What to watch: No rest for the 'Glicked'
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From the people who brought you "Barbenheimer," "Saw Patrol" and "Garfuriosa," here comes ... "Glicked."
It's time for another meme-able double feature of high-profile flicks out the same day, but this one's interesting because both are crazy anticipated (and weirdly feature a lot of animals). "Wicked," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is the "Wizard of Oz" prequel that fans have been drooling over for years, while "Gladiator II" returns director Ridley Scott to the Roman Colosseum, with Paul Mescal taking over sword-and-sandal duties from Russell Crowe. Those make our recommendations of things to watch before a busy Thanksgiving week, as does a roundup of fave Turkey Day TV episodes of classic shows.
Now on to the good stuff:
Defy gravity with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande in the 'Wicked' movie
Was the Wicked Witch of the West really that bad? And what makes a person wicked anyway? Therein lies the intriguing crux of "Wicked," director Jon M. Chu's showy adaptation of the mega-popular Broadway show. (Well, the first half of it anyway – another one's coming in a year!) The origin story tells how, before Dorothy showed up in Oz via magic tornado, green-skinned Elphaba (Erivo) and "good" witch Glinda (Ariana Grande) were college besties but things went sideways when they went to meet the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). While the movie is stretched and overstuffed, the two singing leads soar, especially the super-fab Erivo. (Peep my ★★★ review.)
"Wizard of Oz" fans, musical theater kids and grown-ups who belt "Defying Gravity" in the shower and/or car will all flock to "Wicked," but the PG-rated musical adventure appeals to young children, too. My bud Patrick Ryan put together what parents need to know going in if the little ones are begging to see it. (Flying monkeys? Still freaky.)
See 'Gladiator II' star Paul Mescal throw down in the arena with Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington
Yes, we are entertained again. Though "Gladiator II" doesn't rise to the level of the Oscar-winning 2000 original, it takes a more over-the-top approach to Roman fights and soapy drama. Lucius (Mescal), the son of Crowe's legendary Maximus, is an enslaved man who has to find his freedom in the blood-soaked Colosseum, taking on men and beasts alike. Pedro Pascal co-stars as a world-weary general while Denzel Washington – by far the best part of the movie – chews all the scenery as a power player looking to rise up the ranks. (Peep my ★★★ review.)
And can you believe Ridley Scott is already pondering a "Gladiator III"? He told my colleague Marco della Cava that he's been inspired by "The Godfather" trilogy and wants to get back to it because he loves period pieces so much. "I just have a passion for it," the director explains. "Frankly, modern drama often is just more boring."
Stream the best Thanksgiving TV episodes ever, from 'Friends' to 'WKRP in Cincinnati'
"As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." If you're a TV nerd, you know where that quote's from: the iconic 1978 Thanksgiving episode of "WKRP in Cincinnati." Sure, the Macy's parade is all fine and good but the true staple of the holiday is watching the hilarious disaster unfold as an Ohio radio station decides to hold a promotional turkey giveaway and it turns into an utter fiasco.
That classic sitcom moment charts at the top of TV critic Kelly Lawler's list of best Thanksgiving TV episodes ever. She also includes some standouts from a variety of other shows, including "Friends" (known for its Turkey Day extravaganzas), "The West Wing," "Gilmore Girls" and even "The Sopranos."
Even more goodness to check out!
- Pretty much Denzel Washington's whole family worked on Netflix's new drama "The Piano Lesson," an adaptation of the August Wilson play. (It's also really good!)
- Ted Danson and Michael Schur found a gem with "The Good Place," not so much with their new comedy "A Man on the Inside."
- Ariana Grande is not only in "Wicked," she's also in two of the top five "Saturday Night Live" sketches this season.
- Fun fact: Princes William and Harry were sources of inspiration for the HBO sci-fi drama "Dune: Prophecy."
- A-list documentarian Ken Burns has tackled baseball, the Civil War, jazz and national parks. So why not Leonardo da Vinci?
- Chad Michael Murray got ripped for Netflix's male stripper Christmas movie "The Merry Gentlemen" thanks to cardio, cryotherapy, vitamins, supplements and clean eating. Same, Chadster!
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@usatoday.com and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.