Have a coffee in the real life Central Perk. Me? I'll be sleeping in Seinfeld's bed.
It’s a rough time out there for paid film and TV critics. It is so bad that Rolling Stone TV critic Alan Sepinwall, one of the most-read, beloved guys in the biz, was yesterday shown his walking papers.
It’s brutal out there.
RIP Robert Redford
We lost Robert Redford overnight. There are few screen legends bigger than Redford, who has an incredible body of work left behind.
Sneakers, while being a hugely entertaining film, is pretty far from the best film in his filmography, but it’s a pretty big deal in my house, so I reckon we’ll be watching that one tonight. Even if my brain is telling me that I should be watching Three Days of The Condor or All The Presidents Men.
I liked this in the New York Times obit:
Through a career that stretched six decades, Robert Redford, who died on Tuesday at 89, was an intellectual Marlboro Man tuned to maximum Americana. Mr. Redford’s characters were “I’ll do it myself” men with skin as tough as elephant hide and a wardrobe gathered from an argyle-to-zoot-suit encyclopedia of American style.
Mr. Redford long claimed his spot (alongside names like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and James Dean) on the Mount Rushmore of actors who have a permanent plot on designer moodboards.
Redord doesn’t have much in the way of a TV filmography, but notable was a Twilight Zone episode he did in 1962 - Nothing in the Dark.
You can watch him talking about it here:
His final screen appearance, I believe, is an uncredited appearance as a chess player in an episode of Dark Winds, which he is credited on as a series producer.
The One With The Coffee Shop you can visit
Here’s some concept art for an actual Central Perk coffee shop, which is set to open in Times Square. This is actually the second Central Perk coffee shop based on the one from Friends - a Boston shop opened in 2023.
Read more: Variety
Of course, my New York City coffee dollar is invested entirely in Tom’s Restaurant.
That said, I am currently looking up travel prices to get myself to Cincenatti to stay in The New York Suite, a hotel room designed to look just like Jerry Seinfeld’s apartment in the sitcom. It’s an incredible recreation.
The outside of the building does look a little different…
It’s The Morning Show season… I hope you are dressed appropriately
Here in Australia, we have warmer weather with spring now underway as we all enjoy short sleeves again and Morning Wars on our televisions.
Wait… Morning Wars… what’s that again?
In one of those great confusions, that’s what Apple TV+ has had to re-brand original ‘drama’ The Morning Show in Australia. Likely to save confusion with our local morning show branded as ‘The Morning Show.’
The show is back today for season 4. It was also renewed for a fifth season with the announcement just made hours ago.
I have watched every episode of this show (including the new season, shy of the season finale). To be clear, I really hate this TV show. I don’t understand how it continues to be as terrible as it is.
None of it makes a lick of sense (in terms of characters, the TV industry they work in, and even human behaviour). The show is terrible.
But also, the cast is incredible and season on season it just gets better. Turn it on now and you’ll see Jon Hamm back a bit this season, Jeremy Irons, William Jackson Harper, and even Boyd Holbrook (who is there playing a Joe Rogan-type of podcaster whose name is actually Bro. No, really).
The best thing I have read today is Alison Herman’s season 4 review at Variety.
She nails just how silly this show is with this paragraph:
Season 4 picks up in spring 2024, about two years after Bradley turned herself into the FBI for covering up her brother’s involvement in the January 6th insurrection. (Just typing that sentence brings a smile to my face.)
There’s something equally as bonkers that takes place this season. I’d say, but there’s an embargo.
This season rectifies the strangest thing about the show, which stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston… they almost never share any screen time.
If my memory serves, they never shared a single moment on-camera together in season 2 and there was just one or two fleeting moments in season 3. They’re not on screen much this season together, but they do physically occupy the same space on multiple occasions. It’s refreshing.
Quote of The Day
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos on the time Reed Hastings told him about plans for Netflix’s streaming business:
“Honestly, it sounded nuts to me”
This is from the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast:
News Desk
Proof that the Emmys do matter for viewers. A report from Luminate shows a 142% increase in viewership for HBO Max’s The Pitt following its wins at the award show, with Apple TV+’s The Studio seeing a massive 254% increase, and… wait for this… Netflix’s Adolescence achieving a 416% increase. Read: Deadline
80s superstar IP The Care Bears is coming back into our lives with the bears now serving as digital companions. AI company Gotendai says that the bears will “remember past conversations, detect changes in emotion, respond to elements such as environment, location, and weather, and even give fashion or interior design advice”. Read: Deadline
The Fantastic Four: First Steps debuts on digital next week, Tuesday September 23. Read: Dark Horizons
Look up! Superman (2025) debuts on HBO Max this coming Friday, September 19.
Disney will acquire a 2% equity stake in Webtoon Entertainment, with the companies also entering a partnership to launch a new platform delivering 35,000 comics from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios. Read: Variety
With 14 APAC territories going live in October, HBO Max will be in 100 territories. Read: C21
ITV content is coming to Spotify, following a partnership with ITV Studios-owned Zoo 55. It’ll deliver shows including The Graham Norton Show, I Was a Teenage Felon, and Dead Set on Life. Read: Worldscreen
Trailer Park
Maintenance Required debuts Oct 8 on Prime Video.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Deathwatch debuts on Netflix October 14.
Rulers of Fortune debuts on Netflix Oct 29.
Profeta (André Lamoglia), raised in Campos dos Goytacazes, wants to prove to his father and to everyone that he was born to lead. Búfalo (Xamã), an ex-MMA fighter, takes over the family business after marrying Guerra heiress Suzana (Giullia Buscaccio). But there is only one crown, and the two unlikely rivals are willing to do whatever it takes to claim it - and earn the respect of the old guard.
But wait… there’s another Rulers of Fortune teaser trailer…
They are sisters, rivals, and heiresses to the Guerra empire. Like her father, Mirna (Mel Maia) is articulate and business-minded. Ambitious and cunning Suzana (Giullia Buscaccio) is willing to destroy her own flesh and blood if necessary. Who will come out on top in the end?
And another…
Galego (Chico Diaz), the head of the old guard, is used to giving orders and calling the shots. Leila (Juliana Paes) is the wife who, albeit in her husband's shadow, pulls the strings like a queen. When rivalries arise within the family, betrayal can feel worse than murder.
She Walks In Darkness debuts Oct 3 on Netflix.
A young agent leaves everything behind to pose as a member of ETA, risking her life to uncover the terrorists' hideouts in the south of France.
That’s the newsletter for today.
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