This weekend I have… an hour, and I love to sketch.
“Would it kill you to laugh?”
When to watch?: Now, on Peacock.
Comedians John Early and Kate Berlant star in this one-off special, framed as a frosty reunion between the stars of a sleazy sitcom called “He’s Gay, She’s Half Jewish.” Meredith Vieira hosts and everything. Most of the sketches here have an arc, light-hearted nausea, which is often combined with a touch of absurdity; characters pay a restaurant bill with jars of melted caramel, or a family turns out to be anthropomorphic beavers, which has nothing to do with the sketch. If you’re missing ‘Portlandia’, or if you’re a finger-on-the-pulse comedy fan, check it out here.
… several hours, and I want my next favorite show.
‘For all mankind’
When to watch: Now on Apple TV+.
Season 3 of this alternate history space racing drama kicked off three weeks ago, and just like Season 1, it got off to a slow start. But also as season 1, it really picks up! This season jumps to the 1990s and all of our favorite people are racing to go to Mars. Watching this show is like doing hot yoga for your emotions, not because the scope is so vast, but because the moments are so small and good, the performances so chosen. This is the series I most often recommend to friends and strangers in real life. Start with season 1, and make sure you have a person to send “omg” texts to while you watch.
Many streaming shows seem to consider their true serving as an entire season, but “Humanity” knows that one episode is better. That gives everything an almost throwback vibe in terms of its tight pace and how many of its episodes end on big, emotional cliffhangers. One of my favorite parts of “Mankind” – among many; I love this show – is that it really feels like TV TV. It’s TV that wants to be TV, not a movie, not a web series, not a comic book. What a rush.
… many, many hours, and I dream of loneliness.
‘Alone’
When to watch: Now on multiple platforms.
The ninth season of this immersive survivalist series airs Thursdays on the History Channel, and the previous seasons are available on paid and free services: Seasons 1-8 are on Hulu, Discovery+, and the Roku channel; Seasons 1-5 are on Pluto; and season 8 is on Netflix. I’m not sure there’s a better “I’m going to the bank and won’t come back until I have another reason to believe in humanity” out there, and the skill and determination many participants demonstrate is a welcome dose of wonder. However, be prepared to start observing your own natural environment in different ways.
