Hollywood (miniseries)

[ClassyCo]

This miniseries literally just caught my eye today. I'm so glad someone else is paying for Netflix at my house, and that gives me time to binge this show in just a couple of days and for free!

It's a show about Hollywood just after World War II. It takes several well-known people and spins their stories into a fictional tale of just how far wannabes will go to be a somebody.

Have any of you watched it?

 

[Brian Kinney]

I liked it. Much more than Ryan Murphy's first show for Netflix (The Politican). And also more than Feud and Pose which are his most positively received TV series by critics. The critics don't like Hollywood. Don't believe 'em.

The idea to change the life of historical characters and give them a probably better life (as in the case of Rock Hudson) caught my attention. The 'what if' is a Tarantino idea for the small-screen but the cast and diverse characters entertained me. There were some heartbreaking moments

Hollywood is a fantasy that gives hopes to those who don't have that freedom or are on the verge to lose it because of extremists. Every society needs heroes like Archie Coleman, Avis Amberg, Raymond Ainsley, Camille Washington or Dick Samuels and their supporters as Ernie West (played by scene stealer Dylan McDermott). It's also a nice look back to the "golden days" of Hollywood that were never that shiny for most of the people who live/d there. Sexual abuse is seen here through they eyes of a gay and a straight victim - both dealing with the same gay offender.

Trivia: It seems to be the first Ryan Murphy show without flashbacks.

 

[Rove]

It's on my list to watch...so will revisit this later.

 

[ClassyCo]

I liked it. Much more than Ryan Murphy's first show for Netflix (The Politican). And also more than Feud and Pose which are his most positively received TV series by critics. The critics don't like Hollywood. Don't believe 'em.

The idea to change the life of historical characters and give them a probably better life (as in the case of Rock Hudson) caught my attention. The 'what if' is a Tarantino idea for the small-screen but the cast and diverse characters entertained me. There were some heartbreaking moments

Hollywood is a fantasy that gives hopes to those who don't have that freedom or are on the verge to lose it because of extremists. Every society needs heroes like Archie Coleman, Avis Amberg, Raymond Ainsley, Camille Washington or Dick Samuels and their supporters as Ernie West (played by scene stealer Dylan McDermott). It's also a nice look back to the "golden days" of Hollywood that were never that shiny for most of the people who live/d there. Sexual abuse is seen here through they eyes of a gay and a straight victim - both dealing with the same gay offender.

Trivia: It seems to be the first Ryan Murphy show without flashbacks.

I personally liked Feud, but I look at Hollywood as the way Ryan Murphy wanted to do the Davis-Crawford squabble, but FX wouldn't let him. I know the critics don't usually like the rewriting of history, namely the way it's done with old Hollywood in the scenario. I don't mind things being turned on their heads and changed up a bit, but only if it's done right. And this is done right.

I binged the first three episodes yesterday. Four more to go.

 

[ClassyCo]

I finished the miniseries earlier today. I thought it was good, but shows like this always leave me wanting more. Of course, I understand the idea could only be stretched so far, but one wonders if the idea could have been better utilized had it spanned ten or twelve episodes. Like Feud, Murphy's Hollywood lays a lot of foundation, then rapidly speeds up the story in the last couple of episodes to wrap it up during the time allotted.

Hollywood is an interesting idea. I do like how the shake things up concerning black and Asian actors in old Hollywood and bring them to the forefront. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so my thoughts here will definitely remain vague. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't watched it, but is planning to, and would prefer to do so without anything being ruined.

It's great how the writers bring it fictional characters and a fictional film studio to banner their story.

It's a good show. I liked it.

 

[Toni]

I´ll bingewatch "Hollywood" as soon as the Spanish version is available (our dubbing professionals have been quarantined, as everybody else...). I want to see it in good company, otherwise I would have watched it already. I did take a look at one of those "Letsreuniteverybodyintheirhousesandtrytounderstandwhattheysay" thingie, you know, the specials like the "Dallas" recent one, and the "Hollywood" boys, among them Darren Criss, said that the show was going to be one of those soft-porn dramas that Showtime used to air not long ago, with "prosthetics of penises" and so on. But Mr. Murphy seemed to chicken out and he seemingly made it more tame (he did, didn´t he?) just when time came to film it.

I hope that it will be more fluid than the "Versace" miniseries, and less self-conscious than "The Politician", which I still have to finish. On the other side, "Feud" was to me must-see TV, almost instant classic TV, and I wonder if Ms. de Havilland´s never-ending suit will affect the upcoming productions of la Murphy. Sometimes to have too much freedom or budget is a problem, as the latter seasons of "American Horror Story" prove, or even some moments of "Versace".

 

[Edie70]

I absolutely love Holland Taylor and Patti LuPone in this.

 

[Toni]

This show is my biggest disappointment this season. Honestly I don´t care about any of the characters. Holland Taylor is fab but they are describing an alternate reality where women in their seventies still work...and that´s the least incredible thing about it. It´s a shame what they are doing with Rock Hudson´s memory (I´ve only seen 4 episodes...) and I wonder if he has any people left that may be considered as his inheritors...just in case they pull a Olivia de Havilland.

My biggest problem is that I don´t even find it fun, it´s like a soft-core porn minus the sex. And it´s not even exciting at all. They initially wanted to go all the way in this direction and make them use prosthetic you know where...I think Ryan Murphy is losing his creative touch as the last seasons of "American Horror Story" have proved already. And now he doesn´t even turn to Hollywood legends like Jessica Lange or Kathy Bates to star in his productions. Here Lupone looks her usual constipated but even Darren Criss is wasted, despite his Emmy and other awards for Versace. Be back when I´d watched the end...Hasta la vista babies...

 

[Alexis Colby Carrington]

I started to binge watch this, this week, I've just watched the screen test episode. So far, I'm enjoying it.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I probably should give this show more time but I've only watched the first episode and wasn't encouraged to return. I just found it a bit hammy at times, which I know might be a play on the "showbiz" (insert jazz hands here) feel of the time but I just wasn't buying into it. That scene where he is pretending to be the cop in the diner was my cue to leave. I do love other Ryan Murphy shows like American Crime Story and Feud but Hollywood is just not for me.

 

[Willie Oleson]

After the disappointment of Pose and The Politician I have no intention whatsoever to watch Hollywood. That said, The Politician had an amazing pilot episode that focused on the ambiguity of the story and characters but unfortunately they weren't able to sustain that atmosphere. ACS series 1 was amazing, series 2 was all about making a handsome psychopath look interesting. He wasn't.
So, all in all, I've become very wary of Ryan Murphy shows as they prove to be very hit-or-miss. The premise of Hollywood is a huge red flag which I prefer not to ignore.

 

[Ukdallasfan]

I liked this show for its optimism and majorly happy ending. Of course, I was watching it at a time when escapism was very much needed. I loved the production values, especially the costumes, and, for me, Patti Lupone and Holland Taylor smashed it

 

[Alexis]

So is this cloying and preachy and total fantasy where Rock Hudson is concerned? Will I hate it? Hmmmmmmm....

 

[Alexis]

Well I started it last night and was surprised that I really enjoyed the first two episodes. It was the usual Ryan Murphy pretty boy parade for sure. The guy playing Jack Castello is unbelievably gorgeous. I think after I saw him on screen I was hooked anyway I probably would have watched on just for him. However I did really like the first two episodes. I thought it looked great and had a unique feel to it all. And the episodes seemed to race by so quickly, always a sign I enjoy it. And then episode three happened. I mean, what the hell was that actress they cast to play Vivien Leigh? Perhaps one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses to have ever graced the silver screen. Here played as a really hammy parody of her. And not even addressing her manic depressive nature in a tactful way. She's not a lead in the show, more of a background character but the actress that's playing her is awful and how they have covered her mental illness so far is horrible. A quick bang in the pool house is all that's needed to cure her manic episode? That was the first strike against the show for me. Patti Lupone being rammed over a banister by a 27yr old hunk I could deal with but not that...

I also am sort of having a hard time with trying to deal with these current topics and ideas being placed in a 1940s landscape. I know a lot of stuff went on then just as it does now. I know there were predatory agents like Henry Wilson. I know how people got parts, I know there were gay, bi, lesbian people back then too obviously. I just cant seem to buy the fantasy land where Rock Hudson yells at Noel Coward to stop dancing with his man. His black gay boyfriend, in what? 1948?, at a George Cukor's house.

I know that the whole point of this show is a revisionism. A what if scenario, where freedoms are granted and we see people get a happier life than the one they actually lead. It's just hard to take the melding of the two realities. It's early days though just three episodes in and I am adjusting to how we are shifting from a reality to more a fantasyland. Which is I guess what Hollywood is all about anyway.

There are of course overly cloying bits like Eleanor Roosevelt showing up at the studio to convince these two new oodly progressive movie bosses that they need to cast a black actress as the lead in their film as a way to change America for the better. It's just so odd because it's so not what would have happened. You just have to keep in mind that the premise of the show isn't what happened, but what could/should have happened.

So far from what I have seen I think I can already see the ending coming. In the story they are making the movie Peg, about a young actress disillusioned with Hollywood, who never gets the break she needs, turns to drink and jumps off the Hollywood sign. I predict, from what I have seen so far that Patty Lupone's daughter, Claire who's had a screen test for the role of Peg, will not get the part, become disillusioned with Hollywood, turn to drink and jump off the Hollywood sign. It just seems obvious, maybe too obvious. Well we'll see.

Funnily enough just recently I bought Scotty Bowers book. He's the guy who was the inspiration for the gas station plot with all the extra services provided for the Hollywood rich and famous. Taking them all to Dreamland. I haven.t read the book yet, but have read a little about him already.

I mean how could I stop watching?

 

[Alexis]

Oh boy.... Well it got very silly didn't it? I mostly enjoyed it, I just don't think I like the basic idea of it that much. The whole fantasy land approach of it, especially having read a lot about the time and actual people mentioned and events featured. They really portrayed Rock Hudson as dumb as horse shit and a terrible actor when he wasn't. I don't know why they had to do that? You'd have thought someone could have objected to that.

Proposing to a woman who's mother you slept with when you were a male hooker. Everyone knowing this and everyone being fine with it? They could have made it so that Avis didn't actually sleep with Jack, that they just spent time together. It would have made it a little easier to swallow when he proposed to Claire.
By the way I was totally wrong in prediction. Although it quickly did become a bit preachy and cloying. Still though, I mostly enjoyed it, it was a fun little ride. I loved seeing Mira Sorvino and Dylan McDermott and Holland Taylor and Joe Mantello were great in it also.

 

[Toni]

Well I started it last night and was surprised that I really enjoyed the first two episodes. It was the usual Ryan Murphy pretty boy parade for sure. The guy playing Jack Castello is unbelievably gorgeous. I think after I saw him on screen I was hooked anyway I probably would have watched on just for him. However I did really like the first two episodes. I thought it looked great and had a unique feel to it all. And the episodes seemed to race by so quickly, always a sign I enjoy it. And then episode three happened. I mean, what the hell was that actress they cast to play Vivien Leigh? Perhaps one of the greatest and most beautiful actresses to have ever graced the silver screen. Here played as a really hammy parody of her. And not even addressing her manic depressive nature in a tactful way. She's not a lead in the show, more of a background character but the actress that's playing her is awful and how they have covered her mental illness so far is horrible. A quick bang in the pool house is all that's needed to cure her manic episode? That was the first strike against the show for me. Patti Lupone being rammed over a banister by a 27yr old hunk I could deal with but not that...

I also am sort of having a hard time with trying to deal with these current topics and ideas being placed in a 1940s landscape. I know a lot of stuff went on then just as it does now. I know there were predatory agents like Henry Wilson. I know how people got parts, I know there were gay, bi, lesbian people back then too obviously. I just cant seem to buy the fantasy land where Rock Hudson yells at Noel Coward to stop dancing with his man. His black gay boyfriend, in what? 1948?, at a George Cukor's house.

I know that the whole point of this show is a revisionism. A what if scenario, where freedoms are granted and we see people get a happier life than the one they actually lead. It's just hard to take the melding of the two realities. It's early days though just three episodes in and I am adjusting to how we are shifting from a reality to more a fantasyland. Which is I guess what Hollywood is all about anyway.

There are of course overly cloying bits like Eleanor Roosevelt showing up at the studio to convince these two new oodly progressive movie bosses that they need to cast a black actress as the lead in their film as a way to change America for the better. It's just so odd because it's so not what would have happened. You just have to keep in mind that the premise of the show isn't what happened, but what could/should have happened.

So far from what I have seen I think I can already see the ending coming. In the story they are making the movie Peg, about a young actress disillusioned with Hollywood, who never gets the break she needs, turns to drink and jumps off the Hollywood sign. I predict, from what I have seen so far that Patty Lupone's daughter, Claire who's had a screen test for the role of Peg, will not get the part, become disillusioned with Hollywood, turn to drink and jump off the Hollywood sign. It just seems obvious, maybe too obvious. Well we'll see.

Funnily enough just recently I bought Scotty Bowers book. He's the guy who was the inspiration for the gas station plot with all the extra services provided for the Hollywood rich and famous. Taking them all to Dreamland. I haven.t read the book yet, but have read a little about him already.

I mean how could I stop watching?

I agree with you about everything, especially "the problem" with Vivien Leigh and Rock Hudson...

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

I know how people got parts, I know there were gay, bi, lesbian people back then too obviously. I just cant seem to buy the fantasy land where Rock Hudson yells at Noel Coward to stop dancing with his man. His black gay boyfriend, in what? 1948?

I know, I know... And showing up hand-in-hand at the Oscars when you couldn't do that until the '90s.

I mean, what's the point of these kinds of intentional, glaring anachronisms?

I can except Bette & Joan tossing rumored-but-unsubstantiated slams at one another because if-they-didn't-they-shoulda/coulda, but completely rewriting cultural history as a fantasy? Is this GWTW??

 

[Willie Oleson]

I mean, what's the point of these kinds of intentional, glaring anachronisms?

It puzzles me too.

 

[Alexis]

I couldn't help think when watching it that some young people or people who just weren't very bright would see it, see that there were real people in it and believe that the events of the show were true.

 

[thomaswak]

Hollywood is a kind of "Once Upon A Time" story. It's a basically a Fairy tale in an alternate universe.
The finale episode confirmed that imo, as it's so "perfect". It's the kind of "and they lived together forever after" ending.

To be honest, I took it as it was and really enjoyed it. Just don't hope to watch facts or reality. It's a fantasyland.