The It List: 'Leaving Neverland,' Weezer, 'The Masked Singer' and the best in pop culture the week of Feb. 25, 2019

The It List is Yahoo’s weekly look at the best in pop culture, including movies, music, TV, streaming, games, books, podcasts and more. Here are our picks for Feb. 25 to March 3, including the best deals we could find for each.

WATCH IT: Leaving Neverland

Fresh off its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Dan Reed’s controversial documentary arrives on HBO as the Michael Jackson estate is already taking steps to combat the movie’s portrayal of the late singer as a serial pedophile. Over the course of four hours, Reed allows two of Jackson’s alleged victims, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, to explain in devastating detail exactly how their idol groomed them to be his sexual partners without their parents knowing. Equally tragic testimony is offered by both men’s mothers, who were seduced into believing their sons were safe with the pop icon and remain haunted by their blindness to what went on behind closed doors. There are no easy answers to be found in Leaving Neverland — just the painful, yet freeing process of watching Robson and Safechuck finally share their stories in full.
Leaving Neverland airs March 3 and 4 on HBO, HBO Go and HBO Now.

HEAR IT: Weezer, Black Album

Following their recent all-covers Teal Album (which featured that unexpectedly career-boosting “Africa” remake), on their 13th studio album, Rivers Cuomo and company return to originals. Will Black Album, which was produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek, please old-school or new-school Weezer fans? Let’s hope Saturday Night Live does another Weezer skit with Leslie Jones and Matt Damon to settle that debate.
Download on iTunes; buy on CD/vinyl at Amazon.

WATCH IT: Better Things

Actress Pamela Adlon created, wrote and produced the critically lauded FX show for two seasons with Louis C.K., a comedian whom multiple women have accused of sexual misconduct, and is returning for her first season without him. In the show’s third season, she’s teamed with four new writers to chronicle life as an actress and single parent struggling in Hollywood in ways both funny and touching.
Better Things Season 3 premieres Thursday, Feb. 28, at 10 p.m. on FX; stream it live on FX+.

WATCH IT: The Masked Singer

The finale of Fox’s surprise-hit singing competition is upon us, and we’ve never been so excited to watch B-list celebrities remove their giant animal costumes. The contest has come down to three singers who are clearly seasoned performers: the Peacock (a former teen idol with a connection to Las Vegas), the Bee (a legendary soul singer — but which one?) and the Monster (an R&B artist seeking redemption for… something). Go here to read our recap of the semifinals and read music editor Lyndsey Parker’s expert guesses for the final three.
The season finale of The Masked Singer airs Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 8 p.m. on Fox; stream it beginning Feb. 28 on Hulu.

READ IT: I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, by Michelle McNamara

The bestselling account of the author’s relentless search for the terrifying California serial killer of the ’70s and ’80s, whom she slugged the Golden State Killer, has been reprinted, one year after it was first released. Sadly, McNamara did not live to see the success of her book, which was finished in part by her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, as she died in her sleep in 2016 at age 46. Police finally announced an arrest in the case on April 25, 2018, and although they said it had nothing to do with the book, Oswalt, for one, was skeptical.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark is available to purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

WATCH IT: Unbanned: The Legend of AJ1

Director Dexton Deboree’s fittingly stylish, three-years-in-the-making Hulu documentary tells you everything you ever needed to know — and probably a bit more — about the Air Jordan 1, the 1984 basketball shoe that jumpstarted (get it?) sneakerhead culture and is just as popular today. Featuring interviews with Spike Lee, Phil Knight, Chuck D, David Stern and, of course, #23 Michael Jordan himself (among many others), the doc takes an in-depth look at the sneaker’s creation, Nike’s recruitment of the hot NBA rookie and how the league banned (or didn’t ban, depending on who you ask) the black-and-red sensation the year it was released. Either way, it gave them a helluva marketing strategy.
Watch it on Hulu (and buy your pair of AJ1s from Nike).

READ IT: I.M.: A Memoir, by Isaac Mizrahi

Designer Isaac Mizrahi recounts his life as a fashion designer — creating looks for the famous but also becoming a celebrity in his own right, playing himself on Sex and the City and serving as a judge on Project Runway All Stars — in this new autobiography. Expect cameos from celebs including Audrey Hepburn, Oprah Winfrey and Anna Wintour, as well as more somber subjects, including Mizrahi’s experiences dealing with depression, growing up gay in a conservative family and witnessing the AIDS epidemic.
I.M.: A Memoir is available to purchase on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

SEE IT: Special 20th Anniversary 10 Things I Hate About You Reunion + Q&A

As the late Heath Ledger’s character Patrick Verona would say, or rather sing: It’s just too good to be true! Actors Gabrielle Union, Andrew Keegan, Larisa Oleynik, Susan May Pratt and Kyle Cease, along with writers Karen McCullah and Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith, will reunite to answer questions about the classic teen romcom before a screening. Fans can also check out themed photo booths ($10 to benefit Bringing Light to Autism) and dance the night away at the ’90s DJ Dance Party, with a special acoustic performance by Kay and Michael from Letters to Cleo. Tickets start at $55.
Tickets for the Special 20th Anniversary 10 Things I Hate About You Reunion + Q&A on Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. PT at the Wisdome Art Park in Los Angeles can be purchased here now.

WATCH IT: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Want to see the future of animation? Look no further than Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, which deservedly took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature on Sunday. The film, about a teenager named Miles Morales who discovers he has spider powers and turns to an alternate-universe Peter Parker for guidance, is a valentine to the entire history of Spider-Man (including such dubious detours as Spider-Ham). But its cutting-edge animation style, which takes cues from Marvel comics and contemporary street art, has created an entirely new way to tell superhero stories — one that will likely change the genre forever. Did we mention it’s also funny?
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is available for download on Amazon, Vudu and iTunes.

WATCH IT: RuPaul’s Drag Race

A true contender for the best reality show on TV, RuPaul’s Drag Race has been celebrating the art of drag for 10 years now — and the competition has only gotten fiercer. Season 11 kicks off this week with 14 new queens and one familiar face: the hilarious Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateo, who lasted just one episode of Season 10 and still managed to turn her name into a much-quoted catchphrase. As usual, the contestants are a diverse bunch, with a wide range of ages, ethnicities and backgrounds, including titles like Miss Black Universe, Miss Continental and National Entertainer of the Year. Even if you’ve never seen Drag Race, tune in long enough to watch the new queens introduce themselves; a Colorado contestant makes one of the most unusual entrances in the history of the show. And if you’re obsessed, make sure to also check out the new Official Drag Race Podcast, which debuts after the show and will feature weekly interviews with the eliminated queens.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 premieres on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 9 p.m. on VH1.

BOOK IT: The Lonely Island 2019 Tour

Attention cool guys, motherlovers and banditos: The super-awesome, superhilarious trio of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone are going on tour for the very first time. Kicking off at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on June 15, The Lonely Island tour will make its way to seven additional cities — including Brooklyn, Detroit and Minneapolis — throughout the rest of the month. Here’s hoping at least one of those concerts is on a boat.
The Lonely Island 2019 tour tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster.

STREAM IT: Three Identical Strangers

Tim Wardle’s hit documentary is yet one more reminder that truth is often stranger than fiction. Separated at birth, identical triplets Eddy Galland, David Kellman and Bobby Shafran meet for the first time as grownups. After the initial delight of finding each other wears off, the brothers’ attempts to research their history leads to some mind-blowing discoveries and tragic consequences. Sadly overlooked among the Oscar-nominated documentaries this year — although Free Solo was a more than deserving winner — Three Identical Strangers will likely be remade as a narrative feature in a few years. It’s hard to imagine that movie being better than this one, though.
Three Identical Strangers is currently streaming on Hulu.

WATCH IT: Climax

Gaspar Noe’s trancelike dance picture/horror movie begins as a fever dream before descending into a full-on nightmare. Loosely inspired by a real-life incident, Climax embeds the audience with an ace dance troupe (led by Sofia Boutella) who decide to blow off some steam by imbibing a special brew of sangria… that turns out to be laced with LSD. Their scrambled brains result in increasingly bizarre and frightening behavior. Boasting all of the wild stylistic tricks Noe is famous for — with fewer of the pretensions that weigh down movies like Enter the Void and Irreversible — Climax is a midnight movie classic in the making: his version of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death set to a killer electronic dance beat.
Climax opens in limited release on March 1. Visit Fandango for showtimes and ticket information.

WATCH IT: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Whereas 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph centered around the titular video game villain’s one-man adventure and came served with a sweet side of friendship, the hit sequel is a full-one buddy comedy between Ralph (John C. Reilly) and new BFF Princess Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), giving the latter due time to shine. Better yet, it enlisted every Disney princess to date for a couple hilarious, self-deprecating sequences that (you and) your kids can now enjoy on repeat as the Oscar-nominated film hits DVD, Blu-ray and Digital.
Buy it on Blu-ray/DVD at Amazon or download it on iTunes.

HEAR IT: Bryan Adams, Shine a Light

Not to be confused with the recently disgraced Ryan Adams, this ’80s rocker-turned-renaissance man (in recent years, he’s become a respected art photographer and Broadway composer) is back with his first studio album since 2015. And this 14th LP includes a surprising duet with none other than Jennifer Lopez, “That’s How Strong Our Love Is.” Is there anything Bryan Adams can’t do?
Download on iTunes; buy on CD at Amazon.

HEAR IT: Royal Trux, White Stuff

The 1990s’ scuzziest scuzz-rockers — who paved the way for acts like Sleigh Bells, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Kills — return after a 19-year recording hiatus to reclaim their tarnished noise-rock throne. And underground icons Neil Hagerty (formerly of Pussy Galore) and his ex-girlfriend, indie it-girl Jennifer Herrema, still sound like Crass doing an album of Stooges covers with Mick Taylor. In other words, they’re still fabulously freaky after all these years.
Download on iTunes; buy on CD/vinyl at Amazon.

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