In a category long dominated by anti-heroes — from James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano to Bryan Cranston’s Walter White — a good guy is poised to take the trophy this year. There are some villains in the mix, of course — we’re looking at you, “Westworld” — but the momentum resides with two of TV’s most emotional men, who wear their hearts on their sleeves. Brown and Rhys both play husbands and fathers who will do anything for those they love, though Rhys admittedly takes it to the extreme.
The Case for Sterling K. Brown
The reigning champion for his work on the first season of “This Is Us,” Brown has become a familiar presence on the Emmy stage — he also claimed a statue for “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” where he embodied Chris Darden, standing out amid a sea of A-list co-stars. The twin trophies are a...
The Case for Sterling K. Brown
The reigning champion for his work on the first season of “This Is Us,” Brown has become a familiar presence on the Emmy stage — he also claimed a statue for “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson,” where he embodied Chris Darden, standing out amid a sea of A-list co-stars. The twin trophies are a...
- 8/2/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
This year, we've asked 10 writers to pick some of their favorite TV episodes from 2017 and weigh in on why they were great stand-alone eps and the highlights of our viewing year. First up: Sean T. Collins on Girls' "American Bitch."
When 2017 lies dead and buried in the ground, "Separate the art from the artist" will be chiseled on its tombstone. But what will we find in the grave?
If it's the idea that creators are shielded from scrutiny by the strength of their creations, then goodbye and good riddance.
When 2017 lies dead and buried in the ground, "Separate the art from the artist" will be chiseled on its tombstone. But what will we find in the grave?
If it's the idea that creators are shielded from scrutiny by the strength of their creations, then goodbye and good riddance.
- 12/11/2017
- Rollingstone.com
Lena Dunham’s “Girls” didn’t go quietly into the night in its six and final season. Dunham and producing partner Jenni Konner continued to push the creative boundaries of the half-hour “comedy” format. One of their most impressive endeavors was “American Bitch” which was written by Dunham and directed by series veteran Richard Shepard (“The Matador,” “Dom Hemingway”).
The season’s third episode finds Hannah (Dunham) agreeing to meet a noted author Chuck Palmer (a fantastic Matthew Rhys) after she’s published a story with allegations that he coerced college students into having sex with him.
Continue reading ‘Girls’: Richard Shepard On That Shocking Moment From ‘American Bitch’ That Wasn’t In The Script [Emmy Interview] at The Playlist.
The season’s third episode finds Hannah (Dunham) agreeing to meet a noted author Chuck Palmer (a fantastic Matthew Rhys) after she’s published a story with allegations that he coerced college students into having sex with him.
Continue reading ‘Girls’: Richard Shepard On That Shocking Moment From ‘American Bitch’ That Wasn’t In The Script [Emmy Interview] at The Playlist.
- 6/22/2017
- by Gregory Ellwood
- The Playlist
Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys) The girls of “Girls’ get entangled with plenty of repulsive, bad guys, but it would be hard to find someone as genuinely disgusting as this famous author who gets off on sexually harassing and assaulting his young female fans – and Hannah, in one unfortunate afternoon. Charlie Dattolo (Christopher Abbott) He was either super bland and emotionally manipulative or a shady heroin addict, there was no in-between for Marnie’s Season 1 boyfriend who reappeared in a memorable episode in Season 5. Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) Marnie’s taste in men were truly deplorable because she went from Charlie to marrying Desi,...
- 4/16/2017
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
There was a lot to love about Girls Season 6 Episode 6, but I was particularly thrilled with the long overdue confrontations between Hannah and (separately) Jessa and Adam.
In other good news, Elijah may have finally found an actual storyline!
"Full Disclosure" was a fitting title on two levels. On a surface level, it's the title of Adam's movie about his relationship with Hannah, a movie which is increasingly becoming important in the lives and character arcs of Adam, Jessa, and now Hannah.
But beyond that, "Full Disclosure" was relevant because it's literally what Hannah did – she fully disclosed the status of her pregnancy (and the fact that she's keeping the baby) to nearly all of the most important characters on the show, including her dad (and his partner Keith), Marnie, Adam, and Jessa.
At this point, the only two main characters who probably don't know are Ray and Shoshanna...
In other good news, Elijah may have finally found an actual storyline!
"Full Disclosure" was a fitting title on two levels. On a surface level, it's the title of Adam's movie about his relationship with Hannah, a movie which is increasingly becoming important in the lives and character arcs of Adam, Jessa, and now Hannah.
But beyond that, "Full Disclosure" was relevant because it's literally what Hannah did – she fully disclosed the status of her pregnancy (and the fact that she's keeping the baby) to nearly all of the most important characters on the show, including her dad (and his partner Keith), Marnie, Adam, and Jessa.
At this point, the only two main characters who probably don't know are Ray and Shoshanna...
- 3/20/2017
- by Caralynn Lippo
- TVfanatic
Keri Russell revealed how boyfriend Matthew Rhys told her about his Nsfw scene with Lena Dunham on this season of Girls.
In the stand-alone episode, author Chuck Palmer (Rhys) exposes himself to Hannah Horvath (Dunham) while the two are lying awkwardly on his bed. This comes after they have a spirited discussion about the women who have spoken out claiming that Chuck had sexually assaulted them.
Exclusive: Girls Star Andrew Rannells Opens Up About Lena Dunham's Battle Against Body Shaming
While on Thursday's Late Night With Seth Meyers, Russell admitted that she had a lot of questions about Rhys' guest appearance on the HBO show. "He said he was gonna do that and I was like, 'Who are you sleeping with?' Like, 'Who do you have sex with on the show?'" the 40-year-old actress recalled. "And he was like, 'Well, it's not quite like that.'"
Russell also recounted that Rhys had reservations about the...
In the stand-alone episode, author Chuck Palmer (Rhys) exposes himself to Hannah Horvath (Dunham) while the two are lying awkwardly on his bed. This comes after they have a spirited discussion about the women who have spoken out claiming that Chuck had sexually assaulted them.
Exclusive: Girls Star Andrew Rannells Opens Up About Lena Dunham's Battle Against Body Shaming
While on Thursday's Late Night With Seth Meyers, Russell admitted that she had a lot of questions about Rhys' guest appearance on the HBO show. "He said he was gonna do that and I was like, 'Who are you sleeping with?' Like, 'Who do you have sex with on the show?'" the 40-year-old actress recalled. "And he was like, 'Well, it's not quite like that.'"
Russell also recounted that Rhys had reservations about the...
- 3/16/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
The Performer | Reese Witherspoon
The Show | Big Little Lies
The Episode | “Serious Mothering” (Feb. 26, 2017)
The Performance | Oh, how we’ve missed this Reese Witherspoon. The living and breathing firecracker from the Election/Legally Blonde era who would toggle from bitchy to emboldened to entitled to vulnerable in the span of seconds. The one who could deliver a well-crafted one-liner with Bette Davis-like precision before melting your heart with a simple glance.
Luckily, with HBO’s Big Little Lies, the Oscar winner has triumphantly returned to her darkly comedic wheelhouse, and that was especially so with Sunday’s second episode.
The Show | Big Little Lies
The Episode | “Serious Mothering” (Feb. 26, 2017)
The Performance | Oh, how we’ve missed this Reese Witherspoon. The living and breathing firecracker from the Election/Legally Blonde era who would toggle from bitchy to emboldened to entitled to vulnerable in the span of seconds. The one who could deliver a well-crafted one-liner with Bette Davis-like precision before melting your heart with a simple glance.
Luckily, with HBO’s Big Little Lies, the Oscar winner has triumphantly returned to her darkly comedic wheelhouse, and that was especially so with Sunday’s second episode.
- 3/4/2017
- TVLine.com
Joe Matar Feb 27, 2017
Girls season 6 tackles another bottle episode in easily its best instalment so far this run...
This review contains spoilers.
See related Netflix investing $50m in Bong Joon-ho’s monster film, Okja
6.3 American Bitch
Well, well, it’s another Girls bottle episode about Hannah in a house with a dude. This certainly invites comparisons to season two’s One Man’s Trash, but they’re not actually all that similar. The season premiere—with its hazy, too-positive, sex-filled surreality (that subsequently comes crashing back to reality) was far more Trash-like. Though this one is more contained, the tone is sober almost throughout, with the plot focused on a discussion between Hannah and a successful author, Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys), about a scathing article she wrote about him. It’s less like One Man’s Trash and more like My Dinner With Andre.
American Bitch feels like it’s...
Girls season 6 tackles another bottle episode in easily its best instalment so far this run...
This review contains spoilers.
See related Netflix investing $50m in Bong Joon-ho’s monster film, Okja
6.3 American Bitch
Well, well, it’s another Girls bottle episode about Hannah in a house with a dude. This certainly invites comparisons to season two’s One Man’s Trash, but they’re not actually all that similar. The season premiere—with its hazy, too-positive, sex-filled surreality (that subsequently comes crashing back to reality) was far more Trash-like. Though this one is more contained, the tone is sober almost throughout, with the plot focused on a discussion between Hannah and a successful author, Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys), about a scathing article she wrote about him. It’s less like One Man’s Trash and more like My Dinner With Andre.
American Bitch feels like it’s...
- 2/27/2017
- Den of Geek
In its final season, Girls doesn't seem to be slowing down at all with its string of incredibly strong installments.
Girls Season 6 Episode 3 was a tour de force, another of the show's brilliant "bottle episodes" constrained to one character and one location. It tackled the topics of sexual assault and sexism.
"American Bitch" was buoyed by great writing, great direction, and stunning performances by both Lena Dunham and guest star Matthew Rhys.
The concept and set-up of this half-hour was deceptively simple.
Hannah, after writing a takedown piece of author Chuck Palmer (a former literary hero of hers) for a "small feminist blog," was invited by Palmer himself to his apartment. He was hoping that they could hash out the allegations, and, clearly, he wanted to "prove" to her that they were untrue.
Of course, what actually happened was much, much darker and more complex, but that was the beauty...
Girls Season 6 Episode 3 was a tour de force, another of the show's brilliant "bottle episodes" constrained to one character and one location. It tackled the topics of sexual assault and sexism.
"American Bitch" was buoyed by great writing, great direction, and stunning performances by both Lena Dunham and guest star Matthew Rhys.
The concept and set-up of this half-hour was deceptively simple.
Hannah, after writing a takedown piece of author Chuck Palmer (a former literary hero of hers) for a "small feminist blog," was invited by Palmer himself to his apartment. He was hoping that they could hash out the allegations, and, clearly, he wanted to "prove" to her that they were untrue.
Of course, what actually happened was much, much darker and more complex, but that was the beauty...
- 2/27/2017
- by Caralynn Lippo
- TVfanatic
One of the traditions of Girls has been to take one of the girls, in this case Hannah Horvath, and transplant them into a situation, usually a single one, for an entire episode. In "American Bitch," Hannah (Lena Dunham) was summoned to the apartment of famous writer Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys) and the two spent the day together discussing sexual assault and fame after Hannah penned an essay about the writer based on another girl's Tumblr post about her time with him. The tension between Hannah and Chuck was palpable from the moment she stepped into his eye line. What followed was a sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes eye roll-inducing episode where it felt like anything could happen. And it did. As the two...
- 2/24/2017
- E! Online
Last Week’S Review: ‘Hostage Situation’ Has A Horror Movie Premise
[Editor’s note: Major spoilers for “Girls” Season 6, Episode 3, “American Bitch” follow. The episode airs Sunday, February 26 on HBO, but is now available to stream via HBO Now and HBO Go.]
Love Her or Hate Her
Love her. If there were ever an episode of “Girls” that Lena Dunham was meant to write, this is it. At first glance the bottle episode seems to be a throwback to the second season’s “One Man’s Trash,” thanks to the set-up, but it quickly veers into much different territory. Hannah visits famed author Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys) in his fancy New York apartment to discuss an article she wrote about him and the four women who accused him of sexual abuse.
“American Bitch” then delves into a considerate and in-depth conversation about consent, what it means, “grey areas” and a slew of other insightful thoughts surrounding the subject matter. It’s a timely offering featuring a more adult version of Hannah than we’ve ever seen before from “Girls.” Sure,...
[Editor’s note: Major spoilers for “Girls” Season 6, Episode 3, “American Bitch” follow. The episode airs Sunday, February 26 on HBO, but is now available to stream via HBO Now and HBO Go.]
Love Her or Hate Her
Love her. If there were ever an episode of “Girls” that Lena Dunham was meant to write, this is it. At first glance the bottle episode seems to be a throwback to the second season’s “One Man’s Trash,” thanks to the set-up, but it quickly veers into much different territory. Hannah visits famed author Chuck Palmer (Matthew Rhys) in his fancy New York apartment to discuss an article she wrote about him and the four women who accused him of sexual abuse.
“American Bitch” then delves into a considerate and in-depth conversation about consent, what it means, “grey areas” and a slew of other insightful thoughts surrounding the subject matter. It’s a timely offering featuring a more adult version of Hannah than we’ve ever seen before from “Girls.” Sure,...
- 2/24/2017
- by Amber Dowling
- Indiewire
[Editor’s note: Major spoilers for “Girls” Season 6, Episode 3, “American Bitch” follow. The episode airs Sunday, February 26 on HBO, but is now available to stream via HBO Now and HBO Go.]
When you ask Richard Shepard how he feels about directing episodes of “Girls” — specifically episodes like “American Bitch” — the word he uses is “lucky.” (More than once.) The Emmy-winning director has been a regular in the rotation of “Girls” directors, most notably being the helmer of choice for the show’s “bottle episodes” — relatively self-contained installments focusing on just one of the titular girls for an entire half-hour.
Read More: ‘Girls’ Review: Lena Dunham and Matthew Rhys Battle Over Consent in ‘American Bitch’
“The bottle episodes are extremely challenging and also extremely fun because you get to spend all this direct time with the actors and the characters,” he told IndieWire via phone. “And you get to shift the cinematic style a little bit because of the nature of whatever it is. We do things that had not been done on the show before.”
As one example, Shepard mentioned “The Panic in Central Park,...
When you ask Richard Shepard how he feels about directing episodes of “Girls” — specifically episodes like “American Bitch” — the word he uses is “lucky.” (More than once.) The Emmy-winning director has been a regular in the rotation of “Girls” directors, most notably being the helmer of choice for the show’s “bottle episodes” — relatively self-contained installments focusing on just one of the titular girls for an entire half-hour.
Read More: ‘Girls’ Review: Lena Dunham and Matthew Rhys Battle Over Consent in ‘American Bitch’
“The bottle episodes are extremely challenging and also extremely fun because you get to spend all this direct time with the actors and the characters,” he told IndieWire via phone. “And you get to shift the cinematic style a little bit because of the nature of whatever it is. We do things that had not been done on the show before.”
As one example, Shepard mentioned “The Panic in Central Park,...
- 2/24/2017
- by Liz Shannon Miller
- Indiewire
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