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      ‘The Agency’ Is a Slick and Pleasing Spy Drama

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      Based on the French show “The Bureau,” the new Showtime series stars Michael Fassbender as a spy who must readjust to life after living undercover.Pity the C.I.A. agents deploying their enhanced interrogation techniques, beating hostages and meddling; truly it is they who suffer. It’s hard work being a spy — but the hardest work of all is loving yourself.“The Agency,” beginning Friday on Paramount+ (and debuting on Showtime at 9 p.m. Sunday), is set mostly within the London office of the C.I.A., where one of the primo dudes (Michael Fassbender), code name “Martian,” has been abruptly yanked back from a mission in Ethiopia. He was undercover there for six years, living as Paul and falling in love with Sami (Jodie Turner-Smith), a Sudanese historian and political activist. He wasn’t ready for the mission to end, and he is definitely not ready for their relationship to end — but c’mon, what are a few bent rules in the interest of hot-people diplomacy?“This isn’t national security; this is personal,” Martian insists to his boss (Jeffrey Wright). “It’s the agency,” the boss bellows back. “Nothing is personal!” Ooooh!The series is based on the terrific French show “The Bureau,” and in the four episodes (of 10) made available for review, it deploys a lot of spy-show standards: the rookie to whom everything must be explained, the ambitious but naïve flunkies, the secretly cooperative foreign attaches, the higher-ups who seem institutional and out of touch until they drop some monologue wisdom on our heroes.Fassbender’s mesmerizing performance is the biggest draw here, giving viewers a real taste of what it’s like to love a liar. We’re never quite sure what his angle is, how much of his seemingly vulnerable moments are all part of the game. He finds an intriguing sparring partner in the agency’s therapist (Harriet Sansom Harris), with whom he is required to meet on account of how hard it is to reintegrate into real life after living undercover for so long. Other story lines for secondary and tertiary characters feel comparatively unmoored.But on the whole, it’s all very slick and overtly, pleasingly fancy-schmancy. The show’s reflective-surfaces budget alone puts some national G.D.P.s to shame. The London of “The Agency” is a pallid grayscape where even the mall is dreary, where real life is the same color as CCTV footage. Every move here is surveilled, and the show revels in that constant unease. As the saying goes, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you. More

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      Seth Meyers Wishes You a Happy Frozen-Pizza Thanksgiving

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      Meyers tried out a few catchphrases for DiGiorno’s seasonal offering, while Jimmy Fallon suggested some last-minute Turkey Day substitutions.Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.It’s Not Delivery, It’s …Seth Meyers tried out several catchphrases for DiGiorno’s frozen Thanksgiving pizza, which features roasted turkey, green beans, cranberries and gravy.“Because some years, Dad gets the kids on Thanksgiving,” Meyers offered.“But don’t worry: I’m sure next year you’ll have something to be thankful for.” — SETH MEYERSFor those going the more traditional route, Jimmy Fallon had a few suggestions for last-minute Turkey Day substitutions on “The Tonight Show.”“For instance, if you can’t find a turkey, you can slap two booties on a Costco rotisserie chicken,” Fallon said.“If you can’t find wine, you can bust out the expired Robitussin — it works!” — JIMMY FALLON“If you can’t find a gravy boat, get this, you can run your neti pot through the dishwasher and call it a day.” — JIMMY FALLON“Next up, if you can’t find mashed potatoes, corn, and mac and cheese, you can DoorDash Boston Market, then put a finger to the delivery guy’s lips and whisper, ‘Our little secret.’” — JIMMY FALLON“And, finally, if you can’t find salad, you can forget about it, ’cause nobody really wants salad.” — JIMMY FALLONThe Punchiest Punchlines (Black Friday Eve Edition)“Yep, Thanksgiving is just hours away. Right now, people are looking at the turkeys left in the grocery store, like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’” — JIMMY FALLON“I read that Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official holiday in 1863. During the Civil War, Lincoln saw all the fighting and was like, ‘This, but with cranberry sauce.’” — JIMMY FALLON“A record number of Americans are traveling for Thanksgiving, and today was expected to be the busiest travel day of the year. But here’s the good news: If you’re currently at the airport, you will make it home for Christmas.” — JIMMY FALLON“Bargain hunters are gearing up for Black Friday. In fact, right now at Walmart, there’s already a half-hour wait to get trampled to death.” — TOM SHILLUE, guest host of “Gutfeld”“Organizers have announced that Amazon workers in more than 20 countries are planning to go on strike between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which could affect Amazon’s ability to get your Christmas gifts to you two weeks late.” — SETH MEYERSThe Bits Worth WatchingBen Stiller and Katie Holmes played a game of “Catchphrase” on Wednesday’s “Tonight Show.”What We’re Excited About on Thursday NightThe Meyers family will appear on Seth Meyers’s Thanksgiving episode of “Late Night.”Also, Check This OutDaniel Craig, left, and Drew Starkey in “Queer.” Yannis Drakoulidis/A24Daniel Craig is sensitive and seductive in “Queer,” Luca Guadagnino’s feature film adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novella. More

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      Rain Expected at Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

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      Over half an inch of rain could accumulate throughout Thursday in Manhattan.Spectators attending Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday can expect light, steady rain throughout the event, according to the National Weather Service.Rain will begin before dawn, accompanied by light winds, as the parade travels south through Manhattan, according to William Churchill, a forecaster at the National Weather Service. Rain is expected to end around noon, the same time the parade will come to a close.“We can say confidently it will be more than the average amount for Thanksgiving,” Mr. Churchill said, but mainly because it’s a typically dry time of year.With windchill factored in, temperatures are expected to be in the 30s and 40s. So dress accordingly, and bring a raincoat. (Macy’s said in a statement that spectators should avoid bringing umbrellas.)Early morning rainfall for the area is expected to be less than a tenth of an inch, with a total accumulation of just over a half inch.A light easterly wind of about 10 miles per hour was forecast to become more gusty after the parade, reaching as high as 25 or 30 m.p.h. More

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      Jimmy Kimmel Doubts Trump’s Grasp of Economics

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      Kimmel called the president-elect’s plan to hit Mexico, Canada and China with sweeping tariffs “the dumbest thing he’s come up with since Don Jr.”Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Just Tariff-icPresident-elect Donald J. Trump said he would impose sweeping tariffs on all goods from Canada, Mexico and China on his first day in office.As Jimmy Kimmel noted, economists say that would lead to higher prices. “Almost everyone who knows anything about economics believes these tariffs to be a terrible idea,” Kimmel said.“Some say this is the dumbest thing he’s come up with since Don Jr.” — JIMMY KIMMEL“Whoever would have guessed that the mail-order steak salesman who declared bankruptcy six times would be so bad with money?” — JIMMY KIMMEL“If you want to purchase a tie from the Donald J. Trump collection, you’d better get it immediately, or it’s going to cost an extra 10 percent.” — JIMMY KIMMEL“Apparently, Trump’s tariffs on Mexico will cause the price of Modelo and Corona beer to go up. Every MAGA supporter heard and was like, ‘Well, guess it’s time to forgive Bud Light.’” — JIMMY FALLON“So by next year, if you want extra guacamole, it’ll be cheaper to go get it.” — SETH MEYERS“And poor Canada is like, ‘What did we do? I mean, be honest: Is this because of Drake?’” — JIMMY KIMMELThe Punchiest Punchlines (Thanksgiving Edition)“Over the next 48 hours, millions of Americans will travel back to their family homes to be reminded once again of why they left in the first place.” — JIMMY KIMMEL“I read that the most popular time to eat Thanksgiving dinner is between 2 and 3 p.m. It’s strange. It’s like for one day we all become President Biden.” — JIMMY FALLON“Serving dinner at 2 p.m. is a polite way of telling your guests, ‘We’d love to get you out of here as soon as possible.’” — JIMMY FALLON“Luckily, there’s no turkey shortage this year, though. Yeah. I remember the year Biden had to walk up to the turkeys he’d just pardoned and said, ‘Fellas, I’ve got some bad news.’” — JIMMY FALLONThe Bits Worth WatchingGwen Stefani joined Jimmy Fallon and the Roots for a spirited rendition of her hit “Hollaback Girl,” played on classroom instruments.What We’re Excited About on Wednesday NightJennifer Hudson will appear on Wednesday’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers.”Also, Check This OutMattel’s version of Glinda from “Wicked.”MattelThe “Wicked” merchandising juggernaut includes Barbies, Crocs and hair dryers. More

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      Raise Your Glass High to the New Cast of ‘Vanderpump Rules’

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      The Bravo reality show is getting an entirely new cast for its 12th season. Lisa Vanderpump, for whom the show is named, will continue at its helm.For more than a decade, the staff members at the West Hollywood restaurant SUR have defined a corner of the Bravo reality show universe in “Vanderpump Rules,” which has followed their cheating scandals, workplace drama and … did we say cheating scandals?But, in the words of Lisa Vanderpump, the proprietor of SUR, “in the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another.”Vanderpump will be joined by an entirely new group of employees for the show’s 12th season, Bravo said on Tuesday, a final goodbye to fans who have followed as its original stars went from the birthday party dramas of their early 20s to marriages, children and divorces.If this season is anything like the others, the new waiters and bartenders will be obligated to provide gossip and fight in the parking lot of SUR while they’re on the clock. Restaurant work is likely to be minimal.“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,” Vanderpump said in a statement. “I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. Cheers to the next generation of ‘Vanderpump Rules.’”The SURvers, as the restaurant’s staff members are known, all started as waiters and bartenders. Some later moved on to other parts of Vanderpump’s operations; many were fired (and rehired, and then fired again). A few moved on to other ventures, including attempts at restaurants and spinoff shows of their own.The “Vanderpump” franchise dates back to 2010, when Vanderpump made her Bravo debut as an original cast member of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” a role she held until 2019.She got her own spinoff, “Vanderpump Rules,” in 2013, with a cast of characters that have lingered for much of the show’s run, including Jax Taylor, Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Tom Schwartz, Lala Kent, Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval. One of the many cheating scandals involving members of that group made Sandoval, who had an affair with a fellow castmate, one of the most hated men in America last year. “Scandoval,” as it was nicknamed, was the shot heard around the reality television universe.But the announcement by Bravo on Tuesday officially ushered in the next wave of reality television hopefuls. It was not immediately clear when filming would begin.“What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again,” Alex Baskin, the show’s executive producer, said in a statement. “With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can’t wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together.”Alexandra McGuffie More

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      Colman Domingo Makes Sense of ‘The Madness’

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      The Netflix thriller uses a murder mystery to explore the dangers of misinformation and conspiracy theories. “It’s this flood of not knowing what to believe,” the actor says.The actor Colman Domingo had recently finished back-to-back shoots for the films “Rustin” and “The Color Purple.” He was not looking to star in a series, let alone a series in which the main character seemingly never stops talking. “I’ll be very honest,” he said. “I was trying to rest.” But when his agent sent him the scripts for “The Madness,” he couldn’t help himself.“I thought, Yeah, this is just too good,” he said.This was on a recent evening, and Domingo had joined a video call to discuss “The Madness,” an eight-episode thriller that premieres Thursday on Netflix. Domingo stars as Muncie Daniels, a CNN pundit who has become increasingly alienated from his family, his community and even his own beliefs. When a white supremacist is murdered and Muncie is falsely accused of the crime, he goes on the run, embarking on a journey that reconnects him with what he values. (It also connects him to television’s current favorite villain: a shady billionaire.)A suspenseful series, set largely in Philadelphia and the Poconos, “The Madness” is a showcase for Domingo and a meditation on the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories, though some of those theories turn out to be true. Domingo, who is currently shooting a new project in Beacon, N.Y. (he is bad at resting), joined the showrunners Stephen Belber, based in New York, and V.J. Boyd, who called in from Los Angeles, to discuss conflict, repair and why cable news is never the answer. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.Why did you want Colman?STEPHEN BELBER I’ve been a fan since his theater days. I wanted this weirdly beautiful blend of grace and force that Colman brings to everything he touches. It was what Muncie required. There’s a certain bombast to him, but there’s a certain vulnerability. And then remembering that Colman is from West Philly, the universe was speaking to us.V.J. BOYD It was very important that we had someone who had great presence, because this is a show where the protagonist is front and center.And Colman, why did you want to do the series?COLMAN DOMINGO I had questions about our society, about who’s pulling the strings, about disinformation, about why we’re so divided. All these questions that I had, they were uncovering. They were saying, “Let’s bring this to the forefront.” I wanted to be the instrument. I understand this character deeply.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      Late Night Makes Its Last Jokes About Biden Pardoning Turkeys

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      Although Thanksgiving was still three days away, “the turkeys looked at Biden and said, ‘We better get this done,’” Jimmy Fallon said.Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.Lucky BirdsPresident Biden pardoned his last two Thanksgiving turkeys on Monday.Although the holiday was still three days away, “the turkeys looked at Biden and said, ‘We better get this done,’” Jimmy Fallon said.“Today on the South Lawn of the White House, President Biden pardoned two turkeys from Minnesota named Peach and Blossom. Those aren’t turkey names. Peach and Blossom sound like the special guests at a bachelor party.” — JIMMY FALLON“President Biden today presided over the annual White House turkey pardon. Well, he didn’t exactly pardon them, he just turned the investigation over to Merrick Garland, and then it just kind of petered out.” — SETH MEYERS“It’s kind of miraculous that these turkeys were able to get pardons without Ryan Murphy even doing a show about them on Netflix.” — JIMMY KIMMEL“That’s right, President Biden presided over the annual White House turkey pardon and granted clemency to Peach, Blossom and, before anyone noticed, Hunter.” — SETH MEYERS“Yep, Biden promised that the turkeys would not get killed this November. Democrats were like, ‘Hey, that’s what you said to us.’” — JIMMY FALLON“I hope everyone enjoyed the pardoning, because next year, under Trump, those turkeys will be Matt Gaetz and Rudy Giuliani.” — JIMMY FALLONBah, HumbugOn his last episode of “Real Time” for the year, Bill Maher argued that Americans should forget politics and enjoy Christmas.“Enough! It’s [expletive] Christmas, and you will act like it,” Maher said. “’Tis the season, and all that.”We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More

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      ‘Get Millie Black’ Is a Fresh Take on the Cop Drama

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      Created by the Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, the HBO series puts a new spin on a lot of old crime show conventions.“Get Millie Black,” beginning on Monday at 9 p.m., is another high-end HBO crime drama about a cop who does things her own way — against the rules, no matter what her angry boss says. She does so on account of her too-personal investment in this and all cases because of the way they remind her of her childhood. (Her lousy childhood, obviously.)And yet this rogue officer may be the only truly ethical one around, the only one who actually gets things done, the only one who actually cares about the people everyone else ignores! Why must corruption follow her, even though she herself is more or less upstanding? And hey — has anyone else noticed that the rich get richer?One twist here is that “Get Millie Black” is also pretty dang good; perceptive, aerodynamic, rich in artistry and in specifics. “This crime story is old,” Millie (Tamara Lawrance) tells us in the pilot. “But people make it new every day.” When she’s right, she’s right, and part of the premise of the show is that Millie is often right.Created by the Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, “Millie” is set in Jamaica, where Millie, the prodigal daughter of an abusive mother, has returned after 18 years in England and is now a police officer. Millie thought her brother, Orville, had died while she was gone, but in fact Orville has transitioned and is now Hibiscus (Chyna McQueen). She is very much alive, though often in peril.The catalyzing incident here is the disappearance of a teen girl, which of course turns into a much larger investigation of more widespread and depraved criminality, as these cases always do on TV. When a white Scotland Yard detective (Joe Dempsie) arrives on the scene, Millie is not enthusiastic. “Here to colonize our case?” she half jokes.Crime shows, especially missing girl shows, often feel barren, or at least frozen in their Scandinavian snowscapes. “Millie,” on the other hand, feels abundant. Each episode has a different anchor character providing the perspective and narration, and each character, including the one-offs, has a clear voice. Millie is our star, but she is part of a bright constellation.There are only five episodes (four of which were made available for review), and new installments air on Mondays.Also this weekA dish seen in the Ángel León episode of Season 7 of “Chef’s Table.”Netflix“Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All” arrives Tuesday, on Netflix.The season finale of “Dancing With the Stars” airs on Tuesday at 8 p.m., on ABC.A new batch of “Chef’s Table” episodes arrive Wednesday, on Netflix.“The Madness,” starring Colman Domingo, arrives Thursday, on Netflix. More