hbo asia – Page 4 – Jellybeans in the City

HBO hit comedy series BALLERS returns for its fifth and final season on 26 August exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

Exploring the glamorous, often cutthroat, world of pro football through a group of past and present players striving to stay in the game, BALLERS stars Dwayne Johnson as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today’s players. Created by Stephen Levinson (HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) who also serves as showrunner, the hit comedy series returns for its eight-episode fifth and final season same time as the U.S. on Monday, 26 August at 10.30am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode encores on the same day at 10pm on HBO.

This season finds Spencer (Johnson) settling into retirement and reflecting on his past, when an offer that’s too good to refuse comes his way and sends him back into the lion’s den, this time as a team owner. In the wake of his split with Spencer, an ambitious Joe (Rob Corddry) gambles aggressively to make Sports X greater than ever with the help of his new partner, Lance (Russell Brand). Meanwhile, Ricky (John David Washington) has a startling setback that forces him to consider a new kind of future and tests his physical, mental and emotional resolve; Charles (Omar Miller) learns that being a general manager means getting your hands dirty; Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) shifts his focus to his love of professional gaming despite Reggie’s (London Brown) wariness; and Jason (Troy Garity) decides to take his career to the next level.

Other returning cast regulars include John David Washington, Rob Corddry, Omar Miller, Donovan Carter, Troy Garity, London Brown and Brittany S. Hall.

Returning guest stars include Russell Brand, Carl McDowell, Jazmyn Simon, Jay Glazer, Mark Schlereth, Robert Wisdom, Richard Schiff, Steven Weber and Emayatzy Corinealdi.

New guest stars for season five include Catherine Haena Kim, Odell Beckham Jr., Melvin Gordon, Rick Fox, Mikey Alfred, Randy Couture, DeAndre Hopkins, Derwin James, Von Miller, Malcolm Jenkins and Dante Fowler, Jr.

Upcoming episodes:

Episode #501 (season 5, episode 1): “Protocol is for Losers”
Debut date: Monday, 29 August at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
While peacefully enjoying retirement and reflecting on his past, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) gets a tantalising offer. A year after splitting with Spencer, Joe (Rob Corddry) eyes a big swing at Sports X with his new partner, Lance (Russell Brand). Ricky (John David Washington) finds himself in hot water with Charles (Omar Miller), and Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) considers a life change, much to Reggie’s (London Brown) chagrin. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #502 (season 5, episode 2): “Must Be the Shoes”
Debut date: Monday, 2 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
After learning of competing owner offers, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) engages with past allies. Joe (Rob Corddry) is tasked with apologising for creating a hostile work environment with the help of Kate (Catherine Haena Kim), a sharp Sports X exec. Ricky (John David Washington) and Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) each consider different kinds of futures, while Charles (Omar Miller) tries to hide some unwelcome news. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #503 (season 5, episode 3): “Copernicursed”
Debut date: Monday, 9 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
Just as Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) reaches out to him with the job of a lifetime, Jason (Troy Garity) gets an interesting counteroffer from Joe (Rob Corddry). Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) has a tryout at an e-sports company and Reggie (London Brown) bemoans his position at Sports X. Ricky (John David Washington) turns to old ways to deal with his new situation. Charles (Omar Miller) considers a solution to another headache. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Episode #504 (season 5, episode 4): “Municipal”
Debut date: Monday, 16 September at 10.40am on HBO GO and HBO.
Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) settles into his new position and makes a potentially unpopular decision. With Sports X teetering on the edge financially, Joe (Rob Corddry) gets sidetracked with his personal life. Ricky (John David Washington) tries his hand in the media and voices his true feelings about an ally. Reggie (London Brown) comes to Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) with a proposal that will make them both happy. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Rob Weiss.

Episode #505 (season 5, episode 5): “Crumbs”
Debut date: Monday, 23 September at 10.35am on HBO GO and HBO.
Spencer faces pressure from all sides as he fights for Kisan. Ricky (John David Washington) gets mixed feedback about his radio show. Reggie (London Brown), Vernon (Donovan W. Carter) and Lance (Russell Brand) struggle to convince Joe (Rob Corddry) to invest in a new business. Charles (Omar Miller) works hard to land a big player. Jason (Troy Garity) goes through tough negotiations with the Anderson brothers. Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Rob Weiss.

Episode #506 (season 5, episode 6): “Entertainment”
Debut date: Monday, 30 September at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
In the wake of an unexpected tragedy, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) prepares for his first owners meeting. While trying to balance work and his relationship with Kate (Catherine Haena Kim), Joe (Rob Corddry) decides to go on Ricky’s (John David Washington) radio show. Charles (Omar Miller) deals with an unexpected health crisis in the middle of his busiest time at work. Vernon (Donovan W. Carter), Reggie (London Brown) and Lance (Russell Brand) try to recruit a trio of gaming siblings for their new league. Jason (Troy Garity) celebrates his anniversary. Written by Jason Lew; directed by Simon Cellan Jones.

Episode #507 (season 5, episode 7): “Who Wants a Lollipop”
Debut date: Monday, 7 October at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
When Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) returns to the Sports X offices to work out a major player deal, he and Joe (Rob Corddry) air past grievances and later, Spencer makes a big public statement that’s sure to have consequences. Charles (Omar Miller) mulls over a new deal from Werner after getting a wakeup call about his health. Ricky (John David Washington) gets defensive in a meeting with a Hollywood bigwig who has ambitious plans for his future. Vernon (Donovan W. Carter), Reggie (London Brown) and Lance (Russell Brand) arrive at their first Esports tournament as underdogs. Written by Rob Weiss & Stephen Levinson; directed by Simon Cellan Jones.

Episode #508 (season 5, episode 8): “Players Only”
Debut date: Monday, 14 October at 10.30am on HBO GO and HBO.
Despite having a bullseye on his back, Spencer (Dwayne Johnson) refuses to back down in his fight for the league’s players. Joe (Rob Corddry) embraces a new state of mind as he finds peace with himself. Julie (Jazmyn Simon) encourages Charles (Omar Miller) to take care of unfinished business. Ricky (John David Washington) decides to strike out on his own with his latest project. Reggie (London Brown) takes the next step in his career, with some encouragement from Vernon (Donovan W. Carter). Written by Stephen Levinson & Rob Weiss; directed by Chloe Domont.

Season five credits: BALLERS was created by Stephen Levinson; executive produced by Stephen Levinson, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Peter Berg, Rob Weiss, Karyn McCarthy and Julian Farino; supervising producers; Janace Tashjian, Rashard Mendenhall and Steve Baker; producers Julie Camino, David Levinson, Denis Biggs, Colby Parker Jr., Don J. Hug, Tommy Armour IV; co-producers, Sarah Potts, Natalie Lindeman and Olivier Arnesen. Stephen Levinson serves as showrunner.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Limited Series MRS. FLETCHER debuts 28 October exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

Starring Kathryn Hahn (Emmy® nominee for “Transparent”; HBO’s forthcoming “I Know This Much Is True”) in the title role, MRS. FLETCHER, a seven-episode limited series debuting same time as the U.S. on Monday 28 October 10.30am (11.30am from 4 November), is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta. The episode encores at 11.30pm the same day on HBO. The series is a dual coming-of-age story chronicling the personal and sexual journeys of an empty-nest mother and her college freshman son, who both embrace their newfound freedom with mixed results.

As the series begins, Eve Fletcher (Kathryn Hahn), a mid-40s single mom who works as the executive director of a senior centre, drops her only child off at college and returns home to a very empty house. Meanwhile, Eve’s son Brendan (Jackson White), a popular (though sometimes clueless) jock, finds college is a little more complicated than he expected and struggles to make connections with his more socially and politically aware fellow students. As mother and son find themselves alone for the first time, this sharp, provocative series navigates themes of parenthood, sexuality, love, and identity in a cultural moment when attitudes about gender and sex are evolving rapidly.

The cast also includes Owen Teague, Katie Kershaw, Domenick Lombardozzi, Cameron Boyce, Jen Richards and Casey Wilson.

MRS. FLETCHER was created by Tom Perrotta; based on the book written by Tom Perrotta; executive producer/writer Tom Perrotta; executive producer Helen Estabrook.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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HBO drama series THE DEUCE, returns for third and final season on 10 September exclusively on HBO GO

The 80s are in full swing as the critically acclaimed drama series THE DEUCE brings its story to a close when it returns for its eight-episode, third and final season, same time as the U.S., on Tuesday 10 September at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO. Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, the story resumes its chronicle of the rise of pornography and the multibillion-dollar industry’s transformation of American culture seven years after the culmination of the second season.

Season three of THE DEUCE brings us into the world of 1985, just as VHS overtakes film as the primary medium for porn production and distribution. The lure of the California sunshine, the city’s aggressive takeover of commercial sex properties in Times Square and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic mark the end of an era. With the party of the 1970s winding down, 42nd Street has deteriorated into a hive of uncontrolled violent crime and seedy video stores, making urban renewal seem more unlikely than ever before. Following the interconnected lives of Times Square’s barkeeps, prostitutes, pimps, police, mobsters, porn actors and producers, the eight-episode third season of THE DEUCE brings the series’ arc to a dramatic conclusion.

Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon, both veterans of the HBO series “The Wire” and “Treme,” THE DEUCE is executive produced by Pelecanos, Simon, Nina K. Noble and James Franco. The drama series stars James Franco (Golden Globe winner for “The Disaster Artist”) as both Vincent Martino – who, in season three, finds himself tired, wary and in search of a way out – and his twin Frankie Martino, a seemingly changed man, who is married with children and who continues to flirt with self-destruction; and Maggie Gyllenhaal (Golden Globe nominee for season one and Critic’s Choice nominee for season two of the series) as Candy, a director struggling to maintain her artistic integrity in an industry that is quickly devolving.

The returning cast also includes: Margarita Levieva (“Revenge”), as Abby, the proprietor of the Hi-Hat and an advocate for Times Square’s artists and denizens who begins to consider life after the Deuce; Emily Meade (HBO’s “The Leftovers”) as porn star Lori, now living in Los Angeles and battling addiction while absorbing the porn business’ migration to video-tape and the resulting degradation; Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. (HBO’s “The Wire”) as Chris Alston, now detailed to the Midtown Enforcement Project and partnered with Gene Goldman (Luke Kirby) to realize the city’s plan to rehabilitate Midtown; Chris Bauer (HBO’s “The Wire”), as French Parlor manager Bobby, who steadily begins to lose his piece of the lucrative Times Square sex trade; Chris Coy (CINEMAX’s “Banshee”) as gay businessman and entrepreneur Paul, who must confront the AIDS epidemic; Michael Rispoli (HBO’s “The Sopranos”) as mob capo Rudy, who leans on the Martino brothers for greater profit amidst infighting.

Season three finds familiar faces who return this season as cast regulars including, David Krumholtz (HBO’s upcoming miniseries “The Plot Against America”) as veteran pornographer Harvey; Daniel Sauli (“House of Cards”) as Tommy Longo, who’s angling for his own position amidst the Gambino family; Olivia Luccardi (“Channel Zero”) as Melissa, now an amateur porn actress forced to confront her past and Sepideh Moafi (“Falling Water”) as Loretta, a bartender at the Hi-Hat, involved in the feminist anti-porn movement. Guests include: Zoe Kazan (HBO’s upcoming miniseries “The Plot Against America”), Mustafa Shakir (Cinemax’s “Jett”), Roberta Colindrez (“I Love Dick”), Kim Director (“She’s Gotta Have It”), Corey Stoll (House of Cards), Aaron Dean Eisenberg (“Public Morals”), Michael Gandolfini (“Ocean’s Eight”) and Ralph Macchio (“The Karate Kid”).

Season three writers include: David Simon, George Pelecanos, Carl Capotorto, Iturri Sosa, Will Ralston, Chris Yakaitis and Stephani DeLuca.

Season three directors include: Alex Hall, Susanna White, Tanya Hamilton, Roxann Dawson and James Franco.

Season 3, Episode 1: “The Camera Loves You”
Debut date: Tuesday 10 September 9am
On the eve of 1985, a worn-out Vincent (James Franco) reconnects with his ex-wife, Andrea (Zoe Kazan) as his open relationship with Abby (Margarita Levieva) grows more distant. Despite becoming a family man, Frankie (James Franco) continues his risky side hustles. With the newly dominant VHS format shaking up their industry, Candy (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Harvey (David Krumholtz) travel to Las Vegas for an adult film convention where they disagree on how to navigate a fast-changing future. Fresh out of rehab in Los Angeles, Lori (Emily Meade) is put back to work. Alston (Lawrence Gilliard) makes a very specific request of Goldman (Luke Kirby) in their quest to revitalize Midtown. Now a bartender at the Hi-Hat, Loretta (Sepideh Moafi) becomes an active member of Women Against Pornography.
Written by David Simon & George Pelecanos; Directed by Alex Hall

Season 3, Episode 2: “Morta di Fame”
Debut date: Tuesday 17 September 9am
Frankie (Franco) takes his amateur porn business to the next level and ends up in a confrontation with Rudy (Michael Rispoli), who pushes Vincent (Franco) to up his profits. Candy (Gyllenhaal) brainstorms a new film based on the experiences of her fellow sex workers and finds that her new beau Hank (Corey Stoll) is not shaken by her past. Abby (Levieva) and Loretta (Moafi) take care of Shay (Kim Director) when she shows up to the Hi-Hat in bad shape. Lori (Meade) is advised to be more compliant after she dares to stand up for herself on set. Alston (Gilliard) is tasked with finding the mysterious owner of a prime piece of Midtown real estate. With the future of his businesses up in the air, Paul (Chris Coy) worries about his partner Todd’s (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) health.
Written by Carl Capotorto; Directed by Susanna White

Season 3, Episode 3: “Normal Is a Lie”
Debut date: Tuesday 24 September 9am
Abby (Levieva) befriends a graffiti artist named Pilar (Paloma Guzman) and takes a surprising trip downtown. Candy (Gyllenhaal) sets a firm line with Hank when it comes to money. As Todd’s (Aaron Dean Eisenberg) health worsens, he reexamines his priorities and asks for Paul’s (Coy) support. Melissa (Luccardi) is forced to face her past. Alston (Gilliard) explores different strategies for getting a shady SRO owner to sell. Bobby (Bauer) pays Joey (Michael Gandolfini) a visit on Wall Street as Joey’s latest money-making scheme grows bigger. Tensions rise between Frankie (Franco) and Rudy (Rispoli) as a buyer complains about Frankie’s product.
Written by Iturri Sosa; Directed by Tanya Hamilton

Season 3, Episode 4: “They Can Never Go Home”
Debut date: Tuesday 1 October 9am
Lori (Meade) returns to New York for an audition and runs into some familiar faces. While searching for actors for her new film, Candy (Gyllenhaal) speaks to her critics at a Women Against Pornography meeting. As things heat up with Jennifer (Kelcy Griffin), Alston (Gilliard) takes a drastic step to deliver for Goldman (Kirby). Melissa (Luccardi) leaves the city. Abby (Levieva) grows closer to Pilar (Paloma Guzman) as her relationship with Vincent (Franco) wanes. Vincent and Frankie celebrate an eventful birthday.
Written by Will Ralston; Directed by James Franco

In addition to “The Wire,” creators David Simon and George Pelecanos collaborated on HBO’s New Orleans drama “Treme.” Simon is an author, journalist and producer whose other works for HBO include the upcoming miniseries “The Plot Against America,” “The Corner,” “Generation Kill” and “Show Me a Hero.” Pelecanos is the author of 21 critically acclaimed novels, including last year’s “The Man Who Came Uptown,” “The Double” and “The Turnaround,” as well as a screenwriter and film producer, and served as a writer and co-producer on HBO’s “The Pacific.”

THE DEUCE was created by George Pelecanos & David Simon; executive producers, George Pelecanos, David Simon, Nina K. Noble and James Franco; co-executive producers, Richard Price and Alex Hall; producers, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Laura Schweigman and Marc Henry Johnson.

HBO Original Series as well as live channels are available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or fill in your details here.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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Production begins in Taiwan for brand new HBO Asia Original Series Adventure of the Ring

HBO Asia announced today that principal photography has begun in Taiwan for the eight-part hour-long Mandarin romantic comedy series, ADVENTURE OF THE RING. Shooting will take place in Taipei till October 2019. Set and filmed in Taiwan, the series is scheduled to premiere next year across HBO Asia’s 23 territories on their on-air, online and on-demand platforms.

“Following the success of HBO Asia’s Mandarin Original Series including the award-winning THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC and THE WORLD BETWEEN US, we are pleased to bring yet another Mandarin production, ADVENTURE OF THE RING, to our audiences in Asia and around the world,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. “The heart-warming tales in HBO Asia’s first romantic comedy series will resonate with many.”

ADVENTURE OF THE RING tells the stories of different couples who come in contact with an engagement ring. On a morning commute, the ring is misplaced by a man on the day of his proposal, threatening to disrupt all his plans. Chris Wang 《宥勝》 (“Time Traveler”, “Love Family”) plays Yi Zhi, the man who loses the ring and Allison Lin《林予晞》 (HBO Asia Original “The World Between Us”, “Family Time”) is Lisa, Yi Zhi’s intended bride. As the search for the ring continues, Yi Zhi and Lisa re-examine what love means to them as the ring travels through the hands of other couples and impact their lives.

Helmed by Nelson Yeh 《葉天倫》 (“Far And Away”, “Mad King Of Taipei”) and directed by Golden Bell nominated director, Kitamura Tayoharu《北村豐晴》 (“Running Man”, “Q Series – Love Of Sandstorm”), the series stars Chris Wang 《宥勝》 (“Time Traveler”, “Love Family”) and Allison Lin《林予晞》 (HBO Asia Original “The World Between Us”, “Family Time”).

This series is produced in partnership with Good Image with support from The Ministry of Culture of Taiwan, Taipei Film Commission and Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.

HBO Asia started producing Original productions in 2012. To date, HBO Asia has aired 16 Original productions including award-winning series, movies and documentaries such as HBO Asia’s first Japanese drama series MISS SHERLOCK; the network’s first original documentary, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS; its first Chinese language drama series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC; two seasons of the network’s dark fantasy series HALFWORLDS; and a horror mini-series, GRACE.

Later this year, HBO Asia will premiere the second season of the award-winning series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC; a brand-new anthology series FOOD LORE, heartfelt stories told against the backdrop of Asian cuisine, as well as INVISIBLE STORIES, a drama series about the extraordinary stories hidden behind ordinary people.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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VERY RALPH, the first documentary portrait of fashion icon Ralph Lauren, debuts 13 November on HBO GO

VERY RALPH, the first documentary portrait of fashion icon Ralph Lauren, debuts same time as the U.S. on 13 November exclusively on HBO GO. The feature-length film reveals the man behind the icon and the creation of one of the most successful brands in fashion history. VERY RALPH is directed and produced by award-winning documentarian Susan Lacy (HBO’s “Jane Fonda in Five Acts,” “Spielberg”).

With an uncanny ability to turn his dreams into reality, Ralph Lauren has built a multi-billion-dollar, global powerhouse out of his aspirations, becoming a living embodiment of American optimism and the American Dream. For more than 50 years, he has celebrated the iconography of America and defined American style, translating his vision and inspiration into one of the world’s most widely recognized brands. In VERY RALPH, as he enters his sixth decade in business, Lauren reflects on his journey from a boy from the Bronx who didn’t know what a fashion designer was, to becoming the emblem of American style all around the world.

Offering unprecedented access to his life and work, Ralph Lauren speaks candidly in extensive interviews about his childhood, his five-decade-long marriage, the early days of his company, his response to criticism, his inventive multi-page ad campaigns and his pioneering vision which includes a remarkable series of firsts: Lauren was the first designer to create and market a complete lifestyle brand and expand into home furnishings, one of the first to champion diversity on the runway and in advertising and the first to create immersive retail environments that transformed the shopping experience.

VERY RALPH also features vivid archives from 50 years of the fashion brand, as well as intimate, revealing interviews with Lauren’s family, long-standing colleagues and other notables, including Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, André Leon Talley, Hillary Clinton, Robin Givhan, Jason Wu, Naomi Campbell, Martha Stewart, Calvin Klein, Tyson Beckford, Tina Brown, Diane von Furstenberg, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Friedman and Paul Goldberger.

Susan Lacy is the creator and former executive producer of the celebrated WNET series “American Masters,” which is shown on PBS nationwide. She has won countless Emmy®, Peabody and other industry awards, and has produced and directed a broad library of acclaimed films exploring the lives of America’s most enduring cultural icons. Her previous HBO documentaries include the Emmy® nominee “Spielberg,” which debuted in 2017 and “Jane Fonda in Five Acts,” which debuted in 2018.

HBO Documentary Films presents a Pentimento production; produced and directed by Susan Lacy; produced by Emma Pildes and Jessica Levin; executive produced by Graydon Carter.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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Catherine the GreatThe Righteous GemstonesA Black Lady Sketch Show

Silicon Valley

Sketch comedy series A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW debuts 3 August, exclusively on HBO GO

A BLACK LADY SKETCH SHOW, debuting same time as the U.S. on Saturday 3 August at 11am exclusively on HBO GO, is a narrative series set in a limitless magical reality full of dynamic, hilarious characters and celebrity guests.

The show presents sketches performed by a core cast of black women, including creator Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis and Quinta Brunson. Thede executive produces, writes and stars and Issa Rae (Emmy and Golden Globe nominee for HBO’s “Insecure”) executive produces.

Upcoming episodes

Season 1, episode 1: “Angela Bassett Is the Baddest B***h”

Premiere: SATURDAY, 3 AUG 11:00-11:30AM

Two women seek an escape from an ominous fog. 1960s soul group Claude and The Boppers perform their hit song “Ice Cream Shop.” A world-renowned author and “philosophizer” promotes her latest masterclass. Maya’s confession in a support group gets a less-than-supportive response. Trinity, the Invisible Spy, meets a formidable adversary. Drea confronts a mysterious woman stealing her dance moves at a club. Fun and games lead to tension, as Robin, Ashley, Quinta and Gabrielle are stuck in a house after an end-of-the-world event.

Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Season 1, episode 2: “Your Boss Knows You Don’t Have Eyebrows”

Premiere: SATURDAY, 10 AUG 11:00-11:30AM

A perpetually-late-to-work Shayla decides to forgo her morning makeup routine, to her coworker Toni’s dismay. Trinity the Invisible Spy hunts down The Recluse, an elusive villain with a surprising identity. An array of average, awkward contestants perform before a panel of judges at the Basic Ball. Security guard Fatimah helps an office worker investigate who stole her missing mug. Robin, Quinta and Gabrielle uncover a shocking truth about Ashley’s night time ritual.
Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Season 1, episode 3: “3rd & Bonaparte Is Always in the Shade”

Premiere: SATURDAY, 17 AUG 11:00-11:30AM

Asia is shocked by a very public, very unexpected marriage proposal from her new boyfriend Dewayne. New recruits talk about their goals and expectations at a gang orientation. A church service devolves when congregants take to the mic with self-centered motivations. Dr. Haddassah Olayinka Ali-Youngman turns a toast at her sister’s wedding into a teachable moment. Gabrielle, Ashley, Quinta and Robin bond while discussing their ideal men and some of their worst dates.

Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Season 1, episode 4: “Where Are My Background Singers?”

Premiere: SATURDAY, 24 AUG 11:00-11:30AM

A divorce party spirals out of control following Eboni’s bad mushroom trip. The tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, Rome & Julissa. A 1930s groupie, Feather Atwood, sets her sights on Negro League baseball player Satchel Paige. A frustrated airline passenger seeks a like-minded customer service representative. Denise tries to prevent yet another breakup and its typical, unusual side effect. “Taskmaster,” “Insecurity” and “Turnt” help Krystal navigate a possible cat-calling situation. Quinta, Gabrielle, Robin and Ashley lay down odd rules while playing cards to pass the time.

Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Season 1, episode 5: “Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?”

Premiere: SATURDAY, 31 AUG 11:00-11:30AM

Four friends on a camping trip unknowingly disprove a stereotype. A pastor tries to take back control of his church potluck. A flight attendant struggles to get compliance from newlyweds Chris and Lachel in the exit row. Elementary school students notice a change in their teacher Ms. Miller. Jackie receives a less-than-warm welcome when she returns to her hometown high school. Robin, Quinta, Ashley and Gabrielle discuss their weird turn-ons and stage an intervention.

Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Season 1, episode 6: “Born at Night, But Not Last Night” (season finale)

Premiere: SATURDAY, 7 SEPT 11:00-11:30AM

Two friends come to regret their decision to visit a new black-owned restaurant. A mother and daughter go toe-to-toe in the latest episode of “Get the Belt.” “Taskmaster,” “Turnt” and “Insecurity” help Krystal through a surprise hot-air balloon ride. Carl and Lori’s “special guest” has very specific boundaries. A judge, bailiff, court reporter and attorneys celebrate their first ever all-black lady courtroom. Tensions rise between Ashley, Gabrielle, Quinta and Robin as the reality of their situation sinks in.

Written by Lauren Ashley Smith, Robin Thede, Ashley Nicole Black, Akilah Green, Brittani Nichols, Amber Ruffin, Rae Sanni and Holly Walker; directed by Dime Davis.

Creator/executive producer/writer/star, Robin Thede; executive producer, Issa Rae for Issa Rae Productions; executive producers, Dave Becky, Jonathan Berry for 3 Arts Entertainment; executive producers, Tony Hernandez, Brooke Posch for JAX Media; head writer/co-executive producer: Lauren Ashley Smith; producers, Deniese Davis, Montrel McKay for Issa Rae Productions; producer, John Skidmore for JAX Media.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

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Catherine the Great

The Righteous Gemstones

New HBO Original Series THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES, starring Danny McBride and John Goodman to premiere August 19

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES, starring Danny McBride, Golden Globe® winner John Goodman, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine, kicks off its nine-episode season with an hour-long episode same time as the U.S. on Monday, 19 August at 10am, followed by half-hour episodes on subsequent Mondays, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode encores on the same day at 11pm on HBO. Telling the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work, the series was created by McBride (HBO’s “Vice Principals” and “Eastbound & Down”), who is an executive producer, director and writer. McBride collaborators Jody Hill and David Gordon Green also serve as executive producers and directors.

Well into the second generation of a grand televangelist tradition, the renowned Gemstone family is living proof that worship pays dividends in all sizes, including their megachurch. Danny McBride stars as Jesse Gemstone, the eldest of three grown Gemstone offspring, who looks to lead in his father’s footsteps, but finds his past sins jeopardising the family ministry.

Playing Jesse’s siblings are Adam Devine (“Pitch Perfect”) as pseudo-hipster Kelvin, the youngest of the trio and a thorn in Jesse’s side, and Edi Patterson (HBO’s “Vice Principals”) as Judy, who is secretly living with her fiancé and dreams of escaping the Gemstone compound. John Goodman (HBO’s “Treme”, “The Connors”) is Eli Gemstone, the family’s patriarch, who finds himself at a crisis point as he mourns the loss of his wife, Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles), and questions the Gemstones’ mission.

Also starring are Walton Goggins (Critics’ Choice Award-winner for HBO’s “Vice Principals”) as Baby Billy, a former child star who clogged and sang for Jesus. As an aging man, he has fallen on hard times and comes to the Gemstones for salvation; Cassidy Freeman (“Longmire”) as Jesse’s wife, Amber, a former journalist now devoted to the church; Tony Cavalero (“School of Rock”) as ex-Satanist Keefe Chambers; Tim Baltz (“Drunk History”) as Judy’s finance, BJ; and Greg Alan Williams (“Greenleaf”) as Martin Imari, Eli’s right-hand man.

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES marks the third HBO series for the Rough House Pictures team of McBride, Hill and Green, following “Eastbound & Down” and “Vice Principals.” McBride wrote and directed the pilot, with Green and Hill splitting directing duties on the other eight episodes. Green directed last year’s hit “Halloween” instalment, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as 2017’s “Stronger,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Hill directed 2018’s “The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter,” starring Josh Brolin. McBride collaborated as writer and executive producer on “Halloween” and as writer, executive producer and actor in “The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter.”

Episodes include:

Episode 1: “The Righteous Gemstones”(Premieres Monday, 19 August at 10am)

Upon returning from a baptism marathon overseas with his father Eli (John Goodman) and brother Kelvin (Adam Devine), Jesse Gemstone (Danny McBride) receives a video from blackmailers seeking to sully his reputation. Eli moves forward with plans to expand the Gemstone empire as he continues to mourn his late wife Aimee-Leigh (Jennifer Nettles). Written by Danny McBride; directed by Danny McBride.

Episode 2: “Is This the Man Who Made the Earth Tremble” (Premieres Monday, 26 August at 10am)

After discovering Amber (Cassidy Freeman), Pontius (Kelton DuMont) and Abraham (Gavin Munn) reminiscing about an estranged family member, Jesse (Danny McBride) tasks his friends with acquiring surveillance footage that could explain the strange events of the night before. Written by Danny McBride; directed by David Gordon Green.

Episode 3: “They Are Weak, But He Is Strong” (Premieres Monday, 2 September at 10am)

Aimee-Leigh’s (Jennifer Nettles) elderly brother Baby Billy (Walton Goggins) returns to the Gemstone ministry, bringing along his much younger wife Tiffany (Valyn Hall). Jesse closes ranks on his co-conspirators to root out the identity of his blackmailers. Written by Danny McBride & John Carcieri; directed by David Gordon Green.

THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES is created and written by Danny McBride; directed and executive produced by Danny McBride, Jody Hill and David Gordon Green; executive produced by John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley and Brandon James; produced by David Brightbill; co-produced by Justin Bourret and Melissa DeMino; consulting produced by Grant DeKernion, Jared Hess, Kevin Barnett, Chris Pappas and Edi Patterson.

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New Trailer of HBO’s CATHERINE THE GREAT Starring Helen Mirren released today

HBO released the official trailer for the HBO Original Miniseries CATHERINE THE GREAT today. The miniseries will premiere in Asia the same time as the U.S. later this year, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO.

Oscar-winner Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) will lead the miniseries CATHERINE THE GREAT as the tumultuous monarch and politician who ruled the Russian empire and transformed its place in the world in the 18th century. The four-part historical drama is written by Nigel Williams (“Elizabeth I”) and directed by multi Award-winning Philip Martin (“The Crown”).

CATHERINE THE GREAT follows the latter years of the Empress’ reign and her passionate affair with Russian General Grigory Potemkin, played by Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty”), amid a backdrop of scandal, intrigue and immense conflict. Unable to publicly marry and famously promiscuous, Catherine and Potemkin’s story is one of obsessive love for each other and their country as they develop a unique and devoted relationship, overcoming their adversaries to build Russia’s reputation as one of the great European powers of the 18th Century.

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“His Dark Materials” starring James McAvoy and Ruth Wilson to premiere later this year on HBO and HBO GO

HBO released the official trailer for the highly anticipated HBO Original drama series HIS DARK MATERIALS, which will premiere same time as the U.S. this fall, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The eight-episode series is set for two seasons.

Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved trilogy of the same name, the first season follows Lyra (Dafne Keen), a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children, and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. As she journeys through the worlds, including our own, Lyra meets a determined and courageous boy called Will. Together they encounter extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living — and the dead — in their hands.

Keen (best known for her role in “Logan”) will be joined by Golden Globe® nominee James McAvoy (“Dark Phoenix”, “Split”) as Lyra’s Uncle Asriel; Golden Globe® winner Ruth Wilson (“The Affair”, “Mrs. Wilson”) as socialite Mrs. Coulter; and Lin-Manuel Miranda (“Mary Poppins Returns”, “Moana”) as adventurer Lee Scoresby, to lead a large ensemble cast including Anne-Marie Duff (“Before I Go to Sleep”), Clarke Peters (“An Acceptable Loss”), Will Keen (“The Crown”), Ian Gelder (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Georgina Campbell (“Black Mirror”), James Cosmo (HBO’s “Chernobyl”) and more.

Jack Thorne (“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”) adapted the novels for television, with the first two episodes directed by Oscar®-winner Tom Hooper (HBO’s “John Adams”, “The King’s Speech”). Other season one directors include Dawn Shadforth (“Trust”), Otto Bathhurst (“Robin Hood”), Euros Lyn (“National Treasure: Kiri”) and Jamie Childs (“Doctor Who”).

Executive producing the show are Dan McCulloch (“Victoria”), Primetime Emmy®-nominee Jane Tranter (HBO’s The Night Of”) and Julie Gardner (“Doctor Who”) for Bad Wolf; Philip Pullman (“The Golden Compass”); Jack Thorne; Tom Hooper; Deborah Forte (“Mortal Engines”); Toby Emmerich (“It”) and Carolyn Blackwood (“The Hobbit” trilogy) for New Line Cinema; and Ben Irving (HBO’s “Gentleman Jack”) and Piers Wenger (“Coalition”) for BBC One.

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Production begins for HBO Asia’s newest Original Invisible Stories

HBO Asia announced today that principal photography for its latest Asia Original, INVISIBLE STORIES, has begun for the six-episode half-hour drama series. INVISIBLE STORIES, a series that shines light into dark corners and tells untold stories from the heartlands and a fictional neighbourhood housing estate in multi-cultural Singapore, is scheduled to premiere later this year on HBO Asia’s on-air, online and on-demand platforms.

INVISIBLE STORIES brings to life stories of everyday people – their joy, their struggles, their sacrifice, with each episode following one neighbour as he or she navigates through everyday life and its challenges. These stories include a man who is a taxi driver by day and a spiritual medium by night; and a banker who is a father and husband but harbours a secret that comes to life late at night.

Featuring a regional cast from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore, Golden Horse Award winner Yeo Yann Yann (‘ILO ILO’, ‘881’ and ‘Singapore Dreaming’) and Taiwanese newcomer Devin Pan headline the first episode which revolves around the lives of a mother and her autistic son.

“With INVISIBLE STORIES, we are pleased to be able to bring to life these, seldom told, intimate stories of people who walk amongst us but are often invisible as we go about our busy lives every day,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. “HBO Asia is glad to once again work with talented cast and crew from Singapore and the region to bring local stories to a global stage.”

Created by Singaporean Ler Jiyuan who also wrote the series with a team of local writers, INVISIBLE STORIES is produced by Singapore-based company Birdmandog as part of HBO Asia’s partnership with the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). The two-and-a-half-year collaboration aims to develop the drama production capabilities of Singapore’s media industry and talent, where HBO Asia will conduct training workshops and work with local talent and companies on HBO Asia Original productions.

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