April TV Preview: 10 New Shows to Watch

“Pulse” (April 3, Netflix)

TV can never have enough hot doctors, and Netflix is here to help with “Pulse,” a new medical drama from Carlton Cuse and writer Zoe Robyn. The series focuses on the emergency medicine team at Miami’s Maguire Medical Center, starring Willa Fitzgerald as third-year resident Danny Simms, who is balancing her personal and professional challenges — namely, her relationship with the recently suspended Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell).

“We always endeavored to make Danny and Phillips’ relationship a real, authentic look at a workplace romance,” Robyn said in a Netflix release. “We really wanted to play in the gray area of that situation. ‘Pulse’ shows the edges and pitfalls of their relationship — but also all the joyous moments of working a high-pressure job like this.”

Also starring Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Chelsea muirhead, Daniela Nieves, Jessy Yates, and more. 

“The Bondsman” (April 3, Prime Video)

Don’t be fooled by the deliberately innocuous title — “The Bondsman,” created by Grainger David, is no ordinary story of a bounty hunter. Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon) has been murdered, but then the Devil resurrects him to help with some pesky demons that have escaped and are on the loose. With the help of his earthbound family, Hub follows orders, but the assignment can’t help teach him about his own sins.

According to Prime Video, Hub’s work “pushes him to seek a second chance at life, love, and country music.” Read that again! Also starring Jennifer Nettles, Damon Herriman, Beth Grant, Maxwell Jenkins, and Jolene Purdy.

“Dying for Sex” (April 4, Hulu)

From the true story of Molly Kochan and Nikki Boyer comes this limited series from Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether. Michelle Williams stars as Molly, whose terminal cancer diagnosis leads to her deciding to leave her husband and begin a journey of sexual exploration, accompanied by the fierce companionship of best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate). Jay Duplass, Rob Delaney, Kelvin Yu, David Rasche, Esco Jouléy, and Sissy Spacek join the cast.

“Spy High” (April 8, Prime Video)

This four-part docuseries recounts the story of Blake Robbins, a teenager who filed a lawsuit against his public school for allegedly spying on him. Robbins was accused of selling drugs, but what he claims the school did has broader implications and sets dangerous precedent for what institutions can and will do when it comes to individual privacy and their own prestige. Executive produced by Mark Wahlberg, Archie Gips and Stephen Levinson via their Unrealistic Ideas banner, Aliza Rosen, Jody McVeigh-Schultz, and David Wendell.

“Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing” (April 9, Netflix)

In this three-part investigative docuseries, directors Jenna Rosher and Kief Davidson look into the world of YouTuber Piper Rockelle and the friends she grew up with on camera, known as The Squad. After members of the group moved in with Piper and her mother/manager Tiffany, her friends eventually came forward about “alleged exploitation, cult-like manipulation, and abuse” that took place behind the scenes.

“Your Friends and Neighbors” (April 11, Apple TV+)

If you missed the regular sight and sound of Jon Hamm on your TV, “Your Friends and Neighbors” is the cure. Created by Jonathan Tropper, this series stars Hamm as a disgraced hedge fund manager struggling to get his life back on track after losing his job and his wife (Amanda Peet). When that doesn’t work through conventional methods, he turns to crime in order to salvage the life he and his family are used to, and things go… not according to plan. Also starring Olivia Munn, Mark Tallman, Hoon Lee, Lena Hall, and Aimee Carrero.

“Government Cheese” (April 16, Apple TV+)

David Oyelowo stars in this “historical surrealist comedy drama” from creators Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr. When Hampton Chambers comes home from prison, he finds that the life he’s returning to is not exactly the one he left behind. He struggles to connect with his estranged family while hoping to make it big with the “Bit Magician,” a self-sharpening power drill that he’s sure will revolutionize industry. Also starring Simone Missick, Bokeen Woodbine, Adam Beach, and Sunita Mani.

“#1 Happy Family USA” (April 17, Prime Video)

Being Muslim in post-9/11 America pops up a lot in Ramy Youssef’s work — but it also happens to be a pretty dark (and darkly comic) influence in the lives of many Americans and immigrants. “#1 Happy Family USA” follows the Husseins, a perfectly normal New Jersey family who become hypervigilant to appease their community after September 11, 2001. Also starring Alia Shawkat, Salma Hindy, Chris Redd, Akaash Singh, and Mandy Moore.

“Ransom Canyon” (April 17, Netflix)

Netflix has plenty of reasons to push this “deliciously addictive” drama from April Blair, but we’re here mainly for Minka Kelly back in Texas. Blair’s series follows three families and their neighboring ranches in the eponymous area of the Hill Country, where not a day goes by without the shifting tides of love, loyalty, lies, and more. Along with intertwining family dynamics, it’s also a love story between Staten (Josh Duhamel) and Quinn (Kelly). The cast includes James Brolin, Marianly Tejada, Jack Schumacher, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Greene, Garrett Wareing, and more.

“Étoile” (April 24, Prime Video)

If you loved “Bunheads” or “Mozart in the Jungle,” your patience has paid off. This eight-episode series from Amy Sherman-Palladino takes place in the world of two massive international ballet companies, whose high-risk stunt to save themselves is making two star dancers switch places. Executive produced by Sherman-Palladino, Dan Palladino, and Dhana Rivera Gilbert; starring Luke Kirby, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Lou de Laâge, Gideon Glick, David Alvarez, Ivan du Pontavice, Taïs Vinolo, David Haig, Simon Callow, and Yanic Truesdale.