February is all about the return of Halo (Paramount+), Abbott Elementary (ABC) and Ghosts (CBS). Nothing else matters. As long as I consume these this month, I will be a very happy person. Oh wait! There is one other thing…
Awards season is in full swing! I’m not one of those people who pretends awards don’t matter. Recognition matters for various reasons and it’s fun and exhilarating and affirming to watch it happen in real time, celebrating with other people. Are these award shows perfect? Not even close. Every organization has its issues. I’ll be watching as the awards evolve, and they will. They are. It’s a slow…very slow…a glacially paced slow start but it’s happening. Perhaps one day I’ll sit down and unpack all the ways in which these awards shows need to be fixed but today is not that day. It’s exhausting to even think about. So. What award shows am I making note of this month?
We’ve got the Grammys on the 4th, the Directors Guild of America Awards ceremony on the 10th which isn’t aired, Writers Guild of America Awards nominations announced on the 21st, SAG Awards on the 24th, Film Independent IFC Spirit Awards on the 25th, and the Producers Guild of America Awards ceremony on the same day thought that isn’t aired. Of these, you already know the Spirit Awards is where it’s at. Cannot wait! But there’s more than this to put on your radar this month so let’s get into it!
Books
Admittedly, I have not done my due diligence as far as checking out all of the books that are coming out this month but there are a few that stick out! I’m a huge fan of Safia Elhillo‘s work and she has a new one coming out called Bright Red Fruit. I don’t even care what it’s about, I’m going to read anything she writes. Same goes for Tahereh Mafi, which you know if you’re no stranger to Hollywood the Write Way. Her latest is All This Twisted Glory. I’m also looking forward to No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub and Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes. As for the most anticipated this month? Billy Dee Williams has a memoir coming out, What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life so I’ve already placed that on hold at the library but I do want my own copy at some point. So yeah, that’s what’s at the top of my radar for this month!
Returning TV:
My most anticipated returning TV show this month is hands down Halo. I am not a gamer so I went in fresh with this one. I fell in LOVE with season one and I cannot wait oh my god, I can’t wait until season two premieres. I am SO excited. The first season of Halo is some of the best television I’ve seen in the past few years. Just absolutely incredible. As for comedy, it’s all about the return of Abbott Elementary and if you haven’t started watching this show yet, please self correct. You’re missing out big time!
I’m also really excited for the final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm and the return of Ghosts which I’ve enjoyed from day one. I still need to watch the British version though. I also want to make a point to mention Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur (Disney+) because I am so tired of Black led TV shows coming and going with the quickness and then hearing people complain with “where are the Black shows?” when they are here…you are just not watching. So, uh, pay attention. Do your diligence. And watch this show. It’s such a cute and fun animated family show that is not getting the love it deserves. Watch!
Now I know what I just said but I’m not gonna hold you with this last one. Genius on National Geographic is back for another season. This time, the focus is on MLK and Malcolm X. I know all I need to know about these figures at this point, so I’m not the target audience here for this but I am happy to know that this story is out at the start of Black History Month for those who want a dramatized version of their stories with today’s talent.
New TV:
Okay, so we’ve got 3 new shows that I’m going to check out this month. First is AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER on Netflix, then THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE on AMC and finally, CONSTELLATION on Apple TV+. My expectations for the live action Avatar: The Last Airbender series are steady. Enough said there. If you know, you know. As for The Walking Dead, don’t ask me why I still watch all of these spinoffs. I am a sucker. Lastly, there’s Constellation. Apple TV shows are so extremely hit or miss for me so I’m managing my expectations with this as well. So, yeah, nothing this month that I’m over the moon excited for as far as new TV series go but I am rooting for all of these to pleasantly surprise me. I want them all to be good, that’s why I’m watching!
Movies/Documentaries
Note: Be sure to follow me on Letterboxd!
I can’t say with enthusiasm that there are standout releases this month for me but if I HAD to choose, I guess I would say that I’m looking forward to a solid fun time with Argylle and hoping that Bob Marley: One Love is good as well.
What are you anticipating this month?
February 2, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Argylle
Orion and the Dark (Netflix)
*******
February 6, 2024
Books
* Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo (YA)
* No Time Like Now by Naz Kutub (YA)
* How the Boogeyman Became a Poet by Tony Keith Jr. (YA)
* All This Twisted Glory by Tahereh Mafi (YA)
* You’re Breaking my Heart by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (YA)
* Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda (YA)
* ASAP by Axie Oh (YA)
* A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams (A)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
Waitress: The Musical
February 9, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Drift
Ennio
Lisa Frankenstein
The Taste of Things
*******
February 13, 2024
Books
* The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala (YA)
* The Fox Maidens by Robin Ha (YA, G)
* Freshman Year by Sarah Mai (YA, G)
* Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, Illustrated by Ekua Holmes (YA, P)
* Convergence Problems by Wole Talabi (A)
* What Have We Here?: Portraits of a Life by Billy Dee Williams (N)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
The Marvels
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Priscilla
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon – Season One
February 14, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Bob Marley: One Love
*******
February 20, 2024
Books
* The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert (YA)
* A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal (YA)
February 23, 2024
Movies/Documentaries
Ordinary Angels
Parallel
*******
February 27, 2024
Books
* Snowglobe by Soyoung Park (YA)
* Till Human Voices Wake Us by Rebecca Roque (YA)
Movies & TV on Blu-ray/DVD
Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season
TV Premieres On My Radar
Note: Like above, the titles listed below are only of shows that I enjoy or am looking forward to checking out (new series are in CAPS), it’s not a definitive list of all of the premieres this month.
Sunday
8pm The Equalizer: Season 4 (CBS, Feb 18)
9pm THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE (AMC, Feb 25)
10pm Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Final Season (HBO, Feb 4)
Wednesday
Streaming CONSTELLATION (Apple TV+, Feb 21)
9pm Abbott Elementary: Season 3 (ABC, Feb 7)
Thursday
Streaming Halo: Season 2 (Paramount+, Feb 8), AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER (Netflix, Feb 22)
TBD Genius: MLK / X (National Geographic, Feb 1)
8:30pm Ghosts: Season 3 (CBS, Feb 15)
Friday
Streaming Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur: Season 2 (Disney+, February 2)