The Backlash Came for Drew BarrymoreThe View did it. The Talk did it. But after Barrymore crossed the picket line, the daytime TV host faced a unique wave of scrutiny. Why?
ByJosef Adalian and Kathryn VanArendonk
screen time
The Decomposition of Rotten TomatoesThe most overrated metric in entertainment is erratic, reductive, and easily hacked — and yet has Hollywood in its grip.
ByLane Brown
book review
How Zadie Smith Lost Her TeethSince her audacious debut, she has been moving toward character-driven realism. In the process, she’s become the least interesting version of herself.
ByAndrea Long Chu
theater
The Final SondheimThe complete, from-beginning-to-end story of how Stephen Sondheim, David Ives, and Joe Mantello created the musical Here We Are.
ByFrank Rich
movie review
The Flash in a PanThe latest DC movie is the cinematic equivalent of a snake eating its own tail. This isn’t a film so much as brand management in flailing motion.
The Call Is Coming From Inside the CubicleThe creators of the new HBO docuseries Telemarketers started filming their own office — where they’d later learn they were part of a nationwide grift.
Ted Lasso Has a Major Character FlawIn the spirit of “Be curious, not judgmental,” we’re curious whether the show remembers why we cared about these people in the first place.
ByJen Chaney, Roxana Hadadi, and Kathryn VanArendonk
The Self-possession of Angela BassettShe has an unmatched ability to portray the interior complications and cultural reverberations of Black women’s anger — onscreen and off.
Christine McVie’s Perfect VoiceShe was Fleetwood Mac’s most reliable songwriter, but the ache in her voice was just as important as her words.
ByJen Chaney
close read
The Crown Did Diana DirtySeason five’s diminishment of the “people’s princess” as petulant and reckless feels like nefarious intent hidden behind fictional license.
ByRoxana Hadadi
into it
Atlanta Wasn’t for EveryoneStephen Glover on testing the boundaries of television as his (and his brother’s) show signs off.
BySam Sanders
power
House of SpearsOne year ago, Britney Spears was freed from a notorious conservatorship. What possessed her father to seize near-total control of her life?
What Was Brangelina?The couple were always known for their image-making savvy. Now, as their divorce reenters the press cycle, we’re reminded of who’s better at it.
Ken Jennings Ascends the PodiumThe Jeopardy! co-host (and its greatest champion) settles into his dream job, one year after the show’s legacy was almost tarnished.
ByDevon Ivie
highway to hell
The Live-Music Industry Is BrokenSupply-chain issues, mental health crises, positive COVID tests. As artists continue to struggle, is any of this even worth it?
Every A24 Movie, RankedNeon lights, creepy birds, white people rapping — the studio spawned an aesthetic universe. Here are the good, bad, and vibe-y.
ByNate Jones
let’s do it again
The 102 Best Movie Sequels of All TimeWho in the world wanted a Top Gun sequel? Not even Tom Cruise, but that didn’t stop Maverick from getting made and soaring in our ranks.
