From Succession to Ted Lasso: 13 TV Shows and Films to Watch The Week of May 28, 2023

Please note, the following interview was done outside of the FYC event series as there was no cast panel or screening. 

Outlander is back, and nothing will ever be the same for the Frasers. Having seen the first four episodes of the new season, I can say that it's the same Outlander you love, but as the first few episodes unfold, it begins to feel like . Change is uncomfortable, and there's going to be a lot of it this season, but it also energizes the series in a really thrilling—and poignant—way. “It's explosive.

Amy Schumer says she always knew Pete Davidson would be a star.

Whitney Friedlander Whether it’s a collision in an office elevator or a case of mistaken identities, fans of romantic comedies have a love-hate relationship with meet-cutes: The central couple must meet somehow and, since this is a love story, preferably they should do so in a cute way. But how many more white shirts must be killed in the name of clumsy-cute trip-and-falls while holding cups of coffee or orange juice?  For serialized romances, the challenge is even greater. Directors and writers must create interesting run-ins for characters to help sustain interest for longer than it takes for audiences to eat a bucket of popcorn.  “I feel like the bar now is, if you are expected to figure out a meet-cute, it has to be your new slightly subversive never-before-seen version of it,” says director Jay Karas. “I don’t think it’s a trope that we can totally get away from, because people have to meet somehow, and it’s just about how do you modernize it.” 

, but there’s one comment in particular that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life. The T-shirt comment. A comment so low it left even the Vanderpump Rules cast momentarily speechless.

Cruel Summer, that is. from executive producer Jessica Biel is with a new cast, a new mystery, and a new location. This time Sadie Stanley (The Goldbergs), (Little Fires Everywhere), and Griffin Gluck (Red Band Society) are the new kids on the block, but they more than hold their own in this complex and twisty drama.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday. Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor You’d think CBS would have jumped at the chance to snag Carol Burnett’s “90 Years of Laughter + Love” birthday special. Not only did the comedy legend’s variety show run on the network for 11 seasons, but so did its 50th anniversary special in 2017. “We first went to CBS, but they passed,” Burnett told me at an FYC event for the birthday special. “I did my show with them and all my specials, so naturally we went to them.” Fortunately, NBC bought the special, and it went on to score an impressive 7.6 million viewers. It’s now favored to pick up an Emmy nomination. “NBC couldn’t have been greater,” she said. “They’ve been so supportive right from the get-go.”

Committed to the bit. Ali Wong opened up about adjusting to heightened attention amid her budding romance with Bill Hader.

We’re Richmond ‘til we die! The season 3 finale of Ted Lasso is shaping up to be one of its biggest episodes yet — and could potentially mark the end of the beloved Apple TV+ series.

Ali Wong is discussing her new life as she catapults into superstardom as her smash series, “Beef”, earns the praises of critics and the viewing public.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Family animated movie “Pirate Mo and the Legend of the Red Ruby” proved to be a smash hit with international distributors during the Cannes Film Market, with sales agency The Playmaker Munich delivering the film to multiple buyers. During the market, The Playmaker announced first presales to Benelux (Just4Kids), Turkey (Filmarti), Baltics (GPI), Greece (Rosebud) and Bulgaria (Pro Films). The company has now revealed further sales to Poland (M2 Films), Scandinavia (Njuta Films), Hungary and Romania (ADS), Portugal (Outsider Pictures), and Yugoslavia (Blitz Film).

This article contains major spoilers for the ‘Barry’ finale.Critics and fans alike have praised the final-ever episode of Barry, with some even hailing it as the “true best show on television”.Created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader, the dark comedy/drama follows the story of hitman and aspiring actor Barry Berkman (Hader) as he attempts to escape his violent past.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor “It’s not TV. It’s HBO.” That’s the premium cable network slogan that single-handedly changed the television landscape forever and ushered in the Peak TV era. The Home Box Office turned 50 in November 2022, and Variety celebrated its Golden Year by ranking the best performances in its history.

Selome Hailu SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from the series finale of “Barry,” now streaming on Max. Nothing is sacred in the world of “Barry.” Played by Anthony Carrigan, NoHo Hank was an immediate fan favorite when the dark HBO comedy series premiered in 2018. As a Chechen mobster with a heart of gold, Hank was the perfect foil to Barry’s (series co-creator Bill Hader) perpetual seriousness. And when Season 3 got dark and depressing after Cousineau (Henry Winkler) learned that Barry had murdered his girlfriend (Paula Newsome), Hank was one of the show’s last remaining sources of comedic relief … until he killed his boyfriend Cristobal (Michael Irby) midway through the show’s fourth and final season.

Jordan Moreau SPOILER ALERT: This interview contains spoilers from the series finale of “Barry,” now streaming on Max. Sunday night on HBO featured the end of two major series after four seasons apiece: “Succession” and “Barry.” The shows launched just a few months apart in 2018, and now they’ve ended their runs on the same night. After “Succession” wrapped up less than an hour earlier, now Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root and Anthony Carrigan have delivered a blood-soaked farewell to their characters. After loading up on guns, Barry (Hader) drives furiously to save Sally (Goldberg) and their son John (Zachary Golinger) after NoHo Hank (Carrigan) kidnapped them in the last episode. On the way there, Barry prays to God, hoping that his past sins will be washed away and that he’ll be redeemed after his life of violence. But when he arrives at Hank’s hideout, he’s missed all the action. Before he gets there, the potential peace offering between Hank and Fuches (Root) to team up against Barry has fallen apart, and their gangs have massacred each other. Fuches wanted Hank to admit he killed his own boyfriend Cristobal (Michael Irby) in his quest for power, but he refused. Hank dies against a golden statue of Cristobal, and Fuches helps John and Sally escape before he disappears.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer HBO’s buzzy new original series “The Idol” has been steadily building momentum on the road to its June 4 debut — including a lavish world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by one of the most talked-about afterparties on the Croisette. The show follows an embattled young pop star named Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp), recovering from a psychotic break after the death of her mother and hounded relentlessly by industry vultures that need her back on top. A sketchy Svengali named Tedros (Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye) appears in her life, promising artistic and sexual liberation and fame beyond her wildest dreams. “Euphoria” creator Sam Levinson steers the show with co-creators Tesfaye and Reza Fahim.

Ariana Madix doesn’t have any sympathy for Raquel Leviss — and she doesn’t think fans should either!

Alison Herman TV Critic All awards shows are arbitrary, and none more so than the Emmys, for which voters must select a handful of nominees and winners from an ocean of worthwhile television. The shows on this list, arranged alphabetically, represent just a small sampling of the series that deserve recognition from the TV Academy, and while some are more likely to receive an official nod than others, all are worth viewers’ precious time. In its first season, “Abbott” became the increasingly rare broadcast sitcom to resonate with both audiences and critics.

It’s an exciting thing to get an autograph from your all time favorite celebrity., and many have turned getting autographs into a full time career.