A bouquet of fresh new TV shows are premiering this week on Netflix, Prime Video and more of the best streaming services, as well as broadcast and cable TV.
Two series finales lead this week’s TV lineup. The first is “The Boys,” which concludes its dark superhero saga with an epic, bloody showdown between Homelander and Butcher. And the second is “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which ends the host’s 11-year run (and possibly the franchise itself) amid controversy. Plus, “Rick and Morty” season 9 returns, and Tatiana Maslany stars in the new comedy-crime mystery “Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed.” Here’s our guide to what’s new on TV this week.
Show title | Platform | Genre | Release date |
“Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed” | Apple TV | Dark comedy/mystery | May 20 |
“The Boys” series finale | Prime Video | Superhero action | May 20 |
“The Boroughs” | Netflix | Sci-fi/horror comedy | May 21 |
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” finale | CBS / Paramount+ | Late-night talk show | May 21 |
“The Chi” season 8 | Paramount+ | Drama | May 22 |
“Mating Season” | Netflix | Adult animated comedy | May 22 |
:Rick and Morty” season 9 | Adult Swim | Adult animated comedy | May 24 |
New TV May 18-24
‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ (Apple TV)
The vibes: Suburban wine mom murder comedy in the vein of “Dead to Me.”
The plot: Freshly divorced and barely holding things together for her kid, soccer mom Paula (Tatiana Maslany) gets tangled up with a cam-boy’s possible murder. Between a custody war, nosy coworkers and circling detectives, Paula digs for answers that could either expose a conspiracy or completely blow up what’s left of her life.
Premiere date: Episodes 1-2 on Wednesday, May 20 at 12 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Apple TV
‘The Boys’ series finale (Prime Video)
The vibes: Seven years of gore, fascism and exploding Supes culminate in a White House bloodbath.
The plot: The 65-minute finale sends Billy Butcher and Homelander into one last epic showdown, as Butcher races to unleash the Godolkin virus while Homelander’s coup tightens its grip on the country. The body count keeps rising, including Frenchie’s shocking death, and Hughie, Annie and the rest of the resistance crew do their parts to prevent the world from getting wiped out.
Premiere date: Finale on Wednesday, May 20 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Prime Video
‘The Boroughs’ (Netflix)
The vibes: “Cocoon” meets “Stranger Things”
The plot: In an upscale New Mexico retirement community, newly widowed Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) discovers something monstrous prowling the neighborhood after dark. Naturally, nobody believes the “confused old guy,” so he joins forces with a ragtag crew of fellow retirees to uncover whatever nightmare is lurking beneath the shuffleboard-and-sangria facade before it devours what little time they have left.
Premiere date: All 8 episodes on Thursday, May 21 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Netflix
‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ series finale (CBS)
The vibes: The end of an era as a storied late-night staple dies amid controversy
The plot: “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” ends May 21, closing CBS’s late-night franchise and Colbert’s 11-year run. Details about guests and segments are still under wraps, though original host David Letterman should make an appearance. And in a show of solidarity, “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will air repeats.
Premiere date: Finale on Thursday, May 21 at 11:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CBS and Paramount+ Premium
‘The Chi’ season 8 (Paramount+)
The vibes: One last South Side ride that takes care of unfinished business
The plot: Heading into the final season, the fallout from Alicia’s murder sends the neighborhood into chaos. Rashaad (Jason Weaver) and Victor (Luke James) are left literally caught red-handed when police crash the crime scene, and old alliances begin to crack. Creator Lena Waithe closes out the landmark drama with everyone taking stock of what’s been built, destroyed and survived.
Premiere date: Episode 1 on Friday, May 22 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Paramount+ Premium
‘Mating Season’ (Netflix)
The vibes: “Big Mouth” with animals
The plot: The creators of “Big Mouth” ditch middle school for the forest, where four woodland creatures fumble through their biological urges (which are soooo cringe). Nick Kroll voices Ray the raccoon, June Diane Raphael is Fawn the deer, Zach Woods plays Josh the bear, and Sabrina Jalees is Penelope the fox. Each one is horny, confused and trying their best in nature’s dating pool.
Premiere date: All 10 episodes on Friday, May 22 at 3 a.m. ET
Where to watch: Netflix
‘Rick and Morty’ season 9 (Adult Swim)
The vibes: Multiversal chaos never ends (at least through the already-greenlit season 12)
The plot: Rick and Morty return for more adventures in the space-time continuum. Rick drags Morty into training while the Smith family faces absurd threats, including killer couch cushions. This is a show that’s never not being loud and weird.
Premiere date: Episode 1 on Sunday, May 24 at 11 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Cartoon Network (via Sling or YouTube TV)
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