The Best Shows on Apple TV Plus Right Now (September 2021)

Schmigadoon! (2021): Best Tribute to the Golden Age of Musicals

Did you know that writer, actor, and comedian Keegan-Michael Key is also a fabulous singer? Now the whole world knows thanks to HBO Max's musical series Schmigadoon! Trapped in a town that's trapped in a real-life musical, Josh (Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong) have no choice but to join in the fun.

Schmigadoon! is a musical for people who love musicals in that it pays respect to beloved mid-century stage shows. In fact, the story is inspired by the 1947 musical and 1954 film Brigadoon.

The Snoopy Show (2021): Cutest Kids' Show Based on a Classic Cartoon

Charlie Brown is the de facto leader of the Peanuts gang, but everyone knows who's the real star of the crew. Snoopy has been entertaining kids for decades, and thanks to Apple Plus, today's generation can get acquainted with the world's coolest beagle.

If you or your kids like The Snoopy Show, check out Snoopy in Space, another Apple Plus original. If you have kids, these series can act as a gateway to old classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Doug Unplugs (2020): Best Animated Show About Experiential Learning

Doug Unplugs is another Apple Plus original for young children, and like most of the kid-friendly content on the platform, it has an educational bent. This computer-animated show is all about Doug (Brandon James Cienfuegos), a cyborg who has to learn the ways of the world with help from his human companion Emma (Kyrie McAlpin).

Doug Unplugs is inspired by a book series of the same name, so it might inspire your kids to pick up a book. The show is made by DreamWorks Animation, which means you can expect top-quality CGI.

Central Park (2020): Best Animated Musical Sitcom for Adults

Park manager Owen Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jr.) works and lives happily with his family in Edendale Castle (based on the real Belvedere Castle) in Central Park, New York. However, their happy existence is threatened when a wealthy real estate developer wants to turn their home into condominiums.

While the title may sound like a knock-off of South Park, Central Park is quite the opposite. The show is aimed at older audiences, but it's not at all vulgar or violent. The plot centers around hot-button issues like gentrification, but it's not preachy. All in all, Central Park is a fun sitcom that teens and adults can enjoy together.

Watch the Sound With Mark Ronson (2021): Best Sit-Down Interviews With Master Musicians

Mark Ronson sits down with big-name artists like Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, and Questlove in this six-part docuseries about the nexus between music and technology. Every episode concludes with original music created from the techniques discussed on the show.

If you're a musician or just have an interest in music, you'll probably get a lot out of the interviews with award-winning professionals. You might even get inspired to pick up a drum machine and start making your own beats.

Mr. Corman (2021): Best Workplace Comedy for Millennials

A promising young musician with high aspirations never gets his break, so he ends up teaching music in a public school. It's a tale as old as time that is particularly relevant to young adults today who are stuck with student loans and a job they never wanted.

Directed by and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mr. Corman can only be watched only on Apple TV+. The first two episodes are set to drop on August 6 with new episodes streaming every Friday.

Physical (2021): Best Dark Comedy Set in the 1980s

During the 1980s, aerobicize was almost as popular as shows about the 1980s are today. In Physical, unhappy housewife Sheila (Rose Byrne) finds solace in sweat and spandex as she starts selling exercise tapes out of her home, much to the chagrin of her husband Danny (Rory Scovel).

The humor in Physical is a little darker than your average American sitcom. Nonetheless, the show still manages to be appropriate and entertaining for all ages.

Lisey’s Story (2021): Best New Stephen King Miniseries

Lisey’s Story is a new miniseries written by master horror storyteller Stephen King. Based on his 2006 romance novel of the same name, the show follows a woman named Lisey (Joan Allen) as she deals with the loss of her husband, the elusive writer Scott Landon (Dane DeHaan).

Anyone who grew up in the 1990s probably remembers watching at least one Stephen King miniseries on television. Lisey’s Story now joins the ranks of the original It, The Tommy Knockers, The Stand, and The Langoliers; however, the acting and production are much better than King's previous made-for-TV projects.

Tiny World (2020): Best Nature Show About Cute Critters

There's a world beneath our feet that most of us don't know about. That's not the setup for a new sci-fi show; it's the premise of Tiny World, a docuseries about our planet's tiniest inhabitants from the African savannah to the rainforests of South America.

Narrated by Paul Rudd, Tiny World debuted in 2020 to much praise, resulting in a second season being released in 2021.

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything (2021): Best Historical Music Docuseries

This eight-part historical docuseries explores the relationship between music, politics, and culture by mixing archival footage with the top tunes of the day. At the dawn of a new decade, a war waged on in Vietnam while American youth took to the streets in protest. Meanwhile, John Lennon, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, and dozens of other artists protested with their music.

Each episode focuses on a specific issue like civil rights, feminism, and LGBT activism. Other prominent artists featured include Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie.

The Mosquito Coast (2021): Wildest Run-for-the-Border Family Adventure

Have you ever wanted to drop everything and move far, far away? Allie Fox (Justin Theroux) decides to do just that when he finds himself on the wrong end of government agents. Determined to live off-grid in a houseboat in Honduras, he smuggles his wife Margot (Melissa George) and their kids across the southern border.

Inspired by the 1981 book of the same name, The Mosquito Coast tells an original story set in modern-day North and Central America. The star of the show, Justin Theroux, is the nephew of Paul Theroux, the author of the original book.

Calls (2021): Most Creative Supernatural Anthology

Calls is more like a podcast or an old-timey radio show than your typical modern streaming series. The story unfolds entirely through phone conversations with very few visual elements. Each episode is a self-contained story, so you don't have to watch them in order.

Calls was originally a French television series, but the American version features all-new actors and writers. While each episode stands on its own, the stories have an overlapping supernatural theme.

Ted Lasso (2020): Best British-American Sports Comedy

Americans and Brits may speak the same language, but there are some irreconcilable linguistic differences. American Football coach Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) finds this out the hard way when he agrees to coach a football team in London, only to learn that it's a completely different sport.

You may recognize the titular character from a series of NBC shorts promoting the network's coverage of the Premier League. Jason Sudeikis's portrayal of the lovably aloof coach captured the hearts of sports fans, and now he has his own show entering its second season.

Solar Opposites (2020): Best Adult Cartoon About Aliens

In a vast universe of mediocre adult cartoons, Solar Opposites shines thanks to wacky animation and wackier writing. This sci-fi sitcom follows the exploits of an extraterrestrial family exiled to Earth, as well as their pet humans, who live in the confines of a terrarium.

Solar Opposites is a Hulu original, but you can watch all of the episodes on Apple TV+. In fact, it was the most-watched show on the platform during the week of its release. The show is made by the creators of Rick and Morty, and you'll likely notice lots of parallels in the visual style and humor.

Trying (2020): Best Sitcom for Future Parents

Like a lot of couples, Jason (Rafe Spall) and Nikki (Esther Smith) want nothing more than to be good parents. Unable to conceive on their own, they plan to adopt, which turns out to be a pretty involved process. Unsure of their own parenting skills, how will the couple convince strangers that they are capable of raising a child?

Trying is a great show to watch for expecting couples or anyone who might want to be a parent one day. It accurately represents the legal complexities of adoption and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with preparing for a kid. That said, Trying is a comedy first and foremost, so it's more likely to make you laugh than cry.

See (2019): Best Post-Apocalyptic Action Adventure Series

In the distant future, civilization has collapsed after a pandemic robbed all humans of their sense of sight. As people begin to reorganize around a new, sightless way of life, hope is restored when twins are born with the ability to see. This miracle draws the ire of a jealous queen who sends her henchmen to abduct the children from their village.

On its surface, See seems to take inspiration from movies like A Quiet Place and Birdbox, but it has more in common with H. G. Wells's 1904 novella “The Country of the Blind," another story about a sightless society. The plot is very fast-paced, which sometimes makes it hard to follow, but there are enough action scenes to keep casual viewers entertained.

The Me You Can’t See (2021): Best Docuseries About Mental Health and Celebrities

Oprah Winfrey, Glenn Close, Lady Gaga, and other celebrities open up about their personal lives and share their challenges with mental health. Some of the stories are gut-wrenching but also inspirational.

The Me You Can’t See is produced by Oprah and Prince Harry of England. In these times, it's important to see public figures spreading awareness about a hard-to-discuss topic.

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (2019): Best Workplace Comedy About the Video Game Industry

From Parks and Recreation to Taxi, workplace comedies never seem to fall out of popularity. As the workplace evolves, so do sitcoms about them, which is why we have Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet.

In this iteration of the age-old trope, Ian Grimm (Rob McElhenney) is the director of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game who keeps running into problems: his co-workers. The show accurately portrays the pitfalls of working in the gaming industry, but you don't have to be a gamer to enjoy Mythic Quest.

For All Mankind (2019): Best Alternate History Show About the Cold War

The space race culminated in 1969 with the moon landing of Apollo 11, but what if the Soviet Union had landed there first? For All Mankind posits that America wouldn't take the "L" and move on. In an alternate version of history, the space race continues with some unexpected outcomes.

The series uses a mix of fictional and real-life characters, like Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, to create a plausible alternate past, present, and future. The first few episodes start with a sputter, but the ride gets back as it goes on. Stay strapped in for a new season in 2021.

Truth Be Told (2019): Best Show Based on a Book Based on a Podcast

Who doesn't love a good murder mystery podcast, especially when it's based on true events? In Truth Be Told, renowned podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) gets tied up in a real murder investigation after learning that she might have accused the wrong man of a heinous crime. Can she crack the case and find the true culprit?

Inspired by Kathleen Barber's book Are You Sleeping?, Truth Be Told doesn't have a twist around every corner. Instead, the focus is more on the characters and their relationships. Fortunately, Spencer's strong performance carries the show even when the plot tends to drag.

Losing Alice (2021): Most Intense International Mystery Series

When an obsessive young screenwriter named Sophie (Lihi Kornowski) coaxes filmmaker Alice (Ayelet Zurer) and her actor husband David (Gal Toren) to make a movie, the couple sees it as an opportunity to revamp their careers. However, Alice starts to regret her decision as it seems that Sophie is trying to sabotage her marriage.

Losing Alice is an Israeli series that's received positive reviews from critics all over the world. There's a lot of mystery, and the plot goes back and forth through time, but it's never hard to follow. The first season will have eight episodes, with new ones arriving every Friday until February 26th.

Little Voice (2020): Best Musical Dramedy About Following Your Dreams

Bess (Brittany O'Grady) wants nothing more than to sing the songs she writes, but surviving in New York City means taking any job you can get. Meanwhile, she has multiple suitors competing for her affection, including her collaborator Samuel (Colton Ryan) and her manager Benny (Phillip Johnson Richardson).

Brittany O’Grady's musical talents truly shine in Little Voice, making Bess's magnetic personality all the more believable. While the show often borders on melodrama, the short episodes keep things from getting too heavy and always leave you wanting more.

Servant (2019): Best Paranormal Thriller From a Hollywood Director

Leanne (Nell Tiger Free) is thrilled when she lands a cushy gig as a live-in nanny, but there's a catch: She's actually taking care of a doll that the mother (Lauren Ambrose) believes is her deceased infant son. It's a concept that's been tried before with movies like The Boy and The Truth About Emanuel, but Servant brings enough to the table to stand on its own.

While M. Night Shyamalan didn't direct or write any of the episodes, many scenes look like they could come from a Shyamalan film. Episodes are short and reveal only enough to keep you watching. A second season is set to begin on January 15th, with a third in the pipeline.

Visible: Out on Television (2020): Best Documentary Celebrating LGBTQ+ Actors

LGBTQ+ actors, filmmakers, and historians share their experiences on and off-screen in this mini-series about representation in the TV industry. Starting with The Dark Ages, each episode chronicles the slow march of progress and examines themes like homophobia, coming out, and the HIV pandemic.

In many ways, TV has shaped the LGBTQ+ movement and vice-versa. Visible: Out on Television recounts historic on-screen moments as well as what was happening behind-the-scenes. You'll see a mix of new and old interviews featuring Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Stillwater (2020): Best Apple TV+ Show for Kids

In this animated kids' show, a panda named Stillwater (James Sie) bestows his ancient wisdom to a group of kids through the power of Eastern parables. Every episode is a self-contained story narrated by the title character.

Not to be confused with the 2021 Matt Damon movie of the same name, Stillwater is based on a children's picture book by Jon J. Muth called Zen Shorts. In 2021, the show won a Peabody Award for Children's & Youth Programming.

Tehran (2020): For Those Who Dream of Becoming Mossad

If espionage thrillers are your comfort media, then Tehran is sure to be a hit. When a female Mossad agent goes undercover in Tehran, she finds herself in more trouble than she anticipated and scrambles to put together a plan to get free. Though a somewhat predictable spy-in-crisis story, the backdrop of the middle east and all the challenges that come with it make for an interesting show to watch.

Home Before Dark (2020): Best Portrayal of a Nosey Little Girl

Hilde (Brooklynn Prince) is a young girl trying to follow in her father's footsteps as a writer. When the family has to relocate to the father's hometown, Hilde finds herself in the midst of a new school and a new mystery, of which her father is at the center.

Although the primary star in this show is a middle-schooler, it's definitely a show geared more toward adults, with murder as the main driver of the series. It's filled with mystery and suspense, though, so adults should find it easy to slip into this little girl's world.

The Morning Show (2020): Best Morning TV Catfight

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a morning news show? The Morning Show gives a good, if somewhat dramatized, look. As one of the first shows released on Apple TV+, The Morning Show is a hit with the perfect balance of drama, rage, and self-indulgence while also tackling some heavy issues close to home for those of us in the audience.

Mich (Steve Carell) is a former morning anchor trying to get his job back. Alex (Jennifer Anniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) are sometimes friends and sometimes enemies battling a sexist establishment as they try to save a morning news show.

Little America (2020): Best Not-Stereotypical Look at the Realities of Immigration

Immigration is hard to understand if you haven't been through it. This heartfelt and, yet somehow, funny series offers an honest view of what it's like to be an immigrant in America, but not at the expense of the people each episode is about.

Each episode is inspired by true stories and offers a glimpse into the struggles of being an immigrant on U.S. soil.