Here Are All the TV Shows Coming to HBO Max This Week, Including ‘Smiling Friends’

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Lots of new shows and movies are coming out this week, from cartoons to reality TV to a highly anticipated comedy on HBO, all between October 6th and 12th. We’ve got the details on each one – the plot, the cast, and the creators – so you can quickly find something you’ll enjoy.

As a TV fan, I love knowing what’s coming out each week, so I’ve put together a guide listing each show by its release day. I’m not getting into *how* things are released – just what you need to know about the story, who’s in it, and the important people behind the scenes who make each show special.

‘Smiling Friends’ (2020– )

Smiling Friends is a quirky animated series about the employees of Smiling Friends Inc.—Charlie, Pim, Allan, and Glep—who take on unusual jobs to try and brighten people’s days. The show, created by Zach Hadel and Michael Cusack, blends surreal humor with moments of creepiness, and uses a variety of animation styles, including traditional animation, rotoscoping, computer graphics, stop-motion, and even live action. It premieres on Monday, October 6th.

Michael Cusack and Zach Hadel are key voices and contributors to the series, working alongside Marc M. Production is handled by Goblin Caught on Tape and Williams Street, while Chris O’Neill and Brendan Caulfield composed the music. Animation was created by studios like Princess Bento and Saerom.

‘Baylen Out Loud’ (2025– )

This documentary series follows Baylen Dupree, a young content creator who has Tourette Syndrome. It shows the everyday difficulties she faces, her relationships with her family, and her journey towards becoming independent. The show became popular soon after it first aired and will be available to new viewers starting Wednesday, October 8.

Baylen stars in the series, sharing personal stories about her relationships, including with her fiancé Colin Dooley, and her work supporting others who have Tourette’s. Because the first season was so popular, a second season is already planned, showing the show is gaining traction.

‘Alex vs America’ (2022– )

On Wednesday, October 8th, chef Alex Guarnaschelli will go head-to-head against other talented cooks in a new culinary competition. Each episode will feature surprise ingredients and fast-paced challenges, with judges deciding the winner through blind taste tests. Eric Adjepong hosts.

Each episode features a different set of judges, with Cat Cora and Susan Feniger appearing recently. The show combines cooking challenges that test a chef’s abilities with strategic decisions, as competitors choose themes and ingredients they think will help them beat Alex.

‘VGLY’ (2023– )

This funny and dramatic series follows a group of musicians in Mexico City who create a fake star and try to launch a real career based on the deception. They quickly get caught up in the competitive world of record labels and face the challenges of seeking fame. It premieres on Thursday, October 9th.

I recently checked out this series, and the creative team – Marcos Bucay, Santiago Espejo, and Jorge Tijerina – really delivered. Benny Emmanuel and Juan Daniel García Treviño carry the show with strong performances, and it was great to see so many familiar faces from the local scene popping up. Crystal López and Sasha González also add a lot to the overall ensemble cast throughout the season. It’s a solid group of performers, that’s for sure!

‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ (2022– )

This new Looney Tunes show is designed for preschoolers and features Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, Daffy Duck, and their friends. Each episode shows them working on silly construction projects, all while learning about teamwork and how to solve problems. It will be available starting Friday, October 10th.

As a cartoon fan, I’ve been following this new series, and it’s cool to see Jacob Fleisher developing it. Warner Bros. Animation is behind it, which always gets me excited, and Sam Register is executive producing – that’s a great sign! Nicole Belisle is producing, and the voice cast is fantastic – you’ve got Eric Bauza, Jeff Bergman, Chandni Parekh, Bob Bergen, Fred Tatasciore, and Candi Milo all bringing the characters to life. It’s a seriously talented group!

‘Lu & the Bally Bunch’ (2023– )

This sweet show for preschoolers follows Lu, a ladybug, as she starts her first year of school. Each short episode focuses on making friends, learning through songs, and understanding big emotions—all designed to help young viewers develop important social and emotional skills. It premieres on Friday, October 10th.

Nicky Phelan created, wrote, and directed this show, which has been shown on children’s channels around the world. The episodes focus on characters and keep the stories simple and emotionally understandable for preschoolers.

‘Impractical Jokers’ (2011– )

The popular comedy show where friends prank the public is back! Sal Vulcano, Brian “Q” Quinn, and James “Murr” Murray will continue challenging each other with increasingly wild dares and punishments. New episodes premiere on Saturday, October 11th.

This series, created by NorthSouth Productions, first aired on truTV and now has new episodes premiering on TBS, with older episodes still shown on other channels. Throughout the show’s run, the format has stayed the same: the Joker who loses each episode receives a unique and often embarrassing punishment designed by the others.

‘Bering Sea Gold’ (2012– )

This reality show follows gold dredge crews working in Nome, Alaska. They face tough conditions – like moving ice, bad weather, and broken equipment – as they try to find gold on the ocean floor. New episodes will be available starting Saturday, October 11th.

The show, created by Original Productions and executive producer Thom Beers, has followed several seasons of gold mining, both in the warmer months and under the ice. Familiar faces like Shawn Pomrenke and Emily Riedel have appeared throughout the series. The narration has been done by both Thom Beers and, later, Mike Rowe.

‘The Chair Company’ (2025– )

Tim Robinson stars in a new comedy series as Ron Trosper, a man who uncovers a large conspiracy after a humiliating event at work. The show begins airing on Sunday, October 12th.

The series was created by Robinson and Zach Kanin and stars Lake Bell, Sophia Lillis, Will Price, Joseph Tudisco, and Lou Diamond Phillips. Adam McKay and Todd Schulman served as executive producers, and Andrew DeYoung and Aaron Schimberg directed episodes.

Do you have a favorite from this list, or is there something we should consider for next week? Share your thoughts and tell us why in the comments below!

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2025-10-07 17:39