Between streaming and cable, there is a seemingly endless variety of things to watch. Here is a selection of TV shows and specials that are airing or streaming this week, Sept. 1-6. Details and times are subject to change.
A mockumentary, two documentaries and a fictionalized crime.
As most people who have worked at a local newspaper know, the work that goes on there can be goofy, deeply important but also very hard given the lack of financial and logistical resources. (At my first newspaper internship, I went to the police station to get information on someone who was arrested, I saw the mayor and I interviewed a resident about their new garden, all in the same day.) In “The Paper,” the fictional documentary crew of “The Office” are headed to the Midwest to document the struggles of a local newspaper and its staff members. Greg Daniels, who also worked on “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” is the force behind this show. Streaming Thursday on Peacock.
A documentary that premiered earlier this year, “The Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke” detailed the case of Franke, a family vlogger who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for child abuse. That series also mentioned Jodi Hildebrandt, the YouTuber who rose to notoriety through her close relationship with Franke, and who received the same prison sentence. The new series “Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence” looks again at the case through the lens of their troubling relationship and their motivations. Streaming Monday on HBO Max.
Pumpkin spice beverages are back on menus, there’s a chill in the air and it’s almost football season. In anticipation of the season, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions is releasing “NFL Classics: After Further Review” with celebrity fans to take a look back some of football’s biggest moments, alongside the people who were part of them. On the first episode, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith sit down to relive the 1995 NFC Championship Game where the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Green Bay Packers, 38-27. Other episodes will feature Kurt Warner, Cedric the Entertainer, Sebastian Maniscalco and Phil Simms. Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Vice TV.
In the new mini-series “Task,” Mark Ruffalo plays an F.B.I. agent who is investigating a string of violent robberies in the suburbs of Philadelphia. The show was created by Brad Ingelsby, who previously created and wrote “Mare of Easttown.” Tom Pelphrey and Emilia Jones also star. Sunday at 9 p.m. on HBO and streaming on HBO Max.
Climbing a mountain and baking a cake.
What happens when a group from Memphis attempt to climb a rock tower on Mount Kenya? That’s what the new documentary series “Memphis to the Mountain” shows. The rock towers are known for being particularly difficult to climb and the natural elements, including thin air at 16,000 feet, certainly don’t help. Streaming Friday on Hulu.
As the weather starts to cool, every Friday will bring a new episode of “The Great British Baking Show.” The 10-week competition will remain as it always has (that is, after all, the beauty of such a comforting show) with bakers very gently and kindly competing to make Devonshire Splits and Jaffa Cakes — with the hopes of maybe, just maybe, getting a handshake from the judge Paul Hollywood. Streaming Friday on Netflix.
A pretend band and real musicians.
Live from the UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., it’s … the MTV Video Music Awards. LL Cool J is on hosting duties this year and Mariah Carey will be performing and receiving the Video Vanguard Award. Jelly Roll, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae and J. Balvin are also set to perform. Moonman statuettes are given out based on fan votes, including for the newly added categories “best pop artist” and “best country.” Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS and MTV or streaming on Paramount+.
Five years ago, Jonas Pate created a steamy and tension-filled TV phenomenon with “Outer Banks.” And now he’s back to do it again in “The Runarounds.” But instead of a treasure hunt and a missing father being the main plot drivers, this series centers on five teenagers in Wilmington, N.C., who recently graduated high school and are trying to make it big with their rock band. And naturally, there’s rivalry, romance and coming-of-age moments. The fictional series features a real band, who will be dropping singles and a soundtrack with the episode releases. Streaming Monday on Prime Video.
Shivani Gonzalez is a news assistant at The Times who writes a weekly TV column and contributes to a variety of sections.
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