Written by Jake Shoolheifer
The first signs of spring are upon us, and if you need even more reasons to have a smile on your face, this month sees the arrival of some side-splitting new comedy on NOW TV.
From Danny McBride’s The Righteous Gemstones to Intelligence starring David Schwimmer, there’s plenty to laugh at along the way. Add to that an irresistible helping of drama in the shape of Sky original The End and you’ve got yourself one hell of a choice of TV. And now watch on 3 devices at the same time, and in stunning HD with NOW TV Boost.
1. The Righteous Gemstones
Stream every episode
Put your hands together for this riotous comedy about a powerful American family of televangelists. The Gemstones are living the good life thanks to handsome megachurch profits, but things turn sour for Jesse, played by the show’s creator Danny McBride, when a masked gang threatens to uncover his hedonistic lifestyle. John Goodman reaches Big Lebowski levels of hilarious as the bombastic patriarch Dr. Eli, supported by McBride, Adam Devine and Edi Patterson as his competing children.
2. Avenue 5
Streaming weekly
If creator Armando Iannucci’s previous TV projects Veep and The Thick of It are anything to go by, Avenue 5 promises big laughs. Hugh Laurie delivers them in spades as Captain Ryan Clark of the luxurious but malfunctioning Avenue 5 spaceship, which is forced off course on its return to earth, sending its passengers into a chaotic panic. Josh Gad (Frozen ) as the ship’s eccentric billionaire owner and Rebecca Front (The Thick of It ) also turn in some trademark witty performances.
3. The End
Stream every episode
This dark comedy drama is full of raw emotion, and isn’t afraid to ask big questions that stay with you long after. Frances O’Connor plays Kate Brennan, a palliative care doctor in Australia. When her suicidal mother Edie, played by Harriet Walter, comes over from England, she is faced with a plateful of problems. What follows is a life-affirming story as the pair try to rebuild their relationship and figure out what makes life worth living.
4. Intelligence
Stream every episode
David Schwimmer of Friends fame stars as pompous NSA agent Jerry in this Sky original comedy. Jerry has hopped across the pond to work at GCHQ in Cheltenham, but when he collars Joseph, a geeky but hapless computer analyst (played by the show’s creator Nick Mohammed), to do his bidding, it causes shockwaves that threaten the team’s ability to fight against cyber-crime. The pair’s odd couple chemistry makes this an absolute must-see.
5. Breeders
Streaming weekly
Sherlock’s Martin Freeman stars opposite Daisy Haggard of the critically acclaimed Back to Life in this Sky original, which confronts the harsh realities of parenthood head-on. The powerhouse performances benefit from a punchy, deliciously foul-mouthed script by Peep Show collaborator Simon Blackwell. Expect plenty of laugh-out-loud moments along the way as the couple navigates the highs and lows of raising children while juggling everything else life has to throw at them.