Alison Herman
@aherman2006.bsky.social
tv critic at variety. aherman at variety dot com
bret easton ellis' THE SHARDS is my favorite novel of the decade. the ryan murphy adaptation completely mangles it: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
FX’s Adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ ‘The Shards’ Can’t Be Saved by a Strong Lead Performance: TV Review
The FX adaptation of the hit Bret Easton Ellis novel 'The Shards' is an unworthy effort by power producer Ryan Murphy aside from star Igby Rigney.
variety.com
I don't mind TED LASSO rebooting itself with a new concept and cast members. the problem is that season 4 gets bogged down by baggage (like a yawn-inducing will-they-won't-they) it's better leaving in the past: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4 Is Both a Promising Reboot and a Tedious Sequel: TV Review
The fourth season of the hit Apple TV soccer sitcom 'Ted Lasso' returns Jason Sudeikis' coach to Richmond, but works best as a full reboot.
variety.com
I fear my expectations for elizabeth meriwether shows may have been unsustainably inflated by THE DROPOUT and DYING FOR SEX but damn if the cast of FURIOUS (lola petticrew! steve way!) doesn't take the crime drama to the next level: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Emmy Rossum Crime Drama ‘Furious’ Elevates Trauma Tropes Through Strong Performances: TV Review
'New Girl' creator Elizabeth Meriwether adapts 'Black Widow' into crime drama 'Furious', starring Emmy Rossum as a traumatized FBI agent.
variety.com
the AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER movie made this nostalgic millennial very happy — even if most people can't see it in theaters: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘Avatar’ Sequel Film ‘Aang: The Last Airbender’ Revives the Animated Franchise With Breathtaking Visuals: TV Review
The sequel film to the beloved animated series 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' brings breathtaking visuals to Paramount+.
variety.com
lena directing the pilot....zosia coming in for the final season.....a voice of a generation confirmed variety.com/2026/tv/news...
‘Industry’ Season 5 Casts Zosia Mamet
Zosia Mamet has joined the upcoming fifth season of "Industry" at HBO, Variety has learned.
variety.com
glad to have the dome back but flipping my beloved three-trailers-max, in-person-no-phone-warning, will-physically-bar-you-from-entering-10-minutes-after-showtime arclight into a miasma of app-ordered burger fumes is low key devastating variety.com/2026/film/ne...
The Cinerama Dome Lives! Iconic Hollywood Theater to Reopen Alongside New 14-Screen Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Viva la Cinerama Dome! Sony is officially reviving one of Hollywood's most beloved movie theaters, which has been shuttered since 2020.
variety.com
entering and exiting the hollywood & highland shopping center is truly hell on earth which makes seeing THE ODYSSEY at the chinese theater a 4D immersive experience
takeaway from my umpteenth rewatch of tenet is that DR. CASSIE MCKAY IS IN IT
THE FIVE-STAR WEEKEND: finally, a show about (mostly) rich women that doesn't need ~*murder*~ to get us to care about their inner lives!! variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Jennifer Garner’s Beachy Series ‘The Five-Star Weekend’ Has Big Names and Refreshingly Modest Stakes: TV Review
Elin Hilderbrand adaptation 'The Five-Star Weekend', a Peacock limited series starring Jennifer Garner, has refreshingly grounded stakes.
variety.com
did not expect a long-overdue conversation about instagram-based food media and body image to be started by john early in drag but hey here we are! MADDIE'S SECRET: run don't walk
the best tv shows of 2026 so far, according to me and my co-critic aramide tinubu!! variety.com/lists/best-t...
The Best TV Shows of 2026 (So Far)
Variety's TV critics select the 20 best shows of 2026 so far, from Star City to Widow's Bay.
variety.com
if you think of ELLE as a remake of LEGALLY BLONDE for the SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY crowd instead of a prequel, it's pretty good – with some caveats: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series ‘Elle’ Is Often Well-Executed, if Mostly a Rehash: TV Review
The Amazon Prime Video series 'Elle', a 'Legally Blonde' prequel starring Lexi Minetree, is a well-executed rehash of the beloved classic.
variety.com
I reviewed the new louis ck netflix special, which cements his return to the mainstream nine years after admitting to serial sexual harassment. his talent hasn't changed. what we know and feel about him has — though evidently, not that much: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Louis C.K. Re-Enters the Mainstream With Caustic Netflix Special ‘Ridiculous’: TV Review
Louis C.K.'s Netflix special 'Ridiculous', his first on the streaming service since his sexual misconduct emerged in 2017, is a caustic comeback.
variety.com
THE INVITE is the first time in ages I’ve felt like sundance hype held up in the real world. remember FAIR PLAY??
type of guy whose main problem with the bear finale is its flagrant misrepresentation of the michelin star system
watching THE INVITE on an empty stomach really drives home that it's supposed to be a dinner party but they *barely* even eat!!! no wonder it went down like that, I would've strangled my spouse with my bare hands
THE BEAR's final season takes place over a single service, á la THE PITT. is the structure a gimmick, or does it give the beleaguered show much-needed structure and focus? well....yes: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘The Bear’ Ends Its Run With Renewed Focus, but Not Quite Redemption: TV Review
Season 5 of the FX's 'The Bear' ends the once-acclaimed, since-diminished kitchen drama with renewed focus and a real-time gimmick.
variety.com
larry david's new sketch show is basically CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM in period drag — complete with some of the same bits: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Larry David’s Obama-Produced Sketch Show ‘Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ Puts ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ in Period Drag: TV Review
Larry David's HBO sketch show 'Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness', executive produced by the Obamas, puts 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' in the past.
variety.com
I interviewed MATTHEW RHYS about WIDOW'S BAY!! variety.com/2026/tv/news...
‘Widow’s Bay’ Star Matthew Rhys on That Devastating Finale Reveal and Grilling Creator Katie Dippold About Season 2: ‘What’s Gonna Happen?!?!”
'Widow's Bay' star Matthew Rhys unpacks the Season 1 finale of the hit Apple TV horror-comedy.
variety.com
I interviewed MATTHEW RHYS about WIDOW'S BAY!! variety.com/2026/tv/news...
‘Widow’s Bay’ Star Matthew Rhys on That Devastating Finale Reveal and Grilling Creator Katie Dippold About Season 2: ‘What’s Gonna Happen?!?!”
'Widow's Bay' star Matthew Rhys unpacks the Season 1 finale of the hit Apple TV horror-comedy.
variety.com
it's too bad CRAZY RICH ASIANS never got a sequel — but at least we have THE SEASON, a silly soap set in hong kong that scratches the same escapist itch: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Juicy Hong Kong Hulu Drama ‘The Season’ Is a Spiritual Successor to ‘Crazy Rich Asians’: TV Review
Hulu's juicy Hong Kong-set drama 'The Season' is the spiritual sequel 'Crazy Rich Asians' never got.
variety.com
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON finally has more blockbuster action in season 3 — but that's not its most promising development, imo: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘House of the Dragon’ Cranks Up the Action in a Less Sleepy Season 3: TV Review
Season 3 of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' prequel drama 'House of the Dragon' cranks up the action after a relatively sleepy sophomore effort.
variety.com
hulu "wrong-com" ALICE AND STEVE may underbake the central may-december romance — but nicola walker's powerhouse performance (and platonic chemistry with jemaine clement) make the whole thing worthwhile: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Jemaine Clement and Nicola Walker Are Hilarious as Best Friends at War in Hulu’s ‘Wrong-Com’ ‘Alice and Steve’: TV Review
Hulu's 'wrong-com' 'Alice and Steve' stars Jemaine Clement and Nicola Walker as a hilarious pair of best friends on the war path.
variety.com
THE VAMPIRE LESTAT is real sicko shit (complimentary). this one goes out to the beautiful unwell!! variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘Interview With the Vampire’ Transforms Into ‘The Vampire Lestat’ for a Gloriously Glam Season 3: TV Review
AMC's 'Interview With the Vampire' transforms itself for Season 3 into the gloriously glam rock musical 'The Vampire Lestat'.
variety.com
THE VAMPIRE LESTAT is real sicko shit (complimentary). this one goes out to the beautiful unwell!! variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
‘Interview With the Vampire’ Transforms Into ‘The Vampire Lestat’ for a Gloriously Glam Season 3: TV Review
AMC's 'Interview With the Vampire' transforms itself for Season 3 into the gloriously glam rock musical 'The Vampire Lestat'.
variety.com
me after securing tickets for christopher nolan's the odyssey (2026)
going directly from BACKROOMS to a mall parking garage feels like experiential marketing
mindy kaling's latest NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK is a bland take on the FRIENDS-style sitcom with occasional glimpses of something sharper: variety.com/2026/tv/revi...
Mindy Kaling’s ‘Not Suitable for Work’ Is a Bland ‘Friends’ Copycat With Hints of a Sharper Show: TV Review
Mindy Kaling's Hulu comedy 'Not Suitable for Work' is a bland 'Friends' copycat with glimpses of a sharper show.
variety.com
