By now you may have heard from your parent or designated mom friend about HBO Max™ dissolving. Discovery CFO Gunnar Wiedenfels announced the impending merger between Discovery+ and Warner Studios happening later this year and the combination of streaming services HBO Max™ and Discovery+. This leaves many a queer to question: “Well what’s going to happen to The Secret Lives of College Girls?” Long story short, 70 employees are getting sacked, HBO and HBO Max™ comedy departments will combine, and new non-fiction content renewals will be determined by viewing success. This leaves the fates of HBO Max™ fictional scripted content up to the GAYGODS™ whether hit shows like Pretty Little Liars, And Just Like That, and RapShit will get that sweet sweet renewal. (Oh, the tension!) But while fates are yet to be sealed - let’s get into this list henny.
1. Tuca and Bertie
TW: Sexual Violence, Alcoholism, Violence, Profanity
Tuca (Tiffany Haddiish) and Bertie (Ali Wong) are two thirty-something birds navigating everyday problems like manipulative queer partners, maintaining friendships, finding the right therapist, hating their jobs, getting into stupid shenanigans, chasing their dreams, and living with their chosen family. This series screams gay foolery! Grab your chosen fam and binge every episode over some takeout.
2. Legendary
TW: Profanity
Legendary is a vogue dance competition show where eight to ten vogue houses compete for $100,000 and the recognition from LEGENDARY judges such as Meg Thee Stallion, Icon Leiomy Maldonado, Law Roach, KeKe Palmer, Bob the Drag Queen, Jamilla Jamil, and even Kelly Rowland. Each house competes in nine balls while highlighting the elements of vogue: performance, catwalk, duckwalk, floor, and dips. After just one season you are guaranteed to scream: MAJOR!!!
3. And Just Like That
TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Death, and Mental Health Issues
The long awaited reboot of Sex and the City hit HBO Max™ in 2021 and took twitter by storm. Whether you loved it or you hated it, AJLT cemented itself as an iconic reboot with memorable recurring characters like Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) while introducing new drama through characters like Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) and Seema (Sarita Choundry). The girls go through breakup, sexual orientation changes, having trans kids, and being alone. All topics that go better with your own gossip to spill in between episodes.
4. Harley Quinn
TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence
This animated series is definitely not made for children as it follows the adventures of Harley Quinn fresh from the break up with her notable boytoy The Joker. She conspires to join the Legion of Doom and cement her villainous street cred but needs the help of some of her DC villain friends like Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), King Shark (Ron Funches), and Sy Borgman (Jason Alexander). Harley finds new queer love, a chosen family, and her path to redemption! All DC fans must watch this series, gay or not.
5. The Sex Lives of College Girls
TW: Explicit Sex Scenes, Profanity
The show follows four first-years who room together for freshman year as they navigate dating, family life, school, and financial issues. Bela (Amrit Kaur), Leighton (Reneé Rapp), Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) and Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) each do a fantastic job of being equal parts hilarious and relatable as they tackle nude parties on campus, being in love triangles, and being closeted gay students. Whether you went to college or not this show is bound to have you in tears from laughing or crying (or both).
6. Search Party
TW: Crude Humor, Murder, Profanity, Sex Scenes, Cult Images
Search Party is a dark comedy that follows a group of friends living in New York who self-involve themselves in the disappearance of their (sort of) mutual friend from college: Chantal Witherbottom (Clare McNulty).The show centers around Dory Sief (Alia Shawka) who acts as the overly curious main detective in this investigation turned cult leader who has several near death experiences while on her search. Her friends Drew (John Reynolds), Elliot (John Early), and Portia (Merediith Hagner) add chaos to the madness through enabling Dory’s fantasies and ideas with their own side adventures and tragedies.
7. Sort Of
TW: Profanity, Sexual Content, Violence
Sort Of encapsulates all things trans, millennial, chosen family, and biological family. It stars Sabi Mehboob (Bilal Baig), a gender fluid non binary person juggling their various hidden and salient identities. It really hits home for ethnic queer kids with complex relationships to their biological families and offers new perspectives of being to viewers. Whether they are the sexy booktender at an queer aligned bookstore plus bar or the youngest child in a large Pakistani family Sabi shows authentic queer life for many navigating themsleves and the world in the new millenia.
Unfortunately shows like Genera+ion, Little Ellen, and Sesame Street have already had their shows pulled from the platform in efforts to declutter and pivot to Warner Bros business ideals. In times like this it becomes more and more important to directly support queer artists. Large companies will continue to treat your favorite queer and non queer centered shows as disposable however you can choose to give your money directly to queer creators and make their work accessible to all.
Taylor Waits (she/they) is an award winning writer and researcher currently completing a PhD in English at the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing can be read on annuity.com, #changerapeculture.org, numerous blogs, and her own works. Her forthcoming book, A Real Keeper, illustrated by Trenita Finney (@trenita.finney) is a mini love story about two Black lesbians who met over Zoom. Taylor is ready to help you with any of your writing needs in a fun, understandable, and efficient manner. No matter your background we can create a plan towards a new future!