The host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” has produced two bits since last week that make fun of Harry’s discussion about how he suffered a frostbitten penis while participating in a trek to the North Pole with other military veterans in 2011. The segment from Monday night also zeros in on Harry’s need in his book to regularly connect events, including his frostbite woes, to his late mother, Princess Diana, as if to emphasize how much of a presence she remains in his life.

Indeed, Kimmel has Harry invoke the name of Sigmund Freud — the author of the Oedipus complex psychoanalytic theory — in the bit that has the duke thinking about his mother while seeking relief from his frostbite. For the segment, Kimmel introduces “a new children’s book” that he said was inspired by the blockbuster success of Harry’s book and particularly the popularity of his frostbite story.

“It’s a twist on “The Princess and the Pea,” Kimmel joked. “It’s called ‘The Prince and the Penis.’ The kids will love this. It’s time to gather them around because I have the honor of sharing the first read of the new book.”

Prince Harry’s book is so popular, they made a version for kids! #ThePrinceAndThePenis pic.twitter.com/mV0Sfy4REL

— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) January 17, 2023

Thereupon, Kimmel produced a faux children’s book, with brightly colored illustrations and a rhyming, “The Night Before Christmas”-style tale about “a silly young codger” who suffers frostbite on a trip to the North Pole.

“Oh Mummy, oh Mummy, he cried with a scream and from then up on high, she appeared with some cream,” Kimmel read from the faux book, with an illustration of Diana up in a cloud, wearing her famous black “Revenge Dress.”

Kimmel clearly believes that Harry has opened himself up for such lambasting, given what the duke writes in “Spare” about seeking relief from his frostbite by using a cream by Elizabeth Arden — a brand he notes that his late mother used.

In “Spare,” Harry (or his ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer) describes how the frostbite left him “oscillating between extremely sensitive and borderline traumatized.” To Harry’s credit, his tone is somewhat humorous. “The last place I wanted to be was Frostnipistan,” Harry also said, explaining how a female friend suggested he try the Elizabeth Arden cream.

“My mum used that on her lips,” Harry said, expressing discomfort at the idea of applying it “down there.” Harry said his friend  replied, “It works, Harry. Trust me.”

Harry said he acquired a tube and opened it. He also writes, “The smell transported me through time. I felt as if my mother was right there in the room.” He said he applied a “smidge” and acknowledged, “‘Weird’ doesn’t really do the feeling justice.”

In Kimmel’s version of Harry’s “story,” the Harry figure similarly expresses discomfort with the idea of using his mother’s favorite cream. “But Mummy, did you not put this on your lip. … But Mummy, have you not hear about Sir Sigmund Freud?” That line is a reference to Freud’s theory about a young male’s attachment to the parent of the opposite sex.

Kimmel’s children’s book shows an illustration of Diana coming down from her cloud and applying the cream on her son, leaving “everyone living happily ever after.”

Last week, Kimmel mined comedy and audience laughs from actually playing the audiobook version of “Spare,” with Harry reading from the passage about his use of the Elizabeth Arden cream and how it evoked “weird” thoughts about his mother.

Prince Harry truly TELLS ALL! pic.twitter.com/MCWUchCAYE

— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) January 13, 2023

Kimmel’s children’s book bit provoked a mix of reactions. Many people left tweets with laughing emojis and praised Kimmel for offering an example of how Harry plays “the Mummy card” — aligning himself with the legacy of his popular mother in interviews and in his book. Others shared GIFs that showed they enjoyed the bit but also recognized that Kimmel was getting to the edge of what’s considered politically correct.

Oh my pic.twitter.com/h2oDtSDrgB

— Sabirah Lohn (43% Whatever I decide) (@SabirahLohn) January 17, 2023

Others, though, scoffed at Kimmel’s “amateurish” humor. One person suggested he was jealous because his late-night rival, Stephen Colbert, got an interview with Harry last week on his show. Others took offense with how they thought Kimmel disparaged the memory of Diana, who died in 1997 in a car accident in Paris.

Other comedians also have had fun with Harry’s North Pole story, including Chelsea Handler. However, she used her opening monologue at the Critics Choice Awards Sunday night to suggest that the public is both scintillated by also weary from Harry’s oversharing about his frostbite, which left him uncomfortable while attending the royal wedding of his brother, Prince William, to Kate Middleton.

At the awards show, Handler said, “Niecy Nash-Betts is nominated for ‘Dahmer.’ ‘Dahmer’ became the third highest viewed show on Netflix, which a combined watch time of 1 billion hours.”

She continued: “Which, apparently, is the same amount of time we’re going to have to listen to Prince Harry talk about his frostbitten penis. Enough already.”

They were looking for social media success.

“They didn’t know anything about my cooking skills,” said Tina Kim of Koreantown in Los Angeles. “They just contacted me and, lo and behold, they were lucky. I didn’t know how to cook.”

“Worst Cooks In America: Viral Sensations” features 12 contestants who are active on TikTok, Instagram and other social media. The series airs 8 p.m. Sunday on the Food Network, and episodes are also streaming on Discovery Plus.

Contestants face a series of challenges and eliminations until the final episode on Feb. 5, when a survivor will win $25,000.

The season is co-hosted by Anne Burrell, a regular, and first-timer Darnell Ferguson.

The show is made in New York City, but half of the contestants, like Kim, live in Southern California.

Kim is a comedian who said in a phone interview that she began to follow Korean soap operas during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“For two years I sat on my couch and watched K-dramas non-stop. I watched 14 hours a day. And then towards the end of corona, I said to myself, ‘I’m going to start my TikTok account since I’ve watched every single Korean drama.’”

She has since expanded her TikTok videos to include K-pop and other aspects of Korean culture.

Kim wound up on Team Blue, coached by Ferguson, who she described as very positive and welcoming.

But the cooking is real, she said, and a big challenge.

“It’s fun and stressful at the same time, because we’re all in a pressure cooker. I think one of the challenges was only 45 minutes. And the chefs give us elaborate meals. We don’t just cook the main dish. It’s like, here’s the side dish. And here’s the sauce to go on the main dish. It’s like your brain is thinking of 20 different things you have to do. And they make it hard because they make use all that different — what is it? — kitchen stuff.”

Mitchell Tyler Ralston of Huntington Beach was on Team Red, coached by Burrell. Ralston is an amateur ghost hunter and likes to make TikTok videos about paranormal activity. The “Worst Cooks” graphic department had fun with the concept and depicted him as being tormented by the evil spirit of Chef Anne.

In a separate phone interview he rated his cooking skills as terrible, although he’s comfortable making spaghetti and mashed potatoes.

“Years and years ago I worked for a very famous California burger company known for their red aprons. Part of my duties was preparing the potatoes for french fries. So I’ve got peeling potatoes down.”

Ralston said he was the first contestant to cut himself this season. Cuts and fires are commonplace on the set.

“Chef Anne told us, ‘Don’t be afraid of fire. If you have fire, I’m very good at putting out fire. This is the 25th season’. Luckily, I didn’t burn myself too much. I cut myself way too much.”

“The hard part was smiling for hours and hours. I only have to smile for 10 seconds on my TikTok,” Kim said.

Both found the experience valuable, and Ralston said it has gotten him some TikTok viewers. But it didn’t turn either of them into chef.

“I did learn a lot about the kitchen,” said Kim. “It’s just I’m not going to bring it into the real world.”

‘Worst Cooks in America’

Food Network: 8 p.m. Sunday, foodnetwork.com/shows/worst-cooks-in-america

Discovery Plus: discoveryplus.com/show/worst-cooks-in-america

Contestants

Rich Aronovitch, New York City: Professional comedian, 233,000 followers on TikTok. @richisfunny

Michael Judson Berry, Jersey City, N.J.: Actor who does imitations on TikTok. @mjudsonberry

Tessica Brown, Los Angeles: Known for a viral video in which she put Gorilla Glue in her hair instead of hairspray. @im_d_ollady

David Chen, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Tennis enthusiast known for videos cheering at matches. @davidchenofficial

NaJe’ Elmore, Texarkana, Texas: Known for singing videos, @who_she_naje

Tina Kim, Los Angeles: K-drama and K-pop follower. @kdramalogic

Adam Kreutinger, Buffalo, N.Y.: Puppeteer and puppet maker. @adamkreutinger

Paris Nicholson, Los Angeles: Known for “Top Five Hottest” lists. @parisnicholson

Eliza Petersen, West Jordan, Utah: Dinosaur enthusiast, @lizemopetey

Mitchell Tyler Ralston, Huntington Beach: Amateur paranormal investigator. @mrspooky13

Sabrina Rios, Los Angeles: Covers many topics in humorous videos. @abelinasabrina

Nick Trawick, Los Angeles: Posts videos of a character called Kleptora who steals wigs. @nicktrawick13

Disneyland reopened the online sales window for Magic Key annual passes on Tuesday, Jan. 17, according to the official Disneyland Magic Key Instagram page.

Sales will be limited and could end at any time. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro announced last week that Magic Key sales at Disneyland would resume “from time to time.”

Don’t expect the online sales window to remain open for long. Magic Key annual pass sales were reopened for about a day in November before being paused again.

The Magic Key virtual queue had an approximate wait time of more than an hour at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

New Magic Key pass sales will pause each night at 10 p.m. and resume each morning at 9 a.m. Pacific time until the sale ends. Shoppers in the virtual queue will hold their place in the virtual line overnight as long as they keep their browser window open.

The $1,599 Inspire Key, $1,099 Believe Key and $449 Imagine Key were still available for purchase, according to an update posted to the Disneyland Magic Key website. The $699 Enchant Key was available for renewal only.

“They’re still my customers,” says Soto, now 22. “They liked seeing a young entrepreneur doing his thing.”

But the road to pastry stardom wasn’t always sweet.

“I faced a lot of stigma when I was younger,” he says. “In school, I was told this was a job for a female, and that I should become a doctor or lawyer. That hurt a lot. But I never let it deter me.”

You might say he showed them. In 2020, at the age of 19, Soto became the youngest contestant ever to win a “Food Network” competition when he took top prize for a four-foot architectural masterpiece on “Big Time Bake.” Now, he’s just opened a brick and mortar bakery, Max’s Cakes, in downtown Hayward, selling his cookies, cupcakes, cake pops and classic layer cakes.

At the ribbon cutting, the city honored Soto for being the youngest homegrown entrepreneur and business owner downtown Hayward has ever had.

“Being able to open in my hometown and break these boundaries and stigmas has really been the cherry on top,” Soto says.

Located inside a former ice cream shop at 1007 B St., Max’s Cakes is polished yet distinctively old-timey. The interior is decked out in hardwood floors with black accents, including a monochromatic chandelier dripping with whisks. There’s a giant picture frame for selfies, historic photos of downtown Hayward and an overall family vibe, from the party-hatted baby pictures of Soto eating cake to the gaggle of Soto relatives working the cash register.

In the pastry case, snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookies are displayed alongside horchata cheesecake, cinnamon-scented cafe de olla cupcakes, massive brownies and brick-sized slices of coconut cream, speckled confetti, luscious lemon and burnt almond layer cakes.

“We wanted to create an old-fashioned bakery with classic recipes and feel-good food,” he says.

The “we” is his family, including mom, Monica, and dad, Mario, who co-own Max’s Cakes and have always encouraged their son. Soto announced he wanted to be a professional baker when he was 9 years old. He started taking those custom orders at 14 and grew his skills, eventually mastering everything from a two-tier vanilla “Encanto” cake with strawberry filling to cakes replicating objects, like Air Jordans, a Louis Vuitton bag and a 1964 Chevy Impala.

“Any type of material I needed, any time of night, my mom would take me to Michael’s or Target, no questions asked,” he says.

The “Food Network” win and a subsequent appearance on Hulu’s “Baker’s Dozen” in 2021 fueled the custom cake business — and a two-year waiting list. On “Big Time Bake,” the producers nicknamed Soto The Cake Gangsta for his winning Roaring ’20s-themed speakeasy cake, complete with fondant money and a life-size tommy gun made of rice cereal. He got dinged on the cupcake round, though. His barrel-topped cupcake had too much whiskey.

“I was too young to taste it, unfortunately,” he says. “But the nickname stuck.”

The day he turned down 40 orders, Soto knew he had to open a bakery. It took two years to find the right location — he was determined to stay in Hayward — and get the family trained and ready to run a bakery. Soto’s best friend, Kristy, is the general manager, and his sister, Vanessa, and cousins help out, too.

“Food is such a big thing in our culture,” he says. “That’s how we show our love and get our comfort.”

Despite his early stardom and work ethic, it’s not “dessert mogul” that Soto sees in his future. It’s teaching.

“I want to teach young people how to bake and be a resource for them, so they feel supported to pursue their dreams,” he says.

Details: Opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday-Sunday at 1007 B St., Hayward; https://maxscakesofficial.wixsite.com

There’s an old saying in journalism that “Three is a trend,” which seemingly serves as the underlying rationale for “The Price of Glee,” a three-part docuseries from Investigation Discovery (a.k.a. ID). Recounting triumphs but mostly tragedies associated with the hit Fox show, the project feels as if it’s on significantly surer footing charting the former and basically just icky when delving into the latter.

The tone is set right off the bat, as on-screen chyrons note that the musical series became an instant sensation when it premiered in 2009, making stars of its young and talented cast. “By 2020, all of them would be famous,” the script continues. “And three would be dead.”

The different circumstances surrounding each of those situations, however, makes the effort to connect them particularly tenuous. While there’s talk along the way and toward the end about a “Glee” “curse,” alluded to by some of the crew as well as journalists, cooler heads note that bad things sometimes happen without rhyme or reason to them.

Related: Has the ‘Glee curse’ struck again? Matthew Morrison’s reported firing sparks talk

“The Price of Glee” holds together for a time, recounting how the show burst onto the scene with its fresh-faced performers as well as the demands associated with that sudden fame. To compound those issues, the studio behind the show was eager to cash in on its popularity, leading to a concert tour that offered little opportunity for rest from the daily grind.

In that sense, “Glee” is emblematic of any number of Hollywood success stories and the precipitous falls that sometimes follow them, as well as the feuds and wounded feelings that often accompany that.

The initial focus is on the clearest example of a “price” associated with the show — namely, Cory Monteith, who had struggled with substance abuse before “Glee” and saw those challenges resurface as he wrestled with the attention and money that came his way, culminating in his fatal drug overdose in 2013.

The second part also recycles allegations of haughty on-set behavior by Lea Michele, and tensions between her and Naya Rivera. None of the principal cast participated in the documentary, which relies upon old clips as well as interviews with members of the crew, assorted journalists, the obligatory psychotherapist, and friends of some key players, adding to the tabloid sensibility.

The third chapter deals rather hastily with the suicide of Mark Salling, after his arrest for possession of child pornography, in 2018; and more extensively with the tragic 2020 accident that killed Rivera, who drowned in California’s Lake Piru, where she was spending the day with her son.

That last hour includes an interview with her father, George Rivera, who speaks about compartmentalizing his feelings in order to cope and speak publicly about what happened. As part of that, the producers take him back to the location where his daughter died, which feels as uncomfortable as it is unnecessary.

Ultimately, though, “The Price of Glee” feels trapped by its title, laboring to fill in what are at best dotted lines. That might be the price of garnering attention, but in terms of the project’s credibility, it’s a high one to pay.

“The Price of Glee” premieres January 16 at 9 p.m. ET on ID  and Discovery+. Like CNN, Discovery is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.

The-CNN-Wire & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

A family member told TMZ that Harris was taken to a hospital via ambulance but died following a suspected heart attack on Sunday in Jasper, Alabama.

Harris placed sixth in ‘Idol’ season 13 — which aired on Fox in 2014 — giving his takes on Darius Rucker’s “Radio,” John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change,” and Ray LaMontagne’s “Shelter,” among his other performances on the show.

“You sing ‘cause you have to sing, not ‘cause you want to sing,” ‘Idol’ judge Keith Urban told Harris during the competition. ‘And I mean that in the deepest way. And that’s why it’s so believable and real.”

Harris followed his ‘American Idol’ run with a performance with Rucker at the Grand Ole Opry and an ‘Idol’ concert tour with other season 13 contestants.

“I grew up in the church, playing gospel music and singing in the choir. I guess I was a little nervous to go on ‘Idol,’ because I didn’t know if I was prepared. I didn’t have the training,” Harris told AL.com in 2015. “Now, when I get on stage in front of these crowds, it doesn’t matter if I have my eyes closed. I don’t have to keep a camera view. I can calm down, relax and be myself. Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to see those lights on stage. Every time I get into my bed right after a show, I still can’t believe I’ve been on stage. I’m having a lot more fun than I did on the TV show.”

The singer remained active on social media before his death, posting a selfie to Twitter on Sunday and sharing a TikTok video of himself performing The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” in late December.

“When I’m behind the microphone, I let everything go and let the music flow through me,” Harris previously wrote in his Facebook bio, per AL.com. “My friends, family, and fans have always supported me and always had my back, and I can never repay them for the love they have shown me.”

• 

  Up for grabs at $3.8 million is the former Palm Springs home of socialite Magda Gabor, seen here in 1954, newly made over by designer Tracy Turco. (Composite by Sandra Barrera, Southern California News Group; Inset: AFP via Getty Images; House: Michael Roth)

• 

  The veranda. (Photo by Michael Roth)

• 

  The living room. (Photo by Michael Roth)

• 

  The kitchen. (Photo by Michael Roth)

• 

  The dining room. (Photo by Michael Roth)

• 

  The primary bedroom. (Photo by Michael Roth)

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  The soaking tub in the primary bathroom. (Photo by Michael Roth)

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  The pool. (Photo by Michael Roth)

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  A 1954 file photo of the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor and her sisters Eva and Magda. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)

The former Palm Springs home of late socialite Magda Gabor boasting a glamorous new makeover has hit the market for $3.8 million.

Bursting with color and original fabrics and wall coverings, the revamped three-bedroom, 3,441-square-foot home with four bathrooms is the vision of designer Tracy Turco.

“It’s such a unique property, and then Tracy takes it to a whole other level,” said Conrad Miller of Avenue 8, the co-listing agent.

Property records show Turco and her real estate developer husband, Jerry, picked up the home on a nearly two-third-acre hilltop lot in Little Tuscany in August 2020 for $1.74 million. The couple is known for buying and renovating neglected mid-century properties like a 1961 home by William Krisel listed for $1.149 million and the retro boutique hotels the Art Hotel, Tiki Hotel, Cheetah Hotel and Deco Palm Hotel.

Turco puts her spin on the 1964 abode while incorporating furnishings and treatments that are original to the eldest and only redhead of the famous Gabor sisters.

As Southern California News Group previously reported, Gabor bought the home in the late 1960s at the urging of her countess mother. The property had been the site of star-studded parties and even fashion shoots during her tenure.

County records indicate the property remained in her name and that of her sister Zsa Zsa through separate trusts until August 1998, when the property sold for $440,000.

According to the listing, the sisters “separately occupied the estate for over 30 years.”

A painting of Magda Gabor, who died in 1997 at 81, hangs on the foyer’s wall.

Her first initial is etched on the home’s mirrored walls, including the one that runs the length of the combined living and dining room with its hidden closet. The mirror reflects the veranda.

With its pink overhang and striped black and white valance, the veranda overlooks the mosaic-tiled pool and mountains beyond.

Views also abound from the breakfast room nearest the kitchen, with its custom-trowelled ceiling and original Hungarian rotisserie, to the primary bathroom. It has dual vanities, a shower and a soaking tub. A curtain closes the bathroom from the rest of the primary suite’s bedroom, with its sitting room/office, dressing room, makeup room and two walk-in closets.

Other Gabor-era originals include a grand piano, a dining room table and crystal chandeliers.

The patio table belonged to Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Brandon Holland of Avenue 8 shares the listing, which is available turnkey.

Wild-card round (Jan. 14-16)

Saturday, Jan. 14

• NFC: No. 7 Seattle Seahawks at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers, 1:30 p.m. PST, Fox
• AFC: No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars, 5:15 p.m. PST, NBC

Sunday, Jan. 15

• AFC: No. 7 Miami Dolphins at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m. PST, CBS
• NFC: No. 6 New York Giants at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 1:30 p.m. PST, Fox
• AFC: No. 6 Baltimore Ravens at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals, 5:15 p.m. PST, NBC

Monday, Jan. 16

• NFC: No. 5 Dallas Cowboys at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 5:15 p.m. PST, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+

Divisional round (Jan. 21-22)

Saturday, Jan. 21

• AFC divisional round, TBD
• NFC divisional round, TBD

Sunday, Jan. 22

• AFC divisional round, TBD
• NFC divisional round, TBD

Conference championship (Jan. 29)

Sunday, Jan. 29

• AFC championship game, TBD, CBS
• NFC championship game, TBD, Fox

Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12)

• AFC champion vs. NFC champion at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., TBD, Fox

AFC seeds

No. 1 seed: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) — first-round bye, home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.

• Divisional round: TBD

No. 2 seed: Buffalo Bills (13-3) — will host the No. 7 seed Miami Dolphins, 11 a.m. Sunday

No. 3 seed: Cincinnati Bengals (12-4) — will host the No. 6 seed Baltimore Ravens, 6:15 p.m. Sunday

No. 4 seed: Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) — will host No. 5 seed Los Angeles Chargers, 6:15 p.m. Saturday

No. 5 seed: Los Angeles Chargers (10-7) — will play at No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars, 6:15 p.m. Saturday

No. 6 seed: Baltimore Ravens (10-7) — will play at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals, 6:15 p.m. Sunday

No. 7 seed: Miami Dolphins (9-8) — will play at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 11 a.m. Sunday

NFC seeds

No. 1 seed: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) — first-round bye, home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.

• Divisional round: TBD

No. 2 seed: San Francisco 49ers (13-4) — will host the No. 7 seed Seattle Seahawks, 2:30 p.m. Saturday

No. 3 seed: Minnesota Vikings (13-4) — will host the No. 6 seed New York Giants, 2:30 p.m. Sunday

No. 4 seed: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9) — will host No. 5 seed Dallas Cowboys, 6:15 p.m. Monday

No. 5 seed: Dallas Cowboys (12-5) — will play at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6:15 p.m. Monday

No. 6 seed: New York Giants (9-7-1) — will play at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings, 2:30 p.m. Sunday

No. 7 seed: Seattle Seahawks (9-8) — will play at No. 2 San Francisco 49ers, 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Actor and writer Quinn K. Redeker, whose credits include “Days of Our Lives,” “The Young and the Restless” and “The Deer Hunter,” the latter of which earning him an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay, died last month, according to his representative Christopher Hartman.

Hartman said in an email to CNN that the entertainer died Dec. 20 of natural causes. He was 86.

Hartman said Redeker’s daughter, Arianne Raser, confirmed the news late Monday.

Redeker appeared in almost 850 episodes of the hit daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” as the dastardly Alex Marshall, from 1979 until 1987.

He also appeared in over 200 episodes of CBS soap “The Young and the Restless,” mainly as Rex Sterling, over a period of 25 years from 1979 until 2004. He also played a character named Nick Reed.

Some of his other screen credits include “Bonanza,” “Kojak,” “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “The Rockford Files,” and the 1979 film “The Electric Horseman.”

The verified Twitter account for “The Young and the Restless” posted in Redeker’s memory on Monday, writing, “The Y&R Family sends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Quinn Redeker who blessed Y&R with his talents in two memorable roles.”

“The Last of Us”: HBO/HBO Max’s big-budgeted dystopian spectacle succeeds where most action-driven series fail — making us care about a post-apocalyptic world where everyone’s fate is unpredictable. With impressive special effects and some sharp storytelling instincts, “Last of Us” ups the playing field for not only streaming services but movie blockbusters.

Based on the massively popular 2013 video game of the same name, it’s a doomsday road picture that’s perfect for anyone who loved Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” Stephen King’s “The Stand,” Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” and Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later.” The comparisons might sound like someone just went in and ransacked the cinematic fridge of leftovers. Not so. The nine-episode series (creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are said to be awaiting to commit to a second based on how the first fares) creates a unique, harrowing survivors’ narrative set in 2033 and then gives us King-like characterizations, conflicts and confrontations.

A viral epidemic consumes the world, and fungus is to blame, turning the afflicted into killer Mushroom People (called Clickers). What could have been a laughable premise turns into something quite terrifying with Pedro Pascal — in one of his best performances — playing the hardened but resourceful Joel, who traverses through devastated U.S. cities (the special effects are jaw dropping) with the super-smart and foul-mouthed Ellie (Bella Ramsey, an incredible performance). I gobbled down five episodes — the first one dropping Sunday is nearly an hour and a half — and I can’t wait to watch more. Details: 3½ stars out of 4; debuts Jan. 15, with each episode dropping on consecutive Sundays; HBO.

“Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches”: After a bold and sexy reworking of Anne Rice’s “Interview With the Vampire,” AMC lets down numerous fans with a weakly executed and watered-down version of her “Mayfair Witches” saga. Scattered in its worldbuilding and ineffective in creating an atmospheric spell, this eight part series  (only five parts were made available for review) is erratic in tone, lacking in conviction and generally devoid of purpose. Alexandra Daddario is miscast as a San Francisco neurosurgeon who discovers she’s inexorably linked to a legacy of witches in New Orleans and a mysterious presence named Lasher. While there are surprising turns, and the series does improve as it progresses, “Witches” never grabs you with the power that “Interview” did. Stick to the books instead. Details: 2 stars; available on AMC and AMC+.

“Plane”: Director Jean-François Richet and a willing cast — Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Oakland native Daniella Pineda and Yoson An — help dust off the kind reliable but ridiculous action-disaster flicks that thrived in the ‘90s. They’ve done a commando job of cranking out a retro guilty pleasure, one that’s as predictable and as lovably dumb as the films it cribs from. The titular plane here, piloted by Brodie (Butler) and co-piloted by Dele (An), gets forced into a white-knuckle landing because of idiotic commands from higher ups that the crew fly into a lightning storm. The bad luck only persists when they plunk down on a Philippines island where a violent militia rules. Will anyone get out alive? C’mon. “Plane” makes for an enjoyable R-rated throwback and gets particularly spirited whenever Mike Colter — as a fugitive on the plane — teams up with Butler to take down the baddies. Details: 2½ stars; in theaters Jan. 13.

“The Devil Conspiracy”: Few films dare to even approach the go-for-broke quackery of Nathan Frankowski’s cult classic in the making. It doesn’t matter that screenwriter/producer Ed Alan’s script jumps off its rails from the opening line, “Conspiracy” jovially catapults audiences into the pits of hell and back then back to Earth. A chained-up Lucifer down below summons his legions to rip off the Shroud of Turin from the Vatican City so he can futz around with Christ’s DNA for hell-bent purposes. Meanwhile a hunky priest (Joe Doyle, in on the joke and having a blast) reveals his true alter ego while a mad scientist/entrepreneur tinkers with DNA to make baby Michelangelos and other legends so he can then sell them off to the highest bidders. Incredibly, things get weirder than that! With tongue in cheek and a devotion to be as preposterous and over the top as imaginable, Frankowski’s frenzied horrorpalooza never lets up. Is it a good movie? Not by any means. But is it fun? A hell to that yes. Details: 2½ stars; in theaters Jan. 13.

“Copenhagen Cowboy”: Nicolas Winding Refn’s neon-lit surreal curiosities are often stranger and more depraved than even David Lynch’s films. His Netflix series is one for his diehards fans, those inclined to wade into a predatory swamp and swim with imprisoned sex workers, criminals, grudge-holders, rutting pigs, a creepy family of bloodsuckers and a blue-tracksuit-wearing waif protagonist from another planet. If that sounds good, this six-parts series will itch that weird scratch. While I appreciated many elements — particularly the look and surreal vibe —  “Cowboy” moseys a little too slow for my tastes. That said, Winding Refn is a true original. Details: 2½ stars; on Netflix now.

“Mars One”: Director/screenwriter Gabriel Martins turns to the resiliency of a Black Brazilian family living on the fringes in this buoyant but intense drama that’s filled with many memorable and original characters — a daughter falling for a rich young woman, a son interested in science more than soccer and parents coping with their own internal struggles. “Mars One” (the original title was “Marte Um”) is a delightful, joyous celebration of the unbreakable bonds that keep us tethered through the most challenging of times. Details: 3½ stars; now on Netflix.

“Corsage”: In her very fictionalized look into the claustrophobic, intensely scrutinized and criticized life of the unconventional Empress Elisabeth of Austria, writer/director Marie Kreutzer capitalizes on the ace up her sleeve, lead Vicky Krieps. The German actor is stupendous, never overstating her character’s moroseness in a society that stifles women and puts them in their place. The period details are sensational, the cinematography stunning. “Corsage” fashions a film bio that’s very different from the events in Elisabeth’s life, and while some factual details could have actually helped the film, “Corsage” is still a fascinating commentary about celebrity that echoes loudly in an era when Prince Harry’s tell-all has the world talking. Details: 3 stars; in theaters now.

Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.