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Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
HBO Max just canceled this J.J. Abrams crime thriller after one season — despite 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes
It turns out not even good reviews can save a doomed show. Earlier this year, HBO Max finally released the debut season of J.J. Abrams' crime thriller "Duster" after five years of development and production. But less than a week after last week's season 1 finale, the streaming service has already canceled the show (h/t Deadline). For those who might have missed it, "Duster" starred Rachel Hilson as Nina Hayes, the FBI's first Black woman agent. She teamed up with Jim (Josh Holloway), a talented getaway driver, to take down a crime syndicate boss named Ezra Saxton (Keith David). The premise was promising, and there was plenty of talent there to make it work. It's not like the show totally missed the mark either. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 scored a 92% "fresh" rating from critics and a still respectable 83% from audiences. We even praised the show, with our streaming managing editor Kelly Woo calling it "just the entertaining, action-packed ride I need right now." But none of this was enough to save the show from cancellation. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. HBO Max did not give any specific reasoning behind the cancellation: 'While HBO Max will not be moving forward with a second season of Duster," the company told Deadline in a statement, "we are so grateful to have had the chance to work with the amazingly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television." Low viewership could be a culprit; it's never cracked the Nielsen Streaming TV Top 10 for original series. Or, with HBO Max moving away from the Max brand, maybe HBO saw the chance to get rid of another Max original, which, as a brand, has largely fallen flat aside from "The Pitt" and "Hacks." It's possible the show was always doomed from the start, having to survive COVID-19 and multiple strikes. Regardless, "Duster" is officially dusted. Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made. Here's what he's been watching lately:
UPI
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Josh Holloway's 'Duster' canceled after one season
1 of 2 | HBO Max has confirmed it canceled Josh Holloway's "Duster" after one season. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 10 (UPI) -- Lost alum Josh Holloway's 1970s-set crime thriller, Duster, has been canceled after one season on HBO Max. "While HBO will not be moving forward with a second season of Duster, we are so grateful to have the chance to work with the amazingly talented co-creators J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, and our partners at Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television," the streaming service said in a statement Wednesday. "We are tremendously proud of this series led by Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson and we thank them along with our cast and crew for their incredible collaboration and partnership." The show premiered in May and its finale aired last week. "Finale y'all! Lots of surprises," Holloway posted on Instagram. "Hope everyone has enjoyed #DUSTER as much as I have. Thank you @jjabramsofficial Thank you @morganicink Thank you @streamonmax @hbomax And thank you to our amazing cast & crew! What a great ride!!" It co-starred Rachel Hilson, Keith David and Greg Grunberg.
Forbes
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Duster' Stars And Creator On Paying Tribute To The 1970s
'Duster' The season finale of Duster, J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan's latest TV show, will be released tomorrow on Max, and I caught up with the actors and creator behind the 1970s adrenaline-fueled crime thriller series, Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson and Latoya Morgan. Set in the Southwest in the 1970s, Duster tells the story of the FBI's first Black woman agent, Nina Hayes, played by Rachel Hilson, who will have to overcome many obstacles to stop a crime syndicate. But in order to gather all the evidences she needs, Nina will have to collaborate with Jim Ellis, portrayed by Josh Holloway, the getaway driver of the syndicate's boss. Tomorrow will be the last time the audience is able to admire the show's opening credits, filled with hidden easter eggs, adding to the fun and creativity of this sequence. I spoke to Morgan about the creative and narrative decisions behind the opening credits. She said, ''We wanted the chance to really immerse the audience in the story, and the title sequence was just another way to do that. We had this great company called the Meat department, who did our animation. We wanted to feel like you're in a little toy box, like you're on the drive with this toy duster.'' UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: (L-R) Rachel Hilson, Josh Holloway and LaToya Morgan attend the ... More Los Angeles Red Carpet Premiere of Max Original Series 'Duster' at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 08, 2025 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for Max) Abrams has had Duster's opening sequence in mind for two decades. When he called Morgan and Holloway, whom he's been friend with since they worked together on Lost, he described the vision he had with a phone ringing in the middle of the desert, a car going very fast towards it, a man getting out of the car and answering the call. To Morgan, Abrams has been ''really fantastic to work with and a great collaborator.'' She said, ''I was shocked because first I was like 'J.J. Abrams is calling me? This is weird.' But I was very very happy and excited. When we met, we just had a meeting of the minds, we have very similar sensibilities, we like the same stuff, and we both wanted to do something we both felt hadn't been done on TV for a while. And that was to have this sort of throwback, crime, thriller show.'' Holloway said, ''I had to really concentrate and really listen to him because my mind started wrapping around all of that and what it would be like. I was like 'Stay with J.J, he's still telling you more about this show.' But that's what happens to us as artists or actors, you start embodying this character immediately if it's something you're attracted to, it's like a magnet. The world of the 1970s blew up in my mind.'' Josh Holloway in 'Duster' Hilson said, ''I had a little bit of a different journey from Josh, I auditioned, I didn't know much about this character but I knew she was from Baltimore, which I am also from Baltimore, so I found that to be very cool. After reading the script, which was under wrap for a while, I just saw this character, I wanted to get the chance to embody her. And I think knowing J.J's body of work, he really champions the heroine, so knowing that and knowing more about LaToya, Nina was a no brainer for me.'' Holloway immediately found himself in Jim's character, having grown up in ''dirt roads in Georgia in the 1970s.'' He said, ''I have been driving since I was 9 years old, the ranch truck and the tractor. I remember dad, and he looked exactly like Abraham Lincoln by the way, picture that! He had the beard without the mustache, that Hamish thing. He was driving his little MGB and his hair was blowing. I remember him coming home from work, and I was like, 'That was the 1970s!' He was a nudist, he walked around nude all the time, so I lived in that era, it was simpler back then. And I was like 'Ah! This feels like when I was a kid!' So I really immersed myself back in my memories.'' He added: ''I always drive with the windows down, I hate AC, we didn't have AC growing up, so it's windows down, hair blowing, music blasting, big VA. That's who I am,'' Holloway said. Holloway also knew right away what Jim was listening to in his car. He said, ''I found what Jim drives to, and it's Jimmy Hendrix, 100%.'' Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson Everything in Dusters feels like it could have been made in the 1970s, from the photography to the set locations. Morgan said, ''When we're out in the desert, we wanted those wide vistas to feel very cinematic.'' Over the past few weeks, Duster has been a perfect watch for any 1970s aesthetic, music or movies aficionado, and the creators have made the very creative choice to add real elements and real people into their fictional story. In episode 2, Jim has to steal Elvis Presley's own Blue Suede Shoes in order to get himself out of a very dangerous situation. Morgan said, ''It's crazy that he literally has to steal the Blue Sudede shoes! But that's why we wanted it to be about Jim, having to come up with a crazy compromise in order to satisfy one guy, so he can get out of trouble with the other guy. That was because we wanted to do something in Elvis' honeymoon house. This was close from Arizona, it could be a place where Jim drives to and we can have a party there.'' Duster is now streaming on Max.
CNET
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Max: The 28 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch
Browsing Max for a new show to watch? The service that delivers HBO to the streaming masses is set to bring back the HBO Max moniker at some point this summer but it's still known as Max for now. The service is home to popular shows like The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Hacks and The Pitt. There's no shortage of exceptional fare to explore. Here are the highly rated series you shouldn't wait to watch on Max, plus this month's new releases. What's new on Max in June Note: These descriptions are taken from press releases and lightly edited for style. June 1 The Mortician, premiere (2025- ): Documentary. The series is about a trusted family-owned funeral home that hid behind a facade of decency to take advantage of loved ones at their most vulnerable moments. June 22 The Gilded Age, season 3 premiere (2022- ): Comedy-drama. The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, great conflict between the old ways and new systems and of huge fortunes made and lost. The series begins against the backdrop of this transformation. Best HBO and Max original TV series This list focuses on shows that have premiered a new season since 2023 (or are currently renewed for more seasons). Crime Ursula Coyote/Max Duster (2025- ) A hardworking young female FBI agent tries to take down a crime boss with help from his getaway driver in this thrilling crime drama set in Arizona in the '70s. Lost star Josh Holloway plays the smooth guy behind the wheel and Rachel Hilson's character is the first Black female FBI agent in this gripping, jam-packed series co-created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. Macall Polay/HBO The Penguin (2024- ) Set between Matt Reeves' 2022 film The Batman and the upcoming sequel The Batman Part II, The Penguin stars Colin Farrell as the underestimated and ambitious Gotham gangster (although you'll barely recognize the Oscar-nominated actor). The thrilling, eight-episode season chronicles Oz Cobb's rise and is enhanced by other complicated characters, such as Cristin Milioti's Sofia Falcone and Rhenzy Feliz's Victor Aguilar. Michele K. Short/HBO True Detective (2014- ) True Detective may be best known for its first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson but the anthology series continues to release intriguing new stories. The latest, which premiered in 2024 after a five-year hiatus, follows Jodie Foster and Kali Reis' characters as they tackle a chilling mystery in the fictional town of Ennis, Alaska. It includes a new showrunner, Issa López, who will helm an upcoming fifth edition. Kumiko Tsuchiya/Max Tokyo Vice (2022-24) Season 2 of Tokyo Vice, a crime drama based on a book by journalist Jake Adelstein, has slickly stepped on to Max. Set in Japan in the late 1990s, this noir follows an American journalist (Ansel Elgort) who nabs a job at a major Japanese newspaper. A world of grisly murders, neon nightclubs and powerful crime bosses awaits. Drama Warrick Page/Max The Pitt (2025- ) A lot can happen in one day on the job in a hospital's emergency department. This modern-day medical drama fills its 15-hour first season with what transpires during a single shift. Created by ER executive producer R. Scott Gemmill and starring ER's Noah Wyle as chief attendant Michael Robinavitch, this compelling and realistic series is worth checking out. Liane Hentscher/HBO The Last of Us (2023- ) This TV adaptation of a popular video game follows hardened survivor Joel (The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal) and spunky teen Ellie (Game of Thrones' Bella Ramsey) as they face human and not-quite-human dangers in a postapocalyptic world. Warner Media House of the Dragon (2022- ) Creating a show as beloved as Game of Thrones is tough to pull off but HBO spin-off House of the Dragon soars to impressive heights. Set hundreds of years before fantasy series GoT, the prequel depicts how infighting and tragedy consume House Targaryen. Multiple players clamor for power, including Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). Max The White Lotus (2021- ) What was initially a limited series was so good HBO renewed it for a second season. The satire about guests at a fancy resort gradually unveils the darker edges of its picture-perfect postcard. The White Lotus features an ensemble cast, including Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Molly Shannon and more hilarious people, who make this series soar. If that wasn't enough, a murder mystery with the big reveal waiting till the very end will keep you thoroughly entertained. Amanda Searle/HBO Industry (2020- ) If you're missing the competition and drama on display in Succession, you should pay attention to this HBO series. The first season follows young graduates, including Harper Stern (Myha'la from Netflix's Leave the World Behind), as they step foot into London's Pierpoint & Co. The early 20-somethings hope for permanent jobs at the leading international bank. Eddy Chen/HBO Euphoria (2019- ) Euphoria's second installment is on Max now. This visually stunning series has garnered its fair share of fans and it's not hard to see why -- the absorbing performances, cinematography and exploration of mature topics make this show shine. If nothing else, stick around to see Dune star Zendaya, who plays teenager Rue. Seacia Pavao/Max Julia (2022-23) Following the life of television chef and cookbook writer Julia Child, this drama doles out a generous serving of humor and charm (and delicious-looking food, of course). Sarah Lancashire is endlessly watchable as the famed American cook, who paved the way for future cooking shows with her long-running series The French Chef. Two seasons are available on the streamer now. Animation Max Creature Commandos (2024- ) This engaging DC series from James Gunn examines the backstories of a ragtag team of monsters put together for dangerous missions. From Frankenstein's bride to a Nazi-targeting robot to a creature resembling a human and a furry animal, the Creature Commandos are a motley crew worth spending violent, unhinged time with. The series is the first in Gunn and Peter Safran's new DC Universe and it's already renewed for season 2. Max Harley Quinn (2019- ) Harley Quinn is an adult-oriented animated series that centers on the baseball bat-wielding antihero. Kaley Cuoco voices the mayhem-prone Harley, who in the first episode breaks up with the Joker and tells him she's going to replace him as the top villain in Gotham. The hilarious, action-packed show also features characters like Poison Ivy and four seasons are available to binge. It premiered on the DC Universe streaming service before moving to HBO Max. Max Scavengers Reign (2023) An unusual alien world and the humans stranded on it are the subject of this spectacular sci-fi series on Max. The story follows characters marooned on a peculiar planet that's home to fascinating creatures and landscapes. The world is beautiful but also poses dangers to the human guests, who seek out their ship and fellow crew members. An expansion of a 2016 animated short film, Scavengers Reign is a compelling, 12-episode saga you won't be able to quit watching. Comedy Atsushi Nishijima/HBO Fantasmas (2024- ) Viewers have former Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres to thank for this quirky and captivating HBO comedy. In episode 1 of the surreal series, an Alf-like sitcom takes a turn for the awkward and the letter "Q" gets a life story. Torres, also known for the HBO show Los Espookys and A24 film Problemista, stars as a version of himself, and guest actors include Steve Buscemi, Julia Fox, Emma Stone, Aidy Bryant and Bowen Yang. HBO The Rehearsal (2022- ) Nathan Fielder, best known for his Comedy Central show, Nathan For You (and cringe comedy), writes, directs and stars in this new HBO series. In the show, the comedian goes to extraordinary lengths to let people rehearse moments before they happen. In the first episode, Fielder helps a man prepare for a confession to a friend, and builds an exact replica of the bar they're planning to meet at (the attention to detail is incredible). After planning for any outlandish thing that might happen, we see how the real exchange between the two friends plays out. Bizarre and truly fascinating, The Rehearsal should get some time on your screen. Max Peacemaker (2022- ) Following the events of 2021's The Suicide Squad, this DC spinoff catches up with Peacemaker (John Cena), our towering, costume-clad protagonist who's just been released from the hospital. Peacemaker believes he's a superhero, but with his oft-repeated phrase about attaining "peace, no matter how many people I have to kill to get it," the title doesn't really suit him. The show establishes Peacemaker's next steps -- he isn't returning to prison, instead taking part in a black ops mission that will (again) get his hands dirty. The show often lands its jokes and you'll especially enjoy its entertaining supporting cast. Max Hacks (2021- ) The great Jean Smart rightfully takes the spotlight in this acclaimed comedy-drama series. Throwing iPads into swimming pools and delivering withering looks, Smart plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva who must face the prospect of appealing to a younger audience or disappearing into obscurity. She's partnered with Ava (Hannah Einbinder), a young and equally snarky comedy writer, to freshen up her material. Perfectly balancing its biting insight into how the comedy business treats women, with the warmth of an odd couple buddy comedy, Hacks is one of the best original series to come out of HBO Max. Ryan Green/HBO The Righteous Gemstones (2019-25) This outrageous series highlights a highly dysfunctional family of famous televangelists called the Gemstones. In the show's first season, a member of the family is blackmailed and ridiculous antics ensue. John Goodman stars as the family patriarch, Eli, and Danny McBride, Edi Patterson and Adam Devine also commit to the bit, pulling off an absurd and addictive black comedy. The third season of the show is out now, and HBO has renewed the series for a fourth. HBO Somebody Somewhere (2022-24) Like feel-good shows? Somebody Somewhere is a great option you may have skipped over. In the first episode, 40-something Sam, living in her Kansas hometown and dealing with a recent loss, strikes up a friendship with a co-worker. Authentic, funny, with glowing performances, the half-hour series is the perfect thing to wind down to. Max Rap Sh!t (2022-23) A half-hour comedy series from Issa Rae (the star and creator of HBO's acclaimed series Insecure), Rap Sh!t introduces two former friends from high school. Shawna is an aspiring, socially conscious rapper, and Mia is a make-up artist and single mother who works multiple jobs. By the end of the first episode, the young women (now in their 20s) have reconnected and filmed a mesmerizing rap video that takes off on the internet. The show's protagonists are phone-obsessed, constantly checking up on social media and recording videos, and it affects the viewing experience in interesting ways. Jake Giles Netter/Max Our Flag Means Death (2022-23) In this comedy set on the high seas, Rhys Darby plays Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his cushy life and family to become the captain of a pirate ship. Spoiler: He hilariously bumbles through the gig. Game of Thrones fans may spot Hodor actor Kristian Nairn hanging out among the crew, and the series also stars Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. Max The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021-25) Mindy Kaling co-created this dramedy about four 18-year-old girls who start their freshman year of college together in Vermont. With distinct personalities, the college newcomers navigate love and sex in their own ways. The show is funny, easily bingeable and bolstered by the chemistry among its female leads. A contemporary teen comedy showcasing messy experiences, relatable characters and raunchy jokes. Max Starstruck (2021-23) Starstruck is a classic screwball comedy, starring the lovably goofy Rose Matafeo. She plays Jessie, a twentysomething Londoner who parties it up on New Year's Eve, then later discovers she had a one-night stand with Tom Kapoor, a celebrity played by Nikesh Patel. Follow Jessie as she juggles odd jobs, from cinema worker to nanny, and her blossoming relationship with a film star that involves no high jinks whatsoever. Watch out for scene-stealer Minnie Driver as Tom's agent in this witty, neatly crafted comedy package. Max The Other Two (2019-23) The sibling rivalry is strong and primed for hilarity in this comedy from a couple of Saturday Night Live writers. Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider tell the story of Cary (Drew Tarver) and Brooke (Heléne Yorker), siblings in their late 20s who struggle with the sudden rise to internet fame of their 13-year-old Justin Bieber-channeling brother. Molly Shannon is a treat as their mother, Pat, ushering her children through open doors to success. Once you get over the gimmicky premise, The Other Two's pop culture satire and surprisingly heartfelt storylines are a winning combination. Schitt's Creek fans should give this a look. HBO Succession (2018-23) This satirical show follows the family controlling the world's biggest media and entertainment company, whose members become embroiled in a battle to take over as their father's health declines. John P. Johnson/HBO Barry (2018-23) In Barry's opening scene, SNL alum Bill Hader casually leaves a hotel room that contains a dead body. The actor plays hitman Barry Berkman, who isn't happy with life or his unconventional profession, but his path is altered when he travels to Los Angeles and gets roped into performing in an acting class. Barry features plenty of violence and a deeply troubled protagonist, leaning into the "dark" part of its dark comedy designation. But it's also really funny, and there are four seasons to binge. At the very least, you'll want to tune in for truly great scenes between Hader and his acting teacher, played by Henry Winkler. Documentary HBO Telemarketers (2023) This docuseries provides an intriguing look at the world of telemarketing, starting the story in the early 2000s, when Sam Lipman-Stern began working at a New Jersey call center. Over the course of three hour-long episodes, Lipman-Stern and office buddy Pat Pespas learn the murky truth about the work they were doing and set out to uncover more about the industry -- a quest that eventually leads them to the halls of Congress. It's worth tuning into these amateur sleuth's unhinged, thought-provoking 20-year journey.
CNET
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
'Duster': When to Watch New Episodes of the Throwback Grindhouse Series
Lost alum Josh Holloway is back on TV doing what he does best: walking the line between good and criminal while flashing a wry smile the entire time. Duster, the show in question, takes place in Arizona in the early 1970s and follows a conflicted getaway driver named Jim Ellis (Holloway), who's just trying to do what's right for his loved ones -- even if it's by breaking the law. He ends up partnering with a focused FBI newcomer named Nina (Rachel Hilson), who is dead-set on bringing the crime family that employs Ellis to justice. Also starring in the series are Keith David (as crime boss Ezra Saxton), Sydney Elisabeth (as Genesis), Greg Grunberg (as FBI boss Abbott), Camille Guaty (as Jim's ex, Izzy), Asivak Koostachin (as Awan), Adriana Aluna Martinez (as Luna) and Benjamin Charles Watson (as Royce). The show was co-created by J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan. Scroll on to find out more details about streaming Duster and information about how using a VPN may help. Read more: Max Streaming Service Review: Loads of Content, but You Have to Make It Fit You Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson star as Jim and Nina in Duster on Max. Ursula Coyote/Max Where and when you can watch 'Duster' Duster will drop its sixth episode on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT on Max. The eight-episode season will air new episodes weekly until the finale, which will drop on July 3. James Martin/CNET Max The home of Duster Want to stream Duster? Well, buckle up, pal. The key you'll need is a subscription to Max. You can choose the ads tier, which costs $10 per month, or the ad-free option, which is $17 per month. Want to watch in 4K? The Ultimate plan offers that feature and costs $21 per month. There's also the Hulu, Disney Plus and Max megabundle. The ad-based bundle comes with a $17 monthly price tag, while the ad-free version is $30 a month. See at Max How to watch 'Duster' with a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with your favorite shows while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming. It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security. However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
