What to watch this weekend April 19, 2024: TV awards contenders

Kaitlin Thomas
·3 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Few documentaries have been as genuinely shocking as director Andrew Jarecki’s 2015 true crime documentary series “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst.” Using existing media, reenactments and exclusive interview footage of Durst, who had agreed to be interviewed by Jarecki, the six-episode series investigated three unsolved murders in which Durst had been a suspect. It was a captivating spectacle that became a game-changing piece of art when, the day before the series finale aired on HBO, Durst was arrested for first-degree murder after being caught on a recording stating, “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”

Nearly a decade after winning the Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Jarecki is back with “The Jinx — Part Two.” Premiering Sunday at 10/9c, the HBO series details the events of the next eight years, during which time Durst was tried and convicted of the murder of his longtime friend Susan Berman before eventually dying in custody in 2022. The six episodes offer viewers an inside look at the prosecution’s case, revealing Durst’s phone calls from prison and featuring interviews with the prosecution, the defense and even the judge and jury. It might not reach the dramatic highs of its predecessor, but “The Jinx — Part Two” is another compelling entry in the true crime documentary space, making it the awards contender to watch this weekend.

More from GoldDerby

SEE Experts slugfest: ‘Under the Bridge’ is one of the year’s dark horse Emmy contenders

However, if you’d rather not think about Durst, it’s certainly not your only option. Other contenders include:

  • “Under the Bridge”: If true crime is your game, you’ll likely also enjoy this new Hulu limited series, which is based on the book of the same name by Rebecca Godfrey and tells the story of 14-year-old Reena Virk (portrayed by Vritika Gupta), who was assaulted and murdered by a group of teens in 1997. Emmy nominee Riley Keough portrays Godfrey, while Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone plays a local police officer investigating the crime. The first two episodes are now streaming on Hulu.

  • “Conan O’Brien Must Go”: For everyone who misses “Conan,” or “Late Night” (or even “The Tonight Show”), this new series is proof that there is life after late night, at least for one of the best to ever do it. In “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” which is reminiscent of his “Conan Without Borders” specials, the Emmy winner and recent “Hot Ones” superstar travels to Argentina, Ireland, Norway and Thailand to meet fans from his podcast. Comedy obviously ensues. All four exceptionally funny episodes are now streaming on Max.

  • “Secrets of the Octopus”: This three-part Nat Geo docuseries is packing some serious star power. Executive-produced by Oscar winner and noted ocean enthusiast James Cameron and narrated by universally beloved actor Paul Rudd, the latest installment of the award-winning “Secrets of” franchise is visually stunning as it takes viewers beneath the surface to explore the fiercely intelligent creatures of its title. You’ll never look at octopuses the same way again. The premiere airs Sunday at 8/7c on Nat Geo in celebration of Earth Day, and will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

PREDICTthe 2024 Emmy nominees by July 17

Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Don’t miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why?

Best of GoldDerby

Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.