THE HOT LIST
GREAT THINGS TO WATCH AND STEAM
HISTORY REVISITED HAMILTON Disney+
■ STREAMING from this Friday, July 3, is one of the most acclaimed and most important musicals of recent years, Lin-Manual Miranda’s Hamilton which has stacked up awards on Broadway and the West End. Hamilton is the story of Alexander Hamilton and the USA’s other founding fathers using non-white actors in many of the lead roles to re-examine American history from a different perspective. With modern storytelling methods and a soundtrack of hip hop, R&B, pop and soul alongside traditional show tunes, Hamilton has been a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic. This ‘live capture’ performance of the Broadway show takes the audience into the thick of the action and gets across the power and impact of Hamilton.
EURO CAMP EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA Netflix
■ IF there’s a Eurovision-sized hole in your viewing this year, this might well fill the gap. Suitably over the top and incredibly camp, this affectionate comedy revels in all the glitz and glamour of the annual search for Europe’s favourite pop song. Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams play smalltown Icelandic duo Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdottir who are given the chance to chase their ultimate dream and represent their county at Eurovision, but have to contend with unscrupulous rivals, onstage mishaps and mounting pressure. Pierce Brosnan and Dan Stevens join in the sequin-smothered fun.
MUSICAL JOURNEY HUEY MORGAN’S LATIN MUSIC ADVENTURE BBC Four, Friday, 9.30pm
■ DJ and Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey hits the road for a new documentary series looking at the rich and varied musical traditions of Latin America. He kicks things off in Brazil, meeting pioneer of the Tropicalia genre Gilberto Gil who demonstrates how music has been used for social protest and visiting a Samba school where students are preparing for what looks like being a controversial Rio Carnival. Huey then visits Salvador and Sao Paolo on his tour of the country, exploring music through history and also what’s happening now. He’ll also be visiting Cuba and Puerto Rico in this series.
SNOW BUSINESS FROZEN 2 Disney+
■ COMING to Disney+ this Friday, two weeks ahead of when it was originally scheduled, Frozen 2 is another huge hit for the House of Mouse, officially the biggest grossing animated movie of all time at the global box office. This sequel follows Elsa who, along with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, go on a remarkable journey to an ancient forest to find the source of her powers and to save their own kingdom of Arendelle. Expect big tunes and beautiful animation.
CULTURE WARS MRS AMERICA BBC Two, Wednesday, July 8, 9pm
■ THIS landmark series from FX lands on BBC Two with a double bill and looks at the culture wars of the 1970s as conservative and progressive forces locked horns. Miss America tells the story of the attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the US and the surprising backlash against it led by Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), dubbed “the sweetheart of the silent majority.” Told through the experiences of the women at the centre of the struggle, both Schlafly and second-wave feminists like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan and Shirley Chisholm, the series charts the rise of the ‘Moral Majority’ and how it came to influence political thinking. Also stars Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Tracey Ullman and Sarah Paulson.