News

The upcoming season of Apple TV+’s acclaimed comedy series, Platonic, will feature plenty of surprises, including the introduction of some new characters whom SNL fans may recognize. Rogen and Byrne will unite with former SNL stars Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, and Beck Bennett.

Platonic season 2 is all set to return on August 6. Bryant will appear as ‘Wild Card’, Mooney will take on the role of Terry, and Bennett will portray Carrie. Season 1 featured SNL stars Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as former best friends, Will and Sylvia, who reconnect years later in adulthood. Although the show was initially planned as a limited series, it was renewed for a second season.

What Does Platonic Creator Have to Say About the New Characters? Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen in the second season of Platonic | (Credit: Apple TV+)

Platonic Season 1 tied all loose ends, and the finale provided a clear resolution for the main characters,...

ABC News Studios and the CBC have picked up the U.S. rights to Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, director Ally Pankiw’s feature documentary about Sarah McLachlan’s 1990s all-female music festival.

On the heels of a world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, Canada’s CBC network, which also backed the project, will air the indie doc on Sept. 17 as part of its The Passionate Eye series. Then, in the U.S., Hulu and Disney+ will stream the title from Sept. 21.

The film will also stream on Disney+ internationally later this year and will coincide with McLachlan launching her first studio album of new music in over a decade, Better Broken, on Sept. 19 and a Canadian concert tour.

“I’m so filled with pride and nostalgia watching this film,” McLachlan said about the Lilith Fair doc in a statement. “Ally and the team have beautifully captured the magic...

Exclusive: Andrew Singer, former President of Film & Television of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, has launched Revue Studios, a new independent content studio backed by Wasserman, the sports, music and entertainment company founded and run by Casey Wasserman.

Singer will oversee the scripted operation with focus on comedy, which fits his background at Broadway Video, emphasizing premium storytelling.

The launch of Revue Studios expands Wasserman’s footprint in entertainment. It was established with the 2023 acquisition of talent management and production company Brillstein Entertainment Partners whose CEO Jon Liebman oversees Wasserman’s businesses in that space, including Bep, the non-fiction division launched last year with Zoe Rogovin at the helm and now Revue Studios. The previously unnamed non-fiction unit, which has been making strides in the documentary, docu-series and original format spaces, will now carry the Revue banner which could also expand into other content areas in the future, including genre and YA.

Brett Greenstein and Collin Daniel of Greenstein/Daniel Casting are responsible for some of TV’s most joyous ensembles, from the Hulu comedy “Shrill” to Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever.” Stil, Daniel says that their latest project – the Netflix rom-com “Nobody Wants This” – is a new experience. “It’s the biggest hit show we’ve ever done, and it’s thrilling to see its worldwide success,” says Daniel.

Created by Erin Foster, the series stars Kristen Bell and Adam Brody as a seemingly mismatched couple – she’s an agnostic host of a sex podcast, he’s a Rabbi. Though the two share immediate chemistry, they have to overcome their differences and the skepticism of friends and family to navigate the new relationship. Much of the show hinges on the chemistry of the two leads, and Bell and Brody have worked together before in the films “Scream 4”, “CHiPs”, and...

Exclusive: Television executive Erin Wehrenberg has been appointed Head of Creative Affairs at Quinta Brunson’s Fifth Chance Productions.

With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Wehrenberg has been behind the development, renewal, and sale of some of the most influential comedy and drama series, including Friends, The Office, 30 Rock, Freaks and Geeks, Friday Night Lights, and, most recently, Brunson’s Abbott Elementary.

Wehrenberg previously served as Senior Vice President of Comedy Programming at ABC and has held senior leadership positions at Warner Bros. Television, Universal Media Studios, and NBC. Her portfolio includes hits like Two Broke Girls, Ted Lasso, Shrill, Suburgatory, Parks and Recreation, My Name is Earl, Scrubs, Will & Grace, ER, Heroes, and many more.

As Head of Creative Affairs, Wehrenberg will play a key role in advancing Brunson’s slate of film and television projects, while providing strategic oversight of the Fifth Chance Productions brand in its entirety.

"The Franchise," an HBO comedy series about a superhero film franchise helmed by creator Jon Brown and executive producers Armando Iannucci and Sam Mendes, was canceled in January of 2025, just a few months after its October 2024 premiere. So what happened here?

According to a Deadline report announcing the show's cancellation, the show just didn't click with viewers, leading to its removal from the premium network's slate. "We're so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the tremendously talented team behind 'The Franchise,' especially Sam Mendes, Jon Brown, Armando Iannucci, and this hilarious ensemble of actors," a spokesperson for HBO told the outlet at the time about the show's cancellation. "While we won't be moving forward with another season, we look forward to collaborating with all of them in the future."

Later on, HBO's comedy head Amy Gravitt spoke to Deadline in March and said that she...

Natasha Lyonne has racked up over 130 screen acting credits over the course of a career that stretches back to the mid-1980s – and now she’s ready to make her feature directorial debut. Variety reports that Lyonne, who has co-founded an AI production studio called Asteria, will be taking the helm of Uncanny Valley, a film that will be made by “combining AI tools with traditional filmmaking techniques.” Asteria is described as an “artist-led, ethical AI film and animation studio.”

Lyonne wrote the screenplay with Brit Marling, the co-creator and co-showrunner of The Oa and A Murder at the End of the World. Lyonne and Marling will both have acting roles in the film, which is set in a parallel present and follows Mila, a teenage girl who begins to lose her grip on reality as a globally popular augmented reality video game starts glitching feverishly with increasingly dangerous real-world consequences.

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Dying for Sex is a comedy-drama miniseries created by Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether. Based on the podcast of the same name by Wondery and Nikki Boyer, the FX on Hulu series follows Molly, a middle-aged woman who is unhappy with her marriage and has never experienced an orgasm. When she is diagnosed with breast she decides to end her marriage and live out her sexual desires. Dying for Sex stars Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, David Rasche, Kelvin Yu, Rob Delaney, Jay Duplass, and Sissy Spacek. So, if you loved the hilarious comedy, feel-good story, and compelling characters in Dying for Sex, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Sex Education (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Sex Education is a British teen sex comedy-drama series created by Laurie Nunn. The Netflix series is set in the fictional town of Moordale,...

Disney+ has set the main cast for the pilot of the “Holes” TV series adaptation, Variety has learned.

The project, which Variety exclusively reported on in January, will star: Greg Kinnear, Aidy Bryant, Shay Rudolph, Flor Delis Alicea (“Love the Skin You’re In”), Anire Kim Amoda, Noah Cottrell, Iesha Daniels and Sophie Dieterlen in their television debuts, Alexandra Doke, and Maeve Press.

Full character descriptions can be found below.

Unlike the book “Holes,” the show will feature a female protagonist and mostly female characters, whereas the book followed teenager Stanley Yelnats as he is sent to a juvenile detention camp for boys in Texas.

The official logline for the show states, “In this reimagining of the beloved 1998 book from Louis Sachar, a teenage girl (Rudolph) is sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden (Kinnear) forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose.”

Disney Branded Television is behind the pilot.

Greg Kinnear, Aidy Bryant, and Shay Rudolph are among 10 actors joining the cast of the Disney+ pilot Holes, based on Louis Sachar’s 1998 book, from Disney Branded Television.

Rounding out the cast are Flor Delis Alicea (Love the Skin You’re In), Anire Kim Amoda (The Penguin), Noah Cottrell (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Iesha Daniels, Sophie Dieterlen, Alexandra Doke (City on Fire), and Maeve Press (Everything’s Gonna Be Okay).

Written by Alina Mankin with Liz Phang as showrunner, Holes follows Hayley (Rudolph), a teenage girl sent to a detention camp where the ruthless Warden (Kinnear) forces the campers to dig holes for a mysterious purpose.

Clockwise Top L-r: Flor Delis Alicea, Anire Kim Amoda, Noah Cottrell, Iesha Daniels, Sophie Dieterlen, Alexandra Doke and Maeve Press

A breakdown of the characters and who plays them can be found below.

Before the Oscars light up Hollywood, the Film Independent Spirit Awards is bringing everyone down to the beach. Its annual celebration has been hosted at the Santa Monica Pier for many years, but 2025’s festivities there hold particular reverence, as just a little over a month ago, the area around this setting was ablaze from wildfires.

As serious as this tragedy was, the Spirit Awards, with “SNL” alumna and “Shrill” creator Aidy Bryant back as host, are sure to bring some much-needed levity to a city and community devastated by these recent natural disasters. Bryant will be joined by fellow “SNL” alumna and recent 50th Anniversary standout Molly Shannon, who serves as this year’s Honorary Chair. Other presenters for the evening include Tadanobu Asano, Carrie Coon, Danielle Deadwyler, Mark & Jay Duplass, Walton Goggins, Kathryn Hahn, Alana Haim, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Patti LuPone, Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyonne, Questlove, Edgar Ramirez, Hunter Schafer,...

Ready for some celebrity sightings by the beach? Because the 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards are pitching a tent and taking over the Santa Monica Pier this Saturday, February 22. The annual ceremony will once again be hosted by “SNL” alum and “Shrill” creator Aidy Bryant, who presided over last year’s events, where she joined a long list of hilarious Spirit Awards emcees that includes Hasan Minaj, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Offerman, John Mulaney and Nick Kroll, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. This year also marks an important milestone for Film Independent, as this is its 40th year presenting awards to its community.

For those who want to celebrate at home, the festivities will be streamed live on IMDb’s YouTube and other social platforms, as well as via Film Independent’s YouTube channel starting at 2:00pm Pt/5:00pm Et. See the full list of Spirit Awards nominees here.

While...

The list of Saturday Night Live’s all-time greatest cast members doesn’t exactly match up with the roster of comedians who’ve appeared in the most episodes. More than half of the 10 longest-tenured SNL comics — Kenan Thompson, Colin Jost, Michael Che, Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Aidy Bryant all lasted double-digit seasons — appeared in the 2020s.

This is new. This is weird. Why don’t cast members want to leave the show anymore?

Chevy Chase couldn’t wait to go. After one year of SNL success, he was hungry to try his hand at the movies. Bill Murray, John Belushi and Eddie Murphy jumped ship after four seasons. No one wanted Tina Fey to leave, say James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales in their book Live From New York, “but as the saying goes, It Was Time.”

Will it ever be time for Thompson, now hanging out for 22 seasons and counting?...

Exclusive: Universal Television has named Kimberly Hope EVP of Talent and Casting. Hope, who joins the Universal Studio Group division after more than a decade at Warner Bros. Television, is stepping into the role previously held by Universal Television’s longtime head of casting Beth Klein who retired at the end of last year after a 37-year career as a casting executive. Hope will oversee casting for Universal Television’s slate, reporting to studio president Erin Underhill.

As SVP of Casting for Warner Bros. Television, Hope supervised casting for such projects as Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Mrs. Davis (Peacock), The Cleaning Lady (Fox), The Sex Lives of College Girls (Max), Shrill (Hulu), Time Traveler’s Wife (HBO), Lucifer (Fox/Netflix), The Leftovers (HBO), Christmas on the Square (Netflix), Lethal Weapon (Fox), The Vampire Diaries (CW) and Powerless (NBC).

She also developed and managed the Warner Bros. TV “Actors In Training” program,...

Gold Derby’s top news stories for Jan. 30, 2025 Marianne Faithfull, Grammy-nominated singer, actress, and muse of Mick Jagger, dies at 78

Marianne Faithfull, the British performer who traveled a bumpy road from fresh-voiced pop star (as well as muse and girlfriend of Rolling Stones‘ frontman Mick Jagger) in the 1960s to homeless heroin addict and ultimately a musical comeback in the late 1970s, died on Thursday in London. She was 78. No cause of death was cited.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull,” read a statement from her publicist. “Marianne passed away peacefully in London today in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed.”

Faithfull emerged in the Swinging ’60s, plucked from obscurity by the Stones manager at 16 and in 1964 recorded “As Tears Go By,” becoming an overnight sensation with the Jagger-Keith Richards tune...

Exclusive: This is one of those “end of an era” executive departures. Andrew Singer is leaving Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video after more than 21 years. He most recently has served as President of Film & Television and Head of West Coast Operations, overseeing the company’s staff, development slate, and production deals with NBCUniversal and other studios.

Singer’s pending exit is still being negotiated, including his ongoing involvement as a producer in series he has shepherded, sources said.

“I’m grateful for the 21 years Andrew and I worked together and I’m sorry to see him go,” Michaels said in a statement to Deadline. “I know he’ll be successful in the next step in his career.”

Singer’s next career move is unclear, I hear it likely involves him launching a production company.

Beginning as an associate producer on the Emmy-winning series 30 Rock, Singer has been instrumental in the sale,...

You’d be hard-pressed to name a Daniel Stern movie from this century, but the guy was all over in the ‘80s and ‘90s. From Diner to Hannah and Her Sisters to Home Alone to City Slickers, Stern starred in some of the defining movies of many of our upbringings. And now, those are just wonder years because Stern is living well outside of Hollywood and enjoying his life as a different kind of artist.

While he still lives in California, Daniel Stern has retreated to a ranch. Despite being far away from the studio system, he does see similarities between that and both working a ranch and creating sculptures, an art he took up. “It takes all these people. So I love living in all these different worlds. It’s the same in my sculpture world. I make these fun sculptures, but I’m dealing with a city and...

The feel-good dramedy series wrapped up its three-season run this past weekend, but there are plenty of other shows to watch next.

Pour out one last tiny ‘tini or margarini for TV’s best feel-good series. This past Sunday, Dec. 8, HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere,” starring Bridget Everett, finished airing its third and final season. Everett starred as Sam, a woman in her 40s who returns to her hometown of Manhattan, Kansas, to navigate the death of her sister, where she finds a new and renewed community amongst her family and friends.

Few shows in recent memory have felt as warm and authentic as “Somebody Somewhere,” which also co-starred Jeff Hiller, Mary Catherine Garrison, Murray Hill, and more, never shying away from sadness or loneliness but instead embracing it with empathy toward being alive.

If you, too, have a Kansas-sized hole in your heart and are looking for more comedies about moving forward through life,...

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The Sex Lives of College Girls is a teen comedy-drama series created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble. The Max series follows four young women as they begin their freshmen years as roommates at the Essex College in Vermont. It revolves around their day-to-day lives, from their love lives to their struggles with adulthood. The Sex Lives of College Girls stars Pauline Chalamet, Amrit Kaur, Reneé Rapp, Alyah Chanelle Scott, Gavin Leatherwood, Christopher Meyer, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, and Renika Williams. So, if you loved the friendships, coming-of-age elements, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in The Sex Lives of College Girls, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Sex Education (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Sex Education is a British teen comedy-drama series created by Laurie Nunn. The Netflix series follows Otis Milburn, a student at Moordale Secondary...

Ever since Covid-19 hit the world with the pandemic, people have been more dependent on Ott platforms. Now, several streaming platforms make it easier for you to enjoy your favorite shows while being in a cozy and homely environment. Since A Handmaid’s Tale created a buzz after its release, many people have started subscribing to Hulu. But, between Netflix, Disney, Prime Video, and Apple TV, it seems that viewers miss out a lot on Hulu.

Joey King in The Act | Credits: Hulu

It now has an amazing slate of shows, including weekly broadcasts, original series, and more. However, there have been a few well-made web series that despite having a great storyline and stunning star cast, went unnoticed. So, in this article, we have curated a list of 10 underrated shows (from horror to comedy to drama) on Hulu that you might not have watched yet.

1. Mrs. America

While shows...

Netflix’s fifth and final original Christmas movie for 2024 is now streaming, and this one is animated. But you’re still going to recognize a whole lot of the cast.

Written and directed by Richard Curtis, who brought fans “Love, Actually,” the film centers on a group of people in a small town in the UK, getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Like “Love, Actually,” the story is told via vignettes, jumping around between different groups and pairings.

And as you meet those groups and pairings, you’re definitely going to recognize some of those voices. Here’s who we have.

Netflix/Getty Images Santa (Brian Cox)

The big man himself is voiced by Brian Cox, who you likely know from his time on “Succession,” or films including “X2: X-Men United,” “Troy,” “Red,” “Zodiac” and “Trick ‘r Treat,” among many others.

Netflix/Getty Images Lighthouse Bill (Bill Nighy)

Bill uses his lighthouse to help both Santa,...

Here’s a prediction: Aidy Bryant will be wearing ruby red when she takes to the stage on Feb. 22 to host the Spirit Awards. Why’s that you ask? Because it will the 40th anniversary of these prizes bestowed by Film Independent and the ruby is the traditional gift for this landmark achievement.

Bryant emceed the most recent edition of these kudos, which saw “Past Lives” pick up a pair of prizes including Best Picture. “The Holdovers” won three (including for eventual Oscar champ Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and “American Fiction” took two (giving screenwriter Cord Jefferson a chance to practice his Oscar acceptance speech).

Bryant starred for 10 seasons on “SNL” and earned a pair of Emmy nominations for Best Comedy Supporting Actress. Since leaving the show in 2022, Bryant has been busy. She headlined her own Hulu comedy, “Shrill,” picking up another Emmy bid (this time for Best Comedy Actress). And...

We are pleased to announce Aidy Bryant will be hosting the 40th Film Independent Spirit Awards. But… Bryant will have a tall task ahead of her. She’ll have to follow in the footsteps of last year’s beloved host: herself.

After making headlines with her 2024 stint, she’s braving a second round. Bryant joins the illustrious ranks of multi-year hosts like John Waters, Samuel L. Jackson, Nick Kroll & John Mulaney, Aubrey Plaza, Jennifer Tilly, Sarah Silverman, and of course Buck Henry.

The Emmy nominated SNL and Shrill actress and comedian has been busy since last year’s show. She’s joining the new season of Apple TV+’s Platonic opposite Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, and has joined the all-star stage ensemble for All In: Comedy About Love By Simon Rich, which opens this December.

“The Sexual Woman” herself will take the reigns Saturday, February 22, 2025, and you can watch...

After debuting as host of the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, Saturday Night Live alum Aidy Bryant is coming back for ceremony’s 40th edition in 2025.

The Spirits’ nominees will be announced December 4, with winners to be revealed at the awards show on February 22, 2025 that will be streamed live on the IMDb and Film Independent YouTube channels.

“We couldn’t ask for a better host for our 40th anniversary! As we prepare to celebrate this incredible milestone honoring the outstanding achievements and contributions within the independent world, we welcome Aidy back with open arms,” said Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent. “After her unforgettable turn last year, we can once again anticipate an evening filled with laughter, inspiration, and recognition of excellence.”

Last year’s top winners included A24’s Past Lives for Best Feature and that pic’s Celine Song as Best Director.

Bryant was a 10-year cast member on Saturday Night Live.

The 2025 Film Independent Spirit Awards is looking to a familiar face to celebrate its 40th anniversary: “SNL” alum Aidy Bryant.

The “Shrill” star returns to host the 2025 Spirit Awards after being the master of ceremonies in 2024. Bryant got some big laughs doing a “roast” of the honorees like Natalie Portman, Sterling K. Brown, and Charles Melton.

“We couldn’t ask for a better host for our 40th anniversary!” Josh Welsh, President of Film Independent, said in a press statement. “As we prepare to celebrate this incredible milestone honoring the outstanding achievements and contributions within the independent world, we welcome Aidy back with open arms. After her unforgettable turn last year, we can once again anticipate an evening filled with laughter, inspiration, and recognition of excellence.”

The 2025 nominees will be announced on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, with winners being revealed at the awards show on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The show will be streamed live...

After a successful run hosting last year’s Spirit Awards, former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Aidy Bryant is returning for the event’s 40th anniversary. Now four decades strong, the awards have become a key fundraiser for Film Independent’s year-round initiatives.

“We couldn’t ask for a better host for our 40th anniversary! As we prepare to celebrate this incredible milestone honoring the outstanding achievements and contributions within the independent world, we welcome Aidy back with open arms. After her unforgettable turn last year, we can once again anticipate an evening filled with laughter, inspiration, and recognition of excellence,” said Josh Welsh, president of Film Independent.

Bryant was on “SNL” for 10 years, earning three Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including two for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She also co-created and starred in the Hulu show “Shrill,” for which she earned an Emmy nomination in 2021 for Outstanding...

Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Cary Christopher, Michael Kostroff, Scott MacArthur, Joe Massingill, Whitney Rice and Amanda Schull are set to appear as recurring guest stars in “Spider-Noir.”

The group joins previously announced series regulars Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Abraham Popoola, Li Jun Li and Jack Huston.

Based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir, the live-action series tells the story of an aging and down-on-his-luck private investigator (Cage) in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.

The series is executive produced by co-showrunners Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal and Harry Bradbeer, who is set to direct the first two episodes. Lord and Miller executive produce through Lord Miller along with Aditya Sood and Dan Shear, while Pascal EPs via Pascal Pictures.

“Spider-Noir,” which is produced by Sony Pictures Television,...

Platonic didn't set the world on fire with its first season, but the Apple TV series was a charming star vehicle for those who got around to seeing it. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne continued to sharpen their chemistry after starring in the Neighbors films, and the premise, about two friends who reconnect at a difficult point in both of their lives, was refreshing.

Platonic has been renewed for a second season, and so far it has absolutely loaded up on guest star talent. Deadline reports that the show is effectively becoming a Saturday Night Live reunion in 2025, as former SNL cast members Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney have all been added to the cast.

Aidy Bryant, Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney joined the cast 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards - Show | Kevin Winter/GettyImages

The specifics of Bryant, Bennett and Mooney's characters are being kept under wraps,...

Exclusive: Apple TV+’s comedy series Platonic, starring and executive produced by Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen, is staging a major Saturday Night Live reunion for Season 2. Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Beck Bennett, who spent years together on the NBC sketch program, have been tapped for recurring roles on the series, from co-creators, directors and co-writers Nick Stoller and Francesca Delbanco.

In season two of Platonic, newly reconciled Will (Rogen) and Sylvia (Byrne) are again forced to contend with the complicated and unrelenting pressures of being a grownup person as they deal with shifting family dynamics, career pressures and the pursuit of their full potential – all while balancing what it means to be best friends in your 40s.

Byrne and Delbanco executive produce alongside Rogen, Evan Goldberg and James Weaver for Point Grey. Conor Welch also serves as executive producer. Sony Pictures Television, where Stoller’s Global Solutions has an overall deal,...

New Girl is definitely one of the most heartwarmingly funny series about friends and love created by Elizabeth Meriwether. The Fox comedy series follows the chirpy and naive Jessica as she moves into a loft with 3 guys who are equally as quirky and weird. New Girl stars Zooey Deschanel, Jake Johnson, Max Greenfield, Hannah Simone, Lamorne Morris, Damon Wayans Jr., Nasim Pedrad, and Megan Fox. New Girl lasted for seven seasons ending its run in 2018, so if you loved the unending optimism, quirky personalities, and a group of young friends trying to find their way here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Happy Endings (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – ABC Studios

Happy Endings is a comedy series created by David Caspe. The ABC series revolves around a group of six friends at different stages in their lives as they adjust to each other after the couple...

Hulu may have started out as the redheaded stepchild of the streamers back in Netflix’s heyday, but it has stuck around long enough to have firmly established itself as one of the old standbys. It follows, then, that Hulu would have a veritable fount of LGBTQ content ready to compete with the robust queer catalogues available to subscribers of Netflix, HBO, and other platforms.

A brief perusal of Hulu’s LGBTQ section doesn’t disappoint, but digging in deeper will give you the best chance at a genuinely memorable watch. Right now, the Disney-backed streamer is hosting popular queer television classics, like “The L Word,” “My So-Called Life,” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” alongside fresher fare, including “Everything’s Gonna Be Okay” and “Killing Eve.” Recent Hulu originals, such as “Love, Victor” and “Shrill,” deserve singling out, if only because you know they’re buzz-worthy and readily available on the service.

Rachel Sennott shines in a nuanced role. I Used to Be Funny balances comedy and drama effectively. The film's ending feels rushed despite strong filmmaking.

For a movie about Ptsd, I Used to Be Funny is anything but "used to." The film is funny in the here and now, constantly reminding the audience that, while laughter isn't the best medicine, sometimes it's the only way to move forward in the wake of the unimaginable. Starring Rachel Sennott, best known for her comedic turn in Bottoms, I Used to Be Funny gets the actress to flex the dramatic muscles she used in her earlier project, Shiva Baby. She plays Sam, the stand-up comedian who can't seem to shake her past with the family she nannied for.

I Used to Be Funny (2024)

DirectorAlly PankiwRelease DateJune 7, 2024CastCaleb Hearon, Sabrina Jalees, Olga Petsa, Rachel Sennott, Jason JonesRatingNRRuntime105 MinutesGenresDrama, Comedy Expand

It's not difficult to guess what happened to Sam,...

Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel are set to headline a series adaptation of the Alafair Burke novel “The Better Sister” at Amazon Prime Video, Variety has learned.

“The Better Sister” is described as a thriller about “Chloe (Biel), who moves through the world with her handsome lawyer husband Adam and teenage son Ethan by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) hustles to make ends meet while trying to stay clean,” per the official description. “When Adam is brutally murdered, the prime suspect sends shockwaves through the family, laying bare long-buried secrets.”

The series hails from Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado, who will serve as showrunners and executive producers. Banks will also executive produce via Brownstone Productions, as will Biel and Michelle Purple under their Iron Ocean Films banner. Craig Gillespie will direct in addition to executive producing along with Annie Marter through Fortunate Jack Productions. The series is...

As far as investigators go, Jim Rockford (James Garner) is a bit of a departure from the mostly-polished (Columbo excepted) detectives of television's first decade. A slouchily dressed detective who lived in a trailer and served time in San Quentin, Rockford was cool — if not always collected. "The Rockford Files" ran for six seasons on NBC beginning in 1974 and was later resurrected for a series of '90s TV movies. In that time, audiences were introduced not only to Rockford, but to a cast of supporting characters including his truck driver dad Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.), LAPD pal Becker (Joe Santos), and the con artist Angel (Stuart Margolin).

Garner passed away in 2014, and only a few "Rockford Files" castmates are still with us today. Those who are still around include notable recurring guest stars like famously mustachioed "Blue Bloods" star Tom Selleck, Egot-winning multi-hyphenate Rita Moreno, and "Happy Gilmore" director...

Exclusive: Andrew DeYoung has been tapped to direct and executive produce HBO’s half-hour comedy pilot The Chair Company, starring Tim Robinson. The project hails from Robinson and his writing partner Zach Kanin, and is executive produced by Adam McKay and Todd Schulman for McKay’s Hyperobject Industries.

In The Chair Company, written and executive produced by Robinson and Kanin, after an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.

The project continues DeYoung’s with Robinson, having most recently shot his feature debut comedy Friendship, from Fifth Season and BoulderLight Pictures, with Robinson and Paul Rudd. He co-wrote and directed the Peacock sketch comedy special Would It Kill You To Laugh? through A24. Recent credits include directing episodes of the hit Max series Our Flag Means Death and upcoming Jenji Kohan Netflix series Decameron. He has directed multiple episodes, including the series finale, of...

I Used To Be Funny Screenshot: Utopia/YouTube Even though the world is still recovering from her earth-shaking delivery of “your parents are upper middle class” in Bodies Bodies Bodies, Rachel Sennott is back with yet another sardonic but personally miserable protagonist in I Used To Be Funny, the feature-length debut from director Ally Pankiw.

I Used To Be FunnyScreenshot: Utopia/YouTube

Even though the world is still recovering from her earth-shaking delivery of “your parents are upper middle class” in Bodies Bodies Bodies, Rachel Sennott is back with yet another sardonic but personally miserable protagonist in I Used To Be Funny, the feature-length debut from director Ally Pankiw.

Dr. Julius Hibbert first appeared on "The Simpsons" in the episode "Bart the Daredevil". In that particular episode, Bart (Nancy Cartwright) was toying with the idea of being an Evel Knieval-type stunt performer, aiming to leap over Springfield Gorge on a skateboard. As a warning, Bart was taken to see Dr. Hibbert who took the boy to a special wing of Springfield hospital. In it were nothing but children who had injured themselves after imitating stunts they saw on TV. "I won't even subject you to the horrors of our Three Stooges ward," Dr. Hibbert gravely intones. 

From 1990 through 2021, Dr. Hibbert was played by Harry Shearer. When viewers became sensitive to how many white actors have played animated Black characters throughout the history of animation, Shearer stepped aside and Kevin Michael Richardson took over the role. 

Dr. Hibbert was kindly, bemused, but possessed of a strangely cold bedside manner. When Bart comes to see Dr.

From the early days at the Edinburgh Fringe to recognition as a gifted character actor with comedy chops, Lolly Adefope has always cherished the camaraderie of the cast

Switch on any of your favourite comedies from the last five years and there’s Lolly Adefope, glamorous and wry, not just stealing the show, but holding it aloft as she marches out of the shop to the sound of rapturous alarms. She was Fran, the droll, sexy best friend in Shrill, a comedy about, among other things, the politics of being fat. She was Ruth Duggan, the reporter who treated Steve Coogan’s character with venomous contempt in This Time with Alan Partridge. She was Lady Daphne in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, exquisitely disgusted by her husband and the aristocratic world in which she has landed and, in fact, by everything. It’s tempting to carry on, actually, listing Adefope’s supporting roles,...

Zackary Drucker will direct the upcoming biopic about Andy Warhol superstar Candy Darling starring Hari Nef. John Cameron Mitchell also joins the untitled film about the transgender icon as executive producer.

It was previously announced that Nef (“Barbie”) will star in the movie.

The film traces Darling’s childhood in Long Island through her years alongside underground icons Holly Woodlawn and Jackie Curtis in Warhol’s Factory scene, and her influence on musicians including Lou Reed, the Velvet Underground and Patti Smith. She was immortalized in popular songs including Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side” and The Velvet Underground’s “Candy Says.”

Darling also starred in Warhol’s cult film “Women In Revolt” before she died of leukemia in 1974 at age 29.

“I’ve dedicated my life and career to amplifying the history of trans and queer icons, and their impact in shaping art and culture for everyone,” Drucker said in a statement.

In “We Strangers,” Rayelle (Kirby) confesses to her mother (Tina Lifford) that she doesn’t have dreams. Perhaps she doesn’t have time for them, or else she’s simply too exhausted to hang onto anything else in her head after spending her days as a cleaning lady, monitoring her every move so as not to become any part of the mess she picks up for other people. Still, this isn’t to say she can’t have fantasies in Anu Valia’s absorbing character study, except like everything else her life, they’re not for herself when her observational skills lead some to think she’s psychic.

After honing her craft directing prestige TV shows such as “The Afterparty” and “Shrill,” Valia makes an aesthetically striking feature debut that may impress even more with the clear eyes she brings to the trickle effect of privilege, envisioning the ability to...

The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards are in full swing, with striking “blue carpet” styles to match.

The annual awards ceremony took place Sunday, February 25 in Santa Monica, California, with the casts from “All of Us Strangers,” “Passages,” “Eileen,” “American Fiction,” “The Holdovers,” and more in attendance. The ceremony is hosted by “SNL” alum and “Shrill” creator Aidy Bryant, and was livestreamed on IMDb’s YouTube channel.

On the heels of the buzzy SAG Awards just the night before and even closer to the 2024 Oscars this time around due to the SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023, the Spirit Awards are the place to be seen on the indie film scene. Oscar-nominated films “American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” lead the Spirit Award nominations with five nods each, including in the Best Feature category.

To note, the budget cap of $30 million productions made Oscar heavyweights “Oppenheimer,” “Barbie,” “Poor Things,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,...

The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards are almost here. The 2024 ceremony will be hosted by “SNL” alum and “Shrill” creator Aidy Bryant, who follows past Spirit Awards hosts including Hasan Minhaj, Megan Mullaly and Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. The 39th annual ceremony will take place this Sunday, February 25, live from the beach in Santa Monica, California.

The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards will also be streamed live on IMDb’s YouTube and across other social platforms, including Film Independent’s YouTube channel at 2:00 p.m. Pt / 5:00 p.m. Et. See the full list of Spirit Award nominees here.

This year’s ceremony seems to hold more weight on the awards circuit than previous years, considering how Spirt Award-winning “Everything Everywhere All at Once” swept the core Oscar categories (including Best Picture) at the 2023 Academy Awards.

Now, Oscar-nominated films “American Fiction,...

“Honestly,” says Aidy Bryant. “I never want to do anything.” The comedian, who left Saturday Night Live in 2022 after 10 years on the show, enjoys being picky in her work. So when her team approached with an offer to host the Spirit Awards, the first thing she asked herself was whether the gig was worth it. “These awards, and what they’re about, really do touch my heart,” she says. “There’s a kind of yuckiness in Hollywood sometimes, and there’s something pure and beautiful about supporting independent film.” Saying yes also gave her an excuse to call up a few of her favorite former co-workers for help writing — Bryant enlisted Sudi Green, whom she wrote with on Shrill, and frequent sketch collaborator Fran Gillespie. Ahead of the show, Bryant spoke to THR about the current Hollywood landscape and what she’ll be doing before the big show.

What’s...

Tim Robinson, the comedian behind sketch series I Think You Should Leave, is starring in Friendship, along with Paul Rudd and Kate Mara. The indie comedy is marking the feature directorial debut of Andrew DeYoung, the helmer known for his work on such series as Our Flag Means Death and PEN15.

J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, the producing duo behind horror hit Barbarian, are producing the comedy, which is now in production, with Fifth Season, the financier-distribution-production outfit behind recent movies Flora and Son and 80 for Brady. Fifth Season, formerly named Endeavor Content, is also financing.

Written by DeYoung, Friendship centers on a mild-mannered man named Craig, whose life is perfectly balanced, with Subway sandwiches and Marvel movies, a job he enjoys and a happy home life with a wife and son. That life is upended with the arrival in the neighborhood by a weatherman, played by Rudd. Mysterious yet friendly,...

Tim Robinson (I Think You Should Leave), Paul Rudd (Only Murders in the Building) and Kate Mara (Class of ’09) have been set to star in Friendship, a new comedy from Fifth Season and BoulderLight Pictures.

Pic centers on Craig Waterman (Robinson), who enjoys his life. He likes New Balance shoes, Subway sandwiches, and Marvel movies. He lives in the suburbs with his wife, Tami, and son, Steven. He’s happy to work at Universal Digital, a company that helps brands make their products more habit-forming. Craig sees no reason to change anything or make new friends… until weatherman Brian moves into the neighborhood. Mysterious yet friendly, macho but vulnerable, Brian (Rudd) transforms everything for Craig, but Craig’s obsessive and childlike nature threatens to ruin the friendship, and possibly everything else in his life.

Friendship is the first feature from director Andrew DeYoung, who also penned the script and is exec producing alongside Tracy Rosenblum.

One need only glance at the leading men and women of any given era to see Hollywood's perennial beauty standards. Most actors will know the pressure of keeping fit and aesthetic, especially after the mainstreaming of gym and fitness culture in the late 20th century. Take Superman, for example. Christopher Reeve was a tall and athletic man, but compared to Henry Cavill's cast iron physique, his rangy costume looks slightly pedestrian. It's not all about "looking good," of course. Some actors have drastically changed their bodies to better portray their characters, such as Robert De Niro in "Raging Bull," Christian Bale in "The Machinist," Matthew McConaughey in "Dallas Buyers Club," and Tom Hanks in "Cast Away."

Still, "looking good" is a prerequisite for many actors, and they often must obey the wishes of producers, directors, and casting managers, who are known to ask for weight loss, dental work, and even plastic surgery.

Hulu's Shrill features a talented cast of comedic actors from various movies and popular TV series. Aidy Bryant delivers a winning performance as Annie Easton, a relatable and charming character based on creator Lindy West's own life. The series focuses on Annie's personal journey of self-acceptance, with each cast member offering memorable and funny performances.

Hulu's Shrill features a cast of comic actors from a variety of movies and well-known TV series. Aidy Bryant stars in this three-season TV show based on creator Lindy West's own life. The series follows Annie Easton (Bryant), the West stand-in, a struggling journalist who has to juggle difficult boyfriends, intrusive parents, a perfectionist boss, and a world that is hyper-concerned about her weight, something she has no interest in changing. Relatable, charming, and with a winning performance from Bryant, Shrill is an excellent entry in the SNL cast member starring TV show canon,...

When I heard the news about Norman Lear’s death, I was sitting with my writing team at Abortion Access Front. We had just finished writing this social post when the notification came in on Slack: “Norman Lear died.”

It hit me harder than I thought it would. All my gratitude for how he paved the way for me came rushing to the surface.

All in the Family blew apart the Overton Window in terms of what comedy on TV looked like. I could not have imagined a media world...

It’s a busy day in awards season news as the New York Film Critics Circle anointed “Killers of the Flower Moon” as Best Film of 2023 and both Film Independent and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had major announcements. The latter revealed that “Saturday Night Live” and “Shrill” star Aidy Bryant will host the 39th Independent Spirit Awards on February 25. She becomes the sixth “SNL” veteran to host or co-host the ceremony after Sarah Silverman, Andy Samberg, Fred Armisen, Kate McKinnon, and Melissa Villaseñor.

Continue reading Aidy Bryant To Host 2024 Spirit Awards, Oscars To Start An Hour Earlier at The Playlist.