‘The Wire’ celebrates it’s 20th anniversary earlier this month, as one of the most groundbreaking drama series of the 21st century.
Westworld’s fourth season, scheduled to premiere on June 26 on HBO, will appear to test society’s very nature as the android ‘hosts’ threaten to throw the very concept of reality out of the window and pit us against each other.
HBO Max’s “Father of the Bride” movie is a hilarious, charming, feel-good family movie, that enthusiastically showcases social commentary in regard to blending cultures, gender norms, and family traditions.
HBO’s That Damn Michael Che follows in the footsteps of great Black sketch comedy.
Season 2 of Pause with Sam Jay returns to HBO on May 20th.
HBO Max’s Legendary turned the Brooklyn Museum into a ballroom last Tuesday, to celebrate the shows third season that premiered on May 19.
Last week, guests walked back in time with HBO’s Human By Orientation, who hosted a lavish uptown affair in an Upper East Side mansion that felt it could have belonged to Gentleman Jack‘s main character herself. Gentleman Jack, a queer period drama is now in its second season and is based on the collected dairies of Anne Lister. Those diaries contain over four million words and are written largely in secret code, documenting a lifetime of lesbian relationships maintained by Lister. The first season was celebrated for its exploration of the complex social landscape of the 19th century and the subtle wit and passion of Lister (expertly portrayed by Suranne Jones).
Cortney Key and Lenai Wilkerson dance at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
In our own way, guests were able to luxuriate in Lister’s atmosphere by way of the soirée in a hallowed home: the austere, dramatic Fabbri house, built in 1916. The property and building were bought and financed by Margaret Louis Vanderbilt Shepard as a wedding gift to her daughter, Edith Shepard Fabbri. It was said that dinners would not begin until after 1am and guests would stay weeks.
Quartet at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
Today, we partake in a similar pleasure in the spare and delightfully cold Italian interior (already of antique demographic by 1916), warmed by candle sticks lining the walls and halls, a string quartet providing music through the evening, and even period-influenced dances by Cortney Key and Lenai Wilkerson. Cocktails were prepared in the spirit of the period on the mezzanine, served in glassware of a rare regal scale and quality, weighing more than 2 pounds each. In the courtyard, a Mercedes-Benz SL350 “Pagoda” sat, the car Ms. Lister would have been well-likely to drive if she had the choice. The grand library of the Fabbri house was converted into a screening area where guests watched the first episode of the new season of Gentleman Jack. The drawing room with its important and intricate ceiling (coming way of Italy by boat) was the site of a photo studio, complete with gorgeous floral arrangements by Nicole Absher framing a period sofa.
Guests at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
Guests at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
The beautiful florals continued into the dining room, where a U-shaped table was arranged at the foot of an imported mantle. Guests assembled for a multi-course meal prepared by celebrated chef Melissa King (Melissa was quite busy this week as she had the MET Gala dinner to serve yesterday as well). The menu, according to Melissa, was heavily influenced by the period (especially the pea soup, “Always the pea soup”). But Melissa also included a part of her own legacy, that of being a queer person with Cantonese heritage. “There are some Asian influences here, especially in the selection of ingredients”.
Table at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
OJ Williams and Benjamin Schmidt at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
Read more about Lister and her diary at the West Yorkshire Archive Service Exhibit blog. Gentleman Jack seasons one and two are streaming now on HBO Max as part of their Queer Voices collection. Learn more and watch the series here. Follow along with HBO’s LGBTQ community on Instagram @humanbyorientation.
Hosts at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
Guest at Gentleman Jack Dinner in NYC. 25 April 2022. Photo by Cirsty Burton
April 24th 2022, Barry Season 3 kicked off on HBO.
A week prior to the release date, I attended the Barry Season 3 Red Carpet Premiere in Arts District CA at Rolling Greens Nursery. There I got to chat with the cast of the show about their proudest and most challenging moments. Bill Hader expressed his enthusiasm for starting back on the show and having avid watchers experience all the new season has to offer.
After the red carpet attendees were led to an outdoor seating area where we had an exclusive sneak peak of the first two episodes. Following the screening, guests were welcomed to an after party. There was an open bar with signature cocktails, a vegan salad bar, a spaghetti station and a pizza station. All things were in the theme of Barry.
Guests were also able to customize their own pottery in a tie dye pattern. Once it dried you were able to pick your own plant to tuck into the pot. There was a dance floor and comfortable seating area throughout the event to relax and enjoy the ambiance.
Overall, the show itself has a darker tone than ever. The dark humor and the drama are at an all time high, it will be great to witness the show reach its boiling point. Barry Season 3 new episodes will be available every Sunday on HBO Max.
Watch our red carpet interview with the cast on our youtube page.
The “We Own This City” series premiere started off by giving me A$AP Ferg music video vibes with it’s fast and detailed editing, showcasing archival footage of the police department, Baltimore and it’s civilians, through overlapping photographs, colorfully highlighted text, and documentary-style videos, that all pause and fast- forward in a moment’s notice.
The Knockturnal was on the scene for a special screening of director Barry Levinson’s latest film “The Survivor.”