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We’re into April and that means Spring and some longer days and warmer temperatures. But there is still plenty of TV options, especially as we near the Emmy consideration window. What of these new shows is worth your time to check? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series.

Wednesdays:
The Studio, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered March 26)
About: This new show comes from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It focuses on the head of a movie studio (Rogen) as he tries to navigate all the perils of making films. The series features Ike Barinholz, Catherine O’Hara, and Kathryn Hahn as regulars, among others. It also features a series of cameos from those in the industry, with the first two episodes featuring Martin Scorsese and Greta Lee, among others. The pilot runs 45 minutes, while most of the rest of the 10-episode season spans about a half an hour. I love the focus, writing, and content of the series. Rogen is great in the lead role, and I love the cast here. I was completely taken with the first two episodes, which are some of the best early episodes I’ve seen this year. I binged my way through the series on screeners, and it remains consistently excellent. It’s one of my favorite series of the year so far and well worth making appointment viewing each Wednesday.
Pilot Grade: A-
Second Episode: A-

Sundays:
MobLand, Streaming Sundays on Paramount+ (Premiered March 30)
About: This new series is a crime drama set in the United Kingdom. It comes from Guy Ritchie, among others, and focuses mostly on the Harrigan family, led by Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and Maeve (Helen Mirren), along with their family fixer Harry Da Souza (Tom Hardy). Things kick off with a start as the family is on the cusp of a war in the pilot. They need all their soldiers to help work things out. This is a good cast and a solid premise. There is talent in front of the camera and in the production team. This feels like a nice addition to the streaming options for Paramount+. I liked the pilot episode and I think there is some potential for a gritty crime drama. We’ll see how the second episode stacks up.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Side Quest, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered March 26)
About: Are you a fan of the Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest? That series wrapped up its fourth and possibly final season on Wednesday. At the same time, Apple TV+ dropped this spin-off, which is a four-episode anthology series that focuses on different people connected to the game featured in the parent series. Mythic Quest star Rob McElhenney appears in the pilot, but mostly this is about new characters and new stories. Bottle episodes of Mythic Quest have sometimes been the best, so it tracks that this series would offer some interesting stories. I liked the first two stories, each about a half hour. There are only four in total, so it’s a quick binge. It will likely appeal most to those who are fans of the original series.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Number One on the Call Sheet, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered March 28)
About: This new addition is listed as a mini-series, but really, it’s a pair of documentary features. It’s focused on the role African American actors and actresses play in film. The first part focuses on the actors, including interviews with the key players and a look at the history of their contribution in Hollywood. The second focuses on actresses and follows the same format. Each runs about 90 minutes and each is a fascinating, gripping, and emotional watch. If you’re a film fan, this is a can’t miss set of documentaries.
Pilot Grade: A-
Second Episode: A-

Mid-Century Modern, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered March 28)
About: This new sitcom comes from Producer Ryan Murphy along with Will & Grace co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan. It basically gives us a premise of what The Golden Girls would be like with three gay friends instead of three older women. We even have each of the primary actors (Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham) sliding into one of those roles with Linda Lavin as the Estelle of it all. It’s an interesting set up with episodes that all run about 25 minutes, and the whole 10-episode season now available for streaming. This has a very traditional sitcom set up and feel, which could be nice for comedy fans. Except, this series is a disaster. It feels slow and a throwback in the worst possible way. It’s painfully unfunny at times to the point that I almost couldn’t make it through the second episode. Comedies in the streaming era have been a decidedly mixed bag, and this flames out hard. This is a big miss.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D-

The Bondsman, Streaming on Prime Video (Premiers April 3)
About: This new series comes from the Blumhouse team and is something of a horror comedy. Episodes run about a half hour, with the whole eight-episode season dropping on Thursday. It features Kevin Bacon as a bondsman who is killed on a call early in the pilot. But he is brought back to life by the Devil and rescued from Hell on the promise that he will use his skills to hunt escaped demons and return them to where they belong. He recruits his mother (Beth Grant) to help and tries to keep his ex-wife (Jennifer Nettles) and son (Maxwell Jenkins) safe. The episodes have some humor, but also plenty of action. They feel a bit like the run of Supernatural. I’ve seen all eight episodes and I enjoyed the ride. Bacon makes for a good lead and there is plenty here to hold your attention. It’s worth checking out and makes for a quick binge.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C