By Zach Johnson
This week has a bit of everything, from airplanes to dinosaurs to glass slippers. It all starts on Monday with the series premiere of Dino Ranch on Disney Junior, followed by the network premiere of The Hate U Give on FX and the special The New Air Force One: The Flying Fortress on National Geographic. The next night, The Wonderful World of Disney will present the 2015 film Cinderella on ABC. And on Thursday, season three of grown-ish will return on Freeform with a new episode and a rapper making her professional acting debut!
Dino Ranch—Monday, January 18, at 12:30 p.m. ET on Disney Junior
The series premiere introduces the Cassidy family, who live in a fantastical, “pre-Westoric” setting where dinosaurs roam. As the young explorers learn the ropes, they discover the thrill of ranch life while navigating the great outdoors through unpredictable challenges. The fun begins with “Big Jon Big Trouble,” where Jon’s enthusiasm gets the best of him while he attempts to tame a lively little dinosaur by himself. Then, in “Min’s Quest,” Min overcomes adversity to find a rare flower, which helps heal an ailing mother brontosaurus.
The Hate U Give—Monday, January 18, at 10 p.m. ET on FX
Capping off the network’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day Movie Marathon is the global broadcast premiere of The Hate U Give, based on Angie Thomas’ best-selling novel of the same name, directed by George Tillman Jr. The film centers on Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), who lives in two worlds: the poor, black neighborhood she resides in and the mostly white prep school she attends. The uneasy balance is shattered when she witnesses a white policeman (Drew Starkey) fatally shoot her best friend, Khalil Harris (Algee Smith). Amid community outrage and national news coverage, 16-year-old Starr must find her voice and stand up for what’s right. Rounding out the film’s cast are K.J. Apa, Sabrina Carpenter, Common, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Lamar Johnson, Anthony Mackie, and Issa Rae.
The New Air Force One: The Flying Fortress—Monday, January 18, at 10 p.m. ET on National Geographic
After three decades of missions around the world, the United States’ Air Force One aircrafts will soon be retired. In their place is a new, state-of-the-art 747 jumbo jet that has been transformed into the flying White House. With unprecedented access, this special follows the classified mission to create the new presidential aircraft and provides an inside look at the cutting-edge engineering and technology that transform the plane into a top-secret, highly secured command center. Featuring archival footage and interviews with U.S. presidents, The New Air Force One: The Flying Fortress not only grants a rare look into the dramatic military makeover, but also the people who maintain and fly the most important airplane in the world. It will also reveal for the first time ever the brand-new Air Force One.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Cinderella—Tuesday, January 19, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this beloved live-action fairy tale shines with beauty, imagination… and magic! Despite being mistreated by her wicked stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her evil stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera), a courageous and kind Ella (Lily James) decides to write her own happy ending. After a chance encounter with a handsome prince (Richard Madden)—and with the help of her Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham-Carter)—Ella soon discovers what happens when magic becomes reality.
grown-ish—Thursday, January 21, at 8 p.m. ET on Freeform
After dropping out of Cal U to pursue her dream job as a celebrity stylist, Zoey (Yara Shahidi) is learning to balance the demands of her personal and professional lives while on tour with Joey BADA$$. The gig requires the ability to think on the fly—something that’s put to the test when up-and-coming rapper Indigo (guest star Saweetie) requests a last-minute wardrobe change at a music video shoot. Meanwhile, back at Cal U, Jazz (Chloe Bailey) and Doug (Diggy Simmons) struggle with the rules of their relationship “pause.”
