’The Morning Show’ (Season 3)

And so to season three of the high quality American newsroom-based series with more than a threat to the independence of the delivery of that news.

The If it works, why fix it? approach is very much in evidence with season three as network CEO Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) continues to manipulate and power broke behind the scenes whilst the internecine struggles on the floors below continue with Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) centre stage. Only there are significant changes with Witherspoon, in terms of screen time if not impact of storyline, less apparent. And then there’s the high level fallout from the leak of all the personal data highlighting the racial division and discrimination at UBA to deal with.

As well as the reveal in variations in salary packages, one immediate outcome is the profiling of the affair between Jackson and Laura Peterson (Julianna Marguiles), Levy’s temporary replacement in season two. It’s this that results in less screen time for Witherspoon, the two women chosing to slip away to Montana and keep a low profile. But work is never far away and the two are compromised by family issues and the White House riot seriously impacting on Jackson’s professionalism – brother Hal (Joe Tippett) having been filmed by Jackson herself assaulting a security officer.

Back in New York, Ellison needs a huge injection of cash to prevent bankruptcy – and billionaire entrepreneur Paul Marks (Jon Hamm) is the target as a possible buyout from Cybil Richards (Holland Taylor) and the less than enthusiastic board. Cue a hugely reluctant Alex Levy as the star name to travel to Texas and generally charm Marks. It’s the main season three plotline that ebbs and flows throughout the 10 episodes as that suspicion of each other gradually gives way to something more personal. Levy sees it as her opportunity to get a place on the board whilst there’s plenty of power games being played out: Ellison’s position is not helped by the mutual dislike between him and Marks and his animosity with the board, Leonard Cromwell (Stephen Fry) in particular.

But The Morning Show interweaves personal and professional stories of other members of the team – with the cool and sassy Stella Bak (Greta Lee), president of UBA’s news division, carrying baggage from her knowledge of Marks. To divulge or take the billions of dollars is no easy decision, particularly when there are thousands of jobs at stake. One of those jobs is producer of Levy’s program, Mia Jordan (Karen Pittman), who, ever present in the three seasons, is given more of her own story – a professional woman who has given up affairs of the heart to focus on her career. News photographer Andre Ford (Clive Standen) is her secret lover but Mia has just sent him into a highly dangerous job in the Ukraine.

It’s the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the White House riots and the overturning of the Roe vs. Wade abortion laws that form the (real) news behind the scenes, providing much needed grounding for what is a superior but wholly engrossing soap opera melodrama. Bring on season 4.

Rating: 68%

’The Truman Show’

An affecting, sardonic satire as reality television is taken to the extreme. Huge audience numbers around the globe tune in 24/7 to the real time life of Truman Burbank, born in captivity and unaware of his TV status.

A pastel-hued environment for the kind-hearted insurance salesman Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) as he lives his day-to-day with wife Meryl (Laura Linney). Witnessing the death of his father in a storm out to sea as a child has left Truman with a morbid fear of water and leaving the island on which he lives. Only none of it is true as hundreds of hidden cameras record every moment, watched over by Christof (Ed Harris), the God-like producer. But after more than 30 years, occasional equipment malfunction with strange outcomes leaves Truman initially confused and then somewhat suspicious.

Genteel and gentle, The Truman Show is a clever and smart commentary on the fascination of reality television and voyeurism. Carey, held in check, is unusually controlled as director Peter Weir allows the narrative unfold seemingly, like the TV show we are part of, in real time.

Nominated for 3 Oscars in 1999 – best director, supporting actor, original script

Rating: 74%

Director: Peter Weir (The Way Back, Witness)

Writer: Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, The Terminal)

Main cast: Jim Carrey (The Mask, The Number 23), Laura Linney (Kinsey, Nocturnal Animals), Ed Harris (Pollock, The Lost Daughter)

‘The Chair’

At the prestigious American university of (fictional) Pembroke, has the first female Chair of English (Sandra Oh) been appointed to carry the blame for a failing department? Or does it reflect forward thinking by Dean Paul Larson (David Morse)?

The six-part dramedy should be a celebration for Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim. Instead, it’s a battle of putting out fires both in the faculty and at home. Single mom Kim is dealing with a precocious adopted daughter who is also non-Korean, much to the chagrin of Kim’s father. And then there’s the brilliant but wayward Bill (Jay Duplass), erstwhile lover and acclaimed English lecturer who finds himself at the centre of a student body tailspin in relation to fascism and pro-Nazi sympathies. Not the best baptism for a new Chair who looks to promoting diversity within the department.

There’s a great deal of charm to The Chair with the immensely likeable Sandra Oh at its centre as she looks to bring in the new (tenure for the hugely popular Nana Mensah) and deal with the old (Bob Balaban – a professor who hasn’t changed content or delivery of his lectures in 30 years). It’s also, with its snappy dialogue, at times very funny. But, within its six 30 minute episodes, The Chair is overly stretched and outstays its welcome. An indecisive Kim deals with nothing: if anything, she adds to the problems facing her. The result is a somewhat superficial and shallow, if breezy and readily accessible, entertainment.

Rating: 58%

‘Legally Blonde’

A guilty pleasure, a lightweight popcorn comedy predictable in every way. Yet director Robert Luketic’s film is engaging and feelgood fun.

Dumped by boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis) on the night she expected a proposal, Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) sets out to prove she’s no archetype dumb-blonde. Much to the surprise of the wealthy LA beach-set of family and friends, Elle decides its Harvard for her and the place to win Warner back.

The dizzie blonde routine out to prove otherwise works perfectly in Legally Blonde as the pink-clad Californian upends the uptight east coasters. And with the tacit support of teaching professor Emmett (Luke Wilson), she makes a considerable name for herself in college and court.

It’s fun, it’s silly – with a wonderful comedic supporting role by Jennifer Coolidge – yet warmhearted and humane.

Rating: 60%

Director: Robert Luketic (The Ugly Truth, Monster-in-Law)

Writer: Karen McCullah (10 Things I Hate About You, The Ugly Truth), Kirsten Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, The Ugly Truth) – based on the novel by Amanda Brown

Main cast: Reese Witherspoon (Wild, Walk the Line), Luke Wilson (The Goldfinch, The Royal Tenenbaums), Selma Blair (Hellboy, Cruel Intentions)

‘Hollywood’

A feelgood joy for the current times. In revisiting Hollywood circa 1948, creator Ryan Murphy looks to the ‘what if?’ question. What if a woman (Broadway star Patti Lupone) inherits the running of a studio? What if the first script by a young gay black writer (Jeremy Pope), the public boyfriend of new-to-Hollywood Rock Hudson (Jake Picking), gets greenlit? What if the lead of that same film – Meg – is an emerging black actress (Laura Harrier)?

Hold on to your hats – it’s a seven episode fun ride with its unabashed theatricality and heartfelt compassion for outsiders. OK – so it (more than) glosses over the social issues of 1940s America (much of which has not changed). But that’s not Ryan’s oeuvre. This is mostly candy-coloured, high camp fantasy with a few real-life characters (Rock Hudson, Vivienne Leigh, agent Henry Willson et al) to anchor the narrative.

Rating: 76%