What to Watch the Week of November 24: The Netflix True Crime Documentary You’ll All Be Talking About

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Everett Collection; Netflix; Max/HBO; NBCUniversal

True crime documentaries have always captivated American audiences, but perhaps none is as chilling as the one that will premiere this Monday on Netflix. Titled Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, the three-part series does a deep dive on the horrific murder of John and Patsy Ramsey’s six-year-old daughter, JonBenét. It covers what the investigation did wrong and why this true crime documentary might be the best chance at finally bringing the killer to justice.

For those who might be unfamiliar with the case [Editor’s note: sensitive and disturbing information follows], John and Patsy Ramsey awoke to a nightmare the day after Christmas 1996 when they discovered their youngest child was missing. Because a ransom note was left behind, the family and police assumed the little girl had been kidnapped. But hours later, John Ramsey discovered his daughter’s lifeless body in the basement, where she had been sexually assaulted and brutally murdered.

The Boulder police were inexperienced in handling homicide investigations, and in the days that followed, the wealthy Ramsey family came under intense scrutiny, with many assuming they were involved in the crime. The case fueled a national obsession and it remains unsolved 28 years later.

In fact, when Dr. Ann Burgess, a renowned psychiatric nurse and professor who has made a living working opposite some of America’s most well-known killers, spoke with Glamour earlier this year for her own documentary, she weighed in on the Ramsey case, saying, “I think it was someone that knew the area very well and knew the comings and goings, so that he was able…to be successful in terms of what he did. And I think it was one person responsible, but they still don’t have him.”

Now Academy Award–nominated director Joe Berlinger is hoping that will change when the docuseries is released on the largest streaming platform. Through new interviews with John Ramsey (Patsy died of complications from cancer in 2006) as well as reporters, law enforcement, and others who worked closely on the case, Berlinger redirects the spotlight to focus on how this unfathomable murder can finally be solved.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the docuseries since I watched early screeners a week ago, but please be advised of the deeply upsetting subject matter. When or if you do watch, I highly recommend following it up with something easy and lighthearted.

For me, that was Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, coming to Max later this week. Aside from the fact that I love the music of Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Toto, Kenny Loggins, and more, the documentary reveals the stories behind some of their biggest hits and the surprising origin of the Yacht Rock phenomenon. If you loved The Greatest Night in Pop—the Netflix documentary about the making of 1985’s “We Are the World”—then you’ll love Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary.

On that note, read on for all the other Thanksgiving programming coming this week, from Home Alone to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I hope the week ahead brings comfort, joy, great food, outstanding shopping deals, and easy listening.

Sunday, November 24

Tsunami: Race Against Time (National Geographic): Marking 20 years since one of the deadliest natural disasters in history, the docuseries examines the events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which took the lives of more than 225,000 people. Emmy-winning filmmaker Daniel Bogado directs the series, which features personal accounts from survivors as well as those who risked their lives to save others. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu

Monday, November 25

Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey (Netflix): Here’s the synopsis of this three-part documentary: “On December 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey wake up the morning after Christmas to discover their youngest child, six-year-old JonBenét, is missing, and a chilling ransom note has been left downstairs. Later that day, John Ramsey discovers his daughter’s body in the basement, revealing the shocking truth that JonBenét had not been kidnapped, but was instead sexually assaulted and brutally murdered in their own home. The Boulder, Colorado, police, who had little practical experience in homicide investigations, quickly cast suspicion on JonBenét’s family as the most likely suspects, fanning the flames of media scrutiny and largely one-sided reporting and turning the case into a national obsession. Twenty-eight years later, that obsession—and finger-pointing—hasn’t gone away, and the murder of JonBenét Ramsey remains unsolved. From Academy Award–nominated director Joe Berlinger, Cold Case investigates the mishandling of the case by law enforcement and the media.” Streaming

Get Millie Black (HBO/Max): The five-episode limited series stars Tamara Lawrance as ex-Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black, who returns to Kingston to work missing persons cases. There she finds herself on a quest to save a sibling who won’t be saved, to find a child who can’t be found, and to solve a case that will blow her world apart and prove almost as tough to crack as Millie Black. Streaming

Tuesday, November 26

Dancing With the Stars (ABC/Disney+): The three-hour finale is here as a new Mirrorball Champion is crowned. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Disney+

Wednesday, November 27

The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20 (ABC): This two-hour documentary event commemorates the 60th anniversary of Walt Disney’s masterpiece, Mary Poppins. Diehard fans can expect rarely seen footage as well as photos and stories from the film’s living legends.
9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT

Countdown to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC): Wendi McLendon-Covey (star of the new NBC comedy St. Denis Medical) hosts the preview of the iconic Thanksgiving Day Parade, allowing viewers a sneak peek at the stories behind the floats, balloons, and bands on their journey through the streets of New York. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

A Saturday Night Live Thanksgiving (NBC): On this Thanksgiving Eve, take a break and watch SNL’s most memorable Thanksgiving-themed sketches from its 50 seasons. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT

Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28

98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC): The world-famous parade commences with balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities, and more. 8:30 a.m. ET/PT, 7:30 a.m. CT (encore at 2 p.m. ET)

National Dog Show Presented by Purina (NBC): John O’Hurley is back as host along with expert analyst David Frei. Mary Carillo will offer a behind-the-scenes account of the competition. 12 p.m. ET/PT, 11 p.m. CT

The Madness (Netflix): Colman Domingo plays Muncie Daniels, a respected media pundit who thinks he has it all. However, when he’s framed for the murder of a white supremacist, he must clear his name, protect his family, and unravel a high-level conspiracy before time runs out. Streaming

Sweethearts (Max): Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga star as two college freshmen who make a pact to break up with their high school sweethearts over Thanksgiving break. But what happens instead is a chaotic night out in their hometown that puts their codependent friendship to the test. Jordan Weiss, who created the comedy Dollface on Hulu, makes her directorial debut. She cowrote the script with Dan Brier. For more on the movie, here’s everything we know. Streaming

The Wonderful World of Disney Presents Mary Poppins (ABC): Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in one of the most classic films of all time. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT

Home Alone and more (Freeform): The Macauley Culkin–Catherine O’Hara holiday classic airs today on Freeform as part of the cable network’s 30 Days of Disney month. But first, Finding Nemo airs at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT, followed by Finding Nemo at 12:55 p.m. ET/PT, then Finding Dory at 3 p.m. ET/PT, the live-action Beauty and the Beast at 6 p.m. ET/PT, and then Home Alone at 8:25 p.m. ET/Pt, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York after. All day

The Big Bang Theory (TBS): The sitcom’s Thanksgiving-themed episodes will air as part of a Big Bang marathon today. 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT

Friday, November 29

Outlander (Starz): In episode 710, titled “Brotherly Love,” Claire and Young Ian arrive in Philadelphia to help the ailing Henry Grey. Meanwhile, Roger and Buck receive an unexpected clue in their search for Jemmy. 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and on the Starz app at midnight

Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary (HBO/Max): Director Garret Price chronicles the emergence and popularity of Yacht Rock with interviews from Grammy-winning icons Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Steely Dan, and Toto. Streaming

Blue Bloods: Celebrating a Family Legacy (CBS/Paramount+): The special, from Entertainment Tonight, will air tonight to celebrate the long-running family/cop drama that comes to an end next month after 14 seasons. Per the press release, “Included in the show is a rare look inside the famous family dinner scene, where viewers learn family dinner secrets straight from the Reagans’ table. The special reveals new details about the first time the cast had family dinner during the pilot when they were strangers, and how that transformed the series into the global phenomenon it is today. Also, fans hear firsthand from the cast about what it is like filming on the streets of New York City and get a sneak peek at the emotional finale prior to the series send-off.” 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+

Nutcrackers (Hulu): Ben Stiller and Linda Cardellini star in this heartfelt holiday movie that follows straitlaced and work-obsessed Mike (Stiller) as he is suddenly thrust into being a caregiver for his rambunctious orphaned nephews. Streaming

The Later Daters (Netflix): Hoping to follow in the footsteps of The Golden Bachelor/ette franchise, Netflix launches its own dating show for singles over 60. One thing Golden doesn’t have? Michelle Obama, who is an executive producer on this unscripted series, as well as Harvard-trained behavioral scientist Logan Ury (author of How to Not Die Alone) who coaches the men and women hoping to find love again. Streaming

Saturday, November 30

Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story (Hallmark Channel): The NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs partner up with Hallmark for the newest holiday movie. This feel-good film stars Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, but it’s Donna Kelce who steals the show. According to Kansas City Chiefs chief marketing officer Lara Krug, the idea for the movie came about from a short parody film for the Chiefs called Falling for Football. It was such a hit with fans that Hallmark was filming Holiday Touchdown by July. “To say it happened very quickly would be an understatement,” she tells Glamour. “But between us, Hallmark, NFL, and Skydance, we’re really excited for everyone to see Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story on November 30.” 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT

Originally Appeared on Glamour