| Cult of Mac

Ted Lasso season 3 brings surge of viewers to Apple TV+

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Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso is back, and viewership is as strong as his optimism.
Photo: Apple TV+

Fans weren’t bothered by an extra-long wait for Ted Lasso‘s third season. The season premiere brought a tidal wave of viewers, pushing Apple TV+ back to near the top of the ratings charts.

And Shrinking, another Apple TV+ comedy, is finishing its freshman season with strong viewership.

In Shrinking season finale, closure comes all too easy [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Devin Kawaoka and Michael Urie in ★★☆☆☆
Charlie (played by Devin Kawaoka) and Brian (Michael Urie) finally tie the knot in the Shrinking season finale.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewIt’s wedding time this week on the season finale of Shrinking, the Apple TV+ comedy where no one has problems — and everyone has to solve them anyway.

Brian’s dad has a short time to make his son’s day by agreeing to be his best man, even if the idea of a gay wedding makes him uncomfortable. Jimmy helps Alice get over her latest round of depression about her deceased mom. Sean and Liz head into business together. And Gaby looks for a second job with a little help from Paul.

It’s truly one half of an hour of TV — you can’t take that away from it.

Shrinking doesn’t really want to do ‘the work’ this week [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Jason Segel in ★★☆☆☆
You probably don't want a shrink like Jimmy (played by Jason Segel).
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewShrinking is all about reconciliation this week. The Apple TV+ show about the social circle of a manic pixie dream therapist sees Jimmy Laird trying to mend the rift between his hero, Paul, and his family.

Meanwhile, as Brian prepares for his wedding, he meets with nothing but disappointments and potential catastrophes. Gaby is caught between her rock and a hard place. And Alice makes a fateful mistake.

Everything comes out in the end in “Moving Forward,” this week’s whatever installment of the hit show that could have been an email.

Here are the most popular Apple TV+ shows that aren’t Ted Lasso

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With 51 nominations, Apple TV+ stands to do well at the primetime Emmy Awards.
These 10 Apple TV+ shows reached the peak of popularity on the streaming video service.
Photo: Apple TV+

Although Ted Lasso is amazing and wildly popular, it’s not the only hit show on Apple TV+. A search engine focused on movies and TV released a top 10 list of everything on Apple’s streaming service, revealing which other series also draw plenty of viewers.

Subscribers to the streaming service might use it to find additional shows worth watching.

Jimmy steps up this week on Shrinking [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆

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Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and Michael Urie in ★★☆☆
The hunt for a missing Alice is on!
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewAlice goes missing this week on Apple TV+ hit comedy Shrinking, and Jimmy, Paul and Brian are on the case. After exposing Alice to the awkwardness of a social curveball, Jimmy and Gaby alienate her so much that she decides to act out like her dad has been doing for so long.

Meanwhile, Gaby needs to face down a big challenge as she prepares to maybe move on from her divorce. And Brian must confess something to Jimmy that’s going to be painful — and chooses the worst time to do it. All in all, it’s an above-average episode of a very tiresome sitcom.

Shrinking and Sharper both find large audiences for Apple TV+

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The thriller 'Sharper' has been a hit ever since the film debuted on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

The comedy series Shrinking continues its streak of being among the most popular shows on any streaming service. It made the top list for all of February, and continues to hold on to its audience.

And the recently released neo-noir thriller Sharper is also proving to be popular.

Both are available now to Apple TV+ subscribers.

Maybe Shrinking needs a DNR [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Jimmy, played by Jason Segel, sits on a bed in a scene from ★★☆☆☆
Can this guy do anything right?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ comedy Shrinking does the walk of shame this week. Troubled therapist Jimmy made a mess of things last week at Brian and Charlie’s engagement party, so he thinks he must make amends.

However, everyone’s got their own worries. Paul is hosting his daughter, who’s got her own ideas about his disease. And Alice and Sean are navigating a bad moment that happened in a moment of weakness.

It’s business as usual on the show where most problems are not problems at all.

Shrinking pukes up a party — and a proposal! [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Devin Kawaoka and Michael Urie in ★★☆☆☆
Will they or won't they?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ hit comedy Shrinking has marriage on the brain this week.

Brian is finally proposing to Charlie. That couldn’t come at a better time for Jimmy, who is not ready but suddenly has to be ready to relive the last few weeks of his marriage when old friends come over. It’s also not great timing for Gaby, who is trying to roger her way to clarity over her divorce.

Meanwhile, Paul’s upset that his daughter cares too much about him. And Jimmy’s daughter Alice and his troubled patient Sean endure an awkward moment. Even the few laughs it serves up can’t make this week’s episode of Shrinking,  entitled “Impostor Syndrome,” more than cloying and predictable.

Shrinking makes top 10 streaming list for third week running

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'Shrinking' makes top 10 streaming shows for a third week
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in Shrinking, a hit comedy on now on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Shrinking is racking up a streak as one of the most popular shows on any streaming service. The Apple TV+ comedy starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford sits on the top 10 list for a third week in a row.

The hilarious ongoing series is about a struggling therapist who throws out the psychological rulebook and tells his clients what he really thinks they should do.

Shrinking’s insular world never felt so small [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Luke Tennie and Lukita Maxwell in a scene from Apple TV+ comedy ★★☆☆☆
Alice (played by Lukita Maxwell, right) has her eye on Sean (Luke Tennie).
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+’s Shrinking, in which Jason Segel plays a therapist on the edge, continues to circle the drain this week. When James learns that his daughter Alice has feelings for a guy, it scares him — and he doesn’t know where to turn.

Gaby and Brian must meet in the middle on an issue of matrimony. Paul and Sean both need to overcome something pretty big in order to start healing. And at the center of everything is a wounded Alice, pulling everyone’s strings.