Hello, friends. Happy Friday! The sun is shining here in Boston and I am feeling very ready for the weekend.
There's a lot of fun premieres coming up (mostly reality TV). Here's a quick list to help you set your DVR:
- Thursday, April 15 - Younger returns! If you've been sleeping on this show, catch up before the premiere on Paramount+. It's about a woman who lies about her age to score a job at a publishing house and builds a new life around her false persona, including an amazing best friend at work and a dreamy, much younger boyfriend. #TeamJosh
- Tuesday, May 4 - Real Housewives of New York City returns to Bravo and the trailer looks bananas! I continue to miss Bethenny Frankel as part of the cast, but the Ramona-coaster keeps things interesting.
- Thursday, May 6 - Million Dollar Listing New York City returns to our screens. Despite being bi-coastal now, Fredrik Eklund is still considered part of this cast, alongside Ryan Serhant, Steve Gold and a new female broker!
Now onto my favorites of the week!
1. Shtisel (Netflix) - I love this Israeli TV show about the Shtisel family. They are part of an Orthodox community, but despite their seemingly pious ways, there's actually a ton of scandal!
Season three was released on Thursday of last week and I watched all nine episodes in two sittings.
I don't want to give too much away, but I was completely reeled in by the story lines for Akiva, Ruchami and Yosa'le. If you watched Unorthodox on Netflix, the star of that show, Shira Haas, plays Ruchami on Shtisel.
This show continues to surprise me. The writers find a way to use humor and irony, while also delivering poignant moments that stay with you.
It is worth noting that you don't have to know a single thing about Orthodox Judaism to enjoy this show. It's about a dysfunctional family, which I think anyone can relate to!
2. Elizabeth and Margaret: Love and Loyalty (Netflix) - I was scrolling through new additions to Netflix when I stumbled upon this documentary about Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. For those who have watched The Crown, a lot of what's covered here won't be new information, but this film includes amazing photographs and video footage of the sisters as young girls, the early years of Queen Elizabeth's reign and a thoughtful look at Princess Margaret's final years before her passing.
If you love the Royal Family, this is a delight.
3. For Real: The Story of Reality TV (E!) - I think the only person who loves reality TV more than me is Andy Cohen. He's made a career of bringing sensational personalities to our screens and now he's looking back on the origin of the category and how it's evolved with a multi-part series for E!
There have been two episodes so far. The first examined shows that featured families (the Osbournes, the Kardashians) and the second is a deep dive on The Real Housewives. Andy sits down with Teresa Giudice, Caroline Manzo and Kyle Richards to watch their original casting tapes and talk about how the show has changed their lives.
Upcoming episodes will spotlight Survivor and The Real World. If you're looking for something light, fun and easy to watch, this is it.
There you have it! This week's recommendations. I'll be back next Friday with a fresh round.
*Images courtesy of Unsplash, The Forward, Netflix and The Wall Street Journal.
