Ben Travers

‘Monster’ Season 3 Review: Even ‘Ed Gein’ Doesn’t Want You to Watch This ‘Story’ Netflix's 'Monster' again attempts to humanize a serial killer — Charlie Hunnam as Ed Gein — while blaming viewers for its own nauseating choices.

Oops I never shared the review. Sorry. Just getting a head start on forgetting I ever saw this. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

‘Mr. Scorsese’ Review: A Vivid, Studied, Enormously Entertaining Portrait of a Cinematic ‘Cornerstone’ The Martin Scorsese documentary series deftly mines his angels and demons in interviews with Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and the man himself.

Really loved Rebecca Miller’s Martin Scorsese documentary, “Mr. Scorsese” — which, among other highlights, features a plainly uncomfortable Leonardo DiCaprio saying the words “a woman’s buttocks” while breaking down the opening shot of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

They ruined Google search for nothing

I didn’t write much about the performances in “Monster” Season 3, in part because they’re the least of its problems and in part because of this. (And, as always, because I’d already written 1000+ words.)

‘Mr. Scorsese’ Review: A Vivid, Studied, Enormously Entertaining Portrait of a Cinematic ‘Cornerstone’ The Martin Scorsese documentary series deftly mines his angels and demons in interviews with Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and the man himself.

Really loved Rebecca Miller’s Martin Scorsese documentary, “Mr. Scorsese” — which, among other highlights, features a plainly uncomfortable Leonardo DiCaprio saying the words “a woman’s buttocks” while breaking down the opening shot of “The Wolf of Wall Street.” www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

“Well, sheeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiit!”
[complimentary]

MOUNTAINHEAD (2025), dir. Jesse Armstrong

This should be a regime ending moment.

Even IndieWire’s Own Staff Cannot Agree on the Best Format for Seeing ‘One Battle After Another’ Confused? Heck, even IndieWire's staff can't settle on one preferred format.

Appreciate @katerbland.bsky.social including my (deranged) take in this, considering I clearly didn't understand the assignment. www.indiewire.com/features/gen...

Also nice: bsky.app/profile/tvmo...

Jimmy Kimmel Made Himself Unassailable — Will That Be Enough? In his emotional return to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live,' Jimmy Kimmel delivered a strong show and an even stronger monologue, proving he's not the enemy here.

Wrote about good people doing good things amid bad times, and how nice it feels, even for a night, when resistance is rewarded rather than punished. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

Clive Owen and the gang watching TV in 'Children of Men'

watching kimmel tomorrow

Jimmy Kimmel Live! Will Return to TV Tomorrow The news comes almost a week after it was pulled from airing on ABC “indefinitely.”

NEW: JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE is not dead.

Up now at @vulture.com

www.vulture.com/article/jimm...

‘Long Story Short’ Review: Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s Time-Hopping Family Sitcom Is a Tender Knockout Bouncing between the absurd joys and poignant moments of daily life, the Netflix series 'Long Story Short' tracks the Schwooper family across decades.

Still thinking about this one. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

The New York Times’ review of “Anthem” argues the book works to empower teenagers even as the narrative sees many of them die. “Instead of making teenagers the victims, Hawley gives them agency and power in a collapsing world.”

The same could be said for “Alien: Earth.”

Not to excuse Disney's actions -- which are an unconscionable capitulation and an abandonment of first amendment principles -- but I think people just genuinely do not understand how much power affiliates wield in the broadcast TV game. Still! To this day!

Television Critics Association The Television Critics Association (TCA) condemns ABC's indefinite suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which is the latest in a series of actions aimed at silencing critics of the Trump administration. The Walt Disney Company's capitulation to the demands of the FCC chair this week represents a wanton disregard of the First Amendment's guarantee to a right for people and the press to speak without government retribution. TCA stands with the Writers Guild of America, which said in a statement it is "united in opposition to anyone who uses their power and influence to silence the voices of writers, or anyone who speaks in dissent," and SAG-AFTRA, which said this "is the type of suppression and retaliation that endangers everyone's freedoms." The government attempting to punish creatives, writers, and/or journalists for speech that officials do not like is authoritarianism. Corporations that profit from the words of television stars, writers, and journalists must defend their employees from governmental pressure, which is different from setting their own creative and editorial standards.

TCA condemns ABC and Disney’s capitulation to the government’s demands of censorship.

LOST writer-producer Damon Lindelof says he won’t work with Disney unless Kimmel js reinstated. I’m hearing other talent weighing similar pledges.

Dan, come on — it clearly says (on the posters in his office) that his full name is "The Brofessional."

‘Alien: Earth’: Noah Hawley on Wendy’s New Ability and Why Kids Are ‘the Heart of This Story’ 'Alien: Earth' creator Noah Hawley on his personal ties to 'Alien' and what's ahead for Wendy: "There are consequences to all of this power."

For those of you watching "Alien: Earth" — and especially if you also read Noah Hawley's last book, "Anthem" — a long talk about kids! www.indiewire.com/features/int...

After three seasons of batshit nonsense, Season 4 commits "The Morning Show's" last indefensible sin: It's a snoozefest! 🥱 🛌

OK, not even getting into the ethics or the existential issues around AI: Have some goddamn self-respect. If you're a writer and you do this I don't know how you look at yourself, but I know exactly how I look at you.

Don't stop believing Some news, as they say

Reading Alan is as essential as it gets if you want to know what’s going on in television and the culture at large.

That he’s also a pleasure to read is like a nice little favor he does for everyone, so let’s not take it for granted, OK? Subscribe —> alansepinwall.ghost.io/dont-stop-be...

Don't stop believing Some news, as they say

Some news: yesterday was my last at Rolling Stone. For now, I'm going solo, doing all my TV reviewing, recapping, etc., at my newsletter. I hope you'll consider subscribing. Many more details here:

"The Emmys, for two years in a row and too many years overall, have felt driven more by embarrassment for existing than pride for the mission at hand."

The 77th Emmy Awards Ran Out the Clock A few surprising winners and bursts of genuine excitement couldn't survive an ill-fated bit that came to define an uninspired 2025 Emmys. [REVIEW]

Woof. www.indiewire.com/criticism/sh...

Hoping Larry David is planning a new "Curb" episode to get back at Ted Danson for this.

"I just want to say, go birds, fuck ICE and free Palestine," "Hacks" star Hannah Einbinder at the #Emmys

A home run right to him?!! What?!!!

bsky.app/profile/marc...

Anthony Rizzo in the front row of the Wrigley Field bleachers, shouting at Ian Happ

Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers, examining a baseball thrown to him by Happ after warm-ups.

Anthony Rizzo walking through the bleachers, beer in hand, near a man wearing an “Anthony Rizzo Forever” t-shirt.

Anthony Rizzo not only sitting in the Wrigley Field bleachers but heckling his old teammate (Ian Happ), taking photos and having beers with the fans — his statue can’t be big enough. #AnthonyRizzoForever