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

Here’s a straightforward guide to the new TV shows this week. We’ll give you a quick overview of each show’s premise and creators to help you choose what to watch.

‘Barney’s World’ (2024– )

The classic purple dinosaur, Barney, is back in a new animated series called ‘Barney’s World.’ Aimed at preschoolers, the show features Barney, Baby Bop, Billy, and three child friends as they explore a neighborhood playground through musical adventures that emphasize feelings and social-emotional learning. Each 11-minute episode focuses on things like cooperation and understanding emotions through songs and play. The series is produced by Mattel Television Studios and Nelvana, with Adrian Thatcher directing and Jonathan Langdon providing the voice of Barney. Matt Sax, Duke Doyle, and Leah Gotcsik developed the show, and Josh Silverman, Pam Westman, and Athena Georgaklis are executive producers.

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

‘Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking’ is a baking competition inspired by the magical world of Harry Potter, hosted by the actors who played Fred and George Weasley, James and Oliver Phelps. Teams of two bakers are assigned to Hogwarts houses and compete in challenges based on famous places and creatures from the books. Judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef will evaluate both the creativity and skill of the bakers. The show is filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, using sets like the Great Hall and Platform 9¾ to create a truly immersive experience. Each week, bakers will face head-to-head challenges that combine fan-favorite themes with traditional baking techniques.

‘In the Eye of the Storm’ (2024– )

This documentary series uses real footage captured by people experiencing tornadoes, severe storms, wildfires, and hurricanes to recreate what it was like to live through these extreme weather events. Each episode combines personal videos with interviews from survivors, putting viewers right in the middle of disasters like Hurricane Ida and the 2024 Texas derecho. The series focuses on how people made decisions in the moment, explains the science behind how storms behave, and shows how damage happens and how rescue efforts unfold. It relies heavily on videos taken by those affected, combined with insights from experts, to cover several recent disasters.

‘Wardens of the North’ (2023– )

‘Wardens of the North’ is a documentary series that follows conservation officers with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as they patrol the state’s forests, lakes, and wilderness areas. Each episode focuses on real cases, showcasing the officers’ work investigating illegal poaching, responding to search and rescue missions, and enforcing safety regulations during hunting, fishing, boating, and snowmobiling seasons. The series highlights their field techniques, evidence collection, and efforts to educate the public about protecting natural resources and staying safe in the remote parts of the Upper Midwest. It has been running for several seasons.

‘Holiday Baking Championship’ (2014– )

Each year, Food Network’s popular holiday baking competition, hosted by Jesse Palmer and judged by Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller, and Kardea Brown, challenges bakers with festive challenges. These bakers face themed rounds—called “Pre-Heat” and “Main Heat”—where they create delicious pastries and show-stopping desserts. The competition includes unexpected twists and weekly eliminations, culminating in a final showdown for a grand prize. Recent seasons have also featured team challenges, like “Naughty vs. Nice,” adding a strategic element to the baking. This show kicks off Food Network’s holiday season of food competitions every November and December.

‘Tom & Jerry Gokko’ (2022– )

‘Tom and Jerry Gokko’ is a charming, fast-paced Japanese spin on the classic cat-and-mouse chase. Featuring cute character designs and quick, slapstick comedy, this series was created by Kodai Sato and produced by Fanworks and Studio Nanahoshi for Cartoon Network Japan. It started releasing short episodes in 2022, focusing on playful chases rather than violence, while still using familiar visual jokes and silent storytelling. The series has also been released online internationally as part of the brand’s anniversary celebrations.

‘Supermarket Stakeout’ (2019– )

In this fast-paced cooking show, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli challenges four chefs to create amazing dishes using groceries purchased from supermarket shoppers. Under pressure and with limited time, they’re judged on their ability to adapt, manage a budget, and showcase their skills. Each episode features different guest judges from the Food Network, and the show, produced by Levity Live, has run for several seasons with new twists and themes. It’s a competition where creativity and quick thinking are just as important as cooking technique, resulting in surprisingly delicious and inventive meals.

‘Expedition Unknown’ (2015– )

Join adventurer Josh Gates as he travels the world, investigating lost cities, hidden treasures, and fascinating historical puzzles in this exciting documentary series. Produced by Ping Pong Productions, each episode blends on-site archaeological work, historical research, and expert interviews. The show utilizes cutting-edge technology – like LIDAR and underwater vehicles – to examine clues and test theories. With new seasons and spin-offs constantly being released, the adventures never stop.

‘Expedition Files’ (2024– )

As a fan of ‘Expedition Unknown,’ I was really excited to check out ‘Expedition Files,’ and it didn’t disappoint. It’s like a deeper dive into some of the most intriguing mysteries – everything from alien encounters to lost adventurers and famous lost objects. Josh Gates doesn’t just rehash old stories; he presents updated case files with the latest evidence, showing how our understanding of these events changes as new information comes to light. What I especially appreciated was the show’s focus on carefully examining different viewpoints and what the experts are saying. The initial episodes actually built on investigations we first saw on ‘Expedition Unknown,’ giving us even more to chew on.

‘Alex vs A-Rod’ (2025)

This docuseries in three parts takes a look at the many sides of baseball star Alex Rodriguez, from his incredible early career to a major suspension and his later work as a team executive and commentator. Directed by Gotham Chopra and Erik LeDrew, it includes interviews with Rodriguez himself, as well as those who played with and managed him, and his family. The series dives into themes of how we build reputations, how the media tells stories, and the intense pressure faced by top athletes. It was produced by Religion of Sports, with Lindsay Shookus and Ameeth Sankaran among the executive producers.

‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’ (2024– )

‘Let’s Go, Bananas!’ is a funny, animated show for preschoolers. Each episode is told from a child’s point of view, showing how families deal with everyday life using lots of imagination and humor. Created by Tim Bain and Dustin Ferrer and produced with 9 Story Media Group, the show is designed to help young children learn important social and emotional skills like teamwork, understanding others, and bouncing back from challenges. The stories are short and lively, with bright visuals and upbeat music perfect for kindergarteners.

‘Maine Cabin Masters’ (2017– )

Chase Morrill heads a close team—including designer Ashley Morrill and carpenter Ryan Eldridge—that restores and renovates charming, older camps and cabins throughout Maine. Each episode follows the projects from start to finish, showing how they manage costs, stick to schedules, and create custom woodwork with the help of team members like Matthew “Dixie” Dix and Jared “Jedi” Baker. Originally airing on DIY Network, the show became a hit on Magnolia Network, where it remains a popular choice. The team has even taken on projects abroad, always staying true to their New England building style.

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

Guy Fieri’s popular show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” travels across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, showcasing beloved local restaurants. Produced by Citizen Pictures (previously by Page Productions), the show highlights the unique dishes and the people behind these family-owned kitchens. Often, Guy’s son, Hunter, joins in sampling the food and touring the restaurants. With hundreds of episodes under its belt, the show continues to be a key part of the Food Network’s programming.

‘Gold Rush’ (2010– )

Discovery’s popular docuseries follows gold mining crews – led by personalities like Parker Schnabel and Tony Beets – as they search for gold. The show, narrated by Paul Christie, covers everything from finding promising land and getting permits to the risks of investing in equipment. It explains the science of gold mining, the logistics of claiming land, and the economics of it all, all across locations from the Yukon to Alaska. Each season focuses on the miners’ personal and professional lives, tracking their successes and how much gold they find. The series has also grown to include special episodes and spin-offs that highlight specific teams and areas.

‘Build for Off Road’ (2024– )

‘Build for Off-Road,’ hosted by Ian Johnson, showcases custom-built vehicles designed for extreme off-road adventures. From rock crawlers to high-speed pre-runners, the show highlights the process of creating these rigs, including choosing parts, welding and fabrication, and rigorous testing on tough trails. Each episode focuses on how these vehicles are built to handle challenging terrain, with past projects including a Factory Five XTF Pre-Runner and complete truck restorations. The series builds on Johnson’s expertise in off-road engineering and creating vehicles that are truly ready for any trail.

Tell us what shows you’re looking forward to this week—and which one you’ll be watching first—in the comments below!

2025-11-03 23:16