Apple TV’s hit comedy lineup keeps growing, with big new series coming

Apple TV is a strong destination for comedies, headlined by hits like Ted Lasso and Shrinking. And recent announcements reveal a lot of similarly promising series in the pipeline.

Apple TV’s new and upcoming comedies offer compelling lineup

One of Apple TV’s strongest genres, alongside sci-fi, has long been comedies.

The first big Apple breakout series was Ted Lasso. And since then, Lasso’s co-creator has also birthed the excellent Shrinking and Bad Monkey.

Apple is currently airing two excellent new series with comedic flair:

• Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed, the thriller-dark comedy with Tatiana Maslany
• Widow’s Bay, the horror-comedy mashup starring Matthew Rhys

Margo’s Got Money Troubles just aired its finale this week, but it’s a comedic drama worth checking out too.

Looking to the summer, upcoming comedy premieres include Ted Lasso’s long-awaited return in August, a new season of the beloved British series Trying, and a pickleball film called The Dink. And this fall, a Texas-set comedy called Brothers will star Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

We’re also expecting the wait for a new season of Shrinking to be mercifully short, thanks to a quick turnaround shooting season 4.

Further out, there are two more high-profile new comedies Apple has in the works.

Apple’s future comedy series include starring vehicles for Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Banks

Deadline reported today that a new Apple TV comedy series called Protective Custody is coming, headlined by star Ben Stiller:

Ben Stiller is set to star in and executive produce Protective Custody, a new comedy series from Mike Judge (Silicon Valley), Steve Hely (Common Side Effects) and Dave King (Parks and Recreation) that Apple is developing with an eye toward a series order.

Marking the first leading comedy series role for Stiller, Protective Custody will follow a disgraced financier accused of massive fraud who is thrown into protective custody, where he must navigate prison politics, salvage his reputation, and confront the consequences of his actions while awaiting trial.

Stiller is a frequent Apple collaborator at this point, most famously for his work on Severance. He’s also starring alongside Jessica Chastain in an upcoming limited series, The Off Weeks.

Another recent Apple TV announcement is for a half-hour comedy from Elizabeth Banks.

Banks stars and executive produces in the untitled series, which hails from creators Liz Heldens (“Will Trent,” “Friday Night Lights”) and Matt Ward (“The Big Leap,” “Best Medicine”). Here’s the plot summary:

Fresh off a messy divorce, Heidi sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids. But when she stumbles into coordinating her father’s retirement community sex dates, Heidi is forced into an unlikely alliance with his girlfriend’s perpetually single son. 

The Elizabeth Banks show starts filming this year in Los Angeles, so a 2027 premiere is likely. Protective Custody might arrive next year too, but it’s earlier in development so timing is anyone’s guess.

What are your favorite Apple TV comedies? Let us know in the comments.

Apple TV is available for $12.99 per month, or you can get it discounted through the Apple One bundle.

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