April is a very important month this year for two reasons: Beyoncé's lucky number is four, and she is currently pregnant with twins. We're ringing the alarm: Don't be surprised if she manages to pull off a very well-timed, cosmically blessed delivery in the next 30 days.
Contrary to popular belief, there are other things happening this month that don't involve Queen Bey. Anne Hathaway's new role in Colossal reminds us of the decision she made to play an alcoholic mess in Rachel's Getting Married; she's playing against character, and it's a risk that's bound to pay off. And Netflix is debuting so many exciting new series in April that we're going to be in a serious, committed relationship with our living room couch for the next few weekends.
Settle in for one final season of Pretty Little Liars, clear room on your playlists for new music from Sylvan Esso, and let Emma Watson and Tom Hanks hold your hand while you get a glimpse of your terrifying technological future in The Circle.
Seriously, though: Consider purchasing a fainting couch for your office, because the Beyoncé due date is coming.
Morgan Baila, Entertainment News Writer
Louis C.K.'s 2017 (April 4 on Netflix)
Louis C.K. is a real-life Eeyore, if Eeyore were into stand-up comedy. This self-deprecating and ironically depressing approach to humor really speaks to me. I am prepared to laugh a lot.
Girlboss (April 21 on Netflix)
As an avid shopper and feminist, everything about Sophia Amoruso's rise from unemployed petty criminal (she stole little things here and there) to CEO of Nasty Gal (an empire of cool girl clothing, which reached borderline cult-status with its alluring give-no-fucks vibe) has intrigued me. Because of this, I cannot wait to see her life story as (loosely) told through the series, based on her best-selling book of the same name. Like many of us, she's had ups and downs (which makes me really interested to see how the series ends), but mostly I will be watching for the fashion. And the sassy one-liners.
Sesali Bowen, Entertainment Writer
Dark Net (April 6 on Showtime)
This documentary series profiles some of the most interesting pockets of the internet. From long-distance BDSM relationships to child pornography, nothing is off limits on this show, much like the internet itself.
Dear White People (April 28 on Netflix)
Anything that upsets white people who aren't well-versed on racism is probably good for the culture. That's exactly what the trailer for Dear White People accomplished. The 2014 satirical film about race relations on an Ivy League campus has been turned into a series.
Anne Cohen, Entertainment Editor
Free Fire (in theaters April 21)
I'm always up for a good British action-comedy crime lark, but I freely admit that most of my excitement about this movie stems from Armie Hammer spending the entire trailer in a 1970s turtleneck-blazer combo.
The Handmaid's Tale (April 26 on Hulu)
I actually hated the novel by Margaret Atwood when it was assigned in high school, so I had very low expectations for the Hulu adaptation. I WAS WRONG. Having seen the first three episodes, I can tell you that it's simultaneously the scariest and most compelling thing I've seen this year. Elisabeth Moss is so amazing, I think I might just give the book another try.
Erin Donnelly, Senior Entertainment Writer
Future Islands (out April 7)
I first heard Future Islands' "Seasons" playing in a coffee shop, and was so spellbound that the waitress jotted down the band's name and replayed the track for me. The Baltimore-based group, fronted by pigeon-dancing, growly Samuel T. Herring, is releasing its follow-up to Singles this month, featuring the new track "Ran." In a perfect world, it'll knock Ed Sheeran (sorry, so not my bag) off the charts, but I'll settle for new tour dates and fresh tunes.
Fargo (April 19 on FX)
I honestly never thought twice about Ewan McGregor until I watched (over and over) his motorcycling-around-the-world documentaries Long Way Round and Long Way Down. Now I'm OBSESSED. Am I excited to see him take on two roles (he plays brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy) in the darkly quirky Fargo? You betcha.
Maia Efrem, Associate Entertainment Editor
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks (April 22 on HBO)
Seven years in the making, this is Oprah's big return to acting and the trailer will give you chills. Oprah plays the daughter of Henrietta Lacks, a poor Black woman who had her cells harvested without her knowledge. The cells were used in scientific experiments for decades in research for the polio vaccine, cloning, in vitro fertilization, AIDS treatments, and so much more. Oprah's character seeks justice and recognition for her mother. I'm sure there will be lots of buzz around this, and I'm already counting on Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
Genius (April 25 on National Geographic Channel)
Nat Geo is the next network to jump headfirst into the scripted TV game, and they are not holding back. The first season of Genius features Geoffrey Rush (!) as Albert Einstein, but he's definitely not playing the adorable, frizzy-haired scientist we picture now. The show doesn't gloss over Einstein's serial cheating, family abandonment, oh, and that time he married his first cousin. The geeks will love this!
Rebecca Farley, Editorial Assistant
Sasheer Zamata's Pizza Mind (March 30 on Seeso)
Saturday Night Live regular Sasheer Zamata has a secret — or not-so-secret — talent: She's an incredible stand-up comedian. You can catch her cracking wise on Saturday Night Live 's Weekend Update desk sometimes, and she's always great. Pizza Mind, which will be available on Seeso, is her first comedy special, which means it's an hour's worth of Zamata-brand comedy. For me, it's just in time. I've already re-watched Ali Wong's Baby Cobra and I have Chelsea Peretti's One of the Greats practically memorized. More lady comedy, please!
Speech And Debate(in theaters April 7)
It feels like it's been a while since we've had an uplifting teen misfit movie that's about normal teens, not teenagers with superpowers — with all due respect to Power Rangers. Stephen Karam's play Speech and Debate is a sweet little chunk of theater about three kids in Salem, Oregon, trying to understand the horrors of high school. The movie version has three up-and-comers in the main roles, but the sidelines are stacked with Hollywood royalty. There's Wendi McLendon-Covey! Janeane Garofalo! Pitch Perfect 's Skylar Astin! And the holiest of holys: Lin-Manuel Miranda. The focus of the movie, though, is all about the kids: the loners and castaways who find themselves unmoored in the wake of puberty. I can think of nothing more captivating.
Naveen Kumar, Senior Entertainment Editor
The Get Down(April 7 on Netflix)
Confession: I've never been a Baz Luhrmann fan. The Moulin Rouge DVD my brother gave me for Christmas in 2001 (bless him) is still languishing in plastic wrap at the back of my shelf. I am, however, a huge '70s geek — so nothing was going to stop me from watching The Get Down. "Keep going!" I'd say to friends who had trouble getting into the first half of season 1 last fall. "It gets less Baz-tastic." By the euphoric party scenes in episode 6, I was waving my hands in the air and literally screaming. I can't wait for more.
Sylvan Esso, What Now (out April 28)
I can honestly say there have been few days since Sylvan Esso's debut album dropped in 2014 that the buoyant, soulful, electronic duo have not been on my headphones. The sophomore followup from Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn may have taken three years, but my love of their staccato beats and her Feist-like vocals has only grown. Because it's my lucky year, they're also heading back out on tour. From the sounds of their new singles, it's going to be lit.
Kathryn Lindsay, Entertainment News Writer
Colossal (in theaters April 7)
To quote a YouTube commenter on the trailer: “Why doesn't this look entirely 100% stupid?” Never thought I’d see the day I’d be counting down until the release of a sci-fi movie, but Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis won me over. The film’s twist on your typical monster movie is so off-the-wall that on paper, I wouldn’t think it could ever work — but the Sundance, SXSW, and Toronto film festivals say otherwise.
Veep (April 16 on HBO)
Normally I’d be wary when a show outgrows its original premise, but after the year we’ve had, I think I speak for everyone when I say we could all do with a little less politics. This season, Selina Meyer is out of the White House in favor of a quieter life, but other than that, nothing has changed. The show still has all of my favorite things: Gary bumbling, Amy yelling, and Selina verbally eviscerating Jonah Ryan.
Elena Nicolaou, Entertainment Writer
Class (April 15 on BBC America)
One perk of being a fan of Doctor Who? In this ever-expanding world, you can never run out of spin-offs. Class is the Whoniverse’s first foray into teen drama. Set in Coal Hill School, the same school where the Doctor’s former companion Clara taught English, the show follows a group of four students who fit in alien-fighting between their usual high school hijinks. Current Doctor Peter Capaldi is sure to make an appearance.
Bill Nye Saves The World (April 21 on Netflix)
As the 21st century grows longer, bleaker, and more dramatic, there’s nothing I want more than to nestle back into the folds of childhood. What better way to capture the feeling of elementary school than spending quality time with Bill Nye, our lanky friend from biology class? On the rare days my science teacher wheeled in the portable TV, my class perked up with the thought of spending an hour with the only person who made science genuinely fun. With his new Netflix variety show, Nye will be exploring essential and relevant topics in science. It’ll be unabashedly goofy, nerdy, and bowtie-filled — and I won’t mind.
Kaitlin Reilly, Entertainment News Writer
Pretty Little Liars (April 18 on Freeform)
It's the beginning of the end, and my feelings are complicated. As someone who obsessed over this mystery for seven years — and has enough theories to fill a book — I'm giddy to finally get definitive answers. I'm also terrified that we'll be left with plot holes (which we got when Charlotte was revealed as Big A) or an unsatisfying ending. I don't want to be left saying, "Wait, that's IT?!?" as the credits roll. That being said, I'm so sad to see this series bow out...and I'll be enjoying every moment of its final 10 episodes.
The Circle (in theaters April 28)
Dave Eggers' novel adaptation should hit close to home with the Facebook Live generation: In a world where we can show off every aspect of our lives, well, should we? I'm excited to see Emma Watson take on that question as the bright-eyed new employee of The Circle, a Facebook-Google hybrid that believes in knowledge and openness over privacy. While I'm always skeptical of adaptations to beloved books, The Circle could benefit from visualizing its technology. I'm ready to be terrified of the world we nearly live in.
Ariana Romero, Entertainment Writer
iZombie (April 4 on The CW)
The CW cult hit’s third season premieres nearly a full year after the season 2 finale, which is far, far too long to be without Liv Moore (Rose McIver) and her semi-undead Scooby gang of pals. While I would be happy with more iZombie no matter what, this upcoming season is extra special since it will be the first time every one of Liv’s crime-fighting friends is clued into her brain-eating secret and working on the same side.
American Gods(April 30 on Starz)
With Game Of Thrones’ premiere pushed back all the way to summer and Westworld MIA until 2018 (at best), your Sunday night will be wide open for a new genre blockbuster to obsess over. Let America Gods fill that hole, since Twitter will be freaking out about the new series no matter what. The bloody, beautiful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name follows an ex-con named Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) who gets caught up in the war between the old gods — like Odin and Easter — and the new. I could have sworn I’ve heard that phrase somewhere else…
Molly Stout, Entertainment Director
Better Call Saul (April 10 on AMC)
This show was the best thing to happen to us after Breaking Bad left a dark, edgy, mysterious void in our TV lineup. When we last saw Jimmy McGill, he was pretty much facing life in prison. Unless, perhaps, just maybe, he decides to disappear and reinvent himself using a brand-new name? Maybe a name like Saul Goodman?
Casting JonBenét (April 28 on Netflix)
We know: There were far too many bad documentaries, salacious reenactments, and depressing anthology series about JonBenét Ramsey last fall. For the most part, those shows did nothing to add to Ramsey's story, aside from generating lots of headlines. This Netflix movie, however, promises to do for the familiar mystery what The Jinx did for the Robert Durst murders (although it's unlikely the crime will be solved): telling a brand-new story — in this case, about real people auditioning to play members of the Ramsey family — with the same attention to detail and expensive-looking cinematography as a feature film.
Carolyn L. Todd, Entertainment News Writer
Too Much And Not The Mood: Essays By Durga Chew-Bose (available April 11)
The Montreal-born essayist's first book is already earning her comparisons to the likes of Zadie Smith and Lena Dunham (and the exuberant praise of the latter). In this lyrical collection of personal musings, she delves into the connections between identity and culture from the perspective of a self-reflective, first-generation Indian-Canadian living in Brooklyn and writing for a living. This book's worth of poignant pieces from someone so talented and self-assured is well worth your weekend.
Great News (April 25 on NBC)
Tina Fey executive produces this new workplace comedy created by fellow 30 Rock alum, writer-producer Tracey Wigfield. Set in the newsroom of a national cable show that films in New Jersey, the show follows a talented producer (up-and-comer Briga Heelan) whose mom (the brilliant Andrea Martin, i.e. the crazy aunt in My Big Fat Greek Wedding) becomes an intern at the station. The mother-daughter dynamic and baby-boomer-meets-millennial office setup might sound trite, but with a team of genius lady comics behind the camera and an unexpected supporting cast, including Nicole Richie and SNL 's Horatio Sanz, I'm expecting something fresh and funny.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Ciara's Baby Shower Looks Pretty Dreamy
Lauren Conrad Bared Her Baby Bump On Instagram
Everyone Is Talking About Justin Bieber's Latest Fashion Faux Pas