Streaming: Top October Releases

As streaming platforms continue to dish out more and more content every day, we are tracking what is best performing on the platforms along with what people are most excited to come out! Check out our round-up below.

Spaceballs

Where to watch: Hulu

Even as the Star Wars franchise continues to evolve and expand 40+ years after “A New Hope,” it’s hard to imagine a more incisive parody of the sci-fi behemoth than “Spaceballs.” The 1987 satire from Mel Brooks hilariously lampoons individual characters (Yogurt, Pizza the Hut, Dark Helmet) and pointedly skewers the relentless commercialization of the Star Wars franchise, with criticisms that ring even more true today.

The Trial of Chicago 7

Where to watch: Netflix

The first of Netflix’s Oscar hopefuls is “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” a legal drama based on a true story written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”). The film centers around a protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention that turns violent and puts a group of activists on trial. Featuring a deep ensemble cast including Sacha Baron Cohen (“Borat”), Eddie Redmayne (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), Boston native Jeremy Strong (“Succession”), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Inception”), Michael Keaton (“Batman”), and Mark Rylance (“Bridge of Spies”), “Chicago 7” just hit Netflix on Oct. 16.

Schitt’s Creek Season 6

Where to watch: Netflix

Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara have a long history together, with the comedic actors first joining forces in the 1970s as members of the Second City improv troupe and playing an on-screen couple in movies like “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind.” So it makes sense that after 40-plus years of performing side by side, the duo hit gold with “Schitt’s Creek,” a Canadian comedy that follows a wealthy family starting over in a rural town they purchased as a joke before their money disappeared. The show recently set an Emmys record with nine wins in the comedy categories, and Netflix is adding the sixth and final season to its streaming library.

The Cabin in the Woods

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

Like “Scream” before it, “The Cabin the Woods” offers a humorous, incisive take on the horror genre. A group of college kids hanging out together in a remote cabin, including “Avengers” star Chris Hemsworth, seems like a recipe for a run-of-the-mill slasher flick, but writer/director Drew Goddard (“The Martian”) takes the story in interesting, new directions that we won’t spoil here.

Truth Seekers

Where to watch: Amazon Prime

The comic team of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are responsible for some of the funniest genre riffs of the past 20 years, including “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead.” This time, the duo will play paranormal investigators in “Truth Seekers,” an eight-part series that reaches Amazon on Oct. 30.  As their brushes with the supernatural suddenly increase in frequency and deadliness, they begin to unravel a wide-ranging conspiracy.

Out and About – Virtual Culinary Escapes

The quarantine banana bread? Baked. The frothy lockdown coffee drink? Brewed. So what now? If you’re looking for your next culinary diversion, you may want to seek out any of the famed chefs who have been offering lessons, recipes and even entertainment from their home kitchens during the coronavirus pandemic. Even if you aren’t in the mood for a high-end dish or cozy comfort food, it may simply help you whip up inspiration in your own kitchen.

Silvia Grossi

It’s not quite like digging into carpaccio while nestled in the hills of Fiesole, but with your international summer travel plans most likely scuttled, at least it’s a taste. On her Instagram from her kitchen in Florence, Grossi — who is the executive chef at the luxury villa Il Salviatino  — has spent a portion of the pandemic teaching how to cook Tuscan dishes. Best of all, she does so while utilizing ingredients most people would probably already have on hand.

Massimo Bottura

Bottura’s three-Michelin-star restaurant, Osteria Francescana, has been considered one of the top dining establishments in the world for the past decade. But during the pandemic he has been broadcasting an Instagram series called Kitchen Quarantine from his home in Modena, Italy. While you might expect to find him preparing a detailed, fine-dining dish, it is just as likely you will learn how he approaches such everyday plates as macaroni and cheese.

David Chang

Given his credentials as creator, star and producer of Netflix’s Ugly Delicious, it should come as no surprise that Chang’s In the Time of COVID-19 is as entertaining as educational. The founder of the Momofuku restaurant group — which includes New York City’s two-Michelin-star restaurant, Momofuku Ko — Chang has tackled topics including how to cook an egg in a microwave and how to make the perfect Quarantine Mother’s Day dinner.

Jose Andres

Andres — who founded the non-profit organization World Central Kitchen, which provides meals for people impacted by natural disasters — has been sharing videos of himself and his family in their home kitchen. From cooking challenges to tutorials in making everything from brisket and eggs to his mother’s lentil stew, Andres is never less than entertaining, particularly when cranking out songs from the musical Hamilton.

Christina Tosi

If you’re in the mood for something lighter— and less involved — than a full meal, how about baking dessert? Tosi, the chef and owner of Milk Bar, hosts her #bakeclub from her kitchen in New York City every day at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Tosi provides the recipe and a shopping list in advance, so you can put your skills to the test as soon as you arrive online. Her club creations have ranged from cakes and cookies to flaky bread and “payday pie.”

Seamus Mullen

If you’re looking to stay closer to home, drop by Mullen’s Quarantine Kitchen. The Los Angeles-based Food Hero chef is live on Instagram at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Yes, he conjures such dishes as pasta-free lasagna, but he also chats about a variety of health and lifestyle topics. Check ahead as he posts his ingredients in advance of each day’s video.

LA Events: March 13- March 15

From a Broadway sensation to film noir tough guys to the return of The Strokes, there’s a concert, event or conference for you in Los Angeles and the Westside this weekend – whether you’re in the mood for dark, catchy pop or a jazz phenom’s fairy tale.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2020

Hamilton

Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit almost immediately entered the pop culture lexicon. If you haven’t seen it, this is your chance to find out why. With hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and classic Broadway, Miranda tells the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  For details, go HERE.

VERITE with Arthur Moon

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

VERITE is California native Kelsey Byrne, whose style of catchy but moody pop first turned heads in the blogosphere. In 2017, she released her first full-length album, Somewhere in Between, on her own record label. For details on the show, go HERE.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

22nd Annual Los Angeles Festival of Film Noir

The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood, 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Dedicated to hard-bitten hustlers, sleek gangsters and vexing dames, the longest-running film noir festival in Los Angeles is casting its long shadow at the Egyptian Theatre with another sensational lineup of rare films. On Saturday, March 14, the festival unspools a five-film noir marathon: Out of the Past with Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas; The Guilty with Don Castle and Wally Cassel; High Tide with Lee Tracy; The Prowler with Van Heflin and Evelyn Keyes; and Try and Get Me, with Lloyd Bridges. For details, go HERE.

The Strokes

The Forum, 3900 W Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA

Indie princes The Strokes return to the City of Angels ahead of their first full-length album in seven years, The New Abnormal. Most recently, the group has been stirring interest with a stream of singles including Ode to the Mets and At the Door. Performing ahead of the group is rising rocker King Princess. For ticket information, go HERE.

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2020

Cecile McLorin Salvant

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA

Jazz phenom Cecile McLorin Salvant blends bluegrass and jazz in the fairy tale Ogresse, about a human-eating monster who lives in the woods. And like all the best fairy tales, this one, told from the point of view of a young black woman, has a lot to say about the world today. For ticket information, go HERE.

Shordie Shordie

The Roxy Theatre, 9009 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, California 90069 

Once considered one of rap’s best-kept secrets, Shordie Shordie now appears on the cusp of big things. With his Baltimore trio Peso Da Mafia, he released projects such as What Matters Most (2017) and Never a Drought (2018). Their 2017 single Money Man became a sensation in their hometown. For details about this show, go HERE.

Valley Eats: Pasta

Here’s the skinny on carb-conscious Valley areas: the pasta is plentiful. Take that, Keto diet. From traditional dishes to fresh pasta to the flavorful spooning of Italian classics with Southern California produce and protein, locals have no shortage of eating options when they’re in the mood for a little (or a lot of) Italian. Here are some of the best.

Conejo Valley

Nonna

951 S Westlake Blvd, Suite 102, Westlake Village, CA 91361

For owner Jacopo Falleni, the cuisine isn’t merely about satisfying your appetite, it’s about rekindling memories of family. Among the dishes, the Florence-born Falleni counts as favorites are the Fiori di Zucca Ripieni (battered zucchini blossoms with ricotta cheese marinara) and the Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci (ricotta with spinach, Parmigiano and butter sage sauce). Other standouts sure to leave good memories: the Strozzapreti (Italian sausage with ragu, tomatoes, onions and cream), the Cacio E Pepe (Spaghetti Gragnano with pecorino romano and hand-crushed black pepper) and the Tagliatelle Bolognese (beef and pork ragu with shaved parmesan).

Tramonto Bistro Malibu

22235 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

Think of this upscale Italian eatery as just like home – albeit with views of the Pacific, an inviting Tuscan-flavored atmosphere, delicious pasta and an impressive wine list. Start off with an appetizer such as the Burrata (honey-drizzled mozzarella stuffed with mascarpone cheese) or the Arancini (stuffed rice balls with beef, peas and mozzarella) before following with the Turkey Ragu or Pescatora Linguini (Manila clams, shrimps, black mussels and calamari). And be sure to leave room for one of their home-made desserts like the Ice Cream Extravaganza.

Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar

29575 CA-1, Malibu, CA 90265

 Spruzzo may be known primarily for their traditional pizza (which they make in a wood-fired brick oven), they have a variety of pasta options, including the Linguine Seafood, comprised of shrimp, clams, mussels, and calamari served in a white wine tomato herb sauce. In addition to the traditional Italian food, Spruzzo offers a view of the Pacific as well as an outdoor heated patio with a fire pit.

San Fernando Valley

Panzanella Ristorante

14928 Ventura Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

This Sherman Oaks restaurant offers Italian and Sicilian food and wine, paying homage to the southern Italian heritage of the Drago family, which owns and operates it. To start, try the fried calamari, the baked eggplant with mozzarella or thin-sliced prosciutto. From there, move on to the handmade penne with sliced sausage, broccoli and pecorino cheese; the spaghetti with black pepper and pecorino cheese; or the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. The restaurant takes its name, not from pasta, but salad. Chef Giacomino Drago calls Panzanella “Italy in a bowl.”

Maggiano’s Little Italy

6100 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91367

This family-friendly Woodland Hills restaurant has been serving up Italian-American fare from their scratch kitchen for more than 25 years. Dishes range from the Gnocchi and Italian Sausage (with basil and tomato vodka cream sauce) to the Braised Beef al Forno (with red peppers and spinach) to the Rigatoni Arrabbiata (with your choice of grilled chicken or Italian sausage). Their specialty, however, is the Rigatoni D, which is herb-roasted chicken and mushrooms, served with caramelized onions and marsala cream sauce.

MA’s Italian Kitchen

267 N Pass Avenue, Burbank, CA 91505

MA’s didn’t start out as a restaurant, but rather as a catering business, serving their Italian fare to nearby studios. The response they received on Hollywood sets inspired them to open this relaxed Burbank space, where Italian fare is served imported wines. Expect made-from-scratch dishes such as ravioli, rigatoni Bolognese and Margherita pizza.  If you’re in the mood for seafood, try the Clam Linguine with your choice of white wine or marinara, or the Shrimp Scampi with linguine, shrimp, white wine, butter, shallots, garlic and lemon.

 

Santa Clarita Valley

Bella Cucina Italian Restaurant

27911 Seco Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91350

Serving authentic Italian cuisine in Santa Clarita, Bella Cucina’s signature fare includes the Penne alla Vodka and Chicken Tequila, as well as vegetarian and seafood options. And if you’re in the mood to dine outdoors, there is no better space than their expansive year-round patio.

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

26940 Theater Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Complete with red-and-white tablecloths, this Italian restaurant offers a wide selection of dishes, including Italian pastas, entrees and pizzas. Portions are described as “family-style” so don’t expect to leave feeling hungry. Pastas include the Eggplant Parmigiana, topped with marinara sauce, Roma tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, and the Chicken Saltimbocca, with prosciutto and sage, served with artichoke hearts, lemon, capers and lemon butter sauce. 

Piccola Trattoria

18302 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

Located north of the Sierra Highway and Soledad intersection in Santa Clarita, Piccola Trattoria is minutes from Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus and Newhall. Settle in for a meal in their dining room or outside on their patio. Pastas range from the Capellini al Pomodoro (angel hair pasta with tomato, garlic and basil) to the Spaghetti alla Pescatora (spaghetti pasta with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops and calamari) to the Risotto ai Funghi (creamy carnaroli rice made with wild mushrooms). The name Piccola Trattoria translates to “small restaurant” in Italian.

Rodeo News: Lou Woolf Receives Congressional Recognition

Sherman Oaks agent, Lou Woolf, was awarded a certificate of special congressional recognition in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community.

Brad Sherman, the current Congressman, bestowed this award upon Lou at the Attic in Sherman Oaks. The city District 4 Councilman, David Ryu, swore Lou Woolf in as a returning board member of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce.

Lou currently serves on many boards and congregations. Recently, he was attached to a street fair that had over 100,000 people in attendance!

Check out Lou’s website here to keep up with his community involvement!

Rodeo News: Zane Grey Estate featured in LA Times and Curbed LA

Beverly Hills agent, Wayne Saks, lists the famed Zane Grey Estate in Altadena. Set against the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains sits this beautiful estate.

The property is on the National Register of Historic Places as it is the former home of the famed Western novelist, Zane Grey. The property not only housed Zane, but had the architectural brilliance of Chicago’s Myron Hunt and Elmer Grey (also designed the Rose Bowl, Huntington Library, and other California landmarks).

Curbed LA highlighted that the property remained in the Grey family for decades, last trading hands in 1970. In recent years, it’s been the site of an underground farmers market as well as a popular Airbnb rental, but now it is ready to start a new chapter.

The Los Angeles Times highlighted that Zane Grey is considered one of the greatest writers in the Western Genre. Grey penned more than 90 books over the course of his career. Between 1911 and 1996, 112 films were adapted from his works.

See more photos of the listing: HERE!

Rodeo News: Syd Leibovitch Recognized in Swanepoel Power 200

The 2020 Swanepoel Power 200 list is out and Rodeo Realty’s President, Syd Leibovitch, is once again recognized. Year after year, Syd has been recognized as one of the most powerful people in the residential real estate brokerage industry.

Out of hundreds who were considered, Syd was one of 200 who made it onto the SP200 list.

“The SP200 is based on a great deal of research,” said Stefan Swanepoel, Editor-in-Chief of the Swanepoel Power 200. “We send hundreds of requests for additional information, personally verifying announcements, stats, and actions that took place over the past year.”

The 2020 SP200 ranks Syd Leibovitch at #113 among the 200 recognized.

“Leibovitch founded Rodeo Realty in 1986 and today heads it as one of the nation’s largest brokerages. The company has 12 offices across Los Angeles and Ventura counties with 1,223 agents who do over $4.9 billion in annual sales.” said the SP200.

 

Out & About: Melrose Avenue

Melrose Avenue is one of L.A.’s most famous streets, featuring a medley of dining, entertainment, and shopping destinations. The street begins at Santa Monica Boulevard where the cities of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills meet. Start your day off by shopping at the world-famous boutiques, enjoy lunch at one of the numerous top-ranked eateries and end the night by laughing yourself silly at The Parlor featuring newcomers and famous comedians or enjoy the many art galleries the famous street has to offer!

Gallery 1988 (Art)
Location: 7308 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046

Gallery 1988 has continued to host awesome exhibitions focused on pop culture after launching the “iam8bit” art shows. Since opening in 2004, the gallery has mounted solo shows by popular artists like Luke Cheuh, Joe Ledbetter and Mike Mitchell. In 2007 they opened a second location further up Melrose!

 

The Parlor (Comedy)
Location: 7350 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046

Booker and producer Jay Davis knows how to put together a solid lineup, often getting his famous buddies to come down for a show but also giving chances to funny unknows on the same stage. If you stop by this upscale bar on a Monday, grab a cocktail sit back and enjoy the show!

 

The Reformation (Shopping)
Location: 8253 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90048

Designer Yael Afalo takes diamonds in the rough and makes them shine, cutting vintage garb and surplus fabric into modern silhouettes, from cropped blouses to breezy maxi dresses and shorts.

JapanLA (Shopping)
Location:  7320 ½ Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

The cute culture shop on Melrose specializes in Japanese crossover collections. It’s a go-to destination for products from kawaii brands like tokidoki, Sanrio, San-X and Pokémon as well as occasional pop-up collections

Paul Smith Los Angeles
Location: 8221 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

A “so British” atmosphere is cultivated with old books, wood paneling, and antiques. But most know this outpost for its electric pink exterior, one of the hot spots for instagrammers.

Helmut Lang
Location: 8808 Melrose Avenue. Los Angeles, CA 90069

Shop for modern pieces for men and women, mostly in black, white and cool neutral colors. The Helmut Lang was created by Austrian fashion designer Helmut Lang in 1986. The Helmut Lang brand still exists today without Lang’s involvement since 2005.

Crumbs & Whiskers
Location: 7924 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

This cat-friendly coffee stop has set up the first permanent operation in the city Founder Kanchan Singh describes the D.C. based café as a place where you can grab a cup of coffee and cuddle with some cats. There is a small catch: you can’t prepare food in the same place as you house animals. So, Crumbs & Whiskers sources its drinks and snacks from the nearby Open Space.

 

Hollywood Improv

Location: 8162 Melrose Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90046

The flagship Improv on Melrose is one of the most legendary clubs in Los Angeles, as well as all of America. On any given night, walk in to see one of your favorite comics from TV at the bar, the acts are never a letdown! The shows are an exciting mix of independently produced, and experimental with frequent appearances by respected and well-known comedians.

Blue Jam Café
Location: 7371 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

At Blue Jam Café, your table will be worth the wait with the best eggs benedict in town and delicious mouthwatering French toast. The Melrose location as been open since 2006, its fantastic service adds a neighborhood feel to the chain.

Tatsu Ramen
Location: 7111 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

Tatsu Ramen brings traditional Japanese ramen to LA. Tatsu means dragon in Japanese and Ryu (the owner) being born in the Year of the Dragon, found the perfect name for his restaurant. Walking into Tatsu is like walking into the future. Rather than waiting in a long line at the counter, smart tables line the interior wall. Each customer places their order from the simple menu, which gives you an option to choose from six different ramen, 3 rice side dishes, pork bums and most recently the ramen burger!

Out & About: Places to Give Back This Holiday Season

Family time, presents, bright lights, and plenty of delicious food to go around the table are what we know as the holidays. However, many people are not so fortunate, especially here in Los Angeles where the homelessness crisis has continued to worsen over the last year. From cooking meals to spending time with terminally ill children, to donating baby supplies to parents in need. Your helping hands and most importantly your time and smile are needed to brighten up the holiday season for someone this year!

Midnight Mission

Downtown’s midnight mission offers counseling education, and job placement to the city’s homeless population, as well as food, shelter, personal hygiene, and medical care. For the holidays, the Mission holds special events in addition to regular meal services and food donation drives. Note: Midnight Mission asks that female volunteers come with a companion since this is an all-male facility.

Union Station Homeless Services

San Gabriel Valley’s largest social services agency, offers year-round community meal programs and other services for the area’s homeless population: including emergency shelter, children’s education and recreational activity and adult classes in parenting, nutrition, and money management. Union Station Homeless Services has also hosted Dinner in the Park for over four decades, named the biggest potluck in the nation by the Los Angeles Times: This organization helps give warm holiday meals to more than 7,000 homeless, low income, and senior citizens.

Fred Jordan Mission

The Fred Jordan Mission has provided clothing, blankets, and food to the homeless for more than 50 years. For the holidays, volunteers hand out food bags, toys and blankets, and sing carols!

Food on Foot

Donating gently used clothing, shoes, blankets as well as food! You can sign up to volunteer anytime, and it usually costs $25 (which serves as funds to feed about five people per day).

L.A. Regional Food Bank

Come help distribute food this holiday season with L.A. Regional Food Bank. Volunteers are needed for special events, food sorting, and food drives: including the organization’s yearly Operation Gobble, where volunteers will help inspect, sort and repackage food for delivery during the holiday.

Holidays From the Heart (CHLA)

This program aims to lighten up the holidays for chronically ill children and their families. There are a number of ways you can help, including sponsoring a family or providing bulk gift items (clothing, diapers, making a monetary donation, or serving as a volunteer (shopping for gifts, distributing gifts).

Baby2Baby

This organization works year-round to ensure that no child is without the basic necessities of childhood; accepting donations all year long for items that will benefit children (infants to age 12) including but not limited to car seats, clothing (children’s and maternity), hygiene items (toothpaste, soap, sunscreen), coats, and more.

Crayon Collection

Upcycle gently used crayons, providing children with crayons and saving our landfills. Being a part of Crayon Collection allows families with children of all ages an easy way to volunteer and make a difference.

Brighten the Holidays (Salvation Army)

This program helps families who are experiencing hard times due to unemployment, medical issues, homelessness or other challenges. From generously providing family dinners to donating toys to put under the tree, help the Salvation Army lend a hand with holiday events to those who need it most.

 

 

 

Tech News: Streaming Wars… What To Watch And What Is The Price?

The next few years will be marked as “revolutionary” for anything in regards to entertainment and television. Almost every big television platform is going to launch their own streaming service to compete with the three largest tech giants: Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. Here’s what you need to know about the new and existing players in a game of the television Streaming Wars!

 

Netflix

Price: $8.99 for its basic plan, $12.99 for standard, and $15.99 for premium

What it offers: Netflix is arguably the streaming king of them all thanks to an expanding archive of content and global subscriber base that is 150 million strong. Netflix’s library includes its original series such as “Stranger Things,” “The Witcher” and “The Umbrella Academy,” plus original films like “Always Be My Maybe” and the Oscar-winning “Roma.” It also has comedy specials from the likes of Dave Chappelle, Netflix Originals like Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, upcoming films from Martin Scorsese and Michael Bay and series from Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy — two of television’s most successful producers. Netflix is losing beloved classics like “Friends” and “The Office” to competitors, but it’s now the exclusive global streaming home to “Seinfeld” starting in 2021. So, yes, Netflix may have competition waiting at the gates, but it’s still synonymous with streaming.

 

Apple TV+

Price: $4.99 a month or a free year when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Mac or Apple TV.

What it offers: Apple TV+ may be short on content, but it undercuts many of its streaming competitors in price with its $4.99 monthly fee (and you get a year free when you buy a new Apple product from Apple or licensed retailers). Apple TV+ also includes content from some heavy-hitters in Hollywood. There’s “The Morning Show,” a series about the news industry starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carrell (CNN’s Brian Stelter is a consultant on the project, for which his book was used as background). Apple also struck a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey in June of 2018 to create documentaries and a book club.

 

Disney+

Price: $6.99 or $12.99 when bundled with ESPN+ and commercial-supported Hulu

What it offers: Disney+ is the exclusive home for some of the most popular franchises in Hollywood for a low price. While Apple is promoting names like Oprah, Disney+ has brand names like Star Wars and Marvel. There are multiple series from Marvel, a few original Star Wars series including “The Mandalorian,” Pixar films and shorts, Disney animated classics, and documentaries from National Geographic. The service is also the exclusive home to all 30 seasons of “The Simpsons” — TV’s longest running primetime scripted series. Much of Disney+ caters to children, but that’s still a lot of content for $6.99 – about half of what Netflix charges for its standard plan.

 

HBO Max

Price: $14.99 a month

When does it launch?: May 2020

What it offers: HBO Max’s best selling point is it’s variety. The upcoming service from WarnerMedia, which also owns CNN, has content for all ages — Looney Tunes, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network and “Sesame Street” for the young and HBO series, TNT and TBS for adults. All 23 seasons of “South Park” will also be exclusive to the service. For cinephiles, HBO Max offers Warner Brothers’ deep film library, The Criterion Collection and Turner Classic Movies. The service will also have television favorites such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “The Big Bang Theory.” The iconic “Friends,” which Warner Bros. had licensed to Netflix, is coming home to WarnerMedia and will live exclusively on HBO Max for five years starting in 2020.

HBO Max has also successfully courted J.J. Abrams in a wide-ranging production deal with WarnerMedia, as well as Greg Berlanti and Reese Witherspoon, who will produce original films for the service.

 

Hulu

Price: $11.99 without ads, $5.99 with ads

What it offers: Hulu has the Emmy Award winning “The Handmaid’s Tale,” current television episodes available on-demand (the day after they air), and is now fully controlled by Disney. The service, which has 28 million subscribers, has greenlit a bunch of new series including “The Dropout,” a limited series about rise and fall of Theranos CEO, Elizabeth Holmes, that stars Kate McKinnon as Holmes, as well as two new live-action Marvel series, “Ghost Rider” and “Helstrom.” Hulu is a big part of Disney’s streaming strategy along with ESPN+, which the company plans to bundle together.

 

Peacock

Price: TBD

When does it launch?: April 2020

What it offers: Do you like to laugh? Well, NBCUniversal has the streaming service for you. Peacock will offer a full lineup of comedy hits including “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation” (both of which will be exclusive to the service) “30 Rock,” “Cheers,” “Frasier” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” Every season of “SNL” will be available on Peacock and there will be reboots of classic series like “Saved by the Bell” and “Battlestar Galactica.” Peacock will have blockbusters from Universal Pictures such as the “Fast & Furious” series and classics like “Jaws” and “Back to the Future.” Universal, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation will also create original films for the service, and Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore will star in original series as well.