Apple — the new HBO? — offers size and spectacle

An old tradition – the Television Critics Association tour – has returned, with a surprise:
For now, it seems, Apple TV+ — with “The New Look” (shown here) and other large mini-series — has become the new HBO.
Certainly, the old HBO is still around and sometimes thriving. “Succession” has gobbled up all those Emmys and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” has returned.
But in the past, HBO led the semi-annual TCA sessions. It delivered the biggest stars (Robin Williams, Nicole Kidman, Garth Brooks, Briitney Spears, etc.) and shows (“Sopranos,” “Game of Thrones”). This time? Under new ownership (as part of Warner Bros. Discovery), it didn’t show up.
But Apple did. On Monday (Feb. 5), the tour finally returned after cancellations due to Covid or strikes. Apple introduced nine shows, with starpower (Michael Douglas, Ricky Martin, Carol Burnett, Eva Longoria, etc.), huge production values or both.
Those production values will be clear on consecutive Wednesdays.
On Feb. 14, Apple has “The New Look,” following two fashion icons during World War II and beyond. Coco Chanel, was accused (much later) of collaborating with the Nazis; Christian Dior provided elegance to the wives of Nazis and collaborators.
Dior had “a burning desire to bring something beautiful,” said Ben Mendelsohn, who plays him. Both designers changed “this world of fashion in such huge ways.”
To reflect that, the show took elaborate steps in its settings and its fashions. One scene “recreated, as authentically as possible, (14 or more) dresses that Dior showed at his first collection,” said writer-producer Todd Kessler.
A week later, Apple opens “Constellation,” a thriller that includes an ambition space-disaster scene. That was a challenge, said director Michelle MacLaren. “We had the Ronin 4 (camera) and we had Steadicam and we had cranes and we had handhelds,” shooting in “an exactly replica of the (International Space Station).
Also coming are:
— Two comedies that go for big, broad laughs.“Loot” (April 3) is back for its second season, with Molly (Maya Rudolph) tryiing to give away a fortune. “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin” (March 1) is a wild English story in the Monty Python style. “We wanted to make something that is hard funny … and silly and just sort of optimistic and escapist,” producer Kenton Alley said.
— Two historical dramas, capturing turning points in American history. “Manhunt” (March 15) follows the search for Abraham Lincoln’s killer; “Franklin” (April 12) has Ben Franklin desperately seeking France’s help in the Revolutionary War. “In a close-to-60-year career, I’d never done a period piece,” said Douglas, who stars. He added, tongue-in-cheek: “I wanted to see how I look in tights.”
— The second season of “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy” (March 8). Levy doesn’t try tights, but in his mother’s Scottish homelands, he looks fine in kilts.
— “Land of Women” (this summer). While Levy is traveling all over Europe, Longoria has a drama-comedy in Spain’s wine country.
— “Palm Royale” (March 20), a drama-comedy that puts stars – Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Martin, Burnett, etc. — in the Palm Beach social world. “It is incredible, the scenery and … the costumes,” said Burnett, 90. “It is eye candy.”