This month is a pretty, pretty, pretty busy (and also, a little sad) one for Jewish TV. From “We Were the Lucky Ones,” one of our most anticipated shows of the year that is really living up to the hype, to hilarious Jewish comedies that will help fill that “Curb”-shaped hole in your heart, to some of the best Israeli TV shows airing on Jewish streaming services for the first time, there’s something for all viewers.
Let’s take a look at all the important Jewish TV dates in April 2024:
April 4: “Unsilenced” premieres on Izzy
The critically acclaimed “Unsilenced,” from “Shtishel” and “Fauda” production house Yes Studios, premieres on Izzy this month. This fascinating limited series is a fictionalization of the case of Moshe Katzav, the Israeli president accused of rape and sexual harassment, and is based on the book “The Confidante” by Odelia Carmon. The series in Hebrew is called “Aleph,” the Hebrew letter initial of the woman accusing the president of sexual harassment in both the show and in Katzav’s case. “Fauda” actor Yakov Zada Daniel stars as the president, and the series focuses on his relationship with his secretary, Oshrat, played by Nelly Mira-Rubin. Mira-Rubin recently won an award for her performance at a TV festival in Marseilles and spoke about how hard it is to win an award in the aftermath of October 7 and the hostage crisis. Zohar Strauss of “Shtisel” fame plays the president’s lawyer. New episodes air every Thursday this month.
Also on April 4:
— Hulu’s “We Were the Lucky Ones” episode four, “Casablanca,” airs. We’ve written so much about this Holocaust show based on the Georgia Hunter novel of the same name, and there’s more coming.
— Episode four of “Fire Dance” airs on ChaiFlicks. This show about an ultra-Orthodox community in Tiberias, created by the incredible Rama Burnstein, is just magnetic. New episodes of the show premiere every Thursday this month.
April 6: Alex Edelman’s “Just For Us” premieres on Max
Alex Edelman’s extremely Jewish comedy special is now streaming on Max. It’s a very funny and poignant show about the time Edelman “crashed’ a meeting of a white supremacist group in Queens, material that the comedian has been sharing on stages around the world and on Broadway, and that keeps getting more powerful and relevant with each year that passes, taking on the intersection of Jewish identity, white privilege and antisemitism.
April 7: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” finale airs on Max
Larry David decided to revisit the controversial “Seinfeld” finale on his last episode of his hit HBO (now Max) show. Or at least that’s what I hear, because, I am, unfortunately, allergic to “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Still, the show leaves a big hole in the hearts of many Jewish comedy fans.
April 10: “Hapless” premieres on Peacock
This TV show, created by Gary Sinyor, is originally called “The Jewish Inquirer,” and it’s about a Jewish journalist working for a publication of the same name. It’s no holds barred humor, out there, feels very “Curb”-y and definitely not for the faint of heart. As someone who has worked in Jewish media for almost a decade, Paul Green’s (Tim Downie) life is nothing like my own, but it is still delightful and kind of impossible to stop watching.
April 11: “Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker” premieres on CW
This new reality show follows what some might call the OG Jewish matchmaker. Stanger, known for her, um, direct approach, first rose to fame on “The Millionaire Matchmaker” on Bravo TV. After a long TV hiatus, Stanger is back, joined by former “Bachelor” Nick Viall, who will help her with some of the toughest matchmaking cases of her career. Each episode will feature two clients hoping to find love, and hopefully, a lot of juicy, delightful drama.
Also on April 10: New episodes of “We Were the Lucky Ones,” “Unsilenced” and “Fire Dance.”
April 18: “Dinner with the Parents” premieres on Amazon Freevee
Carol Kane! Michaela Watkins! This is my most anticipated Jewish comedy of the year so far. It’s based on the British show “Friday Night Dinner,” and follows a Jewish family’s Shabbat dinners. Henry Hall plays the oldest, more reserved and geeky son David, while YouTube star Daniel Thrasher plays prank-loving son Gregg. Dan Bakkedahl plays a ridiculous Jewish-dad-joke-loving family patriarch, and Michaela Watkins plays a charming Jewish mom. Carol Kane takes on the role of a leopard-print wearing, slightly unhinged nana. I feel like it’s going to be the diverting, wonderful comedic TV reprieve we need this month and year.
April 18: The Israeli show “Bros” premieres on Netflix
This Israeli show was originally supposed to premiere in October of last year, but it was delayed because of the October 7 attack. Lior Waitzman, the sound engineer who worked on the show, was killed during the attack while on a bike ride, leaving behind a wife and child. The show tells the story of two friends, co-pub owners and Beitar Jersualem fans, a team known for the racism rampant in its soccer club, played by show co-creators Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon, who go on a trip to Krakow, Poland, that takes them to places they didn’t really expect.
Also on April 18: New episodes of “We Were the Lucky Ones,” “Unsilenced,” “Fire Dance” and “Dinner With the Parents”
April 25:
New episodes of “We Were the Lucky Ones,” “Unsilenced,” “Fire Dance” and “Dinner With the Parents”
