Top Picks: Smithsonian Channel's 'America鈥檚 Badlands,' the movie 'Marjorie Prime,' and more top picks
Exploring badlands
The Badlands in the United States are the site of visually stunning scenery and quintessentially American animals such as the bison and the prairie dog. The new Smithsonian Channel program looks at the difficult conditions of the area and how the animals who live there manage to do so. 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Badlands鈥� airs Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.
Lounging around
Looking for a place to relax while waiting for your holiday flight home? The can tell you which lounges are nearby and which features each has. If you read about one you like and it鈥檚 worth it to you to shell out some cash, you can book through the app as well. It鈥檚 free for iOS.
Compelling principals
In the movie Marjorie Prime, Marjorie (Lois Smith) is given a hologram that resembles her husband (Jon Hamm). 鈥淎ll the principals in this extraordinarily well-acted film are intensely compelling,鈥� Monitor film critic Peter Rainer writes. 鈥淢arjorie Prime鈥� is available on and is not rated.
Supreme court exploration
Take off your biases and put on your black robes 鈥� the Radiolab podcast More Perfect is a compelling and educational look at the US Supreme Court. Well-edited audio and top-notch storytelling bring much-needed light to the highest court in the land. Check out 鈥淭he Gun Show鈥� and 鈥淐itizens United鈥� episodes for starters at .
Blues duo
If you like your blues music with a spoonful of sugar, do we have an album for you. In the tradition of blues duos such as Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee comes , the inspired pairing of blues circuit vets Taj Mahal and Keb鈥� Mo鈥�. Casting a wide net, their charming duets cover contemporary tunes (John Mayer鈥檚 鈥淲aiting On the World to Change鈥�), blues chestnuts (Mahal鈥檚 funky 鈥淒iving Duck Blues鈥�), a rollicking take on the Who鈥檚 鈥淪queezebox,鈥� and some fine Keb鈥� Mo鈥� originals. It is nominated for a Grammy Award as the best contemporary blues album.
