Top TV picks for April 29-May 1: 'Special Correspondents,' 'The Drew,' 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' 'Jazz at the White House'

April 28, 2016 at 4:55PM
Baron Davis in a scene from the Showtime documentary"The Drew."Photo: 5 Balloons Entertainment/Courtesy of Showtime
Baron Davis in “The Drew.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Meet the press

Ricky Gervais, a comedian who is just as insistent as Louie C.K. is in controlling his own work, is the writer, director and star of "Special Correspondents," a new film about journalists who fake their own kidnapping in Ecuador. Gervais will continue to don various hats for his highly anticipated follow-up to "The Office," "David Brent: Life on the Road," scheduled for release in August.

Now streaming on Netflix

Hoop dreams

Kevin Durant is among the NBA stars offering sideline commentary on "The Drew," a documentary that celebrates the South Central L.A. community group that turned its back on gangs and drugs to form one of the premier pro-am basketball leagues. Two-time NBA all-star Baron Davis is the co-director along with Chad Gordon.

7 p.m. Friday, Showtime

Weeping guitars

Prince passed away after the taping of the "2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremonies," but he still manages to steal the show. Producers, who include Tom Hanks, were wise to end the rather lackluster 180-minute broadcast with a clip of His Royal Badness' blistering guitar solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" during the 2004 inductions. It's a proper bookend to the night's only truly memorable musical number in which David Byrne fronts the Roots for David Bowie's "Fame."

7 p.m. Saturday, HBO

All that jazz

Aretha Franklin, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Chick Corea are among the guests for "Jazz at the White House," a star-studded event celebrating International Jazz Day, a holiday that gets about as much respect as Take Your Pug to Work Day. All should run smoothly, as long as the Secret Service forces Sting to leave his lute at the front gate.

7 p.m. Saturday, KSTP, Ch. 5

Neal Justin


FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2015 file photo, Ricky Gervais poses for photographers upon arrival at the House of Cards season 3 World Premiere at the Empire Cinema in central London. 2015 Emmy nominees all have their favorite shows, and some have imagined what it might be like to hang out in one of the alluring worlds of the small screen. ìOK, ëGame of Thrones.í Oh my God. Give me a sword. Give me a sword and a dragon. I will sort out some stuff in that fictional world.î said Gerv
Gervais (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Aretha Franklin performed at the State Fair Grandstand. ] (KYNDELL HARKNESS/STAR TRIBUNE) kyndell.harkness@startribune.com in Falcon Heights Min., Friday, August, 22, 2014.
Aretha Franklin contributes to “Jazz at the White House.” (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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