Better Things
‘Lucky Hank’ Made Diedrich Bader Fall in Love With Acting Again
Diedrich Bader has played the best friend before. He did it for nine seasons of The Drew Carey Show. He did it two decades later on Pamela Adlon’s meditative Better Things. He also did it plenty of other times in between. But something about being the Bob Odenkirk’s wingman on Lucky Hank, the AMC series […]
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Daniel Fienberg: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2022
A risk-taking Disney series, two urgently relevant docs, an epic literary adaptation and a trio of first-rate final seasons were among picks from The Hollywood Reporter's chief TV critic.
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How TV Is Embracing Late-in-Life Coming-of-Age Stories
For as fecund as Peak TV has been during the past decade, the glut hasn’t exactly yielded boundless perfection. In between all the flavorless revivals, franchise extenders, true-scandal dramas and star-studded gimmicks, this season I found myself grasping for simple shows that radiated unaffected warmth and vulnerability. I wanted sincerity. I wanted quietness. I wanted […]
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Pamela Adlon on the ‘Better Things’ Finale, the FX Show’s Legacy and More: ‘TV’s Top 5’ Podcast
In a special extended Showrunner Spotlight edition of the podcast, Pamela Adlon joins Lesley Goldberg and Daniel Fienberg to talk about the decision to end 'Better Things' after five seasons, the finale's closing song choice and those strange lights in the sky.
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It Took ‘Better Things’ For Pamela Adlon to Learn How She Likes to Work: “I’m a Lone a Wolf”
Better Things, Pamela Adlon’s semi-autobiographical meditation on motherhood and middling Hollywood careers, began its fifth and final season on FX (and Hulu) on Feb. 28. In the six years since its premiere, the 55-year-old writer, director and actress has seen her own perception in town shift dramatically — from character actor to auteur — in […]
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Events of the Week: ‘The Dropout,’ ‘The Godfather’ 50th Anniversary and More
As Hollywood events return to full force in New York and Los Angeles amid the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a look at the week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings, including red carpets for The Dropout, The Godfather‘s 50th anniversary and season five of Better Things. The Godfather 50th Anniversary “A couple of times I thought I […]
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FX’s ‘Better Things’ Season 5: TV Review
Pamela Adlon's comedy wraps up its five-season run with big family moments, a trip to London, lots of cooking and generally all of the things that make the show so beloved.
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Pamela Adlon on Ending ‘Better Things’ and Getting Through the Last Days on Set
After five seasons, Pamela Adlon’s Better Things is coming to a close, but not without some celebration first. The semiautobiographical series in which Adlon stars, writes, directs and exec produces kicked off its final season Wednesday night with a premiere at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where she discussed how she wanted to finish off her […]
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FX’s ‘Better Things’ to End With Season 5
The forthcoming fifth season of FX’s Better Things will be its last. Pamela Adlon, who co-created, writes, directs, executive produces and stars in the critical favorite, said in a statement that she will bring the show to a close with season five. The season is currently in production and is slated to premiere in 2022. […]
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Ron Cephas Jones Boards FX’s ‘Better Things’ (Exclusive)
FX’s Better Things will feature Emmy winner Ron Cephas Jones in its upcoming fifth season. Jones (This Is Us, Truth Be Told) will appear in two episodes of the critically acclaimed Better Things. He’ll play Ron, an old friend and acting colleague of Sam’s (creator, star, showrunner and director Pamela Adlon). Season five of Better […]
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Daniel Fienberg: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2020
Among The Hollywood Reporter chief TV critic’s faves are a Southern strip-club noir, a pair of politically urgent docuseries and auteur knockouts from Lil Dicky and Michaela Coel.
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Emmy Nominations Snubs: Reese Witherspoon, Bob Odenkirk, ‘Better Things’ Left Out
High-profile Emmy Awards nominations 2020 snubs include Reese Witherspoon, Bob Odenkirk, 'Better Things,' Roger Ailes series 'The Loudest Voice' (and star Russell Crowe), Larry David, 'The Morning Show' breakout Gugu Mbatha-Raw and 'Homeland' and 'The Plot Against America' only receiving one nomination each.
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