Entertainment

1983 saw British-born Callender seated among the crowd at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for the 35th Emmy Awards, hosted by Joan Rivers and Eddie Murphy. The nomination for his adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby, which had aired in syndication across the U.S., was up against two popular ABC series. As the night wore on, every other nomination seemed to be defeated. So when it came to Best Miniseries, Callender had already resigned himself to the idea that either The Winds of War or The Thorn Birds starring Richard Chamberlain would take the prize. But astonishingly, against all expectations, Nickleby emerged victorious. “When they announced the winner, I was frozen in my seat,” Callender recalls. “My companion jabbed me and said, ‘They’ve just mentioned your name.’ I looked up in disbelief, still not fully realizing that we had won.” It was a surprising turn of events.

In the second season of ‘Severance’, Britt Lower tackled an intricate acting puzzle by playing two contrasting characters: Helena Eagan, the rigid heiress of Lumon corporation, and her rebellious counterpart, Helly R. It appears that Helly – a character with her own free will, sharp humor, strong relationships with colleagues in macrodata refinement – could have been the person Helena might have become if she hadn’t been molded by her father to inherit the family business. (Lower jokes about the name’s similarity to ‘hell’). In the climactic finale, directed by Ben Stiller and written by showrunner Dan Erickson, both Mark S. (Adam Scott) and Helly make dramatic decisions that will undoubtedly ignite more conflicts between Innies and Outies: After successfully freeing his wife, Gemma (Dichen Lachman), from captivity, Mark S. stays behind and holds hands with his red-haired lover as they traverse the divided floor. And Helly rallies another department against Lumon’s severed-worker policy, reminding everyone that they are treated like “machines” that can be controlled at the company’s whim. (“They give us half a life,” she snarls, “and think we won’t fight for it.”)

In “Severance,” the exact year it’s set isn’t specified. Instead, the series mixes old and new technology in an unusual way, featuring a high-tech procedure that separates personal and professional lives alongside antiquated devices like televisions, cars, and phones from various eras. However, Ben Stiller, the director and executive producer, occasionally provides hints about the show’s world, using songs as reference points. For example, he chose “Love Spreads” by The Stone Roses, a song from 1994, which might hold personal significance for him and the creators. Nevertheless, this choice doesn’t help pinpoint the show’s time period, just like the rest of the eclectic soundtrack that spans different genres and decades. The music selection, drawn mostly from Stiller’s Spotify playlist filled with songs he believes fit “Severance,” is somewhat random and not as straightforward as viewers might expect.

Titled “Seven Puzzling Inquiries,” this weekly analysis aims to break down the bewildering events from one of television’s most intricate series by focusing on the strangest, most perplexing, and crucial unanswered questions following the season-two finale, “Cold Harbor.” Expect a plethora of outlandish theories.

This week’s episode showcases Canada so strongly that it seems like an unintentional response to those promoting illogical anti-Canada viewpoints. While I leave it to Canadians themselves to evaluate the accuracy of the portrayal, from my perspective, it certainly presents Canada in a positive light.

While her husband was having a colonoscopy, Cass stayed behind and this provided an ideal moment for her to make Teddy ponder the boundaries of their relationship. There’s a noticeable chemistry between them, and it isn’t only due to Cass offering to help with Teddy’s workload. Teddy appears more carefree and unburdened in Cass’ presence — supported. Perhaps it’s because Cass is the one who seems to understand how tired she feels. Meanwhile, Owen seems preoccupied with thoughts of his old friend, Nora.

In the finale of “Severance,” creators Dan Erickson and Ben Stiller deliver an intriguing rebellion by the Innies that surprisingly originates within their own world. This captivating hour-and-a-half episode is packed with unexpected twists, enigmatic Lumon secrets, and visually stunning sequences that easily rank among the best the series has produced. If given the chance to watch it in a cinema format, I’d gladly attend not once but twice!

In this episode, the skillful execution stands out, with Amanda Marsalis at the helm for direction and Joe Sachs and R. Scott Gemmill penning the script. The fluidity with which Marsalis orchestrates the camera work, capturing every intricate detail – from the bustling ambulance bay to various medical stations, the cafeteria filled with anxious family members, and beyond – creates an intense, chaotic, yet smooth atmosphere that truly immerses you. By the time night shift attending Dr. Shen exclaims “When is this going to end?”, you can’t help but feel his exhaustion. From the very start, we are drawn into the doctors’ world, and it’s awe-inspiring to consider the immense effort required to make it all appear so effortless – previous episodes almost seem like rehearsals to demonstrate that something as complex as this could actually be achieved. And they manage to achieve it brilliantly.

The story begins at a large spiritual gathering led by Ann Hutchinson, affectionately called Sister Ann by her followers, portrayed by the talented Lesley Ann Warren. She is known for her healing abilities. After curing Greta’s bursitis and preparing to help Rodney with his gout, Rodney suddenly collapses. Chaos ensues as people around him faint, vomit, and even attempt dangerous stunts like scaling the massive cross on the building. The 118 team arrives swiftly, diagnosing a carbon monoxide leak and managing the situation as best they could. Unfortunately, Greta (now cured of her bursitis) is perched precariously on the weakening cross. Buck tries to persuade her down, but she believes he’s the devil. (“Ma’am, I’m not the devil, my name is Buck” might be the episode’s best line.) Even after Greta regains consciousness, she’s too frightened to take his hand – it’s only Sister Ann with a megaphone who can coax her down. Once everyone is safely away from the poisonous gas, Bobby and Ann share an acknowledging glance. It turns out that she isn’t just a faith healer; she’s also his long-lost mother!

The storyline revolved around a large celebration hosted by Ryan and Madison, with no specific purpose other than wrapping up the season. However, the main conflict leading to the finale stems from something Ryan allegedly told Venita about JT, which JT’s barber supposedly overheard. This controversy is tricky to resolve because none of us have witnessed the original conversation or any subsequent discussions. We don’t know what JT said to his barber, nor do we know if Ryan’s barber and JT’s barber are the same person or work at the same salon. In essence, it’s like trying to solve a game of broken telephone with an old Nokia Sidekick that doesn’t work.