TV Discussion: Poker Face ft. Natasha Lyonne (on Paramount +)

[dugington]

One of the critiques I heard was that her character's sort of become a caricature of itself, and I can see what the critic was getting at.

@playahaitian - like we talked about a year or two back ... one thing we both dug was that scene with her sister near the end of the 1st season. More serious in tone with the sister questioning why she'd come around, being estranged and all.

I'd like to see more about that. More on her / their backstory.

I have enjoyed the guest stars / cameos ... but give us more of Poker Face herself, seeing as she arrives sometimes 12 - 20 mins into the episode.

I also think they jumped the shark on her character development too soon.

If they took it slow and showed a more grounded side of her like you said, the character could've had more realistic directions to move.

But instead, it seems like they're throwing everything at the wall trying to make something stick: Steve Buscemi on the CB radio, leggy outfits to push a sex appeal that is just barely there to me, another pointless fling (this time with a main character), etc.

Her connection with the Sister would take the Columbo shtick out of the equation for at last a breather. Shit, her friend got murdered and literally changed the course of her life. Go back to that town for some closure. Another missed opportunity to show some depth and still be entertaining.

I'm not a good writer, but someone with say so and real skill just sat back and let the "meh" work its way into this series.


*I may be reaching, but I think that other show "High Potential" put some pressure on the direction of this season.*

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

I also think they jumped the shark on her character development too soon.

If they took it slow and showed a more grounded side of her like you said, the character could've had more realistic directions to move.

But instead, it seems like they're throwing everything at the wall trying to make something stick: Steve Buscemi on the CB radio, leggy outfits to push a sex appeal that is just barely there to me, another pointless fling (this time with a main character), etc.

Her connection with the Sister would take the Columbo shtick out of the equation for at last a breather. Shit, her friend got murdered and literally changed the course of her life. Go back to that town for some closure. Another missed opportunity to show some depth and still be entertaining.

I'm not a good writer, but someone with say so and real skill just sat back and let the "meh" work its way into this series.


*I may be reaching, but I think that other show "High Potential" put some pressure on the direction of this season.*

Thanks.

That's a good point you made too about the series premiere in 2023 ... the murder would have seemingly changed the course of her life. But things feel a bit too light-hearted and comedic from that point forth (especially s2). That pilot definitely started strong with Dascha Polanco, Benjamin Bratt, and Adrien Brody. I wouldn't have minded having ALL 3 around for much more than that. Get more usage out of those characters.

It would be fun to see Steve Buscemi in person, and not just the audio.

In regards to High Potential ... I only caught the first 2 episodes. I have liked Kaitlin Olson's work previously though. Great on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and good in her small role on Hacks. Surprisingly some of her best work on Hacks is the more serious stuff with her mom (played by Jean Smart). Some of the frayed mother-daughter dynamics ... that I'm sure many of us can relate to as sons to either 1 or both of our parents.

 

[dugington]

Thanks.

That's a good point you made too about the series premiere in 2023 ... the murder would have seemingly changed the course of her life. But things feel a bit too light-hearted and comedic from that point forth (especially s2). That pilot definitely started strong with Dascha Polanco, Benjamin Bratt, and Adrien Brody. I wouldn't have minded having ALL 3 around for much more than that. Get more usage out of those characters.

It would be fun to see Steve Buscemi in person, and not just the audio.

In regards to High Potential ... I only caught the first 2 episodes. I have liked Kaitlin Olson's work previously though. Great on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and good in her small role on Hacks. Surprisingly some of her best work on Hacks is the more serious stuff with her mom (played by Jean Smart). Some of the frayed mother-daughter dynamics ... that I'm sure many of us can relate to as sons to either 1 or both of our parents.

Sweet Dee is hilarious on Always Sunny. She was in a short, cancelled web series with Will Forte during the pandemic called Flipped.

Funny shit.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Sweet Dee is hilarious on Always Sunny. She was in a short, cancelled web series with Will Forte during the pandemic called Flipped.

Funny shit.

I need to circle back to Always Sunny. Caught a good portion of the early seasons, but have missed most of it since. Really impressive the longevity of the series.

Thanks for the intel about Flipped.

 

[playahaitian]

One of the critiques I heard was that her character's sort of become a caricature of itself, and I can see what the critic was getting at.

@playahaitian - like we talked about a year or two back ... one thing we both dug was that scene with her sister near the end of the 1st season. More serious in tone with the sister questioning why she'd come around, being estranged and all.

I'd like to see more about that. More on her / their backstory.

I have enjoyed the guest stars / cameos ... but give us more of Poker Face herself, seeing as she arrives sometimes 12 - 20 mins into the episode.

your 100% correct.

 

[playahaitian]

One of the critiques I heard was that her character's sort of become a caricature of itself, and I can see what the critic was getting at.

@playahaitian - like we talked about a year or two back ... one thing we both dug was that scene with her sister near the end of the 1st season. More serious in tone with the sister questioning why she'd come around, being estranged and all.

I'd like to see more about that. More on her / their backstory.

I have enjoyed the guest stars / cameos ... but give us more of Poker Face herself, seeing as she arrives sometimes 12 - 20 mins into the episode.

I read an article recently apparently they - her & the creator do NOT want to delve too much into that - which I think is a mistake

Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson on Why ‘Poker Face’ Scared Hollywood Execs, Ignoring Internet Hate and How the Show Is a Bold ‘Act of Feminism’

'Poker Face' team Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne on scaring Hollywood execs, ignoring internet hate and why Charlie Cale is an 'act of feminism.'

variety.com

 

[playahaitian]

​

 

[playahaitian]

Hate that she among those who starting to embrace A.I...

Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson on Why ‘Poker Face’ Scared Hollywood Execs, Ignoring Internet Hate and How the Show Is a Bold ‘Act of Feminism’

'Poker Face' team Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne on scaring Hollywood execs, ignoring internet hate and why Charlie Cale is an 'act of feminism.'

variety.com

As the second season of “Poker Face” trickles out, Lyonne is shifting her focus to another project: her feature directorial debut, which she wrote with Brit Marling. Titled “Uncanny Valley,” the movie follows a teenage girl whose grip on the real world unravels when she is consumed by a popular augmented reality video game. The project will blend traditional filmmaking with AI, courtesy of what she describes as an “ethical” model trained only on copyright-cleared data.


“It’s all about protecting artists and confronting this oncoming wave,” says Lyonne, emphasizing that it is not a “generative AI movie” but uses tools for things like set extensions.

When the film was announced in April, many on the internet did not see it that way.

“It’s comedic that people misunderstand headlines so readily because of our bizarro culture of not having reading comprehension,” says Lyonne. “Suddenly I became some weird Darth Vader character or something. That’s crazy talk, but God bless!”

“I’ve never been inside of one of those before,” Lyonne says of the vortex of backlash. “It’s scary in there, if anyone’s wondering. It’s not fun when people say not nice things to you. It grows you up a bit.”


She looks at Johnson, who, in 2017, felt the wrath of “Star Wars” fanboys when he subverted expectations on the critically acclaimed, yet divisive “Last Jedi.” His advice: shut off the noise and just make things. In a social media era where film and TV projects are judged before they’re even made, “any great art, during the process of making it, is going to seem like a terrible idea that will never work,” he says. “Anything great is created in a bubble. If it weren’t, it would never make it past the gestation period.”

 

[playahaitian]

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Natasha Lyonne Is the Oldest Girl in the World - The Ringer

Natasha Lyonne is the oldest girl in the world. Amy hangs with the ‘Poker Face’ star and talks about being a child character actor, making ‘Russian Doll’ together, and the double slit experiment.

www.theringer.com

 

[dugington]

Ep 9 was pretty good.

 

[bbuzzard]

She could get it...

 

[playahaitian]

She could get it...

Something about her is very serious at times

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Said to my mom the other day I'm pulling for her. Good to see her health and career back on track in recent years after all the shit she's been through previously ...




During the early 2000s, Lyonne experienced legal problems and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-ABC-DrunkDriving-2001-109"><span>[</span>109<span>]</span></a> and for incidents involving threatening her neighbors.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-People-2005-110"><span>[</span>110<span>]</span></a> In 2005, she was evicted by her landlord, actor Michael Rapaport, following complaints by other tenants about her behavior.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-Hollywood-Rapaport-2005-111"><span>[</span>111<span>]</span></a>

In 2005, Lyonne was admitted—under a pseudonym—to Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan, suffering from hepatitis C, infective endocarditis, and a collapsed lung; she was also undergoing methadone treatment for heroin addiction.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-msnbc1-112"><span>[</span>112<span>]</span></a> In January 2006, a warrant was issued for her arrest after she missed a court hearing relating to her prior legal problems. Her lawyer said an emergency had arisen but did not give details. Later in the same year, Lyonne was admitted to a drug and alcohol treatment center; she appeared in court afterwards and the judge entered a conditional discharge.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-NYT-Revenge-2008-9"><span>[</span>9<span>]</span></a> She has not used drugs since December 2006, and has been open about her addiction and recovery.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-Russian-NewYorker-21"><span>[</span>21<span>]</span></a>

Lyonne underwent open-heart surgery in 2012 to correct heart valve damage caused by her previous heart infection.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-113"><span>[</span>113<span>]</span></a> She quit smoking in 2023.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Lyonne#cite_note-114"><span>[</span>114<span>]</span></a>

 

[playahaitian]

Meth>>>>>

 

[playahaitian]

https://ew.com/natasha-lyonnes-dog-rootbeer-poker-face-season-2-finale-11767671

 

[playahaitian]

'Poker Face' Boss Unpacks Charlie's Heartbreaking Season 2 Finale, Shares Hopes for Potential Season 3

"Poker Face" showrunner Tony Tost Unpacks Charlie's heartbreaking Season 2 finale and shares his hopes for a potential Season 3

www.thewrap.com

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Thanks for the reminder - gonna circle back and check out the rest of season 2 in the near future.

 

[playahaitian]

Thanks for the reminder - gonna circle back and check out the rest of season 2 in the near future.

I really want to hear your thoughts

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

I really want to hear your thoughts

Sounds good.

Saved the last handful of episodes for mom's flashdrive update (gonna see her later this month).

Recent stuff I've been watching = Untamed, Stick, The Bear, Dept Q, and Dexter - Original Sin.

Currently watching Smoke, and Bosch (original series - season 1).

Interesting side note - Smoke is filmed locally, so been recognizing a number of filming locations which adds to the enjoyment of the show. For those who have seen Smoke ... the Coop's Fried Chicken restaurant is an old Pizza Hut that closed down years back. I drive by there on a daily basis, and saw them doing some night filming last year (after 10pm) and wondered what movie or TV series was in production in the city, lol.

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Interesting side note - Smoke is filmed locally, so been recognizing a number of filming locations which adds to the enjoyment of the show. For those who have seen Smoke ... the Coop's Fried Chicken restaurant is an old Pizza Hut that closed down years back. I drive by there on a daily basis, and saw them doing some night filming last year (after 10pm) and wondered what movie or TV series was in production in the city, lol.