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From “Speechless” to “Atypical,” Unpacking Disability Representation and Ableism on TV
Growing up with a disabled brother, and living with long Covid, has made me especially sensitive to the ways disability is portrayed in the media.
Mar 22, 2022 • 
Laura Weiss

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Small screen, big ideas
From “Speechless” to “Atypical,” Unpacking Disability Representation and Ableism on TV
The Strengths and Shortfalls of Mindy Kaling’s "The Sex Lives of College Girls" and "Never Have I Ever"
Kaling's latest streaming successes are both entertaining, and make some strides for representation. But they fall short when it comes to deeper…
Dec 30, 2021 • 
Laura Weiss

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The Strengths and Shortfalls of Mindy Kaling’s "The Sex Lives of College Girls" and "Never Have I Ever"
“Sex Education” is Revolutionary Teen TV. Maeve Wiley Is the Best Part.
Warning: Spoilers
Oct 12, 2021 • 
Laura Weiss
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“Sex Education” is Revolutionary Teen TV. Maeve Wiley Is the Best Part.
“Daisy Jones and the Six” Broke My Brain
Trying to unravel reality and artifice in the Amazon series and accompanying album
Apr 13, 2023 • 
Laura Weiss

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“Daisy Jones and the Six” Broke My Brain
“One Day” and “Normal People”: Sad and Horny in the British Isles
With Netflix’s “One Day,” ill-fated coming-of-age romances in Britain and Ireland are becoming a genre of their own.
Apr 14, 2024 • 
Laura Weiss
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“One Day” and “Normal People”: Sad and Horny in the British Isles
How “Teenage Bounty Hunters” and “Good Trouble” Challenge Biphobic Stereotypes
[Warning: Spoilers throughout]
Sep 5, 2021 • 
Laura Weiss
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How “Teenage Bounty Hunters” and “Good Trouble” Challenge Biphobic Stereotypes
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The new “Gossip Girl” doesn’t understand Gen Z. “The White Lotus” does.
It’s fitting to start this newsletter with a discussion of “Gossip Girl,” one of the most iconic teen shows of my generation. The show was based on…
Aug 15, 2021 • 
Laura Weiss
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The new “Gossip Girl” doesn’t understand Gen Z. “The White Lotus” does.
Messy British Millennial Women (and Their Friends)
Though they’re different in tone, theme, and genre, these shows are part of a new trend of shows that focus on friendship rather than romantic love.
Oct 11, 2022 • 
Laura Weiss

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Messy British Millennial Women (and Their Friends)
My Top Shows of 2024
Television is in a weird place right now. However, from "Say Nothing" to "The Decameron," there is still boundless creativity and incredible…
Jan 1 • 
Laura Weiss
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My Top Shows of 2024
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All About Love
There is much to analyze and problematize in shows like the popular “Bridgerton" and the romance genre writ large. On the other hand, it’s just what the…
May 24, 2022 • 
Laura Weiss

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All About Love
Nothing is Normal About Being a Teen
Revisiting portrayals of virginity in "The O.C.," "Friday Night Lights," and "Sex Education"—and what I got wrong
Nov 22, 2021 • 
Laura Weiss

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Nothing is Normal About Being a Teen
Not Even Adam Brody's Charms Can Save "Nobody Wants This"
Has Kristen Bell’s character, who is from Los Angeles, literally never met a Jewish person?
Dec 9, 2024 • 
Laura Weiss

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Not Even Adam Brody's Charms Can Save "Nobody Wants This"
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