How intense is the pressure of being CEO of HBO? You’re constantly calling Kim Cattrall, enduring the other execs at Craig’s passive aggressively asking how “Max” is going, and ever since his show ended, dealing with John Wilson filming outside your house. But the worst part of the job is that TV critics can just say whatever they want, like it’s a college campus before 2010. So who can blame the HBO head for carving out a few hours of his day to seek revenge on those critics?
But it all fell apart Nov. 1, when Rolling Stone revealed that six tweets mocking TV critics who wrote negative reviews about HBO shows were actually composed at the direction of Max CEO Casey Bloys under fake names. Most were posted by the account @KellySh33889356, who was “Kelly Shepherd,” a blond “Mom. Texan. Herbalist” who wears a tasteful black striped button...
But it all fell apart Nov. 1, when Rolling Stone revealed that six tweets mocking TV critics who wrote negative reviews about HBO shows were actually composed at the direction of Max CEO Casey Bloys under fake names. Most were posted by the account @KellySh33889356, who was “Kelly Shepherd,” a blond “Mom. Texan. Herbalist” who wears a tasteful black striped button...
- 11/11/2023
- by Joel Stein
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After a 13-year hiatus, the third season of “Party Down” premiered on Starz last month, proving it’s still the most underrated laugh riot on TV. The series boasts an all-star cast including Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Jennifer Coolidge and Megan Mullally, working as caterers whose hopes at Hollywood superstardom have been dashed.
With a stellar rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads, “Returning after a long layoff, Party Down brings patient fans a third season that’s every bit as sharp — and laugh-out-loud funny — as its predecessors.” Ignored by major awards shows for its first two cycles, the comedy created by John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas won the AFI TV Program of the Year Award in 2010, where they called it “wickedly funny” and “television’s best-kept secret.” Read our review roundup for Season 3 below.
See Revived comedy ‘Party Down’ debuts trailer
Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.
With a stellar rating of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ consensus reads, “Returning after a long layoff, Party Down brings patient fans a third season that’s every bit as sharp — and laugh-out-loud funny — as its predecessors.” Ignored by major awards shows for its first two cycles, the comedy created by John Enbom, Dan Etheridge, Paul Rudd and Rob Thomas won the AFI TV Program of the Year Award in 2010, where they called it “wickedly funny” and “television’s best-kept secret.” Read our review roundup for Season 3 below.
See Revived comedy ‘Party Down’ debuts trailer
Rendy Jones of RogerEbert.
- 3/16/2023
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
Critics are celebrating HBO’s adaptation of Naughty Dog and Sony Corporation’s acclaimed 2013 action adventure video game “The Last of Us,” which will premiere this coming Sunday.
“The Last of Us” takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The show is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl”) and Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann.
Also Read:
‘The Last of Us’ Review: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Are Perfect in HBO’s Faithful Adaptation
TheWrap’s Karama Horne said that HBO, Druckmann and Mazin have done “an excellent job of sticking close to the source material while...
“The Last of Us” takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel (Pedro Pascal), a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
The show is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin (“Chernobyl”) and Naughty Dog co-president Neil Druckmann.
Also Read:
‘The Last of Us’ Review: Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey Are Perfect in HBO’s Faithful Adaptation
TheWrap’s Karama Horne said that HBO, Druckmann and Mazin have done “an excellent job of sticking close to the source material while...
- 1/10/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
“Interview with the Vampire” got some new blood when it premiered on AMC as a TV series on Sunday, October 2. The new show was created by Rolin Jones and is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Anne Rice. Critics took to the gothic story, which currently holds a freshness rating of 98 on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus reads, “With a playful tone and an expansive sweep that allows Anne Rice’s gothic opus to mull like a chalice of blood, Interview with the Vampire puts a stake through concerns that this story couldn’t be successfully resurrected.”
See Is ‘Better Call Saul’ Finally bound for SAG Awards glory?
So what exactly are critics saying about the new series starring Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, and Rae Dawn Chong?
Allison Picurro of TV Guide notes that the series takes no time ensuring that the queer subtext of the...
See Is ‘Better Call Saul’ Finally bound for SAG Awards glory?
So what exactly are critics saying about the new series starring Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Eric Bogosian, and Rae Dawn Chong?
Allison Picurro of TV Guide notes that the series takes no time ensuring that the queer subtext of the...
- 10/4/2022
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
In the sixth season premiere of “The Good Fight,” Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart tearfully shares with her new therapist that she wants “off the wheel” of political and legal insanity, and in true ‘Good Fight’ fashion, her tears are induced by teargas from the raging angst in the streets. Unfortunately, fans of the Paramount+ series will be teary-eyed, too, as Diane getting off the wheel means that after 60 episodes, the Robert King and Michelle King legal and political drama will sign off, ending a 13-year run that began with “The Good Wife.”
In these final episodes, Baranski’s Diane will struggle to process the fact that so much progress made over the past 50 years has receded, from reproductive and civil rights to the return of Cold War aggressions and threat of nuclear war. Audra McDonald’s Liz will confront a much different battle, sparring with the law firm’s...
In these final episodes, Baranski’s Diane will struggle to process the fact that so much progress made over the past 50 years has receded, from reproductive and civil rights to the return of Cold War aggressions and threat of nuclear war. Audra McDonald’s Liz will confront a much different battle, sparring with the law firm’s...
- 9/14/2022
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
We are just days away from the release of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which officially launches on Friday 2 September.
It’s been a long wait since Jeff Bezos’s omnipotent Amazon empire in 2017 paid Jrr Tolkien’s estate 250m (£211m) for the rights to set a fantasy series in the world of Middle-earth.
The forthcoming drama is set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. According to the show’s official logline, it promises to “take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness”.
A reported 462m (£398m) has been spent on the first season,...
It’s been a long wait since Jeff Bezos’s omnipotent Amazon empire in 2017 paid Jrr Tolkien’s estate 250m (£211m) for the rights to set a fantasy series in the world of Middle-earth.
The forthcoming drama is set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. According to the show’s official logline, it promises to “take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness”.
A reported 462m (£398m) has been spent on the first season,...
- 8/31/2022
- by Tom Murray
- The Independent - TV
On July 15, 2022, HBO premiered “The Rehearsal,” a docu-comedy created by Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder, in which he also stars and directs. The six-episode series explores the lengths one man will go to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. With a construction crew, a legion of actors, and seemingly unlimited resources, Fielder allows ordinary people to prepare for life’s biggest moments by “rehearsing” them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?
With a 96 on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has already struck a cord with viewers. The gushing consensus states, “‘The Rehearsal’ gives Nathan Fielder carte blanche to take his absurdist comedy to the limit, which he pushes even further past with deadpan aplomb in what might be his most uncomfortably funny feat yet.” But what exactly did the critics think of it?
See over 130 interviews...
With a 96 on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has already struck a cord with viewers. The gushing consensus states, “‘The Rehearsal’ gives Nathan Fielder carte blanche to take his absurdist comedy to the limit, which he pushes even further past with deadpan aplomb in what might be his most uncomfortably funny feat yet.” But what exactly did the critics think of it?
See over 130 interviews...
- 7/18/2022
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
“Star Wars” fans were excited for the return of everyone’s favorite Jedi when “Obi-Wan Kenobi” starring Emmy winner Ewan McGregor premiered via Disney Plus on May 27. The series proved to be well worth the wait, becoming the streamer’s most-watched premiere, surpassing season two of “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.” In its inaugural season, which concluded on June 22, the limited series proves that there is no stopping the iconic franchise from exploring new territory as well as revisiting fan favorites. But did critics agree?
See ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ star Moses Ingram exposes racist pseudo-fans, gets support from Ewan McGregor, Anson Mount and respective franchises
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” currently holds an impressive 83 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “This won’t be the Obi-Wan Kenobi some viewers are looking for, but Ewan McGregor’s soulful performance and some refreshing twists make this a satisfying — if circuitous...
See ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ star Moses Ingram exposes racist pseudo-fans, gets support from Ewan McGregor, Anson Mount and respective franchises
“Obi-Wan Kenobi” currently holds an impressive 83 freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus reading, “This won’t be the Obi-Wan Kenobi some viewers are looking for, but Ewan McGregor’s soulful performance and some refreshing twists make this a satisfying — if circuitous...
- 6/30/2022
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
After a three-year plus hiatus from the eccentricities of Midwestern crime, FX’s critically-acclaimed anthology series “Fargo” returns for its fourth season on September 27. Originally slated for an April premiere––which would’ve made the series eligible for 2020 Emmy consideration––production stalled due to Covid-19 and just last month ramped back up to finish the eleven-episode season.
Each season of “Fargo” takes its inspiration from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s 1996 film of the same name, and episodes very frequently reference their entire filmography. The fourth go-round centers on a 1950s contest between rival gangs in Kansas City: a Black crime syndicate headed by Chris Rock’s Loy Cannon and an Italian mafia family led by Jason Schwartzman’s Josto Fadda. On the peripheries of this conflict sit the brilliant daughter of funeral parlor owners (E’myri Crutchfield), and a malevolent nurse Oraetta Mayflower (Jessie Buckley). Emmy-winners Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal...
Each season of “Fargo” takes its inspiration from Joel Coen and Ethan Coen’s 1996 film of the same name, and episodes very frequently reference their entire filmography. The fourth go-round centers on a 1950s contest between rival gangs in Kansas City: a Black crime syndicate headed by Chris Rock’s Loy Cannon and an Italian mafia family led by Jason Schwartzman’s Josto Fadda. On the peripheries of this conflict sit the brilliant daughter of funeral parlor owners (E’myri Crutchfield), and a malevolent nurse Oraetta Mayflower (Jessie Buckley). Emmy-winners Ben Whishaw (“A Very English Scandal...
- 9/25/2020
- by David Buchanan
- Gold Derby
The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker review embargo has ended and it seems the film is in for a bumpy ride. After The Last Jedi was adored by critics and despised by a portion of the fan community and Solo bombed at the box office, this finale for the Sequel Trilogy was intended to end it with a bang. Unfortunately, though, according to most critics, it’s ending with more of a whimper.
It should be pointed out that Rotten Tomatoes has no consensus about the movie, but as of this writing, it’s at 56% with 43 reviews in. Whether it eventually squeaks over the 60% mark into ‘fresh’ territory or not, it seems that this is destined to be easily the worst reviewed movie of the Sequel Trilogy (The Force Awakens is at 93% and The Last Jedi at 91%) and may become the worst reviewed Star Wars movie since The Phantom...
It should be pointed out that Rotten Tomatoes has no consensus about the movie, but as of this writing, it’s at 56% with 43 reviews in. Whether it eventually squeaks over the 60% mark into ‘fresh’ territory or not, it seems that this is destined to be easily the worst reviewed movie of the Sequel Trilogy (The Force Awakens is at 93% and The Last Jedi at 91%) and may become the worst reviewed Star Wars movie since The Phantom...
- 12/18/2019
- by David James
- We Got This Covered
After more than a year away, “Dear White People” returned to Netflix on August 2 with volume three. The latest batch of episodes continues to explore life at Winchester, a fictional ivy league university brimming with racial tension. So where does the show stand in its junior year?
As of this writing season three of the satire has a MetaCritic score of 77 based on six reviews counted thus far — five of them positive, one of them somewhat mixed. That’s lower than the 85 for season one and the 89 for season two, but while one critic, Robyn Bahr (Hollywood Reporter) says the new season is a “minor disappointment,” she prefaces that by saying that it’s still “one of the best shows on TV that you might not be watching.” These episodes are also being described as “lighter, funnier, more relaxed,” pushing its characters “toward thrilling new beginnings.” It “captures the boundless...
As of this writing season three of the satire has a MetaCritic score of 77 based on six reviews counted thus far — five of them positive, one of them somewhat mixed. That’s lower than the 85 for season one and the 89 for season two, but while one critic, Robyn Bahr (Hollywood Reporter) says the new season is a “minor disappointment,” she prefaces that by saying that it’s still “one of the best shows on TV that you might not be watching.” These episodes are also being described as “lighter, funnier, more relaxed,” pushing its characters “toward thrilling new beginnings.” It “captures the boundless...
- 8/3/2019
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Hey, movie fans. Yes indeedy, the new "Spider-Man: Far From Home" movie is officially out in theaters nationwide. It was released by Columbia Pictures aka Sony this past Tuesday,July 2, 2019, and all the critic reviews have been turned in. They look mostly positive. It scored a 69 out of a possible 100 across 53 critics over on metacritic.com. It stars: Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Keaton, J.B. Smoove, Zendaya Coleman, Marisa Tomei, Numan Acar, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Remi Hii and Jacob Batalon. We're going to go over some of the statements from a few of the critics in this article. Alonso Duralde from The Wrap gave it an 85 grade. He stated, "If anything, and this is a compliment, the film frequently feels like a charming teen road-trip comedy that occasionally turns into a superhero movie." Justin Chang over at the Los Angeles Times gave it an 80 score. He compared it...
- 7/6/2019
- by Derek Smith
- OnTheFlix
Early reviews have come swinging in for the latest Spider-Man flick. The consensus: a fun and satisfying sequel to “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” although it might tread over too familiar territory and be a bit overlong.
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” currently stands with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes — the same score as its predecessor “Homecoming.” As the title suggests, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) traverses the landscape of foreign countries, as well as the landscapes of teenage drama and superhero mayhem.
Coming off the heels of the mega-hit “Avengers: Endgame,” would this latest Marvel movie feel slight in comparison?
“What does it feel like to watch a Marvel film in a post-Avengers world? Is there anything at stake left?” wrote Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman in his review. “It has to do with that mysterious, hard-to-bottle chemistry of audience and superhero — the flow of actor, character, mythology, and FX concept as they merge and navigate...
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” currently stands with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes — the same score as its predecessor “Homecoming.” As the title suggests, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) traverses the landscape of foreign countries, as well as the landscapes of teenage drama and superhero mayhem.
Coming off the heels of the mega-hit “Avengers: Endgame,” would this latest Marvel movie feel slight in comparison?
“What does it feel like to watch a Marvel film in a post-Avengers world? Is there anything at stake left?” wrote Variety‘s Owen Gleiberman in his review. “It has to do with that mysterious, hard-to-bottle chemistry of audience and superhero — the flow of actor, character, mythology, and FX concept as they merge and navigate...
- 6/27/2019
- by Dano Nissen
- Variety Film + TV
The new R-rated reboot of “Hellboy” from Lionsgate and starring David Harbour is a bloodier, more violent take on Mike Mignola’s comic book character than Guillermo del Toro’s original films, and many critics haven’t been shy in savaging it.
Early reviews of director Neil Marshall’s “Hellboy” are largely negative, with critics saying that the new film pales in comparison to the fantasy whimsy of del Toro’s version. At least one critic was willing to say that the film is an early contender for the worst film of the year, while another went as far as to call it one of the worst comic book movies ever made.
“In a word, ‘Hellboy’ is unpleasant. Other appropriate adjectives to describe this reboot include dreadful, obnoxious, unnecessary and interminable,” /Film’s Josh Spiegel wrote in his review. “Considering the shadow cast by the two ‘Hellboy’ films written and directed by Guillermo del Toro,...
Early reviews of director Neil Marshall’s “Hellboy” are largely negative, with critics saying that the new film pales in comparison to the fantasy whimsy of del Toro’s version. At least one critic was willing to say that the film is an early contender for the worst film of the year, while another went as far as to call it one of the worst comic book movies ever made.
“In a word, ‘Hellboy’ is unpleasant. Other appropriate adjectives to describe this reboot include dreadful, obnoxious, unnecessary and interminable,” /Film’s Josh Spiegel wrote in his review. “Considering the shadow cast by the two ‘Hellboy’ films written and directed by Guillermo del Toro,...
- 4/11/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
The 2018 Emmys won’t be handed out until September, but the 2019 Emmy race has already begun with HBO’s chilling eight-part miniseries “Sharp Objects,” based on a novel by “Gone Girl” author Gillian Flynn. Marti Noxon ran the show, and Jean-Marc Vallee directed every episode. They’re both strong Emmy contenders for their work behind the camera, but let’s talk about what lead actress Amy Adams accomplished on screen.
Remember when Adams used to be primarily known for playing lovable naifs? She initially broke through with warmhearted roles in “Catch Me if You Can” (2002) and “Junebug” (2005), the latter of which earned her her first Oscar nomination. And she followed those up with similarly chipper heroines in “Enchanted” (2007), “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” (2008) and “Julie and Julia” (2009). But then she started to expand her repertoire to include darker, grittier characters in “The Fighter” (2010), “The Master” (2012) and “American Hustle” (2013), which earned her her third,...
Remember when Adams used to be primarily known for playing lovable naifs? She initially broke through with warmhearted roles in “Catch Me if You Can” (2002) and “Junebug” (2005), the latter of which earned her her first Oscar nomination. And she followed those up with similarly chipper heroines in “Enchanted” (2007), “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day” (2008) and “Julie and Julia” (2009). But then she started to expand her repertoire to include darker, grittier characters in “The Fighter” (2010), “The Master” (2012) and “American Hustle” (2013), which earned her her third,...
- 8/27/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Early reviews are coming in for “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 crime thriller about a secret border drug war between the United States government and Mexican cartel. According to critics, Stefano Sollima’s “Day of the Soldado” ramps up the violence and tension as well as provides memorable performances from Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin and proves itself to be a brutal-but-worthy entry in a new series of gritty modern western films, notching a 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes so far.
The first “Sicario” holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and received three Academy Award nominations.
Variety’s Peter Debruge described “Day of the Soldado” as topical, given the recent controversies regarding the Trump administration’s border policies, but it’s not as though the film that will settle the debate surrounding the issue, saying, “Tense, tough, and shockingly ruthless at times, ‘Soldado’ doesn’t...
The first “Sicario” holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and received three Academy Award nominations.
Variety’s Peter Debruge described “Day of the Soldado” as topical, given the recent controversies regarding the Trump administration’s border policies, but it’s not as though the film that will settle the debate surrounding the issue, saying, “Tense, tough, and shockingly ruthless at times, ‘Soldado’ doesn’t...
- 6/23/2018
- by Ellis Clopton
- Variety Film + TV
“Legion” returns for its second season on FX on Tuesday night, April 3, following an eight-episode first season that was a stark departure from the norms of more straightforward superhero TV shows like “The Flash,” “Agents of Shield” and “Jessica Jones.” The series follows David Haller (“Downton Abbey” alum Dan Stevens) on a mind-bending journey where he discovers that what he thought was mental illness was really a combination of advanced psychic powers and a villain called the Shadow King who had invaded his mind — haven’t we all been there?
The new season is every bit as strange, according to critics, but is it all style over substance? Reviewers have been debating that, as much with themselves as with each other, but the new season has won most of their approval with a MetaCritic score of 84 and a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 100%, both based on seven reviews. The second...
The new season is every bit as strange, according to critics, but is it all style over substance? Reviewers have been debating that, as much with themselves as with each other, but the new season has won most of their approval with a MetaCritic score of 84 and a Rotten Tomatoes freshness rating of 100%, both based on seven reviews. The second...
- 4/3/2018
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
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