May 2021 Television Preview

Get ready to update your watchlist: there are tons of television projects by and about women to check out this month, including shows from Tina Fey, Wanda Sykes, and Ziwe Fumudoh, Kelly Oxford’s feature debut, and a reboot of “In Treatment” led by Uzo Aduba.

Created by Meredith Scardino and exec produced by Fey, Peacock’s “Girls5eva” (May 6) sees a ’90s pop group reuniting and taking another shot at fame. Comedian and Internet sensation Fumudoh will discuss race, politics, gender, and other uncomfortable topics with her guests in her new Showtime variety show, “Ziwe” (May 9), and “The Upshaws” (May 12), hailing from Sykes and “Insecure’s” Regina Hicks, is a Netflix sitcom about a working class Black family in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, Aduba portrays a therapist trying to help her patients through the pandemic and social upheaval while maintaining her own mental health in the return of HBO’s “In Treatment” (May 23).

Mental health is also a focus of Oxford’s “Pink Skies Ahead,” which will make its premiere May 8 on MTV and Pop TV. Set in 1998, the Jessica Barden-starrer centers on a young woman coming to terms with an anxiety disorder diagnosis after dropping out of college. Among the other films set for broadcast is Lauren Stowell and Jenna Contreras’ ESPN doc “144” (May 13), chronicling the WNBA’s 2020 season, which saw 12 teams playing 147 games at a single site.

One of the most-anticipated shows this month is Amazon Prime Video’s “The Underground Railroad” (May 14), an adaptation of the Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name. The drama tells the story of Cora, a young woman who escapes slavery using the Underground Railroad — which turns out to be an actual subterranean network of trains, railways, and conductors. Facing a long journey north and contending with the trauma of her past, Cora must avoid the clutches of a bounty hunter hellbent on enslaving her once more.

A bunch of shows are set to return in May as well, including Hulu’s portrait of a fat woman learning to love herself, “Shrill” (May 7), and Freeform’s “The Bold Type” (May 26), which follows three young women working at a magazine. New seasons of Starz sex worker anthology “The Girlfriend Experience” (May 2), Lena Waithe’s sprawling Showtime ensemble “The Chi” (May 23), and more also arrive this month.

Here are May’s premiering and returning women-driven and women-created TV projects. All descriptions are from press materials unless otherwise noted.

TV and Episodic Premieres

“Uri and Ella” – Created by Dina Senderson, Ofer Seker, and Yuval Shafferman (Premieres May 2 on HBO Max)

An unconventional romantic comedy-drama about loss, madness, rich-people problems, and the one form of love that is truly unconditional: the love between a father and his daughter.

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” – Written by Jennifer Corbett (Premieres May 4 on Disney+)

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in “The Clone Wars”) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch — a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army — each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.

“Far East Deep South” (Documentary) – Written and Directed by Larissa Lam (Premieres May 4 on WORLD Channel)

Charles Chiu and his family’s search for their roots takes them on an eye-opening journey through the Mississippi Delta, uncovering otherwise unknown stories and the racially complex history of Chinese immigrants in the segregated South. This Chinese American family’s unforgettable story offers a poignant and important perspective on race relations, immigration, and American identity.

“Girls5eva” – Created by Meredith Scardino (Premieres May 6 on Peacock)

When a one-hit-wonder girl group from the ’90s gets sampled by a young rapper, its members reunite to give their pop star dreams one more shot. They may be grown women balancing spouses, kids, jobs, debt, aging parents, and shoulder pain, but can‘t they also be Girls5eva?

“The Drowning” (Miniseries) – Created by Francesca Brill and Luke Watson; Directed by Carolina Giammetta (Premieres May 6 on Acorn TV and Sundance Now)

“The Drowning” follows Jodie Walsh (Jill Halfpenny) years after her four-year-old son vanishes from a lakeside picnic and is presumed to have drowned. But his body was never found, and Jodie’s always believed he was abducted. Nine years later she sees a boy on his way to school and is convinced it’s her missing son. Suddenly the life she’s painstakingly rebuilt is jeopardized as she embarks on a dangerous and morally dark journey to prove the boy really is the son she lost. Will she convince the police and her own family that the man now looking after the boy isn’t his actual father, but his abductor?

“Favorite Son” (TV Movie) – Directed by Robin Givens; Written by Patricia Cuffie-Jones (Premieres May 6 on BET+)

Twin brothers in a gospel group struggle to find a balance of life, love, faith, and religion while under the strict rule of their father, a megachurch reverend.

“Pink Skies Ahead” (Film) – Written and Directed by Kelly Oxford (Premieres May 8 on MTV and Pop TV)

Set in Los Angeles in 1998, “Pink Skies Ahead” follows Winona (Jessica Barden) who, after dropping out of college and moving back home to live with her parents, is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Skeptical of her doctor’s opinion — she hasn’t had a panic attack after all — Winona carries on with her wild lifestyle. Only when things begin to truly unravel around her does she reluctantly decide to see a therapist and face her truths.

“Ziwe” (Variety Show) (Premieres May 9 on Showtime)

“Ziwe” is the riotously funny new variety series from writer, comedian, and internet sensation Ziwe. A no-holds-barred mix of iconic musical numbers, interviews, and sketches that challenge America’s discomfort with race, politics, and other cultural issues.

“Through the Night” (Documentary) – Directed by Loira Limbal (Premieres May 10 on PBS)

In New Rochelle, New York, a 24-hour daycare is a lifesaver for parents who work multiple jobs and odd hours to make ends meet. Through the stories of two working mothers and a childcare provider, “Through the Night” reveals the personal cost of rising wealth inequality in America and the close bonds forged between parents, children, and caregivers.

“Lifetime Presents Variety’s Power of Women: The Comedians” (Special) (Premieres May 10 on Lifetime)

The special will honor the comedic impact of Mindy Kaling, Maya Rudolph, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sofía Vergara, Michaela Coel, and Kate McKinnon. Each honoree will be interviewed by a close family member or friend. In addition to showcasing the incredible work of the honorees, the special will also celebrate the life of the comedic icon Gilda Radner, as well as the charitable foundation for cancer patients and their families named after the late legend: Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit.

“Blinded – Those Who Kill” – Written by Ina Bruhn, Tine Krull Petersen, Per Daumiller, and Bo Hr. Hansen (Premieres May 10 on Acorn TV)

The highly-anticipated follow-up to “Darkness – Those Who Kill,” the series revolves around an unsolved case in which three young men were killed within a few months. One of the victims was Alice’s (Solbjørg Højfeldt) only son, 18-year-old Markus. Alice, who is an old friend of Louise’s (Natalie Madueño) mother and has now been diagnosed with terminal cancer, contacts Louise and asks her to help find her son’s killer before she dies. Louise, an acclaimed criminal profiler, delves into the case without hesitation and initiates an intense investigation with the police. When another young man is found killed, Louise discovers a distinct pattern in the murders, but while hunting for the killer she overlooks that he is hiding in plain sight — and that their paths may intertwine in ways she didn’t think possible.

“Curtain Up!” (Documentary) – Directed by Kelly Ng and Hui Tong (Premieres May 11 on WORLD Channel)

In New York City’s Chinatown, the theater club of PS 124 is staging an adaptation of the film “Frozen.” As the fifth graders gear up and rehearse for the musical production, nervous excitement and flubbed lines brush up against cultural stereotypes, family expectations, and post-graduation uncertainties. “Curtain Up!” shares a kid’s-eye view of the wonders of discovering art, culture, and identity.

“The Upshaws” – Created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes (Premieres May 12 on Netflix)

Bennie Upshaw (Mike Epps), the head of a Black working class family in Indianapolis, is a charming, well-intentioned mechanic and lifelong mess just trying his best to step up and care for his family — wife Regina (Kim Fields), their two young daughters (Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Journey Christine) and firstborn son (Jermelle Simon), the teenage son (Diamond Lyons) he fathered with another woman (Gabrielle Dennis) — and tolerate his sardonic sister-in-law (Wanda Sykes), all without a blueprint for success. But the Upshaws are determined to make it work, and make it to the next level, together.

“Hacks” – Created by Lucia Aniello, Jen Statsky, and Paul W. Downs (Premieres May 13 on HBO Max)

“Hacks” explores a dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old (Hannah Einbinder).

“144” (Documentary) – Directed by Lauren Stowell and Jenna Contreras (Premieres May 13 on ESPN)

After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports, many leagues were forced to figure out how to save their seasons. The WNBA created a single site at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida where 144 players across 12 teams played 147 games from July to October 2020. Directed by Lauren Stowell and Jenna Contreras, the latter of whom spent 62 days in the bubble, the documentary explores the season dedicated to social justice and all that the players overcame to get through it: the COVID-19 pandemic, the demands of activism, and the rigors of an unrelenting schedule.

“The Underground Railroad” (Miniseries) (Premieres May 14 on Amazon Prime Video)

“The Underground Railroad” chronicles Cora Randall’s (newcomer Thuso Mbedu) desperate bid for freedom in the antebellum South. After escaping a Georgia plantation for the rumored Underground Railroad, Cora discovers no mere metaphor, but an actual railroad full of engineers and conductors, and a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. Over the course of her journey, Cora is pursued by Ridgeway (Joel Edgerton), a bounty hunter who is fixated on bringing her back to the plantation she escaped; especially since her mother Mabel is the only one he has never caught. As she travels from state to state, Cora contends with the legacy of the mother that left her behind and her own struggles to realize a life she never thought was possible.

“Move to Heaven” – Created by Yoon Ji-ryun and Kim Sung-ho (Premieres May 14 on Netflix)

Finding life in all that’s left behind, a trauma cleaner with Asperger’s and his ex-con uncle deliver the untold stories of the departed to loved ones.

“Run the World” – Created by Leigh Davenport (Premieres May 16 on Starz)

The story of a group of Black women who work, live, and play in Harlem as they strive for world domination. They’re not only surviving — but thriving together.

“Too Close” (Miniseries) – Created and Written by Clara Salaman; Directed by Susan Tully (Premieres May 20 on AMC+)

“Too Close” is a three-part drama that centers around forensic psychiatrist Emma Robertson (Emily Watson), who must assess criminal suspect Connie (Denise Gough) — only to fall victim to Connie’s insightful, yet manipulative nature. Connie has a searing insight into Emma’s deepest insecurities and starts to brutally exploit them. Their sessions become a complex psychological game with confusing undercurrents. Ultimately, the sessions are meant to uncover what happened on the night of someone’s death. To do that, Emma must find out the truth around Connie’s complex relationship with her beautiful best friend, Ness (Thalissa Teixeira), which seemingly triggered Connie’s heinous behavior.

“Master of None: Moments in Love” – Written by Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari (Premieres May 23 on Netflix)

“Master of None” returns with a new season that chronicles the relationship of Denise (Lena Waithe) and her partner Alicia (Naomi Ackie). This new season is a modern love story that intimately illustrates the ups and downs of marriage, struggles with fertility, and personal growth both together and apart. Fleeting romantic highs meet crushing personal losses while existential questions of love and living are raised.

“In Treatment” (Premieres May 23 on HBO and HBO Max)

The reimagining of the series is set in present-day Los Angeles and brings a diverse trio of patients in session with Dr. Brooke Taylor (Uzo Aduba) to help navigate a variety of modern concerns. Issues such as the global pandemic and recent major social and cultural shifts are a backdrop to the work Brooke will undertake — all while she deals with complications in her own personal life.

“Whitstable Pearl” (Premieres May 24 on Acorn TV)

When local celebrity Pearl Nolan (Kerry Godliman), chief proprietor of the eponymous Whitstable Pearl restaurant and a newly formed detective agency, discovers the body of Vinnie, a close family friend, she takes it upon herself to investigate what she believes to be murder. Standing in the way of her detective work is DCI Mike McGuire (Howard Charles), the new Kent police chief who has transferred from London in an attempt to escape from his past. Pearl and Mike clash at first, but then Mike becomes the only other person to share Pearl’s belief that Vinnie was murdered. When a second body shows up, Pearl finds herself pulled into the seedy underbelly of this picturesque town. The British seaside holiday will never be the same again.

“Panic” – Created and Written by Lauren Oliver (Premieres May 28 on Amazon Prime Video)

Based on Lauren Oliver’s bestselling novel, “Panic” takes place in a small Texas town, where every summer the graduating seniors compete in a series of challenges, winner takes all, which they believe is their one and only chance to escape their circumstances and make their lives better. But this year, the rules have changed — the pot of money is larger than ever and the game has become even more dangerous. The players will come face to face with their deepest, darkest fears and be forced to decide how much they are willing to risk in order to win.

“Housebroken” – Created by Gabrielle Allan, Jennifer Crittenden, and Clea DuVall (Premieres May 31 on Fox)

“Housebroken” follows a group of neighborhood pets and stray animals as they work through their issues inside and outside their therapy group. Honey (Lisa Kudrow), a standard poodle, opens her living room for the group to come and support each other through the misery, mayhem, and majesty that is being a pet. Honey also struggles with her own problems, such as her arranged (by her human) marriage with Chief (Nat Faxon), a sloppy St. Bernard who enjoys eating socks and licking himself.

Returning Series

“The Girlfriend Experience” – Created by Amy Seimetz, Anja Marquardt, and Lodge Kerrigan (Starz, May 2)

“Pose” (FX, May 2)

“Selena: The Series” (Netflix, May 4)

“Shrill” – Created by Aidy Bryant, Alexandra Rushfield, and Lindy West (Hulu, May 7)

“Dynasty” – Created by Sallie Patrick, Stephanie Savage, and Josh Schwartz (The CW, May 7)

“Good Witch” – Created by Sue Tenney and Craig Pryce (Hallmark, May 16)

“The Chi” – Created by Lena Waithe (Showtime, May 23)

“Duncanville” – Created by Amy Poehler, Julie Thacker-Scully, and Mike Scully (Fox, May 23)

“The Bold Type” – Created by Sarah Watson (Freeform, May 26)