TV Talk: Scripted summer originals debut on streaming, cable
Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week.
The summer’s most popular direct-to-streaming title is likely to be the Netflix movie “Happy Gilmore 2” (July 25), starring Adam Sandler. But beyond that one-shot, there are a slew of scripted shows coming to streaming services and cable networks, including:
“Tyler Perry’s She the People” (Part 1, May 22; Part 2, Aug. 14, Netflix): Lt. Gov. Antoinette Dunkerson (Terri J. Vaughn) must learn to survive in the shadow of a condescending, sexist governor.
“The Librarians: The Next Chapter” (after the NBA playoffs, May 25): A sequel series to TNT’s 2014-18 “The Librarians,” this latest iteration began as a CW show but got sold off to TNT. It follows Vikram Chamberlain (Callum McGowan), a “Librarian” from the past who time-traveled from 1847 and gets stuck in the present.
“Adults” (9 p.m. May 28, FX; all eight episodes available next day on Hulu): Ensemble comedy about 20-somethings in New York whose behavior tends toward the childish (wheelchair races in a hospital, obsessing over a perceived snub). Fast-paced and often quite funny — sometimes we’re laughing with them, often we’re laughing at them — the show regrettably glamorizes cocaine use. I’m no Nancy Reagan, but that seems irresponsible.
“The Better Sister” (May 29, Amazon’s Prime Video): Based on a novel by Alafair Burke, all eight episodes of this limited series thriller premiere at once, telling the story of sisters Chloe (Jessica Biel), the rich one, and Nancy (Elizabeth Banks), the poor one. When Chloe’s husband (Corey Stoll) is murdered, the two sisters reunite.
“Dept. Q” (May 29, Netflix): “The Queen’s Gambit” writer/director Scott Frank is back with this nine-episode story of brilliant cop/terrible colleague DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), who’s exiled to the cold case unit.
“Phineas and Ferb” (8 p.m. June 5, Disney Channel): The 2007-15 animated family comedy about inventive stepbrothers returns. Ten new episodes drop on Disney+ on June 6.
“Stick” (June 4, Apple TV+): Owen Wilson stars in this comedy as an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer who takes a 17-year-old golfer (Peter Dager) under his wing.
“Art Detectives” (June 9, Acorn TV): DI Mick Palmer (Stephen Moyer, “True Blood”) and DC Shaziz Malik (Nina Singh) solve murders connected to the worlds of art and antiques.
“Tyler Perry’s Divorce Sistas” (June 10, BET+): Spinoff of “Sistas.”
“Revival” (10 p.m. June 12, Syfy): Based on the Image Comics series, this scripted drama is set in a Wisconsin town where the recently deceased suddenly rise and a murder mystery ensues.
“We Were Liars” (June 18, Prime Video): All eight episodes of this mystery thriller based on the E. Lockhart novel debut at once. “Liars” follows the Sinclair family on a New England private island where a mysterious accident changes Cadence Sinclair Eastman’s life forever.
“Outrageous” (June 18, Britbox): Debuting with the first two (of six) episodes, this drama is based on the true story of the aristocratic, headstrong Mitford sisters during the 1930s.
“The Waterfront” (June 19, Netflix): “Dawson’s Creek” creator Kevin Williamson returns with another North Carolina-set eight-episode drama about the Buckleys, a prominent Havenport family who have fallen on hard times.
“Ironheart” (June 24, Disney+): Genius inventor Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) builds iron suits and gets entangled with the mysterious Parker Robbins, AKA The Hood (Anthony Ramos), in this live-action Marvel drama.
“Countdown” (June 25, Prime Video): LAPD detective Mark Meachum (Jensen Ackles) gets recruited to a secret task force to investigate the murder of a Homeland Security officer.
“Smoke” (June 27, Apple TV+): Taron Egerton (“Carry-On”) stars in this Dennis Lehane-created crime drama about a troubled detective (Jurnee Smollett) and an arson investigator (Egerton) on the trail of two serial arsonists.
“Nautilus” (9 p.m. June 29, AMC, AMC+): Captain Nemo (Shazad Latif, “Star Trek: Discovery”), an Indian prince robbed of his birthright and family, seeks to enact revenge on the East India Mercantile Company after stealing a prototype submarine and escaping a penal colony.
“Too Much” (July 10, Netflix): Lena Dunham (“Girls”) executive produces this comedy about a New York workaholic (Megan Stalter, “Hacks”) who moves to London.
“Dexter: Resurrection” (July 11, Paramount+ with Showtime): Serial killer Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is (somehow) not dead yet despite dying at the end of “Dexter: New Blood.”
“Untamed” (July 17, Netflix): Special agent (Eric Bana) investigates a death in a national park.
“Chief of War” (Aug. 1, Apple TV+): Co-created by Jason Momoa, who also stars as the warrior Ka’iana, the series depicts the unification and colonization of Hawai’i from an indigenous point of view.
“Eyes of Wakanda” (Aug. 6, Disney+): Animated Marvel series about Wakandan warriors throughout history.
“Outlander: Blood of My Blood” (8 p.m. Aug. 8, Starz): A stand-alone prequel, this drama follows the parents of Claire and Jamie from “Outlander.”
“Alien: Earth” (8 p.m. Aug. 12, FX, Hulu): A Weyland-Yutani spaceship crashes to Earth, unleashing terrifying lifeforms.
“Long Story Short” (Aug. 22, Netflix): Raphael Bob-Waksberg, creator of “BoJack Horseman,” introduces this new adult animated comedy that follows one family of siblings from childhood to adulthood.
“The Lowdown” (9 p.m. Sept. 23, FX; next day on Hulu): Sterlin Harjo (“Reservation Dogs”) created this Tulsa Noir starring Ethan Hawke as a citizen journalist who stumbles upon a wealthy family’s scandal.
“Chad Powers” (Sept. 30, Hulu): Glen Powell stars as a washed-up football player in this comedy.
Returning
May 23: “Big Mouth” (Netflix).
May 25: “Rick and Morty” (11 p.m., Adult Swim).
May 27: “The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy” (Prime Video).
May 29: “And Just Like That…” (9 p.m., Max), “Scrubland” (AMC+).
June 4: “Criminal Code” (Netflix).
June 5: “Ginny Georgia” (Netflix), “Tires” (Netflix).
June 6: “BMF” (9 p.m., Starz), “Resident Alien” (11 p.m., USA, Syfy).
June 12: “FUBAR” (Netflix).
June 15: “The Chosen” (Prime Video).
June 18: “The Buccaneers” (Apple TV+).
June 22: “The Gilded Age” (9 p.m. HBO, Max).
June 25: “The Bear” (Hulu).
June 27: “Squid Game” (Netflix).
July 3: “The Sandman” (Season 2, Part 1, Netflix).
July 9: “South Park” (10 p.m., Comedy Central), “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (9 p.m., FXX).
July 11: “Foundation” (Apple TV+).
July 16: “Sistas” (BET), “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (Prime Video).
July 17: “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (Paramount+).
July 23: “Acapulco” (Apple TV+).
July 24: “The Sandman” (Season 2, Part 2, Netflix).
July 31: “Twisted Metal” (Peacock).
Aug. 6: “Wednesday” (Season 2, Part 1, Netflix).
Aug. 21: “Peacemaker” (9 p.m., Max).
Sept. 3: “Wednesday” (Season 2, Part 2, Netflix)
You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow @RobOwenTV on Threads, X, Bluesky and Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.