The Studio is a show exclusively streaming on Apple TV+. It’s filmed in Los Angeles, mainly at Warner Brother Studios here in Burbank. After watching the first couple of episodes , I found myself in love with this show.
And I am not alone. Last month, The Studio took home thirteen Emmy Awards, breaking the record for the most Emmys won for a comedy series in a single season. A few of these awards included Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
This series follows Seth Rogen as Matt Remick, who finds himself as a studio head after his predecessor has been fired. He struggles to create the art he wants to produce via movies, and he simultaneously gains the validation he needs from his coworkers and critics.
The show features a star-studded cast that includes Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Bryan Cranston, Chase Sui Wonders and Catherine O’Hara. And even more famous stars are sprinkled throughout the episodes, all of whom play themselves, including Olivia Wilde, Martin Scorsese, Adam Scott, Anthony Mackie, Zac Efron, Quinta Brunson, Paul Dano and Charlize Theron!
Seth Rogen is arguably one of the best comedic voices in Hollywood, being involved with shows and movies like Freaks and Geeks, Superbad, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Many people who work in the industry love The Studio and think it’s incredibly accurate to the realities of working in Hollywood. But there’s another group of people who can’t watch the show for that very reason, because they think it’s too real.
One great example of this is in the second episode, “The Oner”. In an attempt to impress his coworkers, Matt Remick goes to the set of one of his studio’s movies and essentially ruins the whole production. They are attempting to shoot a “oner”, which is a single continuous shot of a scene, or entire film, with no cuts. (Ironically enough, the entire episode was also shot in one take!)
The Studio may have the best soundtrack for any series that I’ve ever heard. Some may think it’s over-the-top, but I feel that it’s perfect for the tone of this show. The jazzy feel of each melody contributes so much to each scene and its tension. During climactic scenes, the jazz goes to another level, and the series actually won two Emmy awards for Outstanding Music Supervision.
Another highlight of the show is the directing. Like the soundtrack, some may consider it too showy, but I think it helps make the series unique in its own fantastic way. When the camera whips around from actor-to-actor in a scene, it really helps you feel the tension in each moment.
Overall, The Studio is a great show, and all of its eccentricities make it interesting. You should definitely give it a chance if you wanna try your luck at a show that’s quite different from the norm!
