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The blooms have sprung up, the trees have come back to like, and with that comes pollen. Lots of pollen. The only sure way to protect yourself is to stay inside and watch TV. Here to help you decide what’s worth seeing is Amanda, our resident TV trends sponge. She has a list of some exciting, new features coming this month to the small screen.

by Amanda Thornton (aka Media Manda)

Andre The Giant

HBO – Premieres April 10

Andre the Giant was literally the biggest celebrity in the world. From HBO Sports, WWE, JMH Films, and Ringer Films comes this documentary examining the life and career of one of the most beloved legends in WWE history. The ambitious, wide-ranging film explores Andre’s upbringing in France, his celebrated WWE career and his forays into the entertainment world. It includes interviews with Vince McMahon, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Billy Crystal, Rob Reiner, family members and more.

Trailer

REVIEW: I loved Andre the Giant in The Princess Bride back in the day, so this film will be very interesting to see as it documents his whole life and career. It’s terribly sad he died so young at only 46 years old.

 

I Am MLK Jr.

Paramount Network – Premieres April 4

This series features interviews with key figures, ranging from history-changing civil rights-era activists such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman John Lewis, and Rev. Al Sharpton, to contemporary writers, activists and influencers in sports, entertainment and media such as Van Jones, Carmelo Anthony, Nick Cannon, Shaun King, Malcolm Jenkins, and more. Premieres April 4 on the 50th anniversary of his death.

Trailer

REVIEW: Paramount Network has some really good “I Am” documentaries and this one looks just as good as the others. It’s shocking to think that this year is the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death. There are always lots of documentaries about different icons of history around anniversaries, and I look forward to seeing this documentary special.

 

America Inside Out With Katie Couric

National Geographic – Premieres April 11

Follow Katie Couric as she travels the country to sit down with the people shaping the most pivotal, evolving, contentious, and often confusing topics in American culture today.

Trailer

REVIEW: National Geographic must really love Katie Couric with all these specials she’s been getting on their network. Who doesn’t love Katie Couric though? She’s great, and this documentary series looks pretty good. It’ll be interesting to see all of the different topics she will cover over the course of the six episodes.

 

Bobby Kennedy for President

Netflix – Premieres April 27

This eye-opening and transformative four-part series utilizes rare and never-before-seen archival footage – much of it digitized for the first time – along with new interviews with those that worked closely with RFK and knew him well.

Teaser

REVIEW: I’ve been watching American Dynasties: The Kennedys on CNN right now so this documentary is definitely on my list. Netflix is normally pretty good in the documentary genre, and now I just need them to release a full trailer for this series.

 

Ex on the Beach

MTV – Premieres April 19

What if you thought you were finding love in paradise…but YOUR EX JUST SHOWED UP? MTV is hitting the shores of Hawaii with the greenlight of a new U.S. version of the global youth brand’s international phenomenon. A complicated web of hookups, deceit, revenge and drama unfolds against the sultry backdrop as couples decide if their love can be reignited, or if the flame of romance is gone for good.

Trailer

REVIEW: This show looks so silly. It reminds me of a WE TV show that aired in 2016 called Ex Isle where recent exes were put on an island with single people. I’m surprised they chose reality stars across different networks instead of just Road Rules/Real World/Are You The One people like they normally do. But all in all, I can’t wait to hate-watch this.

 

Scripted Series to Watch for the Month

The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 2)

Hulu – Premieres April 25

Based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, this series is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude. One of these women, Offred, is determined to survive the terrifying world she lives in, and find the daughter that was taken from her. 

Trailer

REVIEW: I feel like I’ve been waiting for the new season of this show for years but I’m so happy it’s finally back. My only wish is that Hulu switches to Netflix’s model with their release schedule because I hate having to watch a show like this weekly. I wish I could just binge it all in one sitting. Either way, the new season looks amazing.