There aren't any new series of note premiering on Max this week, but there's a new season of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver for fans of satirical takes on current events, and a new season of Jellystone for fans of re-interpretations of classic cartoon characters.
Since every show is new if you haven't seen it, I've dug through the programming vaults to highlight a couple of HBO's best series ever. If you haven't seen Flight of the Concords or Barry, I'm jealous.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Season 11
A new season of John Oliver's Last Week Tonight begins this week on Max. While Last Week Tonight wears its politics on its sleeve and isn't afraid to tackle big issues, it never forgets to be entertaining at the same time. The combination of Oliver's sardonic delivery, very clever jokes, and meticulous research elevate Last Week Tonight far above any other satirical-news program (Sorry, The Daily Show).
Jellystone, Season 3
Jellystone dusts off old cartoon characters like Yogi, Boo Boo, Huckleberry Hound, and Jabberjaw, gives 'em a new coat of paint and fresh attitude, and sets 'em loose on your TV. The hook is that all these animated weirdos live in a little town together. Kids will like it because it's colorful, fast, and packed with interesting characters, while parents and grandparents will enjoy the meta-humor and nostalgia. Warning: you'll probably end up saying things like, "Look, Captain Caveman!" to your confused children.
Barry (2018-2023)
Barry is one of the best shows HBO ever made. Bill Hader created and stars in this comedy series about a hitman who wants to be an actor. It's a hokey-sounding premise, but the writing and performances transforms high concept into high art by never sacrificing character for comedy nor losing sight of the story's inner logic. Plus, there are only four seasons, and there are unlikely to be any more, so the story has an actual ending and doesn't have a chance to go stale.
Flight of the Conchords (2007-2009)
It's been over 15 years since HBO premiered Flight of the Conchords, and the quirky, deadpan comedy show still feels fresh. Conchords follows the day-to-day of folk singers Bret and Jermaine, "New Zealand’s fourth most popular parody duo," as they try to get by in New York, but the plot is more of a framework for absurdist comedy and funny songs. Musical comedy is interminable if done poorly but Conchords never hits a bum note.
Last week's picks
The Truth About Jim
Just about everyone’s grandpa has a dark side, but Sierra Barter’s step-grandfather might have been the damn Zodiac Killer. His name is Jim Mordecai, and when he was alive, he was a high school teacher and a respected member of his Bay Area community. Behind closed doors, he was an abusive husband, a sexual predator, and maybe the most notorious unidentified serial killer in American history. The Truth about Jim explores the evidence linking Mordecai to Zodiac’s crimes as well as examining the devastation a monstrous patriarch wrought on his family.
Tokyo Vice, Season 2
Loosely based on the career of journalist Jake Adelstein and directed by Michael Mann, Tokyo Vice takes viewers into the criminal underworld of Japan. As the sole Western reporter on the staff of Tokyo’s largest newspaper, Jake investigates a shadowy underworld of hidden power structures and criminality.
Puppy Bowl Presents: 20 Years of Puppies
The Puppy Bowl began as low-budget Super Bowl counter-programming and has grown into an American institution, so celebrate 20 years of adorable little mutts with this special retrospective collection of the most exciting moments in the show's history, including that time that one puppy did something cute, and the time you were like "awwww. Lookit that lil guy!" You can also watch this year's Puppy Bowl in its entirety on Max, in case you missed it on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Outsider (2020)
Based on a novel by Stephen King, The Outsider begins with the discovery of the mutilated body of an 11-year-old boy in the woods. All the evidence points to a local man, but detective Ralph Anderson isn't convinced. With the help of Holly, a psychic investigator, Ralph uncovers an ancient evil that feeds on human misery. On the surface, The Outsider is a well-paced, bleak supernatural thriller, but on a deeper level, The Outsider is an examination of the role of faith in our wicked world.