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 in the ever-growing landscape of the small screen.
June is looking to be another packed TV month as, like all of us, the small screen emerges from the pandemic and blinks into the summer sunlight. And, as the golden age (or platinum age...we’ve lost track) of TV marches on, more and more streaming networks are making their presence known with major premieres and returns. But Netflix is still dominating the game, with a whopping 19 shows premiering or returning this month.
Read on to find out what we’re most looking forward to, including Peacock and Channel 4’s groundbreaking Muslim punk rock sitcom, “We Are Lady Parts,” and Disney+’s hotly anticipated Marvel vehicle, “Loki.”
“We Are Lady Parts”
Boundary-smashing may be too light a descriptor for Peacock’s new comedy, premiering June 3, about a British all-girl Muslim punk band from newly minted showrunner Nida Manzoor. If the trailer is anything to go by, the series will employ a punchy, “Scott Pilgrim”–esque tone to tell the tale of Amina (Anjana Vasan), a microbiology PhD who finds herself playing lead guitar in a garage-level punk band called Lady Parts. It’s absolutely the first series of its kind, offering a glimpse into the lives of Muslim women through the lens of comedy rather than drama, displaying an anarchic joy in an ever-diversifying U.K. We’re pumping our fists in the air for this one.
“Lisey’s Story”
Whether you’re a fan of psychological horror or Julianne Moore, you’re in for a treat with “Lisey’s Story,” Stephen King’s eight-episode miniseries adaptation of his 2006 novel. King penned the script himself, which follows a widow (Moore) who becomes the target of stalker (Dane DeHaan) following the death of her novelist husband (Clive Owen). Premiering June 4 on Apple TV+, the series is produced by J.J. Abrams, and features a cast of greats that includes Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joan Allen, and Ron Cephas Jones. The series marks Oscar winner Moore’s first major return to the small screen since her Emmy-winning turn on “Game Change.”
“Loki”
Marvel fans who were floored by “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” are rubbing their hands together in delight for the premiere of Loki, the third of Disney+’s MCU TV series. Premiering June 11 on the streamer, the series marks the return of Tom Hiddleston’s beloved trickster god, who—spoiler alert—died at the hands of Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War.” Created by Michael Waldron (“Rick and Morty”), the series follows an alternate version of Loki and his timey-wimey adventures after he’s nabbed by the enigmatic Time Variance Authority. The series also stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Owen Wilson, Wunmi Mosaku, and Richard E. Grant.
“Physical”
If you miss the prematurely canceled “GLOW” as much as we do, get ready to go back to the high 1980s with “Physical,” starring Rose Byrne and created by Annie Weisman (“Almost Family,” “The Path”). The June 18 Apple TV+ dramedy follows Sheila, Byrne’s San Diego housewife who remakes herself into an Olivia Newton John–style video fitness icon. And if that’s not enough to pull you in, consider that the series is directed by “I, Tonya” and “Cruella” helmer Craig Gillespie. Comedian Rory Scovel co-stars as Danny, Sheila’s dirtbag husband.
“Kevin Can F**k Himself”
Following her Emmy-winning breakout as the iconic Alexis Rose on “Schitt’s Creek,” Annie Murphy is getting her first starring vehicle in this new, genre-bending AMC series. At first appearing to be a network-friendly, multi-camera sitcom, “Kevin Can F**k Himself” reveals itself as a dark comedy about sitcom wife Allison (Murphy) who’s fed up with her bumbling, unappreciative husband (Eric Petersen). Created and executive produced by Valerie Armstrong (“Lodge 49”), the series looks to be a subversive, feminist meta-commentary on the types of TV roles women are sick to death of playing.
7 CDs Share What You Should Know About Auditioning for TV Acorn TV
June 7 – “Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries” Season 2
Adult Swim
June 13 – “Tuca & Bertie” Season 2
June 20 – “Rick and Morty” Season 5
Amazon Prime Video
June 4 – “Dom” premiere
June 4 – “The Family Man” Season 2
June 11 – “Flack” Season 2
June 25 – “Bosch” Season 7
June 25 – “September Mornings” premiere
AMC
June 20 – “Kevin Can F**k Himself” premiere
June 27 – “A Discovery of Witches” Season 2
Apple TV+
June 4 – “Lisey’s Story” premiere
June 11 – “Home Before Dark” Season 2
June 18 – “Physical” premiere
June 25 – “Central Park” Season 2
BET
June 9 – “Sistas” Season 3
BritBox
June 1 – “The Syndicate: Double or Nothing” premiere
The CW
June 14 – “The Republic of Sarah” premiere
June 22 – “In the Dark” Season 3
Disney+
June 9 – “Loki” premiere
June 25 – “The Mysterious Benedict Society” premiere
Epix
June 6 – “Domina” premiere
June 7 – “War of the Worlds” premiere
Freeform
June 22 – “Motherland: Fort Salem” Season 2
FX
June 16 – “Dave” Season 2
HBO/HBO Max
June 11 – “Betty” Season 2
Hulu
June 11 – “Love, Victor” Season 2
IMDb TV
June 11 – “Timewasters” premiere
Netflix
June 1 – “Kim’s Convenience” Season 5
June 3 – “Summertime” Season 2
June 4 – “Feel Good” Season 2
June 4 – “Sweet Tooth” premiere
June 10 – “Locombianos” premiere
June 11 – “Lupin” Season 2
June 14 – “Elite: Short Stories” premiere
June 15 – “Workin’ Moms” Season 5
June 17 – “Black Summer” Season 2
June 17 – “The Gift” Season 3
June 17 – “Katla” premiere
June 18 – “Elite” Season 4
June 18 – “The Rational Life” premiere
June 18 – “So Not Worth It” premiere
June 24 – “Jiva!” premiere
June 24 – “The Naked Director” Season 2
June 25 – “The A List” Season 2
June 25 – “Sex/Life” premiere
June 30 – “Somos.” premiere
OWN
June 1 – “The Haves and the Have Nots” Season 8
June 22 – “David Makes Man” Season 2
Paramount+
June 3 – “Why Women Kill” Season 2
June 20 – “Evil” Season 2
June 24 – “The Good Fight” Season 5
PBS
June 20 – “Us” premiere
Peacock
June 3 – “We Are Lady Parts” premiere
Starz
June 6 – “Little Birds” premiere
June 13 – “Blindspotting” premiere
Sundance Now
June 3 – “The Gulf” premiere
June 10 – “Moloch” premiere
June 24 – “The Innocent” Season 2