ON THE SMALL SCREEN

By Jenny Peters

Comic Hijinks

HISTORY OF THE WORLD, PART TWO

Hulu

Mel Brooks just keeps on ticking, as the 96-year-old funnyman brings the next chapter of History of the World to the small screen as a series. He’s writing and producing the eight-episode season that wanders through history as it drops on four consecutive nights. He’s got an allstar cast in the mix, including Wanda Sykes, Ike Barenholtz, Nick Kroll, Johnny Knoxville, David Duchovny, Seth Rogen, and lots of other very funny people

Lucky Hank

AMC

This dark comedy stars Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul) as a grumpy college English professor whose middle-age crisis is playing out as bright young things swirl around him, hoping to learn something besides what puts him into such a bad mood. Mireille Enos plays his easygoing wife, who’s a high school vice principal, and Oscar Nunez, Diedrich Bader and Kyle MacLachlan give this dramady its comic edge.

True Lies Cbs

It’s been about 30 years since James Cameron brought True Lies to the big screen, but he’s pretty sure people still love the premise. That’s why he’s a producer on this TV-series reboot starring Steve Howey (Shameless) as the international spy and Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk) as his wife, who has no idea her boring husband is a superspy. Hijinks and action ensue once she finds out and joins him in his secret-agent way of life.

Musical Mischief

DAISY JONES & THE SIX

Can Riley Keough sing as well as her famous grandfather (Elvis Presley)? Tune in to find out as she leads the band in this series based on the novel of the same name by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The series moves from past to present, as the band (including actors Sam Clafin, Suki Waterhouse, Sebastian Chacon, Josh Whitehouse and Will Harrison) rises to the heights and disbands. Word is that this is loosely based on Fleetwood Mac; there’s even an album created for this fictional band.

Up Here

Hulu

The musical pedigree of Up Here includes Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, who composed Coco, Frozen and many more, as well as Steven Levenson (Dear Evan Hanson scribe), so fans of their style may just love this series about a couple whose romantic tribulations make them want to sing (and sometimes cry, too). Mae Whitman and Carlos Valdes star as the couple whose New York City romantic experience is full of catchy tunes.