'Maisel' Comes to An End, John Mulaney's Stand-Up Among April Streaming Recommendations

by Julian Spivey

Photos: Netflix, Amazon, Hulu & Apple

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Schmigadoon! (Season 2) – AppleTV+ - Wednesday, April 5
The first season of AppleTV+’s musical-comedy “Schmigadoon!,” which is a loving parody of classic Hollywood musicals, aired in the summer of 2021 and although it’s cast – lead by Keegan-Michael Key and Cecily Strong – was terrific it was a minor letdown (worth finishing, but not as good as it could have been). That first season focused on a story that was an homage to ‘40s and ‘50s musicals like in the vein of Rodgers & Hammerstein, so not really my jam personally. Season two, which will be set in Chicago, will be an homage to musicals from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s – so probably more Stephen Sondheim. This gives me some hope for a better second outing.  

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Tiny Beautiful Things – Hulu – Friday, April 7
“Tiny Beautiful Things” is certainly the kind of title you’d expect for a Hulu limited series (and it’s from Reese Witherspoon’s production company that did “Little Fires Everywhere”). The series is based on Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling book of the same name and stars Kathryn Hahn, always reliable onscreen, as Clare, an advice columnist who becomes famous while her own life is falling apart. The series, which premieres Friday, April 7, co-stars Quentin Plair, Tanzyn Crawford and Sarah Pidgeon. 

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Fifth & Final Season) – Amazon Prime Video – Friday, April 14
I might be in the minority on this, but I’m not ready for Amazon’s comedy series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” about the trials and tribulations of a divorced wife and mom who becomes a struggling stand-up comic, to come to an end. Some viewers and critics alike feel as if the show has lost its way, but it still provides stellar episodes, scenes and entertains me quite a bit. I hope the show is able to wrap up nicely, but I’m going to miss the Maisels, Weissmans and especially Susie Myerson. 

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John Mulaney: Baby J – Netflix – Tuesday, April 25
John Mulaney’s previous Netflix comedy specials “The Comeback Kid” (2015) and “Kid Gorgeous” (2018) have been laugh riots but an awful lot has happened in his life since those moments from getting a divorce to entering rehab for a drug addiction. It’ll be interesting to see if any of those momentous life moments make the set of his newest Netflix comedy special “Baby J,” which premieres on Tuesday, April 25. One thing I hope Mulaney doesn’t touch upon is seemingly every comedian’s favorite topic of the moment: cancel culture. Mulaney has been one of the best stand-ups in the business for more than a decade now, so I’m sure “Baby J” won’t disappoint.   

Saint X – Hulu – Wednesday, April 26  
Hulu has made a name for itself with limited stories based on novels – just look at the first selection on this month’s list – and on Wednesday, April 26 comes another in “Saint X,” based on Alexis Schaitkin’s 2020 bestseller. “Saint X” follows a young woman’s mysterious death during a Caribbean vacation and her sister’s search for answers years later. The psychological drama, starring Alycia Debnam-Carey, will be told in multiple timelines and from multiple perspectives.