[This post originally appeared as part of Recommendation Machine, IndieWire’s daily TV picks feature.]
Where to Watch “Insiders”: Netflix
At one point in “Insiders,” there’s a montage of people being told they’re being put through into the next “round” of a reality show casting process. Nearly every one of them asks if they can give a hug or kiss to the producer giving them the good news. (They only get handshakes.) It’s a sustained burst of happiness and relief from a group of individuals who don’t even realize that the show they think they’re auditioning for is well under way.
That’s the main hook for “Insiders,” a series that puts a dozen people through the paces of a “training” period, ostensibly to see which of them is cut out for being on a show that none of them know will never actually come. Instead, the minimalist practice living space that they...
Where to Watch “Insiders”: Netflix
At one point in “Insiders,” there’s a montage of people being told they’re being put through into the next “round” of a reality show casting process. Nearly every one of them asks if they can give a hug or kiss to the producer giving them the good news. (They only get handshakes.) It’s a sustained burst of happiness and relief from a group of individuals who don’t even realize that the show they think they’re auditioning for is well under way.
That’s the main hook for “Insiders,” a series that puts a dozen people through the paces of a “training” period, ostensibly to see which of them is cut out for being on a show that none of them know will never actually come. Instead, the minimalist practice living space that they...
- 11/14/2021
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
The special tribute episode, “Our Friend David,” of the radio show This American Life describes writer, performer and show favorite David Rakoff as a much-loved man who had “dozens of friends.” This stands in contrast to his literary persona as an acerbic, dry, self-deprecating culture creature with a purring voice. That carefully crafted persona apparently often felt like a burden. In life, Rakoff was a Canadian ex-pat who struggled with cancer, but in his work he could be both brutally honest and wickedly incisive in a quintessentially New York way, full of hair-trigger jabs one moment and all-too recognizable pain...
- 9/10/2013
- Pastemagazine.com
It's impossible to ignore the effect that the Upright Citizens Brigade has had on the world of comedy. Like "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live" before it, Ucb has become an institution that has sent shockwaves through comedy that are nearly impossible to trace.
But that didn't stop Brian Raftery from trying. He recently penned an e-book about the history of Ucb, High-Status Characters: How The Upright Citizens Brigade Stormed A City, Started A Scene, And Changed Comedy Forever. The book is a collection of interviews with nearly everyone involved directly or indirectly with Ucb, telling the most conclusive story yet of how a Chicago improv troupe that eventually consisted of Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh morphed into three theaters on two coasts, an accredited education program, a TV series and the closest thing to an epicenter of comedy that currently exists.
I spoke to Raftery about his book,...
But that didn't stop Brian Raftery from trying. He recently penned an e-book about the history of Ucb, High-Status Characters: How The Upright Citizens Brigade Stormed A City, Started A Scene, And Changed Comedy Forever. The book is a collection of interviews with nearly everyone involved directly or indirectly with Ucb, telling the most conclusive story yet of how a Chicago improv troupe that eventually consisted of Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh morphed into three theaters on two coasts, an accredited education program, a TV series and the closest thing to an epicenter of comedy that currently exists.
I spoke to Raftery about his book,...
- 6/21/2013
- by Ross Luippold
- Huffington Post
In "The Invisible Made Visible," radio show This American Life went live onstage for "radio you can watch." Fans can now watch the full-length stream for $5 here; Dmr-free copies are also available for download. The show was curated by This American Life's Ira Glass and was broadcast live into theaters in the Us, Canada and Australia from its New York venue. The two hour show features monologues from David Sedaris, Glynn Washington and Ryan Knighton; a short film by Mike Birbiglia; a musical performance from Ok Go; a live dance plus stories from Tig Notaro, Glass and Tal contributor David Rakoff. Check out the trailer below.
- 11/19/2012
- by Sophia Savage
- Thompson on Hollywood
On Thursday afternoon, I had a sense of foreboding about my friend, the writer and performer David Rakoff, who had been battling cancer. I checked his Facebook page: His wall was pouring with notes of love and appreciation and cheer from his many, many friends, trying to rally his spirit. He’d just gone into hospice care the previous week, I learned — he was nearing the end. And so it happened, hours later, that at age 47, David Rakoff passed. Though David’s illness had figured into his later essays — a sarcoma was found in his neck while he was writing his last collection, Half-Empty — his death was no less of a shock to anyone who knew him, personally, or through his work. Because underneath his trademark pessimism and world-weariness was a resilient strain of hopefulness: Rakoff would often joke that his cancer was like Whack-a-Mole — and, though...
- 8/12/2012
- by Kera Bolonik
- Vulture
In light of the untimely passing of beloved author David Rakoff, we thought we'd share a strange little nugget from his career as a reminder of what a truly delightful guy he was.
In 2008, Adult Swim ordered a pilot of an adaptation of the comic book "Snake 'N' Bacon" from Michael Kupperman, the genius artist/writer perhaps best known for the graphic novel Tales Designed To Thrizzle. They ultimately didn't pick up the series, but it's pretty excellent, and the whole thing is on Adult Swim's website.
Rakoff starred in a weird and wonderful little sketch called "Secrets of the Real District Attorney," alongside James Urbaniak of "The Venture Bros." Rakoff plays the district attorney in question, giving the titular crime-fighting duo, Shake and Bacon, a harsh talking-to.
In 2008, Adult Swim ordered a pilot of an adaptation of the comic book "Snake 'N' Bacon" from Michael Kupperman, the genius artist/writer perhaps best known for the graphic novel Tales Designed To Thrizzle. They ultimately didn't pick up the series, but it's pretty excellent, and the whole thing is on Adult Swim's website.
Rakoff starred in a weird and wonderful little sketch called "Secrets of the Real District Attorney," alongside James Urbaniak of "The Venture Bros." Rakoff plays the district attorney in question, giving the titular crime-fighting duo, Shake and Bacon, a harsh talking-to.
- 8/10/2012
- by Ross Luippold
- Huffington Post
Here is last week's caption pic winner. This week's caption pic is at the bottom of the page.
Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is ...
"Combining Chess Club with Fight Club seemed like a good idea at first..."
Thanks to giovannif7 for this week's winning caption!
Weekend Birthdays! (Note: Birthday shoutouts are for out entertainers, allies, or for any celeb that seems to have a following on Ae). Chris Hemsworth (above) is 29, Rosanna Arquette is 53, Andrew Sullivan is 49, Viola David is 47, Sam J. Jones is 58, and Joe Jackson is 58. What turns Randy Harrison on? "Men’s gymnastics, flying trapeze, risk, speed, music, lederhosen, and body hair." For just $1.50, you can have the greatest ringtone in history. Meet the only openly pansexual U.S. elected official.Our thoughts are with the family and friends of gay essayist and This American Life contributor David Rakoff, who died today at the age...
Thanks to everyone for participating! The winner is ...
"Combining Chess Club with Fight Club seemed like a good idea at first..."
Thanks to giovannif7 for this week's winning caption!
Weekend Birthdays! (Note: Birthday shoutouts are for out entertainers, allies, or for any celeb that seems to have a following on Ae). Chris Hemsworth (above) is 29, Rosanna Arquette is 53, Andrew Sullivan is 49, Viola David is 47, Sam J. Jones is 58, and Joe Jackson is 58. What turns Randy Harrison on? "Men’s gymnastics, flying trapeze, risk, speed, music, lederhosen, and body hair." For just $1.50, you can have the greatest ringtone in history. Meet the only openly pansexual U.S. elected official.Our thoughts are with the family and friends of gay essayist and This American Life contributor David Rakoff, who died today at the age...
- 8/10/2012
- by snicks
- The Backlot
David Rakoff, an author and essayist whose work frequently appeared on NPR's "This American Life," died Thursday (Aug. 9) after fighting cancer for the past few years. He was 47.
Rakoff has published three essay collections: 2001's "Fraud," 2005's "Don't Get Too Comfortable" and "Half Empty" from 2010, which includes a piece on the return of his cancer, which he was first diagnosed with at age 22. All three collections as well as his "This American Life" work were praised for their sharp, darkly comic observations of contemporary life, and "Half Empty" won a Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Born in Canada, Rakoff worked in publishing before pursuing his own writing career. He became friends with author David Sedaris, who helped Rakoff get his work on radio, which in turn helped his essay collections find an audience. He also wrote the script for an acted in "The New Tenants," a short film that won...
Rakoff has published three essay collections: 2001's "Fraud," 2005's "Don't Get Too Comfortable" and "Half Empty" from 2010, which includes a piece on the return of his cancer, which he was first diagnosed with at age 22. All three collections as well as his "This American Life" work were praised for their sharp, darkly comic observations of contemporary life, and "Half Empty" won a Thurber Prize for American Humor.
Born in Canada, Rakoff worked in publishing before pursuing his own writing career. He became friends with author David Sedaris, who helped Rakoff get his work on radio, which in turn helped his essay collections find an audience. He also wrote the script for an acted in "The New Tenants," a short film that won...
- 8/10/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
David Rakoff, an author best known for his darkly funny personal essays, died on Thursday after a second bout with cancer. Awarded the Thurber Prize for his 2010 book of essays, Half Empty, Rakoff was born in Canada and lived in New York, where he earned fame for his frankly open stories about being a gay, Jewish and very neurotic man. A frequent contributer to Ira Glass' This American Life radio show, Rakoff met the host through his friend, the writer David Sedaris, who Rakoff first approached while working in book publishing. He wrote two other books of essays: 2011's
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- 8/10/2012
- by Jordan Zakarin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
David Rakoff, a writer known for his many contributions to This American Life and his books of darkly humorous essays (Fraud, Don't Get Too Comfortable), has died at age 47. Rakoff had battled lymphatic cancer since the age of 22, eventually losing an arm to the disease. Though he genuinely loved writing, Rakoff's bitterness was his greatest creative resource. When talking about his work, he would often parody the task, satirizing his craft as he went. Many of his essays touched on feelings of heartbreak and despair, but with a lightheartedness and optimism coming through in his love ...
- 8/10/2012
- avclub.com
Trailers are an under-appreciated art form insofar that many times they’re seen as vehicles for showing footage, explaining films away, or showing their hand about what moviegoers can expect. Foreign, domestic, independent, big budget: I celebrate all levels of trailers and hopefully this column will satisfactorily give you a baseline of what beta wave I’m operating on, because what better way to hone your skills as a thoughtful moviegoer than by deconstructing these little pieces of advertising? Some of the best authors will tell you that writing a short story is a lot harder than writing a long one, that you have to weigh every sentence. What better medium to see how this theory plays itself out beyond that than with movie trailers? Les amours imaginaires (Heartbeats) Trailer Honestly, I hope this movie ends with all three of them deciding to partake in ritualistic suicide. There was a...
- 1/29/2011
- by Christopher Stipp
- Slash Film
When we think of puppets, a few things come to mind. Jim Henson. Ventriloquism. Sock puppets. Puppet takes the chance to challenge the misconception of what is normally perceived as merely children’s entertainment. Puppetry has been a creative art of storytelling for centuries, to tell many stories through lifelike figures. Director David Soll intertwines the history of puppetry with the staging of the show Disfarmer, by puppeteer Dan Hurlin, about the nearly-obscure Depression-era portrait photographer Mike Disfarmer. Puppet captures a uncanny parallel between the photographer whose work was nearly forgotten and the puppeteer who struggles to make a show that resonates with audiences and shines a spotlight on the ingenious craft of puppetry. I spoke to David Soll via phone. Melissa Silvestri: How did you get involved in Puppet? David Soll: Pretty simply actually. I saw the show. I read David Rakoff’s article in the New York...
- 11/5/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
I'm exhausted. There's a lot of random things I could rant about for an acceptable amount of page space (In particular, the idea that the iPhone can prevent teenagers from sending each other sexy text messages. Anyone who has spent any time around teenagers is well aware that they can turn event the most mundane words and scenarios into double entendres. Ex: "Hey, can you grab me a cup?" "I'll grab Your cups. Yeah!" Also: 5318008.) but I've been having trouble sleeping all week and I'm at the point of just barely managing to function in a socially acceptable manner. If this week were going on any longer, I'd probably end up somewhere in public without pants or wearing my bra on the outside of my shirt and when someone pointed it out I'd respond with "So's your Face!" or something equally witty and then pass out while standing up. I'm not saying it's happened before,...
- 10/14/2010
- by Intern Rusty
Feeling that fall itch? Here are some way to scratch it: with live music at Bryant Park, a reading by David Rakoff, or drinks in Hell's Kitchen en plein air. All for the price of movie or less... Meet the Filmmakers: Mark Romanek and Carey Mulligan Today the long-awaited film version of Never Let Me Go, based on the acclaimed novel by Kazuo Ishiguro, opens in NYC. And you don't need to be invited to the red-carpet premiere to see its star, the waify Carey Mulligan, and its director, Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo) in person; they'll be talking with critic Elvis Mitchell about the making of the movie. (The discussion will be followed by an audience Q and A, where you may want to ask about costar Keira Knightley's diet plan.) Where: Apple Store, 103 Prince Street, Manhattan When: Wednesday, September 15, 6:30 Pm Price: Free! Bryant Park Fall Festival: War Low Rider,...
- 9/14/2010
- TribecaFilm.com
July 1st is Canada Day, and we thought we'd take a moment to honor our friends to the north. Canada has always seemed like a friendlier version of the U.S., and is far ahead of us when it comes to marriage-equality. Plus they've given us such fabulous pop culture treasures as Sctv, The Kids In The Hall, Degrassi, Bumper Stumpers, You Can't Do That On Television and Ryan Reynolds.
Most importantly, they taught as that no one, no one! can take away our right to fight and to never surrender.
Canada can also be proud of their contributions to gay visibility, and we're spotlighting some of those men here. This is just a smattering of the out Canadians we admire, and feel free to add your own favorites.
Btw, we haven't forgotten about Canadian lesbian icons k.d. Lang and Tegan & Sara, but this list is just about dudes.
Most importantly, they taught as that no one, no one! can take away our right to fight and to never surrender.
Canada can also be proud of their contributions to gay visibility, and we're spotlighting some of those men here. This is just a smattering of the out Canadians we admire, and feel free to add your own favorites.
Btw, we haven't forgotten about Canadian lesbian icons k.d. Lang and Tegan & Sara, but this list is just about dudes.
- 7/1/2010
- by snicks
- The Backlot
Short Films International and Magnolia Pictures are currently screening this year's Oscar nominated live-action and animated shorts in theaters prior to the March 7, 2010 Oscar presentation. For theater listings and times check out Shorts HD.com. Below are the reviews for the five Oscar-nominated live-action short films as well as trailers, official sites as well as the full version of my favorite short from the list of nominees.
You can get my reviews of the five nominated animated shorts right here.
Kavi India / 9:10 minutes Taking place in Maharashtra, India, Kavi centers on Kavi, a young boy working alongside his mother and father in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave. He prides himself for being the "fastest worker" and we see him smiling almost immediately until he looks up and sees school children playing a cricket. He stops and stares, wishing he could take part, but his dreams are dashed...
You can get my reviews of the five nominated animated shorts right here.
Kavi India / 9:10 minutes Taking place in Maharashtra, India, Kavi centers on Kavi, a young boy working alongside his mother and father in a brick kiln as a modern-day slave. He prides himself for being the "fastest worker" and we see him smiling almost immediately until he looks up and sees school children playing a cricket. He stops and stares, wishing he could take part, but his dreams are dashed...
- 2/22/2010
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Set aside the showdown between "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" for a moment. Stop obsessing over whether Sandra or Meryl will take home the best actress trophy.Further down the list of nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, there are several other races brewing that could result in genuine Oscar Night surprises -- even if those surprises will be fully appreciated only by those aficionados who track the three short-film categories. To its credit, the Academy has resisted pressures to eliminate the low-profile categories from the broadcast. At the same time, it has enhanced efforts to make the short films -- which this year range from the latest bit of Wallace & Gromit whimsy to a wrenching look at the parents who lost their school-age children in the earthquake that devastated China's Sichuan province in 2008 -- more widely available to the general public.On Feb. 19, as part of what is now a 5-year-old tradition,...
- 2/9/2010
- backstage.com
In expectation of Sacha Baron Cohen's latest ambush comedy film, Brüno, arriving in theaters this weekend, discussion of Cohen's gay fashionista character — and whether the movie is likely to hurt or help gays — has heated up considerably. (Check out our take here.)
We thought now a good time to see what some media had to say about the topic.
Out Magazine
I read Mo Rocca's interview with Brüno for Out before I took a good look at the cover. Turns out the magazine overpromises with its headline asking "Can The Agent Provocateur Dodge The Knives?"
The interview is pretty light, considering that most of the discussion gays are having about Brüno have focused on whether Brüno is cutting satire or a gay minstrel act. Simply giving Cohen a forum to play out gags from the film struck me as a little behind the curve, especially as the cover...
We thought now a good time to see what some media had to say about the topic.
Out Magazine
I read Mo Rocca's interview with Brüno for Out before I took a good look at the cover. Turns out the magazine overpromises with its headline asking "Can The Agent Provocateur Dodge The Knives?"
The interview is pretty light, considering that most of the discussion gays are having about Brüno have focused on whether Brüno is cutting satire or a gay minstrel act. Simply giving Cohen a forum to play out gags from the film struck me as a little behind the curve, especially as the cover...
- 7/10/2009
- by LyleMasaki
- The Backlot
The faces of the Twitter-Wood feed let their maple leaves fly high today for Canada Day, with William Shatner and “Twilight” actress Rachelle Lefevre among those wearing Canadian pride on their tweets. Their home and native land must have felt very loved.
The American Twitter delegation was busy as well, though, with Diablo Cody contemplating a Billy Idol-ish makeover. Chiming in with advice was none other than Andy Milonakis. Click on downward and you’ll find their exchange, some “Twilight”-style vampire baseball for charity being played, and a tweet from Steven Spielberg’s to-do list in the Twitter-Wood report for July 1, 2009.
@WilliamShatner Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian fans and friends. My best, Bill
-William Shatner, Actor (”Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” “Boston Legal”)
@RachelleLefevre thank you all for your Canada day wishes! long live the red & white maple leaf!!
-Rachelle Lefevre, Actress (”Twilight,...
The American Twitter delegation was busy as well, though, with Diablo Cody contemplating a Billy Idol-ish makeover. Chiming in with advice was none other than Andy Milonakis. Click on downward and you’ll find their exchange, some “Twilight”-style vampire baseball for charity being played, and a tweet from Steven Spielberg’s to-do list in the Twitter-Wood report for July 1, 2009.
@WilliamShatner Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian fans and friends. My best, Bill
-William Shatner, Actor (”Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” “Boston Legal”)
@RachelleLefevre thank you all for your Canada day wishes! long live the red & white maple leaf!!
-Rachelle Lefevre, Actress (”Twilight,...
- 7/1/2009
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Movies Blog
Ira Glass, the host of Chicago Public Radio's critically-acclaimed This American Life, will be bringing a special live simulcast performance of his radio show to 400 movie screens on April 23rd. While the very idea of buying a ticket to watch a talk-heavy radio program -- in a movie theater no less -- sounds a little goofy, Glass's lineup for the show is intriguing.
The show, which will originate from Nyu's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, will follow the program's basic format, with Glass and his guests sharing stories that are connected by a central theme -- in this case, "Return to the Scene of the Crime." Glass previously presented a simulcast in 2008, about which he says, "The live cinema transmission was surprisingly effective. We were flooded with emails asking for us to do it again." And so they shall.
Along with show regulars Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia,...
The show, which will originate from Nyu's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, will follow the program's basic format, with Glass and his guests sharing stories that are connected by a central theme -- in this case, "Return to the Scene of the Crime." Glass previously presented a simulcast in 2008, about which he says, "The live cinema transmission was surprisingly effective. We were flooded with emails asking for us to do it again." And so they shall.
Along with show regulars Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia,...
- 3/9/2009
- by Dawn Taylor
- Cinematical
The shuffler: Book-publicist-turned-essayist Sloane Crosley, author of I Was Told There'd Be Cake, a collection of humorous pieces written in a droll, playfully sour voice that evokes the likes of David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, and David Rakoff. Her stories cover a range of subject matter from locking herself out of her Manhattan apartment to withstanding a stint as a bridesmaid. Bree Sharp, "David Duchovny" Sloane Crosley: This is an insane song that came out right around when The X-Files was really popular. I know this sounds like a weird thing to say if you're under the age of 80, but she's got a hell of a set of pipes. She's very extreme about her obsession with David Duchovny: "David Duchovny, why won't you love me? I'm going to kill Scully." I actually wasn't a X-Files fan, but I was a big Twin Peaks fan, so...
- 7/10/2008
- by Andy Battaglia
- avclub.com
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