Started The Studio last night on Apple+. It’s a comedy starring Seth Rogan as the newly appointed head of a major Hollywood studio. He wants to make actual meaningful projects but the president of studio (Bryan Cranston) insists that they make pandering slop. For example: Rogan wants to make a Jonestown movie with Scorsese but Cranston demands they do a Kool-Aide movie to try and capitalize on brand recognition. Rogan attempts to juggle both deals and ends up sabotaging both and himself. It’s not exactly deep satire but it’s also probably surprisingly close to how studios actually operate these days. Which is the show’s biggest strength, shitting on the studio system and people in charge of it.
The humor is very Seinfeld/Curb, Woody Allen-esque with characters creating their own problems, not communicating properly, lying for no real reason, making snap decisions etc. As Dinkins would say it’s very Jewy. It’s also really fast paced and snappy with excellent writing, surprisingly so. There’s some legit great lines and interactions.
I do not like Seth Rogan but he’s become a lot more tolerable now that he’s middle aged and ditched being James Franco’s stoner buddy. I wouldn’t say he does a particularly great but he’s fine enough and definitely has that neurotic awkward energy that suits the style of comedy.
There are a ton of big names In it, the first episode alone had Scorsese, Steve Buscemi and Charlize Theron.
But yeah hadn’t heard anyone talking about this anywhere and it’s definitely worth checking out.
