Latest news with #DyingforSex
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I cried a lot': Rob Delaney on the heart and humor in FX's ‘Dying for Sex' — and Neighbor Guy's kick in the ‘zone'
"Worst case scenario, he's this annoying, gross collection of sights, sounds, and smells," jokes Rob Delaney about his character, simply known as Neighbor Guy, in FX's limited series Dying for Sex. The tragic comedy stars Michelle Williams as Molly, a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, who abandons her husband (played by Jay Duplass) of 15 years and begins to fully explore her sexuality. More from GoldDerby Directors open up about identity, risk and emotional storytelling at Disney's FYC fest 'M*A*S*H' star Loretta Swit dies at 87, and more of today's top stories 'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' After reading the script, Delaney realized that Neighbor Guy develops into a "pretty fantastic character" — one who ultimately provides Molly with the kinky outlet and emotional connection she craves. "It's funny that he does not have a name," Delaney tells Gold Derby, "but he definitely leaves more of an impression than a lot of people with names do." Delaney says he's in a "sweet spot" in his career — auditioning for roles, pursuing opportunities that excite him, and occasionally receiving direct offers. Neighbor Guy was one such offer. "They thought I had the right brew — the right pervert-kind ratio — to play this wonderful character," he jokes. Working alongside Michelle Williams was a "dream come true" for the actor. Upon meeting the five-time Oscar nominee, Delaney was relieved to find her "just a good person." He adds, "She's an incredibly generous scene partner. She also produced the show, steering a ship that was both enjoyable and accommodating. I can't say enough positive things about her." Sarah Shatz/FX Thankfully, the two forged a strong bond, especially given Molly and Neighbor Guy's intense on-screen interactions — enter the intimacy coordinator. "I sort of feel like me and Sharon Horgan invented intimacy coordination with our show Catastrophe," Delaney says. "We wrote it, produced it, and then every season — without fail — we'd be like, 'Oh, we're in it too?' So all of our stuff would say things like, 'Request permission to caress your face.' We kind of did all that stuff — luckily I've had plenty of experience with that type of coordination and choreography." SEE 'We didn't want Molly to die': 'Dying for Sex' creators on finding the comedy in cancer In one particularly memorable scene, Neighbor Guy reveals he enjoys being kicked in…"a sensitive area." Delaney recalls, "I really do get kicked, but not actually in my private parts. There's a thing you can wear that offers a 'zone' to be kicked, but it's several inches below your gear. So, Michelle got to genuinely kick and I got to react to real physical 'stimuli.' Neighbor Guy likes to be kicked in the nuts, I don't," he laughs. Sarah Shatz/FX Although their relationship begins as purely sexual (and often hilarious), Delaney found the more intimate and heartfelt scenes in the hospital — where Molly is dying — to be the most impactful. "The way they lit the hospital room, combined with the fact that it was often raining outside, really made it feel like we were in some kind of antechamber between the living world and whatever comes next," he recalls. "It was a very different kind of acting than I'd ever done before. I really tried to not act — I cried a lot. I would have to budget my crying for the day. It was pretty intense." Reflecting on why the relationship between Molly and Neighbor Guy worked, Delaney says, "They're very lucky to have found each other. She's having a series of sacred or magical experiences as she consciously moves toward death. Neighbor Guy has met her at the right time — so he can get sort of a contact high from what she's going through. He's a big beneficiary — she really gives him a gift. I must imagine that after Molly dies that Neighbor Guy has a much richer and better life having known her." Looking back on his experience working on Dying for Sex, Delaney considers it his favorite acting job to date."I don't count Catastrophe because I [co-created] that show, but this show was of that stature for me," he says. "I love my career and I'm very grateful for it, but I often am put in stuff to be funny — nothing wrong with that, I'll do it for the rest of my life if they let me — but to do something like this, that was such an educational experience, it spoiled me. Now I just want to do stuff where everybody's firing on all cylinders. This was an example, for me, of what a show can be." Dying for Sex is available to stream on Hulu. Best of GoldDerby TV directors roundtable: 'American Primeval,' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' 'Paradise' 'Paradise' directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on the 'chaos' of crafting 'the world coming to an end' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' director Charlotte Brändström on Gandalf's 'big reveal' and which scene required 'the most prep' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kathy Bates, Mara Brock Akil, Natasha Lyonne, and More to Receive Awards at IndieWire Honors
IndieWire, the definitive outlet for creative independence in film and TV, announced on Wednesday, May 7 the return of the Spring edition of its IndieWire Honors event celebrating the creators and stars responsible for some of the most impressive and engaging work of this TV season. Hosted by comedian Robby Hoffman, known for her memorable guest appearances on 'Hacks' and 'Dying for Sex' this year, IndieWire Honors will celebrate its honorees at an intimate cocktail reception taking place Thursday, June 5 in Los Angeles. Exclusive editorial content, including honoree profiles, will also be featured on IndieWire beginning May 28 and will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards night, followed by video interviews and more content from the event. More from IndieWire Joe Wright's 'Mussolini: Son of the Century' Epic Series Will Be Distributed by MUBI - Watch New Teaser 'The Last of Us' Review: Episode 5 Stares Death in the Face and Asks for More - Spoilers 'Each year, IndieWire Honors celebrates the artists who are redefining the boundaries of storytelling and pushing the industry forward,' said Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire's senior VP and editor-in-chief. 'The 2025 honorees exemplify the innovation, courage, and creative vision that inspire us all. We're proud to shine a light on these voices and continue our tradition of championing the boldest talents in film and television.''It's spring and IndieWire Honors is back, our unique take on an awards event where honorees and attendees mix and mingle while celebrating our favorite series and the talent behind them,' said IndieWire senior VP and publisher James Israel. The Spring 2025 IndieWire Honors honorees, as curated and selected by IndieWire's editorial team, are as follows: Given her reputation for bringing an invigorating energy to every role she takes on, big or small, it's no surprise that a reimagining of the classic legal procedural 'Matlock' headlined by Kathy Bates has been such a success. The actress is an anchor, helping the audience see the heart of the material, no matter how high the concept. While it once was common for actors to overthink taking on a TV role versus a film role, Bates has proven how one can freely and effectively bounce between both mediums, earning Emmys and an Oscar along the way. It is rare to see someone so pivotal to the TV landscape feel like they are just getting started. After working on iconic Black sitcoms like 'Moesha' and 'The Jamie Foxx Show,' and creating 'Girlfriends,' where she hired several writers that would also become game-changing showrunners, Mara Brock Akil is making her long-awaited Netflix series debut 'Forever,' inspired by the groundbreaking Judy Blume novel of the same name. Now taking place in 2018, the teen romance is a balm for audiences hoping to find the tenderness and connection lacking in modern times. Coming on as an executive producer and director helping bring creator Dan Erickson's vision of 'Severance' to life, actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller has hit his stride behind the lens of the Apple TV+ series. Split between two worlds that both feel all too uncanny to anyone who has passed through white collar wastelands, the Apple TV+ series has an immersive sense of malaise diffused by his collaboration from day one with cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné, who went on to also direct the episode 'Chikhai Bardo,' a highlight of the highly acclaimed second season. Cutting her teeth as the star of women-directed indies like 'Slums of Beverly Hills' and 'But I'm a Cheerleader,' whose posters still line the walls of precocious teenagers' bedrooms, the now-multi-hyphenate Natasha Lyonne has solidified herself as a singular talent that writes, directs, and stars in TV series that redefine what creators can accomplish in the streaming era. With Peacock's 'Poker Face,' created alongside Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson, Lyonne has managed to turn a classic whodunnit into an impeccably written, well-crafted showcase for some of the most exciting stars of today. The countless hours spent between 'The Penguin' star Colin Farrell and makeup designer Mike Marino proved to be foundational to the success of the HBO crime drama spinning off from the 2022 blockbuster 'The Batman.' The actor is completely transformed, but is not weighed down by prosthetics that hinder his capabilities to give a nuanced performance of a superhero rogue that fans thought they already knew. That kind of symbiosis of crafts, where the pair pushes each other to new creative peaks, has already led to several awards, and calls for the limited series to be revived, whether the Batman returns or not. A throwback in form and function, the Ramy Youssef and Pam Brady creation '#1 Happy Family USA' on Prime Video is a reminder of how animation can be the perfect medium for transgressive stories that can challenge the audience's worldview, while also challenging them not to laugh. It is finally not too soon to joke about how the world changed after September 11, 2001, with Brady and Youssef teeing up an animation style that transports viewers to the time, and holding up a mirror for everyone to see the actions of many that are now painfully regrettable, yet hilarious. It may be pat to refer to documentary projects as stranger than fiction, but watching 'Ren Faire' from documentary prodigy Lance Oppenheim, it is bizarre how well the narrative of a megalomaniacal entrepreneur toying with his wannabe successors foreshadows current events we are mustering through. And that is not to say there isn't any fun to be had with 'Ren Faire,' which is full of energy and comedic beats that rival the best sitcoms. In a field as expansive as documentary, it can be incredibly hard to develop a unique voice, but the young filmmaker has already proven himself able to provide something fresh, spotlighting idiosyncratic subjects that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. A few years out from her devastating, Emmy-winning turn in 'Mare of Easttown,' actress Julianne Nicholson returns to TV on the new Hulu series 'Paradise' where everything is not what it seems. It's easy to call her character Sinatra the most captivating villain of this overall television season, but Nicholson places all the pieces down to challenge that designation throughout the Dan Fogelman-penned series. Sure, she is unapologetically focused on her survival, and maintaining a sense of control, which makes for delicious tête-à-tête with lead Sterling K. Brown, but she does so having experienced a loss that would be transformative for anyone to have gone through. All it takes to impress upon anyone who has seen the Netflix series 'Adolescence' just how talented its breakout star Owen Cooper truly is: tell them that the first episode the newcomer shot is the one opposite Erin Doherty, where he turns the table on her as counselor trying to evaluate whether he is aware of his fatal actions. Cooper is but one modern teenager (and still in school to boot), but through his performance in the Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne-created series, he has become a conduit for needed conversations about how to contend with the toxic culture preying upon young men worldwide. Though the entrance of Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren into the 'Yellowstone' universe piqued the interest of many, Paramount+ series '1923' has provided a needed education to its viewers about the atrocities committed against indigenous Americans through star Aminah Nieves. Though it is incredibly tough to shoulder the burden of depicting a difficult piece of North American history parties are still actively trying to erase, the young star has done so with aplomb, ending the second and final season of the Western saga on a triumphant note that provides the foundation for many more indigenous stories to be told for years to come. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Death is not a mystery': what happens to your body when you're dying?
'Who would like to hear about what happens when you're dying?' In the final episode of the FX series Dying for Sex, a hospice nurse with an oddly comforting sense of enthusiasm explains to a patient what to expect as she dies. 'Death is not a mystery. It is not a medical disaster. It is a bodily process, like giving birth or like going to the bathroom or coughing,' she continues. 'Your body knows what to do.' She'll eat and drink less, for example, and sleep a lot more; she won't get out of bed and might become delirious. Eventually, her breathing will slow down until the death rattles take over. She might even experience 'the rally', the nurse says, or a burst of energy and mental clarity days before her last breath. The scene is based on real events in the life of Molly Kochan, who received a terminal breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and embarked on a sexual journey until her death four years later. Kochan, who died at age 46, documented her experiences in a podcast with her best friend, Nikki Boyer, which inspired the TV series. Related: I'm a death expert. I designed eight questions to help you think about dying 'There's this assumption, understandably, that dying isn't something an audience wants to look at. It feels too scary or sad,' says Kim Rosenstock, the show's co-creator, writer and executive producer. 'So we felt like we had an opportunity to depict death in a different way. And in doing so, to hopefully make death feel even a tiny bit less mysterious and scary.' To some extent, each death is unique because it depends on a person's age, health status and reason for dying, says Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse and online educator in Los Angeles, California. But for those unaffected by a traumatic event, such as a car accident, most people will experience certain stages and symptoms. Experts say that knowing more about death – which they call 'death literacy' – can actually help quell fears of dying. Here's what they said about the science and psychology of the death process. Months before death, the transition phase begins, says McFadden. This entails spending more time in bed, eating and drinking less, and needing more help with daily tasks such as getting dressed and going to the bathroom. During this time, it can be hard to keep up with conversations and sleep will take up most of the day. This stage can be particularly difficult to notice in people who have conditions such as dementia or Parkinson's disease, adds McFadden, because the signs mirror those of their illness. The transition phase could also involve a 'detachment from the world' in a way that makes time feel non-existent, says Cole Imperi, a certified thanatologist, a specialist who studies death, dying, grief and loss. Senses will begin to dull as well, she says, so sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch won't be as intense. When we die, our bodies get less efficient at running like clockwork Due to a lower food and beverage intake, at this point it's possible to enter ketosis, a state in which the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. Imperi says some people may experience pain relief or euphoria as a result, but it's not entirely clear why. Some research suggests the neurotransmitter Gaba increases during ketosis, which makes you feel calm, while cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases, says Imperi. All these symptoms will worsen until the last stage of life, called 'active dying', says McFadden. This can begin a few days or hours before death. For the most part, a person is unconscious, she says, and breathing and heart rate can become irregular. If respiration or heart rate becomes too erratic and causes discomfort, hospice workers can bring in a music-thanatologist to help stabilize vitals and ease anxiety, says Imperi. These trained professionals play the harp and use their voice at bedside. 'When we die, our bodies get less efficient at running like clockwork,' says Imperi, 'so when music-thanatologists come in, the body sort of tethers itself to the pattern of their music.' Related: I'm a death expert. I designed eight questions to help you think about dying This stage is also when 'the rally' happens. About a third of dying people undergo this sudden rush of mental clarity shortly before they die, according to McFadden. For a brief couple of days, hours or even minutes, personalities return, loved ones' names are remembered and favorite foods are craved yet again. 'There's not a definitive scientific reason why this happens,' says Imperi. 'But I will say that it is a beautiful, beautiful gift.' It's also very common, at any point during active dying, to experience hallucinations or visions that typically involve loved ones who have passed. Imperi says dying people often talk about needing to pack their suitcase or waiting to be picked up at an airport. The last thing that happens before death is a change in breathing pattern called Cheyne-Stokes respiration, says Imperi. Like a fish out of water, a person experiences a series of rapid breaths followed by long periods of no breathing. As a result, one can't swallow mucus or saliva, so it thickens and builds up in the back of the throat, making each breath sound a bit gurgly, says Imperi. These noises are called terminal secretions, commonly referred to as the 'death rattle'. Although it sounds painful, Cheyne-Stokes breathing doesn't hurt – just like most of the active dying process, says McFadden, who says she can tell based on patients' non-verbal cues. 'A dying person is like a baby,' McFadden says. 'Babies can't say they're hungry or teething, but you can tell something is wrong by how they're acting. Dying people are the same.' 'In American culture, death is largely feared and seen as this disaster to avoid at all costs,' says Rosenstock. 'It was important to us to convey the dying process in a truthful way.' It's normal to be scared of death because it's in our nature to survive, says Imperi, but the best way to quash a fear of dying is to educate yourself. Several studies show that the more we learn about and contemplate death, the less anxiety we have about experiencing it. Death literacy can be especially helpful for people who are already dying, McFadden says. Related: Dying for Sex review – Michelle Williams' erotic journey is revolutionary TV 'Most people are not comfortable talking about it, so everyone skirts around the issue. But at the end of the day, they do want answers, and generally speaking, we have some,' McFadden says. 'We don't know exactly what it's going to be like after you're gone, but we know enough about what you can expect [during the process], and in most cases, my patients and their families sigh with relief once they learn more about it.' That's because one of the hardest parts about dying is losing control, says Imperi, and death education can help put the ball back in your court. On the other hand, some people might find a sense of control by refusing to learn more about what's happening to them or their loved one, adds Imperi, which can be equally as therapeutic. 'Supporting that resistance is sometimes more important,' says Imperi, because that might be what a person needs at that point in their journey. Above all, 'we are built for death just like we're built for birth', says McFadden. 'The more we understand that, the better we will live – and the more peaceful we will die.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gabby Windey admits to being jealous of wife Robby Hoffman's BDSM scene with Michelle Williams
Comedian Robby Hoffman and her wife, The Traitors star Gabby Windey, are once again proving why they're your fave lesbian couple! On the most recent episode of the Long Winded with Gabby Windey podcast, Hoffman joined her wife to talk about her sexy scene with Michelle Williams in the new Hulu show Dying for Sex, and Windey hilariously admitted she gets jealous. 'What was it like touching Michelle Williams, and were you thinking about me?' Windey asked. Hoffman admitted that during the scene, she was worried about having coffee breath in front of Williams. 'My baby's never had halitosis,' Windey assures her. Dying for Sex stars Williams as a woman who is diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and leaves her husband so she can embark on a journey of sexual exploration that leads her to learning about BDSM from Hoffman's character named G. The Hacks season 3 star, whom Windey calls her "hubby baby," told the podcast audience that in her spicy scene with Williams, eagle-eyed viewers will be able to spot her 'G' ring that she got shortly after she and Windey started seeing each other. New ep of Long Winded with hubby baby Robby wifey!! 'I have a G ring that I got made that scared Gabby initially. When we were dating for three months, I was so excited about us, I had this ring made that had Gs on it for Gabby,' Hoffman explained. Swoon! They play a clip from the miniseries that shows Hoffman wearing the ring along with a leather harness while caressing Williams. 'People are like, did that turn you on? And I'm like, oh my god,' Windey said. 'Not that I'm jealous. But who cares, we're allowed to be jealous.' The 34-year-old former Bachelorette star joked that if the day comes when Hoffman has to make out with a celeb for a role, she's going to go ballistic. 'I'll go full Ryan Reynolds, I'll go full Tommy Lee,' she admitted in her signature deadpan style. 'Come baby, come to set. Blow this shit up,' Hoffman responded. Let this kind of love find us! Windey continued, saying she would tear up Hoffman's trailer and ask, 'Who the f*ck are you kissing?' The couple jokes back and forth about destroying things and causing a '$400 million lawsuit,' before Hoffman makes a reference to Blake Lively's lawsuit against Justin Baldoni by quipping, 'Somebody comes into my trailer when I'm breastfeeding? I don't think so!' Watch the full episode of Long Winded with Gabby Windey below. - YouTube
Los Angeles Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
2025 Emmy predictions: best actress, limited series or TV movie
Cristin Milioti is way out in front, the only actress named on all ballots for limited series/TV movie actress and the only unanimous No. 1 pick in Round 1 across all major categories. Michelle Williams is a solid second, receiving some keen support from the panel, but Milioti's rising crime boss with a brutal origin story has stolen the BuzzMeter's heart. 'If there's any justice in this world,' declares Lorraine Ali, 'Cristin Milioti will make the cut for her portrayal of Mafia daughter/complex villain Sofia Falcone in 'The Penguin.'' 'As 'The Penguin's' feral villain, Cristin Milioti has been a shoo-in for this race for quite a while,' assures Tracy Brown. 'Cristin Milioti brought arguably the tour de force of the year in 'The Penguin.' Give her her trophy,' says Trey Mangum, though he adds, 'Rashida Jones' episode [of 'Black Mirror'] ripped me to bits. It's one of the best things I've seen her in.' As do several panelists, Matt Roush touts both Milioti and Williams: 'Cristin Milioti literally scorched the screen. Michelle Williams' bold, raw performance in 'Dying for Sex' as a sexually adventurous cancer patient is equally impressive.' Glenn Whipp says, ' 'Babygirl' plus terminal illness doesn't sound promising, but 'Dying for Sex' upends cancer tropes left and right and is anchored by a terrific Michelle Williams.' Renée Zellweger has a chance to match a rare feat, says Kristen Baldwin: 'Back in the 1980s, Eileen Brennan earned Oscar and Emmy nominations for playing the same character: 'Private Benjamin's' Capt. Doreen Lewis' — which the two-time Oscar winner could do this year for reprising Bridget Jones in 'Mad About the Boy.' More predictions: Limited / TV movie actor | Limited series 1. Cristin Milioti, 'The Penguin'2. Michelle Williams, 'Dying for Sex'3. Renée Zellweger, 'Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy'4. (tie) Cate Blanchett, 'Disclaimer'4. (tie) Rashida Jones, 'Black Mirror' 6. Kaitlyn Dever, 'Apple Cider Vinegar'7. (tie) Julianne Moore, 'Sirens'7. (tie) Viola Davis, 'G20'9. (tie) Lola Petticrew, 'Say Nothing'9. (tie) Ruth Negga, 'Presumed Innocent'
