The importance of vaccination

"Black Mirror" returns to Netflix in April with a "USS Callister" sequel, "You" returns for its final season, and John Mulaney continues to appear on Wednesday nights.

Spring is nearly here, and any self-respecting television watcher knows what that means: Emmy season, baby! Yes, I understand. With the disintegration of the traditional TV calendar and the profusion of precursor awards, it's virtually always Emmy season — but with April comes crunch time. Old-school networks and streaming services that allow for weekly releases are pumping out prestige shows left and right. Whether it's Michelle Williams in FX's "Dying for Sex," Seth Rogen in the Apple TV+ comedy "The Studio," or Jon Hamm in the Apple TV+ drama "Your Friends and Neighbors," the months leading up to May's Emmy nomination deadline are jam-packed with golden hopefuls.

Netflix is not immune to the attack, but it operates with a tiny delay. The majority of Netflix's last-minute (aka premium-positioned) awards contenders will premiere in May, because these shows don't have to worry about airing all of their episodes before May 31 — on Netflix, all episodes are released at once, so anything released in May doesn't have to worry about fitting in an eight or ten-episode season over eight or ten actual weeks. Furthermore, many of Netflix's top contenders — "Nobody Wants This," "The Diplomat," "Squid Game," and "Adolescence" - premiered in early or late winter. Perhaps the awards calendar is shifting again (or maybe Netflix understands it is ubiquitous and hence does not need to manipulate its distribution techniques to generate more awards publicity).

So, what does all of this mean in terms of April Netflix releases? There are a few Emmy contenders in the mix, including a new season of "Black Mirror" (which has a long history with the Emmys) and a new series called "Ransom Canyon" (which may remind some subscribers of "Yellowstone," an oft-aspiring Emmy contender who was consistently kept on the outside looking in). "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney," which started last month but will run until May, is maybe the best Emmy candidate of all. Its predecessor, "Everybody's in L.A.," won an Emmy for Best Editing and received accolades from the TCA Awards, WGA Awards, and American Cinema Editors. With a longer run and more attentiveness.

With a longer run and increased visibility, "Everybody's Live" might build on its outstanding start.
The rest are primarily populist plays, which Netflix excels at. "Pulse" is a soapy medical drama with a ticking clock. The anime series "Devil May Cry" attempts to honor its video game beginnings, whereas Season 7 of "Young Sheldon" aims to honor the memories of "Big Bang Theory." (One of these.

Some missions may be more difficult than others. Throw in the final season of "You" (which could be an awards contender, even if it has yet to make an impact) plus the usual international acquisitions and kids shows, and Netflix's April slate seems no different than any other month. Whether it means going outside and enjoying the spring weather or staying inside and pretending it's still too cold and rainy to leave the sofa is all up to you, dear readers. Trust your instincts.

1) "Pulse"
Release Date: Thursday, April 3.
Zoe Robyn, the creator and co-showrunner.

Co-showrunner: Carlton Cuse.
Cast includes Willia Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Justina Machado, Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Jessy Yates, Chelsea Muirhead, Daniela Nieves, Néstor Carbonell, Jessica Rothe, Santiago Segura, Ash Santos, and Arturo Del Puerto.
Format: Ten hour-long segments.

Official Synopsis: "As a hurricane approaches Miami's busiest Level 1 Trauma Center, third-year resident Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) is unexpectedly promoted after beloved Chief Resident Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell) is suspended." The hospital slips into lockdown in the midst of a worsening storm and a deluge of trauma patients, and Danny and Phillips must find a way to collaborate — even as bombshell secrets of their convoluted and clandestine romance begin to emerge. The rest of the ER is forced to deal with the consequences of their relationship while juggling their own personal and professional issues as they operate under the pressure of life-or-death situations.

Because, for this close-knit group of doctors, preserving their patients' lives is often easier than surviving their own.
Best Reasons to Watch: Reliable sources have told me that "Pulse" could have been called "Binge," because it is so addictive. "Pulse" is pure soapy fun, a cross between "The Pitt" and "Grey's Anatomy" with a healthy dose of "Dexter's" problems with Miami weather. Simply suds up and enjoy.

Photo : Courtesy of Netflix

2. Season 7 of "Black Mirror" will be released on Thursday, April 10.
Creator: Charlie Brooker

Cast: Awkwafina, Milanka Brooks, Peter Capaldi, Emma Corrin, Patsy Ferran, Paul Giamatti, Lewis Gribben, Osy Ikhile, Rashida Jones, Siena Kelly, Billy Magnussen, Rosy McEwen, Cristin Milioti, Chris O'Dowd, Issa Rae, Paul G. Raymond, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jimmi Simpson, Harriet Walter, Michele Austin, Ben Bailey Smith, Asim Chaudhry, Josh Finan, James Nelson-Joyce, Will Poulter, Jay Simpson, Michael
Format: six hour-long episodes.

The official summary is as follows: "Charlie Brooker's dark, satirical anthology series will return in 2025 with six brand new episodes, including a sequel to the sci-fi adventure USS Callister."
Best Reasons to Watch: At this point, it is up to the cast. Whether you're a fan of Charlie Brooker or have no idea what a black mirror is, each new season of the science-fiction episodic anthology series features a host of outstanding stars aimed at attracting new viewers (and satisfying existing ones). This year's MVP is a difficult pick, sight unseen: Paul Giamatti, Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, and Emma Corrin are all (nearly) enough to entice me to watch, but you have to go with Michele Austin.

Mike Leigh's 2024 film "Hard Truths," starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, features an overlooked supporting actor. While critics praised the wonderful film and its outstanding ensemble, awards season wrongly overlooked them, and Austin, in particular, deserved acclaim for playing the peace-keeping sister to Jean-Baptiste's unstoppable firecracker. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Spring is nearly here, and any self-respecting television watcher knows what that means: Emmy season, baby! Yes, I understand. With the disintegration of the traditional TV calendar and the profusion of precursor awards, it's virtually always Emmy season — but with April comes crunch time. Old-school networks and streaming services that allow for weekly releases are pumping out prestige shows left and right. Whether it's Michelle Williams in FX's "Dying for Sex," Seth Rogen in the Apple TV+ comedy "The Studio," or Jon Hamm in the Apple TV+ drama "Your Friends and Neighbors," the months leading up to May's Emmy nomination deadline are jam-packed with golden hopefuls.

Netflix is not immune to the attack, but it operates with a tiny delay. The majority of Netflix's last-minute (aka premium-positioned) awards contenders will premiere in May, because these shows don't have to worry about airing all of their episodes before May 31 — on Netflix, all episodes are released at once, so anything released in May doesn't have to worry about fitting in an eight or ten-episode season over eight or ten actual weeks. Furthermore, many of Netflix's top contenders — "Nobody Wants This," "The Diplomat," "Squid Game," and "Adolescence" - premiered in early or late winter. Perhaps the awards calendar is shifting again (or maybe Netflix understands it is ubiquitous and hence does not need to manipulate its distribution techniques to generate more awards publicity).

So, what does all of this mean in terms of April Netflix releases? There are a few Emmy contenders in the mix, including a new season of "Black Mirror" (which has a long history with the Emmys) and a new series called "Ransom Canyon" (which may remind some subscribers of "Yellowstone," an oft-aspiring Emmy contender who was consistently kept on the outside looking in). "Everybody's Live with John Mulaney," which started last month but will run until May, is maybe the best Emmy candidate of all. Its predecessor, "Everybody's in L.A.," won an Emmy for Best Editing and received accolades from the TCA Awards, WGA Awards, and American Cinema Editors. With a longer run and increased awareness,

"Everybody's Live" may easily build on its strong start.
The rest are primarily populist plays, which Netflix excels at. "Pulse" is a soapy medical drama with a ticking clock. The anime series "Devil May Cry" attempts to honor its video game beginnings, whereas Season 7 of "Young Sheldon" aims to honor the memories of "Big Bang Theory." (One of these missions can be more challenging than the other.) Add in the last season of "You" (which

Certainly may be an awards contender, even if it has yet to make a dent) and the usual overseas acquisitions and children's shows, Netflix's April slate appears to be very similar to any other month. Whether it means going outside and enjoying the spring weather or staying inside and pretending it's still too cold and rainy to leave the sofa is all up to you, dear readers. Trust your instincts.

Photo : Courtesy of Netflix

3. “You” Season 5

Release Date: Thursday, April 24
Showrunner: Sera Gamble
Cast: Penn Badgley, Charlotte Ritchie, Madeline Brewer, Anna Camp, Griffin Matthews
Format: 10 hourlong episodes
Official Synopsis: “In the epic fifth and final season, Joe Goldberg returns to New York to enjoy his happily ever after… until his perfect life is threatened by the ghosts of his past and his own dark desires.”
Best Reason to Watch: Proma Khosla, an IndieWire senior writer and critic who has been following "You" for all five seasons, wants viewers to admire Penn Badgley's performance one last time. "He really is spectacular," Khosla added, noting his lack of award recognition so far. Perhaps this is the year. The Emmys have a mixed reputation of celebrating the last seasons of previously overlooked shows, but you never know! Even if the TV Academy does not make room for Badgley, fans should enjoy his final moments as Joe Goldberg. (It's the final season!)

Photo : Courtesy of Ryan West / Netflix

4. “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney”

Release Date: Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET (April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30th)
Creator / Host: John Mulaney
Cast: John Mulaney, Richard Kind, Saymo
Format: Live hourlong episodes once a week for 12 weeks
Official Synopsis: “A new weekly live variety talk show from John Mulaney.”
Best Reason to Watch: Beyond what I've already said about Mulaney's live Netflix specials, the best incentive to watch is Luenell. The Natural Metallic Blonde only appeared in one episode (No. 3), but it was also the episode where Mulaney's eccentric ideas came together to make magic happen, live, on stage, alongside Pete Davidson (who Luenell asked out on a date "for research and for women across America"), Henry Winkler (who Luenell called "baby" while encouraging him to remove his blindfold), and, of course, Richard Kind. She may be the spark that set

“Everybody’s Live” on the path to glory, just as she was when she first appeared in “Everybody’s in L.A.,” but you’ll have to keep tuning in to find out — and to see her next appearance.

Photo : Courtesy of Anna Kooris / Netflix

5. “Ransom Canyon”

Release Date: Thursday, April 17
Creator: April Blair
Cast: Josh Duhamel, Minka Kelly, James Brolin, Eoin Macken, Lizzy Greene, Marianly Tejada, Jack Schumacher, Garrett Wareing, Andrew Liner, Jennifer Ens, Niko Gaurdado, Casey W. Johnson, Philip Winchester, Kate Burton, Brett Cullen, Tatanka Means, Jaren Robledo, Justin Johnson Cortez, Kenneth Miller
Format: 10 hourlong episodes
Official Synopsis: “’Ransom Canyon’ is a romance-fueled family drama and contemporary western saga that charts the intersecting lives of three ranching families, all set against the rugged expanse of Texas Hill Country.”
Best Reason to Watch: Josh Brolin’s last cowboy drama got too early an axe from Amazon (R.I.P. “Outer Range”), so maybe we mourn that one by watching this? Fingers crossed they find a big hole in the middle of a field that’s a secret portal to another time.

Photo : Courtesy of Netflix

6. “Chef’s Table: Legends”

Release Date: Monday, April 28
Directors: Brian McGinn, Clay Jeter, David Gelb
Subjects: Jamie Oliver, José Andrés, Alice Waters, and Thomas Keller
Format: 4 hourlong episodes
Official Synopsis: “‘Chef’s Table: Legends’ will pay tribute to the culinary icons who have helped shape the modern world of food. This season, which coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the ‘Chef’s Table’ franchise, will feature a lineup of legendary celebrity chefs whose influence has transcended borders (and mediums) and inspired generations of cooks and food lovers alike.”
Best Reason to Watch: The food. The food just… it looks so good. It’s so pretty. Don’t you like seeing pretty food you can’t eat? Don’t you? Doesn’t everyone? “Chef’s Table” has been running for 10 years now, so I’m pretty sure they do.

Photo : Courtesy of Jon Pack / Netflix

7. “The Four Seasons”

Release Date: Thursday, May 1
Creators: Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield
Cast: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani
Format: Eight half-hour episodes
Official Synopsis: “Six old friends head for a relaxing weekend away only to learn that one couple in the group is about to split up. The three couples, Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani), are completely upended by the news. Over the course of a year, we follow the friends on four vacations and watch how this shake-up affects everyone’s dynamic — sending old issues and new bubbling to the surface.”
Best Reason to Watch: Okay, so I'm cheating a little bit here, because "The Four Seasons" opens on the first of May, not any day in April, but it's a light month, so consider this an early heads up: Tina Fey, real TV royalty, is back, both onscreen and in the writers' room, for a remake of Alan Alda's 1981 film of the same name (which was first adapted for television in 1984). Fey's most recent TV show was the underrated "Mr. Mayor" (Bobby Moynihan was killed), and her previous one was "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," but this time she's dragging old friend Steve Carell along for the journey. Getting hyped?

Photo : Courtesy of Elizabeth Sisson / Netflix

The Rest of Incoming TV

“Weak Hero Class 2” (available in April)
“Love on the Spectrum” Season 3 (available April 2)
“Devil May Cry” (available April 3)
“Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” Season 3 (available April 3)
“Karma” (available April 4)
“The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox” (available April 8)
“How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)” Season 4 (available April 8)
“Klan’s Bizarre B&B” (available April 8)
“My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman” Season 5, Part 2 (available April 8)
“North of North” (available April 10)
“The Gardener” (available April 11)
“Resident Playbook” (available April 12)
“The Glass Dome” (available April 15)
“Young Sheldon” Season 7 (available April 15)
“I Am Not Mendoza” (available April 16)
“Project UFO” (available April 16)
“Istanbul Encyclopedia” (available April 17)
“Heavenly Ever After” (available April 19)
“Battle Camp” (available April 23)
“Carlos Alcaraz: My Way” (available April 23)
“The Eternaut” (available April 30)
“Turning Point: The Vietnam War” (available April 30)