DAVID BYRNE'S AMERICAN UTOPIA
HBO, 8:00 p.m. ET
I get a particular feeling of joy on those rare occasions when I can steer readers and viewers, during this seemingly endless and soul-sucking pandemic, towards something that is so full of joy itself – that will make you feel good watching it, and beaming with satisfaction and happiness even afterward. Well, for a while. And here’s a wonderful example: Directed by Spike Lee, it’s HBO’s TV adaptation of a buoyant Broadway treat: David Byrne’s American Utopia, a stage musical revue and commentary wrapped around Byrne’s old and new music, during and after his days with the Talking Heads. Half of the people on stage are percussionists – so if you dance to the beat of a different drummer, chances are they’re already there. “And you may ask yourself / well, how did I get here?” I do. Frequently.