April is an unrelenting month of releases, with television seemingly adding on new series or returns every other day. While tough to keep track of it all, there’s still a list of those we think are best prioritized. There are two returning Apple TV+ series, a new show starring Steven Yeun, two adaptations of ’80s thrillers, the finale of an HBO critical darling, and smaller, off-the-beaten-path picks that are still worthy of note. What’s interesting too is to see once again how many movie stars flock to limited series, from Elizabeth Olsen to Rachel Weisz.
It’s a busy month for film and television but at the very least the bulk of what’s being released looks well-executed with interesting creative teams behind each.
“Schmigadoon!”
The musical comedy for Apple returns with the second season of “Schmigadoon!” Created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, Keegan–Michael Key, Cecily Strong, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, and Kristin Chenoweth return with Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page joining the cast. Our critic reviewed season two, writing that “…this season is also funnier than the first, buoyed in the first few episodes by playful staging from director Alice Mathias, who knows how to nail this surreal, quirky sense of humor after work on “I Think You Should Leave” and “Portlandia.”
Release Date: Season 2 premieres April 5 on Apple TV+.
“Beef”
Steven Yeun and Ali Wong team up for the comedy “Beef” about two warring individuals following a near fender-bender that stoked the flames of road rage. Created by Lee Sung Jin, our critic wrote, “Much like the characters themselves; it is a series that is wrapped in an angry outer shell that reveals itself to have a compassionate inside that can either break free or be obliterated.”
Release Date: The series premieres on April 6 on Netflix.
“Tiny Beautiful Things”
Kathryn Hahn stars in the adaptation of Cheryl Strayed novel of the same name, “Tiny Beautiful Things.” Hahn leads the series as a woman who takes on an unpaid position as an anonymous advice columnist, a move that allows her to reflect on her own life experiences while helping others. Desiree Akhavan (“Appropriate Behavior”) and Rachel Goldenberg (“Unpregnant”) direct, and Sarah Pidgeon, Quentin Plair, Tanzyn Crawford, Owen Painter, Merritt Wever, Elizabeth Hinkler, and Michaela Watkins also star.
Release Date: Season 1 premieres on April 7 on Hulu.
“Single Drunk Female”
Working best as a word-of-mouth charmer, the Freeform comedy series “Single Drunk Female” was a pleasant surprise in its first season and has only gotten better. Created by Simone Finch, the second season continues to follow Sam (Sofia Black-D’Elia) on her journey with sobriety as she and her relationships shift. Ally Sheedy stars as Carol, Sam’s mother, with a supporting cast that includes Lily Mae Harrington, Garrick Bernard, Rebecca Henderson, Ian Gomez, and Sasha Compère.
Release Date: Season 2 premieres on April 12 on Freeform.