The content may seem a bit light in the number of shows available on HBO, but now when you factor in HBO Max …boom! That is okay because around here we know that it is the quality of the work that counts. The lineup might be a bit sparser still as the year goes on as shows haven’t started up production on new seasons yet. Interesting times to say the least. Nevertheless, here is what we have for July 2020 across HBO’s platforms.
The opening clip doesn’t really showcase July, but it is exciting to see what is ahead.
A few quick points:
- The final season of ROOM 104 arrives
- New Show FOODIE LOVE Appears on Sites
- Cynthia Ervio is HARRIET
- SESAME STREET Concludes Anniversary Season
- We’re expecting Amy Schumer this month on HBO Max
Original Series: We start off with the returning series for July. The fourth and final season of Jay & anthology series returns with 12 new episodes, each telling a unique and unexpected tale of the characters who pass through a single room of a typical American chain motel. While the setting stays the same, every episode of the series features a different s
tory, with the tone, plot, characters, and even the time period, changing with each installment. Mark Duplass’ ROOM 104 comes on the schedule. It returns on FRIDAY, JULY 24 (11:00-11:30pm). The anthology series will offer 12 new episodes, each telling a unique and unexpected tale of the characters who pass through a single room of a typical American chain motel. While the setting stays the same, every episode of the series features a different story, with the tone, plot, characters, and even the time period, changing with each installment. Exploring a variety of genres, from dark comedy to sci-fi, to the series’ first-ever animated episode and original songs, this season will continue to surprise viewers week to week. Check back for our bi-weekly reviews as ROOM 104 opens its door to us for one more season. J8st look at the people waiting for us there: Mark Duplass, Hari Nef, Logan Miller, Jillian Bell, Jon Bass, Dave Bautista, Melissa Fumero, Vivian Bang, Finn Roberts, Adam Shapiro, Breeda Wool, Kevin Nealon, Erinn Hayes, Ron Funches, Sadie Stanley, Shannon Purser, Kendra Carelli, Benjamin Papac, Alison Jaye, Tim Granaderos, Oliva Crocicchia, Harvey Guillen, Gary Cole, Linda Lavin, Jennifer Kim, Kevin McKidd, Desean Terry, Suzanne Nichols, Leonardo Nam, Lily Gladstone, Jordyn Lucas, Natasha Perez, Jake Green, Ntare Mwine, Rebecca Hazlewood, and Susan Park.
We return to 1931, Los Angeles as PERRY MASON continues. When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured city and just maybe, a pathway to redemption for himself. It stars Matthew Rhys (The Americans) in the title role. The drama continues SUNDAY, JULY 05 (9:00-10:00pm) and each subsequent Sunday through the month. It’s not too late to get caught up and learn of Perry Mason’s formative years before he became the legendary attorney.
–Chapter Three
Debut date: SUNDAY, JULY 05 (9:00pm ET/PT) 
In order to gain an advantage over E.B. and team, wily district attorney Maynard Barnes (Stephen Root) goes public with a shocking new development. Mason (Matthew Rhys) and Strickland (Shea Whigham) get unauthorized access to physical evidence with help from Virgil (Jefferson Mays), Mason’s connect at the city morgue. Later, Mason attempts to extract information from a withholding Drake (Chris Chalk), who’s weary of Holcomb (Eric Lange) and Ennis’ (Andrew Howard) watchful eyes. Della (Juliet Rylance) notices a change in E.B. (John Lithgow), who seems uncharacteristically out of sorts. Written by Rolin Jones & Ron Fitzgerald; directed by Tim Van Patten.
–Chapter Four
>Debut date: SUNDAY, JULY 12 (9:00pm ET/PT)
Mason (Matthew Rhys) and Strickland (Shea Whigham) lean on Virgil (Jefferson Mays), again, for extra-legal assistance. Following Sister Alice’s (Tatiana Maslany) recovery from a frightening episode, Birdy (Lili Taylor) urges her daughter to renounce her claims about baby Charlie. E.B. (John Lithgow) faces the reality of his financial situation and takes his frustrations out on Della (Juliet Rylance). Written by Steven Hanna & Sarah Kelly Kaplan; directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven.
–Chapter Five
Debut date: SUNDAY, JULY 19 (9:00pm ET/PT)
–Chapter Six
Debut date: SUNDAY, JULY 26 (9:00pm ET/PT)
Also continuing on is the 12-part half-hour series I MAY DESTROY YOU, executive produced, co-directed, written by, and starring Michaela Coel. It has moved to Monday nights. Find it MONDAY, JULY 06 (09:00-09:30pm), exclusively on HBO. The series, starring Michaela Coel, is a fearless, frank and provocative series that explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life and how, in the new landscape of dating and relationships, we make the distinction between liberation and exploitation.
–…It Just Came Up
Debut Date: MONDAY, JULY 6 (9:00pm ET/PT)
A tumultuous day finds Arabella (Michaela Coel) reassessing a sexual encounter with Zain (Karan Gill) and, following a promising new lead in the investigation, opening up to Biagio (Marouane Zotti) about her assault. Later, after a meeting with Susy Henny (Franc Ashman), Arabella threatens to break the internet when she goes off script at a writing summit. Meanwhile, Kwame’s (Paapa Essiedu) prompted to report his own assault to the police. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
–The Alliance
Debut Date: MONDAY, JULY 13 (9:00pm ET/PT)
Much to Terry’s (Weruche Opia) disapproval, Arabella (Michaela Coel) attends a support group for rape and sexual assault survivors run by their high school acquaintance, Theo (Harriet Webb). In a flashback to 2004, teenage Arabella and Terry intervene when a resourceful, troubled young Theo attempts to flip the narrative on consensual sex gone sideways. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
–Happy Animals
Debut Date: MONDAY, JULY 20 (9:00pm ET/PT)
Strapped for cash and still unable to produce a draft of her book, Arabella (Michaela Coel) takes a job working alongside Theo (Harriet Webb) at a vegan delivery start-up. Birthday girl Terry (Weruche Opia) takes covert measures to ensure Simon (Aml Ameen) won’t make a surprise appearance at her party. The festivities find Kwame avoiding reminders of his assault while Terry airs her suspicions about Theo. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Line Spectrum Border
Debut Date: MONDAY, JULY 27 (9:00pm ET/PT)
Reeling from a demoralizing development in the investigation, Arabella (Michaela Coel) hatches a risky plan to “spark joy” – and convinces an adverse Terry (Weruche Opia) to bankroll it. Still navigating the fallout of his own assault, Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) challenges himself to explore the full spectrum of his sexuality. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
We showed you the teaser last month here is the full trailer:
Maher and Oliver are still going strong and they have had a lot of issues to cover. We’re sure July won’t let them ease up either. REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER takes a break on 07.03, 07.10, 07.17 & 07.24 and continues the season FRIDAY, JULY 31 (10:00-11:00pm). LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER is on hiatus for two weeks, 07.05 & 07.12 thus beginning a new installment SUNDAY, JULY 19 (11:00-11:30pm). As of late, Maher has had video links with the likes of Susan Rice, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations & Pulitzer-Prize winning Washington Post columnist; Larry Wilmore – writer, comedian, and host of the podcast “Black On The Air” and Matt Welch, Editor-at-Large for Reason Magazine. Oliver’s hot topics included a look at how the histories of policing and white supremacy have been intertwined and Facial Recognition technology. By our count a Bill Maher is featured this time round:
Movies: What’s in store for Saturday nights on HBO? Well, without fail the HBO Channel is debuting a new movie to the brand. July’s titles are MIDWAY, LAST CHRISTMAS, HARRIET and MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN.
To start us off is a war movie called MIDWAY. Yes. there was a version of the same conflict once before with Charleston Heston, Henry Fonda and James Coburn from 1976, but this isn’t it. This 2019 retelling of the Battle of Midway stars Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Luke Evans, Aaron Eckhart, Nick Jonas, Luke Kleintank, Darren Criss, Keean Johnson with Mandy Moore, Dennis Quaid and Woody Harrelson. Directed by Roland Emmerich; written by Wes Tooke. Six months after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy and a squad of intrepid fighter pilots take part in one of the most vital fights of World War II. This picture chronicles this ferocious battle that occurred from June 4-7, 1942. To watch this retelling remember SATURDAY JULY 04 (8:00-10:18pm). Debuting SATURDAY, JULY 11 (8:00-9:45pm) is LAST CHRISTMAS. Well, you’ve heard of Christmas in July observances before, right? Besides, with the way this year has been going, who couldn’t use some Holiday cheer? Check this out – she’s an elf stuck on the shelf when it comes to love and luck–until she meets the man of her dreams in this endearing Christmas love story inspired by the music of George Michael. GAME OF THRONES star Emilia Clarke stars as the down-on-her-luck Christmas store employee; Henry Golding is the mystery man who inspires and attracts her.
The extraordinary true story of abolitionist Harriet Tubman is chronicled in this first-rate drama that details her life from her harrowing escape from slavery to her leading hundreds of slaves to freedom via the Underground Railroad. It is HARRIET, debuting SATURDAY JULY 18 (8:00-10:05pm. Cynthia Erivo (HBO’s THE OUTSIDER) earned Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her moving performance as Harriet. Co-starring Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monae. “A rousing and powerful drama” (The New York Times). Directed by Kasi Lemmons; screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard and Kasi Lemmons, story by Gregory Allen Howard. To end the month, on SATURDAY JULY 25 (8:00-10:25pm) is MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN. In this one, Edward Norton stars in and directs a stylish neo-noir mystery. It is about a private detective with Tourette syndrome who uncovers political corruption while trying to solve the murder of his mentor in 1950s New York. Co-starring Bruce Willis and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, with Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe. Directed by Edward Norton; screenplay by Edward Norton, based on the novel by Jonathan Lethem.
HBO Documentary Films: One new title debuts in July. It is SHOWBIZ KIDS. Find it beginning TUESDAY, JULY 14 (9:00-10:35pm). It offers an unvarnished look at the high risk, high reward business of working as a child actor in the entertainment industry. The film chronicles the personal and professional price of fame and failure on a child. Those who know the industry best, including several successful child actors and two aspiring hopefuls, unpack their own complicated experiences as they reconcile the hardships they’ve faced and sacrifices they’ve made on their way to finding success in show business. It is written and directed by former child actor Alex Winter (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Panama Papers), who relies on the perspectives of many of his peers to explore the complexities of growing up under the glare of Hollywood’s 
spotlight, refusing to shy away from the more difficult truths about the industry. Winter’s commitment to creating an honest representation of a complicated industry stems from his own childhood in show business, beginning as a child actor on Broadway at the age of ten. Also on the schedule is STOCKTON ON MY MIND. At age 26, on the same day Donald Trump was elected in 2016, Michael Tubbs became the first African American mayor of his beleaguered hometown of Stockton, California, as well as the youngest mayor of a major American city. this documentary, from filmmaker Marc Levin (HBO’s ONE NATION UNDER STRESS, CLASS DIVIDE) follows Tubbs’ personal and political journey, exploring how growing up amid poverty and violence shaped his vision for innovative change. It weaves the Mayor’s story together with an extraordinary group of people living in Stockton, some of whose stories echo Tubbs’ own experience, and many of whom are working alongside him to reinvent the city. Yet, change is hard, and there are many headwinds to contend with. It debuts TUESDAY, JULY 28 (9:00-10:30pm).
The six-part documentary series I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK just got started. It continues SUNDAY, JULY 05 (10:00-11:00pm) and continues the following Sundays of the month at the same time. The series based on the book of the same name explores writer Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the dark world of a violent predator she dubbed the Golden State Killer. Terrorizing California in the 1970s and ‘80s, the Golden State Killer was responsible for 50 home-invasion rapes and 12 murders. This series gives voice to the survivors and their families, documenting an era when sex crimes were often dismissed or hidden in shame.
HBO Kids: Gasp! The epic 50th season of the award-winning SESAME STREET comes to its conclusion in July. It begins SATURDAY, JULY 04 (9:00-9:20am). Below we list the two final episodes:
–Season 50 Episode 34 – “Fourth of July Celebration”
Debut date: SATURDAY, JULY 4 (9:00am)
There’s a Fourth of July celebration on Sesame Street. Elmo, Abby, and Rudy try to find a birthday present for America. Alan explains that the Fourth of July is really a day for family, friends and neighbors to come together. He then comes up with the idea of doing something kind for their neighbors. So together, they pick up trash and plant in the garden. It’s the perfect present for America Topic: Fourth of July
–Season 50 Episode 35 – “Let’s Go Camping” (Season Finale)
Debut date: SATURDAY, JULY 11 (9:00am)
Chris and Elmo are excited to be camping in the woods! All kinds of animals join Chris and Elmo for the campout. After Chris finds the right kind of food for each animal, they all eat dinner together. Elmo and Chris both agree they should have a sleepover like this every night! Topic: Animals
HBO Sports: A documentary appears at the end of the month. HBO Sports has acquired North American television and streaming rights to the documentary feature film THE WEIGHT OF GOLD, a revealing and powerful documentary exploring the mental health challenges that Olympic athletes often face in deeply personal detail. The film debuts WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 (9:00-10:00pm). Weren’t we to be watching the 2020 Olympic Games by 07.29? This will have to do. Appearing are athletes like Michael Phelps, Jeremy Bloom, Lolo Jones, Gracie Gold, Bode Miller Apolo Anton Ohno, Sasha Cohen, Shaun White, David Boudia, and Katie Uhlaender. Holding down the fort for sports commentary is REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL It debuts on TUESDAY, July 21 (10:00-11:00pm). Here is a word from Mr. G.:
Other Movies and Shows: The HBO channels have expanded their library of tiles since the new developments have taken hold. A number of older movies arrive, though they don’t have many viewings within the month. Such titles include BABE, DEATH BECOMES HER, FIGHT CLUB, THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, JANE EYRE, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS and CAST AWAY. HBO2 offers its usual round of mini-marathons. This time round binge on documentary series MCMILLIONS on 07.03, WESTWORLD Season 3 on 07.04, I KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE on 07.05 and A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW on 07.10.
Other HBO Channels: Though this content can be found online the cable channels still offer the following. HBO Latino: Debuting 07.03 at 
8:00pm is LOS FUTBOLISMOS (The Footballest), In this fun adaptation of the popular Spanish children’s book series, the members of a hapless school soccer team need to win one of their next three games or their club will be disbanded. Directed by Miguel Angel Lamata; written by Roberto Santiago, Pablo Fernandez Vazquez, Miguel Angel Lamata. ABUELOS (Grandpas) debuts on 07.17. Three old friends having a hard time adapting to the changing job market decide to start a daycare center. But is society ready for three grandpas running a babysitting 
business? Carlos Iglesias, Roberto Alvarez, Ramon Barea and Mercedes Sampietro star. LA GALLINA TURULECA (Turu, The Wacky Hen). In this one, a misfit hen who can’t lay eggs suddenly discovers she has a great talent: she can understand humans and has a beautiful singing voice! Voices in this animated comedy include Eva Hache and Jose Mota. It starts 07.24. And on the last Friday, 07.31, is LOS 
LOBOS. In this award-winning film, two young boys who have come to the U.S. from Mexico with their mother use their imaginations to pass the time in their tiny apartment while dreaming of going to Disneyland. HBO Signature: Change the dial and you have movies like MAGNOLIA, BEST LAID PLANS, GREENBERG, LA LA LAND and SCHOOL OF ROCK. HBO Comedy: Click the channel once more to have some laughs with programming like ARIZONA; OVERNIGHT DELIVERY and MARTIN LAWRENCE: YOU SO CRAZY. HBO Family: The next channel up is the family fare. In July find THE LITTLE 
PENGUIN PORORO’S RACING ADVENTURE for the young set, SINBAD: BEYOND THE VEIL 
OF MISTS for the tweens and GONE FISHIN’ for the oldest. HBO Zone: If you got the complete bundle you’ve got this channel and such titles as HUNTER KILLER, A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, The RESURRECTION OF GAVIN STONE, ENEMY OF THE STATE and KISS OF THE DRAGON.
HBO Streaming: FOODIE LOVE is no available to stream. That is not to be confused with FOOD LORE, which we told you about here, from HBO Asia. Foodie Love is from HBO Europe and runs for eight episodes. It is a drama series from Spain. It follows two thirty-somethings after they meet on a foodie mobile dating app. They embark on a gastronomic journey, learning about each other through the mediums of jamón, ramen and fine dining from around the world. Yet while they bond over a shared devotion to Japanese yuzu and a distaste for foodie pretension, their insecurities and doubts fueled by the scars of their previous relationships may prevent them from tasting true love. FOODIE LOVE is the first television drama project from Goya Award-winning Isabel Coixet. All eight episodes will be available MONDAY, JULY 13.
–Episode 1. “Just a coffee”
What was going to be “just a coffee” ends up bringing two foodie strangers a little closer.
–Episode 2. “Breakfast in Kentucky”
An exotic cocktail can awaken hidden desire in a mysterious and magical twilight bar of broken dreams.
–Episode 3. “Proust’s gyoza”
Insecurities, fears, sake, gyozas, and a ramen soup made with love… but the most unexpected taste can awaken ghosts from the past.
–Episode 4. “Gelato di neve”
The two don’t have to be in Rome in order to walk through it together and discover the best ice cream in the world.
–Episode 5. “The last supper”
Uncontrolled passion in the most exquisite restaurant in Barcelona? If you’re in love, yes.
–Episode 6. “The perfect croissant doesn’t exist”
A Sunday morning in the kitchen after a night of passion can mean more than breakfast.
–Episode 7. “This is France”
First road trip together, first disappointment; and life is too short to complain.
–Episode 8. “An offering of tobacco, beer and chocolate”
The lovers are divided as she makes a pilgrimage to face her past: can she lay her ghosts to rest and find her way back to him?
Movies dropping online for a rotation include AMERICAN GRAFFITI, THE BIG YEAR (Extended Version),, BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, THE ENGLISH PATIENT, FANTASTIC FOUR 2005 (Extended Version), FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, FLUSHED AWAY, HORRIBLE BOSSES(Extended Version, IN SEZCERT, INNERSPACE, THE LAST EMPEROR, THE TOWERING INFERNO and more.
HBO Max –When we look at this new site we will concentrate mostly on the HBO Max Originals programming that is exclusive to that site. There are plenty of them dropping in July. The three-part documentary series EXPECTING AMY is one. It is an unfiltered three-part documentary that shows the struggle, strength and ambition that has made Amy Schumer one of the singular comic voices of all time. It takes viewers behind-the-scenes as Schumer battles through an extraordinarily difficult pregnancy while documenting the formation of a comedy special. It will be 
available as of THURSDAY, JULY 09. The adult animated comedy CLOSE ENOUGH is also debuting THURSDAY, JULY 09. From J.G. Quintel, creator of the Emmy-winning Regular Show, this new surreal toon offers a married couple, their five-year-old daughter, and their two divorced best friends/roommates all living together on the east side of Los Angeles. Also appearing, as of THURSDAY, JULY 16 is the docusoap HOUSE OF HO. Patriarch Binh Ho and his wife Hue Ho immigrated from Vietnam to the United States with little money, relying on hard work to establish the ultimate American dream. The power couple has built a multimillion-dollar bank, a real estate development company, and a new generation of American Hos. The series pulls back the curtain on their lavish Houston lifestyle and showcases the tight family connections that unite them as well as the multi-generational outrageous drama that ensues.
That’s not all. HBO Max will be the U. S, home for the scripted comedy FRAYED and a British animal rescue series called THE DOG HOUSE. Both debut on THURSDAY, JULY 30. The former work is set in 1989 and follows the journey of Sammy Cooper, a fabulously wealthy London housewife who is forced to return to her hometown in Newcastle, Australia. In coming home, Sammy must revisit her past and the events that led her to flee as a teenager years ago. I gather it all leaves her frayed. The latter title is set inside a rural British Dog Rescue Centre famous for its commitment to matching homeless dogs with new owners,
HBO Max has also just obtained the streaming right to OWN Network’s DAVID MAKES MAN. The one-hour lyrical drama is created by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and Tony Award-nominated playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), will be available to stream on HBO Max starting THURSDAY, JULY 16. The series centers on David, a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects who is haunted by the death of his closest friend and relied upon by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. He must choose between the streets that raised him or the higher education that may offer him a way out. And finally, to top it off, HBO Max will debut Cartoon Network Studios’ animated children’s series TIG N’ SEEK, which is all about the adventures of a young boy and his cat. There are also new episodes of ESME & ROY. Remember them?
Cinemax: Two more episodes of TRACKERS to go!
–Episode 5
Debut date: FRIDAY, JULY 3 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT)
With Osman (Brendon Daniels) in a coma, Daoud (Emmanuel Castis) takes the reigns on the diamond exchange with Flea (Trix Vivier), while Flea makes a desperate appeal to Lemmer (James Gracie) for backup. After Janina (Sandi Schultz) questions her, Milla (Rolanda Marais) says her goodbyes to the PBI – until she finds them surveilling her and turns to Lucas (Ed Stoppard) for help. But when an encounter between Lucas, Milla, and Osman’s men ends in a shootout, the blame falls on Janina, who must take matters into her own hands to protect Cape Town’s shores from the impending terror attack. Adapted for Television by Robert Thorogood from the Novel by Deon Meyer; written by Jozua Malherbe, Amy Jephta & Kelsey Egan; Directed by Jyri Kähönen.
–Episode 6
Debut date: FRIDAY, JULY 10 (10:00-11:00pm ET/PT)
With Quinn (Thapelo Mokoena) at the helm, the PBI move in on Osman’s (Brendon Daniels) men – but soon find themselves running in circles. As Janina (Sandi Schultz) and Lemmer (James Gracie) join forces to unveil the truth behind the diamond-weapon exchange, Teliha’s true role in this intricate, terrifying plot begins to reveal itself. Meanwhile, Milla’s (Rolanda Marais) loyalties to Lucas (Ed Stoppard), the PBI, and her son are tested – and shocking new information about Flea’s (Trix Vivier) death comes to light. Adapted for Television by Robert Thorogood from the Novel by Deon Meyer; written by Jozua Malherbe, Amy Jephta & Kelsey Egan; Directed by Jyri Kähönen.
Next Month’s Tease: The title Caging Skies links us to a work coming in August.
Last month we gave you the word ‘Rutherfordium’. If you know it was one of our elements you would have likely headed to the Periodic Table to see that it sits is position 104 – connecting us to ROOM 104 debuting a final season in July.
Final Clip: Consider This…
Enjoy the month! Discover HBO. Stop back here for more news, reviews and schedules.
1 comment
July 25, 2020, movies, I saw a movie listed twice, before 8 PM est. Scenario, where a man’s life with one of the other characters. It wasn’t Motherless Brooklyn, or Closer Together…a boy lost?…hard to remember, sorry.