The situation is a little tricky this time around. The checklist I use to generate this post monthly is an HBO Press Release that easily spells out the highlights for the coming month. That article is AWOL going into Memorial Day weekend. Maybe, it will surface afterward but that leaves a small window to get this post published. So I’m winging it and just hope I don’t miss anything. Here is What’s On.
Original Series: THE LEFTOVERS concludes its eight-episode, third and final season SUNDAY, JUNE 04 (9:00-10:30pm). That’s not a typo; it takes an hour and a half to draw an end to this gut-wrenching and acclaimed series. All we know for sure is that it will reflect on our past, our present and even what comes after life and will do so with plenty of Biblical allegories but it will not explain the Sudden Departure.
–Episode 28 (Season 3, Episode 8): “The Book of Nora”
Debut: Sunday, June 04 at 9:00pm.
Series Finale. Nothing is answered. Everything is answered. And then it ends.
SILICON VALLEY continues its ten-episode fourth season SUNDAY, JUNE 04 (10:00-10:30pm), followed by other episodes subsequent Sundays at the same time. The Emmy-winning series takes a comic look at the modern-day epicenter of the high-tech gold rush, where the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success. Richard is a great case in point. He is a tech whiz but sucks at being a CEO. How far he gets with his “new internet” and more is on tap for June.
What is not on “tap” is the breakdown of the upcoming episodes:
–Episode #35 (Season 4, Episode 7) “The Patent Troll”
Debut: Sunday, JUNE 04 at 10:00pm
–Episode # 36 (Season 4, Episode 8) “The Keenen Vortex”
Debut: Sunday, JUNE 11 at 10:00pm
–Episode # 37 (Season 4, Episode 9) “Hooli-Con”
Debut: Sunday, JUNE 18 at 10:00pm
–Episode # 38 (Season 4, Episode 10) “Server Error” (season finale)
Debut: Sunday, June 25 at 10:00pm
VEEP continues its ten-episode sixth season but is bumped out of an episode on the 4th and returning on SUNDAY, JUNE 11 (10:30-11:00pm), followed by the next two Sundays in June. The Emmy-winning comedy series has everyone going their separate ways until Selina Meyers states that she is going to run for POTUS. How well is that going for her?
Maybe, the breakdown of the upcoming episodes will give us a clue:
–Episode #56 (Season 6, Episode 8): “Judge”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 11 at 10:30pm
Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) takes a trip. Dan (Reid Scott) woos Jonah (Timothy Simons) in order to get a coveted interview, and Amy (Anna Chlumsky) convinces Selina to put her in charge of a very disorganized Mike (Matt Walsh). Written by Ted Cohen; directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller.
–Episode #57 (Season 6, Episode 9): “A Woman First”
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 18 at 10:30pm
Selina’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) book finally arrives. Jonah (Timothy Simons) has a big meeting. Dan (Reid Scott), Ben (Kevin Dunn) and Kent (Gary Cole) grab a drink. Written by Erik Kenward; directed by Brad Hall.
Episode #58 (Season 6, Episode 10): “Groundbreaking” (season finale)
Debut: SUNDAY, JUNE 25 at 10:30pm
Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her team prepare for the long-awaited groundbreaking of her library. Amy (Anna Chlumsky) seeks clarity on her role. Jonah (Timothy Simons) asks Dan (Reid Scott), Ben (Kevin Dunn) and Kent (Gary Cole) for help. Written by David Mandel; directed by David Mandel.
Outspoken comedian/social commentator Bill Maher continues the 15th season of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER on FRIDAY, JUNE 02 (10:00-11:00pm), followed by other shows subsequent Fridays at the same time. Devoted primarily to news and comedy, the show’s format includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with special guests, and interviews with guests. Season four of LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER continues with a new edition debuting SUNDAY, JUNE 04 (11:00-11:30pm), followed by other shows subsequent Sundays at the same time. Presenting a satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events, as well as addressing broader issues, the Emmy-winning show is the only weekly news-oriented comedy series to be presented on Sunday night. Taking viewers around the globe as its correspondents investigate the stories not being told, season five of the Emmy-winning weekly news magazine series VICE still fills its Friday night spot throughout the month
beginning FRIDAY, JUNE 02 (11:30-11:30pm), followed by other episodes subsequent Fridays at the same time. VICE NEWS TONIGHT, the half-hour nightly newscast from VICE Media and HBO, debuts a new edition MONDAY, JUNE 05 (7:30-8:00pm), with other new editions subsequent weeknights Monday through Thursday.
Movies: When it is time to come indoors Saturday nights you will have movies waiting for you on HBO. In June you can settle in front of MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, THE ACCOUNTANT, THE CONJURING 2, and THE BIRTH OF A NATION. Now that’s a mixed bag. Let’s take a closer look at each.
We start with the Tim Burton directed tale straight from the novel by Ransom Riggs. It seems we have a bunch of weirdo kids to deal with. MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN offers us Bronwyn (Pixie Davies), who possesses incredible strength; Emma (Ella Purnell), a girl who can manipulate air and must wear lead shoes to keep her from floating away; Olive (Lauren McCrostie), a girl with pyrokinesis; Hugh (Milo Parker), a boy who has bees living inside him; Millard (Cameron King), an invisible boy and two masked twins (Joseph and Thomas Odwell). It stars Eva Green as the title’s Miss, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Terence Stamp, Judy Dench and Allison Janney. It debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 03 at 8:00pm. The next week oddity is replaced by action with THE ACCOUNTANT. No, it is not a day-in-the-life study of a money cruncher. Instead, it is Ben Affleck as an autistic math savant whose calm, bespectacled exterior as an accountant hides a dark secret: he cooks the books for criminals and has the fighting skills of a ninja. Needless to say, those skills are called upon. It debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 10 at 8:00pm. Take a gander.
Also, the horror junkies among us get a night of real fright with THE CONJURING 2 debuting on SATURDAY, JUNE 17. Note that it begins at 7:45pm that night. Inspired by the real-life 
Enfield Haunting, in this sequel paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren come to the aid of a single mother and her four girls who are being terrorized by…well, you know. THE BIRTH OF A NATION rounds out the month with a debut on SATURDAY, JUNE 24 at 8:00pm. No, I’m sorry it is not D. W. Griffith’s 1915 epic silent film, but the one from Nate Parker from 2016. This powerful, fact-based drama set in 1831 Virginia chronicles the story of slave and preacher Nat Turner, whose owner exploits his preaching skills to subdue slaves. But after witnessing countless atrocities, Turner decides to revolt and leads a slave rebellion to free his people.
HBO Documentary Films: A lighthearted documentary shows up in June. It is IF YOU’RE NOT IN THE OBIT, EAT BREAKFAST debuting MONDAY, JUNE 05 at 8:00pm. In this heartwarming documentary, host Carl Reiner tracks down such celebrated nonagenarians and centenarians as: Mel Brooks, 90, Dick Van Dyke, 91, Kirk Douglas, 100, Norman Lear, 94, and Betty White, 95, who show that the later years can truly be the happiest and most rewarding. Yeah, maybe for a long-time celebrity living the high life!!
HBO Special: Comedian, actor and voiceover artist T.J. Miller stars in his first HBO stand-up comedy special when T.J. MILLER: METICULOUSLY RIDICULOUS debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 17 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT). Taped at the Paramount Theater in his hometown of Denver, Colorado the special highlights the SILICON VALLEY star’s high-energy, unorthodox comedic observations on life, death and everything in-between.
Featuring a water-drenched Miller and plenty of audience interaction, the show offers his offbeat take on topics such as nightmares, the differences between marijuana and alcohol, his favorite historical figure and the challenges of talking about death. Here is our first look.
HBO Kids: For more than four decades, SESAME STREET has helped children grow. The show continues its 47th season with a new episode debuting SATURDAY, MAY 06 (9:00-9:30pm), followed by other episodes subsequent Saturdays at the same time.
–Season 47, Episode 22: “Rocking Rollie”
Debut: SATURDAY, JUNE 03 at 9:00am
–Season 47, Episode 23: “Elmo and Rosita’s Rainbow Search”
Debut: SATURDAY MAY 10 at 9:00am
–Season 47, Episode 24: “Father’s Day”
Debut: SATURDAY, JUNE 17 at 9:00am
–Season 47, Episode 25: ”The Recycling Fairy”
Debut: SATURDAY, JUNE 24 at 9:00am
HBO Sports: The sports program 24/7 WARD/KOVALEV 2 debuts FRIDAY, JUNE 02 at 11:30 pm. Get ready for Andre Ward vs. Sergey Kovalev 2 with this exhilarating 30-minute special examining the June 17 PPV bout. The special will look back at their first fight (which you can find replaying on HBO2 on SATURDAY, JUNE 10), preview the hotly anticipated rematch and follow both fighters on their path to this impactful showdown. Narrated by Liev Schreiber.
Plus to get all your boxing news check out THE FIGHT GAME WITH JIM LAMPLEY debuting WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14 at 11:00pm. And for sports news across all the athletic disciplines, 
there is always REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL. No doubt the show’s June edition, debuting TUESDAY, JUNE 20 at 10:00pm, will have a tribute to the late Frank Deford, a frequent contributor.
Other Movies and Shows: Usually what we do here is single out First Run movies and marathons. Here is what I was able to discover. The debuts hitting the main channel in June include SERENDIPITY starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale and asks the question “Is true love simply a matter of fate?”; SHAKESPEARE IN 
LOVE, the best Picture winner that finds the young playwright lost until he finds his muse and TERM LIFE where Vince Vaughn tries to provide for his estranged daughter. Also on tap is the comedy SPRING BREAKDOWN with Amy Poehler, Parker Posey and Rachel Dratch; SHAFT, alas not the 1971 version but the 2000 one and EIGHT BELOW featuring a whole bunch of Huskies. You can also find HBO FIRST LOOK: ALL EYEZ ON ME about the upcoming Tupac Shakur movie and HBO2 has HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER.
HBO’s Other Platforms: This month we’ll just zip through some titles. HBO Latino: There is SPARK in which a young Venezuelan student overcomes censorship in his country and sparks a social media movement. KIKI, EL AMOR SE HACE (Kiki, Love to Love) is a comedy set in sun-drenched Madrid that interweaves five stories of men and women dealing with a myriad of fetishes in their pursuit of love and happiness where LOCOS DE AMOR (Cr
azy In Love) gives us four female cousins who face romantic heartbreak in this musical comedy from Peru. There is also the special entitled ENTRE NOS PART 1 in which the world’s top Latino comedians come together for a fast-paced 30-minute stand-up comedy show. Also launching is a new dramatic series about the mysterious disappearance of a couple’s four-year-old daughter called EL JARDIN DE BRONCE. HBO Family: I know I have mentioned these titles before but this channel’s repeating movies is what they offer. How about Damon Wayans as MAJOR PAYNE, 1988’s THE RESCUE with Kevin Dillon or Gregory Peck as MCARTHUR. Sillier fare could be the ghost CASPER, THE GREAT MUPPET CAPER and THE CLASSICAL BABY series. HBO Signature: You can count on this channel having some good content. This time out I’ll draw your attention to THE WINNING SEASON has Sam Rockwell giving a slam-dunk performance as a divorced, hard-drinking busboy and BE COOL has John Travolta chillin’ out. There is also HOSTAGE with Bruce Willis, FREQUENCY with Dennis Quaid, CAKE with Heather Graham and BOILER ROOM with Giovanni Ribisi. Pick any of them; they are good. HBO Comedy: By now you are getting overwhelmed with the choices but we got a few more like QUICK CHANGE, INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS and a few episodes of FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS here. HBO Zone: And some quite odd choices here like KRAMPUS; CINDERELLA’S HOT NIGHT and SLEEPING BEAUTIES. For a clip let’s go for an obscure one.
HBONow/Go: How about some classic and acclaimed movies to enjoy when you want off the site of choice? There is 1959’s JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH, Keanu and Bullock in SPEED, DRIVING MISS DAISY and COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER. Perhaps you’d what to see Whitney again in THE BODYGUARD or Whoopi in SISTER ACT? Or catch an HBO series that you have never seen before like all ten episodes of TELL ME YOU LOVE ME or of the installments of IN TREATMENT. Also for Father’s Day there are recommendations to enjoy with dear old Dad. In the ‘Watch With Dad” collection they suggest CRIMSON TIDE, GOOD WILL HUNTING, PARENTHOOD, SULLY, THEY LIVE, UNDER SEIGE and UNFORGIVEN. It also has an “Iconic HBO Dads” collection that includes THE SOPRANOS, TOGETHERNESS and EASTBOUND AND DOWN. Find out what your patriarch is interested in and settle in this Father’s Day.
Cinemax: I’m in the dark a bit about what the sister channel offers as its site is no way up to par with HBO’s site. But I do know it is pushing the following movie premieres Friday nights: IN THE VALLEY OF VIOLENCE on 06.02; RIDE ALONG 2 on 06.09; MR.RIGHT on 06.16 and MORGAN on 06.22. Better yet, classic movie fans can catch a trio of works from acclaimed director William Friedkin in June.
Next Month’s Tease: Who is Connor 4 Real?
To answer last month’s Tease we needed to know that Mel Gibson starred in RANSOM and his surname in the Lethal Weapon movies is Riggs. That gives us ‘Ransom Riggs’, the author of the book that became the movie of the same title MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN. Next month’s tease isn’t as complex.
Final Clip: I feel like showcasing the movie BIRTH OF A NATION to close.
Here is hoping we get back up to speed in July and that HBO hasn’t discontinued its monthly overview announcement or things have just gotten a whole lot harder. See Ya!
