Andy DehnartThe Boy Scouts of America. The Supreme Court. Vladamir Putin. Jason Kelce. Supermodels. Kids baking. These are a few of the subjects of reality TV specials and feature-length documentary films that will be streaming and airing in fall 2023.
The guide below includes announced documentaries and nonfiction specials that are premiering on broadcast, cable, premium, and streaming TV services, including PBS, HBO, Max, Netflix, Hulu, and FX, and Food Network. Some premieres are theatrical films making their television debuts, while others are original to television.
For documentaries that premiered before Sept. 1, 2023, and may still be streaming, refer to the summer 2023 documentary premiere guide.
I occasionally include multipart documentaries here, though this list generally does not include documentary series, which appear on my fall reality TV schedule. (I generally define series as multiple episodes airing over multiple weeks, mirroring episodic television, rather than a three-part documentary streaming all at one time. It’s imperfect, but they’ll be either here or there!)
In this guide, all times listed are in ET/PT, and are accurate at the time of publication. I update this list frequently, but since networks and streaming services often change their schedules, sometimes at the last minute, please check your guide or other TV listings.
Program descriptions in quotation marks indicate text that has come directly from network press releases, the show’s website, or other official materials. Other summaries are my own.
I always welcome updates, additions, and corrections to this list, so I can make it as comprehensive, accurate, and useful as possible. Just e-mail me. Thanks!
Fall 2023 TV documentaries and reality TV specials
September | October | November | December
September 2023
Week of Sept. 3, 2023
Ancient Empires (History Channel, Sept. 4, 5, and 6, at 8). “explores the foundations of the greatest empires of all time and the incredible stories of the three iconic rulers who amassed unbelievable power and transformed the world”: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Cleopatra.
Secrets of Penthouse (A&E, Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 4 and 5, at 9). “reveals the extraordinary story behind the rise and fall of Bob Guccione, at his height one of the wealthiest men in America, who made millions with Penthouse Magazine by taking on Playboy and pushing the world of adult entertainment further than ever before. When Bob Guccione died in 2010, he had lost his entire fortune. Now, with access inside the family and to those who knew him best, many of whom have never spoken before, this series reveals the truth about Bob Guccione and explores the impact he had on those closest to him.”
POV: While We Watched (PBS, Monday, Sept. 4, at 10). “an unfiltered look inside the nerve center of NDTV, once the bastion of truth for India’s network news, now spiraling downward in a wave of fake news, financial setbacks, growing nationalism and extremist attacks on truth” that “captures the energy of the newsroom, the inherent drama of reportage, and presents the human side of journalism, with an intimate look at one of India’s most celebrated journalists, Ravish Kumar, known for questioning those in power, often at his own peril. As the public discourse morphs into polarized bombast, Kumar and his colleagues struggle to compete within India’s vastly deteriorating news media industry.”
Frontline: Two Strikes (PBS, Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 10). “raises tough questions about crime, punishment and rehabilitation – and how harsh sentencing laws can mean that unarmed offenders end up incarcerated for life” through the story of how a former West Point cadet struggling with PTSD and addiction got life in prison in Florida after an attempted carjacking—a sentence that even the woman whose car he’d tried to take viewed as too harsh. But under a Florida statute that increases prison time for repeat offenders, Mark Jones’ fate had been sealed”
Frontline: Tutwiler (PBS, Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 10:30). “Frontline and The Marshall Project go inside Alabama’s Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women” for “an unforgettable window into the lives of incarcerated pregnant women—and what happens to their newborns”
Predators (Netflix, Sept. 6). “Experience life through the eyes of cheetahs, polar bears and more of the planet’s most powerful hunters as they fight against the odds to survive”
Scout’s Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America (Netflix, Sept. 6). “Survivors, whistleblowers and experts recount the Boy Scouts of America’s decadeslong cover-up of sexual abuse cases and its heartbreaking impact”
Never Let Him Go (Hulu, Sept. 6). “In 1988, Scott Johnson, a gay American mathematician, was found dead beneath a cliff in Sydney, Australia. Steve Johnson, Scott’s brother, would spend the next 35 years trying to solve the mystery of Scott’s death. He could have never imagined the tinderbox he would crack open—a wave of anti-gay violence, homophobia, and fear that cast a shadow for decades”
Rosa Peral’s Tapes (Netflix, Sept. 8). “features Rosa Peral’s first interview from prison since she was convicted of murdering her partner aided by an ex-lover”
Spy Ops (Netflix, Sept. 8). “Intelligence operatives from MI6 to the CIA share insider stories of spy craft, Cold War campaigns, and coups carried out by covert agents”
Week of Sept. 10, 2023
The Masked Singer season 10 premiere special (Fox, Sunday, Sept. 10, at 8). “a special celebrity performance and reveal – one of the biggest, can’t-miss unmaskings in the show’s history” plus “celebrity alumni from previous seasons … pair up for all-new duet performances – unmasked”
American Experience: The Busing Battleground (PBS, Monday, Sept. 11, at 9). “captures the class tensions and racial violence that ensued when Black and white students in Boston were bused for the first time between neighborhoods to comply with a federal desegregation order”
Kelce (Amazon Prime Video, Sept. 12). “chronicles Philadelphia Eagles team captain and All-Pro center Jason Kelce’s 2022-23 season, which began with him confronting one of the most challenging decisions any professional athlete will ever face—is now the time to hang it up? After deciding to return for his 12th NFL season, Kelce embarked on a remarkable journey, highlighted by the arrival of his third daughter; the debut of his chart-topping podcast New Heights, which he co-hosts with brother, Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis; and a history-making Super Bowl appearance that placed the entire Kelce family at the center of the sports world. But as the season came to a close, Kelce was still left grappling with what life looks like after he moves on from the game he loves, and if this hungry dog has one more run in him”
Football Must Go On (Paramount+, Sept. 12). “follows the emotional and physical journey of Ukraine soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk as they compete in the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League season against the constant backdrop of their homeland being ravaged by war”
American Experience: The Harvest: Integrating Mississippi’s Schools (PBS, Monday, Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 9). “a personal and powerful look at a coalition of Black and white students, parents and teachers who integrated a small Mississippi town’s public schools in 1970”
Wrestlers (Netflix, Sept. 13). “At a storied professional wrestling organization, new owners and a roster of rising stars strive to make an impact beyond the ring in this docuseries”
Donyale Luna: Supermodel (HBO, Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 9). “chronicles the remarkable life and career of Donyale Luna, the first Black model to grace the cover of both Harper’s Bazaar (1965) and Vogue (1966). Breaking barriers in the fashion industry, challenging the prevailing ideals of beauty, and influencing culture in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Luna remains largely unknown despite her stunning body of work and her collaborations with some of the foremost fashion photographers of the 20th century.”
American Experience: Jerry Brown: The Disruptor (PBS, Friday, Sept. 15, at 9). “the political and personal journey of the longest serving governor in California history. First elected at 36 years old and again at 72, Brown has spent over five decades tackling climate change and inequality”
Week of Sept. 17, 2023
POV: Bulls and Saints (PBS, Monday, Sept. 18, at 10). “After 20 years of living in the United States, an undocumented family decides to return home. Little do they know; it will be the most difficult journey of their lives and reawaken an intense desire for a place to belong. Set between the rodeo arenas of North Carolina and the spellbinding Mexican town they yearn for, Bulls and Saints is a love story about reverse migration, rebellion, and redemption”
The Saint of Second Chances (Netflix, Sept. 19). “Mike Veeck grew up in the shadow of his father, Hall of Fame baseball owner Bill Veeck. But it all fell apart when Mike blew up his dad’s career. Exiled from the game, the younger Veeck spent the next few decades clawing his way back, determined to redeem himself”
On The Verge with Peter Jidhe (Viaplay, Sept. 19). Peter Jihde travels to the United States” and “looks at different industries; faith for a fee healing, tailormade porn and private autopsies, but also the indigenous suffering. He also explores how climate change is destroying thousands of homes and how human violence against nature makes the planet we live on increasingly vulnerable and dangerous,” and “dive[s] into some of the conspiracy theories that millions of Americans claim to be true.”
Independent Lens: Sansón and Me (PBS, Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 10). “Filmmaker Rodrigo Reyes is inspired to make a documentary about Sansón, an immigrant serving life for first-degree murder, but authorities won’t allow the incarcerated young man to be filmed. In light of this, Sansón’s story is shared through dramatic reenactments of his letters, using members of his own family as actors”
The Super Models (Apple TV+, Sept. 20). “spotlights the remarkable careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Unprecedented access to the models takes viewers behind the camera and beyond the catwalk, revealing how they dominated the elite modeling world while illuminating a bond that single-handedly shifted the power dynamic of an entire industry”
Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal (Netflix, Sept. 20). “first-hand accounts from those who were there the days leading up to and following the murders, giving more insight than ever into that deadly night”
Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court (Showtime, Friday, Sept. 22, at 8). “reveals how the Supreme Court’s ideological balance has shifted over the years to reflect the hopes – and fears – of American citizens, exploring the interconnectedness between the Court’s and the nation’s future”
Saving the Gorillas: Ellen’s Next Adventure (Discovery Channel, Saturday, Sept. 23, at 8). Ellen DeGeners “fulfills her dream of protecting [Dian] Fossey’s legacy by building the The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Rwanda”
Week of Sept. 24, 2023
Kids Baking Championship: Bloodcurdling Bakes (Food Network, Monday, Sept. 25, at 8). “Four fan-favorite kid bakers dare to return to a kitchen that has been transformed into a spooky Halloween haunt. Duff Goldman and co-host Sam Seneviratne challenge them to create cemetery fault line cakes inspired by classic trick-or-treat candy bars”
Who Killed Jill Dando? (Netflix, Sept. 26). “Revisit the shocking 1999 murder of beloved TV presenter Jill Dando, which continues to mystify experts and the public”
72 Seconds in Rittenhouse Square (Paramount+, Sept. 26). “unravels the complex and nuanced story of two strangers, Sean Schellenger and Michael White, whose lives intersected in Philadelphia’s Rittenhouse Square on July 12, 2018”
Savior Complex (HBO, Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 26 and 27, at 9). “chronicles the controversial story surrounding Renee Bach, a young American missionary who felt called by God to set up a charity for malnourished children in Jinja, Uganda. But years later, shocking allegations arose that Renee was treating the sick children herself, without medical qualifications. Detailing Renee’s divisive journey, the series addresses the wider questions around ‘white saviorism’ and the ethics of foreign aid work done in the name of humanitarian and religious ideals.”
Frontline: Putin vs. The Press (PBS, Tuesday, Sept. 26, at 10). “tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Dmitry Muratov’s battle to defend free speech in Putin’s Russia. With unique access, the film follows Muratov as he fights to keep his newspaper alive and his reporters safe amid a government crackdown on the press”
Encounters (Netflix, Sept. 27). “Lights in the sky over Texas and Japan. Spacecrafts over schoolyards in Wales and Zimbabwe. It’s not science fiction – these stories of extraordinary mass sightings are true. Presented with fresh urgency by experiencers, top scientists, and military insiders, this thrilling four-part series sets aside skepticism to focus on belief, wonder, and the very human impact of encounters with extraterrestrial life.”
The Darkness within La Luz del Mundo (Netflix, Sept. 28). “complainants against La Luz del Mundo megachurch leaders expose the abuses they suffered through exclusive interviews”
American Masters: A Song for Cesar (PBS, Friday, Sept. 29, at 10). “Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez. Through interviews with Maya Angelou, Joan Baez, Carlos Santana, and more, see how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the social movement Chavez helped found, which mobilized thousands of farmworkers across the U.S.”
The New York Times Presents: How To Fix a Pageant (FX, Friday, Sept. 29, at 10; Hulu, Sept. 30). “Just as Miss USA and its parent company, Miss Universe, came under female ownership for the first time, a pageant rigging scandal and contestant revolt has lifted the veil on a deeply flawed organization. Now the company plans to increase profitability by embracing women’s empowerment. But it may be too little, too late. Contestants, coaches, judges, and former directors take us inside the often surprising world of pageantry and share what will be lost if this legacy brand can’t weather the storm.”
Cold Case Files: The Rifkin Murders (A&E, Saturday, Sept. 30, at 8). “documents the real-time New York State Police cold case investigation into the two unidentified victims of serial killer Joel Rifkin, the most prolific serial killer in New York State history. Through highly rare police access and several never-before-seen interviews, including the first interview with Rifkin in over a decade, cameras follow investigators as this 30-year-old serial killer case is reignited by TV producer Peter Reiss through his relationship with Joel Rifkin”
October 2023
Week of Oct. 1, 2023
The Ringleader: The Case of the Blign Ring (HBO, Sunday, Oct. 1, at 9). “In a candid, first-time interview with Rachel Lee, the so-called teenage mastermind behind a string of high-profile celebrity robberies in 2008 and 2009, … examines the motivations of Lee and a group of her friends who broke into celebrity homes in Hollywood to ransack and steal, exploring the possible reasons behind her actions including mental health issues and addictions, as well as the climate of celebrity excess that fueled the teens,recontextualizing the events behind the sensational headlines.”
POV: Murders That Matter (PBS, Monday, Oct. 2, at 10). “documents five years in the life of Movita Johnson-Harrell, an African American Muslim mother in Philadelphia, as she transforms from a victim of violent trauma into a fierce advocate against gun violence in Black communities. Though her story is local, it nonetheless remains a siren call in the wake of escalating gun-related deaths that ultimately impact Black and other communities of color throughout the U.S.”
Frontline: The Astros Edge: Triumph and Scandal in Major League Baseball (PBS, Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 10). “will explore the Houston Astros infamous 2017 cheating scandal and what it says about competition in baseball today. With sports reporter and author Ben Reiter, The Astros Edge will examine the making of one of the best teams and worst scandals in modern MLB history — as well as the limited accountability and how Astros baseball changed the sport”
Louis Tomlinson: All of Those Voices (Paramount+, Oct. 4). a “look at Louis Tomlinson’s musical journey and gives audiences an intimate and unvarnished view of his life and career. Through never-before-seen home videos, including unseen footage from Tomlinson’s time in One Direction and behind-the-scenes access to his sold out 2022 World Tour, the film offers a unique perspective on what it’s like to be a musician in today’s fast-paced world”
Beckham (Netflix, Oct. 4). “tells the inside story of a global football star and cultural icon. David Beckham is one of the most known names on the planet, yet few people know who he really is. From his humble working-class beginnings in east London, his drive and determination to win, and the battle to find balance between ambition, love and family, David’s story is one of immense ups and downs”
Race to the Summit (Netflix, Oct. 4). “Fearless alpine climbers Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold enter into a death-defying rivalry to set speed records on the Swiss Alps’ great north faces.”
The Real Housewives of Orange County Reunion (Bravo, Wednesday, Oct. 4 and 11, at 8). The cast reunites to answer written on Andy Cohen’s cards
Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy (Pluto TV, Oct. 5). “features original interviews with co-creators Terry Dunn Meurer and John Cosgrove, along with long-time producers, and directors of the show, pulling back the curtain and allowing fans to experience their favorite cases in a whole new light. The crew divulges behind the scenes stories and covers all aspects of the show from research and casting to solving mysteries soon after episodes aired. With never-before-seen outtakes of beloved host Robert Stack and a look into some fan-favorite moments”
Bobi Wine: The People’s President (National Geographic Channel, Thursday, Oct. 5, at 9; Oct. 6 on Disney+ and Hulu). “Born in the slums of Kampala, Bobi Wine, Ugandan opposition leader, former member of parliament, activist and national superstar musician, risks his life and the lives of his wife, Barbie, and their children to fight the ruthless regime led by Yoweri Museveni. Museveni has been in power since 1986 and changed Uganda’s constitution to enable him to run for yet another five-year term. Running in the country’s 2021 presidential elections, Bobi Wine uses his music to denounce the dictatorial regime and support his life mission to defend the oppressed and the voiceless people of Uganda. In this fight, he must also take on the country’s police and military, which are not afraid to use violence and torture in a vain attempt to intimidate and silence him and his supporters.”
Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe (Amazon Prime Video, Oct. 6). “delves into the world of Twin Flames Universe, an online group run out of suburban Michigan by the captivating YouTube influencers Jeff and Shaleia Divine. The couple’s promise is to match members with their perfect partner, but former participants describe the extreme lengths they have taken in order to claim their ‘twin flame.’ Journalist Alice Hines soon discovers that the promise of true love may come at a price”
American Masters: Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes (PBS, Friday, Oct. 6, at 9). “explores the groundbreaking sounds of the bebop pioneer, virtuoso percussionist and bandleader, whose far-reaching ambitions were inspired and challenged by the inequities of the society around him. Roach’s political consciousness, expressed in his groundbreaking Freedom Suite and other works, made him a fierce advocate for change at a time when the nation was steeped in racism.”
Week of Oct. 8, 2023
Last Stop Larrimah (Sunday, Oct. 8, at 9). “Nestled deep in the Australian Outback is the remote town of Larrimah and its 11 eccentric residents. When Paddy Moriarty and his dog Kellie left the local pub and vanished in December of 2017, a long history of infighting is unveiled as the remaining residents become suspects in an unfolding investigation that leads to Paddy being declared dead. The documentary, told in five chapters, shines a light on Larrimah’s quirky history and how the town’s once close-knit and jubilant residents brought about their own fate.”
The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime (ID, Monday, Oct. 9, at 9). “a timely tribute to Matthew’s story at a time when the LGBTQ+ community is once again under attack”
Independent Lens: El Equipo (PBS, Oct. 9, Mondays at 10). “Legendary U.S. anthropologist Dr. Clyde Snow sets out to train a new group of Latin American students in the use of forensic anthropology. Their goal: to investigate disappearances in Argentina during the “dirty war.” The group expands its horizons, traveling to El Salvador, Bolivia, and Mexico, doggedly working behind the scenes to establish the facts for the families of the victims”
Frontline: Elon Musk’s Twiter Takeover (PBS, Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 10). “examines Musk’s long and often troubled relationship with Twitter, following his journey from one of the platform’s most provocative users to its sole proprietor — exploring the acquisition, free speech, and the company’s uncertain future”
Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul (Netflix, Oct. 11). “Juul was the fastest-growing company in history. Now, they’re a cautionary tale. Based on the book Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul by TIME Health Correspondent Jamie Ducharme, and directed by R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry; Belushi), this four-part doc-series unpacks twenty years of Silicon Valley innovation, influence, and insanity to explain the spectacular flameout of the vaping device that almost changed everything.”
Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House (Hulu, Oct. 12). Russ McKamey “lures horror enthusiasts into his web. They find themselves pulled into the no-holds-barred world of McKamey Manor—a haunt that doesn’t end until Russ says so. … Driven by his personal fixations, he turned his backyard haunt into a bona fide torture chamber: videotaping ‘contestants,’ particularly vulnerable young women, as he sees how far he can push them – both inside and outside of the haunt”
Week of Oct. 15, 2023
Camp Courage (Netflix, Oct. 15). “a girl displaced by the war in Ukraine heads to a summer camp in the Alps with her grandmother, testing the limits of her bravery”
The American Buffalo (PBS, Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 16 and 17, at 8) “takes viewers on a journey through more than 10,000 years of North American history and across some of the continent’s most iconic landscapes, tracing the animal’s evolution, significance to the Great Plains, near demise, and relationship to the Indigenous People of North America”
The Devil on Trial (Netflix, Oct. 17). “explores the first—and only—time ‘demonic possession’ has officially been used as a defense in a U.S. murder trial. Including firsthand accounts of alleged devil possession and a shocking murder, this extraordinary story forces reflection on our fear of the unknown”
Homecoming (PBS.org, Oct. 18; YouTube, Nov. 24). “highlights the foundational work of the InterTribal Buffalo Council (ITBC), and how they’ve become a guiding force in the food sovereignty and cultural revitalization movements led by tribal citizens across the United States”
Nature: The Platypus Guardian (PBS, Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 8). “Witness the story of an extraordinary man and a mysterious animal living on an island at the end of the world…Tasmania. Pete Walsh is a Tasmanian with no background in natural history, yet he’s become obsessed with one of nature’s least understood creatures, the platypus. Before it is too late, Pete is on a mission to observe and understand these animals and save them from urban development in the capital city of Hobart. Pete befriends one particular female platypus he names Zoom. She lets him into her secretive world and Pete learns more about the life of this enigmatic species, capturing unique footage of their behavior.”
The Pigeon Tunnel (Apple TV+, Oct. 20). “pulls back the curtain on the storied life and career of former British spy David Cornwell — better known as John le Carré, author of such genre-defining espionage novels as The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Night Manager and The Constant Gardener”
NFL Icons: Jim Brown (MGM+, Saturday, Oct. 21, at 10.) ”The epic life of an American giant of athletics, acting, and activism, whose groundbreaking story winds from a childhood in rural Georgia, to a four-sport career at Syracuse University, to an NFL Championship-winning career with the Cleveland Browns. Brown was perhaps the league’s greatest running back before he helped transform Hollywood and played a highly visible role in the Civil Rights Movement.”
AKA Mr. Chow (HBO, Sunday, Oct. 22, at 9). “details the vibrant and varied life of Michael Chow. Born Zhou Yinghua in 1930s Shanghai, he would use creativity to triumph over childhood trauma, personal loss, and systemic prejudice, growing up to become the actor and artist before inventing a new identity, Mr. Chow, when he opens the first of his iconic restaurants. Having found fame and fortune in the West, Mr. Chow celebrates his Chinese roots and finds catharsis by returning to painting, reemerging as the artist M”
Week of Oct. 22, 2023
Milli Vanilli (Paramount+, Oct. 24). “tells the story of Robert ‘Rob’ Pilatus and Fabrice ‘Fab’ Morvan, who became fast friends during their youth in Germany. With Rob coming from a broken home and Fab having left an abusive household, they shared a similar upbringing and future goal: to become famous superstars. In a few short years, their dreams came true”
Explorer: Lake of Fire (National Geographic, Thursday, Oct. 26, at 10; Oct. 27 on Disney+ and Hulu). “In 2001, satellite imagery captured a mysterious ‘thermal anomaly’ on an unexplored volcano at the ends of the Earth. What lies inside could provide new clues to help predict volcanic eruptions around the globe. But the island is so remote, with conditions that are so extreme, no one has ever been able to reach the top to investigate what lies inside … until now.
The Enfield Poltergeist (Apple TV+, Oct. 27). “tells the riveting story of the most famous poltergeist haunting in history. Combining more than 250 hours of rare audio archive, meticulous recreation of the setting of the haunting and original interviews with the people impacted by the case, the series is an ambitious genre-bending story that explores the human fascination with the unexplained and its impact on those who live it”
Week of Oct. 29, 2023
NFL Icons: Charles Woodson (MGM+, Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10) “Woodson, a Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packer, legendary Oakland Raider, Ohio Mr. Football, Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Michigan, recounts his singular journey across the football landscape. Woodson, who played 154 games as a Raider, and 100 as a Packer, is now with FOX Sports”
Frontline: McConnell, The GOP & The Court (PBS, Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 10). “will explore how Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell helped transform the Supreme Court and U.S. politics. Amid scrutiny of the high court, and a power struggle in the GOP, the film charts McConnell’s rise and role pushing the judiciary to the right, and America’s polarized democracy”
November 2023
NFL Icons: Bill Cowher (MGM+, Saturday, Nov. 4, at 10). “A Pittsburgh native who rose to become the head coach of his cherished hometown team, and the youngest head coach in NFL history to lead his team to the Super Bowl, Cowher also led the Steelers on one of history’s greatest playoff runs to capture their fifth Lombardi Trophy. He is currently a studio analyst for The NFL Today on CBS.”
JFK: One Day in America (National Geographic, Sunday, Nov. 5, at 8; Disney+ and Hulu, Nov. 6). “weaves archival footage, some colorized for the first time, with key testimony from the last surviving witnesses to create an immersive, minute-by-minute examination of that pivotal day that forever changed history”
Legends of the Fork (A&E, Nov. 11, Saturdays at 9). Buddy Valastro “travels the country in search of the most renowned dishes and restaurants to uncover the ‘secret sauce’ to their success”
Buddy Valastro’s Cake Dynasty (A&E, Nov. 11, Saturdays at 10). Buddy Valastro and his family “bring the Carlo’s Bake Shop empire to new levels—expanding the business into new areas while still baking the most innovative and creative cakes around”
NFL Icons: Mike Singletary (MGM+, Saturday, Nov. 11, at 10). “The Hall of Fame middle linebacker and Super Bowl champion was the heart of arguably history’s greatest and most-feared defense, the fearsome 1985 Chicago Bears. Singletary has coached at all levels of football, including stints with the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers.”
The Lady Bird Diaries (Hulu, Nov. 13). “looks at one of the most influential and least-understood first ladies, featuring audio from the 123 hours of personal and revealing diaries Lady Bird Johnson began recording after JFK’s assassination and continued throughout her husband’s administration”
Stamped from the Beginning (Netflix, Nov. 15). “Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams brings Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s New York Times bestseller to the screen with Stamped from the Beginning. Published in 2016, Dr. Kendi’s National Book Award winner chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Williams’ documentary adaptation uses an innovative animation process that blends live action with the art of the era to illuminate figures and moments both well-known and obscure, both historical and contemporary.”
Nova: The Battle to Beat Malaria (PBS, Wednesday, Nov. 15, at 9). “Malaria is one of humanity’s oldest and most devastating plagues. In many parts of the world, it remains an ever – present scourge that sickens or kills millions of people each year. What if it could finally be defeated? Now, scientists may be on the verge of a breakthrough with a promising vaccine in the final stages of testing and approval. Follow researchers on a quest to deliver humankind from one of the world’s deadliest diseases”
Manhattan Theatre Club, a Home for Artists (All Arts, Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 9). “go behind the scenes in a new documentary charting the historic impact of this longstanding non-profit theatre under the stewardship of Lynne Meadow and Barry Grove who have led the institution for nearly 50 years”
Nova: Lee and Liza’s Family Tree (PBS, Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 9). “Many descendants of enslaved people have little record of their family’s ancestry. Follow one family’s quest to discover their lost history, and see how science and genealogy can help rebuild a family tree broken by slavery. Join filmmaker Byron Hurt at his extended family reunion as they celebrate the joy of family in the African diaspora, and discover new details of their history that they thought were lost forever”
December 2023
LEGO Masters: Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular (Fox, Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 18 and 19, at 8). “special guests NeNe Leakes, Marshawn Lynch, Kelly Osbourne and Rob Riggle pair up with fan-favorite former contestants – David Guedes (Season 3), Caleb Schilling (Season 2), Krystle Starr (Season 1) and Randall Wilson (Season 2) – to compete in jaw-dropping holiday-themed challenges for charities of their choice”