Stream Original Comedy Specials “Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!” For HBO And “Gary Gulman: Born on 3rd Base” For Max, Max Original Documentary “Oprah and The Color Purple Journey,” HBO Original Documentary Series “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning,” HBO Original Documentary “Time Bomb Y2K,” And Season Finales Of Max Originals “Julia,” “Bookie,” And “Rap Sh!t” And HBO Originals “The Gilded Age” And “30 Coins”
Murder In Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning
Release date: Monday, December 02
Synopsis: On October 23, 1989, Charles “Chuck” Stuart places a frantic 911 call reporting that he and his pregnant wife, Carol, a white couple, have been shot by a Black man in Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood. The ensuing investigation proves to be a lightning rod for the city, igniting decades-old racial tensions and brutal targeting amidst a media firestorm.
After Carol succumbs to her injuries that night, Boston mayor Raymond Flynn declares a citywide manhunt for the killer. When Carol and Chuck’s baby also dies just days after being born, the homicides are thrust further into the spotlight. As the mostly Black and Latino residents of Boston’s Mission Hill neighborhood suffer aggressive raids, “stop and frisk” searches, and some questionable police tactics, the already fraught relationship between residents and Boston Police disintegrates. Fanned by the media uproar and simmering tensions, and with skepticism from the Black community and some members of the press about the veracity of Chuck’s story, the police face increasing pressure to solve the case and Boston is transformed into a powder keg as the quest for an arrest reaches a critical juncture.
Thoughtfully braiding extensive archive coverage of the incident, the years leading up to it, and its aftermath, with more than a dozen present-day interviews of people affected at the time including residents, community members, journalists who covered the case, Bennett family members, city officials and a retired Boston police officer, MURDER IN BOSTON: ROOTS, RAMPAGE & RECKONING chronicles the complex history of race-based hostilities in the city, which exploded with the desegregation of schools and the Garrity busing ruling of 1974. The series explores the enduring, painful toll the Stuart case has had on the families involved, on Boston race relations, and how a community can be brutalized in a rush to justice.
Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?!
Release date: Saturday, December 16
About Leo Reich: Literally Who Cares?! Hot. Young. Cool. Fresh. Ripped. Hilarious. Groundbreaking. Avant-garde. These are just some of the words that comedian and writer Leo Reich uses to describe himself. In his first HBO comedy special, this self-diagnosed important young mind faces the swirling uncertainty of our collective future, asking the big questions, such as: “Is this helping?”, “Am I hot?”, and “No offense guys but literally what is going on?” Treading the line between hilarious stand-up and humorless performance art, LEO REICH: LITERALLY WHO CARES?! blends songs, anecdotes, and anxious non-sequiturs in a valiant attempt to raise awareness about important social and political causes… or something.
About Leo Reich: Leo Reich is a comedian and writer. His smash debut show “Literally Who Cares?!” was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2022 Dave Comedy Awards, Most Outstanding Show at the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and culminated in an Off-Broadway run in New York and sold-out show at EartH. His TV appearances include “Friday Night Live” (Channel 4), “Late Night Mash” (Dave), “Comedy Central Live” and “Jonathan Ross Comedy Club” (ITV).
Gary Gulman: Born On 3rd Base
Release date: December 21
In the Max Original comedy special Gary Gulman: Born On 3rd Base, comedian, actor, and best-selling author Gary Gulman (HBO’s “The Great Depresh”) offers up his hilarious insights on a range of topics – from growing up poor to pretentious suffixes – all with a generous helping of his inventive humor and absurdism. Reflecting on his eccentric Jewish American family, Gulman chronicles his childhood experiences with free school lunch programs and questionable dental care, as well as incisive swipes at billionaire-ism. With thoughtfulness and empathy, the special sheds light on the performer’s unique point-of-view on both lighthearted and serious subjects.
Oprah And The Color Purple Journey
Release date: December 28
The Max Original documentary Oprah And The Color Purple Journey provides a behind-the-scenes look into the making of the upcoming feature film “The Color Purple,” a bold new take on the classic, and the impact the story has had on our culture. Oprah Winfrey takes viewers inside the four-decade phenomenon, exploring the importance of the novel, films and musical, and the ever-evolving conversation around this seminal work.
