Credit: Lucas Gouveia/How-To GeekWith the World Cup wrapping up this weekend, we’re about to have a lot of sports fans staring into their pints looking for the next thrill. Netflix might just have a few things that can help, for U.S. subscribers, including a new season of the docuseries Quarterback (read about it in this weekend’s documentary roundup) and a hilarious new golf series starring Will Ferrell (more below).
But I do like to mix things up when Netflix doesn’t have an abundance of new titles to stream, making this weekend a great time to tuck in and binge two of the best series of the last 15 years, including one about a feral family from Chicago’s South Side and a sci-fi time travel staple that Netflix rescued.
The Hawk
Will Ferrell’s new golf comeback comedy yells “fore!”
The opening sequence from Will Ferrell’s new (and first!) Netflix series, The Hawk, starts with a massive tour bus squealing and hurtling down the highway, as its precious passenger, pro golfer Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, races to make tee time. And while he may be on the back nine of his accomplished career, Lonnie, after whispering sweet nothings to his ball, drives it to the horizon as the show’s AC/DC-tinged anthem fires up—”They call him The Hawk! He’s a golfer! The greatest golfer in the world!”
And that’s just the first few minutes of this 10-episode comedy series co-created by Ferrell and his longtime collaborators Harper Steele and Chris Henchy, about a fading golf legend chasing one final major—he ruled the sport in the early 2000s, but never completed a career Grand Slam. Ferrell is as Ferrell does as Lonnie, with an almost Ricky Bobby narcissism and cockiness. But after a tragedy on the course (no spoilers here), Lonnie spirals and must dig deep to find his way back to greatness on the green.
In the process, Lonnie reconnects and clashes with a crew of characters from his past, including his estranged wife Stacy (another SNL legend, Molly Shannon), pro-golfer son Lance (Jimmy Tatro, American Vandal), no-nonsense caddie Sam (Fortune Feimster, The Mindy Project), and smug rival Golden Fisk (Luke Wilson, Old School).
The Hawk
Release Date
July 16, 2026
Network
Netflix
Directors
Jonathan Watson
Cast
Will Ferrell, Molly Shannon, Jimmy Tatro, Fortune Feimster, Luke Wilson, Chris Parnell, Katelyn Tarver, David Hornsby, Gabriel Hogan, Aida Osman
Writers
Madeline Walter, Paul Welsh, Jerry Collins, Emma Rathbone, Cameron Squires, Harper Steele, Chris Henchy
Main Genre
Comedy
Creator(s)
Will Ferrell
Producers
Sabrina Mahfouz
Seasons
1
Executive Producer(s)
Alix Taylor, Allyce Ozarski, Andrew Guest, Chris Henchy, David Gordon Green, Harper Steele, Jessica Elbaum, Nena Rodrigue, Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson, Will Ferrell
Shameless
South Side Chicago’s worst nightmare family
Consider yourself warned—Shameless will reportedly leave Netflix on October 11, so the clock is ticking on one of Netflix’s most consistently chaotic and darkly hilarious comfort binges. Okay, so you think I’m being alarmist (three months is plenty of time!), but this Emmy winning masterpiece has 11 seasons, and you’re not going to want to miss a single one of them.
Showtime’s longest-running scripted original—with an 82% on Rotten Tomatoes—is based on Paul Abbott’s British series of the same name (you should totally watch that, too—it’s on Hulu), but relocates the action to Chicago’s South Side. Loser patriarch Frank Gallagher (William H. Macy, Fargo) is a scheming, perpetually drunk, single father of six, which leaves his eldest daughter Fiona (Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera) to raise the rest of the brood, incluidng eldest brother Lip (a pre-The Bear Jeremy Allen White), middle child Ian (Cameron Monaghan, Gotham), opportinistic Debbie (Emma Kenney, The Conners), delinquent Carl (Ethan Cutkosky, Happy Gilmore 2), and the youngest, Liam.
Quiz
Name that British show turned American
Trivia challenge
From Slough to Scranton — can you match these iconic British series to their
American remakes?
ComedyDramaRemakesTelevisionCult Hits
Comedy
The original British version of this beloved mockumentary workplace comedy starred
Ricky Gervais as a bumbling, cringe-worthy regional manager. The American adaptation ran for nine
seasons and became a cultural institution. Which show is it?
Gervais and Stephen Merchant in 2001, running for just two series and a Christmas special. NBC’s
American version, developed by Greg Daniels, launched in 2005 and far surpassed the original in
longevity, making Steve Carell a household name.
Gervais and Stephen Merchant, was a short but influential run that NBC adapted into a nine-season
juggernaut. Interestingly, the American pilot was nearly a shot-for-shot remake before the show found
its own identity.
Drama
This gritty drama about a dysfunctional, poverty-stricken family living on a council
estate in Manchester was adapted for American audiences and set in Chicago’s South Side. William H.
Macy played the chaotic, alcoholic patriarch in the US version. What show is this?
in the UK in 2004, starring David Threlfall as the legendarily drunk Frank Gallagher. Showtime’s
American remake ran for an impressive 11 seasons, outlasting the British original and building a massive
fanbase of its own.
starting in 2004 and was created by Paul Abbott. Showtime picked it up for an American version starring
William H. Macy as Frank Gallagher, which ran from 2011 to 2021 — actually outliving its British
counterpart.
Reality TV
This British talent competition show, originally hosted by Simon Cowell on ITV, was
adapted for American audiences and became one of the highest-rated TV shows in US history. It
launched the careers of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. Name the show.
Fuller and aired on ITV in 2001 before being adapted as American Idol on Fox in 2002. American Idol
became a phenomenon, dominating ratings for years and turning winners like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie
Underwood into superstar recording artists.
Pop Idol. Simon Cowell was a judge on both versions, which helped give the American show immediate
credibility. It premiered on Fox in 2002 and went on to become one of the most watched TV programs in
American broadcasting history.
Cult Hits
This dark British sci-fi anthology series, created by Charlie Brooker, explores the
sinister side of technology and modern society. Netflix eventually co-produced it and it gained a
massive American following, though it originated at Channel 4. What is it called?
Brooker’s sharp, unsettling take on humanity’s relationship with technology. Netflix acquired the show
in 2015 and began producing it on a much larger budget, bringing in American settings, Hollywood stars,
and a global audience — though it remains a British-originated production at heart.
launched on Channel 4 in 2011 before Netflix took over production in 2015, internationalizing the show
significantly. While it isn’t a full remake in the traditional sense, Netflix’s involvement gave it a
strongly American flavor with US settings and casts for many episodes.
Comedy
This British sitcom about a foul-mouthed, scheming market-stall trader from Peckham
was remade for American audiences in 2009, but the remake flopped and was cancelled after just one
season. Del Boy’s American equivalent didn’t charm US viewers the way he did Brits. Which show was
it?
Sullivan, was adapted for ABC as a pilot in 2009 but never made it to series. Del Boy Trotter’s uniquely
British working-class charm and Peckham slang simply didn’t translate, and the attempt is now largely
remembered as a cautionary tale in transatlantic TV history.
starring David Jason as Del Boy Trotter was attempted as an American adaptation for ABC, but it was dead
on arrival. Some shows are so deeply rooted in their cultural context that remaking them for another
country is nearly impossible, and Del Boy proved to be one of them.
Drama
This gripping British crime thriller, set in a small coastal town rocked by a
child’s murder, starred David Tennant and Olivia Colman. It was remade in the US with the same lead
actor reprising his role, but set in a California beach town instead. What is the show?
Chris Chibnall that aired from 2013 to 2017. Its American adaptation, called Gracepoint, aired on Fox in
2014 with David Tennant remarkably reprising his detective role — though he had to adopt an American
accent. Despite the pedigree, Gracepoint was not renewed for a second season.
well-regarded that Fox adapted it as Gracepoint in 2014, even bringing back lead actor David Tennant,
who had to swap his Scottish accent for an American one. Despite the star power and strong source
material, the American version didn’t connect with audiences and was cancelled after one season.
Comedy
This irreverent British comedy about a socially awkward IT department duo and their
hapless manager was set in a London company’s basement. It was remade for American television by NBC
but cancelled after only six episodes aired. Which show was this?
gem that ran from 2006 to 2013. NBC’s American pilot was actually filmed with an almost entirely
different cast, though Richard Ayoade briefly reprised his role as Moss. The pilot was rejected by NBC
before even airing, and the remake never recovered — a fate that many fans of the original considered a
lucky escape.
workers was adapted by NBC, but the remake was so poorly received that the network didn’t even air the
episodes it had produced. Creator Graham Linehan was notably unhappy with the adaptation. The original
British series, starring Chris O’Dowd and Richard Ayoade, remains a fan favorite to this day.
Television
This long-running British panel game show, in which celebrity contestants are asked
to perform ridiculous tasks set by a stern taskmaster, was adapted for Comedy Central in the US in
2018. The American version was hosted by Reggie Watts and Ron Funches. What is the show?
the imperious Taskmaster and Alex Horne — who created the show — as his assistant. Comedy Central’s
American version launched in 2018 but was cancelled after one season, failing to capture the absurdist
charm of the British original. The UK version, however, continues to thrive and has spawned successful
versions across Scandinavia and beyond.
Davies with creator Alex Horne as his put-upon assistant, has been a massive hit since 2015. Comedy
Central tried to bring the format stateside in 2018 with Reggie Watts taking the throne, but the show
was cancelled after a single season. The British version went on to become one of the UK’s most beloved
panel shows.
Your Score
Thanks for playing!
It’s a chaotic, foul-mouthed, surprisingly tender portrait of a family trying to do right but scraping by on scams, grit, and questionable decisions. Start now, 134 episodes won’t watch themselves.
Network
Channel 4
Cast
William H. Macy, Jeremy Allen White, Ethan Cutkosky, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Emma Kenney, Cameron Monaghan, Emmy Rossum, Noel Fisher, Justin Chatwin
Showrunner
John Wells
Directors
John Wells
Writers
Paul Abbott
Producers
Charles Pattinson, Rob Glassborow, Claire Ingham, Michelle Frances, Johann Knobel, Jean Holdsworth, Tom Higgins, Tim Whitby, Susan Dunn, Paul Abbott, David Threlfall, Nick Goding, Matt Jones, Jonathan Leather, George Faber, Emma Burge, Ed McCardie, Diana Barton
Seasons
11
Story By
paul abbott
Streaming Service(s)
Manifest
The airplane mystery that fans dragged back from cancellation
Few shows owe Netflix a bigger debt than Manifest. Canceled (too soon!) by NBC in 2021 after just three seasons, Jeff Rake’s supernatural drama immediately topped the charts when it hit the streamer, prompting Netflix to revive the cult-hit series for a 20-episode final season, which achieved a respectable 88% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Manifest‘s premise is still one of TV’s best sci-fi mystery hooks—Montego Air Flight 828 hits some turbulence and lands safely. But then the passengers disembark, and a strange and impossible reality sets in: the world they’ve arrived in has aged more than five years, and their loved ones have mourned their deaths and moved on. Meanwhile, no one on board has aged a day, and soon they start experiencing weird, cryptic visions drawing them all toward a larger shared destiny.
The main cast includes siblings Michaela (Melissa Roxburgh, Star Trek Beyond) and Ben Stone (Josh Dallas, Once Upon a Time), an NYPD detective and college math professor (respectively), who lead the show’s search for answers. All four seasons (and an actual ending!) await.
Network
NBC, Netflix
Cast
Josh Dallas, Danielle Dallacco, Melissa Roxburgh, KeiLyn Durrel Jones, Athena Karkanis, J.R. Ramirez, Luna Blaise, Jack Messina, Parveen Kaur, Matt Long, Holly Taylor, Daryl Edwards, Ty Doran, Hunter Jones, Will Tomi, Christopher Piccione, Lynn Marocola, Ariana Jalia, Susan Pourfar, Colin Critchley, Jim True-Frost, Erika Rolfsrud, John Wojda, Thursday Farrar, Allyson Kaye Daniel
Showrunner
Michael Smith
Directors
Romeo Tirone, Michael Smith, Claudia Yarmy, Dean White, Marisol Adler, Craig Zisk, Joe Chappelle, Paul Holahan, Ramaa Mosley, SJ Main Muñoz, Sherwin Shilati, Andy Wolk, Bosede Williams, Cheryl Dunye, Constantine Makris, David Frankel, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jean de Segonzac, Laura Belsey, Millicent Shelton, Nathan Hope, Nicole Rubio, Ruba Nadda, Tawnia McKiernan
Writers
Jeff Rake, Laura Putney, Margaret Easley, MW Cartozian Wilson, Simran Baidwan, Matthew Lau, Ezra W. Nachman, Bobak Esfarjani, Marta Gene Camps, Darika Fuhrmann, Matt K. Turner, Sumerah Srivastav, Jeannine Renshaw, Amanda Green, Ryan Martinez, Margaret Rose Lester, Eric Haywood
Main Genre
Drama
Creator(s)
Jeff Rake
Producers
Robert Zemeckis
Seasons
4
Cinematographer
Story By
jeff rake
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix, Prime Video
Executive Producer(s)
Jack Rapke, Robert Zemeckis
Something new, a couple old
Whatever you load up first—the new thing or one of those excellent classics—be sure to hydrate, pace yourself, and get some fresh air between episodes. But in case none of these are your cuppa, How-To Geek’s streaming section has plenty more recommendations waiting.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
Two or four
Live TV
No
Price
Starting at $8/month
