Here Are All the TV Shows Coming to HBO Max This Week, Including ‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’

Here’s a friendly, no-nonsense rundown of the week’s series, with quick context on what each show is about and who’s behind it so you can decide what to queue up next.

‘Barney’s World’ (2024– )

An animated relaunch of the purple dinosaur for preschoolers, ‘Barney’s World’ follows Barney, Baby Bop, Billy, and a trio of kid friends on musical, feelings-forward adventures set around a neighborhood playground. The CG series is produced by Mattel Television Studios and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, with Adrian Thatcher among the directors and Jonathan Langdon voicing Barney. Developed by Matt Sax, Duke Doyle, and Leah Gotcsik, episodes run about 11 minutes and focus on social-emotional skills through songs and cooperative play. Executive producers include Josh Silverman, Pam Westman, and Athena Georgaklis.

‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’ (2024– )

A themed culinary competition inspired by the Wizarding World, ‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’ is hosted by twins James and Oliver Phelps, known for playing Fred and George Weasley. Baking duos are sorted into Hogwarts houses and tackle confectionary challenges drawn from iconic locales and creatures, with judges including Carla Hall and culinary innovator Jozef Youssef weighing creativity and technique. Filming takes place at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, using settings like the Great Hall and Platform 9¾ for immersive tasks. The format blends fandom-driven design briefs with classic pastry disciplines across a season of head-to-head challenges.

‘In the Eye of the Storm’ (2024– )

This docuseries compiles firsthand footage from tornadoes, derechos, wildfires, and hurricanes to reconstruct extreme weather events through the eyes of people who lived them. Episodes interweave mobile video with survivor interviews, placing viewers inside incidents such as Hurricane Ida and the 2024 Texas derecho. The show emphasizes on-the-ground decision making and the science of storm behavior to explain damage patterns and rescue responses. Its format leans on user-captured media and curated expert context across multiple recent disasters.

‘Wardens of the North’ (2023– )

A reality docuseries following Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers, ‘Wardens of the North’ chronicles patrols across forests, lakes, and backcountry. The show highlights investigations into poaching, search-and-rescue calls, and safety enforcement during hunting, fishing, boating, and snowmobile seasons. Case-based episodes track field tactics, evidence gathering, and community education efforts in remote terrain. The series has spanned multiple seasons, focusing on resource protection and public safety in the Upper Midwest.

‘Holiday Baking Championship’ (2014– )

Food Network’s holiday staple features host Jesse Palmer and judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller, and Kardea Brown overseeing bakers through themed “Pre-Heat” and “Main Heat” challenges. Contestants craft festive pastries and centerpiece desserts while navigating surprise twists, with eliminations each week leading to a finale for the title and prize. Recent seasons have introduced team-based formats like Naughty vs. Nice to add strategy to the technical bakes. The franchise anchors an annual slate of seasonal food competitions each November and December.

‘Tom & Jerry Gokko’ (2022– )

A kawaii, short-form Japanese take on the iconic cat-and-mouse duo, ‘Tom and Jerry Gokko’ delivers rapid-fire slapstick with pop-styled character designs. Directed by Kodai Sato and produced by Fanworks and Studio Nanahoshi for Cartoon Network Japan, the series began rolling out mini-shorts in 2022. It emphasizes cuter, less violent chases while keeping classic visual gags and pantomime storytelling. International rollouts have included online releases tied to the brand’s anniversary initiatives.

‘Supermarket Stakeout’ (2019– )

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli hosts this curbside cooking competition where four chefs must buy groceries from shoppers exiting a market, then transform those ingredients under tight time limits. Rounds test adaptability, budgeting, and culinary range, with rotating guest judges from across Food Network. Produced by Levity Live, the show has run multiple seasons with evolving challenges and themed episodes. Its format spotlights improvisation as much as technique, yielding inventive dishes from unpredictable baskets.

‘Expedition Unknown’ (2015– )

Explorer-host Josh Gates leads global investigations into lost cities, buried treasure, and enduring historical mysteries in this adventure docuseries. Produced by Ping Pong Productions, the series combines field archaeology, archival research, and interviews with subject-matter experts. Episodes often include modern tech—from LIDAR to submersibles—to test theories and locate evidence. The show has spawned related titles and continues to debut new seasons with fresh expeditions.

‘Expedition Files’ (2024– )

A companion series to ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Expedition Files’ revisits headline mysteries—alien abductions, vanished explorers, and legendary artifacts—through new analysis and evidence. Josh Gates curates case files and recent findings, framing how theories evolve as fresh material surfaces. Episodes emphasize critical evaluation of competing claims and expert testimony. The spinoff premiered with a run of episodes that expand on investigations introduced in the parent series.

‘Alex vs A-Rod’ (2025)

This three-part docuseries examines the dual public and private personas of baseball star Alex Rodriguez, tracing a career that spans prodigious early success, a landmark suspension, and a reinvention as executive and broadcaster. Directed by Gotham Chopra with Erik LeDrew, it features interviews with Rodriguez, former teammates and managers, and family. The series explores legacy, media narratives, and the pressures around elite performance. Producers include Religion of Sports with executive producers such as Lindsay Shookus and Ameeth Sankaran.

‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’ (2024– )

An animated preschool comedy, ‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’ follows several families as their kids narrate everyday ups and downs with big imagination and humor. Created by Tim Bain and Dustin Ferrer, the series is produced with 9 Story Media Group, with episodes structured around social-emotional learning and family problem-solving. Stories emphasize teamwork, empathy, and resilience in bite-sized adventures. The show’s design and music target an energetic, kindergarten-friendly pace.

‘Maine Cabin Masters’ (2017– )

Contractor Chase Morrill leads a tight-knit crew—including designer Ashley Morrill and carpenter Ryan Eldridge—renovating rustic camps and lakeside cabins across Maine. Episodes track budgets, timelines, and bespoke carpentry from team members like Matthew “Dixie” Dix and Jared “Jedi” Baker. The series began on DIY Network and transitioned to Magnolia Network, remaining one of the brand’s most popular renovation titles. Special offshoots have sent the crew on international projects while keeping the show’s New England craftsmanship at its core.

‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ (2007– )

Hosted by Guy Fieri, this long-running culinary road show spotlights locally loved restaurants across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Produced by Citizen Pictures (following early seasons from Page Productions), the series captures signature dishes and the stories behind mom-and-pop kitchens. Episodes often feature Fieri’s son Hunter joining tastings and kitchen walk-throughs. The franchise has aired hundreds of episodes and remains a cornerstone of Food Network’s lineup.

‘Gold Rush’ (2010– )

Discovery’s mining docuseries follows crews led by figures like Parker Schnabel and Tony Beets as they chase pay dirt through seasons of prospecting, permitting, and equipment gambles. Narrated by Paul Christie, the show documents geology decisions, claim logistics, and the economics of placer mining from the Yukon to Alaska. Cast family dynamics and business stakes drive each season’s arcs alongside ounces tallied. The series has expanded with specials and spinoffs focused on particular teams and regions.

‘Build for Off Road’ (2024– )

Hosted by fabricator Ian Johnson, ‘Build for Off-Road’ chronicles purpose-built rigs—from rock crawlers to pre-runners—constructed with custom suspensions, drivetrains, and armor. Each episode details parts selection, fabrication techniques, and shakedown runs that test traction, articulation, and durability on challenging terrain. Projects have included Factory Five’s XTF Pre-Runner and classic truck overhauls. The series extends Johnson’s longtime focus on hands-on off-road engineering and trail-ready performance.

Share which shows you’re most excited about this week—and what you’ll be watching first—in the comments!