February 2024 media picks and news
It’s time to look at what media of interest is coming out in February 2024.
Disney+
A full list is available here.
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Season 2), Feb. 3
The Marvels, Feb. 7
Iwájú, Feb. 28
Hulu
A full list is available here.
The Space Race, Feb. 13
Netflix
A full list is available here.
Avatar: The Last Airbender, Feb. 22
Paramount+
A full list is available here.
The Tiger’s Apprentice, Feb. 2
Sports
NHL All-Star Game, Feb. 3 (ABC, ESPN+)
Super Bowl LVIII, Feb. 11 (CBS, Paramount+)
NBA All-Star Game, Feb. 18 (TNT)
My thoughts
Netflix is launching a live-action version of popular 2000s Nickelodeon cartoon “Avatar: The Last Airbender” as a TV series. While I haven’t really watched the original show, I do know fans are hoping this version does better than the ill-fated 2010 live-action movie.
I notice Netflix debuts this month a kids’ cartoon called “Dee & Friends in Oz.” It’s an adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” featuring Dorothy as a Black girl nicknamed “Dee.” Dee has adventures in Oz with kid versions of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. It’s an example of what can be done with material in the public domain besides lazy horror film takes (see: Winnie the Pooh and, recently, Mickey Mouse).
On Disney+, “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” season 2 finally premieres. There’s also, at the end of the month, the debut of “Iwájú,” an animated series set in a futuristic version of Nigeria.
On Hulu (and Disney+) is “The Space Race,” a Black History Month-timed National Geographic documentary about the efforts to launch the first Black man (Guion Bluford) into space.
Paramount+ has a new made-for-Paramount+ animated film, “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” about an Asian American teen who becomes a magical guardian.
WWE wrestling to stream live on… Netflix?!
Netflix announced it’s gained the rights to livestream longtime USA Network mainstay “WWE Raw.” Starting in January 2025, “Raw” will be on Netflix in the US, Canada, UK, and Latin America. Outside the US, Netflix is also obtaining the rights to all WWE programming (including “Smackdown” and “NXT”), as well as special events like “WrestleMania.”
While I’m not a wrestling viewer, a large number of people I follow online are fans, and seem abuzz about this. I can see why WWE and Netflix are doing this. For Netflix, they get exclusive rights to stream a live “sports entertainment” event without dealing with the rights nightmare of the world’s most popular sports (basketball, soccer, etc.) and their silly rules (blackouts, etc.). For WWE, they get to be on the world’s most popular (and for many, de facto) streaming service, versus WWE Network and a hodgepodge of country-specific carriers.
If WWE opts to leave Peacock in the US after its current contract expires, that takes away one of Peacock’s major features. While Peacock still has a few other draws (Hallmark films/cable channel streaming and sports), losing wrestling would still be a big blow.
Sports stuff
February brings America’s most-watched sports broadcast of the year (and most-watched broadcast period), the Super Bowl. Playing at the halftime show this year is R&B musician Usher. As usual, I’ll be watching for the game itself, halftime show, and the commercials. (Check back on the blog to find out which of the three I found the most interesting.)
That said, the two other ongoing major sports, basketball and hockey, are also holding their All-Star Games this month. The NHL’s game is taking place in Toronto, while the NBA’s game is being held in Indianapolis.