Katey Rich

1 week ago | theankler.com | Katey Rich

Before I dive in today,a quick congratulations to Nate Bargatze — but even more so to the Television Academy, which successfully hired the world’s best-selling stand-up comedian to host September’s Emmy Awards. Bargatze, with his pointedly apolitical and family-friendly comedy, is a good fit for the awards show that’s been leaning into nostalgia and everybody-gather-round-the-TV populism in recent years.

1 week ago | theankler.com | Katey Rich

Andrew Ahn wasn’t so sure at first that he could make a career out of gay and Asian films. Sure, his 2016 debut feature Spa Night — a coming-of-age drama about a closeted Korean-American teenager — was a Sundance success and a Spirit Award winner. But Ahn was breaking into independent film just as it was starting to feel harder to get anything made, particularly the kind of stories he wanted to tell.

1 week ago | theankler.com | Katey Rich

With apologies toSean McNulty, who is usually the Ankler’s sole correspondent to the world of sports, I’d like to start this newsletter by talking about The Masters. I promise this is a one-time digression, and that my knowledge of golf is exactly as limited as you might imagine.

2 weeks ago | theankler.com | Katey Rich

This just in: Oscar thriller! As this newsletter was being prepped for publication, the Academy announced the welcome ‚ÄĒ and overdue ‚ÄĒ news that a category for stunt design will be added for the 100th ceremony in 2028. I‚Äôll have more on this decision in Monday‚Äôs newsletter, and how it could be a victory for Oscar diehards, Tom Cruise, industry rabble-rousers, and ratings obsessives alike.

2 weeks ago | theankler.com | Katey Rich

Warning: This post — and podcast — contain spoilers if you haven’t finished The White Lotus’ third season. (Hi Janice!)“I’ve emerged from the bubble,” says Jason Isaacs, barely 24 hours after The White Lotus finale aired and revealed that, after a season’s worth of suicidal ideation, his character returns home from Thailand alive.