The 5 Shows to Binge-Watch With Your Free HBO Trial

There's nothing like the unscripted drama of real people fighting to see their dreams realized, which is why reality competition shows are so addictive. And with Netflix's already stacked library constantly expanding, it's becoming increasingly difficult to figure out which of these shows are worth that weekend binge since most tend to get lost in the mix.

Hulu has announced everything that's coming to the streaming service in April, but you are much too important to spend time sorting through a long list of shows and movies for peasants. Lucky for you, I have no pride and am more than happy to your dirty work, selecting only the finest TV shows and movies on Hulu in April that are worthy of your time.

Who said corporate absorption was so bad? Now that FX is part of the Disney family, it's easier than ever to watch programs from TV Guide's favorite network of the 2010s. Much of FX's past library is now available on Hulu, and some new FX shows are streaming exclusively on Hulu, including Devs, which you should check out, and Mrs. America.

Why go outside against the advice of doctors, scientists, and your overly concerned mom, when you can stay inside and be safe? Be a good human and watch TV in your house. If you need something to watch on Amazon Prime Video, these are the best TV show and movie options coming to the service in April 2020. Highlights include arthouse horror movie The Lighthouse and sweet sci-fi series Tales From the Loop.

Along with Netflix and Hulu, Amazon Prime Video is one of the leading streaming platforms with an award-winning collection of original films and TV series as well as buzzworthy acquisitions that have crossed over from the U.K. In the 13 years since it first launched in September 2006 with its pilot TV program, the service has found its footing with popular series like and its series adaptation.

With most of the world still on lockdown, every day has been a smoke-filled haze for some staying home in self-quarantine while we shelter from the coronavirus pandemic. That gets magnified 420x for the unofficial stoner holiday April 20 (4/20), and there's never been a better day to stay home, have a full devil's lettuce salad, and watch some TV through bloodshot eyes (provided it's legal in your state, of course).

Looking out the window is getting pretty old. Why not really escape your self-quarantine with a little out-of-this-world action from the greatest genre (we're biased) of television there is? Science-fiction TV is the perfect vacation from the realities of the world, offering moral questions about our present in a glossed-up package of spaceships, advanced technology, and the unexplained.

We could all use an escape right now and nothing else hits quite like a quality cop show. Whether it's a Dick Wolf drama where the bad guy usually gets his due or a prestige cable series that raises complicated questions about the criminal justice system in lieu of a gift-wrapped ending, these captivating shows have a way of sucking one in for hours on end.

Netflix changed the game when it first debuted original programming in 2013. Since then, the streaming platform has produced a deep vault of original programming to suit any viewer's mood, from historical dramas () to Spanish-language primetime soaps () to zany ensemble comedies (). Oh, and there’s no shortage of must-watch docuseries, fascinating home shows and addictive reality series.   

Looking for something to stream while in quarantine? With more time on our hands than ever as we all stay in amid the coronavirus pandemic, there are hundreds of television shows that you'll now have time to start watching (or rewatching, in some cases).

HBO doesn't just stand for Home Box Office anymore. During this time of self-quarantine and social distancing, it's also an acronym for Home Bored, OK? To fill the time while staying healthy and safe, the pay cable network has released several great series, docuseries, and films from its library for free, to give everyone a taste of what HBO has to offer. (Mercifully, Entourage is not included in this list.)

In the mood for a binge watch but you don't know where to start? We're here to help.  Over the past few weeks of quarantine, we got input from 54 different stars and executive producers on their favorite episodes of their own TV shows.

CBS All Access is the Eye network’s subscription-based on-demand platform, featuring a mix of original programming as well as a deep vault of past CBS hits and classic TV series. Since launching in October 2014, the streaming service has given longtime fans two new series within the franchise, spun off fan-favorite Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) into her own series and revitalized for a whole new generation. 

HBO is doing its part to keep the millions of Americans who are self-quarantining entertained by making a select portion of its acclaimed library available for free. (Mercifully, Entourage is not included in this list.) All you have to do is download the HBO NOW or HBO GO apps or head over to HBONOW.com or HBOGO.com in order to get free access to several of HBO's flagship shows and documentaries, as well as 20 theatrical movies.

HBO is doing its part to keep the millions of Americans who are self-quarantining entertained by making a select portion of its acclaimed library available for free. (Mercifully, Entourage is not included in this list.) All you have to do is download the HBO NOW or HBO GO apps or head over to HBONOW.com or HBOGO.com in order to get free access to several of HBO's flagship shows and documentaries, as well as 20 theatrical movies.

First launched in November 2019, Disney+ is among the latest streaming platforms to emerge in the wake of the success of Netflix and Hulu. While only a few months old, the subscription video on-demand service boasts a deep vault of family-friendly content from Walt Disney Studios and Television as well as Marvel, National Geographic, Pixar, and the franchise.

Not everyone has money to burn. We can't all shell out money every month for Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+ and/or whatever other streaming service subscriptions are fighting for our hard-earned cash these days.

Looking for the best TV shows and movies to watch on Netflix this month while you're stuck inside during the coronavirus pandemic? Well, you're in luck, because this is a list revealing the best TV shows and movies to watch on Netflix in April.

Fact: There's nothing better than free TV. But free TV doesn't mean it has to be bad TV. While we all sit inside socially distancing ourselves from the global coronavirus pandemic, there's an opportunity for some quality, free television thanks to Showtime, which is offering a 30-day free trial for new subscribers, no catch, if you sign up before May 3.

No doubt about it — these are trying times for everyone, and the need for a little bit of bliss amid the chaos has never been more pressing. One of the best ways to soothe the soul is with music, so there may never be a better time to watch (or rewatch) some of the greatest musical TV shows of all time, Cop Rock not included.