What's on the Menu for May: TV Edition
One day we'll talk about movies, too!
I find it difficult to believe that Meet Me at Crafty officially launched just over a month ago with a look at April’s upcoming TV premieres. And now, here we are in a new month, with a whole lot of new shows to discuss. Alas, some pesky review embargoes prohibit me from saying which two of these shows are among the best of the year, but you will be hearing a lot more about them, I promise.
May 4
Miss Austen
Keeley Hawes stars as Jane Austen's sister, who mysteriously burned all of Jane's letters after her death, in this PBS Masterpiece series that examines a possible reason for what is called an act of cultural vandalism. And proving he's got the range, this is cinematographer Si Bell's second series of the spring—right after Paramount+'s MobLand.
May 8
Forever
Judy Blume's novel gets updated to 2018 Los Angeles as two teens experience their romantic firsts together; Regina King directed the first episode. Look for costumes from Tanja Caldwell (who's worked in the costume department for Black Panther, as well as designing Rap Sh!t) and Mynka Draper, whose credits include Jury Duty, Snowfall, and Easy A. And cinematographers Michael Fernandez and Chris Manley cast L.A. in the kind of dreamy light that makes East Coasters think about giving it all up for blue skies and palm trees.
May 13
Bad Thoughts
Tom Segura’s Netflix sketch comedy is apparently a wild ride (Black Mirror keeps getting tossed out as a comparison), and the production quality is top-rate. Production designer Tray Dishman has been busy the last few years, working on everything from Black Bear to Tell Me Lies. And head of hair Chris Clark has been even busier—his credits include most of Ryan Murphy's recent projects, including Feud, American Crime Story, and Pose. And makeup department head Michaela Farrell has worked extensively with Richard Linklater, did the makeup on Crafty fave Sister Aimee, and The Leftovers.
May 15
Duster
This 1972-set Max series looks so, so promising. Created by LaToya Morgan and J.J. Abrams, it stars Rachel Hilson as the first female Black FBI agent and Josh Holloway as a getaway driver helping her bring down a crime family. Oscar-nominated composer Laura Karpman handles the score. The cinematography is by Celiana Cardenas (A Friend of the Family), Paul Elliott (Dark Winds), and Carmen Cabana (Good American Family, The Big Cigar), and George & Tammy production designer Jonah Markowitz brings his talent to this as well. And costumes are by Dayna Pink, who provided some of my favorite costumes of 2024: Jake Gyllenhaal's slutty little silk shirts in Road House.
Overcompensating
Benito Skinner created and stars in this new comedy on Prime Video, as a closeted gay college freshman who is trying a little too hard to convince everyone he’s straight—while all of his classmates are dealing with their own all-too-recognizable college shit too. The cinematography is from Robert Scarborough, who lensed another great queer comedy, The Lake; Mimi Cave’s go-to composer Alex Somers wrote the score; and Shayne Fox follows up What We Do in the Shadows with production design on this.
May 16
Murderbot
Alexander Skarsgard makes the movie star move to Apple TV+ with Murderbot, Paul and Chris Weitz’s sci-fi comedy/action series about an android who would rather be watching TV than interacting with humans (same). Cinematographer Tobias Datum also did French Exit and On Becoming a God in Central Florida, two beloved faves, while production designer Sue Chan previously worked on Where the Crawdads Sing. Expect some impressive, Apple budget-level VFX here.
May 22
Sirens
Meghann Fahy ends up on another island with vaguely sus rich people (including Julianne Moore!) this summer in the limited Netflix series from Molly Smith Metzler (Maid) that includes some big talents below the line: Production design is by John Paino (The Last of Us, Big Little Lies); the score is by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (and Jordan Peele go-to) Michael Abels; and costumes are by Caroline Duncan, who worked on the last several M. Night Shyamalan films and The Affair. (Look for a feature with Caroline later in the month.)
May 28
Adults
A new FX hang comedy about 20-something friends also includes some serious heavyweights behind the camera, including The Other Two cinematographer Charlie Gruet and Hacks and Broad City editor Jessica Brunetto.
Also premiering this month…
May 8: Poker Face is finally back on Peacock after two years, just in time to replace the Elsbeth-sized how-catch-‘em hole in our hearts
May 21: Do you remember Hulu’s Nine Perfect Strangers? Well, it and Nicole Kidman’s Russian accent are back for another season, this time with Murray Bartlett, Christine Baranski, and Annie Murphy.
May 23: Take another trip to Shadyside with the premiere of Fear Street: Prom Queen, a deliriously ‘80s-set adaptation of the classic R.L. Stine novel.
May 29: And Just Like That is finally back for Season 3. Oh, leave me alone—sometimes I just want to spend time with my friends. Besides, you know that costume designers Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago are gonna serve lewks.
May 29: The Better Sister is a sleek, stylish thriller starring Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks as estranged sisters brought together by a murder, boasting plenty of rich characters and luxe interiors. (The source novel is also a good time!)
And if you missed it in theaters, stream it at home…
Now streaming on Peacock: Black Bag
May 8: Heart Eyes (Netflix)
May 16: The Brutalist (Max)
May 23: The Last Showgirl (Hulu)