What’s On: HBO Schedule For April 2021

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We have enough to explore here to keep us amused, I hope. Regardless of whether you watch HBO Max, the HBO Hub on that service or still seek out HBO’s own site or prefer HBO’s linear channels, we hope you can find something to excite you. There are series and movies, originals and classics. All you have to do is seek them out. Here we draw your attention to just some of the content. Check out What’s On.  

A few quick points: 

• THE NEVERS Arrive 
• Kate Winslet Returns for Limited Series 
• Laugh it up when Robin Thede and Co. Return 
• Same Day Premiere – MORTAL KOMBAT 
• HBO Max Offering Plenty of non-scripted fare  

Original Series: Eager for new content? We hope you get caught up in the exciting tales coming in April. HBO drama series THE NEVERS debuts Part One of its first season with six episodes beginning on SUNDAY, APRIL 11 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT). Part Two’s six episodes will follow at a later date, to be announced. The series will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max. 

August 1896. Victorian London is rocked to its foundations by a supernatural event which gives certain people – mostly women – abnormal abilities, from the wondrous to the disturbing. But no matter their particular “turns,” all who belong to this new underclass are in grave danger. It falls to mysterious, quick-fisted widow Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and brilliant young inventor Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) to protect and shelter these gifted “orphans.” To do so, they will have to face the brutal forces determined to annihilate their kind. The ensemble cast also includes Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost and Ben Chaplin. 

THE NEVERS Part One of the first season is executive produced by Joss Whedon, Bernadette Caulfield, Ilene S. Landress, Doug Petrie, Jane Espenson and Philippa Goslett. Daniel S. Kaminsky co-executive produces. 

Episodes include:

–Episode 1: “Pilot”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, APRIL 11 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT)

Series premiere. London, 1899. Three years after an inexplicable event suddenly equips them with extraordinary abilities, Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) work to protect their kind from widespread, deepening antipathy. Meanwhile, police inspector Frank Mundi (Ben Chaplin) investigates a string of murders at the hands of a reportedly Touched and highly dangerous serial killer named Maladie (Amy Manson). Written & directed by Joss Whedon.

–Episode 2: “Exposure”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, APRIL 18 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT)

With the city reeling from Maladie’s (Amy Manson) opera debut, Mundi (Ben Chaplin) takes a personal stake in tracking her down, while Amalia (Laura Donnelly) launches an investigation of her own. Meanwhile, the charitable Lavinia Bidlow (Olivia Williams) seeks to destigmatize the Touched at a society event, Hugo Swann (James Norton) enlists Lavinia’s younger brother Augie (Tom Riley) to help monetize his illicit enterprise, and a deranged doctor (Denis O’Hare) conducts a series of experiments. Written by Jane Espenson; Directed by Joss Whedon.

–Episode 3: “Ignition”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, APRIL 25 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT)

Penance (Ann Skelly) creates an amplifier to spread Mary’s (Eleanor Tomlinson) hope-inspiring song across the city – but first, Mary (Tomlinson) must find her elusive voice. As danger mounts against her group, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) propositions an unlikely ally and sets out to expand the Orphanage’s reach. Swann (James Norton) further entangles Augie (Tom Riley) and Mundi (Ben Chaplin) in his business affairs. Written by Kevin Lau; Directed by David Semel.

Starring Academy Award, Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Kate Winslet (HBO’s MILDRED PIERCE), from creator and writer Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back), with all episodes directed by Craig Zobel (HBO’s THE LEFTOVERS), the seven-part limited series MARE OF EASTTOWN, debuts SUNDAY, APRIL 18 (10:00-11:00 ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. This limited series stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective who investigates a local murder as life crumbles around her. MARE OF EASTTOWN is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present. 

It also stars Julianne Nicholson (HBO’s THE OUTSIDER) as Lori Ross, Mare’s best friend since childhood; three-time Emmy-winner Jean Smart (Emmy-nominated for HBO’s “WATCHMEN) as Helen, Mare’s mother; Angourie Rice (Black Mirror) as Siobhan Sheehan, Mare’s teenaged daughter; Evan Peters (American Horror Story) as Detective Colin Zabel, the county detective called in to assist with Mare’s investigation; Guy Pearce (Emmy-winner and Golden Globe-nominee for HBO’s “MILDRED PIERCE) as Richard Ryan, a local creative writing professor; Cailee Spaeny (Devs) as Erin McMenamin, an isolated teen living with her volatile father; David Denman (Cinemax OUTCAST)) as Frank Sheehan, Mare’s ex-husband; John Douglas Thompson (HBO Max film Let Them All Talk) as Chief Carter, Mare’s boss at the Easttown Police Department; Patrick Murney (Seven Seconds) as Kenny McMenamin, Erin’s father; James McArdle (Ammonite) as Deacon Mark Burton; Sosie Bacon (HBO’s “HERE AND NOW) as Carrie Layden, Drew’s mother and Kevin’s ex-girlfriend; Joe Tippett (Rise) as John Ross, Lori’s husband and high school sweetheart; and Neal Huff (HBO’s THE WIRE) as Mare’s cousin, Father Dan Hastings. MARE OF EASTTOWN is an HBO co-production with wiip; creator/writer/showrunner/executive producer, Brad Ingelsby; director/executive producer, Craig Zobel; executive producer, Paul Lee through wiip; executive producer, Mark Roybal through wiip; executive producer, Kate Winslet; executive producer, Gavin O’Connor; executive producer, Gordon Gray through Mayhem Pictures. 

–Episode 1: “Miss Lady Hawk Herself”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, APRIL 18 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT)

–Episode 2: “Fathers”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, APRIL 25 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT)

The Emmy nominated sketch comedy series A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW will return for its second season FRIDAY, APRIL 23 (11:00-11:30pm ET/PT). The six-episode season will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max. The narrative sketch comedy series features a core cast of Black women living relatable, hilarious experiences in a magical reality that subverts traditional expectations. 

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues FRIDAY, APRIL 05 (10:00-11:00pm live ET/tape-delayed PT), with a replay at 12:30am. As always it offers a unique perspective on the contemporary issues of the day. Continuing SUNDAY, APRIL 04 at 11:00pm is LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER. 

Originals Exclusive to HBO Max: Originals Exclusive to HBO Max: Max Original MADE FOR LOVE debuts this April on HBO Max.  It debuts with three episodes on Thursday, April 1. The season continues with three episodes on April 8 and concludes with two episodes on April 15. comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce. It follows Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen), a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring device – the Made for Love chip – in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her, and know her “emotional data” as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byron’s able to watch Hazel’s every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert (Ray Romano) and his synthetic partner, Diane.

MADE FOR LOVE stars Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni, Augusto Aguilera and Ray Romano. Recurring guest stars include Caleb Foote, Kym Whitley, Nyasha Hatendi and Patti Harrison, and additional guest stars include Ione Skye, Jon Daly, Matty Cardarople, Mel Rodriguez and Sarunas Jackson. The series is executive produced by Christina Lee, Alissa Nutting, Patrick Somerville, Dean Bakopoulos, Liza Chasin and SJ Clarkson. Christina Lee is showrunner and Paramount Television Studios is the studio. Also, offered is the final episode of Season One of GENERA+IONS which uploads on April 01. 

We don’t know how you feel about competition-based TV branded with the letters HBO but we list nevertheless the following: Uploading sometime in April are THE BIG SHOT WITH BETHENNY and ELLEN’S NEXT GREAT DESIGNER. In Bethenny Frankel’s show, the next generation of business moguls will compete for a chance to be second-in-command to business tycoon and Skinnygirl founder Bethenny Frankel, and win a coveted position working on her executive team. In business and in life, Frankel never settles and only accepts excellence. Through a series of real-life tasks and challenges, each aspiring mogul will be tested to see how far they can push their creativity and determination to rise to the top. In the latter series, design aficionado Ellen DeGeneres is giving uniquely talented, up-and-coming furniture designers the chance to push their creativity to the limit. Also uploading is Season Four of THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN (Find it April 01). Wait, HBO Max just launched, who could there be a fourth season of anything? It’s a BBC import. Here is its trailer.  

 

HBO Saturday Night Movies: We all know how the movie landscape has changed. Regardless HBO still offers movies on Saturday night primetime. April actually has a premiere movie mid-month we will point it out below as a look at the lineup. On SATURDAY, APRIL 04 beginning at 8:00pm ET is TED. Yeah, you know, the lovably raunchy teddy bear by Seth McFarlane? The following week, SATURDAY, APRIL 10 is our new debut. At the 8:00 hour is THE NEW MUTANTS. In this 13th film in the X-Men franchise, a group of teenage mutants band together while being held in a secret facility. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams (yes, that Maisie), Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, and Alice Braga. Directed by Josh Boone; written by Josh Boone and Knate Lee. We slip in that trailer before we point out the other two movies in April.
Wait, a Marvel movie not on Disney+?

Available to view on SATURDAY, APRIL 17 is 2012’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES with Christian Bale and SATURDAY, APRIL 25 closes us out with DREAMGIRLS, about the rise of a 1960’s super girl group. This award-winning 2006 movie stars Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose and Eddie Murphy.

Movies Exclusive to HBO Max: April’s Same Day Premiere is MORTAL KOMBAT. This franchise is reborn as it will not give up the fight. It all started as an 8-bit videogame and has seen on-screen adaptations and is now revitalized by first-time director Simon McQuoid. It is scheduled to be released in theaters and on the HBO Max streaming service by Warner Bros. Pictures on FRIDAY, APRIL 16. The film will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from its theatrical release in the U.S. included at no additional cost to subscribers. 

A washed-up MMA fighter is unaware of his hidden lineage or why he is being hunted down by Sub-Zero of the Lin-Kuei clan of assassins. Concerned for the safety of his family, he seeks out a clique of fighters who were chosen to defend Earthrealm in a high-stakes battle against the forces of Outworld. Get ready for action! 

HBO Documentary Films: Moving onto the non-fiction documentary slate for the month we discover some weighty topics. EXTERMINATE ALL THE BRUTES, from acclaimed filmmaker Raoul Peck, is a four-part series that provides a visually arresting journey through time, into the darkest hours of humanity. Through his personal voyage, Peck deconstructs the making and masking of history, digging deep into the exploitative and genocidal aspects of European colonialism – from America to Africa and its impact on society today – challenging the audience to re-think the very notion of how history is being written. The series will debut on HBO with two back-to-back episodes WEDNESDAY, APRIL 07 (9:00-11:00pm ET/PT), with the final two episodes, airing back-to-back THURSDAY, APRIL 08 at the same time. All four episodes of the series will be available to stream on HBO Max on April 7th to coincide with the linear premiere. “As writers, creators, filmmakers we have no choice but to try and reflect our societies and give some sort of analysis of them the best way we can,” says Raoul Peck. “And as artists, we need to break the limits of our art.” 

–Part 1
Debut date: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 07 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT) 

In the series premiere, “The Disturbing Confidence of Ignorance,” filmmaker Raoul Peck sets out to illuminate the intertwined currents of hate and bigotry running through history. Focusing on the United States’ legacy as a colonial power, Peck explores how race first became institutionalized, the Nazi program of “elimination” and its antecedents in the West, and the looting of the African continent in a “gentlemen’s agreement.”   

–Part 2
Debut date: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 07 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT) 

Peck revisits the stories of Christopher Columbus, the Alamo, and the Trail of Tears from an indigenous perspective in the second episode, “Who the F*** is Columbus.” He shows how “official” history is shaped by those in power and solidified by myth and popular culture. Next, he examines the “doctrine of discovery” used to justify the enslavement of millions of Africans and questions his own story within these narratives.  

–Part 3
Debut date: THURSDAY, APRIL 08 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT) 

In the third installment of the series, “Killing at a Distance or… How I Thoroughly Enjoyed the Outing,” Peck looks back at human migration, trade, and weaponry, and shows how Europeans used industrialized steel to conduct warfare from ever-greater distances.  Then, he explores the endless cycle of militarization throughout the centuries – from George Washington’s efforts to jumpstart American arms manufacturing, to the Monroe Doctrine, and finally, to the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

–Part 4
Debut date: THURSDAY, APRIL 08 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT) 

In the series finale, “The Bright Colors of Facism,” Peck explores the challenge of reconciling America’s true history with its ideals of freedom and democracy, pointing to the struggle for native representation and the legacy of slavery in institutionalized racism today. Reflecting on his time in Berlin, Peck links the modern resurgence of white nationalism with fascism, slavery, colonialism, and Nazism. 

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers Steven Ascher and Jeanne Jordan, the HBO documentary OUR TOWNS, debuting TUESDAY, APRIL 13 (9:00-10:40pm ET/PT), is a remarkable portrait of America and how the rise of civic and economic reinvention is transforming small cities and towns across the country. Based on the bestselling book “Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America” by journalists James and Deborah Fallows, the visually stunning feature documentary spotlights ingenious local initiatives and explores how a sense of community and common language of change can help people and towns find a different path to the future. The following is said to be debuting in April, but there is no strong confirmation. It is a shame too, because it looks really interesting. It is called PRAY, OBEY, KILL. In a remote Swedish village called Knutby, a small tight-knit Pentecostal congregation believed Jesus was returning to Earth to marry their leader. When a young woman in the community was murdered and her neighbor suffered multiple gunshot wounds, the ensuing court case became an international sensation. Acclaimed investigative journalists Anton Berg and Martin Johnson, alongside Director Henrik Georgsson (The Bridge) are on a mission to shed light on what really happened in the village of Knutby. We’ll look for it. The docu-series AXIOS is on hiatus. 

HBO Max Documentaries: The 6-episode documentary series WAHL STREET, which uploads in April, offers fans a glimpse into global star Mark Wahlberg’s life as he juggles the demands of a rigorous film schedule coupled with an ever-growing network of diverse businesses including his clothing line, Municipal; his gym studio, F45; restaurant chain Wahlburgers and his production company, Unrealistic Ideas. Along the way, viewers will learn powerful business and life lessons as he navigates the numerous challenges of a global pandemic, all while trying to maintain and expand his vast portfolio. The work will also introduce the cast of colorful characters that make up Wahlberg’s real-life entourage.A 10-part HBO Max original, called GENERATION HUSTLE from CNN Original Series and Jigsaw Productions about the lengths young people will go to for fame, fortune, and power also makes its way to the service.  

HBO Kids: I know, I know, not everyone is interested in this category, but it is in the mix, therefore, we got to say something. Kids & Family content is buried on HBO Max. For example, SESAME STREET used to be a crown jewel on HBO’s lineup and now new episodes in its 51st season are hard to find. Though it is cool that you can go the whole way back to Season One and let your youngsters see it from the beginning. In this space, we still manage to mention a title or two so let’s do that by suggesting SQUISH. It is an animated comedy about everyday school kids and their friendships, their parents and all their efforts to fit in. However, in this series, we follow the adventures of a grade school amoeba trying to find his place in a single-cell world. It only has a single season to date, but it is a total of 52 11-minute bits. Here, let the trailer do the talking.

Right now, the Kids Hub is featuring “Monster Movie Mayhem” with works like ERAGON, HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS, TMNT, THE NEVERENDING STORY and RAMPAGE just one click away. Over on the Crunchyroll Hub they are featuring an “Anime Primer” with titles like THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL in which a tournament is set up to determine the strongest high schooler around and YOUR LIE IN APRIL, about a young pianist who loses all interest in playing after a tragedy until he meets someone special.

HBO Sports: Always holding down the fort is REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL. Find episode #288 on TUESDAY, April 20 (10:00-11:00pm).

HBO Latino: A couple of titles to draw your attention to here starts with INTEMPERIE (Out in the Open) on FRIDAY, APRIL 09 (7:15-9:00pm). In this one, a young boy escapes from an estate run by a tyrannical overseer and forms a powerful friendship with a nomadic shepherd who protects him from his pursuers. On FRIDAY, APRIL 16 (10:00-11:00pm) is a concert special. One virtuoso pianist and five of Latin music’s top female vocalists join in the concert experience, entitled PIANO Y MUJER, which celebrates women and Latin music. Recording artist Arthur Hanlon brings together Kany Garcia, Natalia Jimenez, Goyo, Nella and Evaluna Montaner to perform a stunning show that brings to new life an iconic repertoire of ageless Latin hits as well as fresh new songs. Later in the month, FRIDAY, APRIL 23 to be exact, is the movie EL ROBO DEL SIGLO (Heist of the Century). It runs from 7:05-9:00pm and tells of a group of thieves who pull off a daring heist based on the true story of one of the greatest bank robberies in Argentine history.

Other Movies & Shows: Movies uploading to HBONow and to the HBO Hub on Max include A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM with Michael Caine; BARBAROSA with Willie Nelson; THE BUTCHER’S WIFE with Demi Moore; THE EAGLE HAS LANDED with Donald Sutherland; MISSING IN ACTION with Chuck Norris and WHITE NOISE with Michael Keaton.  

 ON THE SPECTRUM is a bittersweet comedy about three roommates, living together under one roof. All in their late-twenties, each diagnosed with a disorder on the autistic spectrum. Through their unique, surprising, and extremely un-PC perspective about relationships, family, work, friendship, sex and social conventions, we’ll get to look at ourselves in a new, strange and funny way. It hails from Israel and makes it to HBO. In classic comedy, the flashy girl from Flushing will make her SVOD premiere in April as THE NANNY arrives on HBO Max alongside the first seasons of The OTHER TWO and SOUTH SIDE. Those latter two shows don’t ring a bell but who can forget Fran Drescher.    

Next Month’s Tease: A comet named Clarke.  

Last month’s answer – A one-word clue last month should have pointed you towards THE NEVERS. The word was “Touched” which is a term called those with special abilities in the new series debuting in April.  

Final Clip: Just in case you needed to be reminded!

Enjoy the month! Discover HBO.

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