After much anticipation,Seth Rogenhas finally returned to the small screen, and by all accounts, he’s delivered one of the best new sitcoms in years. Apple TV’sThe Studiois just the latest in a seemingly endless line of Hollywood satires, following on the heels of HBO’s short-livedThe Franchise. But while that series got a tepid reception at best, as of this writing,The Studioholds a staggering 94% approvalrating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to co-creating the show with writing partner Evan Goldberg, Rogen also plays Matt Remick, a lifelong film junkie. Upon being appointed the head of Continental Studios, a job that he once thought a dream come true turns out to be a massive headache, as he has to deal with corporate demands, social/economic changes, and the trials of making a movie. The result is something akin to a modern reimagining ofThe Player, equal parts affectionate parody, and vicious takedown of the film industry. But does it live up to the hype?
The Studio
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‘The Studio’ Is One of 2025’s Funniest Shows
The short answer is: yes,The Studio, even just two episodes in, is already one of the best new sitcoms of the year. Rogen and Goldberg’s laugh-a-minute approach that madeSuperbadandPineapple Expressclassics works like gangbusters here, maintaining a jovial spirit that’s often crass but never mean-spirited.
As a comedic performer, Rogen is perfectly cast as Remick, effectively demonstrating both his character’s palpable passion for filmmaking and his constant exasperation over the difficulties he faces.Yet he benefits from a fantastic ensemble, all at the top of their game. Comedy legend Catherine O’Hara (former studio head Patty Leigh) does some of her most understated work in years, yet her deadpan line deliveries serve as a hilarious contrast to the insanity unfolding around her.Ike Barinholtz of MADTV fame, as Remick’s closest friend, also gets big laughs.
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This is all before getting into an absolutely top-tier roster of guest stars. In a recurring role as Continental CEO Griffin Mill (named after Tim Robbins’ character fromThe Player),Bryan Cranston perfectly embodies the blatant greed that defines so many studio executives and reminds us of how hilarious a performer he can be outside of Walter White. The season’s first two episodes alone feature enough celebrity cameos to fill the cast of a new Benoit Blanc film; the roster includes Paul Dano, Charlize Theron, and Greta Lee, and nearly all of them are gut-bustingly funny.
Yet none matchthe hilarity of Martin Scorsese’s guest star work. The pilot focuses on Remick’s efforts to greenlight a movie about the Kool-Aid Man, on orders from Griffin Mill, and by a stroke of luck, he briefly signs Scorsese as the director. The catch? Scorsese’s planned film is actually about the Jonestown massacre, in which Kool-Aid (technically Flavor-Aid) played a sinister role.Scorsese’s hysterical line deliveries and complete willingness to poke fun at himself should instantly win him an Emmy if there’s any justice in this world.
‘The Studio’ Is a Treasure Trove for Film Junkies
Yet as hilarious asThe Studiois just as a comedy, it never shines brighter than when it takes aim at Hollywood and the filmmaking process. For anyone who’s ever worked as a PA or has had to navigate the difficulties of being on set,The Studiois a treasure trove of laughs because it’s not that far off from reality. Setups involving signing talent for upcoming projects, using social media trends to influence advertising, and minor crew interruptions throwing off actors on set should all be immediately recognizable scenarios to film junkies.
Consider the show’s killer second episode, “The Oner”, which revolves around a crew’s attempts to pull off a single-take scene, a laBirdmanor Netflix’sAdolescence. Remick, ever excited to watch a technical achievement in action, visits the set, immediately giving director Sarah Polley (also playing herself) unwarranted notes and distracting cast members by trying to mingle with them. Polley and her team, on a time constraint since they wish to capture the shot as the sun sets, grow increasingly exasperated with Remick’s hijinks, and there’s equal parts suspense and comedy in waiting for a minor slip-up to ruin an otherwise perfect take.
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LikeThe Studioat its best, the episode showcases both snark and affection toward the art of cinema. A conversation sees Barinholtz’s Sal remark about how self-indulgent oners can arguably be: “It’s just the director jacking off while making everyone else’s lives miserable,” while Remick insists that, at their best, they can represent the height of filmmaking. In an additional meta-level of hilarity, “The Oner” itself unfoldsasa oner, and all episodes in the season are said to include at least one long take,in an apparent homage toThe Player.
All of this is to say thatThe Studiomore than lives up to the hype, delivering some of the biggest laughs the small screen has seen in a long time. In a time when Hollywood satires too often take easy potshots at easy targets, Rogen and Goldberg fully understand the world of filmmaking, and thus, their commentary has genuine bite. Even just two episodes in, this is clearly one of the best new shows of 2025, and we can’t wait for more.The Studiois streaming onApple TV+, with new episodes every Wednesday.
