As the old song says, “Summertime and the livin’ is easy” when you know you can come in at the end of the day and catch some great content on HBO or Max (soon to return to the HBO Max branding). Some interesting content is on the slate for June, and, as always, there is plenty more curated content than what we provide here. Let’s check what’s on.
A few quick points:
- THE GILDED AGE Returns In All Its Finery
- But We’re Still Getting Dirty With DUSTER
- We meet PATI and PARTHENOPE in June
- And Shockingly, THE MORTICIAN
- Plus, We Immerse ourselves In Some Minecraft
- And, Get A Looney Tunes Surprise!
HBO Original Series: Get into your high fashion and snobby airs because THE GILDED AGE returns in June. The Emmy-nominated HBO Original drama series, from creator Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey), debuts its eight-episode third season SUNDAY, JUNE 22 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. What are we promised? Well, following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights while George risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn’t ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada’s new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear. Here is the available Teaser that has been released:
Now, being just a few weeks out, you’d think we’d have a full Trailer, a poster and/or episode breakdowns for such a heralded show. We don’t. But, at least we will take the clip we’re given, a cast list and a few stills. The bulky cast for S3 includes Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Louisa Jacobson, 
Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson, Blake Ritson, Ben Ahlers, Ashlie Atkinson, Dylan Baker, Kate Baldwin, Victoria Clark, John Ellison Conlee, Michael Cumpsty, Kelley Curran, Jordan Donica, Jessica Frances Dukes, Claybourne Elder, Amy Forsyth, Jack Gilpin, LisaGay Hamilton, Ward Horton, Simon Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Ben Lamb, Nathan Lane, Andrea Martin, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Debra Monk, Hattie Morahan, Donna Murphy, Kristine Nielsen, Paul Alexander Nolan, Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Rachel Pickup, Taylor Richardson, Douglas Sills, Bobby Steggert, Erin Wilhelmi, John Douglas Thompson, Leslie Uggams, Merritt Wever, with Bill Camp and Phylicia Rashad. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of society, so don’t be late to the soiree as THE GILDED AGE returns for a full eight finely crafted episodes Sundays on HBO!
LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER has its spot beginning SUNDAY, JUNE 01 (11:00 pm-11:41 pm ET/PT). Yeah, when he gets on a roll, his show always runs over the half-hour point. The hot topics as of late have been the state of health agencies under RFK Jr.’s leadership, the intense deportation practices 
at the southern border, the definition and actions of the Alliance Defending Freedom, and the behavior between President Trump & The Press. The show will likely sit out either on 06.29 or 07.6. If you tune in Friday nights, then you are likely seeking out REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER, and you won’t be disappointed in June. It continues starting FRIDAY, June 06 (10:00-11:00 pm ET/PT). As always, there are serious political & cultural issues to discuss, but always with a humorous vein. One fun interview as of late has been Maher’s sitdown with Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong.
Original Series Exclusive to Max: Max has got two big series running in June. One has proved to be coming in fast and hard, the other continues the story of beloved friends. First, we got the show that IndieWire says, “Not all of it works and Season 1 never kicks into fourth gear, but [this show] gets so many of the little things right, it’s easy to set your quibbles aside and just enjoy the ride.” So, how about doing just that when J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan’s DUSTER continues its 70’s rip-roarin’ vibe? It continues its run with a new installment on THURSDAYS on Max.
Oh, and the friends I referred to were Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte. Their story picks up in Season Three of AND JUST LIKE THAT…, which just debuted on 05.29. A new installment arrives every THURSDAY on Max as well. Hey, here is something fun from the gals:
HBO International Titles: I’m sure I’ve said it before, but International fare is some of my favorite HBO content, and trying to track down what each title is about each month is one of my favorite parts of this monthly post. We have four titles to share this time around, beginning with a work titled CHESPIRITO: NOT REALLY ON PURPOSE. It is available on Max as of THURSDAY, JUNE 05. The show, which runs for eight (8) installments, is about the life of the Latin American entertainer Roberto Gómez Bolaños. Through a heartfelt journey spanning from his childhood to his most successful years — between the 1950s and 1980s — the biographical series reveals how a young dreamer managed to break into a budding television industry, facing personal challenges and deep sacrifices in his pursuit of love and recognition. Pablo Cruz stars as the beloved Roberto Gómez Bolaños, “Chespirito,” and brings to life his iconic characters: El Chavo del 8, El Chapulín Colorado, and Dr. Chapatín. Be alerted though, if you want it in English you’ll need the subtitles.
The next title is also a biography, but it is told as a multi-part documentary. SUPER SARA offers a revealing and unprecedented portrait of the life of a woman who defied the expectations and conventions of 
her own era, paved the way for those who came after her, and enjoyed life to the very last minute. She will always be remembered for being the first Spanish woman to succeed in Hollywood, her celebrated romances, and her unique television appearances. Through home movies from her personal family archive that have never been seen, and personal items belonging to Sara herself, several of her relatives, friends, colleagues, and admirers create a multifaceted portrait of the woman beyond the myth. It is told in three parts and begins FRIDAY, JUNE 13. Arriving on FRIDAY, JUNE 20 is NOW OR NEVER: FC MONTFERMEIL. It is a sports documentary series, and the sport is what we call soccer. It seems the Paris suburbs are a breeding ground for soccer talent. FC Montfermeil, an amateur club, sees its young U17 players dreaming of signing for a big club. Between family pressure, coaches’ expectations and personal ambitions, 
Isaac, Anis, Kéba, Neel, Ibé, Mathias, Marwan, and their teammates have to give their all to seize their chance. But not all will achieve their goals. Our last title hails from Poland and is called PATI. Max will show both Season One & Two of the series that began in 2023. It starts to unspool on FRIDAY, JUNE 27. The main character, before she was deprived of her freedom, did not have the easiest life situation, mainly due to her completely unorganized and irresponsible mother, Julita. It is “Pati” who is responsible for taking care of her younger siblings, Natalka and Natanek, and her mother, entangled in the criminal world and drugs. Despite adversities, she does not give up fighting for her dreams.
HBO & Max Theatrical Movies: Here is an unfortunate rarity. There is a new movie every weekend in June. Hopefully, it is a trend that continues. So, what does HBO have in store for the next month? Look for some little-known titles and some big fan favorites when Parthenope, Cleaner, A Minecraft Movie, and The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie debut.
Debuting first, on SATURDAY, JUNE 07 (8:00-10:19 pm ET/PT; on Max the day prior), is PARTHENOPE. This A24 film gives us a beautiful title character. Parthenope, born in the sea of Naples in 1950, searches for happiness over the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her home city and its many memorable characters. From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino, who gave us the HBO content THE YOUNG POPE, THE NEW POPE and MY BRILLIANT FRIEND, comes a monumental and deeply romantic story of a lifetime. It stars Celeste Dalla Porta, Stefania Sandrelli, Gary Oldman, Silvio Orlando and others.
The following week, SATURDAY, JUNE 14 (8:00-9:40 pm ET/PT; on Max the day prior), we move from romance to action with Martin Campbell’s CLEANER. Set in present-day London, a group of radical activists takes over 
an energy company’s annual gala, seizing 300 hostages in order to expose the corruption of the hosts. Their just cause is hijacked by an extremist within their ranks, who is ready to murder everyone in the building to send his anarchic message to the world. It falls to an ex-soldier turned window cleaner, suspended 50 stories up on the outside of the building, to save those trapped inside, including her younger brother. Starring Daisy Ridley, Taz Skylar, and Clive Owen. Directed by Martin Campbell; screenplay by Simon Uttley, Paul Andrew Williams, and Matthew Orton. A Quiver Distribution Film. A MINECRAFT MOVIE gives us something completely different when it arrives mid-month. If you know little or nothing about it, then – Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity doesn’t just help you craft, it’s essential to one’s survival! Four misfits—Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll have to master this world (and protect it from evil things like Piglins and Zombies, too) while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve (Jack Black). Together, their adventure will challenge all five to be bold and to reconnect with the qualities that make each of them uniquely creative…the very skills they need to thrive back in the real world. Directed by Jared Hess. Find it coming SATURDAY, JUNE 21 (8:00-9:40 pm ET/PT; on Max the day prior).
Then, to conclude the month, Ketchup Entertainment and Warner Bros Animation Film present THE DAY THE EARTH BLEW UP: A LOONEY TUNES MOVIE. Porky Pig and Daffy Duck venture to the big screen as unlikely heroes and Earth’s only hope when their antics at the local bubble gum factory uncover a secret alien mind control plot. Faced with cosmic odds, the two are determined to save their town (and the world!)… that is if they don’t drive each other totally looney in the process. The voice cast includes Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Wayne Knight, and Laraine Newman. Directed by Pete Browngardt. Written by Darrick Bachman, Pete Browngardt, Kevin Costello, Andrew Dickman, David Gemmill, Alex Kirwan, Ryan Kramer, Jason Reicher, Michael Ruocco, Johnny Ryan, Eddie Trigueros. Produced by Michael Baum. Executive Produced by Pete Browngardt and Sam Register. Enjoy the Looney Tunes tale when it debuts SATURDAY, JUNE 28 (8:00-9:31 pm ET/PT; on Max the day prior).
HBO Documentary Films: This category starts us off we a 3-part work directed and executive produced by Joshua Rofé entitled THE MORTICIAN. It debuts SUNDAY, JUNE 01 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. New episodes will debut on subsequent Sundays at the same time. This darkly gripping series chronicles a trusted family-owned funeral home that hid behind a façade of decency and propriety to take advantage of loved ones at their most vulnerable moments. In the early 1980s, David Sconce, scion of the Lamb family, took over the family business and sought to exploit the deceased in numerous ways to expand their earnings. Driven by profit, the Lamb Funeral Home in Pasadena, California, engaged in years of morally questionable and inhumane practices.
–Episode One
Debut date: SUNDAY, JUNE 1 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
The Lamb Funeral Home, a respected family-owned mortuary in Pasadena, descends into grisly practices after David Sconce, scion of the Lamb family, takes over the business. Deeply ambitious, Sconce covertly pursues extreme measures to beat his competitors. In 1985, a local funeral director, who started making allegations about the crematorium’s high turnover rate, succumbed to a heart attack at 24.
–Episode Two
Debut date: SUNDAY, JUNE 8 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
When the Lamb Funeral Home’s crematorium is destroyed by a fire in 1986, David is undeterred and finds ways to expand the family business. As allegations of abuse mount, David is eventually arrested. When police investigate, they discover shocking evidence that points to David being possibly connected to the assault and later death of a rival mortician.
–Episode Three
Debut date: SUNDAY, JUNE 15 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)
Members of the Lamb family are convicted of various crimes, including fraud. While in prison, a murder charge is brought against David for the death of his competitor, but in 1991, the charges are dropped due to a lack of hard evidence. In all, over 20,000 families were affected by the practices at the Lamb Funeral Home and David’s case brought about reforms and new regulations to the mortuary business.
Arriving on TUESDAY, JUNE 24 (9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT) is the next title. It is entitled ENIGMA. Exploring 
transgender identity and legacy and chronicling the divergent paths of iconic pioneers April Ashley, Amanda Lear, and others, acclaimed filmmaker Zackary Drucker explores questions of identity and survival, revealing the disparate but intertwined stories of women whose lives helped shape trans culture and history. Their experiences, varied and complex, highlight the costs associated with living their truths and explore what is gained and lost by defining their identities. The film had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Closing out the month is MY MOM JAYNE. Mariska Hargitay was three years old when her mother, Jayne Mansfield, tragically died in a car accident at the age of 34. The film follows Mariska as she seeks to know, understand, and embrace her mother for the first time. Through intimate interviews and a collection of never-before-seen photos and home movies, she grapples with her mother’s public and private legacy and discovers the layers and depth of who Jayne was, not only to her audience but to those who were closest to her. Directed and produced by Mariska Hargitay; producer, Trish Adlesic; executive producer, Lauran Bromley. Mariska Hargitay states, “This movie is a labor of love and longing. It’s a search for the mother I never knew, an integration of a part of myself I’d never owned, and a reclaiming of my mother’s story and my own truth. I’ve always believed there is strength in vulnerability, and the process of making this film has confirmed that belief like never before.” It debuts FRIDAY, JUNE 27 (8:00-9:45 pm ET/ PT). We don’t have a trailer, but here is this insight.
Max Kids & Family: Once again, we can rattle off some children’s programming on Max. You can gather the little tots around for another block of episodes of BEA’s BLOCK arriving on THURSDAY, JUNE 05, TOAD & FRIENDS on FRIDAY, JUNE 13, and THE BALLY BUNCH on FRIDAY, JUNE 20. For an older crowd, there is TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND Season 2 debuting SUNDAY, JUNE 01, and the back half of TEEN TITANS GO! Season 9 on FRIDAY, JUNE 20. SESAME STREET is still on Max every THURSDAY into September.
HBO Sports: There is plenty of sports action on Max in June, including NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS, MLB, NASCAR, U.S. SOCCER, ROLAND-GARROS action, and AEW WRESTLING. Check Max for matches and start times.
Other Shows On HBO or Max: Despite the tone the current Administration is presenting, WBD is moving forward with Pride Month observation. So, celebrate Pride Month with Max this June! All month, beginning June 01, Max is shining a spotlight on LGBTQIA+ stories through a curated lineup of series, films, and documentaries. Max’s LGBTQIA+ COLLECTION Page has groundbreaking stories, heartfelt coming-of-age dramas and eye-opening documentaries and iconic queer cinema.
Some of the titles to be found there include Paris is Burning (pictured), BOWIE: MOONAGE DAYDREAM, THE STROLL, The Times of Harvey Milk, MAPPLETHROPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES, IT’S A SIN, GENTLEMAN JACK, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Happy Together and AND THE BAND PLAYED ON. There are plenty more, and most of them are HBO Original content.
Looking over the linear HBO channels, we can offer some other titles as mere suggestions for June. In movies, we have the likes of A Hologram for the King, Parasite, Public Enemies, Bullet Train, and the Hunger Games franchise. Over on HBO Signature, there is a marathon of SIX FEET UNDER beginning on June 01; HBO Family has a run of 100 FOOT WAVE beginning on June 06, and HBO Comedy shows all of SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE starting on June 02. EUPHORIA gets replayed starting with Episode 1 – “Pilot” starting at 5:45 pm on June 14 over on HBO Signature. Enjoy.
Next Month’s Tease: Is it time to hear “Say Goodbye To Hollywood” and “Allentown”?
Last Month’s Tease: We asked – Which bygone Hollywood grand dame was Mariska Hargitay’s mother? Answer: Jayne Mansfield, whose life is explored by her daughter in MY MOM JAYNE in June.
Final Clip: What can we say, we were feeling a little loony… excuse me…LOONEY.
Enjoy HBO & HBOWatch
