What’s New in Pop Culture: November 11-17, 2024
Releases this week in TV, Music, Movies & Games
“Dune: Prophecy” premieres on HBO/Max; Shawn Mendes finally drops his new album; Dragon Quet III HD Remake arrives on Switch.
TELEVISION
Tuesday 11/12: “St. Denis Medical” (NBC/Peacock; Comedy)
Based on the previews, this new sitcom is going for an “Abbott Elementary” vibe but set in a hospital. Starring Wendi McLendon-Covey and David Alan Grier.
Wednesday 11/13: “Bad Sisters” (Apple TV+; Crime, Black Comedy)
Sharon Horgan’s terrific dark comedy about a quartet of sisters who conspire to murder their other sister’s awful husband returns, with Fiona Shaw joining the cast.
Thursday 11/14: “Say Nothing” (FX/Hulu; Thriller, Drama)
This mini-series explores Northern Ireland and the Irish Republican Army during The Troubles, set around a young mother abducted from her home in 1972.
Thursday 11/14: “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” (Food Network/Max; Baking Competition)
Separating art from art here, the actors who played Fred and George Weasley host this baking competition in which teams must bring to life magical bakes from the now-tainted book series.
Friday 11/15: “Silo” (AppleTV+; Sci-Fi, Thriller)
Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, and Common return for Season 2 of this gripping post-apocalyptic thriller.
Friday 11/15: “Cobra Kai” (Netflix; Drama, Action)
Season 6 of the karate drama concludes, bringing back Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and cast both new and old as this Karate Kid spinoff heads to an international tournament in Spain.
Sunday 11/17: “Dune: Prophecy” (HBO/Max; Drama, Sci-Fi)
Set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune films, this prequel series follows the founding of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood and stars Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong, and Travis Fimmel.
Sunday 11/17: “Landman” (Parmount+; Drama)
From “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, this Texas-set drama stars Billy Bob Thornton as a failed oilman facing down death. With Jon Hamm, Demi Moore, Ali Larter, and Michael Pena.
MUSIC
Friday 11/15: FLO Access All Areas (R&B, Girl Group)
The London girl group behind “Fly Girl” is back with its first full-length album, with features from GloRilla and Cynthia Erivo, and MNEK in the producer booth.
Friday 11/15: Linkin Park From Zero (Nu Metal/Hip-Hop)
The early 2000s Nu Metal band returns seven years following the tragic death of frontman Chester Bennington, with new co-lead vocalist in Emily Armstrong from Dead Sara.
Friday 11/15: Gwen Stefani Bouquet (Pop, Country)
It was only a matter of time before Gwen Stefani, now married to country superstar Blake Shelton, put out a country-inspired album. That would be this, her first non-holiday album in eight years.
Friday 11/15: Mary J. Blige Gratitude (R&B)
The 15th studio album by R&B superstar Mary J. Blige, with features from Fabolous, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, and others.
Friday 11/15: Shawn Mendes Shawn (Pop/Rock)
The fifth album from the former teen pop/rock prodigy feels like a much more mature, stripped-down affair, with down-tempo acoustic tracks, almost bordering on blues.
11/15: Jon Batiste Beethoven Blues (Instrumental, Blues/Jazz)
The former bandleader for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” reinterprets some of Beethoven’s most iconic works into blues and jazz improvisations.
MOVIES
Tuesday 11/12: Larger Than Life: Reign of the Boybands (Paramount+; Documentary, Music)
Another doc into the boyband craze, this one featuring interviews with members — and super fans — of The Osmonds, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, New Kids on the Block, Hanson, and more.
Wednesday 11/13: Emilia Perez (Netflix; Drama, Musical)
Jacques Adiard’s buzzy crime musical stars Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofia Gascon in what has been described as a “fever dream.”
Wednesday 11/13: Return of the King: The Rise and Fall of Elvis Presley (Netflix; Documentary, Music)
This documentary chronicles the lead up to Elvis Presley’s 1968 comeback special, and includes interviews with entertainment luminaries Billy Corgan, Conan O’Brien, Priscilla Presley, and others.
Friday 11/15: The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland (Hulu; Holiday, Animated)
This new animated special blends two classic stories, bringing Santa Claus into Lewis Carroll’s surreal fantasia. Featuring the voices of Gerard Butler as St. Nick and Emilia Clarke is Queen of Hearts.
Friday 11/15: Red One (Wide; Holiday, Action)
Santa (J.K. Simmons) has been kidnapped, and only Chris Evans, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lucy Liu, and a polar-bear man can save him. Sleigh, queen.
GAMES
Tuesday 11/12: Rise of the Golden Idol (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox; Puzzle, Mystery)
A completely bonkers-looking mystery game in which you must solve murders and other crimes while being on the lookout for conspiracy theories and out-of-this-world behaviors.
Tuesday 11/12: Tetris Forever (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox; Puzzle)
Celebrate 40 years of the addictive puzzle game with this collection featuring more than a dozen Tetris titles and spinoffs, many getting their first release outside of Japan.
Thursday 11/14: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox; RPG, Remake)
Originally released on the NES as Dragon Warrior III, this chronologically first game in the Erdrick Saga gets a complete overhaul in the 2D/3D style used for Octopath Traveler.
Thursday 11/14: LEGO Horizon Adventures (PC, PS5, Switch; Adventure, Family)
The Horizon games get the Lego treatment as protagonist Aloy hunts down animal-formed mechs using caveman weaponry, while also collecting shiny things.
Thursday 11/14: “Miniatures” (iOS, PC, Switch; Puzzle, Atmopsheric)
This atmospheric title features four interconnected interactive vignettes that make for a low-key unsettling experience. I feel like we’re all living in a highly unsettling reality, so that’s a choice.
