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Post by Ripley on Dec 17, 2016 16:34:41 GMT -5
I'm delighted that Tim Goodman named Insecure one of his 2016 Best Series!
vhttp://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/best-tv-shows-2016-tim-goodman-955668/item/insecure-tim-goodman-picks-2016-955698
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Post by Ripley on Dec 19, 2016 17:59:18 GMT -5
"...though it may seem counterintuitive, Insecure’s lead Issa Rae has a commanding presence on screen. The erstwhile Awkward Black Girl is backed in this dramedy by a capable ensemble that includes Yvonne Orji and Jay Ellis, who are exceptionally charming themselves. But it’s Rae you won’t be able to take your eyes off of as she composes off-the-cuff raps to boost her confidence or puts her obnoxious co-workers in their place for their risible attempts at wokeness. The real-life Issa is the series creator and bestselling author, but her HBO counterpart is flailing to get a footing in her work and personal life. It’s the kind of “clueless millennial” story that’s de rigueur, but Insecure’s iteration is notable for having a black female lead. Inclusivity is far from the only thing on the agenda—as a writer and actor on the show, Rae fleshes out Issa’s life, showing off her petty side along with the genial one. She sells every moment of doubt and flair of inspiration, whether she’s looking longingly at the one who got away, or dropping rhymes about her best friend’s broken pussy in a desperate attempt to win over an open-mic crowd. [Danette Chavez..." From AVClub '35 Best Performances of the Year and 1 Worst" link
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Post by Ripley on Jan 12, 2017 16:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by Sexual Chocolate on Jan 12, 2017 21:36:39 GMT -5
She's gorgeous there. And she was equally gorgeous at the Golden Globes, too.
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Post by Ripley on Jan 12, 2017 21:43:35 GMT -5
Wow, yes she looked great! I hadn't seen her i n the few photos I looked at but I hate awards shows, so never watch.
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Post by Ripley on Feb 20, 2017 17:06:47 GMT -5
Sexual Chocolate, Insecure is part of a slate piece today "...A recent report from Nielsen backs up my inkling. Several current TV series featuring predominantly black casts or black lead storylines have demonstrated appeal beyond black audiences, pulling in sizable numbers from other demographics. Black-ish, Insecure, Atlanta, and How to Get Away With Murder average more than 50 percent nonblack viewership, and in the case of Black-ish, a surprising 79 percent of its audience is not black. Past series featuring predominantly black casts that had significant appeal outside of black viewers tended to be middle-of-the-road fare: Your Fresh Prince of Bel-Airs and Cosby Shows that rarely waded into sharp political territory (though the former did so more often than the latter) and featured benign, ostensibly family-friendly funnymen at their center. Shows that presented a more specific and targeted brand of black culture and humor, like Martin or Living Single, did not cross over to nearly the same extent. It says something that in 2017, shows like Atlanta, Black-ish, and Insecure—shows that wear their blackness proudly—are being made and embraced by those who don’t necessarily have those same experiences, or even fully understand all of the references and sensibilities. (I wonder how many people had to Google Juneteenth after an Atlanta episode last year or had no clue what an AKA is until Insecure’s Molly was revealed to be one.) In a sense, it’s real progress. But then, there’s a real fear that celebrating this demographic shift too much could reinforce the idea that black viewership isn’t as important or valuable as white viewership, even if black faces are at the forefront of future projects. Perhaps sensing how this data could be twisted, Nielsen also points out in its report that Empire still commands a predominantly black audience (though its nonblack viewership is still pretty high, at around 40 percent), and notes its Emmy nominations, star Taraji P. Henson’s Golden Globe win, and a Cover Girl makeup line inspired by the show. Black stories do sell, and we’re living in a moment when those stories don’t need to be diluted for nonblack people to want to tune in. Even when the news and the current presidential administration tell us otherwise, there’s a not insignificant amount of people who are willing to consider the perspectives of a culture other than their own, at least on screen and in fiction. I jumped in on the women’s conversation at the holiday party and seconded the recommendation that the others check it out. The conversation about Atlanta’s nuances and its depiction of black life never got as deep as it has with other black people I’ve talked with, or even just people closer to my own age. But it was kind of cool to see that woman find something to love about a show that seemed about as far removed from her own experiences as possible. That’s worth appreciating, at least..." linkI am always happy when Insecure gets a nod from the media.
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Post by Sexual Chocolate on Feb 20, 2017 20:18:54 GMT -5
I enjoy reading things like this but I always wonder what percentage of homes without a Nielsen box are made up of households of color.
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Post by Ripley on Jun 21, 2017 17:24:40 GMT -5
Sexual Chocolate and urdeadtome Issa Rae "Professionally I would be the hero of my own life story" THR - Roundtable video linked "The character in my show is named after me, and that was purely by accident," Issa Rae, creator and star of HBO's Insecure, told The Hollywood Reporter during the Comedy Actress Roundtable. "I didn't realize the implications." "For me it just came down to telling human stories," Rae told THR on wanting to create a show where people of color could be seen as relatable. "Trying to be funny, putting people in realistic situations. We're telling a very universally specific story." Rae also has made steps to push for more male nudity on the show than female nudity. "They've been really great and generous with their body parts," she said of her actors. "I would like to see more dicks..." link
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Post by Ripley on Jun 26, 2017 9:49:51 GMT -5
great news! Insecure season 2 premiere July 23rd. Sexual Chocolate, we are watching together this year.
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Post by Ripley on Jul 23, 2017 15:34:51 GMT -5
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Post by Ripley on Jul 27, 2017 22:39:39 GMT -5
Salon "...Rae’s Issa remains at the center of “Insecure,” and the visual interplay between her external image and her internal voice makes her character honest, flawed and incredibly funny. There’s the Issa who psyches herself up with pep talks in bathroom mirrors and the Issa the world sees, one whose eyes are often wide with confusion or awkward disappointment. Loving both is easy enough. Issa is braver now and her story broadens beyond simply digging into the gritty frustrations she and Molly face at work and in their off hours. It all makes the new eight-episode season immediate feel more vibrant than the first. But the Issa of season 1 is in a new place for the first time five years. Although her status with her longterm boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis) remains unclear, she’s alone and horny in the apartment they used to share. Season 2 flips the dynamic between Issa and Molly. Previously, the latter had more experience at hunting for romance and casual sex. But if dating is tough for Molly, it’s damn awkward for Issa and far less so for Lawrence (or if it is, the awkwardness is of his own making.) Often when a central couple in a show break up, there’s a compulsion among viewers to presume that the writers will find a way to bring them back together. But Rae and showrunner Prentice Penny use Issa and Lawrence’s separation to show the different challenges black men and women face after they get “out there.”..." link
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Post by Ripley on Jul 31, 2017 1:46:57 GMT -5
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Post by Ripley on Aug 7, 2017 19:55:17 GMT -5
I am late posting this but re-watched episode 3 this afternoon after laughing through most of last night's episode. Issa, girl, buy extra batteries! Her searching the house scouring for batteries was so well written and Issa Rae's face is the master of reactions. Her eventual solution didn't work nearly as well as if she had simply hit a local 7-11 and gotten batteries but I hope it goes on the Emmy reel next year.
Molly is delightful this year in every scene from carrying the big box with her flat pack and refusing the guy's help, to her eventual disappointment that she hadn't asked for help. The ending of the episode when the Sterling K. Brown (This is Us) character texted her and she blew him off felt very satisfying.
Lawrence flip-flopping throughout the episode into trying to be with Tasha yet wanting no attachments beyond easy sex and no commitment was well played by Jay Ellis I thought. Tasha took Lawrence to town at the end and did that so well, with her pain, hurt and disillusionment over how he treated her painfull yet not overplayed with a heavy hand.
If only Lawrence had just told her in the beginning " I'm getting out of a years-long relationship and want nothing more than casual in the moment fun right now" how much better that would have been although the character growth for both would have suffered.
I think Issa hates her job now and has lost that starry-eyed determination which seems fine and realistic to me. Issa trying to get the sex she wants but failing in the bar was poignant yet very funny. She ends up with good food but no mojo while Molly is the one who lands the hot date.
The ganger Issa settles for getting her jollies with is not worth her of course, and they have many cringe-worthy moments. urdeadtome, have you seen the episode yet? Sexual Chocolate I put this into spoiler tags so as not to sear your eyes until you have seen it:)
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Post by Ripley on Aug 8, 2017 18:12:53 GMT -5
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Post by Ripley on Aug 9, 2017 14:02:36 GMT -5
EW "Though it may only be halfway through its much-anticipated second season, Issa Rae’s Insecure has already been renewed by HBO for an upcoming third. The hit summer comedy, created by Rae and Larry Wilmore, was criminally passed over for an Emmy nod this year. Following the friendship of two young black women, season 2 picked up with Issa yearning for love after we witnessed her breakup with boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis), who has already begun to move on. So far, season 2 has delivered some of the show’s most hilarious, self-aware, and raw scenes — with a stellar soundtrack to boot..." link
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Post by urdeadtome on Aug 13, 2017 13:05:00 GMT -5
I am late posting this but re-watched episode 3 this afternoon after laughing through most of last night's episode. Issa, girl, buy extra batteries! Her searching the house scouring for batteries was so well written and Issa Rae's face is the master of reactions. Her eventual solution didn't work nearly as well as if she had simply hit a local 7-11 and gotten batteries but I hope it goes on the Emmy reel next year.
Molly is delightful this year in every scene from carrying the big box with her flat pack and refusing the guy's help, to her eventual disappointment that she hadn't asked for help. The ending of the episode when the Sterling K. Brown (This is Us) character texted her and she blew him off felt very satisfying.
Lawrence flip-flopping throughout the episode into trying to be with Tasha yet wanting no attachments beyond easy sex and no commitment was well played by Jay Ellis I thought. Tasha took Lawrence to town at the end and did that so well, with her pain, hurt and disillusionment over how he treated her painfull yet not overplayed with a heavy hand.
If only Lawrence had just told her in the beginning " I'm getting out of a years-long relationship and want nothing more than casual in the moment fun right now" how much better that would have been although the character growth for both would have suffered.
I think Issa hates her job now and has lost that starry-eyed determination which seems fine and realistic to me. Issa trying to get the sex she wants but failing in the bar was poignant yet very funny. She ends up with good food but no mojo while Molly is the one who lands the hot date.
The ganger Issa settles for getting her jollies with is not worth her of course, and they have many cringe-worthy moments. urdeadtome , have you seen the episode yet? Sexual Chocolate I put this into spoiler tags so as not to sear your eyes until you have seen it:) I did! It was funny as hell as usual! I love the characters on this show. Issa and Molly are hysterical together and the bar scene was so awkward for her but great, "What?, This is my sexy walk?!" but the ending when she pretty much dumpster dived with the neighbor dude was disappointing? I mean, I get that a chic has needs and all but I would have dragged my ass down the street for some new batteries before I went down that road! Looking forward to tonight's episode!
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Post by Ripley on Aug 13, 2017 13:35:06 GMT -5
Yeah 7-11 midnight stop preferable to nose smashing dude.
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Post by Ripley on Aug 25, 2017 11:18:21 GMT -5
Slate
"yvonne_orji_interview Yvonne Orji on Insecure. HBO
Like all of the characters on HBO’s hit series Insecure, Molly’s actions have inspired fierce debate and opinions among fans. For the latest episode of Represent, Aisha Harris spoke with Yvonne Orji about what it was like to audition for the role, how her faith influences her work and dating life, and how she deals with people who express animosity towards Molly. Below is a transcribed and edited excerpt from that conversation, in which Orji discusses critics of the show’s title and her thoughts on why Lawrence is currently the most insecure character of Season 2. You can check out the full episode in the audio player below.
Yvonne Orji: … When our show came out black people were upset like, “HBO gives her a show and they call it ‘Insecure’? See this is why I can’t stand it.”
Advertisement Wait, people really said that?
Oh my gosh, yeah! It was just like, “Why is it the first time a black girl gets a show on HBO, it’s got to be ‘Insecure’? Why can’t there be a better portrayal of us?” It was just like she’s awkward! She’s awkward! She was awkward before! So you were OK with awkward before. Awkward is taken. And it’s OK because, but I think that narrative, Issa was great about sharing. Like we’re all insecure about stuff. There’s nobody that wakes up every day winning. And it’s like, why do we need to so circumvent the image that’s out there as like, “We are saviors. We are warriors.” We get it—black girl magic is all day long. But at the same time, there’s black girl pixie dust that you have to have before you get to the magic. And pixie dust, it ain’t fully formed yet. You’re going to make some mistakes on your way, and you’ve made mistakes and you are insecure, but then you’re killing it in other aspects of your life too. And it’s OK.
But I think there was just this fear like you can’t let white people know that we’ve got insecurities because then their narrative about us is going to be justified. We’re not stunting nobody! They’re going to think whatever they’re going to think about us, so let’s just walk in the truth of who we are. And again, this might not be your story, and that’s OK. And that’s the beauty of having more seats at the table, more voices to say, “Well if this is not your story, that’s cool. We’re going to have this story, and then you can get in where you fit in.”
It’s funny because I had not heard that argument, which is a terrible argument to make. But then I also have co-workers who have said that they think that Issa’s character is not insecure enough. And I was like, I don’t know where that’s coming from. This is a woman who psyches herself up in the mirror and raps to herself … She’s pretty insecure.
Advertisement There were other people who said Obama wasn’t black enough. So I don’t know what scale of insecurities or black-ities or anything “-ies” is enough.
Well, question for you. Who do you think right now in Season 2 is the most insecure character?
I would say Lawrence.
I would agree.
Advertisement I would say Lawrence, because I think Lawrence is trying to find himself in a way that he hasn’t before. And it’s like also finding himself while on the up and up, which is like, you should find yourself before you get on the up and up, because then you’re solidified in who you are before the rise. But when you’re trying to figure it out as you’re rising, that’s problematic. That’s problematic. So I think that’s what he’s experiencing now. He’s just like, “I’m a good guy, but I’m trying to be a single guy and all I know is relationships. So that’s why he messed things up with Tasha. It’s like, “I’m jumping from one relationship to another to another, and for the last four years I’ve been in relationship mode, so I don’t know how to be Chad,” you know, his friend. Chad is like—I don’t know what Chad is. Chad is not single, and then he is single. Then he’s engaged, but then he’s flirting with the real estate [woman]. I don’t know. Chad is a mess is what he is.
Chad’s a fuckboy, and Lawrence is trying to be a fuckboy.
Well, Lawrence doesn’t know how not to be a relationship boy. Because of that, and by default because he doesn’t have the best people around him right now, he ends up being an F-boy. So there’s that.
Yeah I would agree that Lawrence is the most insecure right now. Leet’s actually talk about Molly this season, because she’s going through a lot and has evolved a lot. In the first season, you know, her and Issa have that huge falling out. And then they reunited by the end of it …but one of the things you fell out over was her suggesting that you go to therapy. And so this season you’re attempting to go to therapy.
Advertisement I’m in therapy, y’all. Well, Molly’s in therapy, y’all.
Well as of …
Well yeah, as of Episode 3, she’s not.
Or she’s trying to find a new therapist. Is there anything about your character this season that surprised you? And how much input do you get into your character?
I think we are seeing—it’s so funny because, like I was saying earlier, people were upset with Molly for not going to dinner or the concert with Lionel.
It is Sterling K. Brown, I’m just saying.
The Sterling K. Brown. But yeah, Molly’s doing what Lawrence probably should have done, which is taking a beat. When you like somebody but you don’t like them enough, it’s like, let’s not waste each other’s time. And yes, I could use you for a cool night out and I might even enjoy myself, but if I don’t feel like it’s going to go anywhere, why am I wasting your time? And I think she’s trying to process that, which is very different from Molly’s first season. Molly would’ve been moved in with Lionel. Molly would’ve been like, “What color arrangements do you want for the wedding? No, we can actually go to Vegas today.”
And you know, now she’s just taking a beat. And people aren’t OK with her doing that, so it’s just kind of like, what you all want my lead to do y’all? She’s trying to figure things out, and she’s trying not to be that person. Obviously yes, there are extremes, and maybe she might have gone from one extreme to the other. But that’s the thing when you’re trying to find the sweet spot in the middle. Goldilocks was like, “Nah this is too hot. Nah this is too cold.” OK, we’ll you have to go to the two extremes to figure out like, “I kind of like it warm.” And I think that’s where Molly is right now. Molly is trying to figure out what that sweet spot is.
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Post by Ripley on Sept 3, 2017 17:14:04 GMT -5
I'm loving season 2 so far and looking forward to tonight!. urdeadtome.
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Post by urdeadtome on Sept 3, 2017 20:12:48 GMT -5
I'm loving season 2 so far and looking forward to tonight!. urdeadtome . Me too! I'm sorry I haven't been around a lot this week, I've been extra busy and distracted?! I'm really glad you tagged me on this because I automatically had my reminder to watch "Insecure" since it followed GOT on Sundays (I totally skip "Ballers" for 30 min then come back!) This week I almost forgot! This is going to be a good episode tonight so I'll make sure to get back here with you and SC to discuss later! Hope all is well, talk to you guys later on.
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Post by Ripley on Sept 4, 2017 8:48:04 GMT -5
I haven't yet seen the episode as I worked on other stuff last night, but will catch it soon.
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Post by Ripley on Sept 9, 2017 19:27:37 GMT -5
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