TV
Reno 911! and the Thin Blue Line Between Satire and Cruelty
In a world where micro-streaming service Quibi was watched by anyone except exhausted culture writers assigned to cover it, their relaunch of the mockumentary sketch show Reno 911! would take up at least a couple days’ worth of exhaustive Twitter culture war discourse. For what it’s worth, the cast of the acclaimed Comedy Central show are all back and haven’t missed a step, sliding back into their roles as if no time has passed. Unfortunately, that same sense of nostalgic comfort is also the show’s greatest weakness; for better and for worse, the show (and its sense of humor) hasn’t changed a whit since it went off the air in 2009. In the Bush-era heyday of Reno 911!, the show perfectly fit that South Park peak of edgy, subversive humor. The sketch-based, improv-heavy nature...
Robert Rodgriguez Directed a Season 2 Episode of The Mandalorian
Robert Rodgriguez is no stranger to tales of violent outlaws and children in danger. Now, the creative mind behind the Sin City and Spy Kids franchises has confirmed his work directing a Season 2 episode of The Mandalorian. In a May 4th post on Twitter, Rodriguez shared a picture of himself and a certain green puppet. “I am truly humbled to say I have now had the very rare privilege of directing the biggest star in the universe,” he wrote. Season 2 is expected to debut in October. While Disney is usually tight-lipped about these things, the House of Mouse has been strategically leaking details about their only universally-adored Star Wars property. In March we learned that Rosario Dawson will take up the dual lightsabers of fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano, and yesterday Peyton...
The Weeknd Guests on American Dad, Performs New Song “I’m a Virgin”: Watch
Throughout his entire discography, The Weeknd dishes on his salacious, sex-fueled nights and his luxe life of fancy cars and mansions. For his latest project, however, the Canadian R&B singer is looking to change that narrative, if for just 30 minutes. Abel Tesfaye co-wrote and starred in the newest episode of Seth MacFarlane’s American Dad. Titled “A Starboy is Born” (referencing his Starboy album from 2016), it sees the artist show his true colors — and it’s a stark contrast from the rich playboy we’ve all come to know. Kidnapped by Roger the Alien, The Weeknd settles into the Smith family household surprisingly quickly, reveling in homemade lasagna, mundane house chores, and suburban pleasantries. “I miss being around boring people like this family,” he says at the dinner table. The...
