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HBO Max pushes ‘Legendary’ status with streaming premiere

HBO Max is pushing for a legendary launch. The new service, preparing to duke it out in the streaming wars, premieres Wednesday with thousands of hours of established TV shows and movies in the mix. Reality series such as “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” contrast with otherworldly content like “Westworld,” and celluloid genres span from movie …

HBO Max is pushing for a legendary launch.

The new service, preparing to duke it out in the streaming wars, premieres Wednesday with thousands of hours of established TV shows and movies in the mix. Reality series such as “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” contrast with otherworldly content like “Westworld,” and celluloid genres span from movie musicals (“Singin’ in the Rain”) to horror classics (“The Shining”). At some point, it will even feature a buzzy, post-coronavirus-lockdown reunion for the cast of the iconic sitcom “Friends.”

But the channel also includes a glitzy slate of six new series, like the Anna Kendrick-starring rom-com “Love Life” and the reality competition “Legendary.” The latter takes viewers into the world of the underground ballroom scene with help from master of ceremonies Dashaun Wesley, as well as judges Jameela Jamil (“The Good Place”), Leiomy Maldonado (“Pose”), Megan Thee Stallion and Law Roach.

In “Legendary,” voguing houses compete in a series of themed challenges highlighting dance, fashion and ballroom culture — especially shade. But it’s a sense of camaraderie — rather than competition — that most strikes Jamil about the series, which is part of a flurry of drag-tastic new shows shining their light in the shadow of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“One of my favorite things is — after they throw all of the shade in the world at one another, as soon as it’s over — love flows out of them toward each competitor,” Jamil tells The Post by phone from LA, where she was staying during the coronavirus quarantine.

“At the end of this, they’re all in it together. That it ends always in hugs and a kiss is something that I’ve never seen in any other competitive sport or arena, ever,” says Jamil, 34, who controversially came out as “queer” in the wake of the announcement that she had joined the show’s cast. “That truly made me feel so lucky to even witness that. No one else has anything like this. It’s really special.”

Jamil says she has high hopes for the HBO Max show, which is filmed in Connecticut and features an eye-popping array of sets. She hopes it can be part of a larger ongoing conversation about underrepresented communities.

“I know that that’s a lot to wish for, but look at the difference that something like ‘Will & Grace’ or ‘Pose’ has had,” Jamil says, referencing the longtime NBC sitcom and Ryan Murphy’s FX drama about the ballroom scene. “I would like for this show to continue to be a part of normalizing people who deserve to be normalized, normalizing those who have been inappropriately ‘otherized.’ ”

It’s time for ballroom participants to be recognized for their overall impact on culture, too, she believes. “This is their moment to take center stage,” Jamil says. “So much of great art out in the world has come from this community. Not only talking about Madonna, but so much fashion, so much in dance, so much in music comes from ballroom. And no one knows that because it’s underground.”

Jamil expects the HBO Max premiere will launch a new set of admirers, especially on social media.

“TikTok is just going to be vogueing once this show launches,” she says. “That’s all it’s going to be — I’m sure of it!”


What to watch

HBO’s hefty lineup — available for a monthly $11.99 introductory rate, which would bump to $14.99 a month after the first year, and free for some subscribers — includes series such as “Game of Thrones,” “Doctor Who,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Sesame Street,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Luther.” Films, meanwhile, span a swath of genres and include Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born,” “Annie Hall,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Fight Club,” “Hairspray,” “Joker,” “Casablanca,” “Snakes on a Plane” and “North by Northwest.”

Besides “Legendary” and “Love Life,” here are the four other new shows set to launch Wednesday.

“Craftopia”

Kids get crafty in this reality competition that may feature even more glitter than the “Legendary” runway.

“Looney Tunes Cartoons”

Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and more get all-new tales in this reboot of the classic ‘toon showcase.

“The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo”

It’s time for Elmo to tickle us in this talk show featuring interviews with A-listers like the Jonas Brothers, Blake Lively, Josh Groban, Andy Cohen, Ciara, Jason Sudeikis and more.

“On the Record”

The #MeToo movement’s impact on the music industry is told through the eyes of executive Drew Dixon, who opens up about what it was like to work with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons in the wake of sexual harassment accusations against him. The documentary is directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering (“The Hunting Ground”).

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