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There's a lot to watch this week, starting with a reality cooking show set in Tuscany, adorable animals to celebrate Earth Day, and Keri Russell as the ambassador to the United Kingdom in her new drama series, The Diplomat. Not to mention, of course, new episodes of Succession, Ted Lasso, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which are all dominating the zeitgeist right now.
The week starts with Ciao House (think Summer House but set in an Italian villa with a focus on pasta) on the Food Network and Discovery+. It's visually stunning, and if you have yet to book a vacation this year, let this reality series serve as inspiration.
On Tuesday, New Girl makes the move from Netflix to both Hulu and Peacock, meaning you have double the reason to relive the series. Midweek, Abbott Elementary airs its second season finale (you just know something big has to happen between Gregory and Janine).
As far as premieres go, Mrs. Davis premieres on Peacock (a show you need to see because I can't quite possibly explain it properly here—you'll know what I mean when you watch it), and The Diplomat bows on Netflix. In it, Keri Russell takes badass to a new level and is the exact opposite of how I'd react to being named ambassador to the United Kingdom (I'd be celebrating with every damn tea party offered to me).
Meanwhile, Friday is packed with the most adorable and poignant Earth Day offerings, thanks to AppleTV+'s Big Beasts and Nat Geo's Secrets of the Elephants. If you call yourself an animal lover, then these two special docuseries are for you. There's also the critically acclaimed Judy Blume documentary, and we have an exclusive clip below. (The film, Are you There, God? It's Me, Margaret, based on Blume's best-selling book, premieres later this month.)
On that note, check out the list of the 15 films and TV series worth your time this week, and I'll see you back here next week for the premiere of what will be your new favorite series (HBO Max's Love and Death) and the emotional end of Firefly Lane.
Sunday, April 16
Ciao House (Food Network/Discovery+): Filmed on location in Italy, this eight-episode series hosted by Food Network all-star chef Alex Guarnaschelli and Tuscan chef Gabriele Bertaccini premieres tonight. In the series, 10 up-and-coming culinary stars will embark on the journey of a lifetime to Tuscany and live together in a breathtaking villa. Hey, sign me up. There, they'll compete against each other as individuals and in teams to prove their mastery of Italian cooking techniques and dishes. In the end, only one chef will win the grand prize: an immersive culinary education across Italy, training with renowned Italian master chefs. 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT
Monday, April 17
New Girl (Hulu/Peacock): The popular comedy series that ran for seven seasons on Fox and has most recently been available to binge on Netflix, is moving to Hulu and Peacock beginning today. Both streamers will have all 146 episodes featuring Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Lamorne Morris, and Hannah Simone. Plus, who can forget those Taylor Swift and Prince cameos? Streaming on Hulu and Peacock
Tuesday, April 18
Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (Prime Video): Per the press release, “Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits is a deeply personal and wildly fictitious account of one woman’s attempt to fuck with perception. A unique comedic special that will lead audiences into Alex Borstein’s mind through a marriage of humor and music, Corsets & Clown Suits is equal parts provocative and whimsical.” And here's a fun fact: The special was filmed at The Wolford Theatre, the fictional burlesque club from season four of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Streaming
Wednesday, April 19
Abbott Elementary (ABC): Titled “Franklin Institute,” tonight's season finale sees the school taking a field trip to, you guessed it, the Franklin Institute. Meanwhile, Gregory is eager to spend time with Janine, who is avoiding him, and Ava teaches the students about aliens, leading to chaos when someone spots an extraterrestrial in the museum. 9 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. CT
Thursday, April 20
Mrs. Davis__ __(Peacock): You've never seen anything like this series, and that's saying a lot given everything that's out there right now. The terrific Betty Gilpin stars as Simone, a nun who goes to battle against an all-powerful artificial intelligence known as Mrs. Davis. Jake McDorman and Andy McQueen also star. McDorman plays Gilpin's rebellious ex, who has a personal vendetta against the Algorithm. Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon co–executive producer Tara Hernandez serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside executive producer Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, The Leftovers). Eight hour-long episodes start streaming today.
The Diplomat (Netflix): Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) is the new United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, but she had her sights set on becoming the ambassador to Afghanistan. Per Netflix, “Kate is great in a crisis zone. In a historic home…less so. War is brewing on one continent and boiling over on another. Kate will have to diffuse international crises, forge strategic alliances in London, and adjust to her new place in the spotlight—all while trying to survive her marriage to fellow career diplomat and political star Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell).” Streaming
Friday, April 21
Secrets of the Elephants (NatGeo/Disney+): The four-part series narrated by Natalie Portman will premiere on Nat Geo on April 21, 2023 (Earth Day) and on Disney+ April 22. Here's the description: “Elephants are powerful, loving and wise, but we are only starting to unlock their deepest secrets. From Academy Award–winning filmmaker James Cameron, the series travels the world—from the savannas of Africa to the urban landscapes of Asia—to discover the strategic thinking, complex emotions and sophisticated language of elephants. Elephant expert Dr. Paula Kahumbu reveals the extraordinary lives of different families of elephants but also highlights how similar they are to us. Secrets of the Elephants will change everything you thought you knew about elephants forever.” Streaming
Judy Blume Forever (Prime Video): The must-see documentary that pays tribute to one of the most iconic novelists of all time premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. The film is codirected by Emmy-winning filmmakers Davina Pardo (Very Semi-Serious, 116 Cameras, Minka) and Leah Wolchok (Very Semi-Serious) with executive producers Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and Meredith Kaulfers attached to the project. Per Prime Video, “The film chronicles the life of trailblazing author Judy Blume and how she changed the way millions of adolescent readers understood themselves, their sexuality, and what it meant to grow up, but also led to critical battles against book banning and censorship. Some of Judy's bestsellers including Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Blubber, Superfudge, Tiger Eyes, Wifey, Forever…, and Summer Sisters are highlighted in the documentary. The moving tribute features interviews with notable Judy Blume superfans—including Anna Konkle, Lena Dunham, Molly Ringwald, and Samantha Bee—and highlights the longtime fans who have corresponded with Judy for years via handwritten letters, confiding their personal struggles to the novelist and developing a kinship with Judy that has spanned decades.”
Glamour has an exclusive clip with Anna Konkle (PEN15) and Judy Blume, which you can see below:
Big Beasts (AppleTV+): This new 10-part documentary series is narrated by Emmy nominee Tom Hiddleston and was filmed over two years, across 17 countries, featuring some of the world's most massive species (we're talking the gray whale, the elephant seal, the giant otter, the gorilla, the hippo, the brown bear, the orangutan, the tiger, and more). But the larger the animal, the greater the challenges they face—as the series captures rare and first-ever footage using specialized equipment and next-generation filming techniques. Streaming today, with two new episodes premiering each week until Friday, May 19
Slip (Roku): Zoe Lister-Jones directs, writes, and executive-produces the series. She plays Mae, who is restless in a life and marriage that basically work, but there's not much romance. Glamour entertainment director Caitlin Brody raves about Lister-Jones's performance and says, “Mae is in a stale marriage and after cheating on her husband, enters a parallel universe every time she has sex with a new person. Each episode brings the viewer into a new world, and the result is compelling, sex-positive, and yes, a little trippy, but ultimately forces us to to think about the core of who we really are when the career, relationships, and surroundings that we've come to identify with are stripped away.” Streaming
Ghosted (Apple TV+): In this romantic action-adventure film, Cole (Chris Evans) falls head over heels for enigmatic Sadie (Ana de Armas) but makes the shocking discovery that she’s a secret agent. You kind of just have to see it for yourself. Take a look below. Streaming
Dead Ringers (Prime Video): The limited series stars Rachel Weisz as Beverly and Elliot Mantle (yep, she plays dual roles) in a modern reimagining of David Cronenberg’s 1988 psychosexual thriller. In the series, Beverly and Elliot share everything: drugs, lovers, and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes—including pushing the boundaries of medical ethics—in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women’s health care to the forefront. Streaming
Somewhere in Queens (Roadside Attractions): Directed, written by, and starring Ray Romano, he plays Leo Russo, this movie focuses on a man who lives a simple life in Queens, New York, with his wife, Angela (Laurie Metcalf), and their son, “Sticks” (Jacob Ward). Happy enough working at the family construction business alongside his father (Tony Lo Bianco) and younger brother (Sebastian Maniscalco), Leo lives each week for his son's high school basketball games. But when the high school senior gets a surprising and life-changing opportunity to play basketball in college, Leo jumps at the chance to provide a plan for his future, away from the family construction business. Also starring Sadie Stanley, who plays the lead in the new season of Cruel Summer. In theaters
Chevalier (Searchlight Pictures): Starring Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Ronke Adekolujoe, Marton Csokas, Alex Fitzalan, and Minnie Driver, the film is inspired by the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Take a look for yourself below. In theaters
Saturday, April 22
A Pinch of Portugal (Hallmark Channel): In this new original Hallmark movie, a celebrity chef walks off his show, so prep cook Anna (Heather Hemmens) must step into the spotlight and take over, with the help of her Aussie cameraman (Luke Mitchell) and Portuguese location scout. 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT
Jordana Bryant (self-titled EP): Bryant's music video off her debut self-titled EP, Jordana Bryant (out on Friday, April 21), is here and we have the exclusive music video premiere of Wholly. The Nashville artist's debut full-length project touches on relationships, mental health, religion, and her mission to spread joy and positivity through her music. See below:
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the New York Times best-selling book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.
