Welp, it’s ‘HBO Max’ again, and everyone — but especially HBO — has jokes

Therese Odell

12 months ago

Here’s A BUNCH OF TV News

Well, well, well, look who is rethinking their name change. After not even a full two years as “Max” — because Warner Bros. Discovery wanted to get rid of the “toxic” HBO brand — the streaming platform is returning to the name “HBO Max.” I’m not saying that WE TOLD YOU SO, but ahem.

“With the course we are on and strong momentum we are enjoying, we believe HBO Max far better represents our current consumer proposition,” Casey Bloys said. “And it clearly states our implicit promise to deliver content that is recognized as unique and, to steal a line we always said at HBO, worth paying for.”

“This evolution has also been influenced by changing consumer needs,” JB Perrette, President and CEO of Streaming said. “No consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content.”

So … wait … people prefer quality HBO content to all that cheap Discovery programming? WHAT A FUCKING REVELATION THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN SAYING SINCE THE MOMENT THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WERE TAKING AWAY THE “HBO” IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Way to go, David Zaslav. You are definitely earning that $50 million salary, buddy.

Some are speculating that there is more businessy stuff happening here: that returning to “HBO Max” is the first step in a division of Warner Bros. Discovery’s assets, not unlike what happened over at Comcast NBCUniversal. Here, the speculation goes, HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery’s movies would be lumped together under the HBO or Warner Bros. brand and the Discovery programming and networks would moved to their own company. Seems plausible, especially if the Comcast/Versant split works out for them.

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Everyone who kept calling it HBO max: pic.twitter.com/alLblGSLlR

— Top Notch Jefe (@FilmmakerJeff) May 14, 2025

Warner Bros. Discovery staff having to deal with these rebrands every couple of years:
HBO Go > HBO Now > HBO Max > Max > HBO Max pic.twitter.com/s609UUFH9C

— ryan w (@SourceRyan) May 14, 2025

HBO, Max, and HBO Max, they have jokes, too:

What is dead may never die. HBO Max coming this summer. Same app, new-ish name. pic.twitter.com/XVQSby8qjE

— HBO Max (@hbomax) May 14, 2025

Your move, @X. https://t.co/rmYZovUkEN

— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025

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@streamonmax
Give me a hand. #HBOMax #TheWhiteLotus

♬ original sound – Max

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everyone’s allowed to change their minds pic.twitter.com/vb5Y4MbClL

— Max (@StreamOnMax) May 14, 2025

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@streamonmax
A slight change. #HBOMax

♬ original sound – Max

@streamonmax
2 for 2* #HBOMax #TimMeadows

♬ original sound – Max

As you might have heard from the news or noticed from this site, the networks have been hosting their Upfront presentations this week. And in an extraordinary moment, Jimmy Kimmel, hosting the ABC Upfront, urged the audience — advertisers — to support another network’s show: 60 Minutes:

“I know it’s not part of our multi-platform, but support ’60 Minutes.’ They deserve it. You have the power because you have the money. Support journalism. It’s important, and it doesn’t work without you,” Kimmel said on Tuesday.

Andy Cohen made a joke about casting Joy Behar on The Real Housewives of New York City but you know what? I’d watch the face off of that.

Hey, did you know we only have two more episodes of The Last of Us in season two? Well, we do, and Pajiba has a good idea for the direction of season three, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this is where they go. Heads up: there are tons of game spoilers in there, so if you want to stay innocent and pure, DO NOT CLICK THE CLICKY.

Even Michelle Obama has beef with Ellen DeGeneres.

Janet Jackson will receive the Icon Award at the 2025 American Music Awards.

The Menendez Brothers have moved a step closer to being released from prison.

Renewals

Four Seasons has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
The Diplomat has been renewed for season four on Netflix.
Forever has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
Love on the Spectrum has been renewed for season four on Netflix.
Million Dollar Secret has been renewed for a second season on Netflix.
Bridgerton has been renewed through season six on Netflix.
My Life with the Walter Boys has been renewed for a third season on Netflix.
Have I Got News For You has been renewed for a third season on CNN.

Cancellations

Survival of the Thickest will end with season three on Netflix.

In Development

Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent has been given a two-season pickup at CW.
Heart & Hustle: Houston has been ordered at OWN.
Dancing With Sharks, hosted by Tom Bergeron, has been ordered at Discovery.
I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, a documentary about Chevy Chase, has been ordered at CNN.
Family Recipe Showdown, hosted by Octavia Spencer, has been ordered at Food Network.
Guy’s Flavortown Games has been ordered at Food Network.
Renovating the Bachelor Mansion has been ordered at HGTV.
They Know What They Did, hosted by Jennifer Love Hewitt, has been picked up at Investigation Discovery.
New Orleans has been ordered at CNN.
Eva Longoria: Searching for France has been ordered at CNN.
Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread has been ordered at CNN.
The Other Bennet Sister has been picked up at BritBox.
In the Prime of Life, a cancer documentary, has been ordered at CNN.
Vibe Check, a “women-led sports-focused studio show,” has been ordered at ESPN.
Prime Minister has been ordered at CNN.
This Land is Your Land has been ordered at CNN.
Selena y Los Dinos has been acquired by Netflix.
Decades of Sports has been ordered at CNN.
F.A.S.T., a film from Taylor Sheridan, is in the works at Warner Bros. Discovery.
Charlotte Holmes is being adapted into a TV series.

Casting News

Naomi Watts will play Jackie O in American Love Story on FX; Paul Kelly has been cast as John F. Kennedy Jr.
Krysten Ritter will return as Jessica Jones on Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+.
Minnie Driver has joined Emily in Paris on Netflix.
Derek Rivera has joined Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+.
Vincent Stalba has joined The Young and the Restless on CBS.
Celebrity Traitor U.K. has announced their cast, including Stephen Fry and Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed. (It should be available eventually on Peacock.

Mark Your Calendars

Ironheart premieres on Disney+ on June 24.

Tyler Perry’s Straw debuts on Netflix on June 6.

American Ninja Warrior returns on NBC on June 2.

Storage Wars returns on A&E on June 7.

The Kingdom will debut on ESPN in the fall:

Our Unwritten Seoul will premiere on Netflix on May 24.

Our Times premieres on Netflix on June 10.

Sakamoto Days debuts on Netflix on July 14:

Chad Powers will premiere on Hulu on September 30.
Big Brother returns on CBS on July 10.
Captain America: Brave New World will begin streaming on Disney+ on May 28.
The Lowdown will debut on FX on September 23.
Back to the Frontier premieres on Magnolia Network and Max on July 10.
Task will debut on HBO in September.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on HBO in early 2026.
The Pitt will be rebroadcast on TNT sometime in 2026.

R.I.P.

Steve Pepoon, Emmy-winning writer on The Simpsons, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, ALF, and Roseanne, and co-creator of The Wild Thornberrys

Robert Benton, Oscar-winning writer and director of several films, including Kramer vs. Kramer

WATCH THIS

Sullivan’s Crossing: Maggie tries to settle into her new life in the season premiere. 7 p.m., The CW

America’s Most Wanted: John Walsh’s Dirty Dozen: John Walsh looks back at 12 of his most important captures on the classic true crime series America’s Most Wanted. Premiere. 7 p.m., Fox

TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber: I mean, we’re all kinda wondering, right? 8 p.m., Fox

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden: Interviews with CIA insiders and rare footage take us inside the hunt for Osama Bin Laden in this new limited series. Netflix

Late Night:

Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Salma Hayek Pinault, Mel B, Amyl and the Sniffers
Late Night with Seth Meyers: Cole Escola
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Nick Kroll, Emily Osment
After Midnight: Dylan Efron, Bob the Drag Queen, Tom Sandoval
The Daily Show: Colum McCann, host Jordan Klepper
Watch What Happens Live: West Wilson, Jesse Solomon