The Showtime cable network has set a fresh burst of shows for August and behyond.
That includes three scripted series – one looking at the collision of James Comey and Donald Trump, another (shown here) with Ethan Hawke ans John Brown – and three documentary series, ranging from Reagans to comedians.
Like others, Showtime has scrambled because of the COVID shutdowns. Two shows – “Billions” and “Black Monday” – paused mid-season, but the latter has since returned. The new line-up has:
BRITISH PICK-UP: Some networks (especially CW) have been busy buying shows already completed in other countries. Now Showtime has “We Hunt Together.” Eve Myles (“Torchwood”) and Babou Ceesay (“Guerilla”) play detectives caught up in sexual attraction, while tracking two killers. It starts Aug. 9.
SCRIPTED DRAMAS: Two of them, both potentially high-interest, are:
– “The Comey Rule” has Jeff Daniels as former FBI Director James Comey, with Brendan Gleeson as Donald Trump. It’s a two-part, four-hour story, Sept. 27-28.
– “The Good Lord Bird” has Ethan Hawke in the explosive role of John Brown, whose deadly Harpers Ferry raid preceded the Civil War. Originally scheduled for Aug. 9 (the spot that now goes to “We Hunt Together,” it’s now set to start Oct. 4.
DOCUMENTARIES: The three are:
– “The Comedy Store,” Mike Binder, the comedian-turned-filmmaker, traces the stand-up comedy burst that began at that Los Angeles club. It’s a five-parter, starting Oct. 4.
– “The Reagans,” looking at the Reagan White House and the power wielded by Nancy Reagan. It’s a four-parter, starting Nov. 15.
– “Belusi,” viewing the life of John Belushi. It airs Nov. 22, after the second “Reagans” episode.