Tag: Levinson

  • Did Sam Levinson Rip Off Another Director’s Aesthetic for ‘Euphoria’?

    Did Sam Levinson Rip Off Another Director’s Aesthetic for ‘Euphoria’?

    Writer-director Sam Levinson just can’t seem to evade controversy. The creator of The Idol and Euphoria made headlines earlier this year thanks to a viral Rolling Stone article detailing the behind-the-scenes chaos of The Idol‘s production, effectively making it one of the most talked about shows of the year before it even aired. In addition…

  • ‘The Idol’ Canceled at HBO After One Season

    ‘The Idol’ Canceled at HBO After One Season

    The World Class Sinner is heading to an early grave. “The Idol,” Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s controversial HBO drama, has been canceled after just one season, IndieWire has confirmed.“The Idol was one of HBO’s most provocative original programs, and we’re pleased by the strong audience response,” an HBO spokesperson said in a…

  • Sam Levinson, Drake, Questlove, and More Pay Tribute to Angus Cloud

    Sam Levinson, Drake, Questlove, and More Pay Tribute to Angus Cloud

    Hollywood is in shock over the sudden death of Angus Cloud. The breakout “Euphoria” actor died at age 25 following mental health struggles and drug addiction.HBO released a statement through the “Euphoria” Twitter handle, saying “We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part…

  • Sam Levinson Is Trying (but Failing) to Be This Director

    Sam Levinson Is Trying (but Failing) to Be This Director

    To great notoriety, The Idol on HBO ended before it even got started. The series, created by troubled show co-runner Sam Levinson, ended prematurely due to a story overhaul, but audiences and critics had already grown weary of the show’s tiring and gratuitous depictions of sexuality, notably regarding female characters. Clouding over the fraught creative…

  • ‘The Idol’ Was Never as Shocking as It Could’ve Been

    ‘The Idol’ Was Never as Shocking as It Could’ve Been

    Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for The Idol finale.Near the end of May, when the Cannes Film Festival was in full swing, Sam Levinson’s The Idol made its premiere. After his previous show, Euphoria, had come to a scattered close with many baffling creative decisions dragging it down, there was a general sense of…

  • ‘The Idol’: We Need More of Da’Vine Joy Randolph

    ‘The Idol’: We Need More of Da’Vine Joy Randolph

    Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The IdolSam Levinson’s The Idol might be doing just about everything else wrong, but one of the few things that it’s been able to nail on the head is Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s casting as Destiny, Jocelyn’s (Lily-Rose Depp) co-manager. Randolph has the rare and supreme ability to immediately…

  • ‘The Idol’: No, Sam Levinson, Intimacy Coordinators Are Not a Joke

    ‘The Idol’: No, Sam Levinson, Intimacy Coordinators Are Not a Joke

    Writer-director Sam Levinson has garnered a dubious reputation ever since Euphoria first premiered on HBO in 2019 and became the defining Gen Z teen drama of late, criticized for his objectification of young women. His latest series The Idol, its chaotic production, and provocative sexual content have brought these critiques to light again, especially considering…

  • What Did the Original Version of ‘The Idol’ Look Like?

    What Did the Original Version of ‘The Idol’ Look Like?

    HBO’s The Idol has become the most controversial show of the summer since it was first announced. The drama television series has garnered significant attention for its explicit content and provocative themes. Created by Sam Levinson, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, and Reza Fahim, the show revolves around an aspiring pop idol, Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose…

  • How Sam Levinson Oversexualizes and Victimizes His Female Characters

    How Sam Levinson Oversexualizes and Victimizes His Female Characters

    With Euphoria Season 3 delayed until at least 2025, writer-director Sam Levinson’s latest, and perhaps most controversial project, The Idol premiered on Max on Sunday, once again bringing to light criticisms about his treatment of his female characters. Many have taken issue with the excessive nudity and objectification of the canonically underage female characters in…

  • The Idol Review: The Series Might Be Insecure And Miscast, But Sam Levinson Is Still Making Vital Television

    The Idol Review: The Series Might Be Insecure And Miscast, But Sam Levinson Is Still Making Vital Television

    Sam Levinson’s work is not easy to write about. The writer and director has in the course of just a few, prolific years done what takes many other artists much longer. He’s gone from small productions to big ones, massively increased his budget cap, with this most recent project, “The Idol,” he’s been invited to…