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Must Watch reviews: The Studio

Every week the Must Watch podcasters review the biggest TV and streaming shows.

This week, Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan Rima Ahmed to review, new Apple TV+ show The Studio.

Co-created and starring Seth Rogen as an movie executive in Hollywood, The Studio follows Matt Remick attempting to juggle celebrity egos and corporate demands as he tries to keep his movies alive and relevant.

But what do the team think?

What do the Must Watch reviewers think of The Studio?

Hayley Campbell and Scott Bryan give their views on The Studio.

Rima: "I think that Seth Rogen has played an absolute blinder with this TV show. I think it's one of my favourite things that I've seen in years."

Hayley: "Oh, wow."

Scott: "No, really?"

Hayley: "That's big talk."

Rima: “I love all of this extra stuff that's going on in the background, but also I do think it looks beautiful. Los Angeles looks amazing in this."

Scott: "And it's Apple, so they've spent a considerable amount of money making it look very amazing.”

Rima: "Seth Rogen looks good too. He's doing a great job as this studio executive who's the kind of Michael Scott of the film world. Like if you've ever watched the American Office, very much like a bumbling executive. I loved it."

Apple TV+

Hayley: "Yeah, so did I. It's basically a man who loves films trying to work at the most artless end of the film-making business.

if you're a film nerd, you will love this"

"So he's trying to balance his desire to make good movies with the fact that the studio wants to make money and he sort of has to sell his soul to keep his job. And all the ways he has to do that are chaotic and incredibly funny.

“The way it's shot, the second episode in particular, is almost one take and it's frenetic and stressful and it's so tense it has that kind of Curb Your Enthusiasm quality to it. Like when you're watching it and you want to hide behind the sofa because it's getting so painful.”

Rima: "It's stressful to watch. Like, it's quite panic-inducing watching a full uncut half an hour in this man's life.

“But also, I'm going to say something here. I know I just said that I really love this, but the one-shot thing, I don't think it works for everything. And I think there are some scenes where it doesn't work for The Studio."

Apple TV+

Hayley: "Oh, really? I thought it really worked in the second episode. It's on the set of a film and it was physically painful for me to watch. He insists on paying a visit to the set of a film they're financing, even though no one wants him there.

"And the film is doing this hugely important one take shot. The episode itself is shot kind of in one take. It's being shot at a specific time of day, so they have to get the right lighting - there's no margin for error.

“I'm a film journalist, so I've been on loads of different sets and your one job as a totally useless person is to stay out of the way.

"And it is actually quite hard work because you're in the way whatever you do. You're always stepping on a cable, you're getting in a shot, you're sitting on someone's script or you’re in an actor's eye line and you're being annoying. And this guy did the opposite of everything I try to do.

"He was constantly in the way, physically, audibly, emotionally even, and I had to pause it and go do something else because the tension was so specific to something I have lived that I just couldn't face it - it was too real.

"So I think if you're a film nerd, you will love this. There are so many in-jokes that go by in a split second and so many cameos - they're probably all in Seth Rogen's phone, he's just texting them. I loved it - I thought it was great fun. Horrible but fun."

Apple TV+

Scott: "I just love that for a one-take episode, that you, Hayley, could only watch it in several attempts - it does somehow devoid the entire process.

There's so many A-listers - you can't work out who’s a cameo and who’s a character"

"Not to be that cynical person at a party, because I did a little bit of digging, it isn't all filmed in one take. It's essentially quite long takes and they used kind of quite a long, elaborate shot. So I think it's about four different scenes spliced together."

Hayley: "They'll pan across something dark, that's a good place to cut it."

Rima: "There's an in-joke where someone says, 'audiences don't care if it's a one shot or not', and actually watching it, in my head. I was thinking - 'yeah, because why am I asking the question of how the camera has got off the back of the car into the house when I should be focusing on what's happening in the scene?'"

Apple TV+

Scott: "To bring it back to Adolescence and not to be even more cynical, part of me wishes that actually it was filmed in one take, just because people really do care when it has been pulled off.

"I think for me, I agree. I think that this is a Must Watch too. It manages to do so many things. It's incredibly hard for it to pull off, but it does because it manages to, I think, merge three shows together and create something new.

"So it's bit like W1A - in of things going wrong. It's quite 30 Rock-ish, that Tina Fey sitcom in of its observations about the media and TV, and it's also a bit like Ricky Gervais's Extras in of having loads of stars making observations and essentially making fun of their own persona. There's so many A-listers that at times, you can't work out who is a cameo and who is actually a character in this TV show.

"But the biggest stroke of genius is the fact that it doesn't become smug or too much in love with itself because that's the number one failing that can happen with these sorts of shows where it's a love letter to your own industry.

"I think some episodes are better than others, but it's consistent enough, it's quite sitcom-y. The fact that it was able to pull it off without falling down is a complete masterstroke.”

Apple TV+

Rima: "We need to talk about some of those cameos because they are delicious. Martin Scorsese in that first episode had me rolling on the ground. I had to pause with some of his line delivery. Maybe one of the best directors of all time, but why is no one talking about Martin Scorcese's acting skills?"

Hayley: "And he's so willing to make fun of himself. Do you ever watch his daughter's TikToks that she does with Martin Scorsese? He just seems to be up for anything. Like, why not? He's so great.”

Rima: "So there's two episodes out already. Is it a weekly thing? Because Apple like to do this, don't they?”

Scott: "As a way to keep you subscribing, yes they do... So the first two are out now.”

Hayley: "So everyone who cancelled your subscription after Severance, you're going to have to go back in."

The first two episodes of The Studio are available to watch on Apple TV+ now, with a new episode every Wednesday.

But before all that, why not Scott and Hayley with the shows you’ve been loving, loathing or lamenting on [email protected].

This week, the team reviewed Million Dollar Secret and Austin.

Must Watch is released as a podcast every Monday evening on BBC Sounds.

As always, we like to include your reviews - on shows you love, loathe or lament.

Message @bbc5live on social media using the hashtag #bbcmustwatch or email [email protected].

Adolescence

Ian shared his thoughts on the show which has been on everyone’s lips recently…

Adolescence does sound good but seems like a tough watch. I'm not a parent, I know it's hard for people to understand.

Adolescence will be shown in UK high schools, here’s what Graham texted in to say…

A similar thing happened with La Haine in with the PM Alain Juppé made his cabinet all watch it to understand what was happening in the poor areas of Paris.

Annie loved it…

Although Adolescence is amazing, my fourteen-year-old son didn't entirely get the link between the online content and the murder as perhaps it's not super spelled out and therefore not as apparent to a child. A lot of conversation will need to happen in schools.

This City is Ours

The team reviewed this BBC drama last week, but what did SImon make of it?

The writer and the production team are dealing with material they have no experience of themselves so it is bound to lack authenticity, despite the Scouse accents. How much more interesting it would have been if the series had told the women's story and started from the initial premise of a decent woman getting involved against her better judgement with an unsavoury character?

But Polly thought differently…

We couldn’t tear ourselves away from it. We binged the lot in three nights. Acting impeccable and very authentic.

White Lotus

Gerry thinks Scott and Hayley should give this another crack…

You really should give White Lotus Season 3 another go. A couple of episodes in - I didn't think much of it but I'm so glad I stuck with it. The American family plot strand is deliciously, ironically dark. I find myself caring deeply about some of the characters, a sure sign of superior drama. I loved seasons one and two, but this is the best season yet.

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