What's on: Winter Olympics, Black History and more

We were delighted to announce last week that CableVision and WOW have teamed up to purchase the rights to show the Winter Olympics on the broadcast channels that have historically aired this coverage. 

This is in addition to what is being shown on the MaxPack channels — SportsMax and SportsMax2.

So get your Winter Olympics on, follow your favourite teams and athletes, and enjoy the games from your preferred perspective. It’s all about bringing you more choice.

Speaking of choice, here is a sampling of some new shows to look forward to in the coming weeks, including Black History Month specials and some intriguing new mid-season
premieres.

PBS will unveil five new documentaries this month celebrating the achievements of African-Americans. Check their schedule for air times at www.pbs.org.

• BET Honors — Monday, Feb 24 at 10pm on BET:

Tune in for the seventh annual edition of this highly-anticipated live show, hosted, this time, by actor and comedian Wayne Brady. 

Each year, the event celebrates and recognizes the remarkable talents and contributions of six outstanding African-Americans. It promises to be a moving and inspirational evening, honouring distinguished leaders from the fields of music, literature, entertainment, media, service and education.

• The Tanning of America — Feb 25 at 12am (midnight) on VH1:

Based on the best-selling book by entrepreneur and record executive Steve Stoute, this four-part documentary series takes an in-depth look at hip-hop as a cultural movement, examining its far-reaching  influence on music, film, fashion, business, race relations and politics, and suggesting it ultimately paved the way for the election of President Barack Obama.

• The Review — Premieres Thursday Feb 27 at 11pm on Comedy Central:

Fans of comedy have been awaiting this new series, co-created by and starring comedian Andy Daly (formerly of Eastbound & Down, MADtv, and the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast. In it, Daly plays Forrest MacNeil, a TV critic who takes to reviewing life experiences on a scale — of one to five — anything from drug addiction to paying bills, getting involved with a celebrity, stealing and more. 

The show also stars Jessica St Clair in the role of his wife, and James Urbaniak as his producer.  

• Game of Arms — Premieres Tuesday Feb 25 at 11pm on AMC:

By its name, this new show might make you think it’s about warfare and weaponry. 

You’d be wrong. 

It’s a new reality series about the brutal and highly competitive world of, yes, arm wrestling. Produced by the same team that brought us Deadliest Catch, the show follows the members of five regional American arm wrestling clubs, and chronicles not only their exploits and techniques at their sport, but also the struggles they face in their personal lives. 

Each episode features a regional match, and the series will culminate with a tournament finale that carries a large cash prize. 

• The Red Road —Premieres Thursday, Feb 27, at 10pm on Sundance Channel:

This new crime series comes on the heels of Sundance Channel’s critically acclaimed, New Zealand-based Top of the Lake and its French zombie/ghost series The Returned.

The Red Road stars Jason Momoa  —  who played Khal Drogo on Season one of Game of Thrones — as a dangerous criminal who teams up with a cop in a small town in rural New Jersey where the residents are at odds with the Native American tribe that
lives nearby. Martin Henderson, (Devil’s Knot) plays the cop, while Julianne Nicholson (Boardwalk Empire) plays his wife, who finds herself in danger following a tragedy on the reservation.

• Betty White’s Off Their Rockers Friday, Feb 28 at 10pm on Lifetime:

It’s hard to beat this series for its sheer mischievousness and the hilarious and adorable presence of 92-year-old host Betty White. 

She’s back with a bunch of zany senior citizens — including Ann Benson, Reatha Grey and Michael Yama — who go about on hidden camera pranking unsuspecting young people.