For some in our day and age, low morale could stem from something like a personal loss, a change in one’s financial or medical situation, or a global pandemic. For others, like those in Netflix’s newest drama, low morale is a pandemic in and of itself.
In the war epic “The Six Triple Eight,” premiering Friday, Dec. 20, on Netflix, multihyphenate
filmmaker Tyler Perry (“Zatima”) joins forces with actress and entrepreneur Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) to tell the remarkable story of a group of women who dedicated themselves to boosting soldier morale during World War II. Tasked with a daunting and perilous duty, members of the Black women’s U.S. Army battalion, known collectively as the 6888th, risked their lives to deliver a backlog of undelivered mail to American soldiers on the front lines.
Billed by Netflix as “the inspiring story of World War II’s only Women’s Army Corps Unit of color,” “The Six Triple Eight” is a
Cover Story
period drama which focuses on “the quiet heroism of everyday individuals.” Nearing the end of the war, soldier morale was at an all-time low as battles dragged on all over Europe and several supporting efforts continued on the home front. Due to the massive loss of life and increasingly dangerous conditions abroad, much of the United States’ outgoing mail — which largely consisted of messages of hope and important news from loved ones — failed to reach its intended recipients overseas.
Aware of the ever-growing backlog, philanthropist, educator and human rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune (portrayed by Oprah Winfrey, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” 2017) approached then-first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Academy Award-winning actress Susan Sarandon, “Dead Man Walking,” 1996) to discuss the creation of a military unit to address the nearly 17 million pieces of mail for delivery, some of which dated back as far as three years. Thus, the 6888th Central
Postal Directory Battalion, or Six Triple Eight, was born, and Maj. Charity Adams (Washington) was assigned as its strong and capable leader.
The idea for “The Six Triple Eight” came to writer/director Perry as something he felt called to after having been approached by producer Nicole Avant (“Wag the Dog,” 1997), who wished to film a movie based on a Kevin Hymel article in WWII History Magazine. The article, titled “WAC Corporal Lena Derriecott and the 6888th Central Postal Battalion,” was an interview with battalion member Lena Derriecott King, whom Perry met later, in preparation for the film. Ninety-nine years old at the time, Derriecott King told Perry “that her decision to enlist was spurred by the death of her friend, a Jewish man named Abram David, on his first combat mission for the U.S. Army Air Forces” (per Backstage).
“She got really emotional, saying to me that he had died within a few weeks of being in the war,” Perry said to the Back-
Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) stars in “The Six Triple Eight,” Tyler Perry’s (“Zatima”) emotional new war epic premiering Friday, Dec. 20, on Netflix.
Kerry Washington stars in “The Six Triple Eight”
Women at war: Tyler Perry war epic boosts morale on Netflix
stage interviewer. “And to see her emotion after 70-plus years, I thought, ‘Wow!’” Derriecott King died peacefully this past January, at the age of 100, but her memory lives on through the power of film. Portrayed onscreen by “Sistas” and “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018) actress Ebony Obsidian, the late corporal is honored alongside 854 of her fellow servicewomen of color for delivering millions of pieces of mail in less than three months, which was half the allotted time for the unit’s mission.
And if you are among those who have yet to learn of the 6888th Battalion, you are not alone — Perry, too, was taken aback by the incredible story when Avant first brought it his way.
“I was quite embarrassed to not know that bit of history,” Perry shared via Backstage. “The very thought of that immediately piqued my interest, but it also [made me] pretty frustrated that these women’s stories had been ignored for all of these years.”
“Dunk the Halls” (Disney+
Dec. 25, Special Premiere) Disney, ESPN and the NBA are teaming up to present the first real-time animated NBA game using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology. Streaming on Christmas Day, the special sees the New York Knicks — led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns — host the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul at a virtual Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. As the real-life game plays out, iconic Disney Characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, plus Santa Claus and Elves from “Prep and Landing,” provide addition entertainment.
“The Simpsons” - O C’mon All Ye Faithful (Dec. 17)
Exclusive to Disney+, this two-part Christmas special sees the Simpson family, along with their fellow Springfield residents, search for some holiday cheer. Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Pamela Hayden and Tress MacNeille voice star.
“ZOMBIES: The ReAnimated Series” - Season 1, New Episodes (Dec. 18) Every day is a surprise at Seabrook High — whether you’re a cheerleader, a zombie, a werewolf or even a vampire! Inviting viewers into the daily lives of Zed (Milo Manheim), Addison (Meg Donnelly), Eliza (Kylee Russell), Willa (Chandler Kinney) and the entire Seabrook crew, this musical, animated spinoff discovers that this gang may have figured out each other, but they haven’t quite figured out how to survive high school.
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“Law & Order”Seasons 1-20 (Dec. 16)
In Dick Wolf’s legendary procedural, detectives and prosecutors work to convict criminals. On air since 1990, the series takes stories ripped from the headlines and chronicles the investigations that go into some complex cases. Series regulars include Sam Waterston, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Steven Hill, Leslie Hendrix and Anthony Anderson.
“Beast Games” - Season 1 (Dec. 19) From the mind of social media sensation and entrepreneur MrBeast comes a new, record-breaking competition series. A staggering 1,000 players compete in nail-biting, physical, mental and social challenges for a chance to win a whopping $5 million cash prize. Week by week, players use their strength and wit to stay in the game, with the hope of being the ultimate prize winner.
“Blink” (Dec. 17)
When three of their children are diagnosed with an incurable disease that leads to severe visual impairment, the Pelletier family embarks on a journey to see the world’s beauty while they still can. As they experience breathtaking destinations and once-in-a-lifetime encounters, their love, resilience and unshakeable sense of wonder ensure that an uncertain future does not define their present.
“SuperKitties”Season 2, New Episodes (Dec. 18)
Adorable and packed with adventure, this animated series follows four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and “pawesome” place. Geared to kids ages 2-7 and their families, each episode features two 11-minute stories that highlight the SuperKitties as they receive a “SuperKitty Call” from one of their animal friends with a problem that only the SuperKitties can help with.
“Cuckoo” (Dec. 17)
Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) leaves her American home to live with her father (Marton Csokas), who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. Konig (Dan Stevens), her father’s boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen’s mute half-sister Alma (Mila Lieu). Something doesn’t seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise.
“Glitter and Greed: The Lisa Frank Story” (Available Now)
This four-part documentary penetrates the neon-hued world of Lisa Frank Inc., a brand that defined girlhood for a generation of Americans only to seemingly disappear overnight. Behind the rainbows and psychedelic illustrations, we unravel a nostalgia-soaked, stranger-than-fiction tale that takes us into the hidden world that has been lurking at the heart of the company for decades.
“Ilana Glazer: Human Magic” (Dec. 20)
Taped at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre in Toronto in May of this year, comedian and actor Ilana Glazer’s newest stand-up special makes its streaming debut. Releasing as part of Hulu’s new “Hularious” comedy brand, the special is directed by Jeff Tomsic and produced by Rotten Science and Starrpix.
“Across the Universe” (Available Now) In this romantic drama set to the iconic musical hits of the The Beatles, young British worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) sets sail for the United States in search of his father in the 1960s, and ends up meeting carefree college student Max (Joe Anderson) and his lovely sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a cast of eccentric characters. As Jude and Lucy fall for each other, their relationship is threatened by the social upheaval that accompanies the Vietnam War.
“Ronny Chieng: Love To Hate It” (Dec. 17) Emmy-winning actor and comedian Ronny Chieng returns with his third Netflix stand-up special. Filmed over a five night sold-out run in Honolulu at the historic Hawai’i Theatre, this extremely personal special hilariously unpacks the indignities of the IVF process, the pitfalls of being a man on the internet, American politics and the place of the older generation in today’s world.
“Virgin River”Season 6 (Dec. 19)
Against the backdrop of Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack’s (Martin Henderson) romantic spring wedding season, this sixth installment promises fresh twists and turns, escalating love triangles, delightful wedding drama and uncovered secrets from Mel’s father’s past, which will transport viewers to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s.
“Darkness of
(Dec. 20) Russell
“Christmas Gameday” (Netflix — Dec. 25, Special Premiere)
Fill the holiday season with excitement when Netflix hosts the NFL’s two Christmas Day marquee games: the Super Bowl LVII-winning Chiefs face the Steelers at 1 pm ET; then at 4:30 pm ET, the Ravens take on the Texans. Plus, fans will be treated to the highly-anticipated halftime show during the Ravens-Texans game, featuring a dazzling set from global superstar Beyoncé.
(Jean-Claude
is a
operative who vowed to protect the son (Emerson Min) of an informant killed years earlier in a raid gone wrong. When merciless street gangs start an all-out turf war and the kid is caught in the middle, Hatch will stop at nothing to keep the him safe and fight anyone who gets in his way. Kristanna Loken also stars.
“Good Will Hunting” (Available Now) The most brilliant mind at America’s top university isn’t a student, he’s the kid who cleans the floors. Will Hunting (Matt Damon) is a headstrong, working-class genius who is failing the lessons of life. After one too many run-ins with the law, Will’s last chance is a psychology professor (Robin Williams), who might be the only man who can reach him.
“Julia’s Stepping Stones” (Dec. 18) Throughout her
pioneering
the
gave voice to the voiceless. In a final collaboration with her husband, Steven Bognar, Julia shares the intimate story of her own journey, from her youth as a working-class girl who dreamt of a larger life for herself to her discovery of documentary filmmaking and her own voice along the way.
“The Dragon Prince” - Season 7 (Dec. 19)
As Aaravos and Claudia seek to destroy the cosmic order and invert life and death in this new season, our heroes must literally be ready to sacrifice anything and everything they love and believe in to save the world. This season is more thrilling, magical and heartbreaking than ever. Jack De Sena,
career,
filmmaker,
late Julia Reichert,
Sasha Rojen, Erik Dellums, Raquel Belmont, Paula Burrows and Jesse Inocalla voice star.
Man”
Hatch
Van Damme)
washed up, former Interpol
Sports Zone
From the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (Live)
11 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Washington State at Washington. From Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle. (Live)
to Sin City. (Live)
tueSday
6 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Seton Hall vs. LSU. From the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Live) TNT The Showdown: Rory/ Scottie vs. Bryson/Brooks The golf match pits Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. (Live)
7 p.m. ESPN College Basketball North Carolina vs. Florida. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Live) ESPN2 College Basketball Michigan State vs. Oakland. From Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. (Live) SNY College Basketball Marist at Stony Brook. From Island FCU Arena in Stony Brook, N.Y. (Live) TBS TRUTV The Showdown: Rory/Scottie vs. Bryson/Brooks The golf match pits Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. (Live)
8:30 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Iowa State vs. Connecticut. From the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. (Live) WKBW-7 NBA Basketball NBA Cup, Championship: Teams TBA. Professional basketball action from the NBA. (Live)
9 p.m. ESPN College Football Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: Teams TBA. From Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. (Live) ESPN2 College Basketball Oklahoma vs. Michigan. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Live) WedneSday
5:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Boca Raton Bowl: Teams TBA. From FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla. (Live)
7 p.m. ESPN2 College Basketball Memphis at Virginia. From John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Va. (Live) FS1 College Basketball Xavier at Connecticut. From XL Center in Hartford, Conn. (Live) TNT TRUTV NHL Hockey Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings. From Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich. (Live)
7:30 p.m. SNY Women’s College Basketball Syracuse at Binghamton. From Dr. Bai Lee Court at Events Center in Vestal, N.Y. (Live)
9 p.m. ESPN College Football LA Bowl: Teams TBA. From SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (Live) ESPN2 College Basketball Oklahoma vs. Michigan. From Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. (Live) FS1 College Basketball Butler at Marquette. From Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. (Live)
9:30 p.m. TNT NHL Hockey Florida Panthers at Minnesota Wild.
3:30 a.m. GOLF DP World Tour Golf AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, First Round. From Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Rivière du Rempart, Mauritius. (Live) thurSday
6:30 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Volleyball Women’s college volleyball action. (Live)
7 p.m. ESPN2 College Football R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Teams TBA. From Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. (Live) TNT TRUTV NBA Basketball Oklahoma City Thunder at Orlando Magic. From Kia Center in Orlando, Fla. (Live)
9 p.m. ESPN Women’s College Volleyball Women’s college volleyball action. (Live)
9:30 p.m. TNT TRUTV NBA Basketball New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves. From the Target Center in Minneapolis. (Live)
3:30 a.m. GOLF DP World Tour Golf AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, Second Round. From Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Rivière du Rempart, Mauritius. (Live) Friday
12 p.m. ESPN College Football StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Teams TBA. From Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. (Live) GOLF Golf PNC Championship Pro-Am. From Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. (Live)
3:30 p.m. ESPN College Football Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Teams TBA. From Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (Live)
8 p.m. ESPN WKBW-7 College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live) WNYW-5 WUTV-29 College Basketball St. John’s at Providence. From Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. (Live)
8:10 p.m. ESPN2 College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live) 8:30 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Ohio State vs. Stanford. From Chase Center in San Francisco. (Live)
11 p.m. FS1 Women’s College Basketball Creighton vs. UCLA. From Chase Center in San Francisco. (Live)
4 a.m. GOLF DP World Tour Golf AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, Third Round. From Mont Choisy Le Golf in Grand Baie, Rivière du Rempart, Mauritius. (Live) Saturday
7:30 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Aston Villa vs. Manchester City. From Villa Park in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom. (Live) 10 a.m. USA Premier League Soccer Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest. From Gtech Community Stadium in London. (Live)
12 p.m.
ESPN2 Women’s College Basketball Duke at South Florida. From Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla. (Live) FS1 College Basketball Princeton vs. Rutgers. From Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Live)
TBS TNT TRUTV College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live)
WKBW-7 College Football FCS Division I Championship, First Semifinal: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live)
WNYW-5 WUTV-29 College Basketball Marquette at Xavier. From Cintas Center in Cincinnati. (Live)
WPIX-11 College Basketball SMU at Boston College. From the Conte Forum in Boston. (Live)
12:30 p.m. USA Premier League Soccer Crystal Palace vs. Arsenal. From Selhurst Park in London. (Live)
WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball Mississippi State at Memphis. From the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. (Live)
1 p.m. GOLF Golf PNC Championship, Day 1. From Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. (Live) SNY College Basketball Fairfield at Monmouth. From OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J. (Live)
WGRZ-2 WICU-12 NFL Football Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs. From Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Live)
2 p.m. ESPN2 College Football NCAA Division II Championship: Teams TBA. From McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas. (Live)
FS1 College Basketball Florida Atlantic at Michigan State. From Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. (Live)
WPIX-11 College Basketball Louisville at Florida State. From the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla. (Live)
2:30 p.m. ESPN College Basketball Wake Forest at Clemson. From Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C. (Live)
3 p.m. WIVB-4 WSEE-35 College Basketball UCLA vs. North Carolina. From Madison Square Garden in New York. (Live)
3:30 p.m. WKBW-7 College Football FCS Division I Championship, Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live)
4 p.m. FS1 College Basketball Villanova at Creighton. From CHI Health Center in Omaha, Neb. (Live) TBS TNT TRUTV College Football CFP First Round: Teams TBA. All the action from NCAA college football. (Live) WGRZ-2 WICU-12 Golf PNC Championship, Day 1. From Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. (Live)
4:30 p.m. ESPN College Basketball Purdue vs. Auburn. From Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala. (Live) SNY Women’s College Basketball American at Monmouth. From OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, N.J. (Live)
“Squid Game” - Season 2 (Netflix — Dec. 26, Season Premiere) Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 (Lee Jung-jae), Gi-hun, gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 456 billion won.
“Blended Christmas” (BET+ — Dec. 25, Movie
a new bride cancels
Christmas honeymoon to take care of her husband’s ex-wife and kids with a
help from a holiday angel. Jennifer Freeman, Anthony Dalton, Dream Doll and Victoria Rowell star.
Screen Time - Week of December 15 - 21, 2024
Michael C. Hall narrates this “Dexter” prequel, which joins the murderous vigilante at the beginning of his career, working as an intern at the Miami-Metro Police Department. In his youth, young Dexter Morgan (Patrick Gibson) begins experiencing strong, dark urges when his father (Christian Slater) faces a health scare, changing his life forever. “Dexter: Original Sin” makes its debut this Sunday, Dec. 15, on Showtime, with a first look available at youtube.com/ watch?v=f_Q936R8Hwk
This two-hour special delivers some festive fun to Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, as Little Big Town takes to the stage and performs some Christmas classics and brand-new songs, alongside guests like Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson and Orville Peck. Celebrate the holiday season with “Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry,” airing Monday, Dec. 16, on NBC. To learn more about the event, visit nbc.com/ nbc-insider/little-big-town-christmas-at-the-opry-details
BY JAY BOBBIN
‘Soylent Green’ goes back to the then-future
One of the best movies of Charlton Heston’s later career, the 1973 sci-fi drama “Soylent Green” is part of a morning and afternoon of sci-films that Turner Classic Movies presents Monday, Dec. 16. Since it’s set in 2022, some viewers may get a rueful chuckle out of what was its prediction of a densely polluted, overpopulated New York. But, there’s also something quite moving about its rumination of the world the way it used to be. Heston plays a policeman whose investigation of a tycoon’s (Joseph Cotten) murder exposes him to the good life the slain man lived. That encompasses such then-novelties as fresh beef and strawberries, some of which the cop spirits away to share with his friend and assistant – or “book,” in the parlance of this tale. That role marks the final performance of Edward G. Robinson, who’s thoroughly moving and simply wonderful, very particularly in his last scene. Leigh Taylor-Young, Chuck Connors and Brock Peters are among other familiar faces here.
(Hulu, streaming): Reese Witherspoon is excellent in this 2014 drama based on the memoir by Cheryl Strayed, who undertook a hiking trip on her own in honor of her late mother (played by Laura Dern in flashbacks). The journey turns out to be the revelation Strayed had anticipated, though sometimes in ways that she hadn’t expected, thanks largely to surprises supplied by nature. Also featuring Thomas Sadoski (“The Newsroom”) and Gaby Hoffmann, the film was directed by the late JeanMarc Vallée, who reunited later with Witherspoon on the HBO drama “Big Little Lies.”
Charlton Heston stars in “Soylent Green” classiccorner
