TAGGED AS: Comedy, Drama, FX, HBO, IFC, Netflix, TruTV
With the push of the new year behind us and the spring TV slate just around the corner, February gives viewers a little more room to luxuriate and catch up on the series they have been sleeping on. Might we suggest five? These are all slated to return for new seasons this month, and you do not want to miss them!
What it is: 2 Dope Queens creators and stars Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams, both actresses and comedians in their own right, turned their podcast of the same name into a series of comedy specials featuring standups and celebrity guests.
Why you should watch it: Robinson and Williams — under the direction of Tig Notaro and alongside guests including Uzo Aduba, Tituss Burgess, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Jon Stewart — are grade-A entertainers. They’re brash, fearless, smart, and, most importantly, hilarious while discussing topics including sex, romance, race, hair, and living in New York. Season 2 premieres the first of its four episodes Feb. 8 on HBO.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, HBO Now, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 5 hours (for the first season)
What it is: A remake of Norman Lear’s long-running 1975 sitcom of the same name, Netflix’s little comedy that could stars Justina Machado and West Side Story Oscar winner Rita Moreno and follows three generations of a Cuban-American family living under the same roof.
Why you should watch it: Few series today are as un-cornily heartwarming, funny, and timely as this long-in-the-making reboot. Each new season renewal, however, has come with a photo-finish, down-to-the-wire announcement. With the promise of future seasons still in the balance, bingeing the first two seasons ahead of the third just to keep this excellent comedy going is reason enough to watch! Season 3 premieres in full Feb. 8 on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 13 hours (for the first two seasons)
What it is: If At Home With Amy Sedaris is one thing, it’s a series that defies categorization — but in the best way. We’ll try anyway: Centered on Amy Sedaris and inspired by her love of hosting and making crafts (not to mention the endless supply of Barefoot Contessa–like programs on the Food Network and HGTV), the Emmy-winning series is part variety, part talk show, part scripted comedy. We recommend you just watch it to get a taste.
Why you should watch it: Sedaris has reached a point of cult comedy rockstardom in her storied career. The actress is as sharp, irreverent, whimsical, and committed as ever — all ingredients crucial to the recipe for this left-of-center laugh fest. Season 2 premieres Feb. 19 on TruTV.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 4 hours (for the first season)
What it is: If you’ve been known to unwind over the weekend by sitting down with a drink in front of an informative, entertaining, and sometimes even emotionally devastating documentary on Netflix, you’re not alone. Documentary Now! perfectly satirizes the trend with episodic installments skewering different documentaries and filmmaking styles.
Why you should watch it: Nowhere else on television can you get a creation from the minds of living comedy A-listers Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas. Throw into the mix a writing assist from the likes of John Mulaney, and you have one of the most incisive entertainment parodies of the last decade. It’s been awhile since season 2 wrapped in 2016, so this marks a welcome return. Season 3 premieres Feb. 20 on IFC.
Where to watch: Amazon, Google Play, Microsoft, Netflix
Commitment: Approx. 5 hours (for the first two seasons)
What it is: The semi-autobiographical, humanistic half-hour dramedy is not new terrain for television (in fact, it’s become a bit of trend). But Better Things stands out from the pack thanks to Pamela Adlon, who stars as a version of herself, Sam Fox — a single mother to three daughters who is juggling life as a working actor in Hollywood.
Why you should watch it: Adlon is an Emmy Award–winning voiceover artist for King of the Hill and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee for starring in and creating FX’s Better Things. Her series is an emotional concoction of dry witticisms and familial love unlike anything else on TV. The fact that it’s one of the most realistic portrayals of single motherhood to grace the small screen is just the cherry on top. Season 3 premieres Feb. 28 on FX.
Where to watch: Amazon, FandangoNOW, Google Play, Hulu, Microsoft, Vudu
Commitment: Approx. 7.5 hours (for the first two seasons)
