In a year that was unlike any TV year we’ve had: For a month that started with April Fools’ this month was not fooling around and delivered much TV goodness.
April TV Highlights: Sammy’s #MustSeeTV!
Cursed Films: Season 1 (Shudder)
At The Time: This past January at Sundance Alexandre O. Philippe’s latest documentary Leap of Faith: William Friedkin focusing on The Exorcist premiered. (I was hoping it would have screened at Hot Docs which was coronavirus interrupted.) Thankfully while we wait for Leap of Faith Shudder’s original 5 part docuseries Cursed Films covers The Exorcist in its opening episode. What movies such as Poltergeist, The Omen, and Twilight Zone: The Movie have in common is on-set mishaps making them cursed. Sometimes the legends are scarier than the movies.
Sammy Verdict: Fantastic TV show! I learned so much…I didn’t know about “real bodies” om Poltergeist. Ewww. And my favourite episode was The Crow. Of course. Can’t wait for Season 2.
Tales From the Loop: Season 1 (Amazon Prime)
At The Time: Oh!! I cannot wait for this sci-fi tv show! Have you read The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag? A runaway teenager and her toy robot race to the edge of the continent as all around them a deeply consumerist society crumbles. It is visually stunning. Electric State’s movie rights were sold to the Russo brothers with IT creators Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti slated to be the director and producer. Oh, that is so gonna work (for now…these things can change). While we impatiently wait for that we get Tales From the Loop produced by Mark Romanek (YES!!) and based on the book with the same name. This’ll be like Michel Gondry crossed with Black Mirror. Her if Her was ominous.
Sammy Verdict: I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who watched this. Seriously…run a search on Twitter. I could tell you if I enjoyed it but eh…what’s the point. That’d be a monologue not a dialogue.
The Last Dance: Docuseries (Netflix/ESPN)
At The Time: The new 10-part docuseries The Last Dance recalls the 1990s glory days of NBA GOAT Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
You know that iconic sound from every action movie when a shotgun is locked and loaded?
You know that John Wick grisly knife fight from John Wick 3?
You know how Optimus Prime says: “Autobots Roll Out?”
Pick whatever sound or scene or line from an action movie…any action movie. This is it; this is the big one. “Team Ruckus reporting for duty: SIR!”
This documentary will ignite debates, friendships will end, there will be generational battle lines and social media will be a hot mess of blocking, muting and unfollowing. Prepare. I cannot wait for all of it.
Sammy Verdict: It was and is and will always be: incredible. The final word in the GOAT debate and endlessly highly recommended. “When people see this they are going say, ‘Well he wasn’t really a nice guy. He may have been a tyrant.’ Well, that’s you. Because you never won anything.” There’s nothing more to be said after that. That’s a powerful electric current of truth. #TheLastDance #Jordan #GOAT
Beastie Boys Story (Apple TV)
At The Time: Now here’s a little story I’ve got to tell/About three bad brothers you know so well: It started way back in history/With Ad-Rock, MCA, (and me) Mike D.
While we have mourned many pop culture coronavirus passings from Comic Con and SXSW being cancelled to blockbuster movies being shifted to alternative dates next year one of the cinematic events I grieved was the one we lost on April 2nd.
Screenings were to be held for this Spike Jonze directed Beastie Boys documentary so we could Ch-Check It Out. It would have been Intergalactic to be in a large audience of Beastie Boys fans and to hear them cheer and feel that Body Movin energy when certain songs come on. Alas those screenings were Sabotaged by coronavirus.
So we get this documentary on Apple TV instead so it’s Time To Get Ill. (It’s been a weird time in human history with the Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance looking back at the late 90s and now this Beastie Boys doc looking back and all of us in a position asking about the life that we had before the pandemic and how we want that to be there’s something there I don’t know what it means. No matter what life is like after the pandemic never forget your right to party.)
Sammy Verdict: Single tear who we’ve lost; single tear for who we’ve become. Like the Boys we’re all grown up and become special indviduals.
April 2020 TV Experiences & Expectations
Quibi launched on April 6, 2020. Died on December 1, 2020. So yeah: that happened.
April 2
Cursed Films: Season 1 (Shudder)
-In August 2020 Shudder renewed Cursed Films for a second season.
April 3
Tales From the Loop: Season 1 (Amazon Prime)
Harley Quinn: Season 2 (DC Universe)
-In September 2020 HBO Max renewed Harley Quinn for a third season but the show would permanently move to HBO Max.
Home Before Dark (Apple TV)
-In April 2020 Apple renewed HomeBefore Dark Apple renewed for a second season.
Coffee & Kareem (Netflix)
April 5
Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project (7 p.m. / Oxygen)
Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (8 p.m. / HBO)
April 6
Most Dangerous Game (Quibi)
Deadwater Fell: Miniseries (Acorn TV)
-It premiered 10 January 2020 on Channel 4.
April 7
The Last O.G.: Season 3 (TBS)
-In October 2020 TBS renewed The Last O.G. for a fourth season.
April 9
Shaq Life: Season 1 (9 p.m. / TNT)
April 10
LA Originals (Netflix)
Love Wedding Repeat (Netflix)
Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate with Destiny (Disney+)
April 12
Run: Season 1 (HBO)
-In July 2020, HBO canceled the series after one season.
April 13
50 States of Fright: Season 1 (Quibi)
The Stranger: Season1 (Quibi)
Quiz (ITV/AMC)
-Debuted on AMC on May 31, 2020
April 14
Chris D’Elia: No Pain (Netflix)
April 15
Outer Banks: Season 1 (Netflix)
-In July 2020 Netflix renewed Outer Banks for a second season.
The Innocence Files: Docuseries (Netflix)
April 16
In the Dark (The CW)
-In January 2020 The CW renewed In the Dark for a third season.
April 19
The Last Dance: Docuseries (9 and 10 p.m. / ESPN, ESPN2)
Marvel’s Spider-Man (9 p.m. / DisneyXD)
April 20
Dummy: Season 1 (Quibi)
April 21
Fraggle Rock: Rock On!: Season 1 (Apple TV)
April 24
Beastie Boys Story (Apple TV)
After Life: Season 2 (Netflix)
-In May 2020 Netflix renewed After Life for a third season.
Extraction (Netflix)
-In May 2020 Netflix commissioned a sequel to the film.
April 25
Bad Education (8 p.m. / HBO)
April 29
Normal People (Hulu)
-Nothing has been confirmed for Season 2.
