Hollywood (miniseries) explained

Genre:Historical drama
Composer:Nathan Barr
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Episodes:7
Runtime:44–57 minutes
Network:Netflix

Hollywood is an American historical drama television miniseries starring an ensemble cast including David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Joe Mantello, Dylan McDermott, Jake Picking, Jeremy Pope, Holland Taylor, Samara Weaving, Jim Parsons, and Patti LuPone. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, it was released on Netflix on May 1, 2020.

The miniseries is about a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers during the Hollywood Golden Age in the post-World War II era trying to make their dreams come true.[1] The series received mixed reviews from critics who praised the acting and production values, but criticized the tone, writing, and artistic license taken.[2] The series received 12 nominations at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, including acting nods for Pope, Taylor, McDermott, and Parsons, winning two.

Premise

The series explores Hollywood in the late 1940s, following World War II where traditional power dynamics in the American film industry are systematically dismantled and racism and homophobia are assigned to the dustbin of history.

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Production

Development

On February 23, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a straight-to-series order consisting of seven episodes. The series was created by Ian Brennan, and Ryan Murphy. Brennan and Murphy were also set to executive produce the series alongside Darren Criss and David Corenswet.[6] The series was released on May 1, 2020.[7]

Casting

On September 3, 2019, it was reported that Patti LuPone, Holland Taylor, Darren Criss, Jeremy Pope, Dylan McDermott, Jim Parsons, Corenswet and Joe Mantello had been cast in series regular roles.[8] [9] [10] [11]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 59% based on 133 reviews, with an average rating of 6.10/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "With its heart on its sleeve and style to spare, Hollywood is anything but subtle – if only its good intentions were paired with a less convoluted story."[12] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 56 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]

Writing for the Chicago Sun-Times, Richard Roeper gave the series two-and-a-half stars out of four, saying: "It's a fascinating blend of fact (or least stories based on factual characters) and fiction, and the performances from the cast of rising stars and reliable veterans are dazzling—but like many a motion picture, Hollywood can't overcome script problems that surface about midway through the story."[14]

Conversely, Hugh Montgomery of the BBC described the series as "spineless and inert", giving it one out of five stars and saying "A show about Tinseltown that chose to confront and prod at these continuing, dispiriting realities rather than concoct its own vapid, hubristic fantasies would be worth 10 times this one."[15] Similarly, The Guardians Lucy Mangan criticized its "counterfactual history", giving the series a two out of five-star review, writing: "This should be the perfect set-up for a scabrous look at prejudice, corruption, the trading of sexual currency, coercion, the well-oiled machinations that underlie an industry and how it all shapes history—all through a

  1. MeToo
lens. But it becomes a mere wish-fulfilment fantasy that, whether it intends to or not, suggests that if a few people had just been that bit braver, then movies—and therefore the world!—would be a glorious, egalitarian Eden. It is a show that is smug and obtuse enough to believe la la land's self-regarding idea that celluloid art directly shapes our lives."[16]

While FAULT Magazine praised the show for its beautiful work on costume design and career topping performances of Dylan McDermott, Jeremy Pope and Samara Weaving, they criticised the show's dangerous embellishment of systemic prejudice of post-war USA. "The only ones who benefit from the erasure of Hollywood's brutal history of racism and homophobia, are those that perpetrated it."[17]

Feature articles in Vanity Fair,[18] Esquire,[19] Town & Country,[20] and Rolling Stone[21] covered the Netflix production as depicting the real-life story of Scotty Bowers, but no reference is made to Bowers or his tell-all book, Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars in the Netflix production's credits.

Accolades

YearAssociationCategoryNominated artist/workResult
2020Black Reel Television AwardsOutstanding Television Movie or Limited SeriesHollywood[22]
Outstanding Actor, TV Movie/Limited SeriesJeremy Pope
Outstanding Director, TV Movie/Limited SeriesJanet Mock (for "(Screen) Tests")
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or MovieJeremy Pope[23]
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or MovieDylan McDermott (for "Meg")
Jim Parsons (for "Outlaws")
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or MovieHolland Taylor (for "Jump")
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy AwardsOutstanding Period CostumesLou Eyrich, Sarah Evelyn, Tiger Curran and Suzy Freeman (for "A Hollywood Ending")
Outstanding Period and/or Character HairstylingMichelle Ceglia, Barry Lee Moe, George Guzman, Michele Arvizo and Maria Elena Pantoja (for "A Hollywood Ending")
Outstanding Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers, Kerrin Jackson and Ana Gabriela Quiñonez (for "Outlaws")
Outstanding Prosthetic MakeupVincent Van Dyke, Cary Ayers and Bruce Spaulding Fuller (for "Jump")
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)Nathan Barr (for "Hooray for Hollywood: Part 2")
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme MusicNathan Barr
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy ProgramMatthew Flood Ferguson, Mark Robert Taylor and Melissa Licht
2021Art Directors Guild AwardsExcellence in Production Design for a Television Movie or Limited SeriesMatthew Flood Ferguson[24]
Critics' Choice Television AwardsBest Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV MovieDylan McDermott[25]
Golden Globe AwardsBest Supporting Actor – TelevisionJim Parsons[26]
Hollywood Music in Media AwardsBest Main Title Theme – TV Show/Limited SeriesNathan Barr[27]
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild AwardsBest Television Series, Limited or Miniseries or New Media Series – Best Period and/or Character Make-UpEryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers, Kerrin Jackson and Ana Gabriela Quinonez[28]
Best Television Series, Limited or Miniseries or New Media Series – Best Period and/or Character Hair StylingMichelle Ceglia, Barry Lee Moe, George Guzman and Michele Arvizo
Best Special Make-Up Effects in a Television Series, Limited or Miniseries or New Media SeriesEryn Krueger Mekash, Kerrin Jackson and Ana Gabriela Quinonez
Motion Picture Sound Editors AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Sound Editing - Episodic Short Form – MusicDavid Klotz (for "Hooray for Hollywood")[29]
Writers Guild of America AwardsLong Form – OriginalIan Brennan, Janet Mock, Ryan Murphy and Reilly Smith[30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/hollywood-review-netflix-ryan-murphy.html Hollywood on Netflix Review: Ryan Murphy's Empty Dreamland - Vulture
  2. https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/ryan-murphy-hollywood-review-1203551971/ 'Hollywood' Review: Ryan Murphy's Netflix Series Is a Dud - Variety
  3. Web site: Stuever, Hank. In Ryan Murphy's 'Hollywood,' the old studio system gets a rousingly revisionist wake-up call. The Washington Post. April 30, 2020. May 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200506185415/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/in-ryan-murphys-hollywood-the-old-studio-system-gets-a-rousingly-revisionist-wake-up-call/2020/04/30/510b5f96-8a5a-11ea-ac8a-fe9b8088e101_story.html. May 6, 2020. live.
  4. Web site: Cantrell, Liz. How the Hollywood Cast Compares to Their Real-Life Counterparts, In Photos. Town and Country Magazine. May 8, 2020. May 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200508164609/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/g32222553/hollywood-netflix-cast-real-life/. May 8, 2020. live.
  5. Web site: Lloyd, Robert. Review: 'Hollywood' rewrites Tinseltown's racist, sexist, homophobic past. It's not convincing. Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2020. May 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200515011544/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2020-04-30/netflix-hollywood-ryan-murphy-ian-brennan-darren-criss. May 15, 2020. live.
  6. Web site: Pedersen . Erik . Ryan Murphy Sets Next Netflix Series 'Hollywood' About Tinseltown's Golden Age . Deadline Hollywood . September 1, 2019 . February 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190901184218/https://deadline.com/2019/02/ryan-murphy-netflix-series-hollywood-ian-brennan-1202562823/ . September 1, 2019 . live .
  7. Web site: 'Hollywood' Premiere Date: Ryan Murphy's Netflix Limited Series About Postwar Tinseltown. Deadline Hollywood. Erik. Pedersen. February 20, 2020. February 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200220155525/https://deadline.com/2020/02/hollywood-premiere-date-ryan-murphy-netflix-limited-series-1202863984/. February 20, 2020. live.
  8. Web site: Ryan Murphy Adds to Netflix Slate With 'A Chorus Line' Mini, Andy Warhol Docuseries. Lesley. Goldberg. The Hollywood Reporter. September 3, 2019. November 8, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200105132415/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/ryan-murphy-adds-netflix-slate-a-chorus-line-mini-andy-warhol-docuseries-1236549. January 5, 2020. live.
  9. Web site: Sneider . Jeff . Exclusive: Ryan Murphy's 'Hollywood' to Star Broadway Sensation Jeremy Pope . . September 3, 2019 . September 3, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190904013220/http://collider.com/ryan-murphy-hollywood-cast-jeremy-pope-broadway/?amp . September 4, 2019 . live .
  10. Web site: Perski . Denise . Darren Criss To Star In & Executive Produce Ryan Murphy's 'Hollywood' Series For Netflix . Deadline Hollywood . September 7, 2019 . September 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190907153413/https://deadline.com/2019/09/hollywood-darren-criss-to-star-in-executive-produce-ryan-murphys-netflix-series-1202728280/ . September 7, 2019 . live .
  11. Web site: Petski . Denise . 'The Politician's David Corenswet To Star in Ryan Murphy's Netflix Series 'Hollywood' . Deadline Hollywood. September 26, 2019 . September 25, 2019.
  12. Web site: Hollywood: Season 1 (2020). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. September 21, 2020.
  13. Web site: Hollywood: Season 1 reviews. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. June 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200509143927/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/hollywood/season-1. May 9, 2020. live.
  14. News: 'Hollywood' a so-so fantasy about La La Land in its Golden Age . Roeper . Richard . Richard Roeper . April 29, 2020 . . May 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200430035721/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/4/29/21239906/hollywood-review-netflix-series . April 30, 2020 . live .
  15. Web site: Hollywood review: This lavish period fantasy is a disaster. BBC. Hugh. Montgomery. April 29, 2020. April 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200502181030/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20200428-hollywood-review-this-lavish-period-fantasy-is-a-disaster. May 2, 2020. live.
  16. Web site: Hollywood review – Ryan Murphy's Netflix epic is a hollow ode to showbiz. The Guardian. Lucy. Mangan. May 1, 2020. May 5, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200505022416/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/01/hollywood-review-ryan-murphy-netflix. May 5, 2020. live.
  17. Web site: 2020-05-06. Netflix's Hollywood Solves Racism and Homophobia With Speeches and Gowns. 2020-08-22. FAULT Magazine. en-US.
  18. "Netflix's Hollywood: The True Story of Scotty Bowers, Real-Life L.A. Pimp" by Julie Miller. April 30, 2020
  19. "Hollywood's Gas Station Pimp Is Inspired By the Real 'Gentleman Hustler' Scotty Bowers" by Gabrielle Bruney. May 1, 2020
  20. "The Secret History of Hollywood's Golden Age Gas Station Hustler, Scotty Bowers" by Annie Goldsmith. May 1, 2020
  21. "The True Story Behind the Gas Station Sex Ring in Ryan Murphy's ‘Hollywood’" by EJ Dickson. May 8, 2020
  22. Web site: Watchmen & Insecure Pace the Black Reel Awards for TV Nominations. Black Reel Awards. June 18, 2020. February 20, 2021. July 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704021011/http://blackreelawards.com/watchmen-insecure-pace-the-black-reel-awards-for-tv-nominations/. dead.
  23. Web site: 72nd Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners. emmys.com. July 28, 2020.
  24. Web site: Art Directors Guild Awards 2021: Full List of Nominations. Variety. Jazz. Tangcay. February 25, 2021. March 9, 2021.
  25. Web site: 'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations . Schneider. Michael . January 18, 2021 . Variety . January 18, 2021.
  26. Web site: Golden Globes 2021: The Complete Nominations List . Oganesyan & Moreau . Natalie & Jordan . February 3, 2021 . Variety . en-GB . February 3, 2021.
  27. Diane Warren & James Newton Howard Among Top Winners at 2021 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. January 27, 2021. January 28, 2021. Billboard. Paul. Grein.
  28. Web site: Giardina. Carolyn. 2021-02-18. 'Bill & Ted Face the Music' Leads Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards Nominations. 2021-02-25. The Hollywood Reporter.
  29. Web site: Sound Editors Nominate 'Wonder Woman', 'Sound Of Metal', 'Tenet' & Others For Golden Reel Awards – Full List. Deadline. Erik. Pedersen. March 1, 2021. March 2, 2021. March 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301182122/https://deadline.com/2021/03/golden-reel-awards-2021-nominations-sound-editors-mpse-1234704003/. live.
  30. Web site: WGA Awards: 'Better Call Saul' Scores Leading 5 Nominations in TV, New Media, News Categories . Lewis . Hilary . February 3, 2021 . The Hollywood Reporter . February 3, 2021.

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