Television

"Life doesn't imitate art, it imitates bad television." —Woody Allen

All the Television We’ll Lose: On Fantagraphics’ “Ernie in Kovacsland”
Harry Waksberg reviews a new book from Fantagraphics about television pioneer Ernie Kovacs, “Ernie in Kovacsland.”
Harry WaksbergAug 17, 2023
- Literary Criticism
- Television
Family No Longer Sustains: On Michael Szalay’s “Second Lives”
Olivia Stowell reviews Michael Szalay’s “Second Lives: Black-Market Melodramas & the Reinvention of Television.”
Olivia StowellJul 29, 2023
- Cultural Studies
- Television
The Culture Is Lit and I Had a Ball: On HBO’s “The Idol”
Sophie Frances Kemp reviews HBO’s “The Idol.”
Sophie Frances KempJul 25, 2023
- Television
Things Will Get Shittier: AI and the Dial of Business Basiness
J. D. Connor ponders how AI is transforming the media landscape, the law, and our lives.
J. D. ConnorJul 22, 2023
Heady Politics in the Ton: On Shondaland’s “Queen Charlotte”
Leigh-Michil George reviews Shondaland’s “Queen Charlotte,” and asks about the nature of the game being played.
Leigh-Michil GeorgeJul 17, 2023
- Television
In the Mouth of Sadness: On the Erotic Bummer
Sean T. Collins and Julia Gfrörer lay out the generic terms of the erotic thriller’s morose relation, the erotic bummer.
Julia Gfrörer, Sean T. CollinsJul 7, 2023
Hereditary Venom: On Nicholas Britell’s “Succession: Season 4” Soundtrack
Ali Royals reviews Nicholas Britell’s “Succession: Season 4” soundtrack.
Ali RoyalsJul 2, 2023
- Music
- Television
Spectacles of Repression: On Netflix’s “Beef”
Amanda Walujono reviews Netflix’s new dramedy “Beef.”
Amanda WalujonoJun 30, 2023
- Television
Intentionally Hyperfocused: On Amazon Prime’s “Swarm”
Brienne Adams examines stan culture and its relationship to Black and queer love in Amazon Prime’s “Swarm.”
Brienne AdamsJun 9, 2023
- Television
The Algorithmic Hustle: Surplus Comedy and Hollywood Specwork
J. D. Connor discusses Netflix’s business model, specwork in comedy, and the extraction of surplus value from Black labor.
J. D. ConnorApr 27, 2023
- Television
The Saints and Algorithms of Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof’s “Mrs. Davis”
Nicholas Russell reviews Peacock’s new series “Mrs. Davis,” created by Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof.
Nicholas RussellApr 21, 2023
- Television
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl in the Attic: On Netflix’s “Love Is Blind”
Samantha Pergadia reviews Netflix’s “Love Is Blind” in the context of Victorian literature.
Samantha PergadiaMar 1, 2023
- Television