This New Comedy Has A Similar Concept To 'Abbott Elementary' — But No Need to Compare It
Public school TV comedies are on the rise again with FX’s “English Teacher.” The new foul-mouthed workplace comedy — not to be confused with “Abbott Elementary” — is centered around Evan Marquez (played by creator Brian Jordan Alvarez), the titular, openly gay English teacher who grapples with trying to be his authentic self while working at a high school in a suburb of Austin, Texas, that’s rife with casual homophobia. The show also stars Enrico Colantoni as Principal Grant Moretti, plus Stephanie Koenig, Sean Patton, Carmen Christopher and a recurring Langston Kerman as the school’s teachers.
Though the FX series has only an eight-episode order, it has the potential to grow into something bigger if it keeps using humor and the American education system to tackle hot-button topics — like a homophobic parent who files a complaint against Evan for kissing another male teacher in front of her son, or protests against the football team’s tradition of dressing up as cheerleaders for the annual powderpuff game.
This Netflix Show Just Got Renewed For A Fifth Season
On Monday, Netflix announced it's renewing "Emily in Paris" for a fifth season. HuffPost contributor Sarah Hunter Simanson recently reviewed the show's two-part fourth season, which she argues was not the right way to release the episodes.
"When the season is split in two, the show feels chaotic in a way that straddles the fine line between entertaining drama and overwhelming dribble," she writes, adding that she's looking forward to Season 5, but hopes "Netflix chooses to package it differently, so the show can remain a delicious treat instead of a hot mess." Read more here.
This New Peacock Series Doesn't Live Up To The Hype
Njera Perkins, Taryn Finley and Erin Evans had lots to discuss about the new Peacock series "Fight Night," which premiered Friday. While its cast of heavyweights (boxing pun intended) makes the show the kind of project you hope to root for, the three ultimately found the eight-episode series a mixed bag. Read more here.
The Movie Trump Doesn't Want You To See
At the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month, senior culture reporter Candice Frederick caught a surprise screening of one of the season's most newsworthy films: "The Apprentice," which dramatizes the relationship between a young Donald Trump and his mentor, the infamous lawyer Roy Cohn, played by Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong, respectively.
Candice raises some intriguing questions, like where is the line between fact and fiction in the film, and is it necessary to make a film that paints an unflattering picture of the former president when the likely audience already has plenty of similar evidence? Read more of her thoughts in her review.
Allow 'Rebel Ridge' To Introduce You To Hollywood’s Newest Action Star
If you’re not familiar with Aaron Pierre’s acting game yet, “Rebel Ridge” is a great introduction. The action-packed Netflix thriller, directed by Jeremy Saulnier, follows his character Terry as he wages a war against the local Shelby Springs police department in a tense civil asset forfeiture revenge plot. Starring as an ex-Marine, Pierre puts on a masterful display of brains and brawn as he steps into the role of an action star for the first time in his career. His gripping performance rightfully carries the police drama, but the multi-layered tale is arguably one of the best film offerings of the year.