Larry David's Irreverent Take on American History
Larry David is back with a typically cranky look at America's first 250 years in Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, a sketch comedy that responds to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The show features an astonishing lineup of cameos, including Barack Obama in the cold open, along with Jon Hamm, Kathryn Hahn, and Jerry Seinfeld. David brings the essence of Curb Your Enthusiasm to historical scenarios such as Alexander Graham Bell's first phone call and the horrors of trench warfare. While his capacity for semi-innocent offence endures through the ages, the sketch show format remains patchy, and this one is no exception. Available now on HBO Max.
Rolf Harris Documentary Exposes Hidden Crimes
Nick Sweeney's two-part documentary Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator draws chilling parallels between the disgraced entertainer and his TV contemporary Jimmy Savile. Both cultivated superficial images of gentle harmlessness while hiding in plain sight. The archive footage reveals how little effort Harris made to conceal his true essence and the extent to which his employers appeared to look the other way. Brave women testify to Harris's abuse, offering a chilling reminder of how childhood trauma can scar a whole life. The documentary premieres on Prime Video from Monday 29 June.
Elle Woods Prequel Brings Pink Sunshine
The Legally Blonde universe expands with a prequel series Elle, starring Lexi Minetree as the titular character. Set in 1995, Elle's Bel Air life is a pastel dream until her parents announce a family relocation to Seattle. Elle struggles to fit in at Grunge High, feeling very blond even in a boxfresh Nirvana T-shirt. But her relentless positivity soon proves to be a not-so-secret weapon. Minetree captures Elle's mixture of breeziness and brains. The series drops on Prime Video from Wednesday 1 July.
Next-Door Nightmares in Worst Neighbor Ever
From the team behind Worst Ex Ever and Worst Roommate Ever comes Worst Neighbor Ever, a bizarre and sometimes horrifying compendium of neighbourly nightmares. One woman recalls a neighbour mowing her yard naked, initially dismissed as eccentric. The show's tone is occasionally confused, unsure whether to be a romp or a horror story, but the tales—ranging from harassment and nuisance to property destruction and serious physical threat—make it compelling. Available on Netflix from Wednesday 1 July.
Survival of the Thickest Returns for Final Season
Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel's body-positive comedy drama Survival of the Thickest returns for a third and final season. The story began with a dumping, and now Mavis (Buteau) may be about to put all her eggs in one romantic basket again, especially as her new creative venture receives mixed notices. The series ends as it began: broad and simplistic but charming and funny, maintaining its core values of respect and inclusivity. The final season streams on Netflix from Thursday 2 July.
Silo Season Continues Subterranean Dystopia
The claustrophobic sci-fi series Silo returns, plunging viewers back into a subterranean dystopia. Current inhabitants struggle to imagine a world before the Silo, but through certain characters' eyes, tantalising glimpses of that world emerge. Alongside this origin story, present-day jeopardy builds as the clock ticks. Could it be time to risk returning to the surface? The world-building is convincing, and the cast—including Rebecca Ferguson and Harriet Walter—is impressively downtrodden and defiant. New episodes arrive on Apple TV from Friday 3 July.
The Simpsons Embarks on Summer Spoofs
The era-defining cartoon The Simpsons continues with a series of standalone adventures this summer. This week's episode, Simpsley, riffs on The Talented Mr Ripley. Penniless con artist Marge Bouvier is sent to Italy to convince wealthy waster Seymour Skinner to come home, but when she glimpses his lifestyle, her plans change—until she reckons with his layabout guest, Homer Simpsley. The episode airs on Disney+ from Friday 3 July.
