Television doesn’t sleep. Backstage is breaking down, month by month, the buzzy shows and performances that merit attention from awards voters and couch potatoes alike across the ever-expanding landscape of the small screen.
With no end in sight for the WGA strike, there’s likely a day coming soon when new TV will be thin on the ground. But at least for now, there are enough shows in the can to keep us entertained through the summer.
This month kicks off with the long-anticipated, long-delayed premiere of “The Idol” (June 4 on HBO). But the salacious pop-star drama from the Weeknd, Reza Fahim, and “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson has been so plagued by behind-the-scenes scandal that even its buzzy cast (Lily-Rose Depp, Dan Levy, Rachel Sennott, Troye Sivan) may not be able to save it.
If you want a surefire hit, last summer’s SAG Award–winning Hulu breakout “The Bear” is heading back to the kitchen for its sophomore season on June 22. Cult comedy “The Righteous Gemstones” is returning for a third season (June 18 on HBO), and twisted sitcom stalwart “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” is still going strong with its 16th installment (June 7 on FXX). Meanwhile, Hulu is baring it all with a series sequel to 1997’s “The Full Monty” (June 14).
How To Become a TV Actor If you’re looking for the small-screen equivalent of a beach read, there’s plenty to pick from. June sees the return of Netflix’s teen rom-com “Never Have I Ever” (June 8), the penultimate season of Starz’s steamy epic “Outlander” (June 16), and the continuing adventures of Carrie and company on “And Just Like That…” (June 22 on Max).
If genre is more your speed, the “Walking Dead” franchise is still out for blood with the premiere of its fourth spinoff, “Dead City,” on June 18 on AMC. Apple TV+ is reviving the “24”-style real-time thriller with “Hijack,” a new miniseries starring Idris Elba (June 28). And Netflix is dropping the third season of its soapy fantasy hit “The Witcher” on June 29—the last before Henry Cavill exits the series and passes the longsword off to Liam Hemsworth.
Here are our picks for the buzziest shows on the horizon, plus a complete list of everything coming to your screen this month.
“Based on a True Story”
Who needs true crime shows when there are shows about true crime shows? The latest in the subgenre is this new Peacock comedy starring Chris Messina (“The Mindy Project”) and “The Flight Attendant” Emmy nominee Kaley Cuoco, premiering June 8. Created by Craig Rosenberg (no stranger to pitch-black humor thanks to writing stints on “The Boys” and “Preacher”), the series is about a cash-strapped couple who decide to capitalize on a string of murders in their neighborhood and wind up in over their heads. Lest you doubt the series’ crime-in-the-suburbs bona fides, consider that “Ozark” alum Jason Bateman is executive producing.
“Secret Invasion”
The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to collect A-listers like so many Funko Pop! toys; this latest Disney+ miniseries adds Oscar winner Olivia Colman and “Game of Thrones” alum Emilia Clarke to the roster. Created by Kyle Bradstreet (“Mr. Robot,” “Copper”), “Secret Invasion” focuses on former S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as he comes up against a cadre of shape-shifting aliens orchestrating a global takeover. Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman, Don Cheadle, and Ben Mendelsohn will reprise their roles from previous MCU projects, but we’re most excited to see Jackson get the chance to dig deeper into a character who’s long been relegated to the sidelines. The first episode drops on June 21.
“I’m a Virgo”
It’s been five years since Boots Riley made his filmmaking debut with the brilliant, bizarre “Sorry to Bother You.” The weirdo auteur is finally back with “I’m a Virgo,” a surrealist comedy about what it means to quite literally take up space as a person of color in America. Set in Oakland, California, the series follows Cootie, a 13-foot-tall Black man who comes out of his shell after a childhood spent sheltered from the outside world. “When They See Us” Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome stars, with supporting turns from Mike Epps (“The Hangover”), Carmen Ejogo (“Selma”), and Tarantino fave Walton Goggins. The show hits Prime Video on June 23.
Acorn TV
June 26 – “Cannes Confidential” premiere
AMC
June 18 – “The Walking Dead: Dead City” premiere
Apple TV+
June 9 – “The Crowded Room” premiere
June 23 – “Swagger” Season 2
June 28 – “Hijack” premiere
Disney+
June 21 – “Secret Invasion” premiere
Freeform
June 5 – “Cruel Summer” Season 2
June 28 – “Grown-ish” Season 6
FXX
June 7 – “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” Season 16
HBO
June 4 – “The Idol” premiere
June 18 – “The Righteous Gemstones” Season 3
Hulu
June 7 – “Somewhere Boy” premiere
June 14 – “The Full Monty” premiere
June 22 – “The Bear” Season 2
Max
June 15 – “Rap Battlefield” Season 2
June 22 – “And Just Like That…” Season 2
June 29 – “Ten Year Old Tom” Season 2
June 29 – “Warrior” Season 3
Netflix
June 1 – “The Days” premiere
June 2 – “Scoop” premiere
June 2 – “Valeria” Season 3
June 2 – “Vortex” premiere
June 5 – “Barracuda Queens” premiere
June 8 – “Never Have I Ever” Season 4
June 9 – “Bloodhounds” premiere
June 9 – “Human Resources” Season 2
June 9 – “This World Can’t Tear Me Down” premiere
June 14 – “The Surrogacy” premiere
June 22 – “Let’s Get Divorced” premiere
June 22 – “Skull Island” premiere
June 22 – “Sleeping Dog” premiere
June 29 – “The Witcher” Season 3
Paramount+
June 1 – “iCarly” Season 3
June 4 – “Joe Pickett” Season 2
June 15 – “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” Season 2
June 25 – “The Gold” premiere
PBS
June 18 – “Endeavour” Season 9
Peacock
June 8 – “Based on a True Story” premiere
Prime Video
June 2 – “Deadloch” premiere
June 2 – “With Love” Season 2
June 9 – “The Lake” Season 2
June 23 – “I’m a Virgo” premiere
June 30 – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” Season 4
Starz
June 16 – “Outlander” Season 7
TNT
June 4 – “The Lazarus Project” premiere