Fall TV Watchlist: From “Lessons in Chemistry” to “Lupin: Part 3”
A slew of new series and returning favorites are coming to you this fall in what is, admittedly, a pretty wild TV season considering the simultaneous strikes. But, playing the optimist, we’re hoping a resolution is in the offing, and we’ll all be able to watch new and returning series knowing that things will be back to normal. Hope springs eternal for the film and TV enthusiast.
Onto the upcoming fall season, which includes adaptations of bestselling novels,
From “Papyrus” to “Problemista”: Inside The Beautiful Mind of Julio Torres
Julio Torres, the exquisitely singular Salvadorian writer, comedian, television creator, and actor, is gearing up to reveal the newest edition to his sui generis output — Problemista. Torres’ upcoming—although sadly postponed—A24 film gives audiences yet another look into his beautiful mind, the same mind that wrote what might be the perfect Tweet back when Twitter’s logo was a blue bird, and the site had a, um, slightly different vibe: “The letter Q comes up waaaaay too early in the alphabet,” he wrote.
Looking Back on What Made Tim Burton’s “Wednesday” a Thing to Savor
Tim Burton’s first foray into television, Wednesday, took the world by storm—and garnered 12 Emmy nominations in the process—enrapturing viewers with its dark wit, fantastic characters, and unmistakable Burtonesque aesthetic. The show’s record-breaking popularity has been further fueled by its viral dance scene, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon. With all those Emmy nominations and the announcement of a second season, fans of the series are buzzing with excitement. So, as we await the not-nearly-imminent-enough debut,
Donald Glover and Brother Stephen Glover to Write “Lando” Series
Donald Glover is hopping back in the Millennium Falcon.
Glover is set to reprise his role as Lando Calrissian, which he first took on in the Star Wars spinoff film Solo: A Star Wars Story back in 2018, for Disney+’s upcoming new series Lando. Glover will star and co-write alongside his brother Steven Glover, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The deal was struck prior to the writer’s strike,
How “Bel-Air” Costume Designer Queensylvia Akuchie Brought an African influence into Season 2
Culture was costume designer Queensylvia Akuchie’s (Long Slow Exhale, Grand Crew) inspiration behind creating the bespoke wardrobe in Bel-Air Season 2, a series that refreshes the beloved Fresh Prince of Bel-Air sitcom of the early ‘90s with a whole new cast.
“Connecting the culture of the roots and background of each character was immensely important to me,” Akuchie shares with The Credits.
“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies” Songwriter Justin Tranter on Capturing That ’50s Musical Magic
The Tony-nominated Broadway musical Grease captured a generation following its theatrical release in 1978, an era-defining film that starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John as a pair of unlikely teens falling in love. Since then, the beloved musical has been revived on Broadway, produced a movie sequel, and turned into a live television show. Debuting this April on Paramount+, Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies continues the 1950s nostalgia with a new cast and storyline that takes place four years before the original film.
“The White Lotus” Emmy-Nominated Music Supervisor Gabe Hilfer on Mia’s Musical Chops, Tanya’s Swan Song & More
Season two of Mike White’s killer satire The White Lotus established, from that gorgeous opening title sequence, that it was going to be a thing of beauty to hear as well as behold. Sure, you can hardly find a more lush location than Sicily, where this particular outpost of the titular resort chain is located, but Italy is more than just a feast for the eyes and, if you’re lucky enough to visit,
Emmys 2023: “Succession” Leads the Pack With 27 Noms, With “The Last of Us” & “The White Lotus” Right Behind
HBO—or now, HBO/Max—had a banner day yesterday when the 2023 Emmy nominations were announced. Its three flagship series, the final, bruising season of Jesse Armstrong’s Succession, the stunning first season of Craig Mazin’s The Last Of Us, and the immensely satisfying second season of Mike White’s The White Lotus led the pack. Succession was the CEO of the bunch, earning a whopping 27 nominations,
“Poker Face” Costume Designer Trayce GiGi Field on Dealing Out Vintage Vibes
“The show was a huge challenge, and I love a good challenge,” costume designer Trayce GiGi Field (Dead to Me) shares about working on Rian Johnson’s (Glass Onion, Knives Out) clever crime drama Poker Face.
The breakout series stars Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll) as Charlie, a no “bullsh*t” crime solver on the run from her own troubles.
“Star Trek: Picard” VFX Supervisor Jason Zimmerman on Charting The Series’ Final Course
The legacy of Star Trek lives on through an entertaining trio of shows. Star Trek: Discovery (2017), Star Trek: Picard (2020), and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2023) have brought new cosmic adventures for fans of the beloved franchise while tying back to the mega-narrative of the Star Trek universe, which has been taking viewers on voyages across space and time since 1966.
“The Last of Us” Cinematographer Ksenia Sereda on Shining a Light in the Darkness
The Last of Us, HBO’s thrilling, best-in-class adaptation of Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed video game, provided 2023’s first certifiable must-watch series. Co-created by the video game’s mastermind, Neil Druckmann, and Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin, the series followed a pair of intrapersonally opposed survivors of a fungi-borne apocalypse as they picked their way across a devastated American landscape crawling with the terrifying permutations of the mindless infected and the almost equally dangerous humans who had,
“Godfather of Harlem” Production Designer Patrick Howe on Handling History in Season 3
The story of gangster Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) continues to unfold with the third season of Godfather of Harlem, from creators Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein. This prequel series to Ridley Scott‘s 2007 feature American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, cleverly intertwines a kinetic group of characters in a period crime drama well worth watching.
This season, Bumpy faces no shortage of challenges—the CIA,
“Fatal Attraction” Production Designer Nina Ruscio on Creating Design With an Edge
The famed 1987 film Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, made its way to the small screen with Joshua Jackson and Lizzy Caplan as the unfaithful couple tearing each other’s lives apart. Reinvigorated by Alexandra Cunningham (Physical), the psychological thriller unravels over eight gripping episodes, taking place 15 years after Dan (Jackson) is paroled from prison for the murder of Alex (Caplan). The story dips between the past and present as Dan tries to prove his innocence and reconnect with his family and wife,
“Beef” Production Designer Grace Yun on Mixing Real & Surreal Into a Simmering Style
Beef creator Lee Sung Jin (Dave, Undone), who goes by Sonny Lee, reached out to production designer Grace Yun (Past Lives, Ramy, Hereditary) to share his vision of the series that pins Danny Cho (Steven Yeun), a failing contractor, and Amy Lau (Ali Wong), a self-made entrepreneur, against one other following a heated parking lot altercation. “I was impressed from the start,
How “Stranger Things” Editor Dean Zimmerman Cut Eddie’s Epic Guitar Solo & That Wild Season 4 Finale
“Divide and conquer while keeping our heads above water was how we approached episode nine,” says editor Dean Zimmerman, who has been on the juggernaut Netflix series Stranger Things since the beginning. Season four sees its beloved characters continue their fight against Vecna, a mind-controlling arch-villain wreaking havoc on the town of Hawkins.
It was the biggest, boldest season of the series yet, and Zimmerman was a key component in keeping the epic finale as tight as a snare drum.
Provincetown International Film Festival Honors the Great Billy Porter
The irrepressible Billy Porter, actor, singer, and style maven, fit in perfectly with the quirky but sophisticated vibe of the Provincetown International Film Festival, which celebrated its 25th year June 14-18.
The Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award winner was this year’s Excellence in Acting Honoree at PIFF. Audiences also got an early look at his latest film, director Bill Oliver’s indie drama Our Son. Porter and Luke Evans portray husbands going through a divorce and fighting over the custody of their 8-year-old son.
“Swagger” Creator Reggie Rock Bythewood on Soaring to New Narrative Heights in Season 2
When looking for their next favorite series, fans of engaging drama—bonus points if you’re a lover of basketball—should look no further than creator and director Reggie Rock Bythewood’s series Swagger, which just premiered its second season on Apple TV+.
Based on the youth basketball experience of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, the story is centered around the Maryland-based team “Swagger DMV,” coached by Ike Edwards (O’Shea Jackson Jr.), a man committed to making both great ballers and world citizens of his team,
How the “Wednesday” VFX Supervisor Created Thing, Nevermore, and More
The “mysterious and spooky” Addams Family gets revitalized in Tim Burton’s hit series Wednesday, which stars Jenna Ortega as the emotionally reserved child, complete with pigtails, black attire, and a deadpan affect that suggests this youngster is the oldest of souls.
The story, from creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, is directed by Tim Burton and charters Wednesday to Nevermore Academy – a school her parents Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and (Gomez (Luis Guzmán) attended 25 years before.
“What We Do in the Shadows” Costume Designer Laura Montgomery on Dressing Vampires in Flux
The undead roommates of What We Do in the Shadows embarked on journeys of rebirth in season 4 – some more literally than others – that included remodeling, reincarnating, and remarrying. All these new endeavors gave Emmy-winning costume designer Laura Montgomery an opportunity to redefine the rules of vampire fashion.
For hundreds of years, Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo (Matt Berry), and Nandor (Kayvan Novak) have been sporting outfits from the eras they’ve loved experiencing the most.
“Atlanta” and “P-Valley” Costume Designer Tiffany Hasbourne’s Singular Style
Costume designer Tiffany Hasbourne began her journey as a stylist to some of the biggest names in music, including Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, French Montana, and Busta Rhymes. She got the attention of gatekeepers in Hollywood by styling the cast of High School Musical, and then rose to prominence by designing costumes for shows like Shooter, Raising Dion, and Ballers. It was her work on Ballers that got her the gig on Atlanta,
