Hulu Sets Chad Powers Season 2 for Sept. 3, Dropping All 6 Episodes at Once

Q: Which chaotic returning characters will completely derail Frank's upcoming wedding plans this season?

The characters teased as likely to throw Frank Reynolds’ wedding to Samantha into chaos are The Waitress, Gail the Snail, the McPoyles, Artemis, and Rickety Cricket. Additional trailer reporting also points to Uncle Jack as part of the wedding-day mayhem, with Dee introducing Samantha to Frank’s orbit of dysfunctional regulars before everything unravels. Broader coverage of the Season 18 trailer also mentions other returning side characters around the season, including Mrs. Mac and members of the McPoyle family such as Liam, Ryan and Pappy McPoyle. The disruption appears severe: the trailer suggests Samantha may die before the ceremony, with the wedding turning into something closer to a funeral. That makes the returning characters’ role less about ordinary comic interference and more about amplifying the usual “Sunny” disorder surrounding Frank’s attempt to get married.

Q: As suspicions mount on the field, what happens when the ultimate college football lie finally unravels?

When the lie unravels in “Chad Powers” Season 2, the fallout threatens both Russ Holliday’s disguise and the South Georgia Catfish’s playoff hopes. Hulu’s synopsis makes clear that Chad’s success on the field is offset by growing suspicion off it, especially from Coach Hudson and Gerry. As they start questioning Chad’s behavior, Russ’s long-running deception begins to collapse. That puts Russ and Danny in a race to keep Chad eligible and the Catfish alive in the College Football Playoff hunt. The key dramatic turn is that Ricky becomes essential. Although she is described as the person least willing to help, she is also the one Russ and Danny need most if they want to protect the secret long enough for Chad to survive the regular season. In other words, the unraveling of the “ultimate college football lie” appears to trigger a scramble inside the program, with trust, loyalty and team ambition all on the line. Season 2 premieres Sept. 3 on Hulu, with all six episodes released at once. Glen Powell returns as Russ Holliday/Chad Powers, joined by Perry Mattfeld as Ricky, Steve Zahn as Coach Hudson, Colton Ryan as Gerry and Frankie Rodriguez as Danny. The season’s central question is not whether suspicion exists, but whether Russ can hold the deception together long enough to carry the Catfish to the CFP.

Q: With a magical crown in play, could a beloved deceased character actually return for the final season?

Yes, the final-season trailer clearly wants viewers to think JJ Maybank could return, but there is no confirmed evidence that he actually does. The clue comes from Netflix’s newly released “Outer Banks” Season 5 trailer, which teases the Pogues’ hunt for the Blue Crown after JJ’s death in Morocco. In the footage, Kiara says the legend is that the crown “can bring back the dead,” directly raising the possibility of JJ’s resurrection. That is the source of the speculation. But the available evidence cuts the other way. Netflix’s official season description frames the story as the Pogues trying to avenge JJ, not recover him. Coverage tied to the trailer also notes there is “no current information” confirming Rudy Pankow’s return, and the announced farewell event cast lineup does not include him. Other reporting has said Pankow is not expected back as a regular presence following JJ’s death. So, at this stage, the most grounded reading is that the “magic crown” is a deliberate mystery and emotional hook for the final season, especially through Kiara’s grief. JJ could still appear in flashbacks, imagined scenes, or a tightly guarded cameo, but there is no verified sign that “Outer Banks” has truly shifted into a supernatural resurrection plot. Season 5, the show’s last, premieres Aug. 20 on Netflix with all 10 episodes.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 29

Sept. 3 is the return date for Hulu comedy "Chad Powers," with all six Season 2 episodes launching simultaneously instead of rolling out weekly.
First-look photos arrived with the announcement as the new season centers on Chad Powers' suspicious behavior and the growing risk that Russ' lie will be exposed.
Glen Powell returns in the dual role, joined by Steve Zahn, Colton Ryan, Frankie Rodriguez and Perry Matfield, whose Ricky becomes crucial to Chad's survival through the season.
"Chad Powers," a half-hour comedy from 20th Television based on ESPN's "Eli's Places," lands five days after the 2026 college football season begins and six days before the NFL regular season.