Steve Pond's Blog, page 18

Jimmy Kimmel Mock’s Trump’s ‘Ridiculous’ NYT Lawsuit: ‘One of the Funniest Legal Documents I’ve Ever Seen’ | Video

Jimmy Kimmel confidently declared that Donald Trump is going to lose his lawsuit against the New York Times during his monologue on Tuesday, if only because it is so “ridiculous.” In fact, the lawsuit “is one of the funniest legal documents I’ve ever seen,” the ABC host said.

If you’re catching up, early Tuesday, Trump filed a libel lawsuit against NYT for $15 billion, but if you read the complaint it’s clear the “libel” in this case is just means unfavorable coverage. Experts and critics are ridiculing it, even as they also warn it’s a brazen attack on America’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech.

“15 billion,” Kimmel mused. “Where does he even come up? These are like numbers my children make up when they’re talking about money. I thought he said the New York Times was failing? He thinks they have 15 billion dollars? How much would he sue for if he thought they were doing well?”

Kimmel then quoted directly from Trump’s announcement of the lawsuit, and noted that it was filed in Florida. “Uh oh. And will be heard by Judge Dog the Bounty Hunter, my new appointee,” Kimmel quipped.

“Trump is um, he won’t win this, the New York Times won’t settle… Besides how ridiculous it is, this might be one of the funniest legal documents I’ve ever seen. It’s quite a tongue bath,” Kimmel continued. “One page lists Trump’s quote, ‘Hundreds of history-making media appearances,’ including WrestleMania 5, ‘All My Children,’ ‘Ghosts Can’t Do It,’ ‘Two Weeks Notice,’ ‘Days of Our Lives,’ ‘Miss USA,’ ‘Miss Universe,’ ‘The Ali G Show,’ ‘Marmalade’ and much much more.”

“This is quite a resume,” Kimmel deadpanned.

Kimmel noted shortly after that “it’s not just writers the President is trying to silence. He’s ordered our National Parks to remove a number of signs and exhibits related to slavery. He’s re-whiting history in the United States. From now on, under Donald Trump, slaves will be referred to as tourists who volunteered to help white people do stuff.”

“No, that was a joke, that wasn’t, it’s not real. You never know right”” Kimmel added.

Watch the full monologue below:

The post Jimmy Kimmel Mock’s Trump’s ‘Ridiculous’ NYT Lawsuit: ‘One of the Funniest Legal Documents I’ve Ever Seen’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Colbert Jokes Trump’s False Claim of 300 Million Drug Deaths in 2024 ‘Would Explain Why We Appear to Be in Hell’ | Video

Stephen Colbert called BS on Donald Trump’s false, hilariously inflated claim that 300 million people died in 2024 from drug overdoses on Tuesday. But he did admit that if that almost every single living American had died last year, it “would explain why we appear to be in hell.”

The joke was inspired by comments Trump made after news broke of another U.S. military attack on a Venezuelan boat, which killed everyone on board. As Colbert explained, “They did one like two weeks ago and then another one last week. Trump was asked about one of the two sinkings this weekend, and he defended it.”

Colbert then ran a clip of Trump saying, when asked if the attack was illegal, “what’s illegal are the drugs that were on the boat, and the drugs that are being sent into our country, and the fact that 300 million people died last year from drugs.”

“I hope that’s illegal, because that’s a lot of people. In fact, it would mean nearly 90% of the current US population, about 340 million people, died of drug overdoses last year, which would explain why we appear to be in hell,” Colbert joked.

“We’re all dead, and we’re in hell right now, but I found an angel,” Colbert added, holding up his most recent Emmy award.

“To put that level of dumb into perspective, he is saying that 300 million Americans died of drug overdoses last year, when last year only 62 million people died in the entire world. Where the hell did he get those numbers? Out of JD Vance’s stat crack?” Colbert continued, referencing a joke about the Vice President he made earlier in the monologue.

Worth pausing from Colbert to note that trafficking drugs is not a capital crime under U.S. law, and per U.S. law and the constitution it is a crime to execute someone accused crime without a trial. In addition, the attacs, carried out on in waters belonging to Venezuela, is likely a violation of international law. And on top of all of that, the Trump administration hasn’t provided any evidence the boat even had drugs on it.

You can watch the whole monologue below:

The post Colbert Jokes Trump’s False Claim of 300 Million Drug Deaths in 2024 ‘Would Explain Why We Appear to Be in Hell’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

‘High Potential’ Boss Breaks Down Season 2 Premiere Face-Off: ‘Sadistic Genius Versus Empathetic Genius’

Note: This story contains spoilers from “High Potential” Season 2, Episode 1.

The “High Potential” Season 2 premiere plunges viewers right back into Morgan’s worst nightmare as Season 1’s game maker continues to threaten her family, which is only heightened when Morgan (Kaitlin Olson) and the criminal come face-to-face.

After the Season 2 premiere introduced a new abduction tied to the game maker while the LAPD has around-the-clock protection for Morgan and her family, the game maker makes a move that even Morgan couldn’t see coming when he casually strolls into the police station, saying “Apparently you’re looking for me.”

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“We thought it would be wildly entertaining to put the two of them into an intimate space,” showrunner Todd Harthan told TheWrap of the adversaries. “We just thought putting those two wonderful actors together in close quarters, considering how fired up Morgan is — which is always fun to write and fun to watch Kaitlin play — there was just way too much good drama that we’d be leaving on the table if he didn’t come into their space.”

Harthan added that the game maker has found his “muse” in Morgan, calling out their mental battle as “the sadistic genius versus an empathetic genius.” With the Season 1 premiere leaving off on that cliffhanger, Harthan teased what comes next is a “delicious cat and mouse game between our hero and this villain that finds this weird, bizarre inspiration from Morgan.”

Below, Harthan teases “huge developments” on the Roman front, previews character-specific episodes for Daphne (Javicia Leslie), Oz (Deniz Akdeniz) and Soto (Judy Reyes) and teases “juicy conflict and tension” as Steve Howey’s unpredictable captain joins the mix.

TheWrap: We also get a little deeper into the Roman mystery. Can we expect to get some answers about him this season?

Harthan: For sure. We, and the audience, have a big appetite to filling in some of the big blanks. Last year we were just dipping our toe in the water. It was only Season 1, and we were mapping out where we wanted to go in Season 2. There’s some huge developments that come this season, and hopefully some really exciting twists and turns. We want to keep the audience on their toes — it’s one of the main story arteries, if you will, of Season 2.

As you went into planning for this season, what were some central storylines or themes you wanted to tackle the most? What are you excited for viewers to see this season?

What was really nice about getting Season 2 was being able to deepen the existing relationships. It starts with Morgan and Karadec (Daniel Sunjata) — we’re peeling back some of the layers and complications of that partnership. There’s some things are happening at home with the kids, specifically Ava, and then we have a new character coming in our captain, played by Steve Howey. I’m all for disrupting the environment that our characters exist in, and that’s what’s going to give us conflict and tension and all the wonderful things.

What we planned with that character, as it relates to not just Morgan, but all the other characters in the show, is pretty exciting, too. Thematically … trust is a big part of Season 2. Morgan’s deepening trust for this group of detectives that bet on her, but then we’re going to test that in some pretty interesting episodes throughout the season.

Javicia Leslie, Daniel Sunjata, Judy Reyes amd Deniz Akdeniz in “High Potential” Season 2 (Disney/Jessica Perez)

Do we see any conflicts between Morgan and the rest of the detectives?

There’s flareups with with Soto, there’s plenty of flareups with Karadec and with the new captain. There’s all kinds of juicy conflict and tension that spreads to Morgan … Morgan, as it relates to her character in particular, there’s some big challenges this season … we have all kinds of things that obstacles and things that that challenge her relationships.

Morgan has been a pretty happy-go-lucky character until her family is in danger. What conversations did you have with Kaitlin about developing Morgan even further, especially those more emotional sides?

[We had] lots of conversation. She’s very hands on in every aspect of the show. The thing we try to keep a close eye on, and Kaitlin’s very good about keeping us honest, is not falling into tropes or playing it too safe, and also not making Morgan … perfect. Nobody is and so and as a mother, there are times when you have to raise your hand and be the one to apologize and writing to those real and raw moments where she’s human, so that she doesn’t ever feel like every decision she makes is the right one. That’s one of the things that we’ve done pretty well this season.

Like any freshman show, Season 1 had to get its main characters established before diving too deep into their stories. Were you able to give some more focus to Oz and Daphne this season and what can you tease about their storylines?

The two that we’re doing here soon is going to dig deeper into Daphne and Oz, their respective stories backgrounds because … we barely even scratched the surface last year. We’re trying to spread the wealth, because we have such an amazing and versatile cast. And then the one we’re getting ready to do is a big Soto episode. We are trying to balance out the season with digging deeper and peeling back some of the layers of these other wonderful characters that we have.

We’re also very excited to see Steve Howey joining the cast. What can you tell us about his character?

I’ve always been a fan of Steve. I’ve known him for years. It was, like the rest of our cast, adding somebody that can kind anything, comedy and drama and everything between. This show mixes tone … versatility is our friend, and his character is wildly complicated. He really is a bit of an enigma and very hard to figure out for everybody, including Morgan. What we’re playing with is this unpredictability of a captain coming in … it’s really hard to put your finger on what his agenda is, because we wanted to dodge the expected. He’s a little bit more … complicated … so it’s confusing for Morgan and the team about what is he trying to accomplish? What is his agenda? Is it good? Bad?

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

“High Potential” airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The post ‘High Potential’ Boss Breaks Down Season 2 Premiere Face-Off: ‘Sadistic Genius Versus Empathetic Genius’ appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Love Is Blind’ Producers Accused of ‘Inhumane Working Conditions,’ Unpaid Wages in Class Action Suit From Former Contestant

A former “Love Is Blind” contestant has accused producers of Netflix’s his dating show “Love Is Blind” of subjecting contestants to unpaid wages and creating “inhumane working conditions” in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Netflix representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap.

Stephen Richardson says in his lawsuit that he and other cast members were “willfully misclassified employees as independent contractors despite Defendants exercising substantial and excessive control over the manner, means and timing of the work” on the show. This included, so the suit says, “exerting complete domination over their time, schedule, and their ability to eat, drink, and sleep, and communicate with the outside world during the period of employment.”

This, the lawsuit argues, qualifies them for protections under California labor law, which would entitle them to minimum wages and overtime pay.

The lawsuit also accuses the show of deliberately intoxicating them. Cast members were only provided regularly with “alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, energy drinks, and mixers,” and water and other “hydrating drinks” were only made available during the day. The suit says they were also encouraged to drink throughout the day without being provided with food or water to mitigate the effects.

This was done, so the lawsuit says, “in order to maintain a heightened degree of control and direct the conduct of the Cast into making manipulated decisions for the benefit of the shows’ entertainment value.”

The lawsuit is filed as a class action — the class in this case being anyone who signed nondisclosure agreements and other contracts required to appear on the show within the four years prior to the filing of Richardson’s lawsuit.

The suit names production company Kinetic Content, Netflix, production company Delirium TV and 1-50 unnamed Does as defendants.

The suit seeks recognition of that proposed class, that all potential members of the class be notified, that the court affirm wage theft and that the practices of food and alcohol provision are violations of labor laws. It also seeks compensation for lost wages, and unspecified punitive damages, as well as coverage of legal fees and any other damages the the court may find appropriate.

The post ‘Love Is Blind’ Producers Accused of ‘Inhumane Working Conditions,’ Unpaid Wages in Class Action Suit From Former Contestant appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 Premiere: Whitney Leavitt Scores High With Tango to ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Anthem

Note: This story contains spoilers from “Dancing With the Stars” Season 34, Episode 1.

The stars heated up the ballroom for the Season 34 premiere of “Dancing With the Stars.” While no one was sent home Night 1, this season’s celebrities received tough feedback from judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.

Long-standing judge Carrie Ann Inaba was not present for the premiere as she was sick, and the show did not replace her with a guest judge.

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Whitney Leavitt and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin tied at the top of the leaderboard with 15 points, each earning one 7 and one 8 from the judges. By the end of the night, hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough revealed that voting for premiere had already doubled the tally from the first episode of Season 33, and that there will be a double elimination next week.

Olympic gold-winning gymnast Jordan Chiles opened up the night with a salsa to Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul,” approved by the pop icon herself. Dressed in a red, white and blue costume, the athlete impressed the judges, but they wanted Chiles to loosen up.

“Traitors” winner Dylan Efron shook up the crowd with his cha cha to “Milkshake” by Kelis. Tonioli told the social media and reality star that moving forward he needs to watch out for his timing. His cheesing smile throughout the dance won over the audience though, earning a standing ovation. Hough said the reality star needed to work on keeping up with his powerhouse partner Daniella Karagach.

“The Parent Trap” star Elaine Hendrix said during his package that the dance studio was her first love, and she proved that with her fun cha cha to “Woman” by Kesha. “You’re journey to reclaiming dance has officially begun tonight,” Hough told the actress. She told Julianne Hough that she wanted to prove to herself and other women that age is just a number.

Leavitt wowed the judges with her tango routine to “Golden” from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters,” earning her the highest score of the night. Hough gave her a seven, while Tonioli accidentally input an eight but held up a seven. The powers at be still ruled Leavitt’s score to be a 15, which was the highest of the night.

NBA All-star Baron Davis performed a cha cha to “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer. Tonioli told the former basketball pro that “when you do the cha cha, it has to be right, and it’d be nice to see a little bit more of it, because I think you do have the talent.” Davis and his partner Britt Stewart fell in the middle of the pack with a score of 10 out of 20.

Alix Earle was the first celebrity announced for Season 34, and she lit up the dancefloor with her cha cha to “Circus” by Britney Spears. The social media star grew up dancing competitively but never in ballroom. The judges wanted her to drop the nerves and dance more fluidly rather than hitting one move after another. Hough called the routine “very impressive for a first dance.”

Hilaria Baldwin returned to dancing for the first time in 16 years to perform a cha cha to “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez with partner Gleb Savchenko. Hough said that was “the best cha cha he’s seen from a mother of seven.” Her husband Alec Baldwin supported her in the ballroom and even gave a confessional from her rehearsal. Tonioli told the reality star that he cannot wait to see her routines throughout the season.

Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko in “Dancing With the Stars.” (Disney)

Pentatonix star Scott Hoying reenacted some choreography from Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra” music video in his tango to her hit single. Hough wanted the Grammy winner to work on his technique, particularly his frame. Though he loved the references included by his partner Rylee Arnold, he noted that the dance was supposed to be a tango, and there was not enough content.

“Boy Meets World” star Danielle Fishel performed a tango to Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger,” celebrating her strength post-breast cancer diagnosis. Tonioli told the actress that she should “be proud of herself” for her first routine out of the gate and complimented her natural fluidity and grace on the ballroom floor. Both judges said to watch her shoulders as she is in frame moving forward. After Hough joked that he had a crush on her growing up, the 90s sitcom alum joked “if you had a crush on me, you better vote.”

Just eight weeks after giving birth to her third child, “Mormon Wives” star Jen Affleck made her debut in the ballroom. It was also her partner Jan Ravnik’s first dance, joining the cast of the show this season. The duo danced a salsa to “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny. Hough did critique Ravnik for his use of too many lifts in the dance, saying it took away from Affleck’s dance talent. Tonioli echoed the sentiments saying she is “good enough not to do that.”

Actor-musician Corey Feldman danced the tango with his partner Jenna Johnson to “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me” by Billy Joel. “You’re putting your personal spin into the interpretation of the tango,” Tonioli joked to the “Gremlins” actor. Hough said there is much improvement to be had from the actor in technique, the form and the frame, but all in all it was a great first dance.

Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui performed a tango to “yes, and?” by Ariana Grande. Hough applauded the singer-songwriters first dance giving her one of the highest scores of the night. “You put us all on notice tonight,” he added.

Comedian Andy Richter danced the cha cha to “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave with his partner Emma Slater. Tonioli joked that the actor’s timing was “in another time zone” for his first dance. Hough brought the positivity, saying he loves watching Richter’s authenticity shine through as he dances.

Irwin closed out the night of dancing with a jive to “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, impressing the judges and earning the top score of the night. “That wasn’t good. It was great, wonderful in the best possible way,” Tonioli said of Irwin and his partner Witney Carson’s first dance. Hough kept the compliments coming say “that was one of the best first dances I’ve ever seen on this show.” He won the mirrorball with Irwin’s sister Bindi ten years ago.

Robert Irwin and Witney Carson in “Dancing With the Stars.” (Disney)

LEADERBOARD: Week 1

Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: 15Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: 15Hilaria Baldwin & Gleb Savchenko: 14Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: 13Lauren Jauregui & Brandon Armstrong: 13Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: 12Danielle Fishel & Pasha Pashkov: 12Jen Affleck & Jan Ravnik: 12Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: 10Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: 10Baron Davis & Britt Stewart: 10Scott Hoying & Rylee Arnold: 10Corey Feldman & Jenna Johnson: 9Andy Richter & Emma Slater: 9

“Dancing With the Stars” airs live on Tuesdays on ABC and streams on Disney+ in local time zones and the next day on Hulu.

The post ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 34 Premiere: Whitney Leavitt Scores High With Tango to ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Anthem appeared first on TheWrap.

‘Art’ Broadway Review: At Least Bobby Cannavale, James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris Are Having Fun

The three stars appear to be having great fun even when their respective characters are at each other’s throat. It doesn’t matter that Yasmina Reza wrote stick figures rather than characters for her play “Art,” which won the Tony Award for best play back in 1998. She instead sets up a series of premises in which Marc (Bobby Cannavale), Serge (Neil Patrick Harris) and Yvan (James Corden) are able to sound off against each and take sides. Friendship triangles like this one are made so someone feels left out.

The current revival of “Art” opened Tuesday at the Music Box, and it is a reminder of how far the theater has traveled since the late 20th Century.

First off, while Reza’s play won that Tony right before the turn of the millenium, there are at least a dozen better plays that opened last season in New York City. And second, the two major topics of Reza’s play hark back to a less jaded time when modern art and psychiatry could provoke such controversy.

“Controversy” is probably the wrong word. Even in 1998, modern art and psychiatry were joked about relentlessly in TV network sitcoms. No matter, there was Reza, the premiere maker of boulevard comedies at the time, more than ready to run those two subjects through the laugh wringer one more time.

In “Art,” Zerge has bought a painting that is basically a white canvas and his friend Marc calls it “shit.” Yvan is their sad-sack friend who keeps switching sides on this major discussion. Yvan is also getting married, and halfway through the play he spills his guts on a major problem he has regarding wedding invitations. It goes on and on, and, of course, Corden milks the extended moment for everything he’s got in a performance that screams, “Give me the Tony!”

In this respect, “Art” is a poor man’s “Glengarry Glenross.” Here are plays that are often revived because stars want to appear in them so they can deliver these showy acting-class scenes.

Watching this revival, you might wonder why Harris and Cannavale didn’t switch roles; the change would have given their characters’ ongoing fight more frisson. The two actors are cast to type here, with Harris playing the persnickety pretentious one who has bought the painting and Cannavale playing the rough philistine whose idea of art ended sometime before the Impressionists.

After all the shouting and yelling in “Art,” Reza glibly resolves the men’s differences in an epilogue that smacks of contrivance. The play should be titled “Kitsch.”  

Scott Ellis directs.

The post ‘Art’ Broadway Review: At Least Bobby Cannavale, James Corden and Neil Patrick Harris Are Having Fun appeared first on TheWrap.

‘High Potential’ Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Air?

“High Potential” is back and better than ever for its second season, with Steve Howey joining the party for the second installment of the Kaitlin Olson-led ABC drama.

Howey joins Season 2 as Captain Nick Wagner, who promises to shake up dynamics in the LAPD between Morgan (Olson), Karadec, Soto, Daphne and Oz.

Season 2 picks up just days after the infamous game maker threatened Morgan’s family, and Morgan goes even deeper into the case when she suspects the criminal is behind another disappearance.

When does “High Potential” Season 2 premiere?

The Season 2 premiere airs Tuesday, Sept. 16 on ABC.

What time does “High Potential” air?

New episodes of “High Potential” debut Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET on ABC.

Where is “High Potential” streaming?

If you can’t watch new episodes live on ABC, new episodes will be available on demand and streaming on Hulu the day after their premiere.

“High Potential” Season 2 Episode Schedule:

We’ll continue to update this story as new episodes are announced.

S.2 Ep.1: “Pawns” — Sept. 16, 2025“While working tirelessly to shield her family from the Game Maker’s threats, another crime drags Morgan back into his game and the LAPD must decide whether to trust her instincts before the next move turns fatal..”S.2 Ep.2: “Checkmate” — Sept. 23, 2025“As the Major Crimes team desperately seek answers amidst a string of unresolved crimes, Morgan suspects the Game Maker is responsible. Meanwhile, Daphne and Oz set out to find Roman, and Elliot prepares a surprise act for his school’s talent show..”S.2 Ep. 3: “Eleven Minutes” — Sept. 30, 2025“When a man with a troubled past is killed under mysterious circumstances, Morgan and the LAPD uncover a tragic motive behind his death. Meanwhile, Morgan opens up to Ava about her father, forcing Ava to confront truths she isn’t ready to face.”Who stars in “High Potential?”

In addition to Kaitlin Olson starring as Morgan, the cast includes Daniel Sunjata as Karadec, Javicia Leslie as Daphne, Deniz Akdeniz as Lev “Oz” Ozdil, Amirah J as Ava, Matthew Lamb as Elliot and Judy Reyes as Selena, with Steve Howey joining Season 2 as Nick Wagner.

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‘The Morning Show’ Season 4 Review: Jennifer Aniston Learns the Price of Leadership in Thrilling, Exhausting New Episodes

“The Morning Show” is the kind of TV time travel that’s sometimes hard to stomach. Season 4, which debuts Wednesday on Apple TV+, is set in early 2024, ahead of the Paris Olympics and the chaotic presidential election that has yet to fully wreak all of its havoc. We don’t yet know the ramifications of all the decisions made by the media last year, or at the very least, we’re living in them as they play out.

2024 is too recent, too raw — and in a lot of ways, too stupid — to really reflect back on with any great insight, but that doesn’t stop “The Morning Show” from trying, with its usual soapy flair.

When we last checked in at UBA, it was on the verge of merging with rival network NBN. Alex (Jennifer Aniston) finally got some of the power she’d been craving after spearheading that merger, but she was heading to the front of a ship that was navigating some rocky waters. In the final scenes of Season 3, she was supporting Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) as she turned herself into the FBI for covering up her brother’s involvement in Jan. 6. Cory (Billy Crudup) was being forced out of the network completely and a new regime was taking over.

Season 4 is set two years after that finale and things at the newly crowned UBN are very different, yet much the same, which is part of the point. Now that the former underdogs have the power, they find themselves forced to make the same kinds of decisions as their predecessors. People like Stella (the stellar Greta Lee) and Alex keep saying they want things to change, but then they come to realize how much power hinges on negotiation. Every hire, every firing, every interview, every pivot, every headline is a tradeoff over who gets hurt and who gets less hurt.

In that vein, Season 4 is great fun. It’s thrilling and devastating to watch these women — Stella, in particular — discover that they can’t make the difference they wanted to make just because they’re now in charge. The problem is that while the faces at the top have changed, the structure hasn’t. The characters can now see how things actually work, and they have little choice but to keep it all going or let it all burn to the ground. In the meantime, people like Mia (Karen Pittman) get screwed, then have to rise back up with the help of a chic makeover (but no makeover montage, unfortunately).

This is “The Morning Show,” so all that has to play out amidst ridiculous melodrama that eventually gets exhausting. They throw everything at the wall this season: AI deepfakes, Olympics politics, doping scandals, asylum seekers, planes deteriorating, climate change protesters, massive corruption coverups, secret affairs, daddy issues, mommy issues, chemical spills, cocaine and so much more.

Greta Lee in “The Morning Show.” (Apple TV+)

AI plays a major role in the season, and it’s probably the most fun. One of Stella’s big projects at UBN is an AI program that will allow people to watch UBN’s anchors report on the Olympics in any language. This leads talent like Alex to discover, apparently for the first time, the concept of deepfakes, and inspires questions that are still plaguing us now about whether the technology is worth the ethical grey areas. Somehow, their AI looks both better and worse than real AI, making it feel less sinister and more goofy, but the idea is there.

Other attempts at tackling real topics are less effective. Bradley is one of the most consistent weak spots on this show, which is not necessarily Witherspoon’s fault. The character is confusing, like no one wants to commit fully to any side of her. She sees herself as a serious journalist. UBN sees her as the “Morning Show” anchor who appeals to the right, but it’s become harder to see her appeal on either side. She’s digging for dirt on a story that might implicate the network in a cover-up, and she’s still reeling from her brother’s treason (and her part in it) and she’s making personal choices that are questionable at best. Someone like Chip (Mark Duplass) will tell her how good and watchable and moral she is and how much people love watching her, but it’s hard to believe him. When people talk about Bradley, they seem to be talking about someone other than the Bradley we actually see.

The season does have some tricks up its sleeve. Jeremy Irons gives Alex some backstory as her professor father, and Marion Cotillard plays Celine, the savvy French board president who may be friend or may be foe. Either way, she’s not like other executives, and she’s got an agenda at UBN. She’s also so alluring that it’s hard to go against her, so she may just get exactly what she wants with very little effort. Aaron Pierre plays her sexy artist husband, who gets a little more involved in her work life than he probably should.

Marion Cotillard in “The Morning Show.” (Apple TV+)

Also new this season is Boyd Holbrook as Brodie, the host of a podcast and radio show that makes great use of the “bro” part of his name. He’s perfectly positioned as the antithesis of everything Alex stands for, therefore making him a great thorn in her side. He’s also part of the network’s ongoing attempts to capture that elusive conservative masculine portion of the American audience, and so he’s everything Alex should never even go near.

Season 3’s best addition, Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), is also returning, despite his failed attempts to buy and gut UBA and the end of his relationship with Alex. He’s used sparingly in Season 4, but it’s just the right amount, and watching Hamm go up against Aniston is still a treat.

That’s really the magic of “The Morning Show.” It’s packed with big stars doing occasionally good work, playing characters who exist in the same world they do but with more important jobs than they have. You can almost imagine Aniston dreaming of negotiating political asylum for deserving refugees. Witherspoon can’t chase a story into dangerous corners of the world but Bradley Jackson can, and while Hamm might not be able to use money and power to affect world politics, the billionaire Paul Marks definitely can. Maybe they feel just as helpless as the rest of us do in this world, and this is their way of feeling better. Maybe if they keep “making a difference” on screen, it will feel like they made one in real life too. And I guess as long as they’re doing it, we’ll keep watching it.

“The Morning Show” premieres Wednesday on Apple TV+.

The post ‘The Morning Show’ Season 4 Review: Jennifer Aniston Learns the Price of Leadership in Thrilling, Exhausting New Episodes appeared first on TheWrap.

Emmys 2025 Party Report: 3 Straight Days of Toasts, Luncheons, Pop-Ups and More

Hollywood celebrated the excellence of small-screen creativity with three straight days of partying as the Television Academy’s Emmy Awards came to Tinseltown for its 77th year. That meant nominees ranging from A-list actors to first-time thespians, along with producers, directors, writers and all the other talented people that help put a TV show together, all made the rounds. They bounced from high tea to charity luncheons, then on to toasting celebrations for being nominated, gifting lounges full of swag, and finally to the Sunday night show, Governors Ball and post-show extravaganzas hosted by the town’s top studios. Join TheWrap as we pop inside to the weekend’s best bashes.

(Left to Right) Seth Rogen, Adam Scott and Pete Huyck attend the 2025 Apple TV+ Emmy Awards Celebration at Ysabel in West Hollywood. (Apple TV+)The 77th Emmy Awards Governors Gala

Los Angeles Convention Center

(Left to Right) Channing Dungey, Noah Wyle and Clancy Collins White celebrate Wyle’s first Emmy Award win for “The Pitt” at the 77th Emmy Awards Governors Gala in Los Angeles. (Decoy Wines)

A quick stroll from the Peacock Theater brought everyone who attended the Emmy Awards show to the Governors Gala, the Television Academy’s “Sophisticated Soiree” that transformed the Los Angeles Convention Center into a massive party complete with a two-story-tall golden Emmy statue. That’s always the first stop for the big winners like Noah Wyle and Seth Rogen, who led the charge to the “Emmy Winners Circle,” where their trophies were made official by having the engraved plaque attached.

With 3,500 partygoers, the Governors Gala is by far the biggest and best-attended after party, complete with Johnny Walker Blue paired with caviar, Decoy cabernet and sauvignon blanc married to chef Jet Li’s Peking chicken wrap, and so much other food and drink that no one left hungry.

Perhaps the most jubilant gang at the gala were the “Adolescence” crowd, led by creator-star Stephen Graham, who needed his whole family to help carry all his hardware, taking home three of the eight statues that his intense Netflix series won earlier that evening. His wife Hannah Walters carried her own prize, as she also stars in and produced the series with Graham.

(Left to Right) Alfie Graham, Stephen Graham, Hannah Walters and Grace Graham celebrate the “Adolescence” wins at the Governors Gala after the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)The Creative Coalition’s 11th Annual Humanitarian Awards Luncheon

Craig’s Restaurant, West Hollywood

(Left to Right) Honoree Skye P. Marshall and Craig Robinson onstage during The Creative Coalition’s 11th Annual Humanitarian Awards at Craig’s Restaurant in West Hollywood. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Saturday’s cornucopia of parties got started with some giving back, as The Creative Coalition held their 11th Annual Humanitarian Awards on the chic back patio of Craig’s restaurant in WeHo. The Coalition began in 1988 and today remains dedicated to advocating for funding and protection of the arts in America. 

Their awards luncheon honors members of the Hollywood community that “use their platforms to champion causes that spark change,” which this year included Emmy nominees Jason Isaacs, John Turturro and Natasha Rothwell, as well as Judith Light, Brianne Howery, Jon Gries and Skye P. Marshall.

“Matlock” star Marshall got emotional when accepting her award, remembering her childhood, saying, “At the age of 12, my family lost everything, and we were homeless. But what my mom did, was she gave me the audacity to believe that I was entitled to equality.” Today, she uses her newfound fame to advocate for those in similar situations.

Isaacs got serious about current affairs in his acceptance, saying, “Hate is being weaponized everywhere in the world.” But he holds out hope for humanity by finding empathy and giving back to those in need.

There was lots of laughter, too, as the awards were presented, especially from presenters like Alex Borstein, Tig Notaro and Craig Robinson, despite the serious spotlight on the issue of family caregiving, a focus of this year’s coalition. Other familiar faces in the lively crowd included Michael Chiklis, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jason Ritter and Richard Kind.

(Left to Right) Alex Borstein and Brianne Howey onstage during The Creative Coalition 11th Annual Humanitarian Awards at Craig’s Restaurant in West Hollywood. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)BAFTA North America’s TV Tea Party

The Maybourne Hotel, Beverly Hills

(Left to Right) “The Pitt” crowd brightened up the scene at The BAFTA TV Tea Party, including Taylor Dearden, Gerran Howell, Grant Show, Katherine LaNasa, Joyce Pierpoline (North America Board Chair, BAFTA), Tracy Ifeachor, Adeyemi Eruola, Patrick Ball and Courtney LaBarge Bell (Executive Director, BAFTA North) at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

The oh-so-British BAFTA TV Tea is always a hot ticket during Emmy Awards weekend, and this year brought out lots of 2025 nominees, ranging from 15-year-old Owen Cooper of “Adolescence” fame to industry vets like “Severance” stars Patricia Arquette and John Turturro, whose careers began in the 1980s.

Held outside in the sunny garden terrace of  The Maybourne hotel, everyone wore summery outfits and (oddly) happily stood in a huge, never-ending line to vie for the chance to play a claw-grabber game to win a Delta Airlines-Virgin Atlantic trip to London. “Can’t all these people afford to buy a plane ticket?” quipped one onlooker, and we’ll admit that we didn’t see nominees Rashida Jones (“Black Mirror”), Sharon Horgan (“Bad Sisters”) or Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”) in that line, but it was astonishing that so many people queued up!

Chatting with “Abbott Elementary” star Lisa Ann Walter, she revealed what her crowd’s plan was for the rest of day into night.

“We’re all going to the Warner Bros. nominee party across the street next, then on to the MPTF, and I have different dresses to wear,” she said with a laugh (Marchesa for BAFTA, Nadine Merabi for MPTF). She wasn’t the only one who did quick changes along the way. When you’ve got a hit TV show, there are so many parties and so many couture opportunities.

Also nibbling scones and cucumber sandwiches were Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Tracy Ifeachor, Tramell Tillman, Kathryn Hahn, Justin Hartley, Julianne Nicholson and Skye P. Marshall, who didn’t change her lovely, brightly hued gown from the earlier Creative Coalition luncheon.

Also nibbling scones and cucumber sandwiches were Katherine LaNasa, Taylor Dearden, Tracy Ifeachor, Tramell Tillman, Kathryn Hahn, Justin Hartley, Julianne Nicholson and Skye P. Marshall, who didn’t change her lovely, brightly hued gown from the earlier Creative Coalition luncheon.

(Left to Right) Sharon Horgan and Kathryn Busby attend The BAFTA TV Tea Party at The Maybourne Beverly Hills. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)GBK 19th Annual Luxury Lounge

The Sun Rose Hotel West Hollywood

“The White Lotus” star Jason Issacs enjoys GBK’s 19th Annual Luxury Lounge at The Sun Rose Hotel in West Hollywood. (Kinga Sarabia)

Luxury lounges pop up all over town as the Emmy Awards approach, with GBK leading the way with gifting to A-list stars. This year the GBK 19th Annual Luxury Lounge brought out nominated “The White Lotus” star Jason Isaacs as well as fellow category nominee Jeff Hiller, along with Angela Bassett, Jason Ritter, Leah Lewis, Craig Robinson and many others.

They found gifts in the sunny garden of The Sun Rose Hotel from presenting sponsors Oro Ventro Parfum and Burj Bites Chocolates, both from Dubai, as well as GBK perennial favorites like Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, Jam Vino (delicious fruit jams made with wine) and Hansen’s Cakes, all washed down with Hertelendy Vineyards world-class Napa wines and Ophora water. NFL fans were delighted by the Los Angeles Chargers, who gifted two premium suite tickets to an upcoming Chargers game at SoFi and Chef Cat Cora was on hand, too, gifting knives and other kitchenware from her new Cat Cora by Culinary Pro line. Free trips to Fiji’s Raiwasa Villa and Sailrock Resort in Turks & Caicos rounded out the luxe experience.

(Left to Right) Jason Ritter and Leah Lewis get ready for some football with the L.A. Chargers at GBK’s 19th Annual Luxury Lounge presented by Oro Ventro Parfum and Burj Bites Chocolates. (Bella Marie)Studios Celebrate Their
Emmy Nominees

Spago Restaurant; The Sunset Tower Hotel; Private Residence Studio City

(Left to Right) Lorne Michaels, Martin Short and Seth MacFarlane have a meeting of the minds at the NBC/Universal pre-Emmy Awards bash at the Sunset Tower Hotel. (NBCUniversal)

Saturday evening brought lots of studio cocktail parties honoring different studio’s Emmy nominees, including NBC/Universal and Warner Bros. Television, who didn’t host parties after the awards show on Sunday. So the NBC/Universal crowd headed to the Sunset Tower Hotel, where everyone from Lorne Michaels, Walton Goggins and Seth Rogen to Martin Short, Colman Domingo, Patricia Arquette, Bowen Yang and Seth MacFarlane gathered to toast “SNL’s” 50th anniversary and its nominees.

Over at Spago, the Warner Bros. Television bash was filled with happy people nibbling on salmon pizza and those oh-so-delicious Big Eye Tuna Cones as they discussed their hopes for bringing home Emmy trophies, including the “Abbott Elementary” pack of Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, William Stanford Davis and Lisa Ann Walter (on her second dress). Brett Goldstein and Ted McGinley represented the “Shrinking” team, while a big crowd of stars from the Warner Bros. Television Fall slate turned out, too, including Kate Hudson in an eye-popping yellow sheath.

Kate Hudson strikes a pose entering the WBTV 77th Emmy Awards Nominees Celebration at Spago in Beverly Hills. (WBTVG/Todd Williamson)

Netflix proved its pockets are deep as they held their 2025 Nominees Toast at a private residence in Studio City to revel in their 120 nominations this year. Just about everyone made the trip over the hill, including Keri Russell, Colman Domingo, Chloë Sevigny, Meghann Fahy, Adam Brody, Kristen Bell, Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper. The studio also had a big after-the-show bash! 

(Left to Right) Justine Lupe, Chief Content Officer of Netflix Bela Bajaria, Timothy Simons, Adam Brody, Kristen Bell and Jackie Tohn attend Netflix’s 2025 Emmy’s Toast at a private residence in Studio City. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)MPTF’s 19th Annual Evening Before

Century Park, Century City

(Left to Right) Kathryn Hahn and Carrie Coon laugh it up at MPTF’s 19th Annual Evening Before at Century Park in Los Angeles. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

The annual Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF) Evening Before closed out the Saturday swirl of events with an easygoing ending, as all the biggest Hollywood names converge for a great cause (and maybe one more cocktail?) before the big show on Sunday.

For more than 100 years, the MPTF has provided charitable support for members of the entertainment community in need, ranging from health services to retirement living spaces, through the generosity of that same community. It’s an organization that’s near and dear to virtually everyone working in the industry, and this night brings a ton of familiar faces together in one space.

This year’s event was co-chaired (and attended by) Colin Farrell, Uzo Aduba, Ethan Sandler, Kathryn Hahn and Adam and Naomi Scott. The six of them made sure all their friends in show biz came out for the cause. That meant you could look one way and see Carrie Coon, Tracy Letts and Jennifer Lopez, look the other and spot Justin Theroux, Brian Tyree Henry and Wanda Sykes. Ben Stiller brought his daughter Ella Olivia and Stephen Graham had the whole family along for the fun. 

Britt Lower, Cristin Milioti, Parker Posey and Jason Segal represented their top-rated shows, too, and Seth Rogen and Paul W. Downs did the same for theirs, friendly competitors all, at this party that everybody comes to and everybody loves. And yes, the “Abbott Elementary” crew was out in force at this one, too!

(Left to Right) Brian Tyree Henry, Stephen Graham and Colin Farrell cut up at MPTF’s 19th Annual Evening Before at Century Park in Los Angeles. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)Netflix’s 2025 Emmy Celebration

Nya Studios West, Hollywood

Rashida Jones and Stephen Graham do a little dance at the Netflix Emmy After Party at Nya Studios West in Hollywood. (Charley Gallay, Gonzalo Marroquin, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

It’s no surprise that the Netflix post-show Emmy Celebration was a rollicking affair, as the studio took home a total of 30 wins in 2025. Head honcho Ted Sarandos led the charge, with famed DJ Anderson .Paak providing the musical push that loaded the dance floor with all sorts of interesting dancing pairs, including Rashida Jones and Stephen Graham, whose “Adolescence” was one of Netflix’s big winners of the night. Nominees were everywhere, from Keri Russell joining in the revelry, along with Jones, Adam Brody and Colman Domingo.

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen attend the Netflix Emmy After Party at Nya Studios West in Hollywood. (Charley Gallay, Gonzalo Marroquin, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen arrived fashionably late after being awarded the Television Academy’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award for their activism and philanthropy over the years. TheWrap caught up with Danson, who said just what his legion of fans want to hear. “I’m not thinking of retiring, there’s still a lot to do,” he told us with his trademark grin, then pointed to Steenburgen and added, “and neither is she!”

Here’s hoping we see them both at next year’s Emmy Awards extravaganzas!

Anderson .Paak kept the party rolling at the Netflix Emmy After Party at Nya Studios West in Hollywood. (Charley Gallay, Gonzalo Marroquin, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)The Walt Disney Company 2025 Emmy Awards Celebration

Vibiana, Downtown Los Angeles

Martin Short, Michelle Williams and Steve Martin share a moment at The Walt Disney Company 2025 Emmy Awards Celebration at Vibiana in Los Angeles. (The Walt Disney Company)

The Walt Disney Company’s 2025 Emmy Awards Celebration at Vibiana definitely had everything a party lover could want, from a swingin’ live band to a photo booth to a massively overcrowded garden where everyone gathered. Each big Disney show had its own seating area – think “The Bear” and Ebon Moss-Bachrach holding court near the back, with Jimmy Kimmel’s jammed-with-well-wishers spot nearby.

“Only Murders in the Building” stars Steve Martin and Martin Short invited “Dying for Sex” star Michelle Williams into their enclave, and while the “Abbott Elementary” posse didn’t take home any trophies this year despite six nominations, everyone was in a sparklingly good mood. “Dancing With the Stars” newcomer Elaine Hendrix joined that moving party, too. 

Everyone munched on garlicky dumplings, beef sliders, handmade pizza and more, and in the huge scrum that locked up movement in the garden, there were a few broken wineglasses and spilled plates. But as “Abbott Elementary” 2025 nominee Janelle James joked, “It’s not a party until something happens!”

2025 Emmy nominee Janelle James attends The Walt Disney Company Emmy Awards Celebration at Vibiana in Los Angeles. (The Walt Disney Company)

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Oscars International Race Takes Shape as Academy Asks Voters to Save In-Person Screenings

More than 50 countries have announced their submissions in the Oscar race for Best International Feature Film, putting that category on track to reach the 85-90 films that have typically qualified in recent years.

The entries with the highest profiles so far include Joachim Trier’s Cannes-winning “Sentimental Value” (Norway), Kleber Mendonca Filho’s “The Secret Agent” (Brazil), Mascha Schilinski’s “Sound of Falling” (Germany), Jasmila Zbanic’s “Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny” (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Laszlo Nemes’ “Orphan” (Hungary), the Dardenne brothers’ “Young Mothers” (Belgium), Simon Mesa Soto’s “A Poet” (Colombia), Hiynur Palmason’s “The Love That Remains” (Iceland), Hasan Hadi’s “The President’s Cake” (Iraq), Cherin Dabis’ “All That’s Left of You” (Jordan), Maryam Touzani’s “Calle Malaga” (Morocco), Tamara Kotseva’s “The Tale of Silyan” (North Macedonia), Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36” (Palestine), Lav Diaz’s “Magellan” (Portugal), Agnieszka Holland’s “Franz” (Poland), Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” (South Korea), Petra Volpe’s “Late Shift” (Switzerland), Shih-Ching Tsou’s “Left Handed Girl” (Taiwan), Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s “A Useful Ghost” (Thailand) and Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab” (Tunisia).

Trier, Zbanic, Kotseva, Holland and Ben Hania have made films that have been nominated in the category in the past, while Nemes has won, with 2015’s “Son of Saul.”

France has yet to announce its submission, but its Oscar selection board has narrowed the choice to five films, including Jafar Panahi’s Palme d’Or winner “It Was Just an Accident” and Richard Linklater’s Godard homage “Nouvelle Vague,” either of which would immediately join “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “No Other Choice” and “The Voice of Hind Rajab” as potential frontrunners.

On Monday, the Academy emailed members encouraging them to participate in the first round of voting in the category and announcing that it will hold in-person screenings of the 15 shortlisted finalists in Los Angeles, New York and London.

As the body of voters grew more international and viewing increasingly moved to the Academy’s members-only viewing portal, in-person screenings of all the eligible films had been discontinued. Screenings of the 15 shortlisted films had remained, but the email warned that members must show up if they want those screenings to continue.

The email from Dilcia Barrera, an AMPAS senior VP of member relations, global outreach and awards administration, said, in part, “Over the last few years, these in-person shortlist screenings have experienced low attendance. We encourage all International Feature Film Award voters to join us for these screenings, as we may not be able to continue them if attendance does not improve.” 

This year, Michèle Ohayon and Wanuri Kahiu will serve as the International Feature Film Award Executive Committee Co-Chairs for this Oscar season, marking the first time in the position for either of them. Ohayon is a member of the Documentary Branch whose films include “Colors Straight Up,” “It Was a Wonderful Life” and “Cowboy Del Amor,” while Kahiu is a filmmaker from Kenya who has directed “From a Whisper” and “Rafiki,” among others.

Beginning on Oct. 10, Academy members will be able to opt-in to cast ballots in the initial round of voting, which will narrow the field from the dozens of entries to a 15-film shortlist. By Friday, Oct. 24, those who chose to participate will receive a group assignment and a list of films they must see, which typically numbers 12 or 13.

Also beginning on Oct. 10, submitted films will begin to be placed in a special section on the Academy Screening Room portal, with members required to see all of the films assigned to their group in order for their vote to count. They are also encouraged to see as many films from other groups as they can.

Once the 15-film shortlist is announced on Dec. 16, voting in the nomination round will be open to any Academy member who sees all 15 of the shortlisted films, either in-person or on the viewing portal.

Here is the list of films that have been submitted and announced so far. Inclusion on this list does not mean that the Academy has vetted the film to make sure that it meets AMPAS rules with its release dates and amount of creative input from the submitting country.

Armenia: “My Armenian Phantoms,” Tamara Stepanyan
Austria: “Peacock,” Bernhard Wenger
Azerbaijan: “Taghiyev: Oil,” Zaur Gasimli
Belgium: “Young Mothers,” Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Bosnia and Herezegovina: “Blum: Masters of Their Own Destiny,” Jasmila Zbanic
Brazil: “The Secret Agent,” Kleber Mendonca Filho
Bulgaria: “Tarika,” Milko Lazarov
Cambodia: “Tenement,” Inrasothythep Neth and Sokyou Chea
Canada: “The Things You Kill,” Alireza Khatami
Chile: “The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo,” Diego Cespedes
Colombia: “A Poet,” Simon Mesa Soto
Costa Rica: “The Altar Boy, the Priest and the Gardener,” Juan Manuel Fernandez
Croatia: “Fiume o morte!” Igor Bezinovic
Czech Republic: “I’m Not Everything I Want to Be,” Klara Tasovska
Dominican Republic: “Pepe,” Nelson Carlo de Los Santos Arias
Ecuador: “Chuzalongo,” Diego Ortuno
Egypt: “Happy Birthday,” Sarah Goher
Estonia: “Rolling Papers,” Meel Paliale
Finland: “100 Litres of Gold,” Teemu Nikki
Georgia: “Panopticon,” George Sikharulidze
Germany: “Sound of Falling,” Mascha Schilinski
Hungary: “Orphan,” Laszlo Nemes
Iceland: “The Love That Remains,” Hiynur Palmason
Indonesia: “Sore: Wife From the Future,” Yandy Laurens
Iran: “Cause of Death: Unknown,” Ali Zarnegar
Iraq: “The President’s Cake,” Hasan Hadi
Ireland: “Sanatorium,” Gar O’Rourke
Israel: “The Sea,” Shai Carmeli-Pollak
Japan: “Kokuho,” Lee Sang-il
Jordan: “All That’s Left of You,” Cherin Dabis
Latvia: “Dog of God,” Lauris Abele and Raitis Abele
Montenegro: “The Tower of Strength,” Nikola Vukcevic
Morocco: “Calle Malaga,” Maryam Touzani
Netherlands: “Reedland,” Sven Bresser
North Macedonia: “The Tale of Silyan,” Tamara Kotseva
Norway: “Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier
Palestine: “Palestine 36,” Annemarie Jacir
Panama: “Beloved Tropic,” Ana Endara
Papua New Guinea: “Papa Buka,” Bijukumar Damodaran
Paraguay: “Under the Flags, the Sun,” Juanjo Pereira
Peru: “Motherland,” Marco Panatonic
Philippines: “Magellan,” Lav Diaz
Poland: “Franz,” Agnieszka Holland
Portugal: “Banzo, Margarida Cardoso
Romania: “Traffic,” Teodora Mihai
Slovakia: “Father,” Tereza Nvotova
Slovenia: “Little Trouble Girls,” Urška Djukić
South Korea: “No Other Choice,” Park Chan-wook
Sweden: “Eagles of the Republic,” Tarik Saleh
Switzerland: “Late Shift,” Petra Volpe
Taiwan: “Left-Handed Girl,” Shih-Ching Tsou
Thailand: “A Useful Ghost,” Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
Tunisia: “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” Kaouther Ben Hania
Turkey: “One of Those Days When Hemme Dies,” Murat Firatoglu
Ukraine: “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” Mstyslav Chernov
Uruguay: “Don’t You Let Me Go,” Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge

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