Over the past two months, we’ve talked a lot about everything that’s not happening because of the coronavirus pandemic. In particular, dozens of TV shows have shut down their production, and we still don’t know when things will be back up and running. (Except the Kardashians, who are filming full episodes from home—they work so hard for us.) Needless to say, many of our favorite spring and summer shows are low-key f*cked (RIP The Bachelorette), but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to look forward to.
This month, there are lots of TV shows premiering, so your at-home boredom doesn’t have to be too extreme. Some of these are fan favorites returning for new seasons, while others are debuting for the first time. Either way, thankfully their production was at least mostly finished before Miss Rona ruined everything.
‘Billions’ – 5/3
If you love Succession, then Showtime’s Billions is kind of like its darker, more batsh*t crazy cousin. There’s a lot of confusing financial stuff happening, but also plenty of juicy sh*t if you’re a messy bitch who lives for drama. Stars Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis are back for season 5, and they’re joined by a supporting cast that includes Julianna Margulies, who I’m still obsessed with from The Good Wife. The trailer for the new season actually looks insane, so I need to catch up ASAP.
‘Camp Getaway’ – 5/4
Remember like… activities? Lol, the bar is literally so low for excitement right now. Bravo’s new show follows a group of counselors at a summer camp for adults—think Below Deck, but not on a boat. Obviously, they get into some shenanigans of their own while also trying to keep the campers happy. I’ve seen the first episode already, and it actually seems surprisingly messy and fun, so if you need a new reality fix, I’d recommend tuning in.
‘Reno 911!’ – 5/4
The gang is back! Over a decade after this ridiculous police satire finished off its original six-season run, it’s getting revived. The new season will be streaming on Quibi, which means that all the episodes will be less than 10 minutes long. I’ll be honest, I haven’t fired up my Quibi app in a few weeks, but Niecy Nash’s antics might be exactly what I need to get sucked back in. And just like most Quibi shows, there will be new episodes every day, which is exactly what we need during quarantimes.
‘Blindspot’ – 5/7
If you’re quarantined with your parents right now, there’s a 75% chance that your dad already has this marked on his calendar. Blindspot, which follows a woman who wakes up naked in Times Square and doesn’t remember anything (my number one blackout fear), is coming back for one final season on NBC, and it’s sure to finish with a bang. This might not be the kind of show you normally get into, but if you liked Prison Break, Lost, or 24, you should give it a try.
‘Solar Opposites’ – 5/8
This new Hulu show is the latest from the creator of Rick & Morty, so you probably already know if this will be up your alley. The show centers on a family of aliens who have to move to middle America, so it’s basically like every college student who had to go home because of coronavirus. But actually, if you love cartoon shows, and you’re smoking a lot of weed during quarantine, here’s your new favorite show.
‘I Know This Much Is True’ – 5/10
HBO always knows exactly how to get us, huh? This miniseries, based on a best-selling novel, stars Mark Ruffalo in a double role as identical twin brothers, one of whom has paranoid schizophrenia. The trailer low-key gave me chills, and I already know this sh*t is going to make me cry. The stellar supporting cast includes Rosie O’Donnell and Kathryn Hahn, so this really can’t come soon enough.
‘Amy Schumer Learns To Cook’ – 5/11
Okay, who had “Food Network show starring Amy Schumer” on their quarantine bingo card? Yeah, no one, but I’m not complaining. In this new series, shot entirely at home, Amy’s chef husband Chris Fischer teaches her to cook. What could go wrong? Obviously, hilarity will ensue, wine will be consumed, and Amy might even learn something! When she agreed to do the show, Amy also asked Food Network to make a $50,000 charitable donation, so you can actually feel good about watching this, too.
‘The Great’ – 5/15
Big month for Hulu! This historical satire miniseries stars Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great, who ruled Russia for much of the 18th century. Helen Mirren played Catherine in a miniseries last year, but this one obviously focuses on the earlier part of her reign. Nicholas Hoult also stars as her husband, so there will be something nice to look at, in addition to the sets and costumes. Elle Fanning is one of my favorite actresses, so this is an exciting project, and you can also say you learned about history.
‘Ramy’ – 5/29
I feel like a lot of people still are sleeping on Ramy, but considering that creator/writer/star Ramy Youssef won a Golden Globe for the first season, that needs to change. Youssef plays the son of Egyptian immigrants living in New Jersey, dealing with his own identity while trying not to disappoint his family. Season 2, coming to Hulu on the 29th, looks very funny, and the trailer features a casual cameo from tw0-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali. You have until the end of the month to catch up, so get to it.
And while you wait for all of these shows to start, we also broke down the best TV shows and movies that are new on Netflix this month. Obviously, we all miss being able to go out and do real things, but at least there’s plenty of good TV to keep us busy. And if your eyes start to hurt from too much screen time, take a time out and read a book. It can’t hurt!
Image: Courtesy of Hulu; Showtime, Bravo, IGN, Blindspot, Hulu (3), HBO, The Howard Stern Show / YouTube
