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When it comes to Mike White's TV credits that are not The White Lotus, most people would probably name the gone-too-soon Enlightened, his early work as a writer on Dawson's Creek and Freaks and Geeks, or even his reality stints on The Amazing Race (twice) and Survivor. But one that hardly ever comes up is Pasadena.

The Fox prime-time soap was the first series White created. Named after his California hometown, the show had the nascent marks of what everyone loves about The White Lotus now: a mysterious death, backstabbing, secrets, privileged white people, and even sexual tension between — yes — siblings. It starred Dana Delany as the matriarch of the wealthy Greeleys. After her daughter, Lily (Alison Lohman), witnesses a murder, family secrets are uncovered. The cast also included Martin Donovan, Balthazar Getty, Mark Valley, Christopher Marquette, and Natasha Gregson Wagner. Diane Keaton even directed the pilot. Pasadena got...

It looks like this vacation will pay off. A little over a week ago, the highly anticipated Season 3 of HBO series The White Lotus debuted its first episode, and the numbers were pretty impressive: the Mike White (Enlightened) series managed to attract over 2 million viewers across linear HBO network and its streaming platform Max. However, a week's worth of performance showed that there's an even bigger portion of the audience that watches the episode a few days later or waits to see everyone's reaction before pressing play. The first episode tripled its viewing numbers by the time Episode 2 debuted.

This article contains spoilers for season 3, episode 2 of "The White Lotus" — "Special Treatments" — so turn back now if you're not caught up on the first two installments.

It's clear from the very beginning of the third season of "The White Lotus" (read our review here) that Timothy Ratliff (Jason Isaacs), a businessman from North Carolina, is having some professional troubles. When he's asked to lock up his cell phone for the duration of his time in Thailand by the resort's friendly staff, he absolutely refuses — though, luckily, the rest of his family also forces the issue. Alongside his wife Victoria (Parker Posey) and children Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), and Lochlan (Sam Nivola), Timothy is trying to enjoy his vacation in a tropical paradise, but in the season's second episode "Special Treatments," Timothy finally makes contact with his business associate Kenny, and it sure seems like he's pretty...

Note: This story contains spoilers from “The White Lotus” Season 3, Episode 2.

“The White Lotus” Season 3 managed to sneakily include a beloved actor into the mix on the sly.

The second episode of the HBO hit series included a phone conversation between Tim Ratliff (Jason Isaacs) and a former co-worker Kenny — someone who Tim denied having heard from in four years to a reporter in the premiere.

Kenny and Tim are into some shady stuff regarding their Sho-Kel fund and the government of Brunei. Tim’s call with Kenny featured the voice of an actor many fans hoped would appear in the show at some point after he blew back onto the acting scene in the 2020s.

Here’s more on the re-emerged Oscar winner who the show got to voice Kenny.

Who Voices Kenny?

Kenny is voiced by none other than Ke Huy Quan. You hear mention of Kenny in the Season 3 premiere,...

In the spring of 2018, Hollywood writer and director Mike White — then known for penning movies like "School of Rock" and creating shows like "Enlightened" — did something surprising: he competed on the CBS reality TV show "Survivor" during its 37th season. Titled "David vs. Goliath," the season pitted underdogs, the Davids, against social and physical heavyweights, the Goliaths; White, an original Goliath, made it to the end of the game but ultimately lost out to former David player Nick Wilson.

Still, "Survivor" was the gift that kept on giving for White. Not only is he now close personal friends with longtime "Survivor" host Jeff Probst — who once said he would happily make White a producer on the reality competition show and said he sometimes asks him for input on seasons and challenges — but the concept of a bunch of strangers trying to survive in a tropical paradise undoubtedly inspired White's award-winning anthology series "The White Lotus.

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The White Lotus is a satirical comedy-drama anthology series created by Mike White. The HBO series revolves around the guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain. It explores the dysfunctionality and secrets of both the employees and guests, which completely ruins what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. The White Lotus stars Murray Bartlett, Alexandra Daddario, Sydney Sweeney, Jennifer Coolidge, F. Murray Abraham, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, and Walton Goggins. So, if you loved the scathing satire, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in The White Lotus, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Hulu

Nine Perfect Strangers is a mystery thriller drama series created by David E. Kelley. Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty,...

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Check-in starts at 9 p.m. tonight at The White Lotus. Season Three of Mike White’s award-winning series airs tonight on Max, with a new group of guests taking a vacation that’s bound to be one none of them will ever forget. “At the end of the week, you will be an entirely different person,” we hear one of the characters say in the season’s trailer.

Natasha Rothwell is back as Belinda, as the Emmy-winning series takes its signature satire to a luxury resort in Thailand.

“The White Lotus” is one of my favorite shows right now, so you can bet I’m ready for another round of rich people behaving badly in paradise. The Emmy-winning series is back for Season 3 - this time, taking us to Thailand for another week of luxury, secrets, and disaster waiting to happen. The White Lotus Season 3 drops Sunday, Feb. 16, at 9 p.m. Et on HBO, with new episodes airing weekly and streaming simultaneously on Max.

How to watch ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 When: Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025 at 9 p.m. Et TV: HBO Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn. Everything you need to know about ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

How to watch ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

About ‘The White Lotus’ Season...

Mike White will be checking back in for The White Lotus season 4, which has now been given the greenlight. More here.

Writer, actor, producer and director Mike White has one of the most eclectic filmographies in Hollywood, and now here he is steering a hugely successful TV project with The White Lotus.

White began his career in the late 1990s when he penned films like the terrific Chuck And Buck, The Good Girl and Orange County. He wrote the screenplay for Richard Linklater’s School Of Rock, before returning to smaller fare like Year Of The Dog and Brad’s Status. After that? It was a move towards television, scripting two series of Enlightened starring Laura Dern.

In 2021, White created what has become his most acclaimed work, the aforementioned The White Lotus, which has amassed a plethora of Emmys across its run so far, both for White’s writing and Jennifer Coolidge...

Starting your life over is an ugly, ugly business. Long before the days of The White Lotus, Mike White made one of the smartest satires focusing on a workplace environment and its inhumanity, to heartbreaking and hilarious effect. Enlightened follows Amy (Laura Dern), a mess of a woman getting her life back together after a disastrous meltdown, and it's one of HBO's most underrated series. Dern co-created the series alongside White, with White writing and directing most of the episodes. In Enlightened, a nuanced study of the art of starting over, Amy goes on a spiritual journey, deciding to change for the better and maybe help the world in the process.

Writer-director Mike White returns to the opulent world of The White Lotus for season 3. Here’s the trailer for the new series.

Writer, actor, producer and director Mike White has one of the most eclectic filmographies in Hollywood, and now here he is steering a hugely successful TV project with The White Lotus.

Remember, though, his days as an indie darling in the late 1990s when he penned films like the terrific Chuck And Buck, The Good Girl and Orange County. Then there was Richard Linklater’s School Of Rock, before returning to smaller fare like Year Of The Dog and Brad’s Status. He then turned to television, scripting two series of Enlightened starring Laura Dern.

In 2021, White created what has become his most acclaimed work, the aforementioned The White Lotus, which has amassed a plethora of Emmys across its run so far, both for White’s writing and Jennifer Coolidge...

These legends of laughter continued to light up the entertainment world, each carving out a legacy that rivals their time on the show.MEGAPeter Boyle Mega

Before Everybody Loves Raymond, Peter Boyle appeared in Joe (1970), The Candidate (1972), Young Frankenstein (1974) and Taxi Driver (1976), as well as on and off-Broadway. Fans adored him in the role of Ray and Robbie's deadpan, slightly cranky dad, Frank.

However, off-screen, he was nothing like his coarse character. Instead, he was a friendly, warmhearted guy.

"He made me feel welcome," said Ray Romano. "He made me feel part of the club."

Shortly after the sitcom wrapped, Boyle died of multiple myeloma and heart disease in 2006 at age 71.

Doris Roberts Mega

As the overbearing Marie, the Barone family matriarch, Doris Roberts doted on her sons while berating her two daughters-in-law and bickering with her husband.

Roberts earned four Emmys for her work on the series and, like Boyle,...

Without a doubt, Lonely Planet's cast of characters adds a lot of charm to the hit Netflix film. Written and directed by Susannah Grant, who is best known for her work on Ever After, Erin Brockovich, and Lessons in Chemistry, Lonely Planet's age-gap romance centers on acclaimed novelist Katherine Loewe (Laura Dern). Despite her seemingly picture-perfect life, Katherine is weathering a difficult divorce and a looming deadline. In order to find some quiet, Katherine agrees to a writer's retreat in Morocco. However, she plans to avoid the social aspects of the retreat just as much as she's avoiding her personal life.

Katherine's plans are derailed when she meets Owen (Liam Hemsworth), a New York finance guy who knows very little about the worlds of art or literature. Instead, Owen turns up at the retreat to support his long-term girlfriend, Lily Kemp (Diana Silvers), who's fresh off the success of her debut novel.

From ‘Curb’ to ‘The Comeback,’ HBO knows comedy.

Writing a list of the top HBO comedy TV shows of all time is hard because it’s subjective. What I think is funny and what you think is funny is different – and we’re both right (except I’m more right). Still, it’s fun to do and I can use the release of the new HBO comedy TV series “The Franchise” as an excuse to do it.

With new episodes dropping on Sunday nights, “The Franchise” follows the crew of an unloved franchise movie as they showcase the secret chaos inside the world of superhero moviemaking. Sam Mendes is co-creator, so he’s bound to bring the realism having spent years and years of his life making franchise movies. More importantly – as this list will exemplify - HBO knows comedy. So, here are the top 7 HBO comedy TV shows of...

As is tradition with Bethesda titles, Starfield allows players to customize their character right from the start. Choosing specific origins and traits at the character creation screen will largely determine your experience in Starfield’s adventures and how the in-game characters will interact with you.

One of the important aspects of the game is choosing your religion to follow. There are three in Starfield, and your choice to join one will open some doors, close others, and also give you some specific loot that you can use in the game.

Which Religion Should You Choose in Starfield? Which path will you gravitate towards in your playthrough?

RPG games are all about creating your path and experience, and your choice of religion in Bethesda’s interstellar adventure is just one of the many parameters that will change your experience. Now, the changes aren’t massive, but it’s one of the...

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times: I am a die-hard Dermot Mulroney fan.

He’s been on screen for more than three decades, and he’s done it all.

From romantic comedies to horror films and TV roles that range from hilarious to heart-wrenching, Mulroney’s range is unmatched.

(Hulu/Screenshot)

Luckily for those of us who are Chicago Fire fans, Mulroney is set to join the cast in Season 13 as the station’s new chief, Dom Pascal.

While we wait for Chicago Fire to return on Wednesday, September 25th at 9:00 Pm Est, we’ve been rewatching some Dermot Mulroney favorites.

Essential Viewing: 19 Don Johnson Movies and TV Shows You Must Seeby Lisa Babick Essential Viewing: 13 Dermot Mulroney Movies and TV Shows You Must Seeby Haley Whitmire White The Best Storylines from Each Season of Grey’s Anatomyby Haley Whitmire White

If...

“The Perfect Couple” was the perfect binge-watch, from the wtf credits dance sequence to the even more gleefully camp ending. Nicole Kidman stars in the series and also produced through her Blossom Films banner, making “The Perfect Couple” the latest in a string of recent book adaptations with complex leading roles. Set at an otherwise idyllic Nantucket wedding where a tragic drowning derails the festivities, the series adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s best-selling murder mystery also stars Liev Schrieber, Eve Hewson, Meghann Fahy and Dakota Fanning.

If you’re craving another addictive mystery series to watch, here’s a curated list of seven shows like “The Perfect Couple” to watch next, from Kidman’s other TV hits to some lesser-known streaming thrillers.

“The Undoing” (HBO) “The Undoing”

Kidman and director Susanne Bier previously collaborated on HBO’s mystery series “The Undoing,” based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s 2014 novel “You Should Have Known.

The Smile Entity and the horrifying events it unleashes are back in Smile 2, and it brings a whole new cast and a familiar face from the first movie. The horror genre has seen some big surprises in recent years from original movies among a wave of sequels, remakes, adaptations, and reboots. One of 2022s biggest horror surprises was Smile, written and directed by Parker Finn and based on his 2020 short film Laura Hasnt Slept. Smile was a critical and commercial success, making way for a sequel to expand the mysteries of the Smile Entity.

Smiles ending saw Rose succumbing to the curse and passing it to Joel, and though this is addressed in Smile 2, the sequel centers on a new story. Smile 2 follows a famous pop star who witnesses a suicide caused by the Smile Entity. Now carrying the curse, she begins to experience increasingly disturbing and...

Carrie Coon has had quite a year.

Not only is she going into the Emmys as a nominee for her work as Bertha Russell in “The Gilded Age” but she spent months in Thailand shooting the third season of Mike White’s HBO anthology series “The White Lotus.”

“I got back from Thailand a few weeks ago, and I went back to ‘The Gilded Age’ 48 hours after I landed,” Coon says on the latest episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “I wasn’t supposed to stay that long, but ‘The White Lotus’ ran over a little bit because of the weather. I didn’t have any time in between, and it was very jarring, to say the least, to go from wearing bathing suits to wearing a corset. It was a little extreme.

“And I was terrible. I was just terrible the first couple days,” she continues. “I said,...

Explore Mike White's underrated gem "Enlightened" for a deeper dive into self-improvement and human connection. "Enlightened" and "The White Lotus" offer contrasting yet insightful perspectives on aspiration and reality. While "The White Lotus" captivates with dark humor, "Enlightened" shines in its portrayal of everyday interactions.

As fans eagerly await the release of The White Lotus season 3, theres another series deserving attention: Enlightened. Premiering in 2011, this HBO show, though short-lived with only two seasons, stands out as one of Mike Whites most original projects. Starring Laura Dern as Amy Jellicoe, the series follows her journey to self-improvement after a humiliating meltdown. Enlightened explores Amy's transformation from a self-destructive executive to someone seeking a new path following her return to work from rehab.

Despite its critical acclaim and Dern's Golden Globe-winning performance, Enlightened lacked mainstream viewership and was canceled due to poor ratings. The series features a strong supporting cast, including Diane Ladd as Amys mother,...

Exclusive: M3GAN 2.0 is in production as it heads for a June 27, 2025 theatrical release with Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari and Jemaine Clement boarding the Blumhouse, Atomic Monster and Divide/Conquer sequel.

Also returning from the original 2023 $181M global grossing movie is Brian Jordan Alvarez as Cole and Jen Van Epps as Tess.

Gerard Johnstone, as we previously told you, is returning to the helm with a screenplay penned by Akela Cooper, who wrote the first film.

Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, and Jenna Davis were previously confirmed to return for the sequel which will also star Ivanna Sakhno.

Jason Blum, James Wan and Williams are producers on M3GAN 2.0. Michael Clear and Judson Scott, of Wan’s Atomic Monster banner, will EP. Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek is also an EP with Mark Katchur. Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath, from Divide/Conquer, are also EPs.

Sharp’s acting career started with Undeclared for Fox,...

Many 2000s comedy movies didn't age well, but I LoveYou, Man still holds up. The movie focuses on an unlikely friendship that forms before the main characters' wedding. I Love You, Man is a hilarious movie, but it also takes the friendship between Peter and Sydney seriously. It's one of the few movies that explore healthy platonic relationships between men.

The 2000s are known for many tacky and problematic comedy movies, but one outstanding film escaped this trend. Released in 2009, I Love You, Man is a funny, heartwarming comedy that explores male friendship sensitively and intelligently, ahead of its time. With Paul Rudd and Jason Segel playing the characters of Peter and Sydney, the film follows the comedy duo through various shenanigans. However, I Love You, Man offers more than hilarious scenes and amazing quotable dialogue. It also discusses toxic masculinity, the importance of intimate friendships among men, and healthy romantic relationships.

A galaxy far, far away keeps getting bigger and bigger thanks to Disney+ expanding the “Star Wars” franchise with several TV shows, such as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” to go alongside their film output. As such, “Star Wars” fans have gotten used to seeing actors from the franchise popping up at various awards shows — either for “Star Wars” projects or for other works. Giancarlo Esposito was Emmy-nominated for his villainous work in “The Mandalorian,” for example,” while last year’s Best Drama Actor Emmys lineup included Mando himself, Pedro Pascal, who was cited for “The Last of Us.” With this in mind, here are eight “Star Wars” actors who could be nominated at this year’s Emmys.

Rosario Dawson — “Ahsoka”

Dawson will be looking to secure a nomination for her work in “Star Wars” itself. She plays the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano, a fan-favorite character who originated in the...

Sue Naegle and Ali Krug are re-teaming for a new venture.

The former Annapurna duo and longtime collaborators have launched Dinner Party Productions and signed a multiple-year overall deal with Universal Content Productions.

Naegle, the former content chief at Megan Ellison’s company, and Krug, who was co-head of TV alongside her at Annapurna, will develop and produce new projects for UCP for both NBCUniversal-owned platforms as well as third-party buyers.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Naegle and Krug — who have worked together for 13 years — said the appeal of being able to sell to outside buyers was part of why they wanted to sign with the Beatrice Springborn-led division that is housed within Pearlena Igbokwe’s Universal Studio Group. (Read the Q&a, below.)

As part of the pact, Naegle and Krug have boarded Peacock’s adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s New York Times best-seller The Five-Star Weekend.

Enlightened was more than just the title of the HBO TV series Laura Dern starred in from 2011-2013. It’s also the state of being the actress and her future producing partner, Jayme Lemons, found themselves in after Dern served as an executive producer and Lemons a first-time producer on the comedy-drama.

“Once we had that experience on Enlightened, we both felt like we have all of these other passions, maybe it’s time we focus more on getting these projects done,” Dern tells The Hollywood Reporter in the conversation below.

Thus the creation of Jaywalker Pictures in 2017, Dern and Lemons’ production company whose projects span genres. From the 2020 documentary The Way I See It, about the life of former Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza; and the Academy Award-winning short If Anything Happens I Love You, about two parents grieving their daughter who was killed in a school shooting,...

Mike White’s acclaimed comedy drama The White Lotus will soon commence production on season three, the cast has now been confirmed.

Mike White has one of the most eclectic filmographies in Hollywood. From his days as an indie darling in the late 1990s when he penned films like the terrific Chuck and Buck, The Good Girl and Orange County, to big budget blockbusters like Richard Linklater’s School Of Rock, before returning to smaller fare like Year Of The Dog and Brad’s Staus. He then turned to television, scripting two seasons of Enlightened starring Laura Dern.

In 2021, White created what has become his most acclaimed work, The White Lotus, which has amassed a plethora of Emmys across its run so far, both for White’s writing and Jennifer Coolidge’s performance as Tanya McQuoid.

It is a dark drama which follows the employees and guests at the titular high class resort,...

Illumination's CGI adventure film Migration is gorgeously animated and takes the audience on a thrilling journey with a tight-knit family of mallards. The film's characters, particularly the adorable little sister Gwen, are wonderfully written by the great Mike White. Director Benjamin Renner delivers breathtaking visuals as the birds explore stunning new environments, including an impressive depiction of Manhattan.

The production studio Illumination soars to creative new heights with a hilarious CGI adventure that's beautifully animated. Migration stars a tight-knit family of mallards who've spent their entire lives sheltered in a pond. They decide to throw caution to the wind and follow a flock of birds to the ultimate island getaway — drumroll please — Jamaica. But getting to the aviary paradise proves much harder than expected with crazy obstacles and a psychotic chef hot on their feathers. They'll need new friends and a lot of courage or risk becoming Duck à l'Orange for dinner.

Migration is a new direction for Illumination, focusing more on character-driven comedy and emotional storytelling. The film features an ensemble cast including Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Awkwafina, and Keegan-Michael Key. The story follows a family of mallards who mistakenly migrate to New York City and must find a way to reach the Caribbean.

Migration, the latest film from Illumination, the studio behind Despicable Me and The Super Mario Bros Movie, follows an unlikely flock of birds on a pilgrimage from New England to Jamaica. Along the way, the group, led by mallard ducks played by Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks, encounter a variety of characters, including a pigeon played by Awkwafina and a parrot with the voice of Keegan-Michael Key

Written by Mike White and directed by Benjamin Renner (Ernest & Celestine), Migration feels like the start of a new direction for Illumination, with less reliance on pop culture gags and...

Illumination's latest film, Migration, showcases a more developed and fully realized set of characters, unlike their previous works featuring the beloved Minions. The humor in Migration stems from the characterization of the Mallard family rather than relying on pop culture references or lowbrow antics, providing a refreshing throwback to the Disney Renaissance era. Screen Rant's interview with Elizabeth Banks and Kumail Nanjiani reveals their experiences in voice acting for Migration, discussing the unique process and challenges they faced, such as working independently in a booth during the pandemic.

Illumination, the studio behind Despicable Me and one of 2023's highest-grossing films, The Super Mario Bros Movie, are back with their latest surefire hit, Migration. Kumail Nanjiani and Elizabeth Banks star as a pair of mallard ducks who decide to leave their small pond and take their family on a seasonal migration from New England to Jamaica. Along the way, they...

Percy Jackson and the Olympians trailer sets the stage for an adventure to restore order to Olympus. The series promises a faithful adaptation of the beloved book series by Rick Riordan, with the author heavily involved in the show's production. With a diverse cast and a family-friendly tone, Percy Jackson and the Olympians aims to be the perfect viewing experience for families to enjoy together when it premieres on Disney+ on December 20, 2023.

The latest trailer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians has given Disney a huge confidence boost after seeing a massive surge of interest across social media platforms. Set for release on Disney+ next month, Percy Jackson and the Olympians promises to deliver a faithful adaptation of the beloved book series by author Rick Riordan, who is heavily involved in the show, and it seems that fans are responding to that in the most positive way possible.

As per Deadline,...

Percy Jackson and the Olympians trailer sets the stage for an adventure to restore order to Olympus. The series promises a faithful adaptation of the beloved book series by Rick Riordan, with the author heavily involved in the show's production. With a diverse cast and a family-friendly tone, Percy Jackson and the Olympians aims to be the perfect viewing experience for families to enjoy together when it premieres on Disney+ on December 20, 2023.

Percy Jackson finds himself in serious trouble when he is accused by the Greek god Zeus of stealing his thunderbolt in the latest trailer for the upcoming Disney+ series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Set for release on Disney+ next month, Percy Jackson and the Olympians promises to deliver a faithful adaptation of the beloved book series by author Rick Riordan, who is heavily involved in the show. Check out the newly released trailer for Percy Jackson and...

HBO has a rich catalog of forgotten series that deserve more recognition, including Rome, John Adams, and Enlightened. Rome is an exceptional historical drama that brings Ancient Roman times to life with outstanding production value, writing, and acting. John Adams is an Emmy-winning miniseries that expertly depicts American history with astute attention to accuracy and offers a spectacular performance by Paul Giamatti.

HBO is known for making prestige television shows, but there are many forgotten series from the acclaimed network that deserve to be revisited. In the 21st century, HBO has been commonly considered the best source of prestige TV, be it for crime series like The Sopranos and The Wire, blockbuster entertainment like Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, or comedies like Veep and The White Lotus. HBO knows how to make great television, but many of its shows have flown under the radar due to niche...

Kyrie Irving — the singular basketball talent and moth-to-the-flame of NBA controversy — has embarked on a rebranding campaign with his new corporate benefactor, Chinese apparel giant Anta. Irving is now the superstar face of Anta Basketball — in a deal that also makes him the brand’s chief creative officer. In late September, Irving and Anta unveiled Kyrie’s new logo called “Enlightened Warrior.”

This Anta debut turns the page on a disturbing chapter in Irving’s career. But has his deal with the Chinese shoe giant simply opened the lid on even darker controversy?...

I think I’m writing for people roughly in my position: respectful, interested, only slightly informed. People who might have unexpected or unhelpful resonances with a book about different lives and different traditions on the other side of the world. (Do those old-fashioned clothes from Southeast Asia look like epic fantasy garb to anyone but me?)

I say that up front. If this is your culture, your tradition…well, I hope not to be wrong, or infuriating. But I doubt I will be helpful or insightful; you know this better than I do. Reviewers don’t say that often enough, I think: what you see always depends on where you stand, so I want to be clear about where I’m standing and the things I can see from there.

Enlightened is a graphic novel, published for middle grade readers, about the life of the Buddha, Prince Siddhartha. It’s by Sachi Ediriweera,...

Exclusive: Max Hollman, a rising star drama executive at HBO, has left the premium cable network to join Middle Child Pictures, the film and TV company launched recently by David Bernad. Hollman will continue to work with HBO as he sets off to run television for Middle Child Pictures as Producer/Executive through a first-look TV deal the company has signed with HBO and A24.

Under that pact, HBO will get first crack at Middle Child Pictures’ TV development, with A24 serving as the studio on projects that the network takes in. For shows that don’t go to HBO, A24 can come on board and sell them elsewhere.

Hollman, who started his career as an assistant in the television department at CAA, had been at HBO for almost eight years, rising from assistant to coordinator, manager, director and, most recently, VP, drama programming. During his tenure,...

Lukas Gage is an American actor who is quickly becoming one of the most talented young actors in Hollywood. After making his screen debut in Mike White's Enlightened in 2013, Gage reunited with the showrunner and gave an unforgettable turn on HBO's The White Lotus. Next up for Gage is a stint on Season 5 of Fargo and a starring role in the remake of Road House, which is currently in post-production.

As fans await the release date of Fargo Season 5, it's worth taking a moment to single out Gage's best big and small screen performances to date. From crime and horror to comedy and romance, Gage has shown tremendous versatility across a wide range of genres.

Angelyne (2022)

In the Peacock original miniseries Angelyne, Gage plays Max Allen. Allen is based on Jessie Small, the real-life filmmaker who began working on a documentary about Angelyne, a billboard celebrity who became famous during the 1980s.

HBO’s potential deal to license a slew of library titles to rival Netflix, as revealed by Deadline, was met with derision by some, another example of Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslav selling off the crown jewels to hit his savings targets.

However, industry experts have urged that the move could actually open the door to streaming profitability and increase residuals for creatives, leading to a larger digital détente.

Talk of such a move was a surprise, largely given the frostiness between the two rivals, which have been battling it out on the talent and awards front for the last few years, but optics aside, a deal, which was described as “groundbreaking” by one source, could be good for consumers and the town.

‘Ballers’

In addition to Issa Rae’s Insecure, Deadline has confirmed that the non-exclusive deal, which has not been signed, will include Dwayne Johnson’s Ballers,...

Exclusive: Luke Wilson (Horizon: An American Saga) and Greg Kinnear (The Present) are set to star in You Gotta Believe, a film based on the inspirational true story of Fort Worth, Texas’ 2002 Westside Little League team. Others on board for roles in the pic from Santa Rita Film Co. include Sarah Gadon (Ferrari), newcomer Michael Cash, Etienne Kellici (Horizon: An American Saga) and Molly Parker (Deadwood).

Directed by Ty Roberts, who previously worked with Wilson on the Great Depression football drama 12 Mighty Orphans, the film currently in production follows a team of Little Leaguers who dedicate their season to a player’s dying father and, in the process, defy all odds to make it to the Little League Baseball World Series championship in a game that became an ESPN classic. Wilson will play the role of the dying father, Bobby Ratliff, with Kinnear as Coach Jon Kelly.

The film...

by Patrick Ball

It certainly isn’t a stretch to consider any Todd Haynes filmography part of the Queer Oscar Canon. The filmmaker brought us La Blanchett in the all-timer Carol and as a gender-bent Bob Dylan in I’m Not There. He directed Laura Dern and Kate Winslet on the small screen in prestige HBO offerings Enlightened and Mildred Pierce (respectively). And I know I’m not alone in my extreme anticipation for his forthcoming May/December, his third collaboration with primary muse Julianne Moore. If the proverbial Dorothy is 'a great actress or queer icon of her generation' than the man is a *friend* of Dorothy. But my favorite, and an early example of how a queer perspective permeates through his style, enriching the work, is Far From Heaven.

Far From Heaven, a juggernaut on the 2002 Critics Circuit, eventually was nominated for four Academy Awards- including one for Haynes’ himself for Best Original Screenplay.

The Peacock limited series adaptation of the Liane Moriarty novel “Apples Never Fall” has added six recurring guest stars, Variety has learned exclusively.

Katrina Lenk, Timm Sharp, Nate Mann, Paula Andrea Placido, Pooja Shah, and Quentin Plair have all joined the series.

They will appear alongside previously announced cast members Annette Bening, Sam Neill, Jake Lacy, Alison Brie, Essie Randles, Conor Merrigan-Turner, Georgia Flood, Jeanine Serralles, and Dylan Thuraisingham.

Per the official logline, the series “centers on the Delaneys, who from the outside appear to be an enviably contented family. Former tennis coaches Joy (Bening) and Stan (Neill) are parents to four adult children. After decades of marriage, they have finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. But after Joy disappears, her children are forced to re-examine their parents’ marriage and their family history with fresh eyes.

Three HBO shows, including Perry Mason, get a cautious update from the network's head of drama. A legal drama led by Emmy winner Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason season 2 wrapped in April 2023. At the time, co-showrunner Michael Begler struck an optimistic tone about the show's future and noted that there's more story to tell. But as it stands, it's one of several shows that HBO has yet to renew.

Francesca Orsi, HBO's head of drama, spoke to Deadline about the status of Perry Mason season 3 and the future of Winning Time and The Gilded Age. Unlike Perry Mason, Winning Time and The Gilded Age have been renewed for a season 2. Orsi says their future beyond that is a conversation about budget versus viewership. Read her response below:

“At this point, we are having conversations regarding viewership relative to budget, but it’s not just a Perry Mason conversation. We’re just assessing various shows,...

You know Michaela Watkins, right? She was on “Saturday Night Live” and was the star of “Casual” and “Enlightened.” You’ve heard her voice work on “Big Mouth” and “Robot Chicken,” and she was in indie gems like “In a World,” “Sword of Trust,” and “Thanks for Sharing.” You know her from somewhere.

“I get to work all the time, and nobody really knows who I am,” she recently told IndieWire. And, as Watkins makes clear, that’s no complaint. She’s got a great acting career, one that started quite late by Hollywood standards. A former member of improv troupe The Groundlings, she spent a decade bumping around in single-episode, minor-role stints before spending a year as an “SNL” featured player in 2008.

From there, she spent a season on “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” starring opposite another former SNL star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus — who’s now her co-star in...

Survivor season 41 was almost a disaster, but Mike White, former player and the creator of HBO hit The White Lotus, convinced Jeff Probst not to go through with a terrible twist idea. Before his time on Survivor, Mike was an established Hollywood creative. As a writer, director, and actor, Mike has numerous impressive credits. Notably, he wrote 2003's School of Rock and played the role of Ned Schneebly in the film. He also was the creator and showrunner of HBO's Enlightened, starring Laura Dern.

In addition to his successful Hollywood career, Mike made a name for himself on Survivor and other reality TV shows. He's competed twice with his father, Mel, on The Amazing Race and joined the cast of Survivor: David vs. Goliath in 2018. Mike played extremely well on his Survivor season, finishing as the runner-up. Following his impressive Survivor run, Mike achieved his greatest career success to date by creating,...

Last year, John Valerio (“The White Lotus”) won the Emmy Award for Best Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series, but he readily admits he “never imagined” his name would be called. “The proof of that is that I was not wearing a tux … I just wore a suit that I had and yeah, I was just like completely shocked,” he tells us. The editor calls the experience “very surreal” and that it was “all a blur.” Now Valerio has a chance of winning a bookend Emmy for Season 2 of the HBO series, which is switching categories from Limited Series to Drama Series. Watch our exclusive video interview above.

As the show’s editor, does Valerio actually get to travel to the exotic locations like Hawaii (for Season 1) and Sicily (for Season 2)? “I got to go to Sicily,” he confirms. “I was there for about a month and a half,...

Laura Dern almost lived out her role in Noah Baumbach’s semi-autobiographical divorce drama “Marriage Story.”

Dern, who won the Academy Award for her turn in the 2019 film, revealed that her mother, actress Diane Ladd, was determined to encourage Dern to become a lawyer instead of pursuing a film career. Dern, whose father is Bruce Dern, began acting as a child and played an extra alongside Ladd in Martin Scorsese’s “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.”

“I fell in love with it,” Dern said during “Live With Kelly & Mark” (via Entertainment Weekly). “Scorsese let me be an extra, sitting at the counter watching these amazing artists work together.”

Ladd added during the talk show appearance, “I said no. I dissuaded her. I said, ‘No, honey, no, no, no.’ Look, be a lawyer, be a doctor. I said, ‘If you’re going to save somebody’s life as a doctor,...

One of Molly Shannon‘s most popular “Saturday Night Live” characters of all time is Mary Katherine Gallagher, the socially awkward schoolgirl who “sticks [her] fingers under [her] arms and smells ’em like that.” During NBC’s latest “SNL” promo video (watch above), this week’s host tells cast member Ego Nwodim and musical guest Jonas Brothers that if they’re “nervous” to be working with her, all they need to do is follow her lead. Cut to everyone smelling their own armpits in synchronicity.

Shannon will host the Saturday, April 8 episode of NBC’s late night sketch comedy series. It’s her second time hosting the program after a 2007 episode with musical guest Linkin Park. Of course, Shannon got her big break on “Saturday Night Live” in 1995 as a regular cast member, staying for seven seasons until 2001. Some of her other popular characters were Sally O’Malley from various sketches, Helen Madden from “Pretty Living,...

This post contains spoilers for "The White Lotus" seasons 1 and 2.

It's official, Lotus-heads: the highly anticipated third season of "The White Lotus" will be set in Thailand, Variety reports. Each season promises a new location and cast centering around a unique theme, so it's impossible to say for sure where this next season will go. Even still, there's been lots of hints dropped in the press and in the series itself about what season 3 might have in store. Luckily for you, I did a little digging and came up with some educated guesses so you don't have to.

Most Thai people practice Buddhism, a beautiful and ancient religion that has long been co-opted by wealthy Westerners. At its core, the HBO series is a satire of the uber-rich, and the imperialism of Buddhist practices is rife with potential for humor as well as deeply profound introspection.

"The first season [of 'The White Lotus'] kind of highlighted money,...

Exclusive: Dermot Mulroney (Scream VI) and Rachel Griffiths (The Wilds) are the newest additions to the cast of the untitled romantic comedy from director Will Gluck (Easy A) that Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are leading for Sony.

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Details as to the plot of the R-rated rom-com — being shot in Sydney, Australia — remain under wraps. But the pair join an ensemble that also includes Alexandra Shipp, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown, Darren Barnet and Hadley Robinson, as previously announced.

The project is based on Ilana Wolpert’s script, which Gluck is re-writing. Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Gluck are producing, with Sweeney exec producing for Fifty-Fifty Films,...

From the Sicilian terraces of the Four Seasons to the asphalt tailgate parties of Phoenix, Emmy-winning writer Mike White is headed to the Super Bowl.

The former “Survivor’ contestant and “Enlightened” creator has delivered HBO a ratings and pop culture sensation with his dramedy “The White Lotus” for two seasons now, and will lend his talents to e.l.f. Cosmetics for a commercial airing on the big game this Feb. 12.

This will be the first ever commercial for the Gen Z-beloved brand, and will air in the second quarter during the showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. It will focus on the range’s Power Grip Primer, a mega-viral beauty product used in demonstrations across TikTok and other short-form video platforms. The product is currently the best-selling face primer in the U.S., according to e.l.f.

Cast and collaborators on the ad will...

Everybody does it – sits glazed in front of the TV, wearing the remote button thin with endless scrolling. That’s meant to be good, isn’t it? Didn’t we like that other thing he was in? With the horse. No, I’m thinking of a different guy. Oh, just put The Office on.

Every click of the remote is another second stolen from our budgeted free time, but no more. Every month, Den of Geek picks the best TV recommendations to save you time, starting with…

Best of the Best: The Last of Us

Stream on: HBO, HBO Max, Sky Atlantic, Now (episode 1 free on YouTube in the UK).

HBO’s The Last of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic world where fungal spores of the cordyceps genus have evolved to take over human bodies, swiftly leading to the end of the world as we know it. After depicting the mushroomy armageddon,...