Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Thursday, January 22nd, 2026:
PRODUCTION NOTES
There won't be a newsletter tomorrow morning. Friday is “ICE Out of Minnesota: Day of Truth & Freedom,” a general strike supported by Minnesota’s unions, progressive faith leaders, Democratic lawmakers and community activists. Organizers are encouraging all Minnesotans to stay home from work, school and refrain from shopping as a way of protesting the presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota.
While this isn't a political newsletter, given that many people I know here are observing the strike, I feel that I need to do the same. I'll send out a special weekend edition if the news warrants it.
Along those lines, this is a comment I received from a reader who was responding to my reaction from earlier this week about what was going on here in Minnesota:
"How do you classify the government oppressive when they are first trying to remove dangerous, criminal and illegal people? The trouble comes when citizens obstruct those charged with removing criminals."
I try and be mindful that some of my readers don't have the same political views as I do. So I am not writing anti-Trump screeds or lambasting all conservatives.
But this general strike is being driven by the realization of those of us in Minnesota that ICE is not here removing "dangerous, criminal and illegal people." They are focusing on arresting otherwise peaceful immigrants who may have been here illegally for decades. Or just people who look like they might be an immigrant. In just the past couple of days, we've seen a Hmong grandfather being perp walked out of his house after ICE agents broke down the front door. They brought him out dressed in shorts and slippers in below zero weather, even though he was a citizen and it later turned out he was arrested because he shared the same first name as someone they were looking to capture. ICE vehicles are now following food bank trucks trying to deliver food to schools and other locations where they can be redistributed to immigrants too nervous to shop for themselves.
And then yesterday, ICE and Border Patrol agents grabbed a four-year-old out of his preschool and used him as bait to lure his father, who was reportedly going through the asylum application, out of their home. The child and his father were immediately sent to an ICE facility in Texas. And no matter how this works out, we're left with a son who will grow up knowing he helped get his father deported.
As I said, this isn't a political newsletter. And given that this is my primary source of income, I don't want to lose any of my paid subscribers. But if that's the price for speaking up for what's right, then I'll pay it. No one is arguing hardened criminals shouldn't be arrested. But that is not what is happening here. And with federal troops reportedly headed here this weekend, it is only going to get worse.
See you this weekend.
ON A HAPPIER NOTE
Today is my 26th wedding anniversary and I wanted to highlight the moment here. Being married to a journalist is not an easy thing, and Stephanie has been my rock through a sometimes bumpy career. She is a perfect partner in life, a loving and caring mother and I am well aware that I very much married up way past what I deserve.
I love you, my dear.
98TH ANNUAL OSCAR NOMINATIONS
Here is a quick rundown of this year's Oscar nominations:
BEST PICTURE
Bugonia (Focus Features) (Available for streaming on Peacock)
F1 (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
The Secret Agent (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Train Dreams (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
CASTING
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Nina Gold
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Jennifer Venditti
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Cassandra Kulukundis
The Secret Agent (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
Gabriel Domingues
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Francine Maisler
VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar: Fire And Ash (Walt Disney) (Not currently available for streaming)
Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
F1 (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
Ryan Tudhope, Nicolas Chevallier, Robert Harrington and Keith Dawson
Jurassic World Rebirth (Universal) (Available for streaming on Peacock)
David Vickery, Stephen Aplin, Charmaine Chan and Neil Corbould
The Lost Bus (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
Charlie Noble, David Zaretti, Russell Bowen and Brandon K. McLaughlin
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter and Donnie Dean
SOUND
F1 (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Greg Chapman, Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke and Brad Zoern
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
José Antonio García, Christopher Scarabosio and Tony Villaflor
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Chris Welcker, Benjamin A. Burtt, Felipe Pacheco, Brandon Proctor and Steve Boeddeker
Sirāt (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas and Yasmina Praderas
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel and Cliona Furey
Kokuho (Not currently available for streaming)
(GKIDS) Kyoko Toyokawa, Naomi Hibino and Tadashi Nishimatsu
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine and Shunika Terry
The Smashing Machine (A24) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase) (Premieres January 23rd on HBO Max)
Kazu Hiro, Glen Griffin and Bjoern Rehbein
The Ugly Stepsister (Independent Film Company/Shudder) (Available for streaming on AMC+, Disney+ and Hulu)
Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg
DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
All The Empty Rooms (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Joshua Seftel and Conall Jones
Armed Only With A Camera: The Life And Death Of Brent Renaud (HBO) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Craig Renaud and Juan Arredondo
Children No More: Were And Are Gone (Sky) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Hilla Medalia and Sheila Nevins
The Devil Is Busy (HBO) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Christalyn Hampton and Geeta Gandbhir
Perfectly A Strangeness (Second Sight Pictures) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Alison McAlpine
ANIMATED SHORT FILM
Butterfly (Sacrebleu Productions) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens
Forevergreen (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
The Girl Who Cried Pearls (National Film Board of Canada) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
Retirement Plan (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
John Kelly and Andrew Freedman
The Three Sisters (Polydont Films/Rymanco Ventures) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Constantin Bronzit
LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
Butcher’s Stain (Tel Aviv University Steve Tisch School of Film and Television) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Meyer Levinson-Blount and Oron Caspi
A Friend Of Dorothy (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Lee Knight and James Dean
Jane Austen’s Period Drama (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Julia Aks and Steve Pinder
The Singers (Netflix) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Sam A. Davis and Jack Piatt
Two People Exchanging Saliva (Canal+/The New Yorker) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
“Dear Me” from Diane Warren: Relentless (MasterClass/ Greenwich Entertainment) (Available for rental)
Music and Lyric by Diane Warren
“Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Music and Lyric by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park
“I Lied To You” from Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max).)
Music and Lyric by Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson
“Sweet Dreams Of Joy” from Viva Verdi! (Viva Verdi!) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Music and Lyric by Nicholas Pike
“Train Dreams” from Train Dreams (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Music by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner
Lyric by Nick Cave
MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Bugonia (Focus Features) (Available for streaming on Peacock)
Jerskin Fendrix
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Alexandre Desplat
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Max Richter
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Jonny Greenwood
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ludwig Göransson
COSTUME DESIGN
Avatar: Fire And Ash (Walt Disney) (Not currently available for streaming)
Deborah L. Scott
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Kate Hawley
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Malgosia Turzanska
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Miyako Bellizzi
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ruth E. Carter
PRODUCTION DESIGN
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Production Design: Tamara Deverell
Set Decoration: Shane Vieau
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Production Design: Fiona Crombie
Set Decoration: Alice Felton
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Production Design: Jack Fisk
Set Decoration: Adam Willis
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Production Design: Florencia Martin
Set Decoration: Anthony Carlino
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Production Design: Hannah Beachler
Set Decoration: Monique Champagne
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Dan Laustsen
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Darius Khondji
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Michael Bauman
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw
Train Dreams (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Adolpho Veloso
FILM EDITING
F1 (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
Stephen Mirrione
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Andy Jurgensen
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Olivier Bugge Coutté
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Michael P. Shawver
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
The Alabama Solution (HBO Documentary Films) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
An HBO Documentary Films/Alabama Film Project Production
Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman
Come See Me In The Good Light (Apple) (Available for streaming on Apple TV)
An Apple Original Films/Tripod Media/Amplify Pictures in association with Treat Media/Something Fierce Production
Ryan White, Jessica Hargrave, Tig Notaro and Stef Willen
Cutting Through Rocks (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
A Gandom Films Production
Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni
Mr. Nobody Against Putin (PINK) (Available for streaming rental or purchase)
A PINK Production
Nominees to be determined
The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
A Netflix Documentary/Message Pictures in association with SO’B/Park Pictures Production
Geeta Gandbhir, Alisa Payne, Nikon Kwantu and Sam Bisbee
ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Arco (Neon) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry, Sophie Mas and Natalie Portman
Elio (Walt Disney) (Available for streaming on Disney+)
Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina and Mary Alice Drumm
KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle L.M. Wong
Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain (GKIDS) (Available for rental)
Maïlys Vallade, Liane-Cho Han, Nidia Santiago and Henri Magalon
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Yvett Merino
INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
The Secret Agent (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
A CinemaScópio Production
Brazil
It Was Just An Accident (Available for rental)
A Les Films Pelléas Production
France
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
A Mer Film/Eye Eye Pictures Production
Norway
Sirāt (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
An El Deseo Production
Spain
The Voice Of Hind Rajab (Not currently available for streaming)
A Mime Films Production
Tunisia
DIRECTING
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Chloé Zhao
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Josh Safdie
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Joachim Trier
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ryan Coogler
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Chloé Zhao
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Josh Safdie
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Joachim Trier
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ryan Coogler
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Benicio Del Toro
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Jacob Elordi
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Delroy Lindo
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Sean Penn
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Stellan Skarsgård
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Jessie Buckley
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not available for rental, purchase or streaming)
Rose Byrne
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (A24) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase) (Premieres January 30th on HBO Max)
Kate Hudson
Song Sung Blue (Focus Features) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Renate Reinsve
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Emma Stone
Bugonia (Focus Features) (Available for streaming on Peacock)
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Timothée Chalamet
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Leonardo DiCaprio
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Ethan Hawke
Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics) (Available for rental or purchase)
Michael B. Jordan
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Wagner Moura
The Secret Agent (Neon) (Not currently available for streaming)
WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)
Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics) (Available for rental or purchase)
Written by Robert Kaplow
It Was Just An Accident (Neon) (Available for rental or purchase)
Written by Jafar Panahi
Script collaborators – Nader Saïvar, Shadmehr Rastin, Mehdi Mahmoudian
Marty Supreme (A24) (Not currently available for streaming)
Written by Ronald Bronstein & Josh Safdie
Sentimental Value (Neon) (Available for streaming with rental or purchase)
Written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
Sinners (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Written by Ryan Coogler
WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Bugonia (Focus Features) (Available for streaming on Peacock)
Screenplay by Will Tracy
Frankenstein (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Written for the Screen by Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet (Focus Features) (Not currently available for streaming)
Screenplay by Chloé Zhao & Maggie O’Farrell
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.) (Available for streaming on HBO Max)
Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Train Dreams (Netflix) (Available for streaming on Netflix)
Screenplay by Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
ODDS AND SODS:
* I was quoted in a CNET piece yesterday about TCL's acquisition of Sony's branded television business:
One change that buyers of future Sony/Bravia-branded sets could potentially see is more ads.
"TCL-branded smart televisions are notoriously filled with promotional content, including recommended programming and product advertising," said Rick Ellis, founder and managing editor at AllYourScreens.com, which covers the TV industry and programming.
That can't be disabled on current TCL sets, though users can limit some personalization features, Ellis said. "While Sony-branded smart TVs have some of the same features, they tend to be a lot less intrusive."
* The documentary The Investigation of Lucy Letby premieres Wednesday, February 4th on Netflix. The film tells the story of Lucy Letby, the former nurse who is serving life in prison after being convicted of the murders of seven infants and the attempted murders of seven others.
* Season four of Southern Hospitality premieres Wednesday, March 4th on Bravo.
SUBSTACK LAUNCHES TV APP
Substack has just announced it has launched a TV app for Apple TV and Google TV. Currently in Beta, both free and paid subscribers will be able to watch with viewing access matched to their current subscription level. While the ability to offer a paid content preview won’t be available at launch, Substack said that feature will be rolled out soon.
But at launch, subscribers can watch video posts and livestreams from the creators and publications they’re subscribed to. Browse a “For You” row that highlights videos from their subscriptions, plus recommended videos. And open a dedicated page for each subscription to explore more videos from a specific publication.
Substack says upcoming features for the TV app will include audio posts and read-alouds, search and improved discovery, previews of paid content for free subscribers, in-app upgrades to paid subscriptions, and sections for different shows from one publication.
After a bit of experimentation with video, I decided not to do as much inside the Substack app because it doesn’t seem to be a great fit for the way many subscribers use the mobile app. But this Substack TV app might be a way for me to monetize videos in a way that makes sense for me. It’s certainly something to consider.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S COMING TODAY AND TOMORROW
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND:
* Canada Shore Series Premiere (Paramount+)
* Cosmic Princess Kayuga! (Netflix)
* Disneyland Handcrafted (Disney+)
* Finding Her Edge Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Free Bert Series Premiere (Netflix)
* London's Gangsters Series Premiere (Sundance Now)
* Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man! (HBO)
* Scrabble (The CW)
* Team Mekbots (Peacock)
* The Curse (Viaplay)
* Trivial Pursuit (The CW)
* The Pendragon Cycle: Rise Of The Merlin Series Premiere (Daily Wire+)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 23RD:
* Blind Sherlock Series Premiere (Netflix)
* Don't Breathe A Word (LMN)
* Mother Of Flies (Shudder)
* Ready To Love Season Finale (OWN)
* Real Time With Bill Maher Season Twenty-Four (HBO)
* Skyscraper Live (Netflix)
* The Big Fake (Netflix)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 24TH:
* Caught By Love (Hallmark)
* Have I Got News For You Season Premiere (CNN)
* Kingdom Series Premiere (BBC America)
* Toni Braxton's Breath Again (Lifetime)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25TH:
* It's Not Like That Series Premiere (Wonder Project)
* Memory Of A Killer Series Premiere (Fox)
* The Millwood Memories (Lifetime)
MONDAY, JANUARY, 26TH:
* American Idol Season Premiere (ABC)
* Extracted Season Two Premiere (Fox)
* Fatal Attraction: I'd Kill To Be You Series Premiere (TV One)
* History's Deadliest With Ving Rhames Series Premiere (History)
* Memory Of A Killer Series Premiere (Fox)
* Wild Cards (The CW)
SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND!