The new HBO Max streaming service launched Wednesday after months of anticipation and hype. Here’s everything you’re going to need to know/what you might already be wondering about the exclusive new service if you’re interested in purchasing the new service. 

What’s the difference between HBO Max vs. HBO Go and HBO Now?

HBO Max is WarnerMedia’s new streaming service featuring all of its original HBO programmings, and much, much more. The new service launched Wednesday night. 

HBO Now is a standalone HBO package launched in 2015 for folks who don’t have cable and can’t access HBO that way. At $15 a month, HBO Now gives subscribers access to all of HBO’s original programming in an on-demand, streaming platform. 

HBO Go is the exact same thing as HBO Now except it’s only available to people who buy HBO as part of a cable or satellite package at no extra cost.

Do you get HBO Max if you already have HBO?

This part is a little bit complicated. If you already have HBO, depending on how you already pay to access the premium network, you may qualify for an HBO Max upgrade at no extra cost. You qualify if you pay for HBO through any of these providers: 

• AT&T (HBO’s parent company) and DirecTV, U-verse, AT&T TV Now, AT&T TV and AT&T wireless users who can add HBO with certain unlimited plans
• Charter and its Spectrum services
• YouTube TV or Google
• Apple
• Hulu
• Altice USA and its Optimum and Suddenlink services
• Verizon and its Fios services
• Cox Communications
• The NCTC group of independent cable and broadband companies — that includes WOW!, Atlantic Broadband, RCN, Grande Communications & Wave, MCTV and others. (Check if your pay-TV provider is an NCTC member.)
• Comcast X1 and Flex customers

HBO is still striking deals to provide customers with free upgrades with network providers, so if you don’t see your provider it’s very possible HBO is working on it.

How much is an HBO Max subscription and where can I get it? 

The sticker price of the new service is $15 monthly– Disney Plus is priced at $7 monthly and Netflix’s cheapest tier is $9. The easiest way to sign up is by heading to the website. HBO Max is currently offering a 7-day free trial as well. 

The service also announced Wednesday that a cheaper, ad-supported tier will launch early next year.

What devices can I use to stream HBO Max?

You can stream HBO Max on almost any device including your phone, tablet, web or smart TV except two critical streaming devices. Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices do not currently support HBO Max, and it is unclear at this time exactly when this will change. 

And lastly, what can I watch?

HBO Max has an extensive catalog, not only will you be able to stream HBO originals like The Sopranos and Insecure, you’ll also be able to stream hit series’ like Friends and The Big Bang Theory. Here are some more catalog highlights: 

• The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies 
• A wide selection of DC films (Joker, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, Shazam, Aquaman, every recent Batman and Superman movie)
• The Lego movies 
• Japanese Studio Ghibil anime films previously unavailable to stream in the U.S. (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro)
• Rick and Morty 
• Pretty Little Liars 
• Doctor Who
• South Park
• The Office 
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

 The streaming service also debuted a couple of originals:  

• On the Record, which is a Me Too documentary film about industry executive Russell Simmons 
• Craftopia, a craft series hosted by Youtubers 
• And Legendary, an underground drag ball competition show with featured judge Megan thee Stallion. Check out the spicy trailer below. 

Let us know if you plan to be joining this latest streaming service. 

There’s simply no avoiding it at this point, life has taken a turn for the strange as we mobilize around the world to flatten the curve. 2020 seems to have been stifled before it really had the chance to get started. Nonetheless, as the saying goes: life must go on. In a socially-distanced kind of manner, though. Whether you’ve taken to chill with your friends by way of the Netflix party app, or you’re watching in isolation with your loved ones, we’re helping you figure out a couple of solutions to the never-ending “what should I watch?” question, with a quick run-down of ten TV series that are perfect for binging on right now, whether it’s revisiting one of the classic TV series no longer on the air, or watching it for the first time. 

Let us know what shows you’ve been binging on, and what else you’ve been doing to occupy yourself during this time.

Peaky Blinders

Okay, give us some lee-way. Peaky Blinders may still be airing, but given the fact that we won’t be finding Boardwalk Empire on Netflix services any time soon, it’s the next best thing– and there are plenty of seasons to keep you occupied, even if the series is still shooting (although, Coronavirus has forced the crew to postpone production on the sixth season). Set in the 1900s England, post-World War 1, the series explores the Shelby family’s gang ties and criminal pursuits. It can be a bit difficult to get into, but it’s worth it, once you do.

Mad Men

Mad Men is another period drama, but this one will transport you to the 1950s, which might be the perfect escape for you right now— why did everything seem a lot simpler (but also a lot more racist and sexist, so there’s that) back then? Jon Hamm plays the character of Don Draper formidably, giving the man his je-ne-sais-quoi swagger and mystery. Mad Men juxtaposed drama with the nuance of everyday life, and that’s one of the reasons it’s so thrilling to watch.

Breaking Bad

Another classic TV series you can relive in its entirety on Netflix right now. Everyone knows the story by now, I’m sure, even if you haven’t actually seen the series– Breaking Bad has earned its slang in its own right. The TV series, which brought new life to the acting career of Bryan Cranston, documented a chemistry high school teacher’s battle with cancer and foray in drug-making, and drug-dealing.

Better Call Saul

Breaking Bad not only resulted in a movie, but a full-on TV series for the character of Saul, played by Bob Odenkirk. Created by the man behind Breaking Bad, Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul takes us pre-Walter White era to show the evolution of the lawyer named Jimmy McGill. Certain characters from Breaking Bad do make a cameo through out the series. While this particular show is actually still on-air, in its fifth season, it’s a generally-agreed upon classic already and thus we’ve decided to include it on this list. 

The Good Place

The Good Place will satisfy your need to have something light and humorous to watch during a pandemic. The TV show, which just concluded its fourth and final season, stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, who quickly finds out at the outset of the series that she is deceased. From there, she’s navigating the afterlife with a few friends (or acquaintances, who eventually become friends, rather, but make a pitstop as enemies along the way). The show is filled with fast-paced banter and character quirks, and the premise is unlike any one you’ve seen before.

Dexter

Another older TV series that you could easily immerse yourself in right now, because all seasons are currently streaming on Netflix. Watching a serial killer might still be a bit less stressful than watching COVID-19 news coverage? Who knows anymore. What day is it anyway? Dexter, if you’re unfamiliar with the premise, is a Showtime series starring Michael C. Hall, who plays the namesake character. Dexter is a blood-splatter analyst by day, and a serial killer by night, with one caveat: he only kills the bad guys.

New Girl

This series stars Zooey Deschanel as ‘new girl’ Jess who moves into an apartment with a trio of male roommates post-boyfriend-break-up. Her roommates are funny, single dudes (played by Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield and Lamorne Morris respectively), and each episode they get into some sort of ill-fated but hilarious adventure together, while still furthering the character development within the show and the relationships therein. It’s one of those rare shows these days that you can easily skip around episode-wise, but not feel lost entirely. It’s also a good one to keep things light right now, and Zooey’s cute quirks will do that for you.

Weeds

It’s never not a good time to re-watch Weeds, or watch it for the first time if you’ve been sleeping. The comedy-drama series, which aired originally on Showtime, was created by Jenji Kohan, the mastermind behind Orange is the New Black. Weeds stars mother of two Nancy Botwin (played by Mary-Louise Parker), as she navigates life without her husband and the father of her child following his recent death– and in need of an influx of cash to continue to afford their cushy (see what I did there) lifestyle, she turns to selling weed.

Nurse Jackie

Nurse Jackie was among Showtime’s most successful show when it first premiered in 2009. The show stars Edie Falco in the titular role, as a nurse who is juggling her own opioid addiction with her 9-5, and her personal life, at All Saints Hospital in New York City. The show had a seven-season run, so there are definitely enough episodes to keep you hooked for the remainder of this isolation period (let us hope, at least).

The Office

Duh. If you need something that’ll check both the funny and nostalgic boxes, then the universally-beloved The Office re-runs should do the trick. The TV series which features the all-star-hilarious line-up of Steve Carrell, John Krasinksi, Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson, and doesn’t really need any type of formal introduction. Office antics and hi-jinx abound when you have the rather dim-witted and unaware Michael Scott attempting to manage the employees of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Netflix has quickly become an “essential service” for most of us. The platform has seen an increase in streaming numbers, unsurprisingly, since people have nowhere to go and nothing to do. While most of the world’s businesses are experiencing a drastic slow-down right now, Netflix isn’t stopping their monthly scheduled roll outs of new programming, on top of their original content. This particular round-up of Netflix shows is a mixed bag of recent additions and older series that may have gone overlooked, but are worthy of your eyes. From the viral success of Tiger King to the comedic stylings of Tom Segura, these are all great picks to take your mind off things.

Let us know what you’ve got on your Netflix watch list right now.

Tiger King

If you haven’t heard of this documentary series by now, actually, what are you doing? Are you okay? I mean, surely you’re at home, phone in hand. And if that’s true, then simple math tells us that you’ve scrolled past a Tiger King news article/meme/celebrity response to the stranger-than-fiction docu-series that thrust a trio of unlikely figures into the mainstream consciousness– at the forefront of course, is Joe Exotic.

Tom Segura: Ball Hog

Tom Segura is a comedian and host of Your Mom’s House podcast. The podcast host has an insanely aggressive fanbase, and while he subtly catered to those fans in his new stand-up routine, Ball Hog he also makes the jokes accessible for all. We can all laugh collectively at Tom making fun of his wife, fellow comedian Christina Pastizky, in his opening monologue, as well, the comedian addresses the fall-out from his last special, Disgraceful.

Bert Kreisher: Hey Big Boy

Another comedy special for this list, because we could all use more laughs right now, Bert Kreisher’s Hey Big Boy is among Netflix’s recent additions, so chances are, you haven’t seen it yet. The comedian, who runs in the same circles as Tom Segura (and thus, by extension, Joe Rogan), delivers an hour-long routine that’s mostly about his daughter’s first period. So yeah. There’s that.

Ozark 

Ozark is the crime thriller starring unlikely actor Jason Bateman. I say that, in the sense that, before Bateman started playing Marty Byrd, the general “we” of the public wouldn’t have necessarily thought to cast him in that role — which is perhaps why “we” (all of us) are not casting agents. Nonetheless, Bateman was cast as the head of the Byrd household, and continues to get the whole family into turmoil and trouble thanks to alliances with local criminals, as well as the cartel. Now, the Byrds are back with 10 new episodes to binge-watch, so if you haven’t already been watching the series, it’s the perfect time to dive in.

Self-Made

Self-Made is a limited series that documents the story of Madame C.J. Walker, the first self-made female billionaire in America, who made her fortune off black hair care products. The show, which not only counts Tiffany Haddish as an executive producer but includes her in the roll of Walker’s daughter, is based on A’Lelia Bundles’– the great granddaughter of the real C.J. Walker– biography On Her Own Ground. The T.V. series condenses Madame C.J. Waker’s empire-building pursuits into four succinct episodes, and stars Octa Spenser as Walker.

Dare Me

If you need something soap-y, thrill-y and girl-y, well this is it. The Netflix original is based on the book of the same name byMegan Abbott. The TV series is set in a small town in the midwest, and explores the tenuous relationship between two best friends, when their high school who receives a new cheer squad coach. On the surface, that may sound like a rather light and fluffy premise, but things get dark, fast.

All American

All American is a CW show, so you know there will be soap. There are also two seasons available for you to get your binge-watch on on Netflix right now, with a third season on the way. The teen drama centers around a high school football player, Spencer James, who switches high schools from his native Crenshaw, to play for Beverly Hills High. As you can imagine when teenagers are involved, the drama takes off almost immediately, with plenty of twists and turns along the way to fuel you right into the next episode.

Locke & Key

Locke & Key was just renewed for a second season, so now is the perfect time to binge watch the first season. It’s also on Netflix, which makes it easy to binge watch, so really, no excuses. Locke & Key veers into sci-fi, magical territory— so if that’s not your cup of tea, then this show likely won’t do anything for you. If it is, though, this show is for you. The Locke family, sans patriarch after the father’s untimely passing, return home and move back into the family’s inherited, historic mansion. The creepy old house, and the town, are filled with secrets, though. And the Locke children are the ones leading the discovery. 

Cheer

Maybe you want less of a soap opera that’s peripherally about cheerleading (Dare Me), and you want some full-on real-life cheerleaders? Cheer is a Netflix docu-series that explores the insane sport that is Cheerleading— and like many Netflix docs, they know how to keep you engaged and interested even if it’s a topic that wouldn’t typically interest you, at least not on paper. 

Mind Hunter

Mind Hunter is another dose of escapism, if you should need it, as we get to follow FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench in their pursuit of criminals– not just any ol’ criminal, but serial killers, as they attempt to understand and analyze exactly how these killers think. The crime thriller has two seasons stacked on Netflix, with the first season set in the ‘70s and the second in the ‘80s– it’s definitely far-away enough from our current times that you’ll get a much-need distraction from reality.

American Crime Story

Another true crime thriller series to keep in rotation while we’re in isolation mode. This anthology series kicked off season one in a highly-publicized manner, as the show documented the story of O.J. Simpson. The critically-acclaimed first season, The People vs. O.J. Simpson, starred Cuba Gooding Jr. as OJ, John Travolta as Robert Shapiro and David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian. The series returned in season two with The Assisination of Gianni Versace, earning the FX show even more accolades, and exploring the murder of the famed fashion designer. 

The Sinner

The best TV series you probably haven’t seen. The Sinner’s first season stars Jessica Biel (who knew!) as a mother who blacks out during a family trip to the beach, leaving Detective Harry Ambrose, played by Bill Pullman to figure out why exactly. The mystery and crime unravels, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire way. The Sinner follows Detective Ambrose as he explores more cases of crime in season two and three, with the third season having just wrapped up airing at the end of March– you can catch the first two seasons on Netflix though.

You may have your Netflix and Amazon Prime subscription on lock, or else, you have a friend’s password, so it’s all good. But the big question is, do you have HBO’s streaming service? Certainly fewer and far between people do. HBO shows have a certain cache to them, and it goes without saying, that everything they release is on point. It also goes without saying that all the HBO shows will never be found on Netflix. 

In our collective time of need though, HBO is giving us some good news: they will be giving over 500 hours of TV content for us to stream freely during the COVID-19 pandemic. We could all use some cheering up right now, whether that comes by way of Tony Soprano’s mischievous smile or perhaps by way of Omar’s gay, gun-toting antics, you’ll be able to find your fix on HBO. 

Starting on Friday, April 3, HBO will be making shows such as The Sopranos, The Wire,Veep, Succession, Six Feet Under, True Blood, Silicon Valley and more free to stream the HBO Go app or HBO Now. For whatever reason, Game of Thrones is not included in this free-for-all. However, there will be 20 movies under HBO included in the free-to-stream package (Pokémon Detective Pikachu and The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” among them), as well as 10 of HBO documentaries, including the new McMillions.

You will be able to stream all these titles starting on April 3 by simply downloading the HBO Go or HBO Now apps, or heading to their desktop counterparts.

Peep the full list of content you’ll be able to stream for free below.

Full Series
1. Ballers (5 Seasons)
2. Barry (2 Seasons)
3. Silicon Valley (6 Seasons)
4. Six Feet Under (5 Seasons)
5. The Sopranos (7 Seasons)
6. Succession (2 Seasons)
7. True Blood (7 Seasons)
8. Veep (7 Seasons)
9. The Wire (5 Seasons)

Warner Bros. Movies
1. Arthur
2. Arthur 2: On the Rocks
3. Blinded By the Light
4. The Bridges of Madison County
5. Crazy, Stupid, Love
6. Empire of the Sun
7. Forget Paris
8. Happy Feet Two
9. Isn’t It Romantic?
10. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
11. Midnight Special
12. My Dog Skip
13. Nancy Drew And The Hidden Staircase
14. Pan
15. Pokémon Detective Pikachu
16. Red Riding Hood
17. Smallfoot
18. Storks
19. Sucker Punch
20. Unknown

Docuseries and Documentaries
1. The Apollo
2. The Case Against Adnan Syed
3. Elvis Presley: The Searcher
4. I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter
5. The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley
6. Jane Fonda in Five Acts
7. McMillion$
8. True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality
9. United Skates
10. We Are the Dream: The Kids of the MLK Oakland Oratorical Fest

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Following all the love our Netflix Stand-Up Comedy Specials feature received, we figured why not give the people more of what they want. In addition to Netflix’s wealth of comedy talent and Amazon’s burgeoning roster (Jim Gaffigan, Ilana Glazer), HBO remains relevant as it continues to shepherd in a new crop of comedians on the rise. Equal parts hilarious and offbeat, HBO utilized 2019 as a year to embrace the unexpected in comedy. Whether it was a Muslim comedian discussing casual sex, a Salvadoran comedian performing miniature prop comedy, or a celebrated young comedian opting to make a two-part documentary about his family – HBO remained in the forefront of comedy during a period when over-saturation and bingeing became king.

Ramy Youssef: Feelings

Between the breakout successes of his debut hour-long HBO stand-up special and critically acclaimed Hulu sitcom, comedian-actor Ramy Youssef (Mr. Robot) had the year of most comedians’ dreams. And the praise only continued as 2020 kicked off with Ramy winning the Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. But this whirlwind year all started back in April of 2019 when Youssef filmed his first HBO special, Ramy Youssef: Feelings to a diverse crowd full of hijabs and hipsters. This dichotomy is essentially Youssef’s demographic sweet spot – contemporary Muslim Americans and woke Millennials. At the heart of this social Venn diagram you will find Ramy and his budding brand of comedy chock-full of faith and vulgarity. Whether he’s discussing Islamic customs, comparing Michael Jackson to LeBron James, or complaining about white Uber drivers – Ramy Youssef: Feelings is an immediate triumph and one of, if not the best hour of stand-up released last year.

Julio Torres: My Favorite Shapes

Julio Torres is another young comedian coming off a career-shifting year. This past June, the former Saturday Night Live and The Chris Gethard Show writer created, wrote, and starred in the Spanish-language supernatural-themed HBO comedy, Los Espookys. The 6-episode series currently maintains a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been renewed for a second season. Shortly after the success of Los Espookys, HBO released Torres’ debut stand-up special My Favorite Shapes. As bizarre as it may sound, My Favorite Shapes revolves around the goofy stories and hilarious anecdotes Torres pulls from his favorite shapes including crystals, miniature furniture, a cactus, and a Ferrero Rocher chocolate. To describe this special as anything other than odd or unorthodox would be an understatement, as Torres even states: “I just need to show my shapes. That’s all this is for.” His dry wit is matched by the sheer silliness of each shape and the seriousness with which he approaches it all. My Favorite Shapes will have you cackling and scratching your head at the same time. But one thing is for sure, Julio Torres is one of comedy’s newest and most unique voices ready to blow at any moment.

Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw

Beginning with a soulful a cappella rendition of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and a performance by the L.A. Youth Step Team – Lil Rel Howery’s debut HBO stand-up special, Live in Crenshaw, emanates a pep rally on a hot day in LA. Filmed inside a sunlit gymnasium at Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in the heart of the south Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw – Lil Rel regales his audience with a variety of stories spanning from the viral video of two families brawling at Disneyland to paying for his uncle’s funeral. Loud, physical, and full of chuckles, Lil Rel will keep viewers laughing along with the audience for the entirety of this one-hour special – even as the sun begins to set on the high school gym.

Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh

With Gary Gulman’s HBO hour-long debut and first special in four years, there was already a great deal of pressure on the nearly 50-year-old comedian. Add to it the fact that Gulman had been in and out of hospitals for clinical depression over that extended period and was now performing new material on the topic makes Gary Gulman:The Great Depresh one of the most important comedy specials produced in recent memory. Directed by Michael Bonfiglio (Jerry Before Seinfeld), executive produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up), and released during Mental Illness Awareness Week, this 75-minute stand-up special/documentary is much more than jokes about being sad. Infusing documentary interludes touching on his struggle with depression, anxiety, and hospitalization – Gulman described the special as “a hybrid, where I do some documentary about my recovery, treatment, and my hospitalization, and then I do stand-up surrounding that.” The documentary moments include interviews with his wife, mother, and psychiatrist. Filmed at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, the special branches out to less “depressing” topics such as Millennials’ take on bullying, participation trophies being a metaphor for life, and how his mother’s voice is constantly in his head. Not your traditional HBO comedy special, Gary Gulman:The Great Depresh is an important watch for anyone who has personally experienced, or known someone who has struggled with depression.

Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin’

Amanda Seales begins her hour-long HBO special self-admittedly stating that this special is for the ladies. This is made even more apparent throughout the special when the cameras reveal a nearly all-female and predominantly black audience – which makes for a great crowd particularly when Amanda initiates a sing-along to the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Throughout the special, Seales runs through a bevy of topics that raise audience members from their seats including the pointlessness of catcalling, the comedic styling of Harriet Tubman, and what it’s like being the only black girl at a sleepover. Filmed at the Edison Ballroom in New York City by Stan Lathan (Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones) – I Be Knowin’ celebrates all of Amanda Seales’ hilarious qualities in one succinct hour of comedy. Whether you know her from Insecure, Get Your Life, or The Real – I Be Knowin’ is sure to have her on your comedians-to-watch list for the indefinite future.

Dan Soder: Son of a Gary

A comedian many may have never heard of performed HBO’s final stand-up special of the decade. While Dan Soder might not be one of the biggest names in comedy, any viewers willing to take a chance on this special covering dead dads, drugs, and Denver will quickly convert to fans. Perhaps best known for his Sirius XM Radio show with Big Jay Oakerson, The Bonfire, or his role as Mafee on the Showtime series Billions – Dan Soder’s comedy ascendance has been slowly building up to this moment. And to relish in the apex of his first hour-long HBO special, Soder opted to spend the majority of his time telling jokes about his deceased alcoholic father, Gary. If even the mentioning of this sort of dark humor has piqued your interest, then immediately go watch Son of a Gary.

Daniel Sloss: X

Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss’ fourth stand-up special and first for HBO also happens to be his 10^th solo show – hence the aptly titled X. Written, directed by, and starring the notoriously dark humored 29-year-old comedian – X was filmed in front of packed audience at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney, Australia. Prefacing his performance with a quick suggestion to “Get comfortable. If you’re not comfortable, don’t fucking worry about it. I’m about to provide plenty of material that’s going to make most of you very fucking uncomfortable.” For those unacquainted with Sloss’ humor, this is the perfect introduction to his hour of jokes ranging from sex education to the male ego and what it’s like telling another man you love him. Still considered a comedy prodigy with over ten tours and four specials before the age of 30, Daniel Sloss is an acquired taste worth trying out. But as the second half of the special shifts to more speaking than joking, your attention span may be tested.

Pete Holmes: Dirty Clean

Airing a month before what would end up being the third and final season of Crashing, HBO premiered Dirty Clean, the series’ star and creator’s latest special. Named for the fact that as a former Christian comic, he still can’t perform dirty material without receiving admiration for his clean humor – Holmes delves into topics that may finally lift this label. In his latest hour of comedy, Pete discusses the topics of pooping, masturbating, and his wife Valerie’s large breasts, yet as portrayed in Crashing, he’s still labeled by his Christian upbringing, going to Christian camp and college, and briefly performing on the Christian comedy circuit. Directed by Marcus Raboy (Friday After Next) at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon – Pete Holmes is one of the few comedians today who exude joy during his stand-up. And while I love a sarcastic and depressed comedian as much as the next guy, the brand of humor Holmes has perfected over the past few years is a refreshing change of pace needed within today’s comedy world.

2 Dope Queens [season 2]

For the second season of this popular podcast turned four-episode HBO special, co-hosts Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson took their hosting, special guests, and stand-up comedians to the next level. Similar to the first season, each episode has its own theme that the girls dress for and riff off between one (sometimes two) special guest(s), and three (or two) stand-up sets. The four themes of season two are “Fashion,” “Nostalgia,” “Music,” and “Regal AF.” The special guests to get excited for are Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, Daniel Radcliffe, Janet Mock, Lizzo, and Keegan-Michael Key. Some of the female, people of color, and LGBTQ stand-up talent you’re bound to fall in love with include Janine Brito, Jamie Lee, Bowen Yang, Shalewa Sharpe, Pat Brown, Rory Scovel, and Jacqueline Novak. Unfortunately it’s now been nearly a year since the second season aired with no formal announcement of a third season from HBO. But you can always go back and re-watch all eight episodes, or listen to their two and a half years worth of podcasts to get your 2 Dope Queens fix.

Jerrod Carmichael – Home Videos/ Sermon on the Mount

Following the breakout success of Jerrod Carmichael’s first two HBO stand-up specials: Love at the Store directed by Spike Lee and 8 directed by Bo Burnham – you’d think the 32-year-old comedian from North Carolina would quickly plot his return to the stage. Instead he convinced HBO to go in the exact opposite direction, allowing him to create two short-form documentaries about his family. The first, titled Home Videos and running less than 30-minutes, features Carmichael interviewing the female members of his family including his niece, sisters, and mother about topics involving school, black beauty, and fidelity. He bluntly asks his sister, “You still been on your pro-black, pro-women shit? Or are you off that this week?” She later tells him, “The fact that you as a black male wants to listen to black women, that’s the start.” Far from a comedy special, Home Videos is smart, intimate, and full of funny people having serious conversations.

A month and a half later HBO released the second half of the documentary, Sermon on the Mount. Now speaking with the men of his family, Carmichael candidly shares conversations with his nephews, brother, cousins, uncle, and father about what it’s like to be a black man in America today. These discussions are shot alongside Carmichael’s mother seeking guidance from her preacher. Longer and less poignant than Home Videos, Carmichael’s Sermon on the Mount serves as a fitting ending to the narrative he’s documented – respectfully giving his father a chance to speak for himself in the film’s final moments. Any fans of Carmichael’s comedy or viewers interested in an authentic portrayal of the black family experience will get more out of this documentary than your average comedy special.