If you skipped The Studio, do yourself a favor and give it a shot

I don’t usually watch trailers, but Apple TV+ makes it nearly impossible to avoid them with how aggressively it peddles its own content.

After the umpteenth time that sharp trumpet note from The Studio’s trailer blared through my TV while I was just trying to watch something else, I gave in. My first thought? Yeah, no. Looks way too over the top. Eleven episodes later, I can confirm: it absolutely is. And it’s glorious. Give it a shot and you’ll thank Sal Saperstein later

The Studio wrapped its first season this week, and every bit of hype you’ve seen is entirely justified. Even if comparisons like “It’s Apple’s Curb Your Enthusiasm” might give you pause, especially if Larry David’s show wasn’t that appealing to you, give it an episode. Odds are, you’ll be hooked.

While it does lean on the well-worn trope of celebrities playing fictionalized, often unflattering versions of themselves (something The Larry Sanders Show pioneered and Curb pretty much ran on for 12 seasons), The Studio manages to put a welcome fresh spin on it.

The oners

One of The Studio’s coolest features is its commitment to long, intricate single-take scenes (which reportedly saved them from Apple’s meddling), commonly known as “oners.” This technical flair, in turn, is promptly mocked during Episode 2, aptly titled “The Oner”.

On Threads, the show’s creator and actor Seth Rogen (Superbad, Platonic) has shared behind-the-scenes clips showing the absurd gymnastics involved in pulling these off. Here’s one shot where the crew surreptitiously disassembles and reassembles a long wooden table mid-scene.

Despite its technical ambition, The Studio never takes itself too seriously. It’s deeply self-aware, constantly poking fun at Hollywood’s egos and rituals, sometimes even at its own expense. Much like Curb, you can often spot actors visibly enjoying themselves a bit too much, which only adds to the show’s chaotic, meta charm.

All in all and against all odds, The Studio has become one of my favorite shows on Apple TV+. Thankfully, Apple has already renewed it for a second season.

Apple TV+ is available for $12.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like The Studio, The Morning Show, Shrinking and Silo.