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The first batch of episodes in Stranger Things' final season are out on Wednesday. Above: Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers.

The first batch of episodes in Stranger Things' final season are out on Wednesday. Above: Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

TV Reviews

'Stranger Things' is back. Does everything old still feel new?

The first episodes of the show's fifth and final season are out on Wednesday night. Critic Eric Deggans says the Duffer Brothers keep the plot moving along — even though, so far, many of the storylines feel familiar.

'Stranger Things' is back. Does everything old still feel new?

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A scene from the TV film Magical Mystery Tour shown on British TV at Christmas 1967 and panned by the critics.

The Beatles (Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr) appear in a scene from the 1967 TV film Magical Mystery Tour, which was shown on British TV at Christmas and panned by the critics. Disney+ hide caption

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Disney+

Review

TV Reviews

'The Beatles Anthology' remasters the Fab Four — with great results

In 1995, an eight-part documentary series told the story of The Beatles and their music. Now, 30 years later, The Beatles Anthology is back, with a fresh sound and a brand-new ninth episode.

FA: TV Review The Beatles Anthology

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Sarah Snook in All Her Fault.

Sarah Snook in All Her Fault. Sarah Enticknap/Peacock hide caption

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Sarah Enticknap/Peacock

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Twists and turns abound in the thriller ‘All Her Fault’

The entertaining Peacock series All Her Fault begins with a cute kid, an Emmy winner, and a mystery. Sarah Snook plays a mother who goes to pick up her young son from a playdate and learns there is no child to pick up. There are a lot of twists and turns—a lot of them—particularly as she gets to know another mom at the school, played by Dakota Fanning. While the agony of a missing child is bad enough, the show ultimately interrogates marriage, and the way women are forced to accommodate the behavior and misbehavior of men in their lives.

All Her Fault

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Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts play Allura Grant and Liberty Ronson, respectively, on Ryan Murphy's Hulu show All's Fair.

Kim Kardashian and Naomi Watts play Allura Grant and Liberty Ronson, respectively, on Ryan Murphy's Hulu show All's Fair. Ser Baffo/Disney hide caption

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Ser Baffo/Disney

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The limitations of trash TV, as seen in 'All's Fair'

Ryan Murphy's trashy melodrama further cements his parallels with Lee Daniels and Tyler Perry. But even fans of "so bad it's good" trash TV would throw their hands up in agony at Murphy's new show starring Kim Kardashian.

'A Man on the Inside' goes to college, and Ted Danson aces the test

Ted Danson stars with his real-life wife Mary Steenburgen in Season 2 of A Man on the Inside. Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix hide caption

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Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Review

TV Reviews

'A Man on the Inside' goes to college, and Ted Danson aces the test

Charles (Ted Danson) went undercover in a retirement community in the first season of the hit Netflix series. In Season 2, Charles enrolls in college, and brings along a fantastic new cast.

FA: TV Review: A Man on the Inside Season 2

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Ted Danson in A Man on the Inside.

Ted Danson in A Man on the Inside. Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix hide caption

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Colleen E. Hayes/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'A Man on the Inside' is the cozy mystery we need

The charming Netflix sitcom A Man on the Inside stars Ted Danson as a lonely widower who’s hired by a private investigator to live undercover in a senior living facility. His mission is to find out who stole a precious item from one of the residents. Created by Michael Schur (The Good Place), the series is also a tender and poignant depiction of loss, aging, and finding community. A Man on the Inside just returned for a second season, so today we’re revisiting our conversation about the show.

A Man On The Inside

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Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys in The Beast in Me.

Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys in The Beast in Me. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

TV heavy-hitters get dark in ‘The Beast In Me’

In the new Netflix series The Beast In Me, a writer played by Claire Danes struggles to find the topic of her next book – until a nefarious real estate tycoon played by Matthew Rhys moves in next door. He’s widely suspected of having murdered his first wife, even though her death has been officially treated as a suicide. The two cautiously get acquainted, as she tries to figure out the truth. 

The Beast In Me

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Seth Meyers attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on Jan. 15, 2024 ,in Los Angeles.

Seth Meyers attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on Jan. 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America hide caption

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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images North America

Culture

President Trump wants Seth Meyers fired. The FCC chair amplified the message

President Trump continues to rage over late night comedians who make fun of him. This weekend he posted on social media that Seth Meyers has "no talent" and called for NBC to fire him.

Ken Burns speaks onstage during the New York premiere of PBS’ The American Revolution during the 2025 Atlantic Festival on September 18 in New York City.

Ken Burns speaks onstage during the New York premiere of PBS' The American Revolution during the 2025 Atlantic Festival on September 18 in New York City. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Movie Interviews

Ken Burns shares 3 thoughts on upcoming 'American Revolution' series

In his latest project, Ken Burns turns his lens to the American Revolution — an event he has called the most significant since the birth of Christ.

Filmmaker Ken Burns examines the 'American Revolution' in new documentary series

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Michael Shannon as James Garfield in Death by Lightning.

Michael Shannon as James Garfield in Death by Lightning. Larry Horricks/Netflix hide caption

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Larry Horricks/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

‘Death By Lightning’ is peak Dad TV

Netflix’s Death by Lightning pits President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) against Charles Guiteau (Matthew McFadyen), the disgruntled would-be political operative who shot him. But it’s not quite the stuffy, stately historical drama that you – and your dad – are probably expecting. Toss in a brace of white middle-aged actors in great big bushy beards and sideburns – Shea Whigham, Nick Offerman, Bradley Whitford – and you’ve got yourself a show.

Death By Lightning

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The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777; By: John Trumbull; ca. 1789-1831. At the center of the painting Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, cut off from his men, awaits the fatal blow from a British bayonet. General George Washington, in the background, charges onto the battlefield to rally the troops.

The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777, by John Trumbull, ca. 1789-1831 Alamy Stock Photo/PBS hide caption

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Alamy Stock Photo/PBS

Review

TV Reviews

Ken Burns' 'American Revolution' will make you think differently about U.S. history

Burns' six-part documentary uses voiceover, reenactors and drone footage to tell the story of America's founding. And it reminds viewers that the quest for a more perfect union is far from over.

FA: TV review: American Revolution

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Cleto Escobedo in 2016.

Cleto Escobedo in 2016. Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images hide caption

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Randy Holmes/Disney via Getty Images

Obituaries

Cleto Escobedo III, leader of Jimmy Kimmel's house band, dies at 59

Escobedo had been leading Kimmel's house band since the show launched in 2003. The musician and the comedian were childhood friends in Las Vegas.

Cleto Escobedo III, leader of Jimmy Kimmel's house band, dies at 59

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A still from the "Eve of the Outcasts" multimedia experience at Netflix House Philadelphia.

The first Netflix House opens in King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia on Wednesday. Kat Kendon/Netflix Attractions hide caption

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Kat Kendon/Netflix Attractions

Culture

The first 'Netflix House' is open — with virtual reality, mini-golf and lots of selfies

The company's first permanent in-person space is a former Lord & Taylor department store in the King of Prussia Mall outside Philadelphia. Locations are on the way in Dallas and Las Vegas.

The first 'Netflix House' is open. It features screenings, games and lots of selfies

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Rhea Seehorn in Pluribus.

Rhea Seehorn in Pluribus. Apple TV hide caption

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Apple TV

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We are united in our love of ‘Pluribus’

The new and highly anticipated Apple TV series Pluribus, from Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad), asks a simple question: What if a proud misanthrope suddenly found herself truly alone? Pluribus stars Rhea Seehorn (Better Call Saul) in a tour de force performance as a miserable romantasy author who escapes an event that swallows practically everyone on Earth. The show is a creepy, lonely, darkly funny look at loss and what makes us human.

Pluribus

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Michael Shannon plays President James Garfield and Betty Gilpin is First Lady Crete Garfield in Death By Lightning.

Michael Shannon plays President James Garfield and Betty Gilpin is first lady Crete Garfield in Death By Lightning. Larry Horricks/Netflix hide caption

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Larry Horricks/Netflix

Review

TV Reviews

'Death by Lightning' unfolds like an 1880s 'West Wing'

Netflix's new four-part miniseries dives into the plot to assassinate President James Garfield. Death by Lightning is full of recognizable arrogance, political intrigue and unexpected betrayal.

FA: Death by Lightening

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Rachel Sennott in I Love LA.

Rachel Sennott in I Love LA. Kenny Laubbacher/HBO hide caption

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Kenny Laubbacher/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'I Love LA' reinforces our love for Rachel Sennott

Rachel Sennott’s next project, the HBO series I Love LA, has finally arrived. And like plenty of shows before it, it’s about young people trying to work and socialize in a big city while screwing up in every conceivable way. Sennott stars as an ascendant employee at a boutique talent management firm with a very online crew played by Josh Hutcherson, Jordan Firstman, Odessa A’zion and True Whitaker. 

I Love LA

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Duke McCloud is Milo and Sarah Snook is Marissa in All Her Fault.

Sarah Snook plays Marissa, a mother desperately trying to locate her 5-year-old son (Duke McCloud), in a new Peacock thriller miniseries adapted from Andrea Mara's novel All Her Fault. Sarah Enticknap/Peacock hide caption

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Sarah Enticknap/Peacock

Review

TV Reviews

A child disappears from a playdate and it's 'All Her Fault' in this gripping TV series

Sarah Snook plays a mother desperately trying to locate her 5-year-old son in this gripping Peacock miniseries. The psychological thriller is adapted from Andrea Mara's novel All Her Fault.

FA: TV Review: All Her Fault

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Bill Skarsgård in IT: Welcome to Derry.

Bill Skarsgård in IT: Welcome to Derry. Brooke Palmer/HBO hide caption

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Brooke Palmer/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

A new generation is down to clown in ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’

In new HBO prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry, we return to the clown who keeps on giving. Based on the Stephen King novel and a prequel to the films It (2017) and It Chapter Two (2019), the show finds a whole new crop of kids being terrorized by whatever lives underneath their little town in Maine. And at the nearby military base, some of the local adults are acting pretty sketchy, too. There is a lot going on and a lot of it is very bloody. Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise, but be patient since it takes a while to lay eyes on him.

IT: Welcome To Derry

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