Time to watch TV: 10 shows to check out this Spring TV 2020 season - OregonLive

The presidential campaign is spotlighting partisan rancor. Worries about the coronavirus are growing. Stress levels are rising. With all this going on, doesn’t the idea of just staying inside and watching TV sound good?

Luckily, we’re moving into the spring TV season, which promises the return of old favorites, the arrival of new shows, and the launch of more streaming services.

Here’s a look at some of the shows that sound especially intriguing, from special events -- could we be any more curious about that “Friends” reunion coming to the new HBO Max streaming service? – to limited series that tell true stories and delve into alternate history narratives.

Again, here’s a word of caution: News reports are rolling in of coronavirus-related production shutdowns, which may delay the announced premiere dates.

More streaming services: The race to capitalize on cord-cutting consumers isn’t slowing down. Apple TV+ and Disney + have already jumped into the streaming pool. Come April 6, Quibi joins the party. What’s Quibi? The name is short for “Quick Bites,” and the idea is to deliver short-form entertainment, news and original content to subscribers’ phones. Nothing is expected to be longer than about 10 minutes. Subscriptions are $4.99 per month (with some ads); or $7.99 per month (ad-free).

But wait, there’s more! Coming in May is HBO Max, a streaming service that offers HBO series, vintage content (including “Friends” episodes), movies (from Studio Ghibli features to “Crazy Rich Asians”), and a slew of original series, including that unscripted “Friends” reunion, bringing together Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer. A subscription costs $14.99 per month.

Feeling overwhelmed? Sorry, because NBCUniversal is offering Peacock, its streaming service, to Comcast Xfinity X1 and Flex customers on April 15. Peacock will be available to everybody else on July 15, and will feature classic NBC series, such as “The Office,” original series, news, sports, kids programming and movies. The “Peacock Free” option is supported by ads, and is – as the name indicates – free. It includes next-day access to current seasons of freshman broadcast series, among other content. “Peacock Premium” will be ad-supported, and include full seasons of Peacock original series, early access to late-night talk shows, and more. The service will be $4.99 a month.

“The Plot Against America”: David Simon (“The Wire”) co-created this limited series adapted from Philip Roth’s novel, telling what happens in an alternate history U.S., set in the 1940s and with Charles Lindbergh as president of a country that increasingly embraces fascism and anti-Semitism. The fine cast includes Morgan Spector, Zoe Kazan, Winona Ryder and John Turturro. (9 p.m. March 16, HBO)

“Top Chef”: After streaming overload, the new season of the always tasty cooking competition sounds delicious. This “All Stars” edition is headquartered in Los Angeles, and features finalists and fan favorites who came close, but never won the “Top Chef” title. Among the returning chefs are Portland’s Gregory Gourdet. (10 p.m. March 19, Bravo)

“Making the Cut”: Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn may have left “Project Runway,” but they’re still presiding over fashion competition in this new series, in which designers and entrepreneurs from around the world take on challenges that test their ability to build their own brands. The prize? A cool $1 million. Judges include Naomi Campbell and Nicole Richie. And since this streams on Amazon, each episode’s winning ensemble will be for sale on, of course, Amazon. Oh, the corporate synergy of it all. (March 27, Amazon Prime Video)

“Mrs. America”: Cate Blanchett stars as Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative activist who made it her goal in the 1970s to oppose the Equal Rights Amendment. The impressive cast also includes Rose Byrne, as Gloria Steinem; Udo Aduba, as Shirley Chisholm; Elizabeth Banks, as Jill Ruckelshaus; Margo Martindale, as Bella Abzug; Tracey Ullman, as Betty Freidan; John Slattery, as Fred Schlafly; and Sarah Paulson, who plays a fictional character named Alice. (April 15, FX on Hulu)

“Fargo”: Noah Hawley’s excellent anthology series returns after a too-long absence, this time telling a story about crime in ‘50s Kansas City. Chris Rock heads the excellent cast, including Ben Whishaw and Jason Schwartzman, in this fourth go-round. (10 p.m. April 19, FX)

“Hollywood”: A limited series from Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, this drama is set in post-World War II Hollywood, and focuses on would-be stars and filmmakers trying to get their big break. According to the series description, “Each character offers a unique glimpse behind the gilded curtain of Hollywood’s Golden Age, spotlighting the unfair systems and biases across race, gender and sexuality that continue to this day.” The cast includes Darren Criss, David Corenswet, Jeremy Pope, Samara Weaving, Jim Parsons, Holland Taylor, Dylan McDermott, Patti LuPone, Joe Mantello and Laura Harrier. (May 1, Netflix)

“Billions”: The addictively watchable drama about masters of the universe – well, that’s how they would likely describe themselves -- in New York City returns for Season 5, with guest stars Julianna Margulies and Corey Stoll joining one of the best casts on TV. (9 p.m. May 3, Showtime)

“The Eddy”: Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”) directs this new musical drama, which stars Andre Holland as the owner of a jazz club in Paris, and Amandla Stenberg as his daughter, who’s struggling with her own issues when she arrives to live with her father. (May 8, Netflix)

“Genius: Aretha”: Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo stars as the late, great Aretha Franklin in the first of this limited-series franchise to focus on a woman. (Time TBA, May 25, National Geographic Channel)

Matthew Macfadyen as Charles, and Sian Clifford as Diana in the limited series, "Quiz." (Photo: Matt Frost/ITV/AMC)

“Quiz”: Matthew Macfadyen, Sian Clifford and Michael Sheen star in a miniseries based on the true story of a cheating scandal that rocked the U.K. when the game show, “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” was the hottest thing on TV. (Time TBA, AMC)

More of our coverage:

• Spring TV 2020: Premiere dates for new and returning shows
• Disney Plus: 8 great shows to stream when coronavirus concerns keep you at home

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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Time to watch TV: 10 shows to check out this Spring TV 2020 season - OregonLive
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