This trailer actually dropped yesterday so I’m late in sharing this. Then again, after The Hobbit trilogy and Game of Thrones and all that, it’s hard not to feel that this show is premiering a little bit late as well. That said, people do seem to have fonder memories of the Lord of the Rings films than they do of many of the shows and films that followed. It’ll be interesting to see if that nostalgia is strong enough to make this prequel a hit.
Here’s the teaser!
The Emmy nominations were announced this morning. As usual, I agree with a few of the nominations and disagreed with the majority of them. I was happy to see Abbott Elementary nominated for Best Comedy. I was happy that Barry got a lot of love. You can see all the nominees over at Emmys.com.
For the most part, I think my personal nominations were better.
For Best Comedy Series, I was happy to see Abbott Elementary, Barry, Only Murders In The Building, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and What We Do In The Shadows nominated. I was not happy to see that Cobra Kai, Ghosts, and The Flight Attendant were pretty much shut out of the major categories, with the exception of Kaley Cuoco’s nomination for Best Actress. Though I’m not a huge fan of Ted Lasso, I realize that others are and I don’t think it’s bad show as much as it’s just not for me. Hacks, I am going to guess, was nominated because it was about show business. Curb Your Enthusiasm was nominated out-of-habit, as this latest season was pretty much unwatchable. I’m disappointed Atlanta wasn’t nominated but, to be honest, I kind of suspected that this season would be too surreal for the voters. Donald Glover was nominated for Best Actor but how did Atlanta not land even a single writing nomination?
For Drama Series, I actually agree with 6 of the 8 nominees, Better Call Saul, Euphoria, Severance, Squid Game, and Yellowjackets. I will be rooting for Yellowjackets, though we all know that Succession is going to win again. Succession pretty much dominated the acting nominations as well. I’ll be cheering for Severance’s Adam Scott and Christopher Walken and Yellowjackets’s Melanie Lynesky and Christina Ricci. That said, I’m fully expecting Succession to sweep. Maybe Bob Odenkirk will finally get some Emmy love and spare us from a self-congratulatory Brian Cox acceptance speech. That would be nice.
Best Limited Series, I don’t even want to talk about. I agree with one nominee, The Dropout. My other favorite miniseries — shows like Maid, Pistol, Candy, The Offer, Angelyne, 1883, Dr. Death — were shut out for stuff like Inventing Anna and Pam & Tommy. I imagine that Dopesick will sweep this category, despite not being that interesting of a show. Narratively, Dopesick was a mess but it had four good performances (Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever, Peter Sarsgaard, and Will Poulter) and a villain that was easy to dislike.
As far as Best TV Movie goes, I imagine that The Survivor will win and I’m happy with that. I would have liked to have seen a nomination or two for I Want You Back and The House but The Survivor is an important film and, at a time when anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial is being normalized, it’s a film that deserves more attention. With a growing number of celebrities and influencers recently displaying their ignorance of what happened in Nazi Germany and often being openly anti-Semitic without any apparent consequences, it’s easy to see why it’s important to honor films like The Survivor.
The Amazing Race was nominated for Best Competition Show. I was happy about that.
When I started off this post, I was upset about the Emmys snubbing some of my favorite shows but, as I’ve sat here typing, I’ve calmed down. It’s just the Emmys and don’t know anyone who really takes them seriously. The winners will be announced on September 12th.
The Emmy Nominations are due to be announced tomorrow so it’s time for the Shattered Lens to play a game that should be familiar to our longtime readers, What If Lisa Marie Had All The Power.
Below, you’ll find my personal Emmy nominations. Keep in mind, these are not necessarily the shows and performers who I think will be nominated, though a few definitely will be. Instead, these are my personal picks. This is what would be nominated if I had all the power.
Now, there’s a lot of Emmy categories. I went through the Emmy submissions and I picked nominees for every single category. However, in the interest of space, I can’t list all of them in this post. Instead, below, you’ll find my picks for the major categories. If you want to see the complete list of my nominees, you can see it by clicking here!
Another thing you’ll probably notice while looking over my nominations is that I really, really liked The Amazing Race, Survivor (both the movie and the unrelated reality show), I Want You Back, The Voyeurs, The House, Barry, Atlanta, Cobra Kai, Abbott Elementary, Only Murders In The Building, Maid, Pistol, The Dropout, Candy, The Offer, Euphoria, Dexter: New Blood, The Gilded Age, Severance, Yellowstone, and Yellowjackets. I also made an effort to make sure that each of the primetime networks got a little bit of love when it came to nominating the best shows of the year. Fantasy Island and Dynasty may not be remembered by the Emmys but I enjoy both of them and I’m going to remember them!
Here are my nominees! The winners are in bold.
Programming
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Atlanta (FX)
Barry (HBO)
Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC)
Cobra Kai (Netflix)
The Flight Attendant (HBOMax)
Ghosts (CBS)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)
Murderville (Netflix)
Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)
Saved By The Bell (Peacock)
What We Do In The Shadows (FX)
Outstanding Drama Series
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Dexter: New Blood (Showtime)
Dynasty (The CW)
Euphoria (HBO)
Fantasy Island (Fox)
The Gilded Age (HBO)
Severance (Apple TV+)
Squid Game (Netflix)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
The Walking Dead (AMC)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Angelyne (Peacock)
Candy (Hulu)
Dr. Death (Peacock)
The Dropout (Hulu)
1883 (Paramount Plus)
The Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)
Maid (Netflix)
The Offer (Paramount Plus)
Pistol (Hulu)
Slasher: Flesh & Blood (Shudder)
A Very British Scandal (Amazon Prime)
The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window (Netflix)
Outstanding TV Movie
Birds of Paradise (Amazon Prime)
Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers (Disney Plus)
The House (Netflix)
I Want You Back (Amazon Prime)
List of a Lifetime (Lifetime)
The Manor (Amazon Prime)
Psych 3: This is Gus (Peacock)
The Survivor (HBO)
The Valet (Hulu)
The Voyeurs (Amazon Prime)
Outstanding Variety Talk Show
Conan (TBS)
Friday Night Vibes (TBS)
Half in the Bag (YouTube)
Hart to Heart (Peacock)
E! Nightly Pop (E!)
Tha God’s Honest Truth With Charlemagne Tha God (Comedy Central)
Outstanding Variety Sketch Show
The Truth With Ed and Randall (Peacock)
Whose Line Is It Anyway? (The CW)
Outstanding Variety Special (Live)
Annie Live! (NBC)
The Oscars (ABC)
The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show (NBC)
The 28th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TBS)
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Merry Wives (Great Performances) (PBS)
Norm McDonald: Nothing Special (Netflix)
Rita Ora at the Eiffel Tower (Streaming)
Step Into The Movies …. With Derek and Julianne Hough (ABC)
Taylor Tomlinson: Look At You (Netflix)
2022 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (Shudder)
Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series
I Think You Should Leave …. With Tim Robinson (Netflix)
State of the Union (Sundance TV)
Outstanding Short Form Non-Fiction or Reality Series
Beyond The Headlines (Lifetime)
Let’s Unpack That (People TV)
True Dating Stories (Fuse)
What Happens in Hollywood (Roku)
Outstanding Hosted Non-Fiction Series or Special
Gordon Ramsay’s Uncharted (Disney Plus)
History’s Greatest Mysteries (History)
The Last Drive-In (Shudder)
Painting With John (HBO)
Sketchbook (Disney Plus)
Talking Dead (AMC)
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
Antiques Roadshow (PBS)
Collector’s Call (MeTV)
Impractical Jokers (TruTV)
Love is Blind (Netflix)
Storage Wars (A&E)
Temptation Island (USA)
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
Bachelor in Paradise (ABC)
Bar Rescue (Paramount)
Cheer (Netflix)
Intervention (A&E)
Married At First Sight (Lifetime)
Selling Sunset (Netflix)
Outstanding Competition Program
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Idol (ABC)
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Bachelorette (ABC)
Dancing With The Stars (ABC)
Hell’s Kitchen (Fox)
Making The Cut (Amazon Prime)
Survivor (CBS)
Tough as Nails (CBS)
The Ultimate Surfer (ABC)
Performers
Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series
Will Arnett in Murderville (Netflix)
Will Forte in MacGruber (Peacock)
Donald Glover in Atlanta (FX)
Bill Hader in Barry (HBO)
Ralph Macchio in Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Steve Martin in Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Andy Samberg in Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC)
Martin Short in Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)
Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
William Zabka in Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman in Ozark (Netflix)
Kevin Costner in Yellowstone (Paramount)
Michael C. Hall in Dexter: New Blood (Showtime)
Tom Hiddleston in Loki (Disney Plus)
Lee Jung-jae in Squid Game (Netflix)
Bob Odenkirk in Better Call Saul (AMC)
Norman Reedus in The Walking Dead (AMC)
Adam Scott in Severance (Apple TV+)
Morgan Spector in The Gilded Age (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath (Amazon Prime)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series
Jon Bernthal in We Own This City (HBO)
Anson Boon in Pistol (Hulu)
David Cronenberg in Slasher: Flesh & Blood (Shudder)
Sam Elliott in 1883 (Paramount Plus)
Tom Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)
Oscar Isaac in Moon Knight (Disney Plus)
Joshua Jackson in Dr. Death (Peacock)
Samuel L. Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)
Michael Keaton in Dopesick (Hulu)
Toby Wallace in Pistol (Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a TV Movie
Charlie Day in I Want You Back (Amazon Prime)
Eugenio Derbez in The Valet (Hulu)
Ben Foster in The Survivor (HBO)
Dule Hill in Psych 3: This is Gus (Peacock)
James Roday Rodriguez in Psych 3: This is Gus (Peacock)
Troye Sivan in Three Months (Paramount Plus)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Comedy Series
Andre Braugher in Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC)
Anthony Carrigan in Barry (HBO)
Thomas Ian Griffith in Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Brian Tyree Henry in Atlanta (FX)
Martin Kove in Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Mario Lopez in Saved By The Bell (Peacock)
Richie Moriarty in Ghosts (CBS)
Chris Perfiti in Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Stephen Root in Barry (HBO)
Henry Winkler in Barry (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Clancy Brown in Dexter: New Blood (Showtime)
Patrick Fabian in Better Call Saul (AMC)
Josh Hamilton in The Walking Dead (AMC)
Cole Hauser in Yellowstone (Paramount)
Ray Liotta in Hanna (Amazon Prime)
John Turturro in Severance (Apple TV+)
Christopher Walken in Severance (Apple TV+)
Sam Waterston in Law & Order (NBC)
Owen Wilson in Loki (Disney Plus)
O Yeong-su in Squid Game (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series
Naveen Andrews in The Dropout (Hulu)
Thomas Brodie-Sangster in Pistol (Hulu)
Stephen Fry in The Dropout (Hulu)
Matthew Goode in The Offer (Paramount Plus)
William H. Macy in The Dropout (Hulu)
Dylan Minnette in The Dropout (Hulu)
Nick Robinson in Maid (Netflix)
Alan Ruck in The Dropout (Hulu)
Christian Slater in Dr. Death (Peacock)
Sam Waterston in The Dropout (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a TV Movie
Corbin Bernsen in Psych 3: This is Gus (Peacock)
Bruce Davison in The Manor (Amazon Prime)
Scott Eastwood in I Want You Back (Amazon Prime)
Ben Hardy in The Voyeurs (Amazon Prime)
Billy Magnussen in The Survivor (HBO)
Peter Sarsgaard in The Survivor (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Pamela Adlon in Better Things (FX)
Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)
Quinta Brunson in Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Miranda Cosgrove in iCarly (Peacock)
Kaley Cuoco in The Flight Attendant (HBOMax)
Natasia Demetriou in What We Do In The Shadows (FX)
Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
Rose McIver in Ghosts (CBS)
Sandra Oh in The Chair (Netflix)
Jean Smart in Hacks (HBOMax)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Carrie Coon in The Gilded Age (HBO)
Elizabeth Gillies in Dynasty (The CW)
Nicole Kidman in Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)
Juliette Lewis in Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Melanie Lynesky in Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Anna Paquin in Flack (Amazon Prime)
Kelly Reilly in Yellowstone (Paramount)
Winona Ryder in Stranger Things (Netflix)
Roselyn Sanchez in Fantasy Island (Fox)
Zendaya in Euphoria (HBO)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series
Kristen Bell in The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window (Netflix)
Jessica Biel in Candy (Hulu)
Lily Collins in Pam & Tommy (Hulu)
Claire Danes in The Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)
Elle Fanning in The Girl From Plainville (Hulu)
Claire Foy in A Very British Scandal (Amazon Prime)
Isabel May in 1883 (Paramount Plus)
Margaret Qualley in Maid (Netflix)
Emmy Rossum in Angelyne (Peacock)
Amanda Seyfried in The Dropout (Hulu)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a TV Movie
Kristine Foseth in Birds of Paradise (Amazon Prime)
Barbara Hershey in The Manor (Amazon Prime)
Kelly Hu in List of a Lifetime (Lifetime)
Diana Silvers in Birds of Paradise (Amazon Prime)
Jenny Slate in I Want You Back (Amazon Prime)
Sydney Sweeney in The Voyeurs (Amazon Prime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Zazie Beetz in Atlanta (FX)
Hannah Einbinder in Hacks (HBOMax)
Melissa Famero in Brooklyn Nine Nine (NBC)
Sarah Goldberg in Barry (HBO)
Janelle James in Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Elizabeth Berkley Lauren in Saved By The Bell (Peacock)
Peyton List in Cobra Kai (Netflix)
Sheryl Lee Ralph in Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Kristen Schaal in What We Do In The Shadows (FX)
Rebecca Wisocky in Ghosts (CBS)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama
Patricia Arquette in Severance (Apple TV+)
Christine Baranski in The Gilded Age (HBO)
Jennifer Carpenter in Dexter: New Blood (Showtime)
Julia Garner in Ozark (Netflix)
Jung Ho-yeon in Squid Game (Netflix)
Cynthia Nixon in The Gilded Age (HBO)
Christina Ricci in Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Rhea Seehorn in Better Call Saul (AMC)
Sydney Sweeney in Euphoria (HBO)
Sophie Thatcher in Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series
Anne Archer in The Dropout (Hulu)
Kate Burton in The Dropout (Hulu)
Sydney Chandler in Pistol (Hulu)
Kaitlyn Dever in Dopesick (Hulu)
Molly Ephraim in Angelyne (Hulu)
Faith Hill in 1883 (Paramount Plus)
Camryn Mi-young Kim in The Dropout (Hulu)
Melanie Lynesky in Candy (Hulu)
Laurie Metcalf in The Dropout (Hulu)
Michaela Watkins in The Dropout (Hulu)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie
Jacqueline Bisset in Birds of Paradise (Amazon Prime)
Natasha Liu Bordizzo in The Voyeurs (Amazon Prime)
Vicky Krieps in The Survivor (HBO)
Sylvia Kwan in List of a Lifetime (Lifetime)
Gina Rodriguez in I Want You Back (Amazon Prime)
Maddie Ziegler in The Fallout (HBOMax)
Outstanding Guest Actor On A Comedy Series
James Caverly in Only Murders in the Building “The boy From 6B” (Hulu)
David Duchovny in The Chair “Last Bus In Town” (Netflix)
Paul Walter Hauser in Cobra Kai “Party Time” (Netflix)
Nathan Lane in Only Murder In The Building “The Boy From 6B” (Hulu)
Joe Mantegna in Barry “crazytimeshitshow” (HBO)
Liam Neeson in Atlanta “New Jazz” (FX)
Craig Robinson in Brooklyn Nine Nine “PB&J” (NBC)
Miguel Sandoval in Barry “all the sauces” (HBO)
Sting in Only Murders in the Building “The Sting” (Hulu)
Matt Walsh in Ghosts “The Vault” (CBS)
Outstanding Guest Actor on Drama Series
Michael Biehn in The Walking Dead “Warlords” (AMC)
Colman Domingo in Euphoria “Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys” (HBO)
Robert Englund in Stranger Things “Chapter Four: Dear Billy” (Netflix)
Michael Gill in The Gilded Age “Face The Music” (HBO)
Richard E. Grant in Loki “Journey Into Mystery” (Disney Plus)
William Hurt in Goliath “Spilt Milk” (Amazon Prime)
Sam Neill in Invasion “The Last Day” (Apple TV+)
Tom Pelphrey in Ozark “You’re The Boss” (Netflix)
John Douglas Thompson in The Gilded Age “Let The Tournament Begin” (HBO)
Yul Vasquez in Severance “In Perpetuity” (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Guest Actress On A Comedy Series
Odessa A’zion in Ghosts “Attic Girl” (CBS)
Vanessa Bayer in Barry “710N” (HBO)
Kelly Bishop in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel “Maisel vs. Lemon: The Cut Contest” (Amazon Prime)
Tina Fey in Only Murders in The Building “The Sting” (Hulu)
Ava Grey in Atlanta “New Jazz” (FX)
Oona O’Brien in Cobra Kai “Minefields” (Netflix)
Elizabeth Perkins in Barry “crazytimeshitshow” (HBO)
Laura San Giacomo in Barry “crazytimeshitshow” (HBO)
Sharon Stone in The Flight Attendant “Brothers & Sisters” (HBOMax)
Alanna Urbach in The Flight Attendant “Drowning Woman” (HBOMax)
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Karen Aldridge in Severance “Defiant Jazz” (Apple TV+)
Ashlie Atkinson in The Gilded Age “Tucked Up In Newport” (HBO)
Linda Emond in The Gilded Age “Charity Has Two Functions” (HBO)
Jeannine Kasper in Law & Order “The Right Thing” (NBC)
Martha Kelly in Euphoria “Stand Still Like The Hummingbird” (HBO)
Amybeth McNulty in Stranger Things “Chapter One: The Hellfire Club” (Netflix)
Gabriella Pizzolo in Stranger Things “Chapter Six: The Dive” (Netflix)
Christen Sharice in Law & Order “Fault Lines” (NBC)
Jackie Weaver in Yellowstone “Winning or Learing” (Paramount)
Lee You-mi in Squid Game “Gganbu” (Netflix)
Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy or Drama Series
Brendan Gleeson in State of the Union (Sundance TV)
Sean Kanan in Studio City (Amazon Prime)
Tim Robinson in I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson (Netflix)
Nick Stahl in Fear The Walking Dead: Dead in the Water (AMC+)
Outstanding Actress In A Short From Comedy or Drama Series
Natalie Burn in Studio City (Amazon Prime)
Patricia Clarkson in State of the Union (Sundance TV)
Carolyn Hennesy in Studio City (Amazon Prime)
Juliet Vega in Studio City (Amazon Prime)
The nominations will be announced tomorrow! Good luck to all the contenders!
My summer job as a Big Brother recapper started this week! So, guess what I’ve been watching a lot of? Along with the Big Brother live feeds, I’ve also been doing the last bit of work to get caught up on all of the potential Emmy nominees.
Here’s my thought on what I watched this week:
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix)
I watched this Ryan Murphy-produced docuseries throughout the week. Essentially, the documentary takes a look at the last few decades of Andy Warhol’s life. Warhol kept a diary over those years and we actually hear an AI-generated voice reading Warhol’s thought in Warhol’s voice. It makes for an interesting documentary. At times, in this diary, Warhol is surprisingly open and honest. At other times, it’s obvious that he’s playing for an audience for he surely knew that his diaries would be read after his death.
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney Plus)
I watched the final two episodes of this documentary on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Yes, it took me two days to get through two episodes. To be honest, it’s a bit of an exhausting documentary but, at the same time, its undeniably fascinating to watch The Beatles working together, working separately, love each other and hating each other at the same time. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little emotional by the end of it all. The documentary both celebrated the group while also showing why the time had come for them to go their separate ways, George Harrison was my favorite at the end of the first episode. Paul McCartney was my favorite by the end of the series.
Big Brother 24 (All Week, CBS and Paramount Plus)
You can read my thoughts on Big Brother over at the Big Brother Blog!
The Challenge USA (Wednesday Night, CBS)
The Challenge comes to the USA, featuring teams made up of veterans from other reality shows. I watched the first episode on Wednesday but I have to admit that I didn’t really pay much attention to it. Maybe next week’s episode will have more success capturing my attention.
Euphoria (HBO)
I watched the second episode of Euphoria. As much as I’ve made fun of “visionary Sam Levinson” over the past two years (mostly due to Malcolm and Marie), Euphoria is a well-done show. Fortunately, it’s very well-cast. It’s impossible it working with Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and the rest. They somehow manage to strike the right balance so that the show works even at its most excessive.
Goliath (Amazon Prime)
I watched a few episodes of Goliath’s fourth and final season. This episode features Billy Bob Thornton as an attorney and it’s perfect casting. This season also featured Bruce Dern and you really haven’t lived until you’ve seen Thornton and Dern, two actors who have no fear when it comes to embracing eccentricity, acting opposite of each other.
Hanna (Amazon Prime)
As much as I love the original movie, I was never really been able to get into Hanna the series. The third and final season features a nicely villainous turn from Ray Liotta and it ended on a satisfying note, with Hanna hopefully finally getting to live a life of her own.
Inspector Lewis (YouTube)
Inspector Lewis and Hathaway investigated a murder that had religious overturns. Hathaway considered returning to the seminary but, perhaps realizing the show would end if he did that, he didn’t.
Invasion (Apple TV+)
The Earth is being invaded by aliens! I watched the first episode of this show on Thursday. It was a bit slow but Sam Neill gave an excellent performance as the sheriff of a small town in Oklahoma.
Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)
Eh. Another over-written David E. Kelley production. At least Nicole Kidman had a good role, as the somewhat enigmatic owner of a wellness resort. I have to admit that I kind of zoned out on this one.
Ozark (Netflix)
I watched the finale of Ozark. To be honest, this show has never done as much for me as it’s done for others. To me, it owes a bit too much to Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Despite moving the action to Ozarks, it simply cannot escape the shadow of those two shows. That said, Jason Bateman and Julia Garner both gave excellent performances.
Phoenix Rising (HBO)
In this two-part documentary, Evan Rachel Wood talks about the abuse that she says she suffered at the hands of Marilyn Manson and her efforts to create and lobby for the Phoenix Act. The documentary was perhaps a bit overlong but compelling nonetheless.
Severance (Apple TV+)
An absolutely brilliant mind-bended of a show, Severance is brilliantly odd and moving. I wonder how many people heard that Ben Stiller was directing and Adam Scott was starring and assumed that this would just be another Judd Apatow-style comedy? Severance is a wonderful series about emotional and intellectual freedom, memories, and …. well, life itself. Christopher Walken and John Turturro are both such quirky actors that it’s good to have a show like this that allows them to remind audiences that they happen to be brilliant as well.
Succession (HBO)
Eh. The media’s favorite television drama has never done much for me. I watched two episodes. It’s a talented cast but I got bored fairly quickly.
Rest in Peace, Tony Sirico.
From The Sopranos, this was one of Sirico’s best performances:
Emmy voting has officially closed but I’m still catching up on this year’s contenders. I should be able to finish up over the upcoming week.
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney Plus)
This documentary, which was produced and put together by Peter Jackson, is about the recording of Let It Be and the final days of the Beatles. Featuring actual footage of the Beatles joking, arguing, and acting like a dysfunctional family, this is a fascinating but extremely long documentary. I watched the first episode on Saturday and I was exhausted by the time that it ended but I’m still looking forward to watching the remaining two episodes next week.
As far as the Beatles are concerned, I like George.
Better Things (Hulu)
I watched two episodes of the latest season of this sitcom on Tuesday. Pamela Adlon’s great but the show was a bit depressing, in the way that so many sitcoms tend to be nowadays. I guess the best way to put it is that the show has its moment but sometimes, it seemed to be trying too hard.
Bridgerton (Netflix)
I watched a bit of the second season on Thursday. I liked the costumes.
Flack (Amazon Prime)
Ann Paquin plays a self-destructive, London PR agent. I watched two episodes from the show’s second season. Paquin was great and Sam Neill appears in a few episodes but the show itself was a bit predictable. Even it’s cynicism felt a bit trendy.
The Flight Attendant (HBOMax)
Oh my God, I love this show! Kaley Cuoco gives a brilliant performance as a flight attendant who is both a recovering alcoholic and an asset for the CIA. I watched the second season this week and it wonderfully balanced comedy with action.
The Gilded Age (HBO)
This HBO series takes place in New York City in 1882 and it’s basically an American version of Downton Abbey, which is not surprising considering that it was created by Julian Fellowes. The first season followed a host of characters as they navigated their way through New York’s demanding social world. It was good but occasionally a bit uneven, largely because of the presence of Marian Brook (Louise Jacobson), who comes to New York to stay with her wealthy aunts (Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon). Marian is supposed to be the audience surrogate but she’s such a dull and self-righteous character and Jacobson gave such a blah performance that I soon found myself dreading any scene that involved her.
Far more interesting were the characters of robber baron George Russell (Morgan Spector) and his ambitious wife, Bertha (Carrie Coon). As long as the show focused on them and on the servants (all of whom has their own opinions on the wealthy people they served), The Gilded Age was compelling and entertaining. It’s also a gorgeous show to look at. I am looking forward to the the second season, though I hope there will be a bit less Marian drama to deal with.
Hacks (HBOMax)
I watched two episodes of the second season of this comedy. Jean Smart plays an egocentric comedian. Hannah Embinder plays her writer. Embinder and especially Smart give good performances. The rest of the show’s ensemble isn’t as interesting.
iCarly (Peacock)
Yay! Carly’s back! I binged the second season on Wednesday and this is a good example of how a show can be updated for the times without losing its charm.
Inspector Lewis (YouTube)
The Inspector and Hathaway had to solve another series of murders in Oxford. Hathaway was trying to quit smoking and he was so miserable about it that I actually cheered a little when he lit up at the end. Good for you, Hathaway! I don’t smoke and I do think that people should be happy.
The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix)
Eh. I watched the first episode of this new legal series. I enjoyed the movie with Matthew McConaughey but the show was boring. It was David E. Kelley on autopilot.
MacGruber (Peacock)
It’s been a while since I’ve cared about SNL but I definitely remember MacGruber and I enjoyed his show on Peacock. Will Forte is so underrated.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime)
I finally watched the latest season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It’s a good show, I just hope no one’s getting too attached to Lenny Bruce.
The Squid Game (Netflix)
In this South Korean show, a group of financially destitute people are recruited to play deadly games for the amusement of the wealthy. I finally watched this show on Wednesday and Thursday and I was a bit surprised to learn that it lived up to its considerable hype. I know that some people, including the show’s creator, say that its a critique of capitalism. Myself, I feel that its a critique of authoritarianism but then again, I’m a capitalist. The most important thing is that the imagery was memorably surreal and the cast did a good job of making things feel real.
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
I finally watched the first two episodes of this second season of this series on Wednesday. I will probably never join the cult of Ted Lasso but I do agree with those who have praised Jason Sudeikis’s performance in the title role. If there was ever a Ted Lasso/Barry/MacGruber cross-over event, I probably wouldn’t mind.
What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu)
What We Do In The Shadows actually airs on FX but I watched the 3rd season on Hulu. It’s a funny show, sort of like The Office but with exceptionally crude vampires. The third season was both funny and surprisingly poignant, as Colin Robinson actually died. (Maybe he faked his death but then Nandor crushed his head while trying to revive him….) This season also featured the brilliant Kristine Schaal as The Guide.
Yellowstone (Peacock)
I finally watched this show, binging the entire fourth season on Monday and Tuesday and, to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. Kevin Costner plays a politically powerful rancher who has a lot of enemies. The great Kelly Reilly plays his daughter. The show was undeniably melodramatic but it was also a lot of fun, with great performances from Costner, Reilly, Wes Bentley, and Cole Hauser. I’ve never been a huge fan of Costner in the past but this show makes the best use of his somewhat flinty screen presence.
Happy Canada Day!
Today, in honor of Canada, I’ve decided to share my picks for the 20 best episode of my favorite Canadian television show, Degrassi!
Degrassi does The Breakfast Club! In fact, this episode so closely follows the plot of The Breakfast Club, one has to wonder how John Hughes would have felt about it. This episode is classic Degrassi in that it shouldn’t work but it does. Plus, it’s the start of the Ellie (Stacey Farber) and Sean (Daniel Cameron) romance! Ellie and Sean were one of the best couples in Degrassi history, I don’t care what Emma says.
This is probably best-remembered for the scene where Jimmy (Drake) gets shot in the back but the entire episode is actually a sensitive look at the school shooting phenomenon. Ephraim Ellis deserves a lot of credit for making school shooter Rick Murray both deeply creepy and, occasionally, pathetically sympathetic. Still, one has to wonder why Alex (Deanna Casaluce) was never punished for her part in the prank that drove Rick over the edge. Our beloved Spinner (Shane Kippel) and Jay (Mike Lobel) were expelled and treated like pariahs. Alex not only remained class Vice President and somehow became far more popular with all of Jimmy’s friends.
Two years after being raped by Dean, Paige (Lauren Collins, giving one of her best performances) learns that the case is finally coming to trial. At first, Paige doesn’t want to testify, saying that she doesn’t want to relive the ordeal and that it won’t make any difference anyways. With Spinner’s support, Paige finally does testify but, despite her testimony, Dean is still acquitted. Paige spirals into self-destructive behavior before finally destroying Dean’s car in one of the show’s most cathartic moments. The first time I watched this episode, I was stunned and horrified by Dean’s acquittal. Even though Paige eventually took responsibility for destroying Dean’s car, I still cheered when she did it. If only Dean had been inside of it at the time.
Ellie deals with the stress of having an alcoholic mother and a media internship by cutting herself. Degrassi was one of the first shows to deal with self-harm and it did so with a commendable sensitivity.
Due to his cancer treatments, Spinner is given medicinal marijuana and is soon wandering around the entire school stoned out of his mind. Not only did this episode feature one of Shane Kimmel’s best performances but it also featured the classic line, “I’m going to fail English! What type of idiot fails his own language!”
Emma (Miriam McDonald), who was previously the show’s token good, liberal activist, grows increasingly self-destructive in the wake of the school shooting and eventually heads into “the Ravine.” The end result is that she gets a STD from Jay but she also gets the lead role in Degrassi’s production of Dracula. This one of those Degrassi episodes that was so controversial, it almost didn’t air in the United States.
Craig Manning (Jake Epstein) asks Ashley Kerwin (Melissa McIntyre) to marry him, beats up his stepfather, trashes a hotel room, and eventually learns he’s bipolar. This was a powerful episode, one that wasn’t even harmed by a subplot about Liberty (Sarah Barrable-Tishauer) and J.T. (Ryan Cooley) working together to write the spring musical.
Also known as Degrassi Goes Hollywood!
Since the start of the series, J.T. Yorke (played by Ryan Cooley) had been one of the show’s most popular characters, a former joker who got serious. However, when Cooley decided to leave the show to go to college, Degrassi killed J.T. off in a scene that was so violent that it’s still shocking to watch to this day. Making the scene all the more powerful is that J.T. was, more or less, a random victim. He just happened to walk out to his car at the wrong time. Degrassi was a dangerous place.
Darcy (Shenae Grimes) starts posting racy pictures on her “MyRoom” page. A fat, middle-aged guy shows up at her house and introduces himself as the dude who has been sending her all of the complimentary comments and money. Along with introducing the character of Clare Edwards (Aislinn Paul), who would eventually became the show’s main character, this episode was also the start of a series of episodes in which Darcy transformed from being the somewhat boring, token Christian to being the most interesting person on the show.
Tired of being called “cute” and “adorable” and wanting to be known as “sexy,”, Manny Santos (Cassie Steele) changes her look and her attitude. In the process, she alienates her best friend Emma, picks up a host of new admirers, and causes JT to repeatedly walk into walls. This is one of the best-remembered episodes of Degrassi, largely because Manny never went back to her “old” self but instead embraced her new persona.
In the very first episode of Degrassi, Emma makes a creepy friend online and nearly gets kidnapped. Fortunately, Snake (Stefan Brogren) is there to toss the guy against the wall and threaten to snap his neck. Along with introducing almost all of the main characters of the show’s first 6 seasons, this episode also started the spark that would lead to Snake eventually becoming Emma’s stepfather.
After being diagnosed with cancer, Spinner gets a mohawk and gets out his aggression by accepting random fights. Who knew that Degrassi had a fight club?
Still being rejected by his old friends because of his role in Jimmy’s shooting, Spinner spends the weekend at the beach with the ultra-religious Friendship Club. Jay complicates things by showing up. Darcy and Spinner were an underrated couple and this is one of their key episodes.
Oh my God, JT’s selling drugs! Well, Liberty is pregnant and JT does need the money but still! This episode is remembered for the final freeze frame of JT sitting in a hospital bed and sobbing. Degrassi could be a dark show.
Craig’s back in town. Ellie and Manny are both excited but …. oh my God! Craig’s picked up an addiction to cocaine! This is best-remembered for the scene in which Craig gets a sudden nosebleed while performing during the intermission of a Taking Back Sunday show.
Manny discovers that she’s pregnant. This is the episode that was considered to be so controversial that it didn’t even air in the United States until two years after it was originally broadcast in Canada.
The later seasons were never quite as good as the first few but still, we got a few good episodes out of them. Like this episode, in which Alli (Melinda Shankar) starts the “I Hate Holly J” Facerange group. Yes, Facerange. Degrassi wasn’t going to get sued.
Ashley Kerwin’s the most popular girl in school until she takes ecstasy and ends up telling everyone what she really thinks about them. Fortunately, Ashley became a much more interesting character afterwards.
In a last hurrah for the original Degrassi gang, everyone goes on a road trip to Smithdale College. With Jay’s “help,” Manny gets into acting school. Meanwhile, Ashley reunites with Craig. Craig sings “My Window” and it was a fitting send-off to what was left of the show’s original cast.
Honorable Mentions:
I watched a lot this week. I’m getting prepared for the Emmys!
Allo Allo (Sunday Night, PBS)
Because Edith was named The Spirit of Nouvion, it was decided that she should marry Bertorelli for propaganda purposes. Meanwhile, the British airmen ended up trapped in some wine barrels that were floating in the sewers underneath the city. Wait, what? Actually, by Allo Allo standards, it’s all pretty normal.
Angelyne (Peacock)
Collector’s Call (Sunday Night, MeTV)
On this show, fans of classic television get their collectibles appraised and discuss their collections. It’s a simple show that owes an obvious debt to Antiques Roadshow (though Collector’s Call usually only focuses on one collector as opposed to several) but, at the same time, it’s also a rather sweet-natured celebration of nostalgia and the joy the can come from collecting.
Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer (Netflix)
This Netflix true crime docu-series dealt with a series of murders that occurred in New York and New Jersey in the 70s. The majority of the victims were sex workers who were especially vulnerable because they couldn’t go to the police without running the risk of ending up in jail themselves. The series also took a look at the sleazier days of Times Square. It ended with modern day footage of the killer, now imprisoned in New York and looking a bit like Santa Claus. That was a bit jarring.
The Deep End (Hulu)
The Deep End originally aired on FreeForm. I watched it on Hulu on Saturday afternoon. The Deep End is a four-episode documentary about Teal Swan, a creepy “spiritual guru.” Swan, apparently, cooperated with the making of The Deep End and then got pretty upset when the final product portrayed her as being a manipulative bully who takes advantage of the emotionally vulnerable. Cults are so weird to me. I guess people need something to believe in but I will never understand how people can fall for obvious charlatans like Teal Swan or the NXIVM people. For her part, Swan appears to be very good at taking advantage of our current culture of victimization.
The Essex Serpent (Apple TV+)
In 19th Century Britain, both Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston investigate a legend of a sea serpent. Danes is a scientist while Hiddleston is a clergyman. Of course, they fall in love but Hiddleston is already married and the recently widowed Danes is determined to establish a life and identity of her own. The Essex Serpent is a mix of history, gothic romance, and horror. Danes’s closest friend is a social reformer who reads Marx. Another potential suitor is an arrogant doctor who has the potential to be a pioneer in the field of heart surgery. The show might seem like it’s about a serpent but it’s actually about the eternal conflict between superstition and science and, in the end, it turns out that neither has all the answers. It’s a bit uneven but, in the end, rewarding. It’s always nice to see Hiddleston get a chance to play someone other than Loki.
Full House (Sunday Evening, MeTV)
This week, both episodes of Full House were pretty stupid. The first episode recycled the old Saved By The Bell plot of having a love note circulating around that everyone thought was sent to them by a secret admirer. The second episode found Danny having to spend the weekend with his daughters without the help of Jesse and Joey. At one point, Danny was so tired that he passed out in bed and his daughters couldn’t wake him up. That was …. not easy to watch.
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (Disney Plus)
Gordon Ramsay explores the world! I watched two episodes on Tuesday. Ramsay went to the wilds of Michigan and Finland. Ramsay may be best known for shouting at hapless chefs on Hell’s Kitchen but I always enjoy shows where he gets to show his nicer side.
History’s Greatest Mysteries (History Channel)
I watched two episodes on Wednesday. One episode explored the death of Bruce Lee while the other was about the recently discovered journal of Harry Houdini. I love history. I like a good mystery. I enjoyed what I watched.
Impractical Jokers (HBOMax)
In this show, four friends go out of their way to humiliate each other and the people around them. I watched a few episodes on Thursday, largely because the show has been submitted for the Outstanding Structured Reality Show Emmy. The four jokers sometimes tend to come across as being a little bit too amused with themselves a little bit but, at the same time, I do have to admit that I laughed quite a bit.
Inspector Lewis (YouTube)
I watched an old episode of this British detective show on Tuesday. Lewis and Hathaway were investigating a Halloween murder that may or may not have involved vampires. It was very foggy, very amusing, and very British.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)
Samuel L. Jackson plays a 90 year-old man who tries to solve a mystery before losing his memories to dementia. I watched a bit of this Friday. It never quite captured my attention the way that I expected it to, given the show’s intriguing premise. The show’s greatest strength, not surprisingly, is Samuel L. Jackson’s powerful performance in the title role.
Love is Blind (Netflix)
In this reality dating show, couples can talk to each other but, sealed away in their own individual pods, they can’t see each other. In fact, they only get to see each other if one of them proposes marriage and the other accepts. Is love truly blind? Is this show absolutely silly? Yes, it is! However, I watched a few episodes this week and it was all pleasantly silly.
Moon Knight (Disney Plus)
The Offer (Paramount Plus)
Painting With John (HBOMax)
Musician, actor, and artistic gadfly John Lurie paints pictures while talking about whatever he feels like talking about. I watched three episodes on Monday. At one point, Lurie told everyone watching to imagine their hand turning into a light bulb. That’s my type of artist.
Sketchbook (Disney Plus)
Disney animators teach viewers how to draw their favorite characters. I watched two episodes, one of Friday and one on Saturday. I learned how to draw Simba. It’s a cute show.
Slasher: Flesh and Blood (Shudder)
I watched this horror-themed miniseries on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! A killer brutally killed off the members of a particularly greedy family. David Cronenberg played the family patriarch and gave a nicely eccentric performance. I appreciated this show for its atmospheric locations, its ruthless killers, and its willingness to kill off just about anyone. It was a bit of a spiritual sequel to Harper’s Island. It was horror for people who appreciate horror.
Slippin’ Jimmy (Prime)
It’s the early days of Jimmy McGill! This is an animated prequel to Better Call Saul. The episode that I watched, on Sunday, was an Exorcist parody. It should have been funny but it just never worked for me. The humor was a bit too obvious and predictable for me. Maybe I’ve just seen too many Exorcist parodies for the idea to really capture my imagination.
Two-Sentence Horror Stories (Netflix)
This horror anthology actually airs on The CW but I watched the third season on Netflix, on Sunday and Monday. The season was made up of ten episodes and, as is somewhat typical of anthology series, the end results were uneven. I did, however, like The Crush episode, which was kind of an extra macabre take on What Ever Happened To Baby Jane.
The Woman In The House Across The Street From The Girl In The Window (Netflix)
This miniseries, directed by Michael Lehmann, does for the Netflix what A Deadly Adoption did for Lifetime. It’s a pitch perfect satire of the type of movies that tend to show up on Netflix, one that pokes fun but does so in such a dry way that some viewers will undoubtedly miss the point. Since films like The Girl On The Train and The Woman In The Window are already kind of self-parodies, this is the best approach to take. Kristen Bell is great in the role of the wine-drinking neighbor who is haunted by the strange things that she sees across the street. Can she conquer her fear of the rain and solve the mystery!? Watch to find out!
You (Netflix)
I watched You‘s third season over the course of the week. Joe and Love are now parents living in the suburbs but Joe is still up to his old tricks. Unfortunately, for Joe, so is Love. The first episode was great but the rest of the season couldn’t live up to it. Penn Badgley always does a good job as Joe but the rest of the season felt like a knock-off of some of Dexter‘s later seasons.
No sooner had Ryan posted his essay about whether or not comic book companies like Marvel or DC actually need readers anymore then I came over here to type up my review of Moon Knight.
Why is that relevant? Well, Moon Knight is a 6-episode miniseries based on a character who made his debut in the pages of Marvel comics. The character has a loyal following of readers but the Disney miniseries has introduced him to a whole new group of people, many of whom have never even held a comic book, let alone read one. I’m one of those people. If not for the miniseries, I wouldn’t have the slightest idea who Moon Knight is because, for the most part, I’ve never been a comic book reader. I would have to imagine that if I was a comic book reader, it would bug the Hell out of me that people who have never read a comic book are now suddenly acting as if they’re experts on all of the various costumed characters who have been published by Marvel and DC over the past few decades. I can remember how upset I was when everyone suddenly decided that they were an expert on Dario Argento and Italian horror just because they had read some lame article on the remake of Suspiria. No, I wanted to say, you haven’t done the work!
Unfortunately, that’s the way of the world now. With the current pop cultural dominance of the MCU and the DCEU, everyone’s a super hero fan regardless of whether or not they’ve ever read a comic book. And, with the explosion of social media over the past decade, everyone is now in a position to present themselves as being an expert regardless of whether they’re tweeting their own thoughts or just plagiarizing what they’ve read on Wikipedia. It doesn’t matter whether the topic is politics, television, history, science, religion, or comic books. Everyone now claims to be an expert and, as the old saying goes, when everyone’s an expert, no one’s an expert. Again, if that annoys the Hell out of you, I sympathize.
Perhaps you can take some consolation in the fact that, even though I watched all six episode of Moon Knight today, I hardly feel like an expert as far as the character is concerned. For the most part, I enjoyed Moon Knight but I would be lying if I said that I was always able to follow what was going on. Oscar Isaac plays Marc Spector, a mercenary who is mortally wounded in Egypt but who is revived by Khonshu (voiced by F. Murray Abraham), the Egyptian God of the Moon, who tasks Spector with protecting humanity from evil or something like that. Sometimes, however, Spector becomes Steven Grant, a mild-mannered and neurotic Brit who works in a museum gift shop and who is haunted by strange dreams. When Grant discovers that he’s actually Spector, this leads to him meeting Spector’s wife, Layla (May Calamawy) and also having to battle Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), a fanatical cult leader who is trying to get his hands on ancient scarab that will …. let him do stuff, I guess. Harrow’s evil, Moon Knight’s good, and I guess that’s all we really need to know. Moon Knight is basically a typical MCU “let’s all fight over the artifact” story, with the main twist being that all of the Gods are Egyptian instead of Norse and the hero has dissociative identity disorder and might actually very well be a patient at psychiatric hospital.
With all that in mind, Moon Knight is actually pretty entertaining. It’s biggest strength, not surprisingly, is Oscar Isaac, who appears to be having a ball playing several different versions of the same character. When he’s Marc Spector, he gets to play at being a grim and serious action hero. When he’s Steve Grant, he gets to play a comedic bumbler who gets the chance to prove that he’s stronger and more capable than anyone gave him credit for. Isaac does a good job with both roles and the show is at its best when it’s just Isaac arguing with himself. Playing a villain in an MCU production is often a thankless task but Hawke’s brings the right edge of fanaticism to Arthur Harrow and F. Murray Abraham voices Khonshu with the just the right combination of righteous indignation and weary frustration. The show makes good use of its Egyptian setting and the fourth and fifth episodes are enjoyably surreal as they delve into the corners of Spector’s mind.
Unfortunately, the show’s conclusion leaves a bit to be desired. After all that build-up, it all pretty much leads to a standard MCU street battle and the possibility of more Moon Knight action in the future. That said, I enjoyed the show for what it was. Turn off your mind, relax, and float across the Duat, as the old saying goes.
Almost despite myself, I enjoyed The Offer.
That may come as a surprise to some. The Offer is a 10-hour miniseries about the making of The Godfather and how Hollywood politics aren’t really that much different from Mafia politics. As anyone who has regularly read this site over the past few years should know, I absolutely love The Godfather. It’s my favorite movie. It’s a movie about which I’ve done a lot of personal research. There’s very little about the making of The Godfather that I don’t know. If we’re going to be honest, I’m probably a little bit of a snob about it.
So, like many people, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about The Offer. It didn’t seem like something that was particularly necessary and it was hard for me to imagine how the miniseries would ever be able to convincingly cast anyone as Marlon Brando or Al Pacino or, for that matter, Francis Ford Coppola. My skepticism only increased when I learned that the story was going to be told from the perspective of the film’s producer, Al Ruddy. Everyone agrees that Ruddy was an important part of The Godfather team but he’s never been quite as compelling a figure as the brilliant but often self-destructive Brando or the neurotic but playful Pacino. When people talk about what makes The Godfather such a brilliant film, they talk about the quotable dialogue. They talk about the masterful performances. They talk about Coppola’s skill as a storyteller. They talk about the way that Gordon Willis lit the scenes so that the characters often seemed to be on the verge of being swallowed by their shadows. They even talk about how Robert Evans insisted that the film could only be directed by an Italian and how Evans defied Paramount when the studio originally demanded that Coppola cut the film down to two hours. When Al Ruddy is praised, it’s usually for staying out of the way.
I knew that I would have to watch The Offer eventually but I avoided it while it was actually airing and I made sure not to read anyone else’s opinion to it. Despite my own obvious biases, I did want to try to maintain as open a mind as I possibly could. That said, I wasn’t expecting much when I finally watched The Offer this weekend.
But, as I said at the start of this review, I enjoyed it.
Don’t get me wrong. It’s a bit of a silly show. If The Offer was a sitcom, it would be called Everybody Loves Ruddy because the main theme of the show seems to be that Al Ruddy (played by a miscast Miles Teller) was literally the most important man in the entire history of Hollywood. There’s not a problem that Ruddy can’t solve, whether it’s convincing CBS to air a tasteless sitcom called Hogan’s Heroes or convincing Paramount to take a huge risk on a mercurial director named Coppola and an unknown actor named Pacino. When gangster Joe Colombo (Giovanni Ribisi) tries to interfere with production, Ruddy befriends him and is soon a popular guy with the crew. When Al Pacino (Anthony Ippolito) signs a contract with MGM, Ruddy puts the pressure on Paramount to find a way to get Pacino out of it. When Coppola (Dan Fogler) has a fight with Gordon Willis (T.J. Thyne), Ruddy convinces them to make up. When Robert Evans (Matthew Goode) goes on a coke binge, Ruddy snaps him out of it. When …. well, you get the idea. There’s nothing Al Ruddy can’t do! When Evans mentioned that Henry Kissinger was coming to the Godfather premiere, I half expected Al Ruddy to negotiate a ceasefire in Vietnam.
From the start, The Offer is full of visual cues and dialogue that pay homage to not only The Godfather but the other films of the period. The first line of the miniseries is Joe Colombo telling someone to, “Leave the cannoli.” At first, I groaned but, slowly but surely, the show won me over. By the end of the first episode, it was obvious that The Offer was not necessarily meant to be taken literally. The Offer doesn’t tell the story of what Hollywood was really like in the late 60s and early 70s. Instead, it tells the story of how people like me, who were born a few decades too late, imagine it was. It’s less about the decade itself and more about how that decade continues to fascinate us and spark our imagination. In our imagination, Robert Evans is snorting coke in his office, Ali MacGraw is lounging by the pool, Frank Sinatra is making angry phone calls to Joe Colombo, Al Pacino is so nervous that he can’t look anyone in the eye, and Marlon Brando is wandering around his mansion in a kimono and talking about how he can’t get anyone to see his latest, politically-charged film. In our fantasies, it only makes sense that Evans and his assistant Peter Bart (Josh Zuckerman) would spend all of their time dropping titles of well-regarded, still-remembered films because why would anyone fantasize about them discussing a film that was forgotten? And, of course, no one is going to fantasize about people discussing some actor who was briefly big in 1972 and then spent the rest of their career on television. Instead, in the fantasy, it’s all about Robert Redford, Jack Nicholson, Liz Taylor, and Marlon Brando. It also makes sense that only classic 70s music would be heard in the background of every scene because, seriously, who ever fantasizes about a bad song playing at a party?
Once it is accepted that it is all meant to be a fantasy, it becomes much easier to appreciate The Offer for what it is, a gossipy, Hollywood story with a Mafia subplot and an overabundance period detail. Once the viewer accepts The Offer is a fantasy, the viewer is freed up to appreciate the 70s-chic wardrobe. Once the viewer gets past the fact that the cast is playing characters based on actual people, it becomes much easier to appreciate the performances of character actors like Colin Hanks (who plays an uptight executive) and Burn Gorman (who plays the notoriously eccentric businessman, Charles Bluhdorn). Patrick Gallo is slyly funny as Mario Puzo while Dan Fogler does a credible enough job as Coppola, even if he never quite captures Coppola’s larger-than-life persona. Even Lou Ferrigno gets a nice bit, playing a mob enforcer turned unwilling actor. At the center of it all is the absolutely brilliant Matthew Goode, giving a charismatic performance as the brilliant but sometimes unstable Robert Evans.
As a history, The Offer won’t win any points for accuracy. But, as a fantasy, it’s undeniably entertaining. It’s not so much the story of how The Godfather was made but the story of how we wish it was made.
Through the Shattered Lens 