Apple TV+ has released the first four episodes of Government Cheese, a new original series led by David Oyelowo. The debut season consists of ten episodes, with the remaining six scheduled to drop weekly on Wednesdays. The series premiered on April 16.
Created by Paul Hunter and Aeysha Carr, the show centers on Hampton Chambers (Oyelowo), a man returning home to his family after serving time in prison. Set in the San Fernando Valley in 1969, the story explores how Hampton’s absence reshaped his household—and how his reappearance disrupts what his wife and children have built in the meantime.
Astoria, played by Simone Missick, has taken on new responsibilities in his absence. Their sons, Einstein (Evan Ellison) and Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston), now navigate their lives with a sense of independence that complicates Hampton’s attempts to reconnect. The show follows Hampton as he adjusts to changed dynamics while facing unexplained experiences that seem to suggest something larger at work.
The first four episodes—The Gospel of Kenny Sharp, Trial and Error, Two Doors, and A Long Road Home—were released together. Episode 5, Father Facts, Figures, Failures, will be available on April 23. The remaining schedule is as follows:
Episode 6 — April 30
Episode 7 — May 7
Episode 8 — May 14
Episode 9 — May 21
Episode 10 — May 28
The cast includes Bokeem Woodbine and Louis Cancelmi, joining Oyelowo, Missick, Ellison, and Winston. The show blends drama and humor through a stylized lens that reflects both grounded realities and surreal moments of reflection. Government Cheese is based on an original short film by Hunter, later developed into a series by Hunter and Oyelowo in collaboration with MACRO and Apple Studios.
Apple TV+ is the exclusive streaming platform for the series. New subscribers can start with a three-month trial at $2.99. After the introductory period, the service is available for $9.99 per month. Government Cheese joins the platform’s lineup of original titles including Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, Severance, and For All Mankind.
Hunter and Carr’s previous work includes Midnight Run and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Oyelowo, who also serves as executive producer, follows his recent performance in Lawmen: Bass Reeves with another character navigating identity, responsibility, and personal transformation.
Apple has not released details about future seasons or whether the story will continue beyond the current run.
