When the dream factory is put on the grain
Nabel show has always been happy to be operated in Hollywood, and of course there are also an integral part of this, of course, fictional stories with which the supposed dream factory optionally celebrates itself or satirically on the grain, ideally both. This no longer only happens on the screen, but finally also in series form.
From « The Offer » to « Sugar » or « Brand New Cherry Flavor » and of course « The Franchise », the growing list of streaming productions is sufficient, which-sometimes more, sometimes less intensely-deal with the film industry. But now Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg take the whole thing to the extreme with their comedy series « The Studio » (from March 26th at Appletv+).
The focus is on the fictional Continental Studios, a long-established, but somewhat behind Hollywood production company with a huge studio site in Los Angeles and a magnificent headquarters, by Frank Lloyd Wright 1927 in the Mayan Revival style of Art Deco.
Producer Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) is promoted to the new studio boss by the group boss (Bryan Cranston) without much notice, which of course does not happen without conditions: Inspired by the « Barbie » success, he is supposed to get a blockbuster based on the mascot of the drink powder Kool AID.
For Matt, the task of all ambition is a nightmare that has become true, he feels as a cineast old school, which would rather support Martin Scorsese’s latest ambitions and generally prefer celluloid to digital. But this will far from be the only challenge that needs to be mastered in the course of the ten episodes of « The Studio ».
Because not only does the determination of the leadership are not a bit. Again and again the success-horny colleague Sal (Ike Barinholtz), the merciless marketing director Maya (Kathryn Hahn), shooting from the assistant to the Executive Producerin Quinn (Chase Sui Wonders) or even the shot ex-boss Amy (Catherine O’Hara). Not to mention all the superstars and highly sensitive filmmakers who put the jack into their hands in the studio.
A real pleasure even without industry knowledge
The balancing act, the Rogen and his long -time friend and colleague Goldberg succeeds with « The Studio » is remarkable. On the one hand, the series is the most honest, most precise and truthful examination of its own industry that has been seen since Robert Altman’s « The Player ».
On the other hand, with their Writers Room, the two also manage to design their history together with the characters beyond all insider knowledge in such a way that you also feel entertained. And that also applies if you know little more about the film industry than that comic films are considered a safe bank these days.
Bryan Cranston gives the CEO who wants to see his studio blossoming. Photo: AppleTV+
Because the two know that meta gags are not sufficient for this, they vary tone and humor from episode. Sometimes Slapstick is on the program, then rather cringe comedy with a lot of foreign shame potential or sometimes a crime plot about a missing film role.
The nostalgia for Golden Hollywood times, which starts at Matt’s classic car, mixes Clever with the knowledge of the tedious reality of today’s production conditions as well as a great love for the medium of film and not Los Angeles.
Probably also because the latter in particular can be felt in the screenplays and dialogues, there are more guest stars the honor than one could have dreamed of. From Scorsese, Ron Howard and Sarah Polley to Greta Lee, Paul Dano and Olivia Wilde to Zoë Kravitz, Anthony Mackie or Charlize Theron – to really call a few – the list of those who are all too happy to walk through the cocoa. And last but not least, it is thanks to so much self -irony that « The Studio » not only convinces as a story about Hollywood, but is already by far the funniest new series of the year.
