By Rick Gables
Documentary filmmaker and self-described “anxious New Yorker” John Wilson makes his HBO debut as writer, director, cameraman, producer, and narrator of the all-new six-episode docu-comedy series How To with John Wilson, debuting Friday, Oct. 23, at 11 p.m. ET/PT. In a uniquely hilarious odyssey of self-discovery and cultural observation, Wilson covertly and obsessively films the lives of his fellow New Yorkers while attempting to give everyday advice on relatable topics. The awkward contradictions of modern life are eased by Wilson’s candid, unpolished commentary, with season one’s episodes offering up his distinct take on a range of deceivingly simple topics. Building upon Wilson’s previously released “how to” short films, the episodes take wildly unexpected turns but are grounded in John’s refreshing honesty.
The Age of Nature, a three-part documentary series, premieres Wednesdays, Oct. 14 – 28, at 10 p.m. ET on PBS (check your local listings). The series explores how an increased awareness of the natural world is leading to a new chapter in the story of both humanity and the planet. With stunning photography, the series focuses on the resiliency of Earth’s ecosystems through stories of success, as scientists, citizens, and governments act to fix past mistakes and restore the environment. With the current pandemic exposing the fragility and vulnerability of humankind, the balance of nature and our relationship with it is more important than ever. Narrated by Uma Thurman and filmed on seven continents, the series presents creative ideas from around the globe for dealing with such pressing issues as climate change, animal extinction and environmental degradation.
SHOWTIME will premiere its documentary Kingdom of Silence on Friday, Oct. 2, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The film explores the complicated dynamic between the United States and Saudi Arabia as a backdrop to the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi. The documentary explores the history between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in the decades leading up to today’s troubling interactions between the Trump administration and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the process, the film shines new light on Khashoggi’s remarkable journey — from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the halls of power in Riyadh and Washington, from the Arab Spring to the rise of Saudi Arabia’s new Crown Prince.
