Neal Justin | (TNS) Star Tribune
“Dora the Explorer” has made lots of kids interested in the world outside of Sesame Street. But once kids turn 7, Dora's adventures get a bit boring. That's when Jane Garcia should become the new favorite.
The 9-year-old star of “Jane,” returning on Apple TV+ this Friday, is a kid who knows more about dinosaurs than songs by Olivia Rodrigo. She can be a bit too enthusiastic, but she's a great guide for older kids, especially with Earth Day coming up on Monday.
In the second season, Jane Garcia and her friend David get really interested in pandas, wolves, armadillos, and coral reefs.
Instead of playing as princesses and cowboys, they pretend to be in the deep sea or on the African tundra, saving animals from climate change and poachers. After a few episodes, your kids might ask to go to the Amazon instead of Disney World.
What's special about “Jane” is that it doesn't talk down to kids and also acknowledges their parents. One of the side stories is about a single mom trying to make time for her talented daughter while still going on the occasional dinner date.
The environment might not come up often at your family meals. But if anything can change that, it's “Jane.”
Also this week
‘Battle for the Arctic With Bill Hemmer’
The title of this special suggests that the Fox News anchor might shed light on how climate change is impacting the polar region. But Hemmer spends most of his trip up north honoring U.S. military forces dealing with challenges from Russia, reporting eagerly like a Boy Scout who just earned his first merit badge. Hemmer and the team seem more interested in the ice cream served on a Navy submarine than the situation of polar bears. Fox Nation
‘O.J.: Made in America’
O.J. Simpson's death on April 10 gave late-night comedians a reason to revisit some of the most unusual aspects of the sports star's infamous time in the spotlight. But that murder trial was much more than gossip, a point emphasized in this outstanding documentary series that was at the top of my 2016 TV list. Its coverage of how racial relations led to his acquittal is even more powerful in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Netflix, Spectrum
‘Orlando Bloom: To the Edge’
“The Lord of the Rings” actor tries to show he's as daring as Tom Cruise in this three-part series that has him wingsuit-flying over California fields and climbing imposing rock formations in Utah. The stunts are impressive, but the three episodes seem more aimed at those wanting to see shots of girlfriend Katy Perry and Bloom working out without a shirt. Thursday, Peacock
‘Good Times’
The late Norman Lear is credited as an executive producer on this animated series, but it has little in common with his 1970s series. The producer leaving the biggest imprint is Seth MacFarlane, whose outrageous brand of comedy runs through all 10 episodes. There’s even an evil baby who’s a lot like “Family Guy’s” Stewie. Netflix
©2024 StarTribune. Visit startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
