ON THE SMALL SCREEN

HOT ORIGINAL COMEDIES
THE CHAIR
Netflix
Sandra Oh takes on a whole new challenge in The Chair, as she takes on the role of Chair of the English department at a prestigious (and fictitious) university, breaking barriers as she goes. Her fellow professors are a funny group, including Bob Balaban, Holland Taylor, and Jay Duplass, but being a trailblazer isn’t all fun and games, as she soon finds out.

ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING
Hulu
It took him to age 75, but Steve Martin is finally the star of his television series! He happens to also be the creator and lead writer of this offbeat comedy that follows a group of New Yorkers who live in the same building and share a fascination with true crime. Can murder be far behind? Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Nathan Lane help round out the cast of this much-anticipated new show.

THE WHITE LOTUS
HBO
Mike White is the zany mind behind The White Lotus, the new satire set in paradise. It’s a Hawaiian resort where the staff is weird, and the guests are more peculiar with the result being played for laughs – and a few tears. Funny favorites include vacationers Steve Zahn, Jennifer Coolidge, Molly Shannon, and Connie Britton, with Murray Bartlett running the resort.

REBOOTING OLD FAVORITES
FANTASY ISLAND
Fox
Nearly fifty years after Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize made Fantasy Island a household name and TV must-see, the fantasy drama is back, with Roselyn Sanchez taking on the role of Roarke. As the mysterious host of this luxury island resort, she›ll try to make new generations get excited when «da plane» arrives with new guests.

GOSSIP GIRL
HBO Max
The teens are still privileged New York private school brats, but this reboot of the series that lasted for six seasons beginning back in 2007 now has a decidedly more multicultural cast. But they are still just as in love with spreading malicious gossip using social media these days. Kristen Bell and Jordan Alexander lead this too-beautiful-for-reality cast.

TURNER AND HOOCH
Disney+
More than 30 years since Tom Hanks co-starred with a slobbery pooch named Hooch, their story is back, this time in a TV series with Josh Peck playing the son of Turner, Hanks’ movie character. He’s a U.S. Marshal whose partner is a huge Dogue de Bordeaux, so naturally, some messy moments happen. Reginald VelJohnson reprises his film role as David Sutton, but no sign (yet) of a Tom Hanks cameo.

CARTOON FAMILY FUN
MONSTERS AT WORK
Disney+
Sully and Mike are back in this series based on Monsters, Inc. and Monsters University, the much-lived Pixar animated films featuring the voices of John Goodman and Billy Crystal. They’re both on board for this ten-episode joyride filled with funny monsters voiced by Henry Winkler, Bonnie Hunt, Mindy Kaling, Aisha Tyler, and perennial Pixar favorite John Ratzenberger.

WE THE PEOPLE
Netflix
This ten-episode series helps teach children about civics, and the responsibilities of being American citizens, told with fun songs and cool animation. Produced by Barak and Michelle Obama and featuring musical acts ranging from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Janelle Monae to Brandi Carlile, Adam Lambert, and HER and poet Amanda Gorman, We the People is a terrific teaching tool for parents and a blast for kids to watch.