The Deep Dive — July 14, 2026

The Bear — Season 5 (FX on Hulu)

The end is finally here. After countless takes on whether Season 5 did or did not miss the mark, Christopher Storer wrapped The Bear in a way that was surprisingly delicate for a show that spent five seasons making you feel like you were having a panic attack in a professional kitchen. They could have closed the restaurant down and let everyone go their separate ways. Instead, they gave the audience what it actually needed. Resolution. Comfort. The kind of ending that respects how much people invested in these characters. There has long been debate about whether The Bear is a comedy or a drama, and the Emmy voters have gone back and forth on it, but an ending that lands this gently reads as comedy every time. The Bear has already won multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and the conversation around where this final season lands in that legacy is just getting started. However you feel about how it ended, the writing held. Storer earned it.

The Adam Ray Show (Netflix — new episodes every Friday)

I have been looking forward to the weekly drops of The Adam Ray Show more than almost anything else dropping right now. There is something about a weekly release that changes how you consume something, and Adam Ray has figured out how to make that work in his favor. What is surprising is how much it feels like a television show rather than a podcast. The guests are not the usual podcast circuit names. All four Impractical Jokers at once, Hasan Minhaj, and his own mom. It is wholesome content in the best possible way. The Rochester shoutout from Hasan Minhaj did not hurt either. The one observation worth making is that the format does not fully show what Adam Ray is actually capable of. Anyone who has seen him live or watched his characters in action knows there is so much more range there. As it stands, he comes across as a really funny interviewer, which is nothing, but it is also what a lot of people are doing on Netflix right now. A variety of elements would have allowed him to show the full picture of what he is capable of. That said, the show is finding its audience week by week, and that momentum is exactly what he has been building toward for twenty years. Worth watching.

Real Housewives of Rhode Island — Season 1 Reunion

Rhode Island had a killer first season, and the reunion delivered in a way that even the most established franchises rarely do on their first try. A two-part reunion for a debut season is almost unheard of on Bravo, and they earned every minute of it. Alicia is a star. Her accent alone is worth the watch, but she is genuinely interesting, not just another personality that fades into the background by episode three. She deserves every bit of the attention coming her way. Ashley brought her previous TV history to the table and not much else, and it will be interesting to see how she factors in going forward without a stronger storyline to carry. Rosie and the other half of that friend group blur together for me at times, but slampig is permanently in my vocabulary, and I will not be apologizing for that. If Dave Portnoy is tuning into a Housewives franchise, it is probably worth paying attention to. As for Rulla, the fact that she is staying with her husband after everything that has been said and speculated publicly is baffling. True or not, that much noise around a rumor should be enough to make someone reconsider their choices, if not their nose. Liz McGraw announcing her exit right after the reunion aired was the real gut punch. She was a fan favorite and clearly central to the show's DNA through her connection to Dolores Catania. Her statement was gracious, but the timing was pointed. There has also been significant chatter around her longtime friend Dino Guilmette, who is currently facing eight drug-related charges in Rhode Island, and while Liz has not been named in connection with the case in any way, it is hard not to wonder if stepping back from the spotlight is connected. Andy Cohen dropped a heart in the comments and said the door is always open. The door being open is nice. The reunion being this good without needing her to carry it is even better for the franchise long term.

Bus Boys (Available to rent on Apple TV and Prime Video)

Bus Boys is the throwback comedy 2026 needed. Theo Von and David Spade lead a buddy comedy that is packed with stand-ups, high production quality, and an actual story that does not rely on unrealistic premises or overproduced set pieces. It looks and feels like a real movie, which sounds like a low bar but is genuinely rare for a self-funded comedy these days. Theo could learn a thing or two from David Spade when it comes to delivering a realistic performance, but the two of them together work in a way you would not necessarily predict. One note: the title is a little misleading. They spend the whole movie trying to become waiters, not busboys. Small complaint for a movie that is genuinely fun to watch and intentional in a way that a lot of studio comedies stopped being years ago. You have to seek it out, rent it on Apple TV or Prime Video, and that intentionality is part of the experience. Worth the few dollars.