Here Are the Best TV Shows to Stream this Weekend on HBO Max, Including ‘Smiling Friends’

If your queue’s looking a little light, this week’s drop on Max has you covered with a mix of brand-new premieres, returning favorites, animation for the kids, and unscripted staples. We pulled these picks directly from this week’s lineups so you can spot what’s fresh and what’s newly available to stream.

To help you decide fast, we prioritized the most recent arrivals first—then leaned toward originals—while keeping a couple of long-running staples that just landed. Each entry below sticks to the essentials: what it’s about and who’s behind it, from cast and creators to production details and episode formats.

‘The Chair Company’ (2025–)

HBO’s new comedy follows William Ronald Trosper, a Midwestern office worker whose life tilts into conspiracy after an embarrassing incident at work. Created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, the series sets up a mystery-tinged corporate farce anchored by Robinson’s lead turn and an ensemble that mixes office dynamics with larger-than-life intrigue.

Executive producers include Robinson, Kanin, Andrew DeYoung, Adam McKay, Todd Schulman, and Igor Srubshchik, with directing duties shared by DeYoung and Aaron Schimberg across the season. HBO has slated an eight-episode run, with the show debuting this Sunday.

‘Bering Sea Gold’ (2012–)

Set in and around Nome, Alaska, this long-running unscripted series chronicles dredge crews mining for placer gold on the Bering Sea floor, alternating between open-water seasons and harsh “Under the Ice” campaigns. Narration has shifted over the years—from Thom Beers in early seasons to Mike Rowe through season 12—while the format follows the engineering, diving, and weather hurdles that define each short mining window.

Produced by Original Productions, the company behind ‘Deadliest Catch’, the show pairs on-site footage with the business stakes facing small outfits and family operations. New installments arriving this week extend the franchise’s focus on improvisational problem-solving at sea.

‘Impractical Jokers’ (2011–)

The hidden-camera comedy stars The Tenderloins—James “Murr” Murray, Brian “Q” Quinn, and Sal Vulcano—who challenge one another to improvise pranks in public, with the day’s loser facing a larger “punishment.” The series has spanned more than a decade, branching into a feature film and touring specials while maintaining its core game-of-dares structure.

Produced by NorthSouth Productions, the show’s recent seasons have featured rotating celebrity guests and variations on the challenge format. New arrivals on Max this week add more episodes to the library run.

‘Lu & the Bally Bunch’ (2023)

Created, written, and directed by Nicky Phelan, this animated preschool series follows Lu—a ladybird starting school—and her friends as they learn social skills through music, play, and classroom adventures. The voice ensemble includes performers such as Freya McLaughlin and Aileen Mythen, with episodes built around short, development-focused stories.

Produced by 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films, the show emphasizes gentle humor and musical sequences as it explores friendship and early learning milestones. New episodes arrive to Max’s preschool hub this Friday.

‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ (2022–)

A Looney Tunes spinoff for preschoolers, the series teams Bugs, Lola, Daffy, Porky, and Tweety as “Looney Builders” who tackle kid-friendly construction jobs around Looneyburg, highlighting teamwork and problem-solving in 11-minute stories. Voice talent includes Eric Bauza, Jeff Bergman, Bob Bergen, Candi Milo, Chandni Parekh, and Fred Tatasciore.

Developed by Jacob Fleisher and produced by Warner Bros. Animation with executive producer Sam Register, the show originally aired on Cartoonito and Max and now returns with more episodes landing this Friday.

‘VGLY’ (2023–)

Set in Mexico City’s urban-music scene, this drama follows rising artist Vgly and his crew as they push for a breakout while navigating rivalries, hustles, and industry gatekeepers. Cast members include Benny Emmanuel, Crystal López, and Juan Daniel García Treviño, with the series weaving performance, studio work, and street-level ambition.

Produced with involvement from Exile Content and Warner Bros. Television, the show has featured real-world musical guests and tightly curated music supervision. A second-season renewal underscores the drama’s momentum; new availability hits Max this Thursday.

‘Alex vs America’ (2022–)

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli faces themed groups of challengers across two elimination rounds, with host Eric Adjepong overseeing time-pressed cook-offs and rotating guest judges. The format balances culinary fundamentals and specialist skills—regional cuisines, specific techniques, or ingredient spotlights—with a final round where the top competitor cooks head-to-head against Guarnaschelli.

The series showcases Guarnaschelli’s strategic approach to competition, while Adjepong—himself a chef and veteran of food-competition series—anchors the judging and pacing. Fresh episodes join Max’s Food Network collection mid-week.

‘Baylen Out Loud’ (2025–)

This unscripted series centers on Baylen Dupree, a social-media creator living with Tourette Syndrome, spotlighting her path toward independence as she navigates work, relationships, and family. The show blends first-person storytelling with candid moments to broaden awareness around Tourette Syndrome and day-to-day life with the condition.

Episode materials note family participation and a focus on advocacy alongside personal milestones and career growth. New episodes arrive mid-week, with the series positioned within Max’s nonfiction lineup.

‘Smiling Friends’ (2020–)

Created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, the offbeat animated comedy tracks employees of Smiling Friends Inc.—mainly Charlie and Pim—who take bizarre assignments to make clients happy, mixing traditional animation with occasional live-action and other styles. Core voice roles include Michael Cusack, Zach Hadel, Marc M., and Joshua Tomar, with 11-minute episodes.

Produced across studios including Princess Bento Studio and Studio Yotta, the Adult Swim favorite arrives on Max with more episodes this Monday. Music contributions come from Chris O’Neill and Brendan Caulfield, and the series continues to hop genres and visual approaches from story to story.

‘Krypto Saves the Day!’ (2025–)

The animated family series follows Superman’s loyal superdog, Krypto, whose attempts to be a model “good boy” inevitably lead to mischief around Metropolis—and the occasional rescue. Episodes lean into lighthearted superhero antics and everyday canine capers designed for younger viewers.

Credits list David Gemmill among directors, with producers including Michael Baum and Ryan Kramer. Slated as a Kids & Family title, the show expands Max’s DC-themed animation offerings with new installments arriving this week.

Share which of these you’re queuing up this weekend on Max—and tell us what we should add to next week’s list in the comments!