TCB Debriefing 9/11/23: Rotting in the Sun, Yorgos Wins Venice, Daniel Van Kirk, Comics Unleashed
1. If you’ve been wondering what Jordan Firstman has been up to post-Search Party and beyond his IG characters, he’s been part of one of the more meta-films to come out in recent memory. In what might be the latest Sundance gem Rotting in the Sun, Firstman plays himself trying to collaborate with esteemed Chilean director Sebastián Silva (and then some) who is played by none other than Sebastián Silva. The trailer promises something equally trippy and sharply satirical, which proved to be buzzworthy at Sundance. Take a gander for yourself here, then look for Rotting in the Sun in limted release now and then on MUBI beginning Sept. 15th.
2. All hail comedy auteur Yorgos Lanthimos and his latest work, Poor Things, for winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival (i.e. the best film a la the Palme D’or at Cannes). We have a sneaking suspicion that Poor Things could be this (or next) year’s Triangle of Sadness.
3. The unforgettable Daniel Van Kirk is going all over the U.S. of A for his Rose Gold Tour (that’ll culminate in a taping of his latest special in Chicago), spreading his homespun, yet sharply crafted tomfoolery far and wide. Get in on that tickets right now at danielvankirk.com.
4. Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed is coming to late night (THR). The end of The Late Late Show and the double strike has CBS (and every other network) at an impasse with what to put on their programming schedule after 10:30pm. The long standing comedian showcase, Comics Unleashed, where Byron Allen often just brings up the topic of a comedian’s joke to make it seem like they’re having a panel discussion, will not only fill in for a late night slot, but will, in its just-ordered limited run on CBS, be the only instance of new stand-up comedy on linear TV.
5. Speaking of the double strike, NBCUniversal Studio Group (guess Comcast NBC Universal wasn’t that catchy?) has suspended their deal with almighty Lorne Michaels (Deadline). Perhaps, this will amount to an actually edgy season of SNL whenever it comes back?
6. So, the AMPTP’s angle is to try to pretend like the strike’s not happening at a Drew Barrymore Show taping? We could have swore that they hired a new crisis PR firm to better their image, but, with shenanigans like this, maybe not?
