What to Watch This Week: June 26 to July 1

From patriotic parties to pond-hopping comedy, we round up our top 10 shows to watch this week

1. The BET Awards – Sunday, June 26, 8 p.m., BET

BETTaraji P. Henson made her debut as BET Awards host last year, and now the Empire star is back for a return engagement. In addition to Sean “Diddy” Combs receiving the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award, this year’s nominees feature Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, H.E.R. and Doja Cat in the musical categories, while acting nominees include Euphoria Emmy-winner Zendaya and Will Smith, who should probably sit out award shows for the time being.

2. The Late Late Show With James Corden – Monday to Thursday, 12:37 a.m., CBS; 12:55 a.m., CTV

CTVOne of the many TV traditions interrupted by COVID: James Corden’s regular trips back to the U.K. to film his late-night show. But at last, he’s returning for another week, setting up shop at Freemasons’ Hall in Central London. Expect A-list guests aplenty.

3. Weakest Link – Monday, June 27, 10 p.m., CTV & NBC | Season Finale

CTVJane Lynch welcomes one last group of strangers to rack their brains and dodge her barbs, as they work together to answer general trivia questions, bank as much cash as they can and, at the end of each round, vote off their “weakest” teammate. 

4. Ghislaine: Partner in Crime – Tuesday, June 28, Paramount+ (Stream) | Series Premiere

Paramount+This four-part docuseries explores the life of Ghislaine Maxwell, infamous partner to pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Featuring revealing, emotional interviews with Maxwell’s siblings, friends, legal experts and her alleged victims, filmmakers unravel the shocking pyramid scheme of sexual abuse that Maxwell controlled, and uncover what really happened at Epstein’s properties, including his private island. Ghislaine: Partner in Crime also includes the first extensive television interview with Scotty David, known as Juror #50, who takes viewers inside the jury room and gets candid about his post-verdict revelation that led Maxwell’s lawyers to file for a new trial. 

5. Only Murders in the Building – Tuesday, June 28, Disney+ | Season Premiere

Disney+One of last season’s best new comedies, Only Murders in the Building introduced a trio of true-crime enthusiasts—down-on-his-luck Broadway producer Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), retired TV actor Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin) and their mysterious young neighbour Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez)—who bumblingly attempt to solve an actual homicide that occurred within their Manhattan apartment building, the Arconia. 

The investigation hit a snag at the end of the first season when all three were arrested for the subsequent murder of condo board president Bunny Folger (Jayne Houdyshell, who will appear this year in flashbacks). 

“Following the shocking death of Arconia board president Bunny Folger, Charles, Oliver and Mabel race to unmask her killer. However, three (unfortunate) complications ensue—the trio is publicly implicated in Bunny’s homicide, they are now the subjects of a competing podcast and they have to deal with a bunch of New York neighbours who all think they committed murder,” reads the official synopsis. 

While the plot is being kept under wraps, fans can expect to see plenty of fresh faces in the new season, including: Amy Schumer as a “slightly unbearable” version of herself, who’s subletting Sting’s penthouse apartment; Oscar-winner Shirley MacLaine as Bunny’s grieving mother; Cara Delevingne as Mabel’s new love interest; and SCTV icon Andrea Martin and Fear the Walking Dead’s Zoe Colletti in mystery roles.  

As showrunner John Hoffman told Vanity Fair, the Arconia itself plays a larger role in the second season, including the building’s previously unknown connection to Charles’ past that will allow viewers to get to “know the history of each of these people with the building… the secrets that are unfolding.”

6. Baymax! – Wednesday, June 29, Disney+ | Series Premiere

Disney+Disney’s 2014 animated feature Big Hero 6 gets its own spinoff series, returning to the futuristic city of San Fransokyo for the continuing adventures of Baymax (voiced by 30 Rock alum Scott Adsit). The affable, inflatable, robotic healthcare companion once again sets out to help others in a six-episode series of medical capers that introduces extraordinary new characters who need Baymax’s signature approach to healing in  many more ways than they realize. 

7. Beauty – Wednesday, June 28, Netflix

NetflixFeaturing a screenplay from Lena Waithe (The Chi), a gifted young Black woman (Gracie Marie Bradley)on the brink of a promising singing career finds herself torn between a domineering family, industry pressures and her love for her girlfriend. Also starring Niecy Nash, Giancarlo Esposito and Sharon Stone.

8. Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution – Wednesday, June 28 and Thursday, June 29, 6 p.m. & 10:03 p.m., A&E

A&EThis two-night special explores the progression of Black comedy and profiles the comedians who have used pointed humour to expose, challenge and ridicule society’s injustices while articulating the Black experience in America—not just a history of Black comedy, but a look at its underappreciated legacy of driving social change across the 20th and 21st centuries. Right to Offend takes viewers on a hilarious history tour beginning with Redd Foxx, Moms Mabley and Dick Gregory during the civil rights movement; Richard Pryor in the 1970s; Eddie Murphy and Whoopi Goldberg in the ’80s; In Living Color and Def Comedy Jam in the ’90s; Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle in the 2000s; and groundbreaking modern-day comedians and creators like Key & Peele, Issa Rae, Amber Ruffin and Tiffany Haddish, revealing these artists to be truth-tellers who speak to audiences in ways that other performers can’t.  

Featuring interviews with some of the greatest comedy minds of all time as well as a rich collection of archival material, the two-part event reveals the personal stories and tribulations faced by many Black performers in attaining greater acceptance and opening the doors for a true representation of what it means to be Black in America. 

9. Canada Day 2022 – Friday, July 1, 8 a.m. & 2 p.m., CBC News Network

CBC News NetworkAfter two years of virtual celebrations, CBC’s Canada Day festivities are live once more, from their new site at the LeBreton Flats in Ottawa. Hosts Isabelle Racicot and Ali Hassan are joined by an array of performers, including Charlotte Cardin, Walk Off the Earth, Johnny Reid, Tenille Arts and many more.

10. The Princess – Friday, July 1, Disney+

Disney+When this Hulu movie (airing in Canada on Disney+) was first announced, The Princess was described as “John Wick meets Sleeping Beauty.” As it turns out, that’s the perfect summary for a cinematic punch in the face starring Joey King (taking a break from the Kissing Booth franchise) as a fairytale princess who’s about to be wed against her will to a sadistic sociopath (Preacher’s Dominic Cooper), intent on usurping her father’s throne. This princess, however, is no damsel in distress, but a butt-kicking, sword-wielding, neck-snapping warrior who dispatches every minion her betrothed sends after her when she escapes from the castle tower in which she was imprisoned. Director Le-Van Kiet’s (Furie) background in martial arts movies is evident in the stunning fight choreography, boasting action sequences that explode off the screen as King proves herself a top-notch action heroine. Also starring are Veronica Ngo (The Old Guard), Olga Kurylenko (Black Widow) and Alex Reid (Unorthodox).