This extraordinary piece by Rachel Aviv concludes with a remark by the filmmaker Azadeh Masihzadeh that's among the most discerning and decisive of film- critical judgments: "I think he is making films for other people. He doesn’t make films for himself." newyorker.com/magazine/2022/…

In which Randall Park, of The Interview and Fresh Off the Boat fame, talks to amanda m whiting about his journey from Starbucks employee to star of a new Netflix sitcom about the last Blockbuster store on earth. independent.co.uk/arts-entertain…

Joan Didion’s in the details: The author’s estate sale turned me into a literary voyeur independent.co.uk/life-style/joa…

I wrote about my search for Joan Didion in the things she owned – and the ways she surprised me

“It’s laaaaaaaundry time” on Welcome to Chippendales. Let’s watch together! vulture.com/article/welcom…

My brilliant friend s3

J.M. Coetzee published a new novel in August — but only in Spanish translation. My latest for the The New Yorker on the greatest living English-language's novelist's campaign against the English language itself: newyorker.com/books/page-tur…

the best movie or tv show about strippers is the Zola trailer

It was Vulture recaps's biggest year ever, covering 172+ series and nearly 1,600 individual recaps. Huge props to my editing partners Nic Juarez and James Grebey, and of course to our dozens of amazing freelance recappers, the lifeblood of this operation vulture.com/article/most-r…

#1923 recap: An episode dedicated to love but with an ugly bloodbath thrown in for good measure. amanda m whiting writes trib.al/nBp6Isb

"The music was fun and kind of timeless because it captured a moment of the Noughties. That's what I'm most proud of." I spoke to Cheryl about her West End debut, The X Factor and of course Girls Aloud for The Independent independent.co.uk/arts-entertain…

"She knew better than most that the only thing scarier than writing about oneself is letting someone else wrest control of the narrative." lithub.com/how-janet-malc…

Out in print today: My NYT Magazine profile of the brilliant novelist 川上未映子 Mieko Kawakami. nyti.ms/3I7bfDh

#1923's Brandon Sklenar talks Spencer Dutton: “He’s in the worst place we’ve ever seen him.” amanda m whiting reports trib.al/OvhoYwu

The violent condition of pregnancy and Kim Kardashian: two things that are perfect for AHS. trib.al/G9KOaj5

It’s been a minute, but I’m back to watching TV and then thinking about it obsessively

Netflix should give Chrishell a Christmas movie

The Buccaneers is like if Dickinson and One Tree Hill had a baby that grew up on Wet Leg. Which is to say, you should all be watching it.