What's on the Menu for April: TV Edition
Medical emergencies, larceny, ballet, and bondsmen
We’re really doing this! Welcome to the soft launch of Meet Me at Crafty, where the below-the-line talents are top of mind. Before we dig into specific projects or artisans in future installments, let’s take a look at what TV is coming up in April 2025, shall we?
Don’t worry—this isn’t some boring old preview designed specifically to garner SEO clicks. Well, not entirely. But it will also never be intended as a comprehensive look at everyone involved with every new or returning show, so please don’t approach it as such! Instead, think of it as our idiosyncratic tasting menu of what’s coming that highlights some interesting or notable connections. Note: We have seen at least one episode of the new shows included here.
As for that subjectline: We can’t promise that there won’t be food puns, but we will do our best to limit them. Bon appétit! (Sorry.)
April 3: The Bondsman
A few things to know about Blumhouse Television’s The Bondsman: It’s a half-hour supernatural thriller/comedy starring Kevin Bacon—but also starring Beth Grant and Jennifer Nettles! And the team knows from horror: Composer Tyler Bates also did Ti West’s X trilogy (alongside cinematographer Eliot Rockett) and Peacock’s Hysteria!, while cinematographer David Daniel’s credits include Teen Wolf and Scream: The TV Series. Not to mention production designer Eve McCarney’s experience on American Horror Stories and Into the Dark. The embargo has lifted on this, so we can publicly state that not only is it a twisty, twisted delight, but this is the juicy series regular role Beth Grant has long deserved! All 8 episodes premiere on Prime Video April 3.
April 3: Pulse
We’re not the first to point out that, with Season 1 of The Pitt ending on Max April 10, the time is ripe for this new medical drama on Netflix (somehow the streamer’s first?!). But we may be the first to draw attention to the fact that coproducer Carlton Cuse has reunited a lot of the creative team behind Five Days at Memorial. That includes composer Torin Borrowdale, cinematographers Marc Laliberté (an Emmy nominee for The Great who also worked on Season 1 of Shogun and Gen V) and Ramsey Nickell, editors Luyen Vu (Emmy nominated for American Crime, the ABC anthology series that now seems extremely prescient), Colin Rich, and JoAnne Yarrow (Emmy nominated for Only Murders in the Building). All 10 episodes drop April 3.
April 4: Dying for Sex
Based on the Wondery podcast (itself based on a true story), the Elizabeth Meriwether-created limited series stars Michelle Williams as terminal cancer patient Molly, whose sole bucket list item is to achieve orgasm with another person. Set in a contemporary NYC, the FX dramedy boasts work from composer Ariel Marx (already represented this season with Paramount+’s Happy Face), production designer Michael Bricker, who knows a thing or two about NYC interiors after his work on Season 2 of Russian Doll, and costume designer Melissa Toth (so many credits but! Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind!). Jenny Slate co-stars as Molly’s best friend. All 8 episodes premiere April 4 on FX on Hulu (which just means Hulu, right?).
April 10: North of North
This Canadian comedy series (about a young Inuk mother trying to hit refresh on her life in a small town) finally premieres on Netflix, and it is a delight. Of particular note: Costume designers Debra Hanson (Schitt’s Creek) and Nooks Lindell utilized local Inuit artisans and designers for clothing, shoes, and jewelry, and the parkas alone are swoon-worthy. Created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, it stars the irrepressibly charming Anna Lambe.
April 11: Ransom Canyon
Somewhere between Yellowstone and Sweet Magnolias lies Netflix’s modern Western about three ranching families in the Hill Country of Texas. Expect secrets, star-crossed romance, land deals, and the like—but with Josh Duhamel adding a little bit of (attractively grizzled) gravitas. All American creator April Blair is behind this one, reuniting with cinematographer Finnian Murphy (who shares duties with Jonathan Angus) and costume designer Olivia Miles. Look for cinematography by Eric Koretz, who scored an Emmy nom for the final season of Ozark, and a score by sitcom maestro Jeff Cardoni (Young Sheldon), already represented this season with The Franchise. All 10 episodes drop April 11.
April 11: Your Friends & Neighbors
Amanda Peet stars in this Apple TV+ series as the ex-wife of Jon Hamm… Well she does! But the premise is more about Hamm’s disgraced and depressed finance bro turning to a life of crime among his, can you guess? Yes, his friends and neighbors! Created by Jonathan Tropper (reuniting with his Warrior editor Andy Keir), the drama has the usual Apple TV+ polish, courtesy of composer Dominic Lewis (who also did currently airing Dope Thief), cinematographer Zack Galler (The Act, Lessons in Chemistry), and editors Sheri Bylander (And Just Like That) and Tatiana S. Riegel (who worked with director Craig Gillespie on I, Tonya). Plus costumes by Jacqueline Demeterio (Younger)!
April 16: Government Cheese
David Oyelowo stars in this Apple TV+ comedy (after a 40+ minute premiere, the episodes settle down to around half an hour) set in 1969 in the San Fernando Valley as Chambers returns to his uninterested family after two years in prison. Apple TV+ calls it “surreal,” which also translates to a hyper-stylized period aesthetic from production designer Warren Alan Young (Fargo) and costume designer Nancy Steiner (Twin Peaks: The Return, Promising Young Woman).
April 24: Étoile
In Norma Desmond’s day, they had faces. In Amy Sherman-Palladino shows, they have words, words, words. In addition to the snappy banter, Étoile adds professional ballet (Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck both make appearances) as New York City and Paris ballet companies swap top talent to drum up interest in the art form. Etoile also serves as a massive reunion for the well-oiled The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel team, including Emmy-nominated editor Tim Streeto, editor Zana Bochar, Emmy-winning costume designer Donna Zakowska, choreographer Marguerite Derricks (a three-time Emmy winner also nominated for her work on Maisel), three-time Emmy-winning cinematographer M. David Cullen, and production designer Bill Groom (an Emmy winner for Boardwalk Empire). Luke Kirby and Charlotte Gainsbourg star as the artistic directors of the two ballet companies. All 8 episodes premiere on Prime Video April 24.
Returning
April 8: The Handmaid's Tale
They still make this! Or rather, they did: The sixth and final season premieres on Hulu April 8.
April 10: Black Mirror
How will we respond to a new season of Black Mirror when [insert usual reference to living in an episode of Black Mirror here]?
April 10: Hacks
Thank god, we couldn’t wait another month without seeing the fallout from Ava’s big swing in the Season 3 finale. (And also to see how costume designer Kathleen Felix-Hager tops her Emmy-winning Season 3 work.)
April 12: Doctor Who
April 13: The Last of Us
Shows last seen in 2023 are having a big moment this spring, between the return of this, Yellowjackets Season 3, and Poker Face Season 2. Welcome back!
April 13: Godfather of Harlem
This will be a lot more fun if we all just agree to start watching MGM+, which is doing some really interesting work. Like this Chris Brancato-created period drama series starring Forest Whitaker as crime boss Bumpy Thompson, premiering its fourth season.
April 22: Andor
April 24: You
Joe Goldberg, we barely knew ye! The final season finally arrives on Netflix—oh wait, this was also last seen in 2023!—for its bloody conclusion.
Why Don’t You…
Watch NBC’s The Hunting Party, a solid procedural thriller with a big premise…. Investigate Fox’s three-season sitcom Animal Control, starring Joel McHale… Catch up on CBS’ Matlock before Season 1 ends April 17…. Ignore the critics and watch Holland on Prime Video… Mark your calendars for Meghann Fahy’s starring role in Christopher Landon’s thriller Drop, in theaters April 11—we’re dying to find out how costume designer Gwen Jeffares Hourie landed on that dress…