HBO Max: Building An Extensive Archive Library For Launch

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Editor’s Note: HBOWatch now presents a posting from a new potential writer for our site. This Guest Post, about HBO Max’s Library of content, introduces us to the words of  Anant Singh.

HBO Max – A Blessing For May 2020!

‘Tis the year to rejoice HBO fans! The streaming wars will be getting hotter this year, with the introduction of HBO Max. Its announcement in October 2018 got everyone excited, and after a rather impatient wait for us hungry consumers (well, aren’t we spoilt?), WarnerMedia will finally quench the thirst of many a fan with the launch in May this year. They have also listed two sets of titles to be made available on the platform. They are Original content and archival Library content. This article focuses on past favorites to come. But before we get to the heart of the article, let’s get the basics out of the way for those who need it. HBO Max will be streaming shows from all corners of WarnerMedia, which is HBO’s parent company. This includes TBS, Cartoon Network, truTV and TNT, among others. a Premium content demands premium pricing, and HBO Max will be quite ahead of some of its competitors, being priced at USD 14.99 per month. And now we can finally come to the point of everyone’s interest: the programming, grouped by genre.

Drama:

Let’s start things out with the much-lauded critical darling that was The West Wing. Running for 7 seasons from 1999 to 2006, the show, led by stalwarts such as Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, John Spencer and Janel Maloney, showed the inner workings of the eponymous portion of the White House during the fictitious Josiah Bartlet administration. Helmed by Aaron Sorkin, the show has left an indelible mark in television history, and received accolades by the bucket-load, which should be reason enough to add it to your watchlist. Another show to watch out for is Deadwood, HBO’s epic Western drama. Again one of the most beloved shows on critics’ lists, it was headlined by excellent performances from Timothy Olyphant and Ian McShane and is set in the real-life town of Deadwood South Dakota, which witnessed glory days during the 1870s, after gold deposits were discovered there. Garnering 8 Emmys during its run, this should again be at the top of your watchlist. 

Then there’s Game of Thrones, which will be streamed on the platform, and I don’t think I need to say much about the show that shaped the decade. Of course, the platform will have most of HBO’s library available like OZ, The Wire and My Brilliant Friend.  Also to be found upon launch is The Alienist, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles and Falling Skies from TNT. To be found is also The Honourable Woman, The O. C., Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl.  And for fans of British television, there will be a lot on their platter, as the service has signed up to stream several BBC shows from across the Atlantic. , including all 11 seasons of the revival of the cult series Doctor Who and the Idris Elba-fronted crime thriller Luther, which demands a great audience.

Comedy:

Ah, the genre I believe is the hardest to make yet HBO has done well so consistently over the past many years. Let us start out with my usual favorites, that is, Curb Your Enthusiasm, alternatively ‘Larry David vs. the World’, which has just dropped its 10th season premiere. Another one of my favorite shows is The Righteous Gemstones, returning with the Vice-Principals triumvirate of Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and Walton Goggins, and possible of the more underrated shows of the past year. Another show that will draw your attention is Barry, which is more of a tragedy than a comedy. Deftly balancing serious issues like PTSD with genuine comic moments, this is a show you do not want to miss (you won’t see a much better performance on TV than Anthony Carrigan’s NoHo Hank). HBO’s new launch, the space comedy Avenue 5, should also be in your to streaming plans. From the brilliant mind of Armando Iannucci, this show brings together an all-star ensemble of Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Lenora Crichlow and Rebecca Front (teaming with Iannucci again after The Thick Of It), and based on the first episode, the viewers will have a fun ride. 

This brings us to  WarnerMedia’s other comedic entries like Friends, South Park and The Big Bang Theory. There is no doubt that the cultural phenomenon that these shows have been for the past many, many years, and the one-line zingers that have become so iconic from these shows is something no other show has managed since, arguably, and the appeal of these shows will definitely keep the eyeballs rolling for the streaming service for a long time. I am missing out if I also don’t mention shows such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Adam Ruins Everything and the British take on The Office,  All these shows only spell WIN for the platform. A special mention to Search Party, one of my personal favorite starring Alia Shawkat, as well as a stunning supporting cast. The dark comedy-mystery-satire-thriller was earlier in danger of obscurity, but thankfully has been picked up for 2 seasons by HBO Max, after being on TBS for 2 seasons.

Reality TV:

 

There are a bunch of them at launch. I like Impractical Jokers and Whose Line Is It Anyway?, how about you? Come on, very few improv artists can match the skills and timing of Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie If they’re not for you, HBO Max will have The Bachelor and The Bachelorette to binge on. To the list, we can add The Carbonaro Effect, Ellen’s Game of Games, Little Big Shots and  Mad TV. The platform will also cater to documentary aficionados, such as 15 Minutes of Shame, produced by Monica Lewinsky; Birth, Wedding, Funeral, which will explore the eponymous cultures in different countries; as well as Equal, which would be a take on the history of the LGBTQ+ movement. Conan O’Brien will also be bringing his own ‘project’ on the platform with five new stand-up specials, and there will be a documentary on the legendary and influential chef and writer Anthony Bourdain, who tragically committed suicide in 2018. For motor fans, there will be Top Gear on the platform too.

Animation: 

The listings are diverse for sure. With Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Boomerang and the DC line to source from there is a lot to watch in this genre. There is ROBOT CHICKEN, and RICK & MORTY, ADVENTURE TIME and all the Hanna-Barbara characters you can think of, like THE FLINTSTONES and YOGI BEAR.  And we got to mention POWERPUFF GIRLS, THE BOONDOCKS, THE SMURFS, and LOONEY TUNES. Yeah, HBO Max It is going to be one crazy place with non-stop fun, action and more. 

All these shows and I have missed out on others that deserve a mention That is a huge testament to the quality that will be on display on the platform. and the list can go on as the library expands at Warnermedia. but one thing is for certain, this will be a huge test for Netflix and Disney+, and I can bet dollars to doughnuts that there will be nothing else with as much enduring power as HBO Max. Are you looking forward to this extensive library all on one platform? It is coming May of 2020.  

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