Only Murders in the Building is back and better than ever for its sophomore season with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez. Not only are they on the hunt for another killer, but they’re attempting to clear their names in the process. Cara Delevingne stars as Gomez’s love interest (the two are also close friends and tattoo twins IRL), and Hollywood icon Shirley MacLaine guest-stars in addition to Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, and others. Two episodes will drop this Tuesday, June 28, followed by one new episode a week.
Then there’s the conclusion of Stranger Things 4 this Friday, when the final two episodes drop. (Don’t worry, there’s still one more season after this one.) Both episodes are written and directed by creators Matt and Ross Duffer, and each is like a movie, totaling four hours altogether. While it’s anyone’s guess how the season will end, we do know we’ll get more Kate Bush. Frankly, that’s good enough for us right now.
Other recommendations this week include the film Doula, starring Chris Pine and Troian Bellisario (check out the description and the hilarious trailer below), as well as several very timely and important documentaries. Also, if you haven’t seen Good Luck to You, Leo Grande with Emma Thompson and newcomer Daryl McCormack, do it now. The film is streaming on Hulu, and I personally volunteer to start Thompson’s Oscar campaign now because she gives such a vulnerable, hilarious, complex performance of a woman struggling to embrace her sexual side. And can we get McCormack a role on Bridgerton? He’s got charisma and sex appeal a million times over. Team Shondaland, take note.
With that said, happy last week of June. (How did we get here already?!) I’ll see you back here in time for all the Fourth of July holiday programming.
Sunday, June 26
Westworld (HBO and HBO Max): The fourth season is finally here, and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose of West Side Story joins the show in a recurring role. There are eight episodes this season, which will premiere weekly. Check out the trailer below. 9 p.m. E.T./P.T.
Monday, June 27
Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness (PBS): Executive producer Ken Burns and his team feature more than 20 individuals ranging from age 11 to 27 who live with mental health conditions, as well as their teachers, friends, family members, and health care providers, plus independent mental health experts. Per PBS, “The film confronts the issues of stigma, discrimination, awareness, and silence, and in doing so, helps advance a shift in the public perception of mental health issues today.” Hiding in Plain Sight is part of a larger public-media mental health initiative called Well Beings, which you can learn more about here. The two-part special concludes tomorrow night, Tuesday, June 28. 9 p.m. E.T. (check local listings), and on PBS.org and the PBS Video app.
Tuesday, June 28
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu): The phenomenon is back for more crazy antics featuring the beloved trio of Charles, Oliver, and Mabel. This time around they must figure out who’s responsible for the death of Arconia board president Bunny Folger, not just for the purpose of their podcast but because their lives depend on it. (They are publicly implicated in Bunny’s homicide.) Yep, sounds about right. Streaming; two episodes drop today with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.
Doula (Universal Pictures): Pretty Little Liars star Troian Bellisario stars as a pregnant woman who reluctantly hires a male doula after the elderly midwife she originally chose passes away unexpectedly. The doula is the midwife’s son, which makes for all kinds of drama—and comedy. Chris Pine plays the doctor to Bellisario’s Deb. Both are terrific, as are Will Greenberg, Amanda Walsh, Arron Shiver, Ally Maki, Elyse Levesque, Alex McKenna, and Robert Baker. Available to rent or own in the U.S. on all major digital platforms; visit www.doula-film.com for more details.
Middle Classy (Netflix): Cristela Alonzo releases her second Netflix special, which is a follow-up to her previous special, Lower Classy (currently streaming). In Middle Classy, Cristela talks about the struggles of growing up in a lower class minority household and what it’s like to experience the privileges of middle class as an adult (like health insurance). Streaming
Wednesday, June 29
Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution (A&E): Per the network, the two-part documentary explores the progression of Black comedy and comedians who have used pointed humor to expose society’s injustices. Take a look at the trailer below. 9 p.m. E.T./P.T. and on Wednesday, June 30.
Thursday, June 30
Me or the Menu (Discovery+/Food Network): Four couples try to beat the odds of ending up in divorce court, while also navigating the unique challenges of the cutthroat restaurant industry as they open their doors to customers. Do they have what it takes to be successful at both? You’ll have to tune in to find out. 10 p.m. ET/PT
Friday, July 1
Stranger Things 4, Volume 2 (Netflix): The super-sized, epic conclusion is finally here (episode 408 is 1 hour and 25 minutes long, while episode 409 is 2 hours and 20 minutes). All I care about is whether we’ll get more Karen Wheeler and her epic perm this time around, because she has been way too underutilized after a stellar season 3. Streaming
Mr. Malcolm’s List (in theaters): Emily in Paris’s Ashley Park is downright hilarious in this period drama that will help anyone dealing with Bridgerton withdrawal. In the film, Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) is jilted by London’s most elgible bachelor, Mr. Malcolm (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), so she convinces her friend, Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match. Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Theo James also star in the charming film directed by Emma Holly Jones. In theaters
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour senior West Coast editor and author of the soon-to-be-published book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series (October 11, 2022). You can follow her on Instagram @jessicaradloff14.
