When it comes to TV shows, November is generally nothing to write home about. Most network and cable programs have already started their new seasons, so one-off events and specials are the order of the day. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some hidden gems in the streaming and premium cable landscapes.
Master of None (Netflix, premieres Nov. 6)
The funny thing about Aziz Ansari is that I’ve missed him terribly and he hasn’t even gone anywhere. His most famous role as an actor has been his portrayal of government employee turned “mogul” Tom Haverford in the warm, fuzzy comedy Parks and Recreation. That show came to an end last winter after seven lovely seasons. Since then, Ansari recorded a Netflix standup comedy special at a sold-out Madison Square Garden and wrote a book, Modern Romance, a cross-pollination of sociology and comedy. In Master of None, Ansari plays a 30-year-old actor living in New York City who’s trying to figure everything out. Viewers might initially anticipate a Tom Haverford/Tommy Timberlake type character, but Ansari is moving toward a more mature and thoughtful persona. I can’t wait for this new show to arrive so that audiences can see what he’s capable of when it comes to both writing and acting.
Flesh and Bone (Starz, premieres Nov. 8)
This dramatic miniseries about the cutthroat world of ballet comes from Moira Walley-Beckett, a former writer and executive producer on Breaking Bad. Hollywood has portrayed the classical dance industry in varying lights. Audiences have seen the soapy cult classic Centerstage, the dark drama Black Swan and the more playful TV series, Bunheads. I can say on good authority that Flesh and Bone won’t be much like Amy Sherman-Palladino’s tween dramedy, but more like the heavy down Black Swan. From what I have gathered, the cast is able to dance and act, a necessary combination in making any arts drama effective and believable.
Getting On (HBO, returns Nov. 8)
Getting On is entering its third and final season, but it’s not too late to jump on the bandwagon. It’s a crime that the show doesn’t get as much recognition as fellow HBO series like Game of Thrones and Veep. It stars Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne), Alex Borstein (Family Guy) and Niecy Nash (The Soul Man) as medical professionals working in an unglamorous extended care unit. It’s a wonderful contrast to soapier medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy, where everyone looks good even after hours of surgery. Getting On is hilarious and has a cool authenticity that many other series can’t match. Although sharp one-liners are its bread and butter, one of the best things about the show is that it isn’t numb to the need for sensitivity and a little compassion in a hospital setting. It feels genuine in both its writing and acting. Go ahead and start watching.
John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid (Netflix, premieres Nov. 13)
If you’ve seen John Mulaney’s last standup special, 2012’s New in Town, you’ve probably been quoting it ever since. It’s a compact hour of sheer writing genius, enhanced only by Mulaney’s matter-of-fact delivery and boyish charm. He first established himself as a writer on Saturday Night Live, where he co-created the famous Stefon with Bill Hader. He left that job in 2012 to develop and star in his own TV show, Mulaney, a modern-day take on Seinfeld. Unfortunately for him, the show failed to gain an audience and critics buried it, so he focused again on his standup. I really enjoyed his past material, so my expectations are high for Mulaney’s new standup special, aptly titled The Comeback Kid. I hope it will showcase all that he’s capable of in his natural habitat.
Marvel’s Jessica Jones (Netflix, premieres Nov. 20)
I’m starting to think Oprah Winfrey is giving away superhero shows like she did cars. “You get a show, you get a show, everybody gets a shooooooow!” Television has Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., The Flash, Arrow, Daredevil, Supergirl and now Marvel’s Jessica Jones. Thankfully, the character Jessica Jones is noticeably different from the rest of the pack, and I hope viewers will take a chance on another superlady besides the perky Supergirl or the sexy Black Widow. Jessica works as a private investigator after her career as a superhero came to an abrupt end (which she’s pretty bitter about), and what I’m most intrigued by is Krysten Ritter (Don’t Trust the B**** in Apartment 23) and her portrayal of the character. I like the dimension and element of “the cool girl” that Ritter can bring to the role: She’s dark, cynical and snarky, a stark contrast to TV’s other female hero, Supergirl.
Eddie Murphy: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize (PBS, premieres Nov. 23)
Only 18 people have ever received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and it’s a who’s who of humorists from Richard Pryor and Steve Martin to Whoopi Goldberg and Will Ferrell. I usually find these sorts of occasions bloated, self-important and slow. However, I believe we as an audience have to be reminded of Eddie Murphy’s accomplishments. His last few years haven’t been all that productive or stellar; most recently Murphy famously appeared on SNL’s 40th anniversary special, and, after a glowing introduction by Chris Rock, proceeded to not tell a single joke. It was awkward and baffling, to say the least. Comedy fans need to be reminded of his legendary standup and his roles in films like Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, and perhaps this night will re-inspire Murphy to get back to his roots as a comedic tour-de-force.
