What You Need to Know About ‘The Last of Us’

TV Interview!

What You Need to Know About ‘The Last of Us’ by Jodi

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey of "The Last of Us" on HBO

As most of you may already know, “The Last of Us” adventure HBO series adaptation has roots in the mega-popular video game that was launched on the PlayStation platform in 2013. Receiving prestigious awards, it has created a global gaming community, it’s not surprising that the show has already taken the youth by storm. Unlike many other video games, it also had a very emotional storyline, which has been transferred to the show well. The general storyline revolves around the destroyed modern civilization and the 14 years old girl who is the main protagonist of the story. Being immune, she is also the last hope of humanity as she learns to survive in the destroyed world.

What You Need to Know About “The Last of Us” 

– The Immunity Aspect.

Watching the series, you will question this part most of all, as you might keep asking yourself about the reasons behind Ellie’s immunity. Ellie was exposed to the infection at a young age and discovered she was immune. At the same time, Ellie is not contagious, even though it will take her time and some suffering to learn about that.

– Learning How to Fight Desperation.

Another important thing in the series is learning how to fight desperation. The reason why the game and the show became so popular is related to the desperation that most of us are going through. As the world has been through the pandemic, the game became even more relevant as many of us have seen ourselves in the character of Ellie as we fought daily challenges. If you are feeling desperate and feel like never going to college, you have to see the show and learn that you are a fighter as well who can be the change and prove to yourself and others that you can still make it no matter what!

– An Element of Social Distancing.

Another vital point that the show makes is the very nature of the quarantine zones portrayed in the show and the aspect of the social distancing that comes with so much more. We can learn about anger management and the ways how different people understand the rules and the necessities of isolation. Both the game and the series portray it quite well!

Finding The Hope No Matter What.

Many people all over the world fell in love with the show because it has been translated by people from the gaming community. Although there were minor differences, it was done with so much passion that people have learned this version even without approaching translation moviemaking services. Nevertheless, suppose you want to achieve better clarity in your language or learn a foreign language. In that case, it’s always better to contact a professional linguist to ensure that no important aspects have been missed. Sometimes it’s a little phrase or an expression that can make a world of difference.

It’s All About Cooperation 

As you are playing the famous game or following the characters on screen, you will also notice the rare chemistry between the characters of Ellie and Joel, as they represent a powerful example of cooperation and finding the reason to fight and survive. While some people might approach it as yet another “zombie apocalypse” flick, it is way more than that because it shows the fragility of our world and the necessity to cooperate and fight the means to go further and think beyond the darkness and desolation that surrounds us.

MORE INFO:

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey of "The Last of Us" on HBOHBO Original Drama Series THE LAST OF US Debuts January 15

  • The nine-episode first season of the HBO Original drama series THE LAST OF US debuts SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 at 9:00p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream in 4K on HBO Max.
  • Logline: THE LAST OF US takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
  • Cast: Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Murray Bartlett as Frank, Nick Offerman as Bill, Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen, Storm Reid as Riley, Merle Dandridge as Marlene, Jeffrey Pierce as Perry, Lamar Johnson as Henry, Keivonn Woodard as Sam, Graham Greene as Marlon, and Elaine Miles as Florence. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker also star.
  • Credits: THE LAST OF US, based on the critically acclaimed video game of the same name developed by Naughty Dog exclusively for the PlayStationÂź platforms, is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The series is a co-production with Sony Pictures Television and is executive produced by Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Rose Lam. Production companies: PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

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Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey of "The Last of Us" on HBO

Interview with Chloe Traicos

TV Interview!

Walton Goggins and Chloe Traicos in "The Righteous Gemstones" on HBO

Interview with Chloe Traicos of “The Righteous Gemstones” on HBO by Krista 8/12/22

Chloe was very accommodating and flexible when I needed to move the interview due to a migraine. She was very friendly and easy to talk with. I enjoyed speaking with her about “The Righteous Gemstones,” and we also shared some small talk and book recommendations as well. I look forward to seeing the third season, which Chloe may or may not be in.

 

MORE INFO:

Walton Goggins and Chloe Traicos in "The Righteous Gemstones" on HBOFrom June:  Filming this month in Charleston, the third season of the Danny McBride-created, written and executive-produced series continues the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work.

Season 2 of THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES is now streaming on HBO Max.

Traicos plays Gloria Freeman, wife of Walton Goggins’ character. The actress is also known for her work on “MacGyver” and “Gone”.

Chloe Traicos was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Her father is international cricket star, John Traicos and her mother, Annette Kileff is an artist. Chloe lived in Zimbabwe until until 2005 when she was forced to flee the country after having made a controversial documentary about the country’s leader, Robert Mugabe. In her documentary Chloe speaks out on behalf of the Zimbabwean people who have spent years being persecuted and starved. Despite the fact she had to leave the country, Chloe’s documentary ( aptly named ” A Stranger in my Homeland” ) went on to win awards throughout the world. Chloe then immigrated to Australia with her parents and sister. In Australia Chloe went on to make the award winning Indie film ” I Wish I Were Stephanie V” which opened the New York City International Film Festival in 2011, with a special screening outside in Times Square. Chloe has since moved to the US where she continues to make films.

Find Chloe on Instagram

ABOUT THE SERIES

Created, written and executive produced by Danny McBride (HBO’s Vice Principals and Eastbound & Down), and marking his third HBO comedy series from Rough House Pictures, The Righteous Gemstones tells the story of a world-famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work. Season two finds our blessed Gemstone family threatened by outsiders from both the past and present who wish to destroy their empire. McBride collaborators Jody Hill and David Gordon Green also serve as executive producers and directors.

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Chloe Traicos in "The Righteous Gemstones" on HBO

Review of “The Gilded Age: The Complete First Season”

DVD Review!

The Gilded Age: The Complete First Season DVD covver

“The Gilded Age: The Complete First Season” Review by Suzanne 7/22/22

I enjoyed this show a lot. I missed it when it came out, so I’m very glad to have watched the DVD. I never saw “Downton Abbey,” which was created by the same person (Julian Fellowes), so I can’t compare them. I think this is really good. Most period costume dramas are basically soap operas. They show you characters against a pretty backdrop from history. This one has better production values than most PBS series, which is probably why it’s on HBO. The acting and story are very good, and the sets and costumes are fabulous.

The story really draws you in. In 1882, a young woman named Marian (Louisa Jacobs) finds out that her late father left her no money or possessions to speak of, so she travels from her home in Philadelphia to live with two aunts that she’s never met. One of them, Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski, who never disappoints) is a snobby widow. She represents the “old money” of wealthy New Yorkers and resents the people with “new money” who are trying to push their way into society. At that time, there was a list of the top 400 most respectable people in NYC, which represented the “old money” people. They didn’t invite others to their parties and such. Because of railroads and other businesses, there were many “new money” people in NYC that wanted to be involved in society, so the others felt threatened. Agnes represents those people, along with the famous Mrs. Astor (based on the real person) and many others.  Agnes’ sister, Ada (the luminous Cynthia Nixon) is much kinder than Agnes.

Marian is robbed at the train station, so a young black woman, Peggy (DenĂ©e Benton) lends her money for a ticket. Marian in turn helps her out in NYC by getting her aunts to let her stay for the night (she is headed home to Brooklyn but the ferry is washed out). This was before they had subways- they only traveled by horse-drawn carriages, trains and ferries. Anyway, through Marian’s eyes, we meet all of the people in the series, including the people who live across the street, The Russells. They are very rich “new money” people who have built a big palace and hope to get involved with society. Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) is a very pushy, determined woman, and her husband, George (Morgan Spector) is used to getting his way in business.

There are two main plots of the season. One is about Marian become romantically involved in a lawyer, Tom (Thomas Cocquerel), that she knew in Philadelphia (who moves to NYC) as she struggles to find her place in NYC and tries to make her own way without angering her stern Aunt Agnes too much. The other is about the Russells trying to win over society.  Then there are many smaller plots with Peggy and her parents and Agnes’ son, Oscar (Blake Ritson), who is secretly gay but trying to find a wife so that he can avoid scandal. Like “Downton Abbey” and its predecessor, “Upstairs Downstairs,” both families have many servants, whom we also learn about.

Some of the best parts of the show are how they show us some of the new technology of the time, such as “magic lanterns,” trains and electricity. Also, thy have a lot of great historical background and characters, and they use that to show us the plight of women and black people at the time (but without being preachy).

At first, I worried that the story would be predictable, as it seemed to be headed that way. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t.  At least, it wasn’t to me. You may have a different opinion.  I’m looking forward to season 2!  The DVD is well worth getting because it has many extras to watch that you can’t find anywhere else. I know because I looked on YouTube to find them, and they’re not available.  The best of them are on Disk 3.  Do yourself a favor and buy the set, and also give it out to others during the holidays!

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

scene from "The GIlded Age"

Created by EmmyŸ and Academy AwardŸ Winner, Julian Fellowes, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Takes You Back In Time

THE GILDED AGE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON

Get a Glimpse of Historical High Society When The

 DVD Arrives on July 26, 2022

BURBANK, CA (May 24, 2022) Get ready to embark on a compelling journey through life in New York in the late 1800s, as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment brings The Gilded Age: The Complete First Season to DVD on July 26, 2022. Indulge in all 9 episodes from the first season of the historical drama that won fans over with its charming cast and compelling storylines with over two hours of bonus content including an all-new featurette. The Gilded Age: The Complete First Season is available to own on DVD for $24.98 SRP ($29.99 in Canada) and will also be available to own on Digital via purchase from all major digital retailers. The series is now available exclusively for streaming on HBO Max.

From Emmy¼ and Academy Award¼ Winning Writer Julian Fellowes (“Downton Abbey”, Best Original Screenplay Gosford Park), and recently renewed for a second season by HBO, The Gilded Age the Complete First Season takes place during a period of immense economic change, of huge fortunes made and lost, and the rise of disparity between old money and new.  A wide-eyed young scion of a conservative family, Marian, embarks on a mission to infiltrate the wealthy neighboring clan of her aunts Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook, dominated by ruthless railroad tycoon George Russell and his ambitious wife, Bertha, meeting new people like aspiring writer Peggy Scott, along the way. In this exciting new world that is on the brink of the modern age, will Marian follow the established rules of society, or forge her own path?

The Gilded Age boasts a star-studded cast with HBO’s Cynthia Nixon (“Sex and the City”), Carrie Coon (“The Leftovers”), Morgan Spector (“Boardwalk Empire”), and Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Big Love). Other notable cast members include Christine Baranski (Mamma Mia!), DenĂ©e Benton (“unREAL”), Louisa Jacobson (“Gone  Hollywood”), Taissa Farmiga (“American Horror Story”), Blake Ritson (The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard), Simon Jones (“Downton Abbey”), and Harry Richardson (“Poldark”).

The Gilded Age is a co-production between HBO and Universal Television. Julian Fellowes (“Downton Abbey”) is the creator, writer & executive producer. Other executive producers include Gareth Neame (“Downton Abbey”), David Crockett (Captive State), Michael Engler (“Downton Abbey”) and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (“Teachers”) – both for directing and executive producing. Co-executive producers are Sonja Warfield (“Will and Grace”), who also writes, and Dr. Erica Armstrong Dunbar, who serves as historical consultant.

DVD FEATURES

  • All That Glitters: Creating The Gilded Age (Exclusive for DVD)
  • Old Money vs New: The Heart of the Matter
  • Who’s Who Featurettes
  • Invitation To Set
  • Carrie Coon BTS
  • Writing Peggy
  • Inside the Episodes

9 EPISODES

  1. Never The New
  2. Money Isn’t Everything
  3. Face The Music
  4. A Long Ladder
  5. Charity Has Two Functions
  6. Heads Have Rolled For Less
  7. Irresistible Change
  8. Tucked Up in Newport
  9. Let The Tournament Begin

DIGITAL

The Gilded Age is currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and others.

BASICS

Release Date: July 26, 2022

Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 540 mins

Enhanced Content: Approx. 135 mins

DVD Price: $24.98 SRP ($29.99 in Canada)

3 Discs (3 DVD-9s)

Audio: English (5.1)

Subtitles: ESDH

About Warner Bros. Home Entertaiment

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s physical and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Discℱ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

The Gilded Age Season 1, Episode 10 CR: Alison Cohen Rosa

Review of “Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season”

DVD Review!

"Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season" DVD cover

“Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season” Review by Suzanne 6/10/21

This is my favorite comedy, since “Frasier” left the air. Yes, “Seinfeld” was very good, but I liked “Frasier” better. “Curb” is better than both. In part, that’s because it’s on HBO. Larry David can come up with these great ideas that would never have worked on broadcast TV.  This season, they had some great guest stars such as Jon Hamm and Tracey Ullman.  One of the new characters, Maria Sofia (Keyla Monterroso Mejia), is polarizing among fans. She’s both annoying and hilarious. More importantly, she makes Larry funnier.  Leon is also one of our favorite characters, and he continues to make us laugh uproariously.

I hope you can enjoy these episodes as much as we did. Each season is only 10 episodes, and it’s hard to wait between seasons while Larry comes up with the ideas and perfects them.

The DVD, unfortunately, doesn’t have any features or extras.  At least, though, you shouldn’t have too much trouble taking off the shrink wrap.

Buy this DVD

MORE INFORMATION:

HBO’s Emmy¼ and Golden Globe¼ Award Winning TV Series

Brings Home the Antics

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM:

THE COMPLETE ELEVENTH SEASON

Contains All 10 Hilarious Episodes from the Eleventh Season

Available on DVD June 14, 2022

BURBANK, CA (April 19, 2022) – HBO’s iconic comedic series, from writer/producer/comedian Larry David, will have you laughing in your seats as Warner Bros. Home Entertainment releases Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season on DVD June 14, 2022. Life will be prett-ay, prett-ay, prett-ay good as you binge on all 10 episodes from the outrageous eleventh season. Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Eleventh Season will retail for $19.99 SRP ($24.99 in Canada) and will also be available to own on Digital via purchase from all major digital retailers. All seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm are now available for streaming on HBO Max.

Starring Larry David as an over-the-top version of himself, the iconic Emmy¼ and Golden Globe¼-winning comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm offers a tongue-in-cheek depiction of the writer/producer/comedian’s fictionalized life. With Jeff Garlin (as manager Jeff Greene), Susie Essman (as Jeff’s wife Susie), Cheryl Hines (as Larry’s ex-wife Cheryl), JB Smoove (as Leon), and Richard Lewis and Ted Danson (as themselves), all reprising their roles alongside a rotating cast of familiar faces, including Vince Vaughn (as Freddy Funkhouser) and Tracey Ullman (as Irma Kostroski), Season 11 finds Larry once again seeking and dispensing his own peculiar brand of social justice.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is created by Larry David; executive producers, Larry David, Jeff Garlin, Jeff Schaffer; co-executive producer, Laura Streicher; consulting producers, Jon Hayman, Steve Leff.

10 EPISODES

  1. The Five-Foot Fence
  2. Angel Muffin
  3. The Mini Bar
  4. The Watermelon
  5. IRASSHAIMASE!
  6. Man Fights Tiny Woman
  7. Irma Kostroski
  8. What Have I Done?
  9. Igor, Gregor, & Timor
  10. The Mormon Advantage

DIGITAL

Curb Your Enthusiasm is currently available to own on Digital. Digital purchase allows consumers to instantly stream and download to watch anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices. Digital movies and TV shows are available from various digital retailers including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu and others.

BASICS

Release Date: Jun 14, 2022

Presented in 16×9 widescreen format

Running Time: Feature: Approx. 330 mins

DVD Price: $19.99 ($24.99 in Canada)

2 Discs (2 DVD-9s)

Audio: English (5.1)

Subtitles: ESDH

About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s physical and digital distribution businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Discℱ and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees.

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.

Proofread and Edited by Brenda

The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

Larry with Irma Kostroski in Season 11

Interview with Lisa Arch

TV Interview!

 

Lisa Arch with Richard Kind, who plays her husband on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO

Interview with Lisa Arch of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” on HBO by Suzanne 11/18/21

I enjoyed chatting with Lisa on Zoom! She is so funny. I can see why they like her on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” I learned some valuable insights from her about the way that show is run, how the people on it are, and how show business can be. It was very informative. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Suzanne:  I was watching some of your YouTube videos last night


Lisa: Which one? The reviews? The podcast?

Suzanne: The thing where you’re interviewing people with another lady. I can’t remember her name.

Lisa: The Leslie and Lisa Show.

Suzanne: Leslie and Lisa, yeah.

Lisa: Yeah.

Suzanne: I was watching the one with the the actress from The Flash
So, I noticed that the last one was awhile ago. Are you still doing that?

Lisa: No, it was kind of an experiment. It was kind of an experiment we were doing during quarantine. We had a really good time, but it just wasn’t floating our boat enough, I guess, to keep it going.

Suzanne: Yeah, seems a lot of work.

Lisa: And there’s so much work
It just wasn’t clicking for me. I love working with her. She and I are actually working on another project now, but, yeah, for some reason that was too much. It was just too much with everything else I had going on.

Suzanne: Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to do that kind of thing. I tried it once. I’m like, “Oh, I’m terrible at this. Nevermind.”

Lisa: It’s hard. Everybody makes it seem so easy, but it’s just, it’s a lot.

Suzanne: Yeah. There are a lot of bad YouTube videos where people try to do that. And it’s like, “No, I can’t watch this.”

Lisa: One hundred percent.

Suzanne: Not yours. Yours I enjoyed.

Lisa: Thank you.

Suzanne: It probably helps you’ve done a lot of comedy, both of you.

Lisa: Yes, exactly, and I’ve hosted a ton. So, I love that medium. I still love hosting, and I love interviewing people, but it’s just a lot, when you’re booking all the talent, and you’re doing all the stuff.

Suzanne: And the editing, and you’re trying to promote it; the promotion is hard.

Lisa: You need a team; you need a team of people. We just don’t have it.

Suzanne: I completely understand, because I do all mine, [but] not solo. I have volunteers. I can’t afford to pay anyone to promote, do that kind of thing.

Lisa: But you have volunteers that do it?

Suzanne: I have volunteers who do a lot of writing and proofreading and different things, not promotion so much. I need to get somebody to help me with promotion. That would be great. I spend more time on my own social media, my personal social media, than I do for the site, so that’s a problem.

Lisa: Exactly. Yes. Priorities.

Suzanne: Yeah, I’d rather take a lot of pretty pictures and post them on Instagram than promote my site. [laughs] Well, I realize everybody has their strengths.

So, I’ll get to my questions. You were on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2009, and then not again until [2020], so what happened in between?

"Curb Your Enthusiasm" group scene with Lisa ArchLisa: Well, so I mean, the show took six years off. I did a season; then they did one more season. Then, they took six years off. I think it’s how it was. No, it might have been two more seasons, and then they took six years off. So, yeah, when I was on the first time, it was just a one shot deal. It was just “come do this role,” and that’s it. There was no indication that there would ever be more.

So, a decade later, when I’m picking my son up from school, my manager and agent called me, and whenever they call me at the same time, it’s good news. But I hadn’t auditioned for anything recently. So, I was like, “I don’t know what this is.” And they said, “Curb wants you back,” and I was like, “Okay. I’m sure they want me back.” They were like, “No, they want you back, and it’s for multiple episodes.” And I just started sobbing, because it was so unexpected, because the day, or the several days, I had done the first time were so magical and everything I had ever wanted this industry to be, and it had never been before. So, to know I was going back to that was just the greatest feeling ever.

Suzanne: I know. He gets a lot of wonderful actors to come in and do their parts. They all love the show so much, and he lets them be different characters, even though they’re playing themselves. They get to be like, the jerk version of themselves.

Lisa: Absolutely, exactly. You’re so right. Yeah, and it is such an amazing, creative environment, and everyone there is such a powerhouse in their own right. So, it’s just an incredible place to be. It’s magical; it’s the Disneyland of the entertainment industry.

Lisa Arch with Richard Kind and Larry David on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"Suzanne: Right, I understand. So, on the show, you’re paired with the amazing Richard Kind. What’s that been like, for you?

Lisa: He is spectacular. He is so adorably insecure in a way. I just don’t even think he understands how brilliant he is. So, it just makes him even more brilliant. He’s so funny and lovable. He’s also just been in everything, literally. There is not a television show or a movie he’s not in, nor is there a Broadway show he hasn’t performed in.

Like, off camera he’s talking with Larry about musicals that he’s been in. Larry’s grilling him about certain shows. You know, “Have you ever been in Fiddler on the Roof? Did [you] ever do this? Were you ever in that?” And the answer is always “yes.” “Yes, I was in that. Yes, I did do that.” He is adorable. When I first did the show
When was it?

Suzanne: 2009.

Lisa: So, I was in my late thirties. I was like, thirty-eight, and he’s like, fifteen years older than me, I think. So, when I was first paired with him, I was like, “This is interesting thing.” But then I just immediately felt like, “Yeah, I see it. He’s my husband. I totally get it.” Then, the more we work together, the more I’ve kind of just like literally fallen in love with him, and I completely see us as a married couple.

Suzanne: That’s cool. Yeah, I interviewed him years ago. Did you ever see “Red Oaks” that he was in? He is wonderful in that. You need to see it; it’s a good show anyway.

Lisa: I have it on my list. I watched like part of the pilot episode, and then something happened. I don’t know, but I have to get back on my list. He told me that I would love it.

Suzanne: I think it’s only two seasons, but it’s really good. He is he just even better than usual in that. It was just like, when I was watching, I was thinking, “What else can you do?” This is like the role of a lifetime. There’s more after that, but still.

Lisa: Yeah, there’s nothing he can’t do.

Lisa Arch on "MadTV"Suzanne: Yeah, and I saw that you were on Mad TV in the late 90s. Was that a great training ground for you?

Lisa: So, actually, I consider my training ground what I did before Mad TV, which was years and years of sketch comedy live. That was really my training ground. I started when I was fifteen doing sketch comedy in my brother’s sketch comedy troupe, which was really a lot of work. We did it every summer for years, and we sold out every show in Hollywood. Then, after that, I was with ACME Comedy Theater for several years, and I did a couple one-woman shows. So, that that my training ground, and that’s what led to Mad TV. Mad TV was definitely a training ground for how to get the crap kicked out of you on a daily basis and react well to it, which I did not do at the time, but now I know how to, so yes, it was a training ground for the toughest parts of this business.

Suzanne: Would you like to elaborate on what you mean by that?

Lisa: Any sketch comedy show – I mean, you hear this, especially from Saturday Night Live, not only because it’s an incredibly competitive show, but also it’s live. Mad TV, we had the luxury of being taped, so you could screw up and do it again. Although that didn’t happen very often; we memorized our lines instead of having cue cards. So, it was sort of like – I don’t know, but it’s just a very competitive genre. I am a competitive person with myself, if that makes sense, but I’m not super competitive against other people. So, to be thrown into that atmosphere was very difficult for me, and I did not respond super well to it.

I met some wonderful people. I actually met my husband on that show, which is the entire reason I think I got that show was to meet him, but it was a really difficult year for me, very hard. A lot of good times, a lot of fun, and a lot of lessons. I was thrown from being a waitress literally right into being a series regular on a show.

So, you go from struggling to people throwing Nikes at you and going, “Here are these for free,” and you know, “Here’s a bracelet from Tiffany,” and all this stuff that you had never had, unless you’re being driven to parties and stuff like that. It really kind of messes with your head. So, it’s also a good training ground and learning how to be grounded, because that stuff is beyond temporary, and nobody actually loves you as much as you feel like they do. So, I learned a lot of lessons and how to trust the right people [and] how to trust myself and not get caught up in the BS of the industry, because [in] the industry, there’s a lot of BS.

Suzanne: Right, I’m sure. I’m always talking about the people just in PR, who their whole business is [PR], and I’m a Mass Comm major, so I learned about PR, but I already sort of knew about it from this job. Their whole business is to hype everything and pretty much lie almost at times. I’m not putting them down; that’s their job, and it’s a hard job. Acting is also a form of lying in a way, and then the people in charge of actors, do they even look at the stuff? I can see why you would have a lot of that.

Lisa: Yes, it’s definitely a lot of BS. I mean, look, I have some friends in PR, and I definitely think what they do is very real and very hard, but, yeah, what you’re saying is true. It’s a lot of like, “How can we make this one part of your life seem even better than it actually is?” Yeah, for sure.

Suzanne: And the network’s do do that a lot too. It’s so funny, because it can be like, “Oh, this is the great hit of the season,” and then two weeks later, they cancel it. [laughs]

Lisa: But look, what’s so funny is what has completely been modeled after that is social media. I mean, yeah, technically every post is a lie. Anything that has a filter on it is a lie. You know, how many couples do you know that have terrible marriages, and then they’re on a vacation with their family, and they’re kissing in front of a Joshua Tree or whatever. You’re like, “Oh, my God. You just you hate him.” [laughs] You gotta weed through the BS and keep your inner circle small.

Suzanne: That’s true. Yeah. Actually, yeah, you’re right, because I always tell people, “Online friends are not the same as real life friends. Don’t believe anything people say to you. They could be lying. Everything they said could be a lie.”

Lisa: And yet, ironically, I feel as though I have learned so much from online friends that I’m not even super close with in real life. Yeah, there’s definitely a balance.

Suzanne: Yeah, I mean, I have I have people that I’ve known before even what they call “social media” where they was just message boards and forums things like that I’ve known for a long time, and I feel like I know them but, yeah, you never know how much you know about them.

Lisa: Absolutely.

Suzanne: My criteria is always, would you invite them to your house? Would you let them sit sit with your kids or your dog or house sit? Would you loan them money? If you answer yes to all that, either they’re friends, or you’re very gullible. [laughs]

Lisa: Exactly. You’re exactly right.

Suzanne: So anyway, you’ve done a lot of kids comedies. Is acting in those very different from acting in regular comedies?

Lisa: It really is. It really is. Nickelodeon and Disney, it’s such a blast. First of all, it’s so stupidly fun, but I never feel as much like I’m acting as I think I feel like I’m just like at a playground. You have to be so much broader. And I have to tell you, I did so much of it that I think a lot of my auditions for many years were way too big, because it’s hard to get out of that mindset. It’s like, you’re playing a mean principle, and then everything you do is really big and angry. So, it’s so much fun, but it is very different. For sure. It’s a heightened version of what I normally would think I would do.

Lisa Arch with Michael Richards on "Seinfeld"Suzanne: Yeah, that makes total sense. You were on Seinfeld in 1996. Did that help you at all get the role of Cassie in Curb?

Lisa: I don’t think so. Honestly, to this day, I don’t know if Larry knows that I was on Seinfeld. I imagine he does, but I don’t know for sure, because it was so many years in between. When I came in, there was no indication that he knew who I was.

It did help me get Mad TV, believe it or not, because right after I did Seinfeld, Mad TV was auditioning, and the person who cast me on Seinfeld was casting Mad TV. I didn’t have an agent at the time, so I called her and just said, “Hey, can I come in? I should be in there.” And she said, “Absolutely. We’ll see you Monday.” So, definitely, Seinfeld was a huge kickoff for my career.

Suzanne: Well, that’s great. Yeah. A lot of careers.

Lisa: Yes.

Suzanne: So, you’ve been on a lot of different TV and movie sets. What sets Curb apart from the others?

Lisa: So, first of all, Curb is all improv. You get a scenario, but nothing’s written for you. So, in that respect, it takes the pressure off, because you don’t have any lines to memorize. A lot of people I’ve spoken to, other people who’ve been on the show, thought it adds pressure, because you have to come up with your own stuff, but, to me, that is my favorite thing to do.

Suzanne: Right, you have all that experience.

Lisa: Yeah, and the thing is, it’s such a supportive environment. Beyond that, it is easy to do, because everyone there is rooting for you to be funny. It’s basically the opposite of what Mad TV was. Mad TV, you felt like everybody was rooting for you to screw up. And when I say everybody, I’m generalizing. There were a lot of wonderful, wonderful people there, but on Curb, it’s literally everybody there
But everyone at Curb is just rooting for you to be funny, because they want the show to be good.

Suzanne: That makes sense.

Lisa: So, it’s insanely supportive. It is, genuinely.

When I wanted to get into this business, it was to do everything that happens on Curb. It’s to play, it’s to feel creative, it’s to feel challenged and supported, and to laugh. And all of that happens there. And, honestly, I can’t stress enough, when I tell you that I sobbed when my managers told me I was going back, I promise you that’s the truth, because it is a magical land filled with magical people. Then, all of a sudden you’re at a table with friggin Larry David and Susie Essman and Cheryl Hines and JB Smoove and Patton Oswald. My head, literally, every time I walk into one of those dinner party scenes, my head just like explodes a little bit, and then I’ve got to put the pieces back together, but it’s a dream. It’s a dream.

Suzanne: You mentioned Patton Oswald. He’s another one who’s in everything, between him and Richard.

Lisa: You’re so right. I actually said that exact thing to my husband. Patton is in everything. And what’s so funny is he and Jeff Garlin and Richard Kind, we’re all sitting at this dinner party scene, talking about how they’re all on The Goldbergs, because Richard and Jeff are on it, and Patton does the voiceover. He’s in everything.

Suzanne: Yeah, and he tours too. I don’t know how he finds time for a real life.

Lisa: I don’t either. And he’s an absolute genius, brilliant mind. He’s just insane and so kind.

Suzanne: Oh, that’s nice. That’s good. It’s good when you hear that people are nice.

Lisa: But by the way, also, and not that he is, because I’ve met him before; he is lovely, but you can’t be a dick on the set of Curb.

Suzanne: I’m sure. Yeah. If it’s that supportive, then, yeah, they wouldn’t put up with that. It’s funny, because you’re all acting like that on the show.

Lisa: You’re so right. Yeah, everyone on that set is so sweet. It’s ridiculous.

Suzanne: That’s good. So, can we see you on other Curb episodes this season?

Lisa: Not this season. I might show up for literally like five seconds on screen in one other episode, but that’s it, unfortunately, because I want to be there every day.

Lisa Arch with Larry DavidSuzanne: And have you heard about whether there’ll be a season twelve, or is that something that only Larry knows?

Lisa: That’s something that only Larry knows, and that’s the absolute truth. It’s funny, because the whole crew – I would say, conservatively, eighty percent of the crew has been the same since the very beginning, and the only reason anyone would have fallen off is because they got a job that they just can’t leave, but everyone shows up for him. But he is the only one [who] knows if, and he’s the only one that knows when, so you never know. Every time it’s been a surprise for me.

Suzanne: Well, I’m sure he’ll keep doing as long as he enjoys it. It’s not like he probably needs the money. [laughs]

Lisa: Yeah, I do not think he needs the money, and I do think he absolutely is having a blast. He’s also like, the coolest human being alive. No one believes me; he’s super sexy, because he so couldn’t care less what anybody thinks, and it’s so authentic. He just emanates, cool. Literally, he’s like Fonzie, but better.

Suzanne: No, I can understand. A little bit of that comes across on the on the screen, even though he’s being a jerk on the show. You can tell. And I don’t think you could produce a show like that if you were a real jerk in real life. It’s funny how many people in the audience in that Facebook group think that’s what he’s like in real life. I’m like, “Are you kidding?”

Lisa: Oh, yeah. And of course there are aspects, I’m sure; that all comes from his brain. So, that’s definitely indicative of what he is thinking, and I do believe there’s a lot of that; that is who he is, but it’s just obviously a much more heightened version of that.

Suzanne: Right. Well, yeah, he’s probably thinking about things that do bother him, but he wouldn’t be obnoxious enough to say it to people. [laughs]

Lisa: Exactly.

Suzanne: Like he wouldn’t have any friends or be invited to dinner parties if he really were that obnoxious.

Lisa: Exactly. And yet, I think he also probably takes advantage of the character to use as needed.

Suzanne: Oh, yeah, because some of the things he says are very political in a very sneaky way and a commentary on society.

Lisa: Absolutely, absolutely.

Suzanne: That’s one of the things that makes it great, I think, because you watch it because it’s funny. Then something gets in there that you go, “Oh, yeah, that’s right.”

Lisa: Little stupid things, like the towels. Like, my husband has said, and I’m not joking, my husband has said a million times, “Please don’t give me one of the new towels.” And I’m like, “I don’t get you.” And he goes, “It’s just different; it doesn’t dry you right.” So, when we saw [that], like, who would think that anyone else on the planet would have that thought? So, when we saw that on the show, we were like, “What?” That freaked us both out.

Suzanne: Where’s the hidden camera, that he was spying on you with?

Lisa: Exactly. Exactly.

Suzanne: That’s funny. Yeah, today I was looking up Pirate’s Booty. I mean, I already know what it is; I’ve had it before, but I thought, “I wonder if they take they were really happy about this episode,” but apparently they were bought out by Hershey, so they don’t care.

Lisa: That’s funny. That is very funny.

Suzanne: Then, I found another wonderful article about what the Talmud would say about what Larry did on that episode.

Lisa: I read that.

Suzanne: Did you read that? Wasn’t that a great article?

Lisa: That was phenomenal. So, I love how specific the Talmud is. That’s the funniest thing ever.

Suzanne: Yeah, I said that to my husband. We both love the show.

So, you already pretty much said your favorite part of working on Curb is the supportive environment and the people.

Lisa: And how fun it is and how funny you get to be. You get to be as funny as you can possibly be on the day you’re working. That’s a great feeling.

Suzanne: When you’ve been on, have you ever seen anybody where you thought, “Ah, they probably won’t come back,” because they didn’t do that great of a job? Or is that all pretty much taken care of before they get on the screen?

Lisa: No, I don’t think that is, because, genuinely, I don’t know that I was supposed to be ever back. I think it’s just Larry populates the show with whoever he thinks would fit. So, I don’t think he ever knows if you’re coming back. I don’t know. But no, I’ve never – But then again, I haven’t worked with a ton of guest stars. I worked with more stars this time than I ever have before, but usually I’m just working with the regulars. So, no.

Suzanne: That’s funny. So, do you have any other projects going on that you want to tell us about?

Lisa: Not really anything that I can talk about right now. I’m doing a behind-the-scenes thing right now that I hope turns out well, but I can’t really talk about it yet. Otherwise, no. I’m a character actress, so much of my life is just auditioning and waiting. And during the pandemic, there was so little going on. Now, it’s just gotten very busy again, audition-wise. So, my fingers are crossed that work is coming, and in the meantime, I’m in school, and loving that.

Suzanne: Are you working towards a particular degree?

Lisa: I am. I never [graduated]. I quit school to pursue acting. So, over quarantine, I decided it was time to try to get my Bachelor’s degree. So, I am working toward my Associate’s degree right now, and then I’m transferring for a psychology degree.

Suzanne: Oh, nice. That probably would have come in handy back when you were on Mad TV, right?

Lisa: Oh, my God so much. You have no idea. Yes. I probably should have finished school, although I would have finished with a theater degree. So, I don’t know that it would. Yes, it would have been very helpful.

Suzanne: Are you finding it challenging at all? Are all your classes online?

Lisa: All online, yeah. I decided there was no way I was going to do it if I had to go to school. So, yeah, all online. And it’s been challenging. It’s hard. You know, I’m a mom, and I’ve got all my house duties, plus all my auditions, plus whatever else comes up. So, it’s been tough, but I’m loving it. I’ve never been a good student, and I’ve never liked school, and I’m absolutely loving it. I feel myself becoming a more well-rounded person, just because I’m learning things that I never knew.

Suzanne: I think, in some ways, it’s better to go when you’re older, because you’re more mature; you take it more seriously. Your writing is probably better, all these different things.

Lisa: Absolutely. I mean, I think if you don’t know what you want to do with your life, it’s an important thing to do, to go to school. Look, to be frank, I wish I had finished back then, but I didn’t; that wasn’t my path. And I do feel that I am one hundred a better student now and learning so much more than I would have back then.

Suzanne: And are you going full time or part time?

Lisa: Oh my God, no, part time. [laughs]

Suzanne: That makes it easier too.

Lisa: Exactly. No, there’s no way it could be a full-time student. And what’s cool is there is a program that does classes in an accelerated fashion. So, a sixteen-week class takes eight weeks, but it also packs more work into those eight weeks, but if I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t get my AA until I was 60.

Suzanne: 
I really like your curtains by the way. Those are pretty.

Lisa: Oh, thank you.

Suzanne: I like looking at the background when I interview people.

Lisa: I know, it’s hilarious

Suzanne: [I see] interesting things. Who’s the actor? Jeff Daniels, I was on a TCA thing with him. There’re lots of people there, but he had like fifty guitars behind him hanging on the wall. He apparently has an addiction to buying guitars.

Lisa: That is awesome. I don’t collect anything. I’m not a collector. I collect dust. I don’t have any cool collections of anything.

Suzanne: Oh, you do enough as it is.

Lisa: Yeah, I do, darn it.

Suzanne: All right. Well, I thank you so much for meeting up with me.

Lisa: Thanks for asking.

Suzanne: Oh, it was great. I will see you on Facebook and hopefully more in Curb.

Lisa: Yeah, hopefully more. Fingers crossed. Thank you so much.

Suzanne: All right, bye bye.

Here’s the video!

Interview Transcribed by Jamie of http://www.scifivision.com

MORE INFO:

Lisa Arch is an American actor and comedian, known for her roles in the 1997–98 season of the FOX Network comedy show, Mad TV, as cohost of TBS’s Dinner and a Movie from 2002 to 2005, and as the recurring character of Samantha Samuels on Disney Channel’s Cory in the House. Arch has also been in movies, such as 2007’s Evan Almighty.

Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American television sitcom that has been produced and broadcast by HBO since October 15, 2000. The series was created by Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself. The series follows Larry in his life as a semi-retired television writer and producer in Los Angeles, and for one season, New York City. Also starring are Cheryl Hines as his wife Cheryl, Jeff Garlin as his manager and best friend Jeff Greene, and Susie Essman as Jeff’s wife Susie. Curb Your Enthusiasm often features guest stars, many of them playing fictionalized versions of themselves.

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Lisa Arch - photo from Instagram

Interview with Alex Gibney and others

TV Interview!

Alex Gibney, Scott Higham, Dr. Anna Lembke and Dr. Art Van Zee of "Crime of the Century" on HBO

Interview with Alex Gibney, Scott Higham, Dr. Anna Lembke and Dr. Art Van Zee of “Crime of the Century” on HBO by Suzanne 2/10/21

I was delighted to attend this TCA Virtual Press Tour. I was only able to ask one question because there were so many press there. This sounds like a great documentary that everyone should watch.

HBO and HBO MAX CTAM PRESS TOUR WINTER 2021
The Crime of the Century (HBO)

This virtual panel had Alex Gibney (Director, Producer, Writer)
Scott Higham (Washington Post Investigative Reporter, Subject)
Dr. Anna Lembke (Medical Director of Addiction Medicine, Stanford University, Subject)
Dr. Art Van Zee (Primary Care Physician, Subject)

2021 Virtual Tour
Los Angeles, CA
February 10, 2021
© 2021 HBO and HBO Max. All rights reserved.

The two-part documentary “The Crime of the Century” from Academy Award and Emmy winner Alex Gibney, is a searing investigative work that reveals the inner workings of the multi-billion dollar industry behind the opioid epidemic. Following the trailer, we will be joined by Alex Gibney, Director, Writer and Producer, and Film Subjects Scott Higham, Washington Post Investigative Reporter, Dr. Anna Lembke, Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at Stanford University, and Dr. Art Van Zee, Primary Care Physician. (Clip shown.)

Here is the question I asked:

MODERATOR: Good morning to our panel. Our first question comes from Suzanne Lanoue.

SUZANNE LANOUE: Hi. How long did it take for you to make this?

Alex Gibney: It took about two years from start to finish. It started with a meeting at “The Washington Post” where the editors and the reporters, Scott Higham included, sort of educated me in terms of the breadth of this. So about two years from start to finish.

Here are links to other reporters’ summary of the rest of the discussion.

SciFiVision

Indiewire

MORE INFO:

HBO Documentary Films Announces THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY, A Searing Investigative Work Revealing The Inner Workings Of The Multi-Billion Dollar Industry Behind The Opioid Epidemic

TCA | Winter 2021 The Crime of the Century

Two-Part Documentary From Academy Award-Winning Director Alex Gibney Debuts This May

HBO’s THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY, a two-part documentary directed by Emmy¼ and Academy Award¼ winner Alex Gibney (HBO’s “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” “Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief”), is a searing indictment of Big Pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.  Exploring the origins, extent and fallout of one of the most devastating public health tragedies of our time, with half a million deaths from overdoses this century alone, the film reveals that America’s opioid epidemic is not a public health crisis that came out of nowhere.

With the help of whistleblowers, insiders, newly-leaked documents, exclusive interviews and access to behind-the-scenes investigations, and featuring expert input from medical professionals, journalists, former and current government agents, attorneys and pharmaceutical sales representatives, as well as sobering testimony from victims of opioid addiction, Gibney’s exposĂ© posits that drug companies are in fact largely responsible for manufacturing the very crisis they profit from, to the tune of billions of dollars…and thousands of lives.

THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max this May.

The opioid crisis has resulted in a country ravaged by corporate greed and betrayed by some of its own elected officials, following the aggressive promotion of OxyContin, a highly addictive drug from family owned pharmaceutical giant, Purdue Pharma. Purdue worked closely with the FDA to get the highly profitable pain medication approved for wider use, promoting its safety without sufficient evidence, and creating a campaign to redefine pain and how we treat it. When government regulators or Justice Department officials tried to mitigate the wrongdoing, Purdue Pharma and companies like Cardinal-Health that were huge opioid distributors would settle the cases, keep the details private and continue on unabated. As tens of thousands of people succumbed to opioid addiction, the fortunes built by the opiate business became the crime of the century, and the market that OxyContin had opened paved the way for even deadlier prescription drugs.

Contributing to Part One of THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY are: author Patrick Radden Keefe; opioid specialist Dr. Andrew Kolodny; former Purdue sales rep. Mark Ross; addiction specialist Dr. Anne Lembke; Life Tree pain clinic founder Dr. Lynn Webster; Roy Bosley, whose wife died of an opioid overdose; author and NY Times reporter Barry Meier; primary care physician Dr. Art Van Zee; former Department of Justice official Paul Pelletier; and EMT Giles Sartin.

Part Two of THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY shines a spotlight on the mass marketing of the synthetic opioid fentanyl and examines the connections between drug manufacturers and government policy.  While America’s silent epidemic was killing 40 people a day, Insys Therapeutics, an upstart opioid manufacturer of fentanyl, continued to bribe doctors to overprescribe. Startling video of sales retreats and promotional material speak to a deep cynicism among company employees and a disregard for the widespread, nefarious corporate practices. A complex scheme to defraud the insurance companies existed side by side with fraudulent marketing tactics while lawmakers continued to turn a blind eye to the implications of a complex pipeline that delivers billions of pills around the country.

Interweaving stories of personal tragedy from first responders, survivors and family members of opioid victims with the timeline of corporate greed and malfeasance, Part Two of THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY includes insights from former DEA agent Joe Rannazzisi; former DEA attorney Jonathan Novak; Washington Post reporters Sari Horwitz, Scott Higham, Lenny Bernstein; Assistant U.S. Attorneys for Massachusetts David Lazarus, Nathaniel Yeager and Fred Wyshak; former V.P. of Sales at Insys Alec Burlakoff; former Insys regional sales manager Sunrise Lee; and fentanyl dealer Sidney Caleb Lanier. Woven together, the character-driven stories form a larger narrative of shocking corruption.

HBO Documentary Films’ presents a Jigsaw Production in association with Storied Media Group, THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY written and directed by Alex Gibney; produced by Alex Gibney, Sarah Dowland, and Svetlana Zill; executive produced by Stacey Offman, Richard Perello, Todd Hoffman, and Aaron Fishman; For HBO: senior producer, Tina Nguyen; executive producers, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.

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"Crime of the Century" on HBO

Primetime TV Review: “Squish”

TV Review!

"Squish" on HBO Max

“Squish” on HBO Max Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

This is a weird animated show that familiarizes children with science. It’s based on a graphic novel (also for children). Most of the characters are kids who go to school, study, play, etc. even though they are amoeba, paramecium, bacteria, viruses and fungi. Each one has a separate character. Squish (voiced by Cory Doran), the star of the show, is an amoeba. In the very first show, Squish meets a new friend, Vinnie, who’s a virus. He learns that too much Vinnie is not a good thing. At the same time, the series teaches the kids how a virus works.

The series is fun and well done – no question. I just wonder if the timing (talking about viruses during the pandemic) is a good idea. I guess they figure that any education is good for everyone to have. I just wonder if kids that are forced to stay home all the time because of the risk of COVID really want to spend their fun time watching this. As an adult, I don’t like watching shows that remind me of the pandemic. I want escapism. Well, the episodes are only 12 minutes long, so that might be just about the right amount of time.

MORE INFORMATION:

Squish, along with best friends Peggy and Pod, embarks on hilarious adventures in the town of Small Pond! Together, the pals navigate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and social survival.

Welcome to the fascinating world of amoebas! Squish, along with best friends Peggy and Pod, embarks on hilarious adventures in the town of Small Pond! Together, the pals navigate bacteria, viruses, fungi, and social survival. Based on the action-packed graphic novel, stream Squish now on HBO Max.

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The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of TVMEG.COM or its other volunteers.

"Squish" on HBO Max

Primetime TV Review: “30 Coins”

TV Review!

30 Coins' Montaner and Silvestre

“30 Coins” on HBO Review by Suzanne 1/9/21

If you like horror (not just the gross-out kind), you should love this show. It’s in Spanish, though, so you do have to pay attention if you’re not a native speaker and you’re watching the English subtitles. This show really grabbed me right at the beginning. They don’t play around. The first thing you see is horrible, and more terrible things follow. The show reminds me a bit of the Exorcist TV series, but it’s got even more shocks. There’s very little that’s subtle here; however, they do have a lot of surprises.

The heroine of the show is Elena (Megan Montaner), a veterinarian who witnesses some horrific things. Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) is the handsome mayor of their small town. He runs a butchering plant and was pushed into running by his domineering wife (Macarena Gómez). Paco is called when something really weird happens with Elena and this newborn baby.

The other main character is Padre Vergara (Eduard FernĂĄndez), who’s new to town. He has a history with exorcism. He claims that he doesn’t believe in the devil any more, but we know that he’s seen otherwise. He’s called in by Paco about the baby.

The 30 coins in the title refers to the pieces of silver given to Judas. The show’s “theme song” shows Christ’s crucifixion, and then Judas’ hanging, in vivid detail. Apparently the devil (or someone in Hell) wants the coins back, but they’re scattered all over the world.

I’m really trying hard not to post a spoiler here because it’s important, in a horror movie, not to spoil the really terrifying, shocking or gruesome things that happen. I’ll just say that there is plenty to be had, and all I watched was the first episode. I watched it late at night, so I had to watch a couple of lighter shows afterwards, to make sure I didn’t have nightmares. Watch this in the daytime. It’s very compelling.

MORE INFORMATION:

Directed and co-written by acclaimed horror master Álex de la Iglesia (The Day of the Beast, The Last Circus), 30 Coins takes viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems, and nobody can be trusted.

The eight-episode drama series follows Father Vergara (Eduard Fernåndez), an exorcist, boxer, and ex-convict who is exiled by the church to be the priest of a remote town in Spain. As his past and old enemies come back to haunt him, strange things begin to happen. An unlikely task force forms as Mayor Paco (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) and local vet Elena (Megan Montaner) seek the truth, while reality is distorted by a cursed coin which is at the heart of a global conspiracy.

30 Coins is co-written by Álex de la Iglesia and Jorge Guerricaechevarría. Executive producers for HBO Europe are Steve Matthews, Miguel Salvat, and Antony Root. Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang are executive producers for Pokeepsie Films. The series was produced with participation from HBO Latin America.

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"30 Coins" promotional pic