What to Watch This Week: September 11 to 16

From a big-ticket drama set in the world of country music to a new daytime talk show hosted by an Oscar-winning American Idol alum, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

 

1. Monarch – Sunday, September 11, Global & Fox | Series Premiere

GlobalOriginally intended to premiere back in January, Monarch is arguably one of the biggest of the fall season’s big-ticket shows, a primetime soap set in the milieu of country music that hearkens back to such classics as Dallas and Dynasty. It tells the story of the Romans, the first family of country music, headed by Nashville legend Dottie Cantrell (Susan Sarandon) and husband Albie Roman (real-life country star Trace Adkins), known to his fans as the “Texas Truthteller.” Together, these singing spouses have created a showbiz dynasty extending to their daughter Nicolette “Nicky” Roman (Anna Friel), heiress to Dottie’s crown, who will stop at nothing to maintain the family’s musical dominance.

Other players in this saga include: middle child Luke Roman (Ben Sasse), CEO of the family’s business, Monarch Entertainment, who is the apple of his mom’s eye but has a troubled relationship with his father; youngest daughter Gigi (singer/songwriter Beth Ditto), a talented singer who nonetheless feels overshadowed by living with a family of superstars; Gigi’s wife, Kayla (Megan Holder), a top music manager who continually turns down Luke’s offers to join the family business due to her complicated history with the Romans and a secret she’s been keeping that could end her marriage; Clive Grayson (Adam Croasdell), Nicky’s husband, a struggling British actor whose career has seen better days; Ace (Iñigo Pascual), adopted son of Nicky and Clive, a singing phenom with a powerful stage presence who dreams of stardom; Ana Phoenix (Emma Milani), a crazy talented 17-year-old singer whose mother, Catt (Martha Higareda), is trying to get the Romans’ record label to sign her daughter.

Adding even more authenticity, music for the show is written by experienced Nashville songwriters, while real-life country stars such as Shania Twain, Martina McBride and Little Big Town make appearances in the first season.

 

2. American Gigolo – Sunday, September 11, Crave | Series Premiere

CraveIn this reimagining of the 1980 Richard Gere film, Jon Bernthal stars as Julian Kaye, who’s just spent 15 years behind bars after being wrongfully convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, and must now navigate complex relationships with is former lover (Gretchen Mol) and the people who betrayed him, all while finding his footing as a sex worker in modern-day Los Angeles. Meanwhile, a dogged police detective (Rosie O’Donnell) tries to uncover the truth about the murder that sent him to the slammer, stumbling upon a far-ranging conspiracy along the way. Lizzie Brocheré plays Isabelle, heiress to a lucrative prostitution ring, while other characters include Richard Stratton (Leland Orser), a self-made tech billionaire, and Lorenzo (Wayne Brady), Julian’s best friend and mentor.

 

3. The Serpent Queen – Sunday, September 11, Crave | Series Premiere

Starz 2In the vein of previous Starz historical dramas such as The White Queen and the recent Becoming Elizabeth, this series transports viewers to 16th-century France to explore the fascinating life of Catherine De Medici (Morton). Described as an “edgy, darkly comedic and completely unexpected” interpretation, The Serpent Queen’s characters break the fourth wall by speaking directly to viewers like they’re in the confessional room of a reality show, sharing their motivations and innermost thoughts. “Catherine De Medici, it’s the dream role,” said Morton while promoting the show at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. “Her story is incredibly fascinating, complex, alluring and devastating.”

 

4. The Resort – Sunday, September 11, Showcase | Series Premiere

ShowcaseFrom Sam Esmail, creator of Mr. Robot, this comedic thriller follows a young couple (The Good Place’s Harper and Made for Love’s Milioti) celebrating their 10th anniversary with a trip to the Mayan Riviera. A decade in, their relationship has reached something of a crossroads—which comes to a head as they become wrapped up in a true-crime mystery that took place at this very vacation destination 15 years ago, when two fellow tourists vanished without a trace. All told, the genre-bending affair is described as a “multi-generational, coming-of-age love story disguised as a fast-paced mystery about the disappointment of time.”

 

5. The Jennifer Hudson Show – Monday, September 12, City | Series Premiere

CityThe Oscar-winning singer and actress brings her talents to the daytime talk format in this new chat series featuring the production team behind The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Like the talk show hosted by fellow American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson, JHud will be infusing her show with plenty of singing. “Nothing makes me happier than to see everybody shine and know that they have a light within them,” said Hudson in a promo. “On The Jennifer Hudson Show, you’re going to get quality, you’re going to get honesty, you’re going to get all of my heart. And don’t forget the fun—we’re going to have a lot of fun.”

 

6. Comedy Night with Rick Mercer – Tuesday, September 13, CBC | Series Premiere

CBCIn eight one-hour episodes, the host of the much-missed Rick Mercer Report travels throughout Canada to meet with some of the country’s top standup comics (Mercer will even be doing some standup himself). In addition to performing, the comics also engage in conversation with Mercer to discuss their respective comedy philosophies and more.

 

7. The Come Up – Tuesday, September 13, ABC Spark | Series Premiere

ABC SparkThis unscripted series follows the lives of six young “disrupters” in the New York City art scene, making their way in post-pandemic Manhattan while bringing viewers into their world as the next generation of art icons begin to define themselves—creating a community and forging connections.

 

8. Summit ’72 – Wednesday, September 14, CBC | Series Premiere

CBCDuring the height of the Cold War, the world was captivated by the 1972 Canada-USSR Summit Series of Hockey. This four-part docuseries tells the definitive story of the legendary eight-game “Super Summit” through a modern lens, exploring its legacy and the influence it continues to have on Canadian culture and our national identity. Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and exclusive interviews with key players, an unforgettable chapter in Canadian history.

 

9. Goodnight Mommy – Friday, September 16, Prime Video

Prime VideoNaomi Watts stars as the titular mommy in this remake of the 2014 cult hit thriller from Austria, about a pair of twin brothers who begin to suspect that the heavily bandaged woman who just returned from the hospital is not, in fact, their mother.

 

10. I Used to Be Famous – Friday, September 16, Netflix

NetflixThis feature film follows the journey of Vince (Ed Skrein), who once experienced the heights of stardom as a member of a popular boy band. Those years are long gone, yet the fame that Vince once tasted is something he’s determined to recapture when a random meeting with a hugely talented young drummer on the autism spectrum (Leo Long) gives him hope that he’s the secret ingredient that will put him back on top.