HBO cancels starry drama series

And some wishful speculation about Drew's decision

What to know

• Winning Time has been cancelled at HBO after two seasons… Can’t say I’m too surprised. The first season ended up being fine, and I haven’t heard all that much good about the second season. Additionally, it doesn’t seem to have caught on as most HBO shows do — and this one cannot be cheap to make considering its starry cast. The strike might have had something to do with it as well, because had HBO had those stars available to promote the new season, maybe more people would have watched. The network’s own greediness biting them in the butt and then putting more people out of work. Shame. I guess if you want to find out what happened to the Lakers, go to Wikipedia? 🏀

• Drew Barrymore cancels plans to bring back talk show, Bill Maher follows suit, Jennifer Hudson delays return too… All of them have made the right call. This really speaks to the power of the union and how collective labor action can pressure people into doing the right thing, however painful in the short term, for the greater good. I do wonder if this is an indication that the WGA strike will end soon? Perhaps someone with insider knowledge convinced Drew not to return by saying “don’t worry, it won’t be long now.” Maybe that’s just wishful thinking. The WGA and the studios will resume talks on Wednesday.🪧

• Mark-Paul Gosselar wanted to quit Hollywood after Fox cancelled Pitch… Speaking of sports dramas getting cancelled, I cannot blame MPG for this one. Pitch, the 2016 drama about a woman breaking the MLB’s gender barrier, was excellent. It was probably not right for Fox and therefor ripped from this world way too soon. I don’t even think it’s on Hulu, but you can buy the entire thing digitally for $15. It was a great show and if you like sports dramas, I’d recommend it. ⚾️

• Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One coming to VOD October 10… Paramount fumbled the entire rollout for this movie, underestimating just how much Barbenheimer would cannibalize M:I7. Does Tom Cruise think it’s still making much money in theaters? Just get it out on VOD already. Barbie is already on VOD. What are they doing? 🤔

• Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction wins Toronto film fest audience award… Hearing very good things about this satirical comedy — and winning this accolade might place it in the thick of award season. Add it to the list! Cord Jefferson gave us some of the best episodes of Watchmen and The Leftovers. 👀

• Guillermo del Toro will reportedly starting film Dr. Frankenstein in February… You know, if the strikes are over. This one will be live-action and at one point was going to star Andrew Garfield, Oscar Isaac, and Mia Goth. Unclear who’s still attached at this point. 🧌

• Paranormal Activity stage play in the works… With eyes for the West End. This could be really interesting. I’m not sure how the found-footage aspects of Paranormal Activity would translate, but its confined setting certainly would. 🎭

• Oppenheimer crosses $900M, becomes highest grossing biopic… Beating Bohemian Rhapsody. Imagine thinking just a few years ago that a movie about Robert Oppenheimer would make more money than one about Freddie Mercury. 💣

• Netflix buys Richard Linklater’s Hit Man for $20M… Finally someone snapped it up! Hopefully the streamer releases the movie sooner rather than later. 👏

• Johnny Depp has reportedly been cast in Beetlejuice 2… Tim Burton has never seen a movie that couldn’t include a little Johnny Depp. 👻

• Elon Musk reportedly considering putting all of Twitter behind a pay wall… And thus concludes “how to light $44 billion on fire.” ❌

• ABC cancels The Wonder Years after two seasons… Like Winning Time, this is probably another casualty of the strikes.

• Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie is reportedly dead… No surprises there after the reception Next Goal Wins is getting. ✨

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem hits Paramount+ Tuesday Sept 19… You know what to do! 🐢

• Good Burger 2 to premiere on Paramount+ Nov 22… Smart to do a Thanksgiving release. 🍔

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What’s new

• The Continental — Sept 22 | Peacock action series | Ⓜ️

• Expend4bles — Sept 22 | Action movie in theaters | Ⓜ️

• It Lives Inside — Sept 22 | Horror movie in limited theaters | Ⓜ️

• Flora and Son — Sept 22 | Musical drama film in limited theaters | Ⓜ️ 75

• Krapopolis — Sept 24 | Fox adult animated series | Ⓜ️

• Returning: American Horror Story: Delicate, Sex Education s4, Love Is Blind s5

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What to watch

While his dramatic work continues to exceed expectations, Adam Sandler’s goofy comedies are not what they used to be. So it was easy to be skeptical of Netflix’s You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah — especially considering it looked like another vanity project, one in which he cast his own family. Then I heard it had almost universal praise from critics and that it was adapted from a YA novel, and that the Sandman was not the lead but instead the doting, goofy father. All of this added up to what really is Sandler’s best comedy in years. This thoroughly Jewish coming-of-age friend-com is sweet, relatable, and hilarious. Sandler’s daughter Sunny is natural, charming, and empathetic, playing well opposite Samantha Lorraine, the bit more stagey but nonetheless compelling, best friend. The story is a poignant one for young people (and former young people looking back) about the highs and lows that come with intense friendship during middle school. It examines, in broad strokes, the responsibility we have to take for our actions when growing up. Adam Sandler himself is the perfect spice on the family comedy, providing sharp comic relief and sometimes the voice of reason. He also infuses a lot of his signature brand of weird humor throughout the movie. Many of the film’s gags reminded me of his early work, where wacky shit happened for almost no reason. The movie was a delightful surprise. And what a relief to see that Sandler still has some great comedies left within him.

For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!