So, welcome to Max. It is business as usual for us as our main focus will be anything branded an “HBO Original.” But just as we did with HBO Max we will glean over some of the other content available on this latest iteration. Two more series have now become classics, SUCCESSION, and BARRY, but going forward we will seek out from the HBO Hub section want the next big shows to join HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, THE GILDED AGE, THE LAST OF US, etc. Since you are here reading this, we guess you are following right along. Here is a sampling of what’s on HBO for June 2023.
A few quick points:
- Gemstones and John return
- So do Carrie Bradshaw and Ah Sahm
- In addition to the original Rock
- Plus, comedy, music, and cartoons
- and the world of Pandora!
HBO Original Series: One controversial drama debuts and a comedy & a reality show return. The HBO Original drama series THE IDOL debuts SUNDAY, JUNE 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. The series will air on HBO and be available to stream on Max. It is co-created by Sam Levinson (HBO’s EUPHORIA.), Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Reza Fahim, and stars Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp. After a nervous breakdown derailed Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) last tour, she’s determined to claim her rightful status as the greatest and sexiest pop star in America. Her passions are reignited by Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye), a nightclub impresario with a sordid past. Will her romantic awakening take her to glorious new heights or the deepest and darkest depths of her soul? It also stars Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Eli Roth, Hari Nef, Jane Adams, Jennie Ruby Jane, Mike Dean, Moses Sumney, Rachel Sennott, Ramsey, Suzanna Son, and Hank Azaria.
Some call it ‘torture porn’, some say Tesfaye can’t act. We say you are only going to know for sure if you watch it yourself. It runs for six episodes beginning with the following:
–Episode 01 – “Pop Tarts & Rat Tails”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, JUNE 04 playing three times in a row beginning at 9:00 pm ET/PT
As Jocelyn preps for her triumphant return, a leaked photo sends her team into crisis mode – just as a journalist arrives to do an in-depth profile on her. Later, Jocelyn has a chance encounter with nightclub owner Tedros.
–Episode 02 – “Double Fantasy”
Debut Date: SUNDAY, JUNE 11 playing three times in a row beginning at 9:00 pm ET/PT
After clashing with her team over her album’s first single, Jocelyn pushes herself to the limit on the set of her new music video, while Nikki sees potential in backup dancer Dyanne. Later, Tedros introduces Jocelyn and Leia to Izaak and Chloe from his inner circle.
The Gemstones return to the scene next. Created, written, and executive produced by Danny McBride (HBO’s VICE PRINCIPALS and EASTBOUND & DOWN), the first two episodes of the nine-episode third season of THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES debuts SUNDAY, JUNE 18 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. The series tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed, and charitable work. When the spoiled Gemstone children finally get their wish to take control of the Church, they discover leadership is harder than they imagined and that their extravagant lifestyle comes with a heavy price.
And just because he is defying all odds, in my opinion, we acknowledge the presence of John Lurie and his little HBO gig too. Season 3 of the HBO Original unscripted series PAINTING WITH JOHN, written, directed by, and starring musician, actor, director, and painter, John Lurie, debuts its six-episode season FRIDAY, JUNE 2 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Season 3, Episode 1: “Hermits Unite”
Debut date: FRIDAY, JUNE 2 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT)
John laments how he, the world, and airports are absolute messes before offering a public service announcement on TV binge-watching.
Season 3, Episode 2: “Potato”
Debut date: FRIDAY, JUNE 9 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Over a unique blend of music, animation, and painted scenery, John recounts an escape he led from summer camp.
Season 3, Episode 3: “The Sea Monster”
Debut date: FRIDAY, JUNE 16 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT) 
John discusses getting older and Nesrin floats away to music.
Season 3, Episode 4: “My Friend Flea”
Debut date: FRIDAY, JUNE 23 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT)
John receives a visit from his friend Flea, and the two find endless time to catch up… in prison.
Season 3, Episode 5: “How the Music Is Made”
Debut date: FRIDAY, JUNE 30 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT)
John gathers a group of remarkable musicians to write, rehearse, and record music for this season of the show.
Season 3, Episode 6: “The Night Hunters” (Season finale)
Debut date: FRIDAY, JULY 7 (11:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT)
John shares his appreciation for his long-time assistant and friend Nesrin… and his epic collection of luminary toast.
Note, of course, that REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER and LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER are on hiatus due to the Writer’s Strike.
Original Series Exclusive to Max: What can we say, just like that it has been 25 years since Carrie Bradshaw and the gals arrived in SEX AND THE CITY and, just like that, its sequel series AND JUST LIKE THAT… arrives with Season Two. The eleven-episode second season of the Max Original series, from executive producer Michael Patrick King, will debut with two episodes on THURSDAY, JUNE 22 on Max. The following nine episodes will premiere weekly on Thursdays. Returning series regulars include Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Sara Ramírez, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman, Mario Cantone, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Christopher Jackson, Niall Cunningham, Cathy Ang and Alexa Swinton.
The other returning show, if any of you recall, started out on Cinemax. It is WARRIOR. Its third season begins to play on THURSDAY, JUNE 29. Based on the writings of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, the actioner debuts with three episodes that day. Inverse hailed it as “the most underrated action series of the century.” In the wake of the race riots that upended Chinatown in Season Two, Mai Ling uses her government connections to consolidate power, while Ah Sahm and the Hop Wei must find new ways to survive. Here is a teaser –
One more show gets a return in June, this time of the animation variety. It is time for the sophomore season of TEN-YEAR-OLD TOM. The series, created, produced, directed, and written by Steve Dildarian (HBO’s THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM) is joined in the second season by Byron Bowers (Honey Boy). Not only is he part of the writing team but also voices the character of Nelson. The series follows the misadventures of an average kid as he contends with questionable guidance from the well-meaning grownups around him. Being a kid is hard enough for Tom, but when bad influences seem to lurk around every corner it is just a no-win. While the adults in Tom’s life certainly mean well, they just can’t manage to lead by example. The cartoon begins new episodes THURSDAY, JUNE 29.
New episodes of THE OTHER TWO and SHAMELESS: ON THE ROAD are still rolling out as well.
HBO International Titles: His name is VGLY. Though stuck at the bottom of the social ladder with no 
money or contacts, aspiring artist Vgly and his crew strive to break into the Latino music business. The series hails from Mexico for ten episodes. It is dubbed in English, but the trailer is not, so we bypass it here. It already debuted on MAY 25 (yeah, I missed it) on Max. Speaking about the Latin music scene, though there is not much detail out about it, Season Two of the drama RAP BATTLEFIELD launches on THURSDAY, JUNE 15. Set in Buenos Aires, this high-octane series follows young artists León, Rafaela, and Andy as they take on the unpredictable world of competitive freestyle rap, tackling personal and professional obstacles along the path to greatness. Production had a halt so the sophomore season did not premiere in 2022 as expected but now is ready to air. The series SPY/MASTER, which started last month, is still debuting new episodes.
A new docu-series out of Poland lands on Max entitled NAKED.LOUD.PROUD. It uploads on THURSDAY, JUNE 01 and is directed by Agnieszka Mazanek and Delfina Dellert, and produced by ZPR Media. It is based on a group of Polish burlesque and drag performers and how they come together to make 
their and each other’s dreams come true. FRIDAY, JUNE 09 sees another international docu-series start. Out of Finland comes FIRST FIVE. It is the inside story behind the ascent of Finland’s outgoing prime minister, Sanna Marin. It is billed as an “intimate” portrait of Marin and her headline-grabbing female cabinet (pictured, right). The project comes just weeks after Marin and her center-left Social Democratic Party was defeated by the conservative National Coalition Party.
HBO Theatrical Movies: MAX and HBO are back to big movies once again it seems. The new streamer 
had no choice but to entice subscribers with some big titles. Not only are the site and channel offering MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE in June but it snagged a whale of a premiere with AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER as well. Here is a look at each, but note first some other titles rotating onto Max at this time. From the TCM set comes A Star Is Born from 1954, 1976 and 2018, David Copperfield from 1935, Dog Day Afternoon from 1975, Enter The Dragon from 1973, Fame from 1980, Jeremiah Johnson from 1972, On Moonlight Bay from 1951 and Operation Crossbow from 1965 to just to name a few. There are also the Police Academy movies and the Evil Dead ones too. Plus, a couple of dozen more. Seek and ye shall find cinematic treasures. Now, the latest.
MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 03 (8:00 pm ET/PT). The movie is a 2023 American comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Reid Carolin, and produced by Channing Tatum. It is the third installment in the Magic Mike trilogy, following Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). Apparently, strong test screenings pulled the movie from being an HBO Max exclusive and gave it a theatrical run earlier this year. Now find it on Max and HBO.
The film stars Channing Tatum as the titular retired male stripper, who leaves Florida for London to help a socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) that he has become chummy. She wants him to help save an inherited theater from collapse and, you guessed it, stages a show to do just that.
The big catch though, is AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. Though the movie, the sequel to 2009’s Avatar, was a 20th Century Studios film slated for a Disney+ run, a deal was wrangled to also have it also appear on WBD’s formats. Thus, on SATURDAY, JUNE 10 (8:00- 11:15 pm ET/PT) the movie makes its way to HBO. It follows the blue-skinned humanoid Na’vi named Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he and his family, under renewed human threat, seek refuge with the aquatic Metkayina clan of Pandora sixteen years after the first story. Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, and Matt Gerald reprise their roles from the original film, with Sigourney Weaver returning in a different role and with Kate Winslet joining as well. James Cameron’s blockbuster will hold your attention for 3 hours and 15 minutes.
HBO Documentary Films: We’ve picked up on the amount of documentary content this month. Here is a brief look at each in chronological order by debut date. First up is BURDEN OF PROOF. This HBO Original four-part true crime docuseries, directed by award-winning filmmaker Cynthia Hill, debuts with the first two episodes TUESDAY, JUNE 6 (9:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO followed by the final two episodes on Wednesday, June 7. The entire series will be available to stream on Max beginning Tuesday, June 6. When 15-year-old Jennifer Pandos went missing in 1987, her parents told everyone she ran away. Decades later, her brother Stephen begins a relentless odyssey in search of the truth. His investigation into the case threatens to destroy his family as he becomes strongly convinced that his parents are both implicated in the crime. As time passes, more threads unravel and new evidence comes to light, Stephen starts to question everything he has come to believe. 
–Episode 1
Debut date: TUESDAY, JUNE 6 (9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
In 1987, Ron and Margie Pandos awake to find their daughter Jennifer missing from her bedroom. Decades later, Jennifer’s older brother Stephen believes their parents are responsible for her disappearance and has the investigation re-opened.
–Episode 2
Debut date: TUESDAY, JUNE 6 (10:00 – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT)
With the police focus on Ron and Margie, investigators scrutinize Ron’s past as a Vietnam veteran and his criminal record. Margie is offered immunity in exchange for testimony against Ron. After decades of estrangement, Stephen confronts his father. But when new information emerges, the investigation goes in an unexpected direction.
–Episode 3
Debut date: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 (9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
A trove of Jennifer’s personal writings paints a picture of a struggling teenage girl. The reappearance of lost evidence refocuses the investigation on an original person of interest. Stephen continues to believe his mother holds the key to the truth.
–Episode 4
Debut date: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 (10:00 – 11:05 p.m. ET/PT)
As the police investigation heats back up, Stephen learns about secret legal proceedings and a police subpoena regarding someone from Jennifer’s past. New evidence takes an emotional toll on Stephen and his family.
HBO Documentary Films has acquired worldwide and television streaming rights to the Academy Award-nominated documentary short, HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR?, from longtime HBO collaborator Jay Rosenblatt. It arrives WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14 (9:00-9:30 pm ET/PT). For 17 years, filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt filmed his daughter Ella on her birthday, asking her the same questions. In just 29 minutes, we watch her grow from a toddler to a young woman with all the beautiful and awkward stages in between. Each phase is captured fleetingly but makes an indelible mark. Her responses to her father’s questions are just a backdrop for a deeper story of parental love, acceptance, and ultimately, independence. It proves to be just perfect for Father’s Day. On WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 comes THE STROLL. It is the history of New York’s Meatpacking District told from the point of view of transgender sex workers who lived and worked there. They recount the violence, policing, and gentrification that lead to a movement for transgender rights.
With yet another celebrity biography (what is this the Biography Channel?) the month ends with ROCK HUDSON: ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWED. That title is, of course, a spin on his famed movie with Jane Wyman called All That Heaven Allows. But this 1 hour and 44-minute documentary offers up the life of Rock Hudson. The biography of the renowned actor is examined in this relevant investigation of Hollywood and LGBTQ+ identity, from his public “ladies’ man” character to his private life as a gay man. It debuts WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28 from acclaimed documentarian Stephen Kijak.
MAX Original Documentary Films: The streamer has a title or two as well. The only difference is that 
they can only be seen on Max; the HBO channel will not broadcast the following titles. THURSDAY, JUNE 08 is the launch date for AMERICAN PAIN. Listed as a “jaw-dropping true-crime documentary” this film tells the story of twin brothers and bodybuilders Chris and Jeff George, who operated a franchise of pain clinics in Florida where they handed out pain pills like candy. The brothers haul in trash bags full of cash each day as their business grows, to the point that lines of people wrap around the block and busloads of new patients arrive from surrounding states daily. Yet another strong case of how opioid use and abuse exploded. Max has a docu-series of its own to tout debuting THURSDAY, JUNE 15. It is the eight-episode romantic-documentary (rom-doc) dating series SWIPING AMERICA, from creators and executive producers Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram of the Emmy, Peabody, Television Academy Honors and GLAAD Award-winning unscripted HBO series WE’RE HERE. After its debut with two episodes on the 15th, the following four episodes will debut on June 22, leading up to the final two episodes on June 29. It follows a group of diverse singles from New York City (Ashleigh, Kesun, Kris, Reagan) on an introspective, eight-city dating app journey, as they explore personal issues around sex, relationships, love and connection. Each episode finds the group in a new American city (Asheville, NC; Miami, FL; Austin, TX; New Orleans, LA; Santa Fe, NM; Boulder, CO; Seattle, WA; and Honolulu, HI), as producers swipe through possible matches and curate blind dates for them. While forging a special friendship with each other over the course of the season, their journey culminates in Hawaii, where they hand-pick their best match from the season and ultimately decide whether their relationship can go the distance. You get all that?
And then there is this – DOWNEY’S DREAM CARS. It debuts with two episodes THURSDAY, JUNE 22 on Max, with two new episodes debuting each Thursday leading up to the final two episodes on July 6. So glad it doesn’t have the letters HBO in front of it. Robert Downey Jr. loves restoring classic cars. But he’s also become dedicated to fighting climate change. So, he’s bringing his beloved old cars into the future, making them faster, more powerful, and more efficient while keeping their souls intact. Okay!? Sorry, some of you might be happy to see this, I don’t know.
HBO Original Special: The HBO Original stand-up comedy special JOHN EARLY: NOW MORE THAN EVER debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. In this, his first HBO comedy special, John Early brings his unique blend of cutting commentary, pop star swagger, and all-around loveable hilarity to Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York. In the style of a gritty 1970s rockumentary, Early performs stand-up and explosive song covers from Britney Spears to Neil Young, intercut with Spinal Tap-esque backstage sketches. It sounds unique indeed.
And talking about unique there is this guy – Taylor Mac. He struts the stage in a musical extravaganza that has been made into a concert film titled TAYLOR MAC: 24 DECADE HISTORY OF POPULAR 
MUSIC. It captures Taylor Mac’s exuberant, blatantly gay 24-hour musical performance in New York City, featuring skilled musicians, creative costumes, and the American myth as recounted through sailor’s ditties, disco, and sugary pop alike. I’ll admit I’m curious about what popular music was in any given decade of our history, but I don’t know if I’m up for Taylor Mac. You? The special debuts TUESDAY JUNE 27.
Max Kids & Family: There is very little children’s programming that is actual HBO content, shows that 
actually make it to the channel. Max showcases titles and some, like GREMLINS: SECRETS OF THE MOGWAI (which is still debuting new episodes) are originals but most are imported shows from Cartoon Network and some are DC works. The titles below reflect the newest content in the category. BUGS BUNNY BUILDERS continues with new episodes as of TUESDAY, JUNE 06; MEET THE BATWHEELS shorts (different from the series, I guess) on FRIDAY, JUNE 16 and new episodes of TEEN TITANS GO! (FRIDAY, JUNE 23) as well. Plus, don’t forget installments of SESAME STREET every Thursday, beginning JUNE 01. This month Elmo and friends celebrate Grandparents Day. And, just like last month, we can announce another DC animated movie. This month it is BATMAN: THE DOOM THAT CAME TO GOTHAM. Find it arriving MONDAY, JUNE 26. In this one, an ancient evil awakens and only Bruce Wayne can save 1920s Gotham City. I don’t even want to know how he ends up in the 1920s.
HBO Sports: REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL should have its latest on TUESDAY, JUNE 20 (10:00-11:00 pm ET). How about bolstering up the sports programming? Gumbel can’t do it all!
Next Month’s Tease: A two-part question this round. Who directed and/or produced K STREET, UNSCRIPTED, HIS WAY, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA and MOSAIC for HBO and Cinemax’ THE KNICK and what is his next work, coming in July, for HBO?
Last month – We dropped the title “Double Fantasy” which is a song and video from The Weeknd, who, of course, is in THE IDOL this month.
Final Clip: And since we are of a musical vibe here, take on Taylor Mac, if you dare.
Enjoy HBO and HBOWatch!
