Seth Rogen’s New Show Deserves Its Perfect Rotten Tomatoes Score

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Following a great deal of excitement, it’s been confirmed that Seth Rogen is back on our television screens, and according to all reports, he’s brought one of the finest new sitcoms in recent memory. The latest offering from Apple TV, titled The Studio, joins a seemingly never-ending stream of Hollywood satires, with HBO’s now defunct The Franchise being an earlier example. However, unlike the lukewarm response received by The Franchise, The Studio currently boasts a remarkable 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Apart from collaborating on the production with his writing companion Evan Goldberg, Rogen additionally portrays Matt Remick, a cinephile who’s been around since the silver screen era. When he gets promoted to lead Continental Studios, a role he previously considered a dream fulfilled turns out to be more of a headache, as he grapples with corporate pressures, economic shifts, and the tribulations of filmmaking. This situation resembles a contemporary adaptation of “The Player“, blending elements of gentle satire and brutal criticism of the movie industry. However, one may wonder if it truly meets its inflated expectations.

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‘The Studio’ Is One of 2025’s Funniest Shows

Absolutely, The Studio is shaping up to be one of the top new sitcoms this year, with Rogen and Goldberg’s humor style from movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express proving highly effective. This humor keeps the atmosphere light and joyful, even when it leans towards crude jokes, but it never crosses into being unkind.

As a comedy enthusiast, I find Rogen’s portrayal of Remick spot-on, showcasing both his character’s intense love for filmmaking and his relatable frustration with the challenges he encounters. What makes this even more impressive is that he’s part of an exceptional ensemble, each member at the peak of their comedic prowess.

Comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, stepping into the shoes of Patty Leigh, delivers some of her most subtle performances in years, yet her dry humor perfectly offsets the absurdity swirling around her. Ike Barinholtz, known for his work on MADTV, as Remick’s closest friend, also brings plenty of laughs to the table.

As a film enthusiast, let me tell you, this series is packed with a phenomenal ensemble of guest stars to begin with! Bryan Cranston, in his role as Continental CEO Griffin Mill, brilliantly portrays the unabashed greed typical of many studio executives. It’s a testament to his versatility as an actor, showing us just how hilarious he can be beyond Walter White. The first two episodes alone boast a celebrity lineup that would make for an impressive cast in a new Benoit Blanc movie – Paul Dano, Charlize Theron, and Greta Lee are among them, and each one is side-splittingly funny.

Scorsese’s comedic performances in his guest roles are simply unmatched, and the pilot centers around Remick’s endeavors to produce a film about the Kool-Aid Man, as instructed by Griffin Mill. Incredibly, Scorsese is briefly signed on as director. However, there’s a twist: Scorsese intends to make a movie about the Jonestown massacre, where Kool-Aid (actually Flavor-Aid) was involved in a sinister manner. If justice prevails, Scorsese’s hilarious acting and his readiness to mock himself should undoubtedly earn him an Emmy.

‘The Studio’ Is a Treasure Trove for Film Junkies

The Studio, being as amusing as any comedy, truly sparkles when it critiques Hollywood and the movie-making industry. For those who have worked as Production Assistants or had experiences navigating the challenges of a film set, The Studio is filled with laughter because it mirrors reality quite closely. Scenes like negotiating talent for future projects, exploiting social media trends in advertising, and minor crew disturbances disrupting actors’ performances should resonate strongly with movie enthusiasts as relatable situations.

In the standout second episode titled “The Oner”, the plot revolves around a team’s daring attempt to execute a single long-take scene, similar to what was seen in movies like ‘Birdman’ and Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’. Enthusiast Remick, eager to witness such technical prowess, drops by the set, offering unwanted suggestions to director Sarah Polley (who is also acting in the show) and disrupting the cast by trying to socialize with them. With time running short as they aim to capture the shot before sunset, Polley and her team become increasingly frustrated with Remick’s antics, creating a mix of suspense and humor as we wait for a small mistake to potentially spoil an otherwise flawless take.

Similar to The Studio at its peak, the episode skillfully combines wit and admiration for the world of cinema. A discussion arises where Barinholtz’s character, Sal, criticizes lengthy single shots as directorial self-indulgence: “It’s like the director indulging himself while making everyone else’s lives a misery.” However, Remick counters that at their finest, such shots can symbolize the pinnacle of filmmaking. In an amusingly meta twist, “The Oner” itself is presented as a single shot, and it is said that every episode in the season includes at least one long take, seemingly paying tribute to The Player.

To put it simply, The Studio not only meets but surpasses expectations, providing some of the most side-splitting humor television has offered in quite a while. In an era where satire from Hollywood frequently focuses on low-hanging fruit, Rogen and Goldberg have a deep understanding of the film industry, making their commentary both insightful and sharp. After only two episodes, it’s evident that this is one of the top new shows of 2025, and we can hardly wait for more.

You can catch The Studio on Apple TV+, with fresh episodes premiering every Wednesday.

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2025-03-29 23:02