Contents:
- JENNIFER COOLIDGE ON FIGHTG ‘EVIL GAYS’ AND SEASICKNS ‘THE WHE LOT’ SEASON 2 FALE
- MIKE WHE AND ‘THE WHE LOT’ STARS BREAK DOWN THAT JAW-DROPPG TWIST: I WANT TO ‘MAKE GAY SEX TRANSGRSIVE AGA’
- NEED A NEW TV OBSSN? RIGHT THIS WAY TO HBO'S THE WHE LOT MIKE WHE’S NEW LIMED SERI, WH CONNIE BRTON, JENNIFER COOLIDGE AND MORE, NCERNS RICH, SELF-ABSORBED WHE PEOPLE WHO GO TO HAWAII—AND TAKE ALL THEIR DANGERO BS WH THEM. BY CASSIE DA COSTAJULY 7, 2021BY MAR PEREZ/HBO.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEIN 2011, WRER-DIRECTOR MIKE WHE ENCHANTED AN PECIALLY VOTED SECTOR OF THE PRTIGE-TV-SERI-WATCHG PUBLIC WH ENLIGHTENED. THE SHOW WAS AN ULTRA-WOO, ENVIRONMENTALLY-NSC, EARNT SATIRE OF SORTS, STARRG LRA DERN, WHO ALSO -CREATED THE SHOW WH WHE. IN THE SHOW, DERN PLAYS AMY JELLIE, A VERY CALIFORNIAN RPORATE EXECUTIVE WHO HAS A PSYCHIC BREAK AND GETS MOTED POST-REHAB ONLY TO BEG UNRAVELG A NSPIRACY THAT GO TO THE VERY TOP OF THE PANY—AND THAT NO ONE BUT HER R ABOUT. ITS MIXTURE OF HILARY, SOULFULNS, ODDY, AND SENSE OF RIGHTEO DIGNATN IS WHE’S SIGNATURE, A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO PULL OFF–HONORG THE SOMETIM-RIGHTNS OF OTHERWISE RIDICULO PEOPLE WHILE KEEPG A CLOSE EYE ON THE SUAL RPTN OF THOSE POWER.MOST CRICS WILL GH OVER THE SHOW IF YOU GIVE THEM HALF A CHANCE, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. ITS TONAL SPECIFICY—CLUDG PERFECTLY PCHED PERFORMANC OM DERN, HER REAL-LIFE MOTHER DIANNE LADD, MICHAELA WATKS, MOLLY SHANNON, LE WILSON, AND WHE HIMSELF–ALLOW S IOLOGIL PLEXY TO SHE THROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY, S QUALY WASN’T ENOUGH TO GET THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO WATCH , AND SO HBO NCELED THE SHOW AFTER TWO SEASONS.NOW, WHE GETS ANOTHER GO AT WH THE WHE LOT, A THEMATIC FOLLOW-UP TO HIS 2017 FILM BEATRIZ AT DNER, DIRECTED BY MIGUEL ARTETA, ABOUT A MEXIN MASSAGE THERAPIST (SALMA HAYEK) WHO UNEXPECTEDLY JOS THE BS DNER OF A WEALTHY FAY SHE ED TO WORK FOR. THE WHE LOT IS LS SULAR, THOUGH SIARLY CLSTROPHOBIC; AND UNLIKE ENLIGHTENED S CENTRAL MYSTERY NARRATIVE FEELS URGENT TO UNRAVEL: SOMEBODY DIED, BUT WHO WAS ?THE SIX-EPISO LIMED SERI TAK PLACE ENTIRELY AT AN EPONYMO RORT HAWAII. ATRALIAN ACTOR MURRAY BARTLETT, WHO STARRED AS THE HUNKY GAY SAN FRANCISN DOM THE HBO SERI LOOKG, PLAYS THE RORT’S MANAGER ARMOND, WHO DONS A PLASTERED ON SE AND SYMPATHETIC GAZE THAT BEG TO FLICKER OVER TIME. ARMOND, LIKE DOM DID LOOKG, FEELS TRAPPED THE SERVICE DTRY, WORN DOWN BY THE PHYSIL AND EMOTNAL LABOR MAND BY EXTREMELY WEALTHY PATRONS AND UNSYMPATHETIC BOSS. UNLIKE DOM, HE DON’T HAVE A DREAM TO KEEP HIM FOCED. INSTEAD, ARMOND GETS UGHT UP WH A PARTICULARLY OBNOX GUT, SHANE PATTON, PLAYED BY THE SEEMGLY OMNIPRENT JAKE LACY, NVCG AS AN ULTRA-RICH BLOWHARD WHO TURNS TO HIS MOMMY FOR HELP.BUT OF URSE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. THOUGH THE WHE LOT, LIKE ENLIGHTENED AND BEATRIZ AT DNER, ALS SIGNIFINTLY WH CLASS AND POWER, ’S LS TERTED HOW A MA CHARACTER NAVIGAT THAT WORLD THAN HOW GROUPS OF PEOPLE BEE TERNNECTED THE DYNAMICS; ’S A FULLY ENSEMBLE SHOW. INSECURE BREAKOUT NATASHA ROTHWELL IS BELDA, A TALENTED WELLNS PRACTNER AT THE RORT WHOSE PATIENCE, EMPATHY, AND TOUCH DAZZL RICH SGLE WHE FEMALE TANYA, PLAYED ENTRANCGLY BY AN EVER-ABSURD JENNIFER COOLIDGE. ALEXANDRA DADDAR PLAYS RACHEL, LACY’S FORMERLY BROKE NEW WIFE. SHE’S A MEDCRE JOURNALIST WH A SLIGHTLY BEFUDDLG SENSE OF DRS, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE BETIFUL. EUPHORIA’S SYDNEY SWEENEY AND LTLE VOICE’S BRTANY O’GRADY ARE OLIVIA AND PLA, LLEGE IENDS WH SIGNIFINTLY DIFFERG EXPERIENC OF RACE AND CLASS—OLIVIA IS RICH, WHE, AND PLA IS THE LUCKY ONE SHE GETS TO BRG ON FAY VATN—BUT SIAR SENS OF WELL-TED SUPERRY. THEY READ NIETZSCHE AND FANON BY THE POOL, JUDGE ALMOST EVERYONE HARSHLY BUT THEMSELV, AND OSTRACIZE OLIVIA’S AWKWARD YOUNGER BROTHER QUN (FRED HECHGER). OLIVIA AND QUN’S PARENTS ARE THE SHERYL SANDBERG-QUE NILE MOSSBACHER (CONNIE BRTON) AND HER WET BLANKET OF A HBAND MARK (STEVE ZAHN).ALL OF THE PEOPLE ARE WHE EXCEPT BELDA, PLA, AND A HANDFUL OF HAWAIIAN RORT WORKERS WHO ARE NOT MERELY EMPLOYED AS HOSPALY WORKERS BUT ALSO AS PERFORMERS OF LOL THENTICY FOR RICH GUTS. PLA STRIK UP A ROMANCE WH BELLBOY AND DIGENO HAWAIIAN KAI (KEKOA KEKUMANO) THAT BEGS TO DRAW HER AWAY OM HER ALLIANCE WH OLIVIA, AND FORC HER TO RECKON WH A POSSIBLE REAL-LIFE APPLITN OF HER ANTI-LONIAL READG MATERIAL. ANOTHER EUPHORIA ALUM, LAS GAGE, PLAYS A YOUNG, WHE SURFER-BUM-TYPE RORT WORKER, WHO VELOPS AN UNEASY RELATNSHIP WH HIS BOSS, THE UNRAVELG ARMOND, PLAYED BY BARTLETT.IT’S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO KEEP TRACK OF, YET WHE’S WRG AND DIRECTN TERTWE THEIR STORI AN AMB, NOVELISTIC MANNER. THERE’S THE MORBID FUN OF TRYG TO GUS WHO DI AND HOW, AS WELL AS THE SUBTLER WORK OF UNRSTANDG THE CHARACTERS, NONE OF WHOSE BEHAVRS ARE EASY TO PREDICT. AT THE POOL, THE SELF-QUTNG RACHEL APPROACH NILE, AN IDOL OF HERS WHO SHE HAPPENED TO PROFILE A PHONED-, CLICKBAY WAY FOR BSWEEK. RACHEL WANTS ADVICE ABOUT WHETHER TO NTUE HER REER NOW THAT SHE’S MARRIED MONEY‚ BUT SHE DON’T QUE GET THE WOMAN-TO-WOMAN PROFSNAL ENUNTER SHE HOP FOR. MEANWHILE, ROTHWELL’S BELDA RELUCTANTLY BONDS WH COOLIDGE’S OFF-THE-RAILS TANYA OVER THE ATHS OF THEIR MOTHERS, AND ALLOWS HERSELF TO BE WOOED BY THE PROMISE OF A BETTER—IF SOMEWHAT PROMISED—LIFE.BUT ’S BARTLETT, A TV VETERAN LONG OVERDUE FOR A HEFTY PART LIKE THIS, WHO HOLDS THE ST TOGETHER. ARMOND GO OM ANNOYG TO SYMPATHETIC TO LICLY VENGEFUL AND BACK AROUND AGA. YOU FEEL ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHG FOR HIM, SEEG BOTH THE UGLS OF THE RORT THROUGH HIS EY AND QUTNG HIS OWN MOTIV AND E OF POWER. HE’S A WHE WORKG CLASS GAY MAN, A REVERG ADDICT WHO’S BEEN SOBER FIVE YEARS, AND A PAFULLY SELF-AWARE HTLER. PERHAPS NO ONE THE SHOW IS WISER ABOUT HOW VULNERABLE WE BEE WHEN WE ZY UP TO THE POWERFUL, AND KNOWGLY, OR UNTENTNALLY, STEP OUTSI OUR OWN SOCENOMIC CIRCL AND NTEND WH THE CHOSEN FEW. THE WHE LOT CELEBRAT THE RECKLSNS OF THE EXCHANG WHILE QUTNG THEIR CENTRAL MOTIVATNS: MONEY, RPECT, AND ATTENTN. WHY ARE WE SO SPERATE TO BE SEEN BY THOSE WHO ONLY WANT TO SEE ON THEIR OWN TERMS? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RIST THIS SIRE—AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GIVE ?MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIR— AN EXCLIVE DEEP DIVE INTO PETER JACKSON’S THE BEATL: GET BACK— JOSEPH FIENN ON HIS HANDMAID’S TALE FATE— THE 10 BT MOVI OF 2021 (SO FAR)— JANE LEVY ON THE ZOEY’S EXTRAORDARY PLAYLIST CANCELLATN— IS LU PIXAR’S FIRST GAY MOVIE?— HOW PHYSIL GOT UNR ROSE BYRNE’S SK— WHAT IS BO BURNHAM’S INSI REALLY TRYG TO SAY?— SIMU LIU IS READY TO TAKE ON MARVEL— FROM THE ARCHIVE: JACKIE AND JOAN COLLS, QUEENS OF THE ROAD— SIGN UP FOR THE “HWD DAILY” NEWSLETTER FOR MT-READ DTRY AND AWARDS VERAGE—PL A SPECIAL WEEKLY EDN OF “AWARDS INSIR.”MOST POPULAR25 PERFECT TV EPISOS FROM THE LAST 25 YEARSBY HILLARY BISFIRST LOOK: ANTE BENG SWIMS TOWARD THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME NYADBY DAVID CANFIELDCHARLIZE THERON DENI PLASTIC SURGERY RUMORS: “BCH, I’M JT AGG!”BY SAVANNAH WALSHCASSIE DA COSTA
- FROM THE 'EVIL QUEEN' TO THE 'SAD LBIAN,' 'WHE LOT' ED MANY GAY TROP. WHY DIDN'T RAISE ANY RED FLAGS FOR SOME FANS?
- ‘THE WHE LOT’ SEASON FALE: ‘THE GAYS, THEY’RE TRYG TO MURR ME!’ARRIVEDERCITHE STRS-DUCG FALE OF SEASON 2 SAW EVEN MORE CHAOTIC SEXUAL POLICS, THE RISE OF FAN FAVOR MIA AND LUCIA, AND THE SHOCKG INTI OF ALL THOSE AD BODI.FLETCHER PETERSENTERTAMENT REPORTERUPDATED DEC. 12, 2022 12:54AM EST / PUBLISHED DEC. 12, 2022 12:09AM EST PHOTO ILLTRATN BY THOMAS LEVSON/THE DAILY BEAST/GETTY/HBOWE SHOULD’VE SEEN THE WHE LOT’ ENDG G OM A E AWAY. IT WAS RIGHT ONT OF THE WHOLE TIME! NONE OF THE GUTS WERE EVER GOG TO WALK AWAY HAVG THE BT WEEK OF THEIR LIV (HELL, ONE OF THEM WAS GOG TO END UP A SKET), WHICH LEAV JT TWO PEOPLE WHO DID: MIA (BEATRICE GRANNó) AND LUCIA (SIMONA TABAS), THE TWO HOOKERS LIVG UP AT THE WHE LOT SICILY.WARNG: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE WHE LOT SEASON 2.THOUGH NONE OF THEM END UP AD—MEANG THEY SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER VATN SEASON 3—THE “HAPPILY” MARRIED UPL HAVE A WILD TIME THIS FALE EPISO. WHILE ETHAN (WILL SHARPE) NTU TO QUTN HARPER (AUBREY PLAZA) ABOUT WHETHER SHE CHEATED ON HIM WH CAMERON (THEO JAM), DAPHNE’S (MEGHANN FAHY) TOO BY FACETIMG HER OUT-OF-WEDLOCK CHILD TO NOTICE.THERE’S THAT OLD SAYG, “IGNORANCE IS BLISS.” DAPHNE TAK A STEP FURTHER. “MYSTERY IS BLISS,” SHE TELLS ETHAN ( MORE OR LS WORDS) AFTER HE TELLS HER HE THKS THEIR SPO CHEATED WH EACH OTHER. HARPER HAS NFIRMED HER BRIEF AFFAIR TO ETHAN—SHE SAYS THEY KISSED FOR “TWO SENDS” AND THAT WAS ALL—SO HE TRI TO WARN DAPHNE. IN RPONSE, DAPHNE DO THE MOST LCULATG THG SHE N THK OF: SHE LEADS ETHAN OFF TO A SECLUD, ROMANTIC ISLAND AND PRUMABLY SLEEPS WH HIM. GREAT. GRAND. I WAS NEARLY THROWG TOMATO (SAN MARZANO, OF URSE) AT MY TV. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT FIX ETHAN, WHO FALLY HAS SEX WH HARPER JT A FEW HOURS LATER AFTER NYG HER ALL VATN. STEFANO DELIA/HBO OVER TO TANYA (JENNIFER COOLIDGE), WHO IS NOW ANTILLY TRYG TO PE A YACHT FULL OF GAYS WHO ARE TRYG TO MURR HER. (CUE THE ENDLS MEM—IF THERE’S ONE THG WORTH CRICIZG THE WHE LOT FOR, ’S HOW THE L SEEMED PURPOSEFULLY MANUFACTURED FOR TER ENGAGEMENT.) PORTIA (HALEY LU RICHARDSON) ALSO BEGS TO SPECT THAT SHE’S BEEN ABDUCTED, AFTER JACK (LEO WOODALL) WHISKS HER AWAY OVERNIGHT AND KEEPS PROCRASTATG BRGG HER HOME. AFTER SHE DUC THAT HE ALSO MAY HAVE STOLEN HER PHONE, SHE SNEAKS AWAY WH HIS TO LL TANYA.TANYA REVEALS THAT SHE SAW JACK “FUCKG HIS UNCLE,” QUENT (TOM HOLLANR), AND PORTIA TELLS HER WHAT SHE LEARNED OM JACK THE NIGHT BEFORE—THAT QUENT AND THE GAYS MIGHT BE TRYG TO SM HER. TANYA REALIZ THAT HER LIFE IS DANGER, AND THAT SHE HAS TO PE THE MONEY HUNGRY EAKS SOMEHOW. SHE NCLUS THAT QUENT AND HER HBAND GREG (JON GRI) ARE LIKELY WORKG TOGETHER, SCE IF SHE AND GREG DIVORCE, HE ONLY GETS HER MONEY IF SHE’S AD, ACRDG TO THEIR PRENUP.AFTER MOBSTER NICLó BOARDS THE YACHT TO “TAKE HER BACK TO THE HOTEL ON HIS DGHY,” TANYA SPRTS OM DNER AND GRABS HIS SKETCHY BLACK DUFFEL BAG. UNBOXG TIME! THE NTENTS CLU A BLACK ROPE, DUCT TAPE, AND A PISTOL. THEY WERE PLANNG ON KILLG TANYA, WHICH WOULD ED GIVE GREG (AKA QUENT’S BOYTOY “STEVE”) ALL HER MONEY.THE ATHS ARE MAGNIFICENT. JENNIFER COOLIDGE FIR A GUN LIKE NO OTHER HUMAN HAS—EXQUISELY, SHAKG, GEO. THOUGH “THE GAYS, THEY’RE TRYG TO MURR ME” IS STANTLY INIC, I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS EQUALLY HILAR: “THERE AREN’T ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT OLD BUILDGS,” TANYA SHOUTS, SO NERVO, WHILE QUENT CHATTERS ON ABOUT HOW HE NEEDS MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS TATE. BUT THE GAYS’ ATHS AREN’T BIG ENOUGH. NO, DOWN GO TANYA. WH THE YACHT LTERED WH THE AD BODI OF EVERYONE SHE JT KILLED, SHE TRI TO PE ON NICLó’S DGHY. BUT SHE HS HER HEAD ON THE SI OF THE BOAT WHEN SHE TRI TO JUMP AND DROWNS. WHILE I DID LOVE THE RETURN OF TANYA THIS WAS A WONRFUL SWAN SONG TO OUR BELOVED PEPPA PIG. SWEET, SWEET TANYA. (NOW, GREG STILL GETS THE MONEY, BEE SHE’S AD! UGH!)PORTIA, MEANWHILE, IS DROPPED ON THE SI OF THE ROAD BY AN AIRPORT BY JACK, WHO BE MENACG AND THREATENG WHEN PORTIA TELLS HIM THAT SHE’S ON TO HIM—AND KNOWS ABOUT THE UNCLE-FUCKG. IT TURNS OUT HE DID STEAL HER PHONE. BACK AT THE WHE LOT HOTEL, WHERE OUR DI GRASSO BOYS HAVE ONE FAL MEAL TOGETHER, ALBIE (ADAM DIMAR) HAS MA A AL WH HIS FATHER. IF DOMIC (MICHAEL IMPERLI) PAYS LUCIA, HIS HOOKER GIRLIEND, THE 50,000 ROS SHE SAID SHE NEEDS TO PE HER PIMP,ALBIE WILL TELL HIS MOTHER THAT HIS FATHER HAS SPENT THE WHOLE TRIP MISSG HER, PERHAPS SALVAGG THEIR RELATNSHIP. ALBIE LLS THIS “KARMIC PAYMENT.”WELL, DOMIC ACQUIC. LUCIA SNAGS A FAT PAYCHECK OM CAMERON, WHO FALLY SETTLED HIS BILL FOR THEIR STEAMY NIGHT TOGETHER, AND DOMIC. EVEN THOUGH ALBIE PLEADS WH HER TO VIS LOS ANGEL, SHE SNEAKS OUT OF HIS HOTEL ROOM AND GHOSTS HIM. EVEN IF THEIR NNECTN WAS REAL AND LUCIA HAD FEELGS FOR HIM, HE WAS STILL A MARK AND SHE PLAYED HIM. MEANWHILE, BTIE MIA SECUR A SGG GIG AT THE WHE LOT AFTER SHE AGRE TO SLEEP WH VALENTA (SABRA IMPACCIATORE)—OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, HELP GET HER LAID. STEFANO DELIA/HBO IN THE END, WE GET TWO BRILLIANT SCEN THAT PROVE LOVE IS REAL! WHILE FLYG BACK HOME, ALBIE NS TO NONE OTHER THAN PORTIA AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE VERGE OF A NERVO BREAKDOWN WONRG WHAT HAPPENED TO TANYA (AND WEARG THE MOST HEO SRF AND SUNGLASS), PORTIA ASKS ALBIE FOR HIS PHONE NUMBER. MAYBE TAKE A BEAT, GUYS. THIS WHOLE DATG THG ISN’T REALLY FOR EHER OF YOU. NEVERTHELS, ’S A MASTERFUL WAY TO WRAP THEIR CHAOTIC ARCS FULL OF SMMG AND CE.FALLY, WE GET TO SEE MIA AND LUCIA TRAIPSG THROUGH SICILIAN STREETS, BLISSFUL AS EVER. GO GET SOME DNER, GIRLS. BUY ALL THE CLOTH EVERY SICILIAN BOUTIQUE YOU N FD. YOU’VE EARNED . UNLIKE THE FIRST SEASON OF THE WHE LOT, WE ACTUALLY GET TO END ON SOME RELIEF FOR THE SERVICE WORKERS OF THE WORLD. FAB LOVO/HBO THE FIVE GUTS WE WANT TO SEE SEASON 3TANYA RETURNED FOR SEASON 2 OF THE WHE LOT. SO, STEAD OF PREDICTG WHO’S GOG TO DIE, WE’RE GOG TO PREDICT WHO’S GOG TO HAVE A NEW LIFE THE NEXT SEASON OF THE SHOW.1. DAPHNE: PLEASE, LORD, GIVE MORE MEGHANN FAHY. NOT ONLY DO SHE SERVE AN EMMY, HER STANDOUT PERFORMANCE ECHO THE REVELATN THAT WAS JENNIFER COOLIDGE SEASON 1. BRG HER BACK—MAYBE ON A SEXY PA WH HER SECRET GYM BOYIEND.2. BERT: F. MURRAY ABRAHAM GAVE ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE THE WHE LOT SEASON 2. BRG BACK THE FARTG. BRG BACK THE WEIRD MENTS ABOUT WOMEN. THIS GUY WAS INIC.3. GREG: ONLY SO WE N SEE HIM DIE.4. ALBIE AND PORTIA: LET’S SEE THEM ON THEIR HONEYMOON! I WANT TO SEE THE LTLE WEIRDOS FLIRTG AT A SKI LODGE OR SOMETHG. WHAT’S TWTER GOG TO LOOK LIKE WHOUT THE DISURSE OVER PORTIA’S DOOF OUTFS?5. MIA AND LUCIA: I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. LUCIA SHOULD E HER NEW FORTUNE TO BUY A GETAWAY FOR HERSELF AND MIA. EVEN BETTER: MIA N GET THE WHE LOT IENDS AND FAY DISUNT OM VALENTA. FLETCHER PETERS
JENNIFER COOLIDGE ON FIGHTG ‘EVIL GAYS’ AND SEASICKNS ‘THE WHE LOT’ SEASON 2 FALE
While we mourn the crown jewel of “The Whe Lot” — who the Season 2 fale tak out a few “high-end gays, ” falls off a yacht, knocks her head on a dghy and drowns to ath the Ionian Sea — the ter is ablaze wh Jennifer Coolidge mem. While Tanya fend off “evil gays” the Season 2 fale, Coolidge herself battled seasickns. How do feel to be a gay in who ends up murrg a bunch of “high-end gays” who plotted to kill her?
Gay men n be tty, but mostly they are the good guys a lot of films that I’ve seen.
He told me, “You end up gettg taken by this group of — well, let’s jt say they’re evil gays. Are you aware that the “The gays, they’re tryg to murr me” has already bee a meme?
MIKE WHE AND ‘THE WHE LOT’ STARS BREAK DOWN THAT JAW-DROPPG TWIST: I WANT TO ‘MAKE GAY SEX TRANSGRSIVE AGA’
One of my favore l, which Mike me up wh, is “The are some high-end gays. Both feature a character walkg on gay sex behd closed doors, and both occur two episos before the fale. “There’s a pleasure to me as a guy who is gay-ish to make gay sex transgrsive aga, ” Whe said.
NEED A NEW TV OBSSN? RIGHT THIS WAY TO HBO'S THE WHE LOT MIKE WHE’S NEW LIMED SERI, WH CONNIE BRTON, JENNIFER COOLIDGE AND MORE, NCERNS RICH, SELF-ABSORBED WHE PEOPLE WHO GO TO HAWAII—AND TAKE ALL THEIR DANGERO BS WH THEM. BY CASSIE DA COSTAJULY 7, 2021BY MAR PEREZ/HBO.SAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEIN 2011, WRER-DIRECTOR MIKE WHE ENCHANTED AN PECIALLY VOTED SECTOR OF THE PRTIGE-TV-SERI-WATCHG PUBLIC WH ENLIGHTENED. THE SHOW WAS AN ULTRA-WOO, ENVIRONMENTALLY-NSC, EARNT SATIRE OF SORTS, STARRG LRA DERN, WHO ALSO -CREATED THE SHOW WH WHE. IN THE SHOW, DERN PLAYS AMY JELLIE, A VERY CALIFORNIAN RPORATE EXECUTIVE WHO HAS A PSYCHIC BREAK AND GETS MOTED POST-REHAB ONLY TO BEG UNRAVELG A NSPIRACY THAT GO TO THE VERY TOP OF THE PANY—AND THAT NO ONE BUT HER R ABOUT. ITS MIXTURE OF HILARY, SOULFULNS, ODDY, AND SENSE OF RIGHTEO DIGNATN IS WHE’S SIGNATURE, A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO PULL OFF–HONORG THE SOMETIM-RIGHTNS OF OTHERWISE RIDICULO PEOPLE WHILE KEEPG A CLOSE EYE ON THE SUAL RPTN OF THOSE POWER.MOST CRICS WILL GH OVER THE SHOW IF YOU GIVE THEM HALF A CHANCE, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. ITS TONAL SPECIFICY—CLUDG PERFECTLY PCHED PERFORMANC OM DERN, HER REAL-LIFE MOTHER DIANNE LADD, MICHAELA WATKS, MOLLY SHANNON, LE WILSON, AND WHE HIMSELF–ALLOW S IOLOGIL PLEXY TO SHE THROUGH. UNFORTUNATELY, S QUALY WASN’T ENOUGH TO GET THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO WATCH , AND SO HBO NCELED THE SHOW AFTER TWO SEASONS.NOW, WHE GETS ANOTHER GO AT WH THE WHE LOT, A THEMATIC FOLLOW-UP TO HIS 2017 FILM BEATRIZ AT DNER, DIRECTED BY MIGUEL ARTETA, ABOUT A MEXIN MASSAGE THERAPIST (SALMA HAYEK) WHO UNEXPECTEDLY JOS THE BS DNER OF A WEALTHY FAY SHE ED TO WORK FOR. THE WHE LOT IS LS SULAR, THOUGH SIARLY CLSTROPHOBIC; AND UNLIKE ENLIGHTENED S CENTRAL MYSTERY NARRATIVE FEELS URGENT TO UNRAVEL: SOMEBODY DIED, BUT WHO WAS ?THE SIX-EPISO LIMED SERI TAK PLACE ENTIRELY AT AN EPONYMO RORT HAWAII. ATRALIAN ACTOR MURRAY BARTLETT, WHO STARRED AS THE HUNKY GAY SAN FRANCISN DOM THE HBO SERI LOOKG, PLAYS THE RORT’S MANAGER ARMOND, WHO DONS A PLASTERED ON SE AND SYMPATHETIC GAZE THAT BEG TO FLICKER OVER TIME. ARMOND, LIKE DOM DID LOOKG, FEELS TRAPPED THE SERVICE DTRY, WORN DOWN BY THE PHYSIL AND EMOTNAL LABOR MAND BY EXTREMELY WEALTHY PATRONS AND UNSYMPATHETIC BOSS. UNLIKE DOM, HE DON’T HAVE A DREAM TO KEEP HIM FOCED. INSTEAD, ARMOND GETS UGHT UP WH A PARTICULARLY OBNOX GUT, SHANE PATTON, PLAYED BY THE SEEMGLY OMNIPRENT JAKE LACY, NVCG AS AN ULTRA-RICH BLOWHARD WHO TURNS TO HIS MOMMY FOR HELP.BUT OF URSE, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. THOUGH THE WHE LOT, LIKE ENLIGHTENED AND BEATRIZ AT DNER, ALS SIGNIFINTLY WH CLASS AND POWER, ’S LS TERTED HOW A MA CHARACTER NAVIGAT THAT WORLD THAN HOW GROUPS OF PEOPLE BEE TERNNECTED THE DYNAMICS; ’S A FULLY ENSEMBLE SHOW. INSECURE BREAKOUT NATASHA ROTHWELL IS BELDA, A TALENTED WELLNS PRACTNER AT THE RORT WHOSE PATIENCE, EMPATHY, AND TOUCH DAZZL RICH SGLE WHE FEMALE TANYA, PLAYED ENTRANCGLY BY AN EVER-ABSURD JENNIFER COOLIDGE. ALEXANDRA DADDAR PLAYS RACHEL, LACY’S FORMERLY BROKE NEW WIFE. SHE’S A MEDCRE JOURNALIST WH A SLIGHTLY BEFUDDLG SENSE OF DRS, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE BETIFUL. EUPHORIA’S SYDNEY SWEENEY AND LTLE VOICE’S BRTANY O’GRADY ARE OLIVIA AND PLA, LLEGE IENDS WH SIGNIFINTLY DIFFERG EXPERIENC OF RACE AND CLASS—OLIVIA IS RICH, WHE, AND PLA IS THE LUCKY ONE SHE GETS TO BRG ON FAY VATN—BUT SIAR SENS OF WELL-TED SUPERRY. THEY READ NIETZSCHE AND FANON BY THE POOL, JUDGE ALMOST EVERYONE HARSHLY BUT THEMSELV, AND OSTRACIZE OLIVIA’S AWKWARD YOUNGER BROTHER QUN (FRED HECHGER). OLIVIA AND QUN’S PARENTS ARE THE SHERYL SANDBERG-QUE NILE MOSSBACHER (CONNIE BRTON) AND HER WET BLANKET OF A HBAND MARK (STEVE ZAHN).ALL OF THE PEOPLE ARE WHE EXCEPT BELDA, PLA, AND A HANDFUL OF HAWAIIAN RORT WORKERS WHO ARE NOT MERELY EMPLOYED AS HOSPALY WORKERS BUT ALSO AS PERFORMERS OF LOL THENTICY FOR RICH GUTS. PLA STRIK UP A ROMANCE WH BELLBOY AND DIGENO HAWAIIAN KAI (KEKOA KEKUMANO) THAT BEGS TO DRAW HER AWAY OM HER ALLIANCE WH OLIVIA, AND FORC HER TO RECKON WH A POSSIBLE REAL-LIFE APPLITN OF HER ANTI-LONIAL READG MATERIAL. ANOTHER EUPHORIA ALUM, LAS GAGE, PLAYS A YOUNG, WHE SURFER-BUM-TYPE RORT WORKER, WHO VELOPS AN UNEASY RELATNSHIP WH HIS BOSS, THE UNRAVELG ARMOND, PLAYED BY BARTLETT.IT’S A LOT OF PEOPLE TO KEEP TRACK OF, YET WHE’S WRG AND DIRECTN TERTWE THEIR STORI AN AMB, NOVELISTIC MANNER. THERE’S THE MORBID FUN OF TRYG TO GUS WHO DI AND HOW, AS WELL AS THE SUBTLER WORK OF UNRSTANDG THE CHARACTERS, NONE OF WHOSE BEHAVRS ARE EASY TO PREDICT. AT THE POOL, THE SELF-QUTNG RACHEL APPROACH NILE, AN IDOL OF HERS WHO SHE HAPPENED TO PROFILE A PHONED-, CLICKBAY WAY FOR BSWEEK. RACHEL WANTS ADVICE ABOUT WHETHER TO NTUE HER REER NOW THAT SHE’S MARRIED MONEY‚ BUT SHE DON’T QUE GET THE WOMAN-TO-WOMAN PROFSNAL ENUNTER SHE HOP FOR. MEANWHILE, ROTHWELL’S BELDA RELUCTANTLY BONDS WH COOLIDGE’S OFF-THE-RAILS TANYA OVER THE ATHS OF THEIR MOTHERS, AND ALLOWS HERSELF TO BE WOOED BY THE PROMISE OF A BETTER—IF SOMEWHAT PROMISED—LIFE.BUT ’S BARTLETT, A TV VETERAN LONG OVERDUE FOR A HEFTY PART LIKE THIS, WHO HOLDS THE ST TOGETHER. ARMOND GO OM ANNOYG TO SYMPATHETIC TO LICLY VENGEFUL AND BACK AROUND AGA. YOU FEEL ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHG FOR HIM, SEEG BOTH THE UGLS OF THE RORT THROUGH HIS EY AND QUTNG HIS OWN MOTIV AND E OF POWER. HE’S A WHE WORKG CLASS GAY MAN, A REVERG ADDICT WHO’S BEEN SOBER FIVE YEARS, AND A PAFULLY SELF-AWARE HTLER. PERHAPS NO ONE THE SHOW IS WISER ABOUT HOW VULNERABLE WE BEE WHEN WE ZY UP TO THE POWERFUL, AND KNOWGLY, OR UNTENTNALLY, STEP OUTSI OUR OWN SOCENOMIC CIRCL AND NTEND WH THE CHOSEN FEW. THE WHE LOT CELEBRAT THE RECKLSNS OF THE EXCHANG WHILE QUTNG THEIR CENTRAL MOTIVATNS: MONEY, RPECT, AND ATTENTN. WHY ARE WE SO SPERATE TO BE SEEN BY THOSE WHO ONLY WANT TO SEE ON THEIR OWN TERMS? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE RIST THIS SIRE—AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GIVE ?MORE GREAT STORI FROM VANY FAIR— AN EXCLIVE DEEP DIVE INTO PETER JACKSON’S THE BEATL: GET BACK— JOSEPH FIENN ON HIS HANDMAID’S TALE FATE— THE 10 BT MOVI OF 2021 (SO FAR)— JANE LEVY ON THE ZOEY’S EXTRAORDARY PLAYLIST CANCELLATN— IS LU PIXAR’S FIRST GAY MOVIE?— HOW PHYSIL GOT UNR ROSE BYRNE’S SK— WHAT IS BO BURNHAM’S INSI REALLY TRYG TO SAY?— SIMU LIU IS READY TO TAKE ON MARVEL— FROM THE ARCHIVE: JACKIE AND JOAN COLLS, QUEENS OF THE ROAD— SIGN UP FOR THE “HWD DAILY” NEWSLETTER FOR MT-READ DTRY AND AWARDS VERAGE—PL A SPECIAL WEEKLY EDN OF “AWARDS INSIR.”MOST POPULAR25 PERFECT TV EPISOS FROM THE LAST 25 YEARSBY HILLARY BISFIRST LOOK: ANTE BENG SWIMS TOWARD THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME NYADBY DAVID CANFIELDCHARLIZE THERON DENI PLASTIC SURGERY RUMORS: “BCH, I’M JT AGG!”BY SAVANNAH WALSHCASSIE DA COSTA
Edor's note: this post ntas spoilers for episo five of The Whe Lot season 's givg a weeks-long tease, we fally got a gay sex scene on season two of The Whe Lot.
FROM THE 'EVIL QUEEN' TO THE 'SAD LBIAN,' 'WHE LOT' ED MANY GAY TROP. WHY DIDN'T RAISE ANY RED FLAGS FOR SOME FANS?
In a classic Whe Lot twist, though, a gay sex scene me om somewhere else entirely.
Introduced episo three, wealthy gay man Quent (Tom Hollanr) is at the Whe Lot hotel Sicily wh a group of gay iends. Though most of them are rich olr gays, there are a few younger men their pany, cludg Jack (Leo Woodall), a charmg and sexy guy om Essex who refers to Quent as his "uncle. Quent's personaly, accent, and tast f the archetypil "proper wealthy Brish gay man, " whereas Jack looks and sounds like a future st member of Love Island.
‘THE WHE LOT’ SEASON FALE: ‘THE GAYS, THEY’RE TRYG TO MURR ME!’ARRIVEDERCITHE STRS-DUCG FALE OF SEASON 2 SAW EVEN MORE CHAOTIC SEXUAL POLICS, THE RISE OF FAN FAVOR MIA AND LUCIA, AND THE SHOCKG INTI OF ALL THOSE AD BODI.FLETCHER PETERSENTERTAMENT REPORTERUPDATED DEC. 12, 2022 12:54AM EST / PUBLISHED DEC. 12, 2022 12:09AM EST PHOTO ILLTRATN BY THOMAS LEVSON/THE DAILY BEAST/GETTY/HBOWE SHOULD’VE SEEN THE WHE LOT’ ENDG G OM A E AWAY. IT WAS RIGHT ONT OF THE WHOLE TIME! NONE OF THE GUTS WERE EVER GOG TO WALK AWAY HAVG THE BT WEEK OF THEIR LIV (HELL, ONE OF THEM WAS GOG TO END UP A SKET), WHICH LEAV JT TWO PEOPLE WHO DID: MIA (BEATRICE GRANNó) AND LUCIA (SIMONA TABAS), THE TWO HOOKERS LIVG UP AT THE WHE LOT SICILY.WARNG: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE WHE LOT SEASON 2.THOUGH NONE OF THEM END UP AD—MEANG THEY SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER VATN SEASON 3—THE “HAPPILY” MARRIED UPL HAVE A WILD TIME THIS FALE EPISO. WHILE ETHAN (WILL SHARPE) NTU TO QUTN HARPER (AUBREY PLAZA) ABOUT WHETHER SHE CHEATED ON HIM WH CAMERON (THEO JAM), DAPHNE’S (MEGHANN FAHY) TOO BY FACETIMG HER OUT-OF-WEDLOCK CHILD TO NOTICE.THERE’S THAT OLD SAYG, “IGNORANCE IS BLISS.” DAPHNE TAK A STEP FURTHER. “MYSTERY IS BLISS,” SHE TELLS ETHAN ( MORE OR LS WORDS) AFTER HE TELLS HER HE THKS THEIR SPO CHEATED WH EACH OTHER. HARPER HAS NFIRMED HER BRIEF AFFAIR TO ETHAN—SHE SAYS THEY KISSED FOR “TWO SENDS” AND THAT WAS ALL—SO HE TRI TO WARN DAPHNE. IN RPONSE, DAPHNE DO THE MOST LCULATG THG SHE N THK OF: SHE LEADS ETHAN OFF TO A SECLUD, ROMANTIC ISLAND AND PRUMABLY SLEEPS WH HIM. GREAT. GRAND. I WAS NEARLY THROWG TOMATO (SAN MARZANO, OF URSE) AT MY TV. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT FIX ETHAN, WHO FALLY HAS SEX WH HARPER JT A FEW HOURS LATER AFTER NYG HER ALL VATN. STEFANO DELIA/HBO OVER TO TANYA (JENNIFER COOLIDGE), WHO IS NOW ANTILLY TRYG TO PE A YACHT FULL OF GAYS WHO ARE TRYG TO MURR HER. (CUE THE ENDLS MEM—IF THERE’S ONE THG WORTH CRICIZG THE WHE LOT FOR, ’S HOW THE L SEEMED PURPOSEFULLY MANUFACTURED FOR TER ENGAGEMENT.) PORTIA (HALEY LU RICHARDSON) ALSO BEGS TO SPECT THAT SHE’S BEEN ABDUCTED, AFTER JACK (LEO WOODALL) WHISKS HER AWAY OVERNIGHT AND KEEPS PROCRASTATG BRGG HER HOME. AFTER SHE DUC THAT HE ALSO MAY HAVE STOLEN HER PHONE, SHE SNEAKS AWAY WH HIS TO LL TANYA.TANYA REVEALS THAT SHE SAW JACK “FUCKG HIS UNCLE,” QUENT (TOM HOLLANR), AND PORTIA TELLS HER WHAT SHE LEARNED OM JACK THE NIGHT BEFORE—THAT QUENT AND THE GAYS MIGHT BE TRYG TO SM HER. TANYA REALIZ THAT HER LIFE IS DANGER, AND THAT SHE HAS TO PE THE MONEY HUNGRY EAKS SOMEHOW. SHE NCLUS THAT QUENT AND HER HBAND GREG (JON GRI) ARE LIKELY WORKG TOGETHER, SCE IF SHE AND GREG DIVORCE, HE ONLY GETS HER MONEY IF SHE’S AD, ACRDG TO THEIR PRENUP.AFTER MOBSTER NICLó BOARDS THE YACHT TO “TAKE HER BACK TO THE HOTEL ON HIS DGHY,” TANYA SPRTS OM DNER AND GRABS HIS SKETCHY BLACK DUFFEL BAG. UNBOXG TIME! THE NTENTS CLU A BLACK ROPE, DUCT TAPE, AND A PISTOL. THEY WERE PLANNG ON KILLG TANYA, WHICH WOULD ED GIVE GREG (AKA QUENT’S BOYTOY “STEVE”) ALL HER MONEY.THE ATHS ARE MAGNIFICENT. JENNIFER COOLIDGE FIR A GUN LIKE NO OTHER HUMAN HAS—EXQUISELY, SHAKG, GEO. THOUGH “THE GAYS, THEY’RE TRYG TO MURR ME” IS STANTLY INIC, I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS EQUALLY HILAR: “THERE AREN’T ENOUGH PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT OLD BUILDGS,” TANYA SHOUTS, SO NERVO, WHILE QUENT CHATTERS ON ABOUT HOW HE NEEDS MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS TATE. BUT THE GAYS’ ATHS AREN’T BIG ENOUGH. NO, DOWN GO TANYA. WH THE YACHT LTERED WH THE AD BODI OF EVERYONE SHE JT KILLED, SHE TRI TO PE ON NICLó’S DGHY. BUT SHE HS HER HEAD ON THE SI OF THE BOAT WHEN SHE TRI TO JUMP AND DROWNS. WHILE I DID LOVE THE RETURN OF TANYA THIS WAS A WONRFUL SWAN SONG TO OUR BELOVED PEPPA PIG. SWEET, SWEET TANYA. (NOW, GREG STILL GETS THE MONEY, BEE SHE’S AD! UGH!)PORTIA, MEANWHILE, IS DROPPED ON THE SI OF THE ROAD BY AN AIRPORT BY JACK, WHO BE MENACG AND THREATENG WHEN PORTIA TELLS HIM THAT SHE’S ON TO HIM—AND KNOWS ABOUT THE UNCLE-FUCKG. IT TURNS OUT HE DID STEAL HER PHONE. BACK AT THE WHE LOT HOTEL, WHERE OUR DI GRASSO BOYS HAVE ONE FAL MEAL TOGETHER, ALBIE (ADAM DIMAR) HAS MA A AL WH HIS FATHER. IF DOMIC (MICHAEL IMPERLI) PAYS LUCIA, HIS HOOKER GIRLIEND, THE 50,000 ROS SHE SAID SHE NEEDS TO PE HER PIMP,ALBIE WILL TELL HIS MOTHER THAT HIS FATHER HAS SPENT THE WHOLE TRIP MISSG HER, PERHAPS SALVAGG THEIR RELATNSHIP. ALBIE LLS THIS “KARMIC PAYMENT.”WELL, DOMIC ACQUIC. LUCIA SNAGS A FAT PAYCHECK OM CAMERON, WHO FALLY SETTLED HIS BILL FOR THEIR STEAMY NIGHT TOGETHER, AND DOMIC. EVEN THOUGH ALBIE PLEADS WH HER TO VIS LOS ANGEL, SHE SNEAKS OUT OF HIS HOTEL ROOM AND GHOSTS HIM. EVEN IF THEIR NNECTN WAS REAL AND LUCIA HAD FEELGS FOR HIM, HE WAS STILL A MARK AND SHE PLAYED HIM. MEANWHILE, BTIE MIA SECUR A SGG GIG AT THE WHE LOT AFTER SHE AGRE TO SLEEP WH VALENTA (SABRA IMPACCIATORE)—OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, HELP GET HER LAID. STEFANO DELIA/HBO IN THE END, WE GET TWO BRILLIANT SCEN THAT PROVE LOVE IS REAL! WHILE FLYG BACK HOME, ALBIE NS TO NONE OTHER THAN PORTIA AT THE AIRPORT. ON THE VERGE OF A NERVO BREAKDOWN WONRG WHAT HAPPENED TO TANYA (AND WEARG THE MOST HEO SRF AND SUNGLASS), PORTIA ASKS ALBIE FOR HIS PHONE NUMBER. MAYBE TAKE A BEAT, GUYS. THIS WHOLE DATG THG ISN’T REALLY FOR EHER OF YOU. NEVERTHELS, ’S A MASTERFUL WAY TO WRAP THEIR CHAOTIC ARCS FULL OF SMMG AND CE.FALLY, WE GET TO SEE MIA AND LUCIA TRAIPSG THROUGH SICILIAN STREETS, BLISSFUL AS EVER. GO GET SOME DNER, GIRLS. BUY ALL THE CLOTH EVERY SICILIAN BOUTIQUE YOU N FD. YOU’VE EARNED . UNLIKE THE FIRST SEASON OF THE WHE LOT, WE ACTUALLY GET TO END ON SOME RELIEF FOR THE SERVICE WORKERS OF THE WORLD. FAB LOVO/HBO THE FIVE GUTS WE WANT TO SEE SEASON 3TANYA RETURNED FOR SEASON 2 OF THE WHE LOT. SO, STEAD OF PREDICTG WHO’S GOG TO DIE, WE’RE GOG TO PREDICT WHO’S GOG TO HAVE A NEW LIFE THE NEXT SEASON OF THE SHOW.1. DAPHNE: PLEASE, LORD, GIVE MORE MEGHANN FAHY. NOT ONLY DO SHE SERVE AN EMMY, HER STANDOUT PERFORMANCE ECHO THE REVELATN THAT WAS JENNIFER COOLIDGE SEASON 1. BRG HER BACK—MAYBE ON A SEXY PA WH HER SECRET GYM BOYIEND.2. BERT: F. MURRAY ABRAHAM GAVE ANOTHER GREAT PERFORMANCE THE WHE LOT SEASON 2. BRG BACK THE FARTG. BRG BACK THE WEIRD MENTS ABOUT WOMEN. THIS GUY WAS INIC.3. GREG: ONLY SO WE N SEE HIM DIE.4. ALBIE AND PORTIA: LET’S SEE THEM ON THEIR HONEYMOON! I WANT TO SEE THE LTLE WEIRDOS FLIRTG AT A SKI LODGE OR SOMETHG. WHAT’S TWTER GOG TO LOOK LIKE WHOUT THE DISURSE OVER PORTIA’S DOOF OUTFS?5. MIA AND LUCIA: I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. LUCIA SHOULD E HER NEW FORTUNE TO BUY A GETAWAY FOR HERSELF AND MIA. EVEN BETTER: MIA N GET THE WHE LOT IENDS AND FAY DISUNT OM VALENTA. FLETCHER PETERS
Sendly, if a rich gay man like Quent were to hire a few younger guys to "enterta" him and his group of iends durg a trip to Sicily, stands to reason that someone like Jack would lie to Portia about Quent beg his uncle, not his "employer. Atralian actor Murray Bartlett, who starred as the hunky gay San Francisn Dom the HBO seri Lookg, plays the rort’s manager Armond, who dons a plastered on se and sympathetic gaze that beg to flicker over time.
He’s a whe workg class gay man, a reverg addict who’s been sober five years, and a pafully self-aware htler.
More Great Stori From Vany Fair— An Exclive Deep Dive Into Peter Jackson’s The Beatl: Get Back— Joseph Fienn on His Handmaid’s Tale Fate— The 10 Bt Movi of 2021 (So Far)— Jane Levy on the Zoey’s Extraordary Playlist Cancellatn— Is Lu Pixar’s First Gay Movie? Warng: This story ntas the wake of the shockg, juicy Whe Lot fale on Sunday, social media has been flood wh great mem, mostly featurg the inic Jennifer social media has not been flood wh, however, is outcry about the show’s e of a variety of age-old gay trop — om the evil queen and the sad/psycho lbian to the “bury your gays” trope, aka the offg of gay characters, the end.