What To Watch This Week: Velvet Buzzsaw, I Am The Night, Super Bowl and more

Welcome to What To Watch, your weekly guide to recommendations for television viewing. There is so much broadcast on the small screen these days, it can sometimes be daunting to figure out how to spend your hard-earned time. Well, worry no more! We at JoBlo.com are TV fanatics and have prepped a handy guide for you to follow over the next seven days. Each week, we will bring you picks catered to your viewing mood. If you have recommendations you think we missed, let us know in the comments below or email your selections to [email protected].

OUR PICKS FOR January 28th – February 3rd

Wanna watch something….from the director and co-star of WONDER WOMAN?

I AM THE NIGHT (Airs January 28th on TNT) – This true crime story gives a unique spin on the identity of the Black Dahlia killer. The marquee talent of director Patty Jenkins and her WONDER WOMAN star Chris Pine should have led to a series that is a lot better than it ended up. Many of you may enjoy this series a lot more than I did, but expect it to be a lot slower and hard to follow that the trailers lead you to believe.

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Wanna watch something….featuring the world's greatest mustachioed detective?

THE ABC MURDERS (Premieres February 1st on Prime Video) – The big screen MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS introduced a new generation to Agatha Christie's iconic Hercule Poirot. While director Kenneth Branagh is ushering in a big screen sequel, this small screen take on the character stars John Malkovich in the lead role. While his facial hair is not as impressive as Branagh's, it is always welcome to see the great Malkovich at the center of a fascinating story.

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Wanna watch something….like GROUNDHOG DAY but darker?

RUSSIAN DOLL (Premieres February 1st on Netflix)Natasha Lyonne stars in this new series that she wrote and co-created that follows a woman who cannot escape a nightmarish party that ends in her death. While it may sound more like HAPPY DEATH DAY rather than GROUNDHOG DAY, the similar conceit of reliving the same day over and over is treated a lot funnier here but much darker than either of those films. An original and unique take for a TV series, this will offer a cool spin on the plot device.

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Wanna watch something….that somehow makes high art into a horror show?

VELVET BUZZSAW (Premieres February 1st on Netflix) – The partnership between writer/director Dan Gilroy and star Jake Gyllenhaal produced NIGHTCRAWLER, one of the best movies of 2014. Their follow-up effort which also brings NIGHTCRAWLER's Rene Russo is a star-studded film that looks like the best horror movie you never knew you needed. Some buzz says it may not be as terrifying as the trailers allude, but it is intriguing enough that you have to check it out. Plus, since it is going to be on Netflix, you don't have to leave your couch!

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Wanna watch something….with awesome commercials (and a football game, too)?

SUPER BOWL LIII (Airs February 3rd on CBS) – Even if you aren't into sports, you are going to tune into this football game. Why? There are the commercials including one for a potential BIG LEBOWSKI related project starring Jeff Bridges. But, the movie trailers that will debut are going to be something you have got to see. We could see a new AVENGERS: ENDGAME trailer or even a STAR WARS: EPISODE IX teaser. The possibilities are endless and will make it worth having to endure the New England Patriots being on screen for four hours.

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Wanna watch something….that takes an unexpected twist on Valentine's Day?

INTO THE DARK: DOWN (Premieres February 1st on Hulu) – The four episodes in Blumhouse's holiday-themed anthology series have been a mixed bag so far, but their Valentine's Day offering could be the best of the bunch. Featuring a stuck elevator and the psychological horror that follows, Down looks to be as funny as it does scary.

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Wanna watch something….funny and self-referential?

RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION (Premieres January 30th on YouTube) – Ryan Hansen was hilarious on Starz's short-lived series Party Down and is just as good on this series playing a fictional version of himself. The self-refential trailer above is funny enough to make me give the second season of this show a shot.

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Wanna watch something….that is hilarious and disturbing at the same time?

THE SHIVERING TRUTH (Now Streaming on Adult Swim) – This animated series is almost impossible to describe. From the deranged creator of MTV's Wonder Showzen, this series takes inspiration from The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits but twists them in a hilarious way. The series is gory, weird, and nonsensical in places, but with voice talent like Michael Cera, Jonah Hill, Try Parker, Janine Garafolo, and more, this is a sleeper hit you need to see. The short first season is now streaming, so catch up before new episodes debut.

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Got any recommendations for must watch series airing on TV? Maybe something binge-worthy? Let us know in the comments below!

And check out the JoBlo TV Show Trailer channel on YouTube for the latest trailers and clips from your favorite shows!

Source: JoBlo.com

About the Author

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Alex Maidy has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. A Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and a member of Chicago Indie Critics, Alex has been JoBlo.com's primary TV critic and ran columns including Top Ten and The UnPopular Opinion. When not riling up fans with his hot takes, Alex is an avid reader and aspiring novelist.