'The Crown' Season Five, 'Weird Al' Biopic Among November Streaming Recs

by Julian Spivey

Photos: Roku, Netflix & Disney

---

Blockbuster – Netflix – Thursday, November 3
It’s kind of ironic that Netflix, the business that put movie rental stores like Blockbuster out of business, is now debuting a show called “Blockbuster” about employees of the last Blockbuster store in America. As a movie buff, I look forward to the potential of a workplace comedy featuring Blockbuster employees and the series features a talented cast including Melissa Fumero (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) and Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat). It’s probably a good sign the series was created by “Happy Endings” creators David Caspe and Jackie Clarke, and I hope it could be similar in theme to NBC’s former sitcom “Superstore,” which Clarke also helped create. 

---

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story – Roku Channel – Friday, November 4
I thought at first “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” would be a straight biopic and I was excited to see the life and career of Yankovic brought to film. Once the trailer debuted I realized this was going to be a much wilder ride than your standard pop culture biopic fare. But why would a movie about a guy who parodies stuff be straightforward in the first place? Daniel Radcliffe stars as the titular Yankovic and Evan Rachel Wood plays pop sensation Madonna, Yankovic’s love interest (yes, you read that correctly). “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” is a big moment for the Roku Channel, but don’t be worried if you’re not a Roku user. I know for a fact you can download the Roku Channel app on an Amazon Fire Stick and I’m sure there will be other options for viewing this film. 

---

The Crown: Season 5 – Netflix – Wednesday, November 9
The fourth season of Netflix’s “The Crown,” which aired in late 2020, was arguably the show’s best season yet (I don’t quite think it was, but it was great) and was definitely the show’s most award recognized as it swept the major Emmy drama categories winning Best Drama, Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress in a drama series. Season five sees the show change cast members for the first time since the beginning of season three as the royal family has aged. Imelda Staunton takes over as Queen Elizabeth II with Jonathan Pryce now playing Prince Philip, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Dominic West as Charles, Prince of Wales and Elizabeth Debicki as Diana, Princess of Wales. The season is sure to feature the downfall of Charles and Diana’s marriage. 

---

The English – Amazon Prime Video – Friday, November 11
Amazon Prime Video’s newest Western drama series “The English” continues the trend of big screen stars taking on the small screen in streaming series with Emily Blunt taking the lead as Cornelia Locke, an Englishwoman who arrives in the American West in 1890 seeking revenge against the man who killed her son. She meets and is helped by a former cavalry scout and member of the Pawnee Nation, played by Chaske Spencer. The trailer makes it seem like an uber-violent, thrilling series. 

---

Fleishman is in Trouble – Hulu – Thursday, November 17
“Fleishman is in Trouble,” is a new Hulu limited series produced by FX Originals, based on the 2019 novel of the same name written by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. The series features the wonderful leads of Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes. Eisenberg is a recently divorced fortysomething trying to get his life back on track when his ex-wife (played by Danes) disappears leaving him to look after their children. In the midst of all this, he realizes he’ll only be able to figure out what happened to his wife if he is more honest about how their marriage fell apart. The series will feature a strong supporting cast of Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, Adam Brody and Josh Radnor. 

---

Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium – Disney+ - Sunday, November 20
Elton John’s multiple-year, delayed by Covid Farewell Tour is reaching its American end this month with a final show at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, the sight of one of his most memorable career performances. I believe this will be the first-ever concert live stream via Disney+ and will feature Elton John’s greatest hits as he says so long to American audiences in the three-hour live stream that will start at 9:30 p.m. CST. I saw Elton John on his Farewell Tour toward the beginning of it in Tulsa, Okla. In early 2019 and it was absolutely fantastic. I wouldn’t miss this live stream if you’re a fan.