch, it is responsible for introducing drag culture to a larger audience. Also, contestants come from all different ethnic, socioeconomic and geographical backgrounds, showcasing a diversity that is sometimes lacking in reality television.
The Characters
Netflix, premieres March 11
Rather than churning out more sitcoms, single-camera comedies or reboots, Netflix is giving us something a little different with this new series. Each episode, a different comedian gets his or her own 30-minute sketch show with “no rules.” I’m not sure exactly what the no-rules portion entails, but the open-ended concept sounds intriguing. It also appears to be Netflix’s way of testing out various comedians and seeing who might be able to handle their own sketch show. The eight cast members all have a variety of comedic acting backgrounds and improv experience, including standouts like Orange Is the New Black’s Lauren Lapkus, Saturday Night Live’s Tim Robinson and Broad City’s Paul W. Downs, who I am hoping will show off his bizarre and hilarious sense of humor. I’m pleasantly surprised that Netflix is investing in the rich art form of improv.
Party Over Here
Fox, premieres March 12
Party Over Here is a new sketch comedy series produced by Paul Scheer (The League) and the powerhouse Lonely Island trio of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, who achieved great success on Saturday Night Live with their extreme aptitude for musical comedy. They essentially revolutionized the digital short with videos like “Lazy Sunday,” “I’m on a Boat” and “Laser Cats.” Now, they will be competing with their alma mater on Saturday late nights. According to Variety, the 30-minute Fox series will spoof pop culture and politics — perhaps putting the Lonely Island’s signature musical twist on some of it — and stars relative newcomers Nicole Byer (Girl Code), Jessica McKenna (Riot) and Alison Rich (Resident Advisors).
Pee-wee’s Big Holiday
Netflix, premieres March 18
With the recent influx of ’80s and ’90s nostalgia shows, I’m hoping this new Pee-wee Herman film — produced by Judd Apatow and co-written by Love’s Paul Rust — is better than some of Netflix’s other reboots (come on, Fuller House). Paul Reubens returns as co-writer and star with a supporting cast that includes Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat and True Blood hot people Joe Manganiello and Tara Buck. There is something eternally playful and comforting about Pee-wee Herman. If you have a Netflix subscription, there’s no harm in checking out this 90-minute film in the hope that it brings back some of the joy you felt watching the original films and TV program.