where my cinephiles at?
I'm watching The Studio and you should be too
Floor Time
/flôr tīm/
noun
the 15-60 minute time period spent laying on the floor in the middle of the work day, typically as a relief from the soul-sucking reality of corporate America.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Apple TV+ has atrocious marketing. I never know about any show on that streamer until I accidentally browse when queueing up new episodes of “Severance” once every three years (and speaking of, did they spend the entire platform’s marketing budget on the “Severance” activations alone? probz).
Did you know that Apple TV+ has a sci-fi show starring Rebecca Ferguson? (“Atreides! Atreides! Atreides!”). Or that Leo Woodhall (lover of Meghann Fahy, star of the baffling new movie, “Drop,” and #forevermySuttonBrady) is a Will Hunting-esque maths student at Cambridge in a show about…cybersecurity(??). I think??? And tell me why I had a “why now, why this sperm?” moment when I heard Jon Hamm was hosting the most recent SNL until I realized, ohhh it’s about an Apple TV+ show, huh?
All this to say, the fact that I landed on “The Studio” is perhaps a miracle. I think watching “The White Lotus” (RIP my shaylasssss) got me back into my TV phase, and it was then that Eli texted me: “have you watched the studio yet? it’s a great show for cinephiles like you to nerd out.” So I gave it a go.
Guys. Don’t sleep on this show. “Each episode plays like its own little art house project” -Eli. This is the show for fangirls of old Hollywood. For the *read in an Eli Wallach-soft-transatlantic-accent* pictures! For talkies! Seth Rogen created a low-stakes, HIGH-stress (like “Uncut Gems” level high) tongue-in-cheek satire about the current flailing state of Hollywood, through the lens of the golden years of Hollywood. Episode 4, “The Missing Reel,” is probably the highlight for me so far—a flawless meta ode to the iconic 1974 film “Chinatown,” which everyone needs to watch at some point in their life, despite the *cough* racism *cough*. And don’t even get me started on episode 3, “The Oner,” that triggered my panic response.
And if you can’t reach the inner film nerd within, might I suggest you watch it for the:
a) impeccable set design (they just casually built an 8,000 sq. ft. faux-Frank Lloyd Wright set for the studio HQ) and costuming (how do I get my hands on every one of Chase Sui Wonders’ character’s OOTDs),
b) INSANE guest star slate—kicking off with Bryan Cranston and Marty Scorsezz (Martin Scorsese, in an acting role!), and moving to Greta Lee, Olivia Wilde, Zac Efron, Ron Howard (hilarious cameo arc btw), and a 5-word line delivery from Charlize Theron that probably cost Apple $[redacted],
c) Kathryn Hahn and Catherine O’Hara. Kathryn Hahn, dude. It really was Agatha All Along! I will watch anything with her in it because she’s ALWAYS a slay.
Lastly, I’ll leave you with this absolute bar from the Variety review: “‘The Studio’ is a lavish spectacle about how lavish spectacles came to be an endangered species.” Watch it and thank me later.1
Something I Thought of in the Shower
Nothing. This is the only space I’ve had the past two weeks to dissociate.
Something for Clarice
Hey! This newsletter is free and I intend to keep it that way. That said, if you love it and want to show your appreciation, buy me a coffee :)
Something Pretty
I celebrated a birthday while we were apart and had the most incredible meals. See below for the camera roll from the day-of, and the Friday-of.
Something Light
Haven’t shared my scrolls in a while because I’ve been….doom scrolling like no other. But here were some gems in the rough:
This girl rating the quality of Costco boxes. I can’t even describe how much I love this content. I have always thought about these boxes and to see it in this organized way really scratched my brain.
This weird little pink puppet teaching us about jazz?
Also my current vibe (by one of my favorite artists Martha Rich):
By the way…I’m reading this.
Spring is springing and it makes me want YA beach reads—I just got this silly little book and I can’t wait to enjoy it in the sun this weekend.
And I’m watching this.
Obviously “The Studio.” But also the new season of “Hacks” which NEVER flops, the new season of “Doctor Who” that I’m excited to dive into, and “The Last of Us,” which I think had a semi-boring first ep but the trailer signals that that won’t be true for long. I love spring TV!
Thanks for reading and if you’re a New Yorker, hope you go absolutely feral during our 80 degree Saturday tomorrow. FINALLY, we thaw!!!
‘Til next time, cinephiles. Your friend,
Clarice
and thanks, Eli for recommending it!