ON THE SMALL SCREEN

WOMEN: HEAR HER HOLLER
THE FIRST LADY
Showtime
In this star-studded series, viewers get a look at the White House from a unique perspective—that of the First Lady’s life in the East Wing. Produced by and starring Viola Davis (who plays Michelle Obama), the series intertwines three of America’s best-known First Ladies, with Betty Ford played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Eleanor Roosevelt by Gillian Anderson in addition to Obama. Also starring Kiefer Sutherland, Aaron Eckhart, Ellen Burstyn, and Dakota Fanning, this one is sure to fascinate

JULIA
HBO Max
This eight-episode series takes a new look at Julia Child’s life as one of the world’s first TV chefs, as she navigates her rise to fame in the 1960s, In a time of social and political upheaval, Julia deftly made her way to the top of a chef’s world dominated by men, all the while keeping her unique perspective on both cooking and life. Sarah Lancanshire stars, alongside David Hyde Pierce as Julia’s husband and Bebe Neuwirth.

ROAR
Apple TV+
This dark, comedic anthology series is all about women, based on the book of short stories by Cecelia Ahern and created/produced by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch of GLOW fame. We were in just hearing that news, then learning that the cast features Betty Gilpin and Allison Brie (both from GLOW) as well as Nicole Kidman and Cynthia Erivo put Roar right at the top of our must-see new series list.

SHINING GIRLS
Apple TV+
A mystery thriller that follows the aftermath of a brutal assault on a woman (played by Elisabeth Moss, who also produced the series) unpeels like an onion, with questions raised and reality shifts that will keep you guessing. Amy Brenneman and Jamie Bell costar and Leonardo DiCaprio also produced this tense crime drama.

BIG STARS, SMALL SCREEN
61ST STREET
AMC
Oscar nominee Aunjanue Ellis and Emmy winner Courtney B. Vance star in this emotional saga of a teenage Black star athlete swept into a drug bust that eventually exposes the corruption in the Chicago police and justice system. It’s an all-too-topical tale that will put a chill in your heart as the series unfolds. Tosin Cole and Bentley Green also costar in this intense crime drama.

GASLIT
Starz
Return to the days of Watergate in Washington, D.C., as this drama series recalls those crazy days on Capitol Hill, with Julia Roberts leading the way as Martha Mitchell, the wife/whistleblower whose life was upended by President Nixon and his nefarious cronies. With Sean Penn as her husband John, Dan Stevens as John Dean, and Betty Gilpin as Mo Dean, this one is sure to have some scenery chewing going on before it concludes.

SLOW HORSES
Apple TV+
Gary Oldman stars in this spy comedy about a team of British intelligence agents who are all on the skids, having made earlier mistakes that derailed their careers as spies. Based on the novels by Mick Herron, the series is packed with talented actors, including Jonathan Pryce, Kristin Scott-Thomas, and BAFTA Award Rising Star winner Jack Lowden.

TOKYO VICE
HBO Max
Nearly 40 years after he made Miami Vice a huge TV hit, producer-director Michael Mann returns with Tokyo Vice, a much darker drama that explores the Tokyo criminal underworld. This time out Ansel Elgort is the leading man, playing a reporter who teams up with a cop (Ken Watanabe) to expose the dangerous world of Tokyo’s criminal gangs. Based on reporter Jake Adelstein’s real-life story, this one has action galore (naturally).