With so much good television this week, we narrow it down to three with our Channel Surfing TV picks. Regular people unleash their inner James Bond in 007: Road to a Million. Nathan Fielder and Emma Stone co-star in the genre-bending The Curse. Then, another of Ben Howley’s work receives an adaptation in Beacon 23.
A Real-Life Spy Adventure
James Bond is one of pop culture’s most beloved icons featuring in a lengthy number of novels and films. Producers from the movie franchise are giving ordinary people an opportunity to live the spy’s glamorous life in the reality competition 007: Road to a Million.
Nine teams of two embark on globetrotting adventure for the chance to win £ 1,000,000. On their journey they will face Bond-inspired challenges as they search for ten hidden questions placed all over the globe. If they answer correctly, money will be banked into their winnings but if they falter, they will be forced to leave the game. Lurking in the shadows is “The Controller” who is pulling all the strings. The Controller is played by none other than Brian Cox.
The series premiere of 007: Road to a Million is Friday, November 10, on Prime Video.
Doing Good?
Unlike our previous selection, our second pick is fictional though it draws upon reality television. There are several home improvement shows out there that revolve around real life couples looking to make a difference while also building their brand. The Curse starts with that concept but throws in some darker twists and turns.
Asher (Nathan Fielder) and Whitney Siegel (Emma Stone) are husband and wife who have their own HGTV show where they build eco-conscious housing in a New Mexico small town. Things go awry when they are allegedly cursed and they find themselves entangled in morally complex situations. This puts a heavy burden on the couple straining their relationship.
The series premiere of The Curse streams Friday, November 10, on Paramount+ with Showtime. The linear premiere is Sunday, November 12, on Showtime.
Unlikely Partners
Hugh Howley is a lucky guy in 2023. Earlier this year, the adaptation of his Silo series of books was released on Apple TV+. This week, another series based off of his work, Beacon 23, is set to premiere. Beacon 23 has some real star power on both the creative and acting sides. It is created by screenwriter Zak Penn with Glen Mazzara as an executive producer. Lena Headey is one of the show’s main stars.
The story takes place on the titular location, which serves as lighthouse for intergalactic travelers at the far reaches of the Milky Way. Headey’s Aster is a government agent who manages her way onto Beacon 23 and meets its keeper, Halan (Stephan James). They soon find themselves in a dangerous situation with neither willing to trust the other.
The first two episodes of Beacon 23 will air Sunday, November 12, on MGM+.
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