Rye’s friend Jon Hamm returns this month in “Your Friends & Neighbors,” playing our favorite fired hedge fund manager turned neighborhood cat burglar. Other new series introduce us to more friends and neighbors you might want to meet — or avoid.
WATCH
“DTF St. Louis”
Jason Bateman, David Harbour, and Linda Cardellini play friends in this limited series about bored middle-aged suburbanites whose entanglement — aided by a hookup app — ends up with one of them dead. Bateman, as a local weatherman, is pitch perfect in another of his signature seemingly ordinary but not quite Everyman roles (“Ozark”). The entire cast delivers absorbing performances in this unique character-driven mystery, though be warned: there’s mature content and odd dark humor that may not be for everyone. Still, it’s intriguing enough to keep watching to find out what’s really happening with this trio. (TV-MA, Seven episodes, HBO Max)
“Shrinking” Season 3
With one of television’s strongest ensemble casts, Season 3 continues to deliver in this ironic comedy about sadness and grief following a trio of therapists with messy personal lives of their own. Standout performances — particularly from Harrison Ford, playing a Parkinson’s-afflicted therapist with profound pathos — elevate the series to new heights. Season 4 is already confirmed. (TV-MA, Three seasons, 11 episodes each, Apple TV+)
MAYBE
“Rooster”
Steve Carell is back in this sentimental sitcom as a successful “beach read” author navigating the unpredictable challenges of modern college life as a writer in residence. Carell channels a bit of the awkward Michael Scott (“The Office”) as he tries, though not always successfully, to help his daughter, a college professor on the same campus. Co-created by Bill Lawrence (“Ted Lasso”), the show might have the potential to develop into a fully worthy watch, but may take viewer patience to get there. (TV-MA, 10 episodes, HBO Max)
“Scarpetta”
Nicole Kidman plays a forensic pathologist investigating complex homicide cases in this gritty, graphic crime thriller based on Patricia Cornwell’s bestselling novels — 29 of them. As Kay Scarpetta investigates gruesome crimes, she must also navigate personal and professional challenges. There’s a strong supporting cast — but the tedious family drama often slips into soap territory. Jamie Lee Curtis’s over-the-top turn as the sister is saved by Bobby Cannavale’s grounded performance as her husband. Distracting storylines — a crashed spaceship, an AI character — create uneven pacing and dilute the overall suspense. Maybe passable for a binge watch. A second season has already been ordered. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Prime)
“How to Get to Heaven from Belfast”
From Lisa McGee, creator of the hilarious “Derry Girls,” comes a mystery series about a tight-knit group of thirty-something Irish women — former schoolmates who reunite to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of one of their friends. If you enjoy quirky shows, this dark comedy with wry humor may be for you. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Netflix)
“Scrubs”
Sixteen years after its nine-season run ended, the reboot of “Scrubs” proves that the JD-Turk bromance (Zach Braff and Donald Faison) is still alive. Many original cast members return to reprise their roles, offering a nostalgic and lighthearted break from the gritty medical realism of “The Pitt.” (TV-14, Nine episodes, Hulu/ABC)
“Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette”
Ryan Murphy’s latest limited series dramatizes the tumultuous and tragic romance of Carolyn Bessette and John F. Kennedy Jr. — long considered America’s closest thing to royalty. The series has attracted plenty of attention — not all of it favorable — but it remains a swoony and emotionally grounded love story. (TV-MA, Nine episodes, Hulu)
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins”
Tracy Morgan delivers his trademark off-the-wall humor as a disgraced yet wildly entitled former football star. Daniel Radcliffe plays the humiliated Oscar-winning documentarian hired to film the athlete’s biographical comeback story. Both hope the project will revive their careers but they clash over the subject’s absurdly scripted version of events. Best suited for fans of “30 Rock.” (TV-14, 10 episodes, Peacock/NBC)
SKIP
“CEO Club”
This docuseries offers a behind-the-scenes look at seven female CEO “friends” and their various business empires. From Serena Williams to the wife of Tommy Hilfiger to the daughter of Edgar Bronfman, the result is far from inspirational — more like dull reality-TV packaging for nepo-CEOs. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Prime)
“Neighbors”
Executive producer Josh Safdie’s new documentary series chronicles bizarre real-life disputes between feuding neighbors across the country. Though some call it “compelling,” watching the absurdity and chaos of entrenched personal conflicts is like rubber-necking at car accidents — do we really need to see this? (TV-14, Six episodes, HBO Max)
“The Grey House”
It’s a shame that a heroic Civil War story is so poorly executed it becomes nearly unwatchable. The true tale of Southern women and Black Americans who risk their lives to build a pro-Union underground spy network is buried beneath shaky production values, overacting bordering on high-school drama-class theatrics, and a script riddled with caricatured stereotypes. Despite backing from major talent — including producers Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman — this is a major miss. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Prime)
“The Last Thing He Told Me” Season 2
Based on Laura Dave’s bestselling thriller and its recently released sequel, the second season loses momentum with contrived suspense and repetitive plot turns. Even a reliably engaging Jennifer Garner performance can’t quite sustain the story. The finale airs April 10, and the series’ future is uncertain. (TV-MA, Eight episodes, Apple TV+)
UNDER THE RADAR
“The Lincoln Lawyer”
The quiet success of executive producer David E. Kelley’s legal drama adds another entry to his long list of courtroom hits. Based on Michael Connelly’s crime novels, the series follows Mickey Haller, a Los Angeles defense attorney who isn’t above bending the rules to win. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo makes an inspired lead — a refreshing departure from Matthew McConaughey’s film portrayal. All four seasons are now available to stream. (TV-MA, Four seasons, 10 episodes each, Netflix)
