Spotlight

I had never met Rob Reiner—acclaimed director, actor, producer, and tireless advocate—until I saw his name on the poster for Lyrics From Lockdown, the one-man show I was producing at the Academy Museum. My first role as a producer felt suddenly monumental, sharing space in a program connected to someone whose work had shaped so many lives. The more I shared about the show and how he was involved, the more I heard how beloved he and his wife, Michele, were. Every mention carried warmth, admiration, and respect.

After a few email exchanges with Michele, I finally met them before the show on Friday, December 12. Looking back, I wish I had found the words to say thank you. Thanks to Rob and the other executive producers, I was able to take on this role, and the experience changed my life.

Lyrics From Lockdown gives voice to incarcerated individuals through music and spoken word, illuminating resilience, hope, and the urgent need for social justice reform. The show brought together high school students, community partners, and nonprofits focused on reentry and education, and we even live streamed it to prisons and fire camps across California. It was a night full of pride, connection, and a reminder of how art can amplify marginalized voices.

Then came Sunday, and the news of Rob’s passing stunned us all, especially members of our team who had long, meaningful relationships with the Reiners. He had believed deeply in this project, even hoping to bring it to Broadway. I am forever grateful for the doors he opened, for the belief he placed in this work, and for the legacy of advocacy, creativity, and courage he leaves behind. I hope his children and all who loved him find peace after what can only be defined as a tragedy. His spirit will continue to inspire everyone fortunate enough to have known him, both personally and through his profoundly human films.

For more information on how to support Lyrics From Lockdown, click here.

A powerhouse, award-winning creative team and cast bring the quietly human and intimate story of Alex Novak (based on the real-life experiences of British comedian John Bishop) to Is This Thing On? Multi-Emmy nominee Will Arnett co-writes (with multi-Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper) and stars in the story of middle-aged Alex navigating divorce after a long marriage to Tess, played by Academy Award, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Laura Dern. 

Faced with the unraveling of his marriage, Alex Novak is searching for purpose, meaning, and inspiration. As he tries to figure out who he is outside of the marriage that has defined him, Alex wanders into the New York City stand-up comedy scene. The stage offers him a refuge and a mirror for his fears, regrets, and hopes. 

As Alex experiments with comedy, Tess struggles with the sacrifices she’s made for their family and begins her own path of rediscovery. They both wonder if love can evolve as they co-parent from separate homes. It is important to note that the bitterness and ugliness Americans expect from films about divorce are not present here… The script treats Alex and Tess’s separation with empathy, showing how love can transform without entirely disappearing.

Supporting cast features Bradley Cooper, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris, Christine Ebersole, Andra Day, and Peyton Manning. Now in theaters, with streaming coming in March.

For more, click here.

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not. If you were an original SNL watcher that’s how Weekend Update opened every week, and it sums up Chase’s mix of arrogance and confidence that made the comedian one of the most sought-after leading men in the 1970s. His mix of good looks, goofball physical comedy and sarcasm was the perfect counter-culture attitude for its time. 

If you are expecting a slick film that glosses over Chase’s stardom in the 1970s, be prepared. This is a revealing documentary that dismantles the myth and the man behind one of American comedy’s most polarizing figures. 

It traces Chase’s meteoric rise from Saturday Night Live breakout to box-office star, underscoring how his cool, WASP-y arrogance redefined television comedy in the 1970s. Yet its real power lies in firsthand accounts from collaborators who describe a pattern of cruelty, insecurity, and self-sabotage. Directors, writers, and castmates speak candidly.

Chase is neither fully condemned nor excused. The documentary examines how ego, addiction, and unresolved anger can corrode talent, and how an industry that once rewarded bad behavior eventually turns unforgiving. Archival footage is used effectively, often undercutting Chase’s own recollections with uncomfortable context.

Sobering, sometimes sad, and riveting, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not is less about cancellation than consequence. It asks whether brilliance excuses harm—and answers with a thoughtful no, leaving viewers to reflect on fame’s fragility and comedy’s cost.

For more, click here.

Apple TV’s Shrinking, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, returns on January 28, 2026 for its third season. The special one-hour premiere will be followed by weekly releases (30 minutes each) every Wednesday through the finale on April 8. Critics and audiences alike have praised the series for its performances, writing, and ability to balance sharp humor with an honest examination of grief. Along with Segel (also a co-creator and producer) and Ford, Shrinking stars Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, and Lukita Maxwell. The show has received Emmy Award nominations for Segel, Williams, and Outstanding Comedy Series, and the American Film Institute recognized Season Two as one of the top 10 television programs of the year. Ford has received nominations from the Critic’s Choice and TCA Awards for his performance as a psychotherapist suffering with Parkinson’s Disease.

The series follows Jimmy Laird (Segel), a therapist grieving the death of his wife. Overwhelmed by his own loss, he begins to discard ethical boundaries and tells his patients exactly what he thinks, leading to massive, unpredictable changes in both their lives and his own. Some of the recurring characters are played by Heidi Gardner, Lily Rabe, Wendie Malick, Brett Goldstein, Damon Wayans Jr., Cobie Smulders, and more. Season Three will include the addition of Jeff Daniels, Candice Bergen, and Michael J. Fox who joins in a significant multi-episode guest role as a character with Parkinson’s Disease who interacts with Ford’s character. If you haven’t been watching, do it now!

For more, click here.