[Editor’s note: The below article was originally published on March 27, 2020. It has been expanded from the 50 greatest TV comedies of all time to 75, as of February 24, 2023.]
Comedy rules are made to be broken. If all laughter comes from some great psychological misdirect, then it follows that the funniest series are the ones that continue to take the unexpected routes.
But sometimes a comedy is memorable because of the rules that it inadvertently puts in place. Some foundational TV series have endured not because they were ratings or cultural juggernauts in their time, but because their spiritual descendants dotted programming lineups years — maybe even decades — after their cameras stopped rolling. As in other realms of entertainment, the TV comedies that endure and that are worth revisiting manage to speak to something brewing in their day and the audiences watching generations after. Sometimes it’s a matter of seeing how much the idea of good governance has changed since some starry-eyed optimists in Indiana closed up shop just a few years ago. Other times, it’s recognizing how...
Comedy rules are made to be broken. If all laughter comes from some great psychological misdirect, then it follows that the funniest series are the ones that continue to take the unexpected routes.
But sometimes a comedy is memorable because of the rules that it inadvertently puts in place. Some foundational TV series have endured not because they were ratings or cultural juggernauts in their time, but because their spiritual descendants dotted programming lineups years — maybe even decades — after their cameras stopped rolling. As in other realms of entertainment, the TV comedies that endure and that are worth revisiting manage to speak to something brewing in their day and the audiences watching generations after. Sometimes it’s a matter of seeing how much the idea of good governance has changed since some starry-eyed optimists in Indiana closed up shop just a few years ago. Other times, it’s recognizing how...
- 2/25/2023
- by Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The Dutton drama continues this summer when “Yellowstone” Season 5 returns.
The latest teaser for the second part of the latest season shows John Dutton (Kevin Costner) whipping his ranchers into shape as tensions mount with son Jamie (Wes Bentley), daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly), and Kayce (Luke Grimes). Created by mega-showrunner and Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan in 2018, “Yellowstone” has since spawned two prequels — “1883” and “1923” — and has shattered records at Paramount Network and Paramount+.
The official logline reads: “Yellowstone” chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.
Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham also round out the Season 5 cast,...
The latest teaser for the second part of the latest season shows John Dutton (Kevin Costner) whipping his ranchers into shape as tensions mount with son Jamie (Wes Bentley), daughter Beth (Kelly Reilly), and Kayce (Luke Grimes). Created by mega-showrunner and Oscar nominee Taylor Sheridan in 2018, “Yellowstone” has since spawned two prequels — “1883” and “1923” — and has shattered records at Paramount Network and Paramount+.
The official logline reads: “Yellowstone” chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton, who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States. Amid shifting alliances, unsolved murders, open wounds, and hard-earned respect – the ranch is in constant conflict with those it borders – an expanding town, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park.
Cole Hauser, Kelsey Asbille, Brecken Merrill, Forrie Smith, Denim Richards, Ian Bohen, Finn Little, Ryan Bingham and Gil Birmingham also round out the Season 5 cast,...
- 1/2/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Everybody’s favorite cannibalistic soccer team is staying stranded in the woods for a little longer. “Yellowjackets” has been renewed for a third season, Showtime announced Thursday.
The news comes more than three months before the thriller series returns for Season 2 on March 26. The series, which comes from creators and married couple Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, proved a breakout success for the premium cable channel when it premiered in November 2021, averaging over five million viewers per episode and getting a Season 2 renewal five episodes into the season.
“With ‘Yellowjackets’ runaway success in Season 1 and the pent-up anticipation for Season 2, we wanted to maximize the momentum by fast-tracking Season 3 now,” Showtime President Chris McCarthy said in a statement. “The show’s ambition is only exceeded by its execution, and I thank the incredible creative team behind it, including Ashley, Bart, Jonathan, eOne and the Showtime team, for turning this into such a success.
The news comes more than three months before the thriller series returns for Season 2 on March 26. The series, which comes from creators and married couple Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, proved a breakout success for the premium cable channel when it premiered in November 2021, averaging over five million viewers per episode and getting a Season 2 renewal five episodes into the season.
“With ‘Yellowjackets’ runaway success in Season 1 and the pent-up anticipation for Season 2, we wanted to maximize the momentum by fast-tracking Season 3 now,” Showtime President Chris McCarthy said in a statement. “The show’s ambition is only exceeded by its execution, and I thank the incredible creative team behind it, including Ashley, Bart, Jonathan, eOne and the Showtime team, for turning this into such a success.
- 12/15/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
“You must, in fact, stand before the public and God and obliterate yourself.” So suggests Cate Blanchett’s Lydia Tár, in one of the great and most thematically controversial scenes of “TÁR,” about how performers and practitioners of the arts should set aside their identities in service of a greater good: the Art Itself, in spite of the artist themselves.
Things for an artist of Lydia Tár’s standing certainly don’t turn out so well in her favor, sure, and while we don’t necessarily endorse her statement, it could be applied to this year’s best performers onscreen — they stand before a certain public (the movie- or TV-going audience) and they obliterate themselves (in the hope of a performance good enough to move people).
Each year of exceptional film and television brings another batch of indelible performances, many of which become synonymous with the movie or series itself.
Things for an artist of Lydia Tár’s standing certainly don’t turn out so well in her favor, sure, and while we don’t necessarily endorse her statement, it could be applied to this year’s best performers onscreen — they stand before a certain public (the movie- or TV-going audience) and they obliterate themselves (in the hope of a performance good enough to move people).
Each year of exceptional film and television brings another batch of indelible performances, many of which become synonymous with the movie or series itself.
- 12/6/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio and Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
Choosing the best TV episodes is very different from choosing the best TV.
The best episodes might be outstanding hours of shows that fluctuate in quality, or a pivotal character moment or story beat that contextualizes everything else. Sometimes the best episode is part of an almost embarrassing bounty — just one of many consistently brilliant installments in a TV show that blew away both audiences and critics.
IndieWire’s look at the best TV episodes of 2022 is all those things, populated by our usual suspects of top 2022 TV as well as hours we couldn’t forget and shows we gladly binged in a weekend. There is drama, there is comedy, there is literal “Euphoria.” This list has it all. What it doesn’t have, however, is more than one episode from the same show, in an effort to spread the wealth.
Here are the best TV episodes of 2022 so far,...
The best episodes might be outstanding hours of shows that fluctuate in quality, or a pivotal character moment or story beat that contextualizes everything else. Sometimes the best episode is part of an almost embarrassing bounty — just one of many consistently brilliant installments in a TV show that blew away both audiences and critics.
IndieWire’s look at the best TV episodes of 2022 is all those things, populated by our usual suspects of top 2022 TV as well as hours we couldn’t forget and shows we gladly binged in a weekend. There is drama, there is comedy, there is literal “Euphoria.” This list has it all. What it doesn’t have, however, is more than one episode from the same show, in an effort to spread the wealth.
Here are the best TV episodes of 2022 so far,...
- 11/30/2022
- by Proma Khosla and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Welcome, one and all, to the latest episode of The Film Stage Show! Today, Brian Roan, Bill Graham, and Robyn Bahr are joined by Kristen Lopez to discuss Andrew Dominik’s Blonde, which is now on Netflix.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to see or one you...
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to see or one you...
- 10/21/2022
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
Halloween is the season for horror, of course. But October also means fall TV is in full swing, so it’s also the season for comedy, animation, drama, and more. TV shows of all kinds honor this spooky time of year, be it through explicit celebrations of the season or more abstract explorations of dark themes like existential dread, societal corruption, and the hubris of humanity.
Instead of just binging television horror this season — “Yellowjackets” is for winter! — why not truly frighten yourself with scary episodes of (generally) non-scary shows? “Black Mirror” regularly borders on nightmarish, but falls squarely into the sci-fi category, and still one episode haunts us like the scariest movies do. “Chernobyl” recounts real-world horror, which makes it a historical drama, but we’d argue that Episode 4 is a haunting on par with Mike Flanagan’s “Hill House.” Even comedies like “Boy Meets World” and “American Vandal...
Instead of just binging television horror this season — “Yellowjackets” is for winter! — why not truly frighten yourself with scary episodes of (generally) non-scary shows? “Black Mirror” regularly borders on nightmarish, but falls squarely into the sci-fi category, and still one episode haunts us like the scariest movies do. “Chernobyl” recounts real-world horror, which makes it a historical drama, but we’d argue that Episode 4 is a haunting on par with Mike Flanagan’s “Hill House.” Even comedies like “Boy Meets World” and “American Vandal...
- 10/18/2022
- by Proma Khosla and Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
If Jared Pedalecki and Jensen Ackles were the heartthrobs of The CW, Mark Pedowitz was its heartbeat.
When Nexstar announced its completed acquisition of (75 percent of) The CW on Monday, it installed board member Dennis Miller, a venture capitalist with executive stints at Sony, Lionsgate, and Turner, as the broadcast network’s new president. Pedowitz, who was chairman and CEO of the youth-skewing broadcast network for the past 11 years is out; he’ll stay in the game via the revival of his former production company.
Though The CW never quite soared like so many of its DC superheroes, the decade-plus under Pedowitz had its moments — and its misses. IndieWire looks back on both below.
With additional reporting by Erin Strecker, Christian Blauvelt, Ben Travers, and Kristen Lopez.
The Upn Holdovers
As Time Warner launched the CW, it joined with CBS to shut down the United Paramount Network, which ran from...
When Nexstar announced its completed acquisition of (75 percent of) The CW on Monday, it installed board member Dennis Miller, a venture capitalist with executive stints at Sony, Lionsgate, and Turner, as the broadcast network’s new president. Pedowitz, who was chairman and CEO of the youth-skewing broadcast network for the past 11 years is out; he’ll stay in the game via the revival of his former production company.
Though The CW never quite soared like so many of its DC superheroes, the decade-plus under Pedowitz had its moments — and its misses. IndieWire looks back on both below.
With additional reporting by Erin Strecker, Christian Blauvelt, Ben Travers, and Kristen Lopez.
The Upn Holdovers
As Time Warner launched the CW, it joined with CBS to shut down the United Paramount Network, which ran from...
- 10/3/2022
- by Alison Foreman, Tony Maglio and Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
From being born Norma Jean on the east side of Los Angeles to dying as Marilyn Monroe alone in her bedroom at Fifth Helena Drive in Brentwood, the screen siren lived a lot of life. But she was also much more than the studio pin-up Hollywood pegged her to be. Andrew Dominik’s “Blonde” doesn’t exactly make the case for her radiance and wit so much as it suggests she was an actress who was relentlessly exploited by her peers, by her partners, and by her audience.
We at IndieWire all have wildly varied takes on “Blonde,” whether as a “miserable portrait that only further tarnishes the star” to a hijacking of Marilyn Monroe’s legacy to make an “anti-choice statement.” But one point we can all agree on: Monroe was both a star and a serious actress, and we want to make the case for 10 of her finest...
We at IndieWire all have wildly varied takes on “Blonde,” whether as a “miserable portrait that only further tarnishes the star” to a hijacking of Marilyn Monroe’s legacy to make an “anti-choice statement.” But one point we can all agree on: Monroe was both a star and a serious actress, and we want to make the case for 10 of her finest...
- 9/26/2022
- by Ryan Lattanzio and Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Armie Hammer’s fall from grace is the subject of “House of Hammer,” a new three-part documentary from Elli Hakami and Julian Hobbs. The actor, who once headlined films like “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “Call Me By Your Name,” is now reportedly working as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands following multiple allegations that he attempted to coerce women into performing disturbing sexual acts. His interest in cannibalism and alleged request to eat a woman’s ribs has received the most attention in pop culture, but the allegations all fit together to form a pattern of abusive behavior.
The accusations began to snowball in 2021 after Effie, a 26-year-old European woman identified only by her first name, accused Hammer of rape in a news conference held by her lawyer. (Hammer’s attorney denied the claims.) But while Effie wants to see Hammer brought to justice, that doesn’t mean...
The accusations began to snowball in 2021 after Effie, a 26-year-old European woman identified only by her first name, accused Hammer of rape in a news conference held by her lawyer. (Hammer’s attorney denied the claims.) But while Effie wants to see Hammer brought to justice, that doesn’t mean...
- 9/3/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
A handful of Hollywood Critics Association (Hca) members, including Variety’s senior awards editor Clayton Davis and two other Variety journalists, have resigned from the fledgling awards body over the expulsion of a critic who raised questions about the group’s financial status, fundraising distribution and operations — then took her complaints public.
An individual with knowledge of the resignations told TheWrap that Davis along with senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay and red carpet reporter Angelique Jackson all resigned from the Hca. Kristen Lopez, a TV editor with IndieWire, also announced on Twitter that she resigned from the group.
The dustup has created a rift both within and without the Hca, which evolved from the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society. The org, now with more than 100 members, was created in 2016 as a place to include bloggers, YouTubers and other multimedia journalists not affiliated with mainstream outlets — a group that’s...
An individual with knowledge of the resignations told TheWrap that Davis along with senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay and red carpet reporter Angelique Jackson all resigned from the Hca. Kristen Lopez, a TV editor with IndieWire, also announced on Twitter that she resigned from the group.
The dustup has created a rift both within and without the Hca, which evolved from the Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society. The org, now with more than 100 members, was created in 2016 as a place to include bloggers, YouTubers and other multimedia journalists not affiliated with mainstream outlets — a group that’s...
- 8/25/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Andie MacDowell on track to receive first career Emmy nomination thanks to heartbreaking ‘Maid’ role
Andie MacDowell finally has her first chance at an Emmy nomination for Best Movie/Limited Supporting Actress for her performance as Paula Langley in Netflix’s “Maid.”
The 10-episode series tells of Alex, played by MacDowell’s real-life daughter Margaret Qualley, who leaves an abusive relationship and becomes a maid to make a better life for her and her daughter Maddy. MacDowell plays Alex’s bipolar mother Paula, an artist struggling to make ends meet. She has been strong in films like “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” “Groundhog Day” and “Ready or Not,” but her supporting performance in “Maid” is one of her finest, allowing her to blend vulnerability, joy and intense emotional rage. As Lucy Mangan says at The Guardian, the role of Paula is “gradually fleshed out and always played and treated with sympathy.” Emmy voters, take notice.
SEEAndie MacDowell interview: ‘Maid’
When we’re first introduced to Paula in the series premiere episode,...
The 10-episode series tells of Alex, played by MacDowell’s real-life daughter Margaret Qualley, who leaves an abusive relationship and becomes a maid to make a better life for her and her daughter Maddy. MacDowell plays Alex’s bipolar mother Paula, an artist struggling to make ends meet. She has been strong in films like “Sex, Lies, and Videotape,” “Groundhog Day” and “Ready or Not,” but her supporting performance in “Maid” is one of her finest, allowing her to blend vulnerability, joy and intense emotional rage. As Lucy Mangan says at The Guardian, the role of Paula is “gradually fleshed out and always played and treated with sympathy.” Emmy voters, take notice.
SEEAndie MacDowell interview: ‘Maid’
When we’re first introduced to Paula in the series premiere episode,...
- 6/14/2022
- by Brian Rowe
- Gold Derby
Tom Hanks has cracked “The Da Vinci Code”…and dubbed it “hooey.”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Oscar winner Hanks called the Ron Howard-helmed trilogy “as cynical as a crossword puzzle” and an outrageous adventure story ripe for the box office. The franchise kicked off in 2006 before spurring two sequels, “Angels & Demons” and “Inferno.”
“God, that was a commercial enterprise,” Hanks said. “Yeah, those Robert Langdon sequels are hooey. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ was hooey.”
Hanks continued, “I mean, [author] Dan Brown, God bless him, says, ‘Here is a sculpture in a place in Paris! No, it’s way over there. See how a cross is formed on a map? Well, it’s sort of a cross.’ Those are delightful scavenger hunts that are about as accurate to history as the James Bond movies are to espionage…All we were doing is promising a diversion.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Oscar winner Hanks called the Ron Howard-helmed trilogy “as cynical as a crossword puzzle” and an outrageous adventure story ripe for the box office. The franchise kicked off in 2006 before spurring two sequels, “Angels & Demons” and “Inferno.”
“God, that was a commercial enterprise,” Hanks said. “Yeah, those Robert Langdon sequels are hooey. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ was hooey.”
Hanks continued, “I mean, [author] Dan Brown, God bless him, says, ‘Here is a sculpture in a place in Paris! No, it’s way over there. See how a cross is formed on a map? Well, it’s sort of a cross.’ Those are delightful scavenger hunts that are about as accurate to history as the James Bond movies are to espionage…All we were doing is promising a diversion.
- 6/13/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Two women, hundreds of cows, and one wide-open landscape: The documentary “Bitterbrush” follows cattle ranchers Hollyn Patterson and Colie Moline as they spend their last summer herding cattle in remote Idaho. IndieWire exclusively premieres the trailer, below.
Off the grid with only their dogs (and horses and cows) as companions, Hollyn and Colie look toward their next steps, with dreams of owning their own ranch someday dwarfed by the money, tenacity, and grit necessary to fund their own futures.
Emelie Mahdavian (“After the Curtain”) directs the feature film, which premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival. “Bitterbrush” premieres in theaters on June 17, followed by a VOD release on June 24. The feature is distributed by Magnolia Pictures.
“Bitterbrush” was deemed an “under-the-radar documentary gem” by IndieWire’s Eric Kohn coming out of Telluride. Director Mahdavian’s non-fiction study of the stereotypical cowboy genre through the eyes of two cowgirls challenges the archetypes for the Western genre,...
Off the grid with only their dogs (and horses and cows) as companions, Hollyn and Colie look toward their next steps, with dreams of owning their own ranch someday dwarfed by the money, tenacity, and grit necessary to fund their own futures.
Emelie Mahdavian (“After the Curtain”) directs the feature film, which premiered at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival. “Bitterbrush” premieres in theaters on June 17, followed by a VOD release on June 24. The feature is distributed by Magnolia Pictures.
“Bitterbrush” was deemed an “under-the-radar documentary gem” by IndieWire’s Eric Kohn coming out of Telluride. Director Mahdavian’s non-fiction study of the stereotypical cowboy genre through the eyes of two cowgirls challenges the archetypes for the Western genre,...
- 5/10/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Oscar winner Viola Davis knew that transforming into modern icon Michelle Obama for Showtime’s “The First Lady” would be a challenge.
The “How to Get Away with Murder” alum called the role “almost impossible” to perfect, from facial expressions and mannerisms easily comparable to the real-life former (and living) First Lady — more so than co-star Michelle Pfeiffer or Gillian Anderson’s respective portrayals of the late Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt.
“People know how they walk, how they talk and how they hold their pearls, so it’s very difficult,” Davis said of playing Obama opposite co-star O-t Fagbenle as Barack Obama during an interview with BBC. She said that, when it comes to playing Michelle Obama, “either you’re doing too much or not enough.”
Amid online barbs, Davis went on to clap back at viewers on social media who have dubbed her performance “cringey.”
“They always feel...
The “How to Get Away with Murder” alum called the role “almost impossible” to perfect, from facial expressions and mannerisms easily comparable to the real-life former (and living) First Lady — more so than co-star Michelle Pfeiffer or Gillian Anderson’s respective portrayals of the late Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt.
“People know how they walk, how they talk and how they hold their pearls, so it’s very difficult,” Davis said of playing Obama opposite co-star O-t Fagbenle as Barack Obama during an interview with BBC. She said that, when it comes to playing Michelle Obama, “either you’re doing too much or not enough.”
Amid online barbs, Davis went on to clap back at viewers on social media who have dubbed her performance “cringey.”
“They always feel...
- 4/26/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Seven months, three countries, and one scared flier: That certainly sounds like the makings of a jet-setting thriller.
“The Flight Attendant” star Rosie Perez revealed during “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” April 18 that she wasn’t sure about signing on to the Emmy-nominated HBO Max series.
“When I first read it, I said, ‘This is a weird show,'” Perez said. “And I turned it down because I don’t like traveling. I hate flying.”
But ahead of Season 2, which premieres April 21, Perez noted that she is definitely happy she is part of the cast. “I’m glad that I said yes,” she added. “First day, first scene, out the bag, I said, ‘This is going to be a hit.'”
Aside from her travel concerns, Perez opened up about just how rare of a role “The Flight Attendant” offered her.
“It was special because in Hollywood, they don’t allow women to age,...
“The Flight Attendant” star Rosie Perez revealed during “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” April 18 that she wasn’t sure about signing on to the Emmy-nominated HBO Max series.
“When I first read it, I said, ‘This is a weird show,'” Perez said. “And I turned it down because I don’t like traveling. I hate flying.”
But ahead of Season 2, which premieres April 21, Perez noted that she is definitely happy she is part of the cast. “I’m glad that I said yes,” she added. “First day, first scene, out the bag, I said, ‘This is going to be a hit.'”
Aside from her travel concerns, Perez opened up about just how rare of a role “The Flight Attendant” offered her.
“It was special because in Hollywood, they don’t allow women to age,...
- 4/20/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
It’s never too late to become a star.
Peacock’s hit musical series “Girls5Eva” returns for Season 2 May 5, with Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Gloria (Paula Pell), and Summer (Busy Philipps) trying for a second chance at stardom as fictional ’90s pop group Girls5Eva. Check out the trailer below.
The girl group set out to become a “two-hit wonder” band as Dawn is tasked with penning an entire (and “undeniable”) album in just six weeks.
“Season 2 of ‘Girls5eva’ answers the simple question: What would happen if ‘Girls5eva’ was renewed for a second season?” the meta plot description reads. “We are so excited to share the next chapter in Dawn, Wickie, Gloria, and Summer’s journey as they enter ‘Album Mode’ and embark on making their first studio album on their own terms.”
Andrew Rannells reprises his role as Summer’s husband, with Tim Meadows, Judy Gold,...
Peacock’s hit musical series “Girls5Eva” returns for Season 2 May 5, with Dawn (Sara Bareilles), Wickie (Renée Elise Goldsberry), Gloria (Paula Pell), and Summer (Busy Philipps) trying for a second chance at stardom as fictional ’90s pop group Girls5Eva. Check out the trailer below.
The girl group set out to become a “two-hit wonder” band as Dawn is tasked with penning an entire (and “undeniable”) album in just six weeks.
“Season 2 of ‘Girls5eva’ answers the simple question: What would happen if ‘Girls5eva’ was renewed for a second season?” the meta plot description reads. “We are so excited to share the next chapter in Dawn, Wickie, Gloria, and Summer’s journey as they enter ‘Album Mode’ and embark on making their first studio album on their own terms.”
Andrew Rannells reprises his role as Summer’s husband, with Tim Meadows, Judy Gold,...
- 4/12/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
“Bridgerton” Season 2 has been getting slammed with criticisms for being “sexless” but the show’s intimacy coordinator begs to differ…at least, with the number of scenes that were originally in the season.
Sure, the cast confirmed that the tense love story between Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and newcomer Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) would center on the “female gaze,” but what exactly were female viewers (any viewers) gazing at?
IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez wrote that the second installment of the hit Netflix series feels “watered down” in an effort to please a wider audience — minus those in the mood for a steamy romance. “Gone is the sexiness in favor of a more chaste series that almost everyone can watch together,” Lopez wrote.
Vanity Fair ran an article titled “Where Did All the Sex Go in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2?” and Shondaland fans took to social media to share their split take on...
Sure, the cast confirmed that the tense love story between Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and newcomer Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley) would center on the “female gaze,” but what exactly were female viewers (any viewers) gazing at?
IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez wrote that the second installment of the hit Netflix series feels “watered down” in an effort to please a wider audience — minus those in the mood for a steamy romance. “Gone is the sexiness in favor of a more chaste series that almost everyone can watch together,” Lopez wrote.
Vanity Fair ran an article titled “Where Did All the Sex Go in ‘Bridgerton’ Season 2?” and Shondaland fans took to social media to share their split take on...
- 4/7/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Evan Rachel Wood has a message for audiences: “I’m here today to talk about Brian Warner, also known to the world as Marilyn Manson,” the actress-turned-activist says in the trailer for two-part HBO documentary “Phoenix Rising,” directed by Amy Berg.
The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and, per an official HBO synopsis, the documentary captures Wood’s “experience as a survivor of domestic violence to pursue justice, heal generational wounds and reclaim her story” after escaping a dangerous, almost decade-long relationship.
Wood co-authored and successfully lobbied for passage of The Phoenix Act, state legislation that extends the statute of limitations for domestic violence cases in California.
The trailer includes Wood’s friends and family, including mother Sara Lynn Moore, who alleged that Wood’s former partner Marilyn Manson “groomed her” and was a “predator.”
Wood revealed that she was “essentially raped on camera” while filming Manson’s 2007 music video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses.
The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and, per an official HBO synopsis, the documentary captures Wood’s “experience as a survivor of domestic violence to pursue justice, heal generational wounds and reclaim her story” after escaping a dangerous, almost decade-long relationship.
Wood co-authored and successfully lobbied for passage of The Phoenix Act, state legislation that extends the statute of limitations for domestic violence cases in California.
The trailer includes Wood’s friends and family, including mother Sara Lynn Moore, who alleged that Wood’s former partner Marilyn Manson “groomed her” and was a “predator.”
Wood revealed that she was “essentially raped on camera” while filming Manson’s 2007 music video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses.
- 2/22/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
[This post originally appeared as part of Recommendation Machine, IndieWire’s daily TV picks feature.]
Where to Watch ‘Y: The Last Man’: Hulu
Sometimes, the world ends on TV at a gradual pace. Things start to turn bad bit by bit until very little seems recognizable. But “Y: The Last Man” didn’t so much boil slowly the proverbial frog as much as it flash seared it in a giant pool of lava.
2021 was a pandemic year on screen, too, as evidenced by the ever-growing roster of shows charting the arrival and aftermath of a mysterious virus. The end of the “Y: The Last Man” premiere has maybe the most brutal depiction of one of those biological forces ripping through society. There’s barely a chance for overseas rumblings to make it back to the Presidential stronghold before people in the room start dropping to swift, bloody deaths.
The show’s mostly linear approach to following Yorick (Ben Schnetzer...
Where to Watch ‘Y: The Last Man’: Hulu
Sometimes, the world ends on TV at a gradual pace. Things start to turn bad bit by bit until very little seems recognizable. But “Y: The Last Man” didn’t so much boil slowly the proverbial frog as much as it flash seared it in a giant pool of lava.
2021 was a pandemic year on screen, too, as evidenced by the ever-growing roster of shows charting the arrival and aftermath of a mysterious virus. The end of the “Y: The Last Man” premiere has maybe the most brutal depiction of one of those biological forces ripping through society. There’s barely a chance for overseas rumblings to make it back to the Presidential stronghold before people in the room start dropping to swift, bloody deaths.
The show’s mostly linear approach to following Yorick (Ben Schnetzer...
- 1/3/2022
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
So uncertainty ruled our lives once again in 2021, to the point that making predictions about anything seems a fruitless endeavor. Due to pandemic production delays and scheduling shifts, last year’s list of the most anticipated TV to come featured a few shows that indeed did not materialize in 2021: “Atlanta” Season 3, “Ozark” Season 4, “Barry” Season 3. Well, at least “Ozark” is debuting in January 2022!
This year, we’re taking a different approach: We’re leaving returning shows off this list and just focusing on the all-new series heading our way. At least half of these programs have already been given release dates, but perhaps 12 months from now we’ll be lamenting the other half being pushed to 2023. But we can hope that this televisual bounty will still await us in the year ahead.
In alphabetical order, here are the shows IndieWire is most hoping to see in 2022.
Libby Hill, Kristen Lopez,...
This year, we’re taking a different approach: We’re leaving returning shows off this list and just focusing on the all-new series heading our way. At least half of these programs have already been given release dates, but perhaps 12 months from now we’ll be lamenting the other half being pushed to 2023. But we can hope that this televisual bounty will still await us in the year ahead.
In alphabetical order, here are the shows IndieWire is most hoping to see in 2022.
Libby Hill, Kristen Lopez,...
- 12/27/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
It’s IndieWire’s now-familiar – and still very true – reframe: anyone who thinks this year (read: any year) has been bad for movies simply hasn’t seen enough of them. While the 2021 landscape looked a fair bit different than that of 2020 – for one thing, in-person festival attendance and theater-going returned, if cautiously and with plenty of new protocols – the ability to see films beyond the big screen has only continued apace. And while many might bemoan the degradation of the “movie-going experience,” no matter how you saw the best of this year’s beefy batch, it was worth it.
Look no further than our top two films, both new offerings from some of contemporary cinema’s most enduring and exciting auteurs, for proof that the delivery service is hardly as important as the art being, well, delivered. Jane Campion’s masterful, menacing “The Power of the Dog” premiered at Venice,...
Look no further than our top two films, both new offerings from some of contemporary cinema’s most enduring and exciting auteurs, for proof that the delivery service is hardly as important as the art being, well, delivered. Jane Campion’s masterful, menacing “The Power of the Dog” premiered at Venice,...
- 12/2/2021
- by David Ehrlich, Kate Erbland and Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
The Best New TV Series of 2021 — What to Watch for Years to Come, from ‘Acapulco’ to ‘Yellowjackets’
One of the best aspects of television is its ability to tell long-lasting stories. Whether they’re episodic or serialized, TV series invite us to visit again and again, for years on end, as characters grow, stories develop, and ideas proliferate. If you’re lucky, a cherished TV show can last through the awkwardness of adolescence, the glory days of high school, or even mature along with you into middle-age. Not everything has to last that long and all stories must end, but some of the most beloved programs can lull us into believing they never will.
With that unique attribute in mind, IndieWire has assembled the best new series on TV in 2021 — not limited series, not one-and-done specials, and not “six-hour movies”. These are the new shows that you can look forward to watching season after season, for years to come. We’ve got nothing against short-term treats like “Mare of Easttown” and “Maid,...
With that unique attribute in mind, IndieWire has assembled the best new series on TV in 2021 — not limited series, not one-and-done specials, and not “six-hour movies”. These are the new shows that you can look forward to watching season after season, for years to come. We’ve got nothing against short-term treats like “Mare of Easttown” and “Maid,...
- 11/30/2021
- by Ben Travers and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Few shows exploded on such a love-it-or-hate-it level during the pandemic in 2020 as “Emily in Paris,” the Lily Collins—starring romance series from “Sex and the City” and “Younger” creator Darren Star. The series struck out with critics (IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez awarded the show a D grade in her review) but became a viral sensation on social media, thanks in part to “Sex and the City” costume designer Patricia Field’s designs and many of the show’s ludicrous plot elements (look no further than Emily’s insane viral Instagram posts). To the shock of many, “Emily in Paris” picked up Best Comedy Series nominations at both the Golden Globes and the Primetime Emmy Awards. Now the show is returning as confident and shameless as ever for Season 2 in December.
Netflix’s official synopsis for “Emily in Paris” Season 2 reads: “Now more entrenched in her life in Paris, Emily...
Netflix’s official synopsis for “Emily in Paris” Season 2 reads: “Now more entrenched in her life in Paris, Emily...
- 11/18/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
There’s something inherently seductive about the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood. Perhaps it’s the backstage intrigue and the tawdry tales of showbusiness hedonism that draws us in again and again. Or maybe it’s the romanticized image of smokey rooms, silken gowns and stylish fedoras that we find so endlessly alluring. For many, however, it’s the larger-than-life figures from silver screen history that remain irresistible decades later.
Whatever the reason, films, books and television shows about Hollywood’s Golden Age continue to captivate new generations year after year. Look no further than Oscar-winners like “The Artist,” bestsellers like Shawn Levy’s “The Castle on Sunset,” acclaimed documentaries like “Tab Hunter Confidential,” and a host of recent TV series from Ryan Murphy if you have any doubt. Each of these attempt, in some way, to simultaneously celebrate the era while pulling back the curtain on the studio system.
Whatever the reason, films, books and television shows about Hollywood’s Golden Age continue to captivate new generations year after year. Look no further than Oscar-winners like “The Artist,” bestsellers like Shawn Levy’s “The Castle on Sunset,” acclaimed documentaries like “Tab Hunter Confidential,” and a host of recent TV series from Ryan Murphy if you have any doubt. Each of these attempt, in some way, to simultaneously celebrate the era while pulling back the curtain on the studio system.
- 11/16/2021
- by Matthew Chernov
- Variety Film + TV
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSDario Argento's Dark GlassesFollowing his appearance in Gaspar Noé's Vortex, Dario Argento returns to directing with Dark Glasses, his first feature since Dracula 3D (2012). Starring Asia Argento and Andrea Zhang, the thriller follows a serial killer, a blind sex worker, and a 10-year-old Chinese boy in Rome's Chinese community. John Woo is also set to make a return to Hollywood with Silent Night, a "no dialogue" action film about a father (played by Joel Kinnaman) who seeks to avenge his son's death. Film Labs, a "worldwide network of artist-run film laboratories," now has a new website! The website includes more than 500 films made at artist-run film labs from Vancouver to South Korea, as well as technical resources and distribution information. Dancer, choreographer, theatrical director, and filmmaker Wakefield Poole has died. A pioneer of the gay pornography industry,...
- 11/3/2021
- MUBI
Rotten Tomatoes on Tuesday launched a new online educational program designed to support aspiring and up-and-coming entertainment critics in their career development. The program, Rt Labs, will include recorded panel discussions and classes with industry experts rolled out on a quarterly basis by the movie-review aggregator.
The first installment of “Rt Labs: Critics Edition,” the first in a two-part series focused on the ins and outs of self-publishing, launches Tuesday. It features moderator Sharronda Williams, producer and host of the YouTube channel “Pay or Wait,” and panelists Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch), Robert Daniels (freelance critic), Li Lai (Mediaversity), and IndieWire’s own Kristen Lopez. In it, the group reviews industry best practices and covers branding, platform management and budget, editorial oversight, and more. The follow-up panel will address networking, hiring contributors, and transitioning from self-publishing to freelancing.
“At Rotten Tomatoes, we remain committed to amplifying diverse voices and supporting the next...
The first installment of “Rt Labs: Critics Edition,” the first in a two-part series focused on the ins and outs of self-publishing, launches Tuesday. It features moderator Sharronda Williams, producer and host of the YouTube channel “Pay or Wait,” and panelists Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch), Robert Daniels (freelance critic), Li Lai (Mediaversity), and IndieWire’s own Kristen Lopez. In it, the group reviews industry best practices and covers branding, platform management and budget, editorial oversight, and more. The follow-up panel will address networking, hiring contributors, and transitioning from self-publishing to freelancing.
“At Rotten Tomatoes, we remain committed to amplifying diverse voices and supporting the next...
- 8/24/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
As the company’s next step in cultivating diverse critical voices, Rotten Tomatoes is launching its new “Rt Labs” online educational resource program for aspiring entertainment critics, the company said Tuesday.
Rotten Tomatoes said in statement that the program will include recorded panel discussions and classes with industry experts rolled out on a quarterly basis. Rt Lab video content will be published on Rotten Tomatoes and accessible under the “Critics” tab. The program material is available free of charge.
Rotten Tomatoes — known for its “tomatometer” freshness scores for movies, TV and streamed programming based on aggregated critical reviews — launches Tuesday with its first two videos that focus on self-publishing with moderator Sharronda Williams, who is producer and host of the YouTube channel “Pay or Wait.” Guests include Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch), freelance critic Robert Daniels, Li Lai (Mediaversity) and Kristen Lopez (IndieWire).
In December 2020, Rotten Tomatoes revamped its Top Critics program,...
Rotten Tomatoes said in statement that the program will include recorded panel discussions and classes with industry experts rolled out on a quarterly basis. Rt Lab video content will be published on Rotten Tomatoes and accessible under the “Critics” tab. The program material is available free of charge.
Rotten Tomatoes — known for its “tomatometer” freshness scores for movies, TV and streamed programming based on aggregated critical reviews — launches Tuesday with its first two videos that focus on self-publishing with moderator Sharronda Williams, who is producer and host of the YouTube channel “Pay or Wait.” Guests include Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch), freelance critic Robert Daniels, Li Lai (Mediaversity) and Kristen Lopez (IndieWire).
In December 2020, Rotten Tomatoes revamped its Top Critics program,...
- 8/24/2021
- by Diane Haithman
- The Wrap
Welcome, one and all, to the latest episode of The Film Stage Show! Today, Brian Roan, Bill Graham, and Robyn Bahr are joined by Kristen Lopez to discuss Siân Heder’s Coda, which is now in theaters and on Apple TV+.
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to...
Enter our giveaways, get access to our private Slack channel, and support new episodes by becoming a Patreon contributor. For a limited time, all new Patreon supporters will receive a free Blu-ray/DVD. After becoming a contributor, e-mail podcast@thefilmstage.com for an up-to-date list of available films.
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or stream below.
The Film Stage Show is supported by Mubi, a curated streaming service showcasing exceptional films from around the globe. Every day, Mubi premieres a new film. Whether it’s a timeless classic, a cult favorite, or an acclaimed masterpiece — it’s guaranteed to be either a movie you’ve been dying to...
- 8/18/2021
- by Brian Roan
- The Film Stage
The annual Southern California Journalism Awards have recognized IndieWire’s overall website, plus film features, television criticism, and multimedia, with six nominations. Each year, the Los Angeles Press Club presents its annual awards to “support, promote, and defend quality journalism in Southern California.” Nominations include news feature, obituary, television criticism, and multimedia. IndieWire is also nominated in the “website, news organization exclusive to the internet” category, which recognizes the entire staff.
Deputy editor TV and TV critic Ben Travers was nominated in the Criticism of TV category, with his reviews of “Ted Lasso,” “City So Real,” and “Ratched” earning particular attention. Also on the TV side, deputy editor Film and TV Craft Chris O’Falt, creative producer Leonardo Adrian Garcia, TV editor Kristen Lopez, associate editor TV Steve Greene, and craft and animation editor Bill Desowitz were nominated for best Multimedia Package for their work on “IndieWire Influencers: TV.”
Executive editor...
Deputy editor TV and TV critic Ben Travers was nominated in the Criticism of TV category, with his reviews of “Ted Lasso,” “City So Real,” and “Ratched” earning particular attention. Also on the TV side, deputy editor Film and TV Craft Chris O’Falt, creative producer Leonardo Adrian Garcia, TV editor Kristen Lopez, associate editor TV Steve Greene, and craft and animation editor Bill Desowitz were nominated for best Multimedia Package for their work on “IndieWire Influencers: TV.”
Executive editor...
- 8/11/2021
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole when scrolling through a pileup of shows, and not really knowing what you’re in the mood for. If you’re like a lot of people who have been spending more time at home than usual, there’s a chance that your TV watching habits have changed in the last year.
Whatever your ritual – whether it’s settling in for a weekend binge session, or catching up on shows during the weekday, true-crime documentaries are an easy way to feed your obsession.
After more than a year in lockdown, and adjusting to social distancing, working from home, and distanced-learning, watching a good series feels like a form of self-care.
It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole when scrolling through a pileup of shows, and not really knowing what you’re in the mood for. If you’re like a lot of people who have been spending more time at home than usual, there’s a chance that your TV watching habits have changed in the last year.
Whatever your ritual – whether it’s settling in for a weekend binge session, or catching up on shows during the weekday, true-crime documentaries are an easy way to feed your obsession.
After more than a year in lockdown, and adjusting to social distancing, working from home, and distanced-learning, watching a good series feels like a form of self-care.
- 8/9/2021
- by Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
During a pre-recorded Atx panel airing Saturday, Ramy actor Steve Way slammed the Motion Picture Academy for its failure to provide all necessary accommodations for the disabled, prior to this year’s Academy Awards, where a wheelchair ramp was introduced for the first time.
“At this year’s Oscars, we got a ramp, we got an Asl interpreter—for one segment—and everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, this is great,’” Way said. “It’s progress, yes. But you’re also admitting that for the past 31 years, the [Academy] has been violating federal law by not having a ramp and interpreters.”
A ramp was introduced at the 93rd Oscars as a means of access to the stage for James LeBrecht, the co-director of Crip Camp, who uses a wheelchair. Unfortunately, as actor Ryan J. Haddad (The Politician) noted during the panel, the ramp may have only been added, given LeBrecht’s own assertiveness.
“At this year’s Oscars, we got a ramp, we got an Asl interpreter—for one segment—and everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, this is great,’” Way said. “It’s progress, yes. But you’re also admitting that for the past 31 years, the [Academy] has been violating federal law by not having a ramp and interpreters.”
A ramp was introduced at the 93rd Oscars as a means of access to the stage for James LeBrecht, the co-director of Crip Camp, who uses a wheelchair. Unfortunately, as actor Ryan J. Haddad (The Politician) noted during the panel, the ramp may have only been added, given LeBrecht’s own assertiveness.
- 6/13/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Consider This: Conversations highlight television’s award-worthy productions through panel discussions with the artists themselves. The above video is in partnership by Amazon Prime Video, produced by IndieWire’s Creative Producer Leonardo Adrian Garcia, and hosted by TV Editor Kristen Lopez.
The landscape of Amazon Prime Video’s series “Them” is filled with horror from the moment the Emory family moves into their new Compton residence. That fear and tension isn’t limited to the project’s storytelling. As the crafts team members behind the series lay out, they wanted to imbue history and tension into everything surrounding the Emorys and everything they wear.
Costume designer Mari-An Ceo says the many meticulous details in the series’ costuming at times veered into being spoilers themselves. In some cases, those details were tiny. For instance, the villainous Miss Vera’s collar looks like a book, which subtly connects her to little Gracie Jean...
The landscape of Amazon Prime Video’s series “Them” is filled with horror from the moment the Emory family moves into their new Compton residence. That fear and tension isn’t limited to the project’s storytelling. As the crafts team members behind the series lay out, they wanted to imbue history and tension into everything surrounding the Emorys and everything they wear.
Costume designer Mari-An Ceo says the many meticulous details in the series’ costuming at times veered into being spoilers themselves. In some cases, those details were tiny. For instance, the villainous Miss Vera’s collar looks like a book, which subtly connects her to little Gracie Jean...
- 6/11/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Atx Televison Festival has added a slew of additional titles to the lineup for its 2021 event, including Kevin Can F*** Himself, Central Park and The Good Fight.
The 2021 edition will run from June 11 to 20 and will take on a virtual format amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Like its in-person iteration, this year’s Atx Television Festival will feature industry-focused panels with a number of showrunners, executives, teasing what’s the to come in the television scene.
Prospective attendees can book their festival badges, day passes, single tickets and find more information here.
This year’s edition will spotlight a number of upcoming AMC and AMC+ projects, ranging from Kevin Can F*** Himself, Ultra City Smiths and Untitled Black Horror Anthology. Panels and Q&As will feature stars such as Annie Murphy, Mary Hollis Inboden and the creative minds of Greg Nicotero, Tanarive Due, Steven Barnes and more.
Apple TV+ will...
The 2021 edition will run from June 11 to 20 and will take on a virtual format amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Like its in-person iteration, this year’s Atx Television Festival will feature industry-focused panels with a number of showrunners, executives, teasing what’s the to come in the television scene.
Prospective attendees can book their festival badges, day passes, single tickets and find more information here.
This year’s edition will spotlight a number of upcoming AMC and AMC+ projects, ranging from Kevin Can F*** Himself, Ultra City Smiths and Untitled Black Horror Anthology. Panels and Q&As will feature stars such as Annie Murphy, Mary Hollis Inboden and the creative minds of Greg Nicotero, Tanarive Due, Steven Barnes and more.
Apple TV+ will...
- 5/20/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
“For anybody who’s on the downside of advantage and relying purely on courage… it’s possible.”
On that closing line of Russell Crowe’s 2001 Best Actor acceptance speech for “Gladiator,” I fell in love with the Oscars. I was also too sick to leave the house; at 14 years old, I was recovering from double pneumonia. It was the latest in a string of lung-related health issues that eventually led to a lupus diagnosis. When I heard these words from an actor I barely knew, it made me feel like I could be a part of Hollywood.
This year’s Oscars were critically lambasted and received record-low ratings, but retained their power to inspire dreams and make viewers feel like they’re part of the magic factory. (Look no further than this viral photo of a young girl cosplaying as Best Director and Best Picture winner Chloe Zhao.) That’s why,...
On that closing line of Russell Crowe’s 2001 Best Actor acceptance speech for “Gladiator,” I fell in love with the Oscars. I was also too sick to leave the house; at 14 years old, I was recovering from double pneumonia. It was the latest in a string of lung-related health issues that eventually led to a lupus diagnosis. When I heard these words from an actor I barely knew, it made me feel like I could be a part of Hollywood.
This year’s Oscars were critically lambasted and received record-low ratings, but retained their power to inspire dreams and make viewers feel like they’re part of the magic factory. (Look no further than this viral photo of a young girl cosplaying as Best Director and Best Picture winner Chloe Zhao.) That’s why,...
- 5/1/2021
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
After the first Marvel-less year at the box office since 2009, 2021 has plenty of superhero content in store — including the debut of the first Marvel Cinematic Universe series for Disney+, the genre-bending “WandaVision.”
Premiering on Friday, Jan. 15, the show stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff and Paul Bettany as the android Vision living a sitcom-perfect life — until they realize that things aren’t necessarily as they seem. While it was originally expected to be the second MCU series to debut on Disney’s new streaming service, Covid-related delays means it’ll bow before “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their big-screen characters. That series is...
After the first Marvel-less year at the box office since 2009, 2021 has plenty of superhero content in store — including the debut of the first Marvel Cinematic Universe series for Disney+, the genre-bending “WandaVision.”
Premiering on Friday, Jan. 15, the show stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff and Paul Bettany as the android Vision living a sitcom-perfect life — until they realize that things aren’t necessarily as they seem. While it was originally expected to be the second MCU series to debut on Disney’s new streaming service, Covid-related delays means it’ll bow before “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan as their big-screen characters. That series is...
- 1/13/2021
- by Jean Bentley
- Indiewire
Social media reactions to first viewings of the upcoming Disney+ show “WandaVision” are starting to trickle in ahead of the series premiere on January 15.
So far, there’s plenty of euphoric praise for the Marvel Cinematic Universe spinoff, which centers on Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they try to live out an idealized suburban life in the small town of Westview, where the residents don’t know about their powers. But the border between reality and illusion stars to blur for the pair in this series created by Jac Schaeffer, based on the Scarlet Witch character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
The series is directed by Matt Shakman. Schaeffer serves as the head writer and executive produces alongside Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. The series also stars Kathryn Hahn in a zany role, plus Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, and Randall Park.
“WandaVision” was originally scheduled...
So far, there’s plenty of euphoric praise for the Marvel Cinematic Universe spinoff, which centers on Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they try to live out an idealized suburban life in the small town of Westview, where the residents don’t know about their powers. But the border between reality and illusion stars to blur for the pair in this series created by Jac Schaeffer, based on the Scarlet Witch character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
The series is directed by Matt Shakman. Schaeffer serves as the head writer and executive produces alongside Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. The series also stars Kathryn Hahn in a zany role, plus Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, and Randall Park.
“WandaVision” was originally scheduled...
- 1/9/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Is anything certain at this point? Well, no. Thanks for the big life lesson, 2020!
But, ostensibly, there will be some of our television favorites returning to our screens in 2021, and newcomers worth getting excited about arriving on the scene. With the tendrils of information made available by publicists, sizzle reels, sneak peek teasers, and fervant hopes spawned by social media posts, we’ve created a list of shows that seem likely to hit our screens next year. Probably. Most likely. We might even have some flavor of live events, like the Olympics and the Oscars. Maybe!
Below, in no particular order, are some of the shows that IndieWire is looking forward to watching in 2021. Fingers crossed.
Ann Donahue, Ryan Lattanzio, and Kristen Lopez also contributed to this list.
“Succession” (HBO)
The worse 2020 got as a whole, the more that 2021 glittered on the horizon like a mirage. We hoped it existed,...
But, ostensibly, there will be some of our television favorites returning to our screens in 2021, and newcomers worth getting excited about arriving on the scene. With the tendrils of information made available by publicists, sizzle reels, sneak peek teasers, and fervant hopes spawned by social media posts, we’ve created a list of shows that seem likely to hit our screens next year. Probably. Most likely. We might even have some flavor of live events, like the Olympics and the Oscars. Maybe!
Below, in no particular order, are some of the shows that IndieWire is looking forward to watching in 2021. Fingers crossed.
Ann Donahue, Ryan Lattanzio, and Kristen Lopez also contributed to this list.
“Succession” (HBO)
The worse 2020 got as a whole, the more that 2021 glittered on the horizon like a mirage. We hoped it existed,...
- 12/28/2020
- by Ben Travers and Libby Hill
- Indiewire
It’s an understatement to say that real life is more shocking than the movies these days, but documentary filmmakers have always known this to be true. As the nonfiction medium continues to churn through the most popular moment in its history, this year’s documentary highlights met their moment and then some, with a wide range of purposeful work tackling major issues of the moment through ambitious approaches that often transcended formal conventions. Sure, 2020 brought us “Tiger King” and a gazillion election season specials, but the best documentaries of the year didn’t just thrill or enlighten us; they did it in fresh and exciting ways that went beyond the call of duty. Here are the highlights.
David Ehrlich, Kate Erbland, and Kristen Lopez contributed to this report.
“All In: The Fight for Democracy”
A lot of movies about the political process tend to be reductive adventures in talking heads.
David Ehrlich, Kate Erbland, and Kristen Lopez contributed to this report.
“All In: The Fight for Democracy”
A lot of movies about the political process tend to be reductive adventures in talking heads.
- 12/13/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
[Editor’s note: This article contains major spoilers about the plot of “Mank.”]
“Mank” is a lot to take in. Diehard fans of classic Hollywood cinema and “Citizen Kane” obsessives alike may be well-suited to parse David Fincher’s complex portrait of world-weary screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, but even then, this intricate black-and-white drama draws on a lot of reference points that a many audience members may not grasp the first time around.
The movie tracks two dueling narratives: Mank’s experiences in Hollywood throughout the ’30s, as he undergoes a falling out with Hollywood and studio moguls over their politics, and his decision to use his experiences in that world to write his greatest work — inspired by his former proximity to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who became the template for the affluent mystery at the center of “Citizen Kane.”
But there’s more to “Mank” than that: Fincher, who draws on a script written decades ago by his late father Jack,...
“Mank” is a lot to take in. Diehard fans of classic Hollywood cinema and “Citizen Kane” obsessives alike may be well-suited to parse David Fincher’s complex portrait of world-weary screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, but even then, this intricate black-and-white drama draws on a lot of reference points that a many audience members may not grasp the first time around.
The movie tracks two dueling narratives: Mank’s experiences in Hollywood throughout the ’30s, as he undergoes a falling out with Hollywood and studio moguls over their politics, and his decision to use his experiences in that world to write his greatest work — inspired by his former proximity to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who became the template for the affluent mystery at the center of “Citizen Kane.”
But there’s more to “Mank” than that: Fincher, who draws on a script written decades ago by his late father Jack,...
- 12/5/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
There will always be a handful of safe bets over the course of one year at the movies — of course Elisabeth Moss is going to make a meal out of a slew of very different roles, there’s no question that Gary Oldman can inhabit any historical figure, who could possibly be surprised that the casts of “Succession” and “Better Call Saul” would only continue to impress, the list goes on and on — but it’s often the unknown quantities, the casting against type, and the fresh faces that turn in the best performances.
This year has been no exception, kitted out with an array of breakthrough performances from a wide variety of talents. There are the first-timers owning their big starring role, the reliable performers tearing into something new, and a generation of rising stars making their mark in parts seemingly made for them. Ahead, IndieWire has combed through...
This year has been no exception, kitted out with an array of breakthrough performances from a wide variety of talents. There are the first-timers owning their big starring role, the reliable performers tearing into something new, and a generation of rising stars making their mark in parts seemingly made for them. Ahead, IndieWire has combed through...
- 12/2/2020
- by Kate Erbland and Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The world has finally seen “The Prom,” Ryan Murphy’s star-studded Netflix musical led by Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, Kerry Washington, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, and newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman. Select audiences, industry, and press were treated to the world premiere of the film on Netflix on Sunday, and a wide range of first reactions from the screening are emerging. See below.
“The Prom” is the film version of Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar’s award-winning, Tony-nominated Broadway musical. “The reason that [the musical] spoke to me is I wished when I was young I had a film like this to see,” Murphy said in a Q& after the film. “I wished that when I was growing up, I did not feel so alone in my life. Like Jo Ellen’s character, I am also from Indiana. It was a very similar feeling where I was searching for...
“The Prom” is the film version of Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar’s award-winning, Tony-nominated Broadway musical. “The reason that [the musical] spoke to me is I wished when I was young I had a film like this to see,” Murphy said in a Q& after the film. “I wished that when I was growing up, I did not feel so alone in my life. Like Jo Ellen’s character, I am also from Indiana. It was a very similar feeling where I was searching for...
- 11/29/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
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[Editor’s Note: The below piece was originally published on May 12, 2017. It has been expanded from the 20 greatest animated series of all time to the 25 greatest as of November 18, 2020.]
As long as humans have been passing down stories, those tales have included our capacity to transgress against each other. It’s a tradition literally as old as the Bible.
And beyond documenting how people break the rules that govern our evolving notions of society, we’re constantly fascinated by those charged with righting those wrongs. Whether it follows the detectives who investigate those crimes, those within the judicial system who determine the proper level of punishment, or the friends and family members left in the wake of these actions, this process has become the cornerstone of many of cultural touchstones.
Read More: Every IndieWire TV Review of 2017 Shows, Ranked from Best to Worst By Grade
On the TV side, for the better part of two decades when the antihero has reigned supreme,...
[Editor’s Note: The below piece was originally published on May 12, 2017. It has been expanded from the 20 greatest animated series of all time to the 25 greatest as of November 18, 2020.]
As long as humans have been passing down stories, those tales have included our capacity to transgress against each other. It’s a tradition literally as old as the Bible.
And beyond documenting how people break the rules that govern our evolving notions of society, we’re constantly fascinated by those charged with righting those wrongs. Whether it follows the detectives who investigate those crimes, those within the judicial system who determine the proper level of punishment, or the friends and family members left in the wake of these actions, this process has become the cornerstone of many of cultural touchstones.
Read More: Every IndieWire TV Review of 2017 Shows, Ranked from Best to Worst By Grade
On the TV side, for the better part of two decades when the antihero has reigned supreme,...
- 11/28/2020
- by Ben Travers, Hanh Nguyen, Liz Shannon Miller, Steve Greene and Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
“Searching” director Aneesh Chaganty’s new thriller “Run” debuted November 20 on Hulu, introducing moviegoers to breakout actress Kiera Allen. As the streaming giant advertised ahead of the film’s debut, Allen’s starring role makes “Run” the first feature film from an American studio to star a disabled leading actress in over 70 years. The search for Allen’s role of Chloe was “an intense and countrywide” endeavor, Chaganty recently told MovieMaker. Casting a disabled actress as a disabled character was a given for the director and his collaborators, writer Sev Ohanian and producer Natalie Qasabian.
“It was never a controversial topic between the three of us,” Chaganty said. “It was sort of like, ‘Yeah, we’re doing this right?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Cool.’ And then the process of actually finding this person proved to be an intense and countrywide sort of search. And we ended up finding this incredible talent in Kiera Allen.
“It was never a controversial topic between the three of us,” Chaganty said. “It was sort of like, ‘Yeah, we’re doing this right?’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘Cool.’ And then the process of actually finding this person proved to be an intense and countrywide sort of search. And we ended up finding this incredible talent in Kiera Allen.
- 11/23/2020
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
It’s not the best of times, it’s probably actually the worst of times… but awards season is awards season, so here we go.
Starting today at 8:30 a.m. Pst, the Television Academy will announce the nominations for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. It has been a fraught Phase 1 of campaigning, with traditional FYC events canceled in the wake of widespread stay-at-home quarantine orders and the normal onslaught of promotional interviews moving entirely online. IndieWire will cover the announcement live, with repeated updates to the list of nominations below as they are announced.
It is difficult to ascertain how the last six months of shutdowns, protests, and divisive politics will impact this year’s nominations; while stalwart Emmy favorites like Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” are still in the running, the halt to productions in Spring 2020 eliminated a number...
Starting today at 8:30 a.m. Pst, the Television Academy will announce the nominations for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. It has been a fraught Phase 1 of campaigning, with traditional FYC events canceled in the wake of widespread stay-at-home quarantine orders and the normal onslaught of promotional interviews moving entirely online. IndieWire will cover the announcement live, with repeated updates to the list of nominations below as they are announced.
It is difficult to ascertain how the last six months of shutdowns, protests, and divisive politics will impact this year’s nominations; while stalwart Emmy favorites like Amazon Prime Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” are still in the running, the halt to productions in Spring 2020 eliminated a number...
- 7/28/2020
- by Ann Donahue
- Indiewire
The Notebook Primer introduces readers to some of the most important figures, films, genres, and movements in film history.Above: The Light that FailedShe had the beauty and talent of the most captivating star, the unwavering determination of the most ambitious producer, and the fervent creative vision of the most gifted director. Ida Lupino could fall into any number of categories, yet with a significance that remains almost immeasurable, perhaps the one word best describing this groundbreaking artist is simply this: she was a pioneer. Born February 4, 1918, in South London, Lupino belonged to a revered family of entertainers. Her mother, actress Connie O’Shea (also known as Connie Emerald), and her father, music hall comedian Stanley Lupino, were part of an ancestral dynasty of performers, and young Ida was accordingly encouraged to take the stage during her earliest years. In addition to writing her first play at the age of seven,...
- 7/27/2020
- MUBI
It apparently didn’t take long for Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries” revival to begin resonating with audiences. The show’s producers have already received 20 credible tips regarding the cases outlined in the show’s first six episodes, according to a new report from USA Today.
Series co-creator and executive producer Terry Dunn Meurer told the publication that the “Unsolved Mysteries” team is actively passing along tips regarding the cases featured in the revival’s new season.
“We pass them on to the appropriate authorities,” Meurer told USA Today. “It’s only been 24 hours. We’re hoping there’s a lot of people who still haven’t watched and maybe this weekend they’ll sit down and binge the episodes and we’ll get more leads.”
The viewer engagement harkens back to the original “Unsolved Mysteries,” which also documented cold cases and paranormal occurrences. Meurer estimated that more than 260 previously unsolved...
Series co-creator and executive producer Terry Dunn Meurer told the publication that the “Unsolved Mysteries” team is actively passing along tips regarding the cases featured in the revival’s new season.
“We pass them on to the appropriate authorities,” Meurer told USA Today. “It’s only been 24 hours. We’re hoping there’s a lot of people who still haven’t watched and maybe this weekend they’ll sit down and binge the episodes and we’ll get more leads.”
The viewer engagement harkens back to the original “Unsolved Mysteries,” which also documented cold cases and paranormal occurrences. Meurer estimated that more than 260 previously unsolved...
- 7/6/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
Amazon Prime Video is gearing up to release the four-part docuseries “The Last Narc,” and the streaming service’s trailer promises new insights about the kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
Per Amazon, “The Last Narc” tells the story of a fallen hero, the men who killed him in 1985, and the one man who risked everything to find out what really happened and why. Highly decorated special agent Hector Berellez, who was assigned to lead the DEA’s investigation of Camarena’s murder, peels back the layers of myth and propaganda to reveal the bone-chilling truth about a conspiracy that stretches from the killing fields of Mexico to the halls of power in Washington, D.C.
Berellez’s powerful testimony appears alongside that of Camarena’s brave widow,...
Per Amazon, “The Last Narc” tells the story of a fallen hero, the men who killed him in 1985, and the one man who risked everything to find out what really happened and why. Highly decorated special agent Hector Berellez, who was assigned to lead the DEA’s investigation of Camarena’s murder, peels back the layers of myth and propaganda to reveal the bone-chilling truth about a conspiracy that stretches from the killing fields of Mexico to the halls of power in Washington, D.C.
Berellez’s powerful testimony appears alongside that of Camarena’s brave widow,...
- 4/28/2020
- by Tyler Hersko
- Indiewire
The cult hit series “Penny Dreadful” ran for three seasons on Showtime telling horror stories featuring Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, Dr. Jekyll and more in an otherworldly London during the Victorian era. Now comes its followup, “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels,” which isn’t connected to the original story but is also the brainchild of creator John Logan. It premieres on April 26. So does it capture the same magic (sometimes literally) as the previous series?
SEEEmmys 2020 exclusive: Showtime categories for ‘Black Monday,’ ‘Homeland,’ ‘The Loudest Voice’ and more
As of this writing the series has a MetaCritic score of 66 based on eight reviews counted so far: four positive and four mixed, but none outright negative. That’s not too far off of the original “Penny Dreadful,” which launched to a MetaCritic score of 70 and averaged 74 over the course of its run. On Rotten Tomatoes it’s rated 70% fresh based on 10 reviews,...
SEEEmmys 2020 exclusive: Showtime categories for ‘Black Monday,’ ‘Homeland,’ ‘The Loudest Voice’ and more
As of this writing the series has a MetaCritic score of 66 based on eight reviews counted so far: four positive and four mixed, but none outright negative. That’s not too far off of the original “Penny Dreadful,” which launched to a MetaCritic score of 70 and averaged 74 over the course of its run. On Rotten Tomatoes it’s rated 70% fresh based on 10 reviews,...
- 4/24/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
FX on Hulu’s “Mrs. America” premiered on April 15 and tells the true story of the fight for and against women’s rights from the point of view of Phyllis Schlafly (played by Cate Blanchett), a conservative activist who campaigned to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment. In a presidential election year where both 2020 candidates’ treatment of women has been closely scrutinized, what do critics think on this historical look at feminism in America?
See‘Mrs. America’ cast: Meet the 17 stars of FX on Hulu series
So far they love it. As of this writing “Mrs. America” has a MetaCritic score of 88 based on 25 reviews counted thus far, 24 of which are positive and only one somewhat mixed. Nine of those positive reviews are so glowing they score a perfect 100 on Mc’s sliding scale. On Rotten Tomatoes the series is rated 96% fresh based on 25 reviews counted so far, only one of...
See‘Mrs. America’ cast: Meet the 17 stars of FX on Hulu series
So far they love it. As of this writing “Mrs. America” has a MetaCritic score of 88 based on 25 reviews counted thus far, 24 of which are positive and only one somewhat mixed. Nine of those positive reviews are so glowing they score a perfect 100 on Mc’s sliding scale. On Rotten Tomatoes the series is rated 96% fresh based on 25 reviews counted so far, only one of...
- 4/15/2020
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
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