From Adam Sandler’s new standup comedy special to a musical tribute to late country singer Toby Keith, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

1. Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys  – Sunday, August 25, A&E

Settle in for an intimate look at Ol’ Dirty Bastard in this feature-length documentary that delves into the life and legacy of the rap icon who co-founded Wu-Tang Clan, widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time. He changed the face of hip-hop before his life ended at a tragically young age, and A Tale of Two Dirtys takes a deep dive into the brief but influential life of ODB — who was born Russell Tyrone Jones — as seen through the eyes of family, friends and some of the other groundbreaking artists who knew him best, including fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, and singer Mariah Carey.

2. Adam Sandler: Love You – Tuesday, August 27, Netflix  

Among the most successful comedians of the past three decades, Adam Sandler has also shown quite the knack for drama — working with directors like Paul Thomas Anderson on 2002’s Punch-Drunk Love and with the Safdie Brothers on 2019 thriller Uncut Gems. That latter film was so successful, in fact, it led Oscar-magnet Daniel Day-Lewis to text Sandler and absolutely rave about his acting chops. 

Now, Adam is mixing his methods a bit, tapping Gems co-director Josh Safdie to helm his next comedy special. No details have yet emerged, but a trailer sees the funnyman hitting the stage armed with his trademark guitar — so expect a silly song or two.

Speaking with AARP The Magazine about his genre-jumping career, Sandler mused: “I’ve done both for a long time. When I went to NYU, I did a lot of scenes that were just dramatic, not funny. Punch-Drunk Love was 20 years ago. That was different and exciting. I like giving myself over to a new challenge. Sometimes I feel like I’m tapped out with new thoughts, and then all of a sudden, something new comes up and I go, ‘OK, how can I make this happen?’ It was cool as hell pushing myself in new ways like I did on Uncut Gems . . . not worrying about laughs as much as what each character is going through and pulling for. But I do love comedy more than anything.” To watch trailer, click here.

3. Toby Keith: American Icon – Wednesday, August 28, NBC

The country music world lost a legend this past February when seven-time Grammy-nominee Toby Keith died of stomach cancer at just 62 years of age.

He’s a man who undeniably left his mark on pop culture with such hits as “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “Beer for My Horses,” while never shying away from voicing his political beliefs — regardless of the controversy they inevitably stirred up. He also consistently used his superstar platform for philanthropic causes such as pediatric cancer and performing for the troops in honour of his own father, a military veteran.

Mr. Keith will be posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame this October, along with several other genre icons. But in late July, Toby got a tribute all his own at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where a capacity crowd that included the singer’s wife and children were treated to renditions of his greatest hits, as sung by an array of fellow country stars like Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson and Keith’s fellow Oklahoman, Carrie Underwood. 

Before opening the show with her spin on Keith’s “A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action,” Underwood told the audience (via Billboard): “We are all here for one reason — this man, the Big Dog Daddy. His music, his heart, his life. Everyone on this stage loves Toby. Tonight, we are going to have a party he’d be proud of.” 

The performances that followed Underwood’s each, in their own way, offered a fitting tribute to the man of the evening — but perhaps the most poignant moment of this particular concert came when Keith’s 38-year-old daughter Krystal took the stage and belted out dad’s 2019 single “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

4. Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid – Wednesday, August 28, History | Series Premiere  

Legend has it that certain sacred relics are imbued with awe-inspiring spiritual power, including the Ark of the Covenant, the Holy Grail, the Fountain of Youth, the Mayan Calendar, the Philosopher’s Stone, the Crown of Thorns and others. Artifacts such as these are at the centre of this new series hosted and narrated by actor Dennis Quaid. Each hour-long episode combines immersive storytelling with recreations, archival footage and expert interviews to delve deep into the enigmatic origins and profound power behind each artifact, with historians, authors and scholars offering their insights. “I was drawn to this project not just because of its intriguing concept but also the way it deeply connects the universal human experience of faith and belief systems,” said Quaid. “This series is a unique opportunity for me to reinvest my religious interests and investigate the rich history of these holy marvels and the importance they hold for people around the globe.”

5. Kaos – Thursday, August 29, Netflix | Series Premiere

Both a leading man and an oddball character actor extraordinaire, Jeff Goldblum puts each of those skillsets to good use in this new fantasy comedy. He plays Zeus — yes, that Zeus. King of the gods. Except here, instead of Mt. Olympus, he and his fellow Ancient Greek deities have integrated into modern, suburban society. After eons as the most powerful being on the planet, Zeus suddenly finds himself dealing with an adversary he’s ill-equipped to vanquish: aging. Indeed, after spotting a wrinkle on his forehead, the Z-Man spirals into paranoia, convinced that his end is nigh — a tailspin that makes life miserable for his wife Hera (Ozark’s Janet McTeer), bickering brothers Poseidon (Cliff Curtis) and Hades (David Thewlis), and party-hardy son Dionysus (Industry’s Nabhaan Rizwan). 

That said, while Zeus is undoubtedly letting vanity get the best of him here, he’s not entirely wrong about his own imminent downfall, given that his former friend turned bitter enemy Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) is hatching a plot to take him out, using three unwitting mortals as pawns.

The show was created by British writer Charlie Covell, the mind behind quirky coming-of-age crime dramedy The End of the F***ing World. A diehard fan of the 1980s Clash of the Titans flick, Covell told Tudum: “After End of the F***ing World, the thing I’d always wanted to do was a modern retelling of the myths . . . It was always a mashup of stuff, but the stories were always about timeless things like love, and power, and death, and dysfunctional families. And it was always kind of funny in my head.” Added Goldblum: “My character is complicated and charismatic, not to mention cruel. Charlie Covell’s writing leapt off the page and struck my gizzard like a lightning bolt as something spectacularly smart, surprising, unexpected, profound and deeply moving.”

6. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Thursday, August 29, Prime Video | Season Premiere

The most expensive television show ever made returns for season two, as the war for the soul of Middle-earth begins in earnest.

We’re coming off a first season that ended with the big reveal that Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) was not, as first assumed, the Aragorn-esque human hero of the piece, but the evil Ring-lorder himself, Sauron!

Now, elven warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and the forces of good know what the enemy looks like — but his grand plan remains maddeningly shrouded in darkness.

That said, this new instalment offers viewers a chance to have a little sympathy for the devil, as it were — given that the villain has been at last revealed. And much of these eight episodes will, indeed, be spent unpacking his twisted psychology.

“From a storytelling perspective, instead of trying to guess who Sauron is, we’re now inside his mind,” Vickers teased to Entertainment Weekly. “In the past, the camera would cut away from him when he had his private thoughts. Now the camera follows him through those thoughts. The audience is in on it, which I think is quite fun.”

Added co-showrunner J.D. Payne: “In Sauron’s mind, he’s the hero of his own story. His idea of himself is that he wants to heal and rehabilitate Middle-earth. He’s got a very clear vision for how it should be done. The only problem is other people keep on getting in the way.” Of course, he has a wickedly insidious way of dealing with those problematic people. “Other villains might try to find your weakness and poke at it,” said Payne. “Sauron does something different where he tries to find what your strength is. The image of the Eye is really appropriate, because Sauron sees you. He sees the best version of who you want to be, and then he’s able to take your own desires for good and twist them to bring about his own evil ends.” To watch trailer, click here.

7. The Deliverance – Friday, August 30, Netflix

Writer-director Lee Daniels has, indeed, charted quite the eclectic career up to this point — from his Oscar-winning breakout film Precious to the zeitgeist-throttling success of primetime soap Empire.

Whether big screen or small, his work tends to embody a rare mix of prestige pedigree and trashy thrills — and that trend looks to continue with this new movie, headed straight for Netflix on Friday.

Loosely based on a true story, The Deliverance reunites Daniels with his The United States vs. Billie Holiday leading lady Andra Day for the tale of Ebony Jackson, a single mom looking for a fresh start for her young family. That admirable goal is complicated, however, when her new home is plagued by an otherworldly presence that takes aim at her loved ones. Soon, Ebony finds herself battling to keep her children from the clutches of both demonic forces and Child Protective Services. 

Described as “a genre-defying take on darkness, possession and finding a higher power,” the film also stars eight-time Oscar-nominee Glenn Close and Daniels’ old Precious Oscar-winner, Mo’Nique.

8. Inside the NFL – Friday, August 30, KTLA | Season Premiere

Host Ryan Clark is back with ex-NFL players Chad Johnson and Chris Long to provide their expert analysis. Joining the panel this season is former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” said Belichick.

9. Gary Gulman: Born on Third Base – Friday, August 30, Crave (Stream)

A standout from the early seasons of NBC reality competition Last Comic Standing, Gary Gulman hasn’t had the explosive success of fellow LCS alums such as Amy Schumer, Iliza Shlesinger or Canadian Gerry Dee, but he has quietly turned into one of the most revered performers on the modern standup scene. Witty, silly and cerebral, Gulman also doesn’t shy away from allowing audiences a glimpse at the tragedy that drives his comedy — evidenced in particular by 2019 special The Great Depresh.

Now, our man Gary is back with another HBO set: Born on Third Base. In it, the Massachusetts-reared comic “chronicles his childhood experiences with free school lunch programs and questionable dental care, as well as [taking] incisive swipes at billionaire-ism.” To watch trailer, click here.

10. A-List to Playlist – Friday, August 30, Netflix | Series Premiere

South Korean actor Cho Jung-seok has spent the past two decades as a matinee idol. Now, he’s out to prove he’s got the pipes to go along with those looks: giving himself 100 days to become a pop music superstar.