Latest news with #Lyonne
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg
Poker Face Season 2 has launched on Peacock, and the show returns with a new riveting roulette of guest stars, as it had in Season 1. A look at the titles of each episode will hint at the themes found within as well as clues for Natasha Lyonne's Charlie Cale, who has an uncanny B.S. detector and a nose for sleuthing out the truth. Lyonne's main character is a staple between seasons, as she sometimes randomly and other times through personal ties gets pulled into these murder mysteries. More from Deadline 'Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy' Emmy Submissions: Renée Zellweger Eyes Historic Double 'Laid' Canceled At Peacock After One Season Beaten Up By Trio Of Teenagers, John Mulaney Finds Solace In Bone Thugs-N-Harmony On 'Everybody's Live' Season Finale RELATED: Find the Poker Face Season 2 guest stars that accompany Lyonne in the newest 12 episodes, three of which premiered May 8, below: Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far
TimesLIVE
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Not just a poker face
Natasha Lyonne enters the London Hotel, West Hollywood, looking like Austin Powers. The outfit is designer. Cerise leggings hug her skinny legs, and an exquisite black, collarless jacket of raw silk is embellished with huge diamanté buttons so ornate that they could pass for individual brooches. It's the kitten-heeled ankle boots that take the haute couture ensemble and reshuffle it as '60s cool. Her makeup is minimal, her delicate features surrounded by a riot of auburn curls. The character actress has found critical and commercial acclaim in the television series, Poker Face, now in season 2. It's an inverted detective series, where we know who the perpetrator is and the mystery lies in how to catch them — if at all. Though her name may be unfamiliar, you'll recognise the gravel-voiced actress from a plethora of classics as far back as American Pie (1999). For decades she has quietly been delivering knock-out performances in such varied fare as Russian Doll (2019-22), Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), Orange Is the New Black (2013-19) and His Three Daughters (2023). Indeed, she began her career at age 6 and is one of the few child actors who appears to have transitioned to adult star unscathed. The conceit of Poker Face is that Charlie Cale (Lyonne) can tell when someone lies. Each week brings a new challenge — murder, fraud or theft — that allows a star-filled cast of guest actors to play supporting roles as Charlie gets pulled in to solve the crime. Oscar-winner Adrien Brody is just one of the recent actors willing to do television to be part of Lyonne's ensemble. So is Cynthia Erivo, who co-stars in multiple roles this season. Lyonne often pulls in stars she encounters in her social life, calling them the next day to ask if they want to be a guest on the show. That's led to awesome names turning up, but with some, such as Jude Law, politely declining. 'No shade on Jude Law,' notes the actress in an aside. The structure of Poker Face is one that was made popular in Columbo (Peter Falk) way back in the '60s and '70s, yet still holds fascination for the viewing public. Charlie comes to each episode trying to find her place in the world, which also gives us more ammunition for what makes each episode tick. It's a show about lying. Each episode, Charlie does some level of character development from the beginning to the end. Each episode starts with a flashback as we see Lyonne get to know either the victim or the killer and form a relationship with them. When things go south, that's what draws her into solving the crime. Lyonne's eyes are like black wet pebbles, but brimming with intelligence; she tilts her head and arcs her hands to ensure the point resonates. 'That connection is important,' she rasps, 'because Charlie's not a cop. It's not her job to solve the crime, so she needs an emotional way in, in every single episode.' She hunches her shoulders, looking over the sea of reporters as she talks, the intonation of a professor giving a lecture. 'I think it's been a lonely journey for Charlie between seasons 1 and 2. It's a long time to not be in touch with any family or friends. It's the loneliness of the long distance runner.' Her commentary is full of insightful, esoteric and lyrical asides. 'We are meeting a little bit of a 'hollow man' at the top of the season,' explains the native New Yorker of her character. 'Charlie comes to each episode trying to find her place in the world, which also gives us more ammunition for what makes each episode tick. It's a show about lying. Each episode, Charlie does some level of character development from the beginning to the end.' Lyonne, along with series creator Rian Johnson, also holds the titles of executive producer, writer and director. Fiercely intelligent, as witnessed by her obscure, informed asides, it's not a surprise to hear the co-executive producers enjoy solving the New York Times crossword puzzle while on set between scenes. Rather than a random activity, the puzzle-solving helps ground the actress. 'Completing the crossword is like Charlie with a mystery,' she grins. 'You've got to finish that puzzle once you start.' After an excellent first run, the sophomore season takes a slightly bizarre turn, including existential scenes of self exploration. 'Charlie's taking a journey and does things that surprise the audience, which allows us to not repeat ourselves and have fun. She's looking for connection, while also being on the run from the police (Benjamin Bratt).' Ultimately, Charlie is an unusual female lead. Strong, wily and singular. When looking for role models as a young actress, Lyonne identified more with Pacino, De Niro and Stallone than Meryl Streep — with whom the young actress worked in Heartburn in her film debut, after a stint on the soapie As The World Turns. Lyonne confesses that she channels Bogart, Betty Davis and Mae West in the role of Charlie, some of the industry's greatest character actors. 'I hate that, for women, success means that you had a kid or you got married. It's a bummer for us because then that means we failed if we don't.' That mindset — combined with maverick character choices stirred with murder — is what makes Poker Face a standout show.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Poker Face' Season 2 Guest Stars: From Katie Holmes To Simon Hellberg
Poker Face Season 2 has launched on Peacock, and the show returns with a new riveting roulette of guest stars, as it had in Season 1. A look at the titles of each episode will hint at the themes found within as well as clues for Natasha Lyonne's Charlie Cale, who has an uncanny B.S. detector and a nose for sleuthing out the truth. Lyonne's main character is a staple between seasons, as she sometimes randomly and other times through personal ties gets pulled into these murder mysteries. More from Deadline 'Poker Face' Returns To Nielsen Charts As Top 5 Streaming Original With Season 2 Debut Streaming Ad Tiers Catch Fire, Make Up Nearly Half Of U.S. Subscriptions For SVODs That Offer Them, Study Says 'Strangers' Series In Works At Peacock; Leslie Mann & Gabrielle Union Eyed To Star In Thriller From Jon Harmon Feldman & 100% Productions RELATED: Find the Poker Face Season 2 guest stars that accompany Lyonne in the newest 12 episodes, three of which premiered May 8, below: Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Amazon's 'Verity' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'The Testaments,' Sequel Series To 'The Handmaid's Tale' So Far Everything We Know About 'The Devil Wears Prada 2'
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Cynthia Erivo plays five characters in Poker Face's season two return
Unwitting mystery solver Charlie Cale is back with the return of Poker Face. Rian Johnson's delightful series once again pairs charismatic star Natasha Lyonne with a bevy of big names in each episode. To recap, Charlie (Lyonne) was working in a Las Vegas casino when she learned some things she shouldn't have after her friend was killed, and ended up going on the run in her classic car with a standover man on her tail. After that particular bind was sorted - but not before she helped solve several different mysteries across the US - Charlie found herself on the wrong side of a crime boss, and once again looking over her shoulder. This season, at least in the first three episodes which dropped together before returning to a weekly format, she's still on the run, moving from place to place and stumbling into murders along the way. And the guest stars are back and just as impressive as last season's crop (which included the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Chloe Sevigny, Nick Nolte), starting with a bang in the first episode. This one sees multiple Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo play not one, not two, but FIVE different characters. It's a lot of fun, and each character is clearly distinguished not just by costume, but by accent and mannerisms. There's also Katie Holmes, Giancarlo Esposito, Rhea Perlman and John Mulaney, while future episodes promise to bring Awkwafina, Aussie Geraldine Viswanathan, Melanie Lynskey, Corey Hawkins, BJ Novak and plenty more. Poker Face is one of the most fun series on streaming, and Lyonne is such a compelling lead to watch. Her easy charm, trademark husky-voiced dry delivery and crazy hair are iconic. Procedurals have rarely been so enjoyable. You won't be disappointed to dive back into this one. If you're looking for comfort food in movie form, look no further than Netflix's Mother's Day offering, Nonnas. This film from director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder) is a celebration of sharing love through food, a meditation on grief and found family, and a sweet story inspired by a real restaurant. Vince Vaughn plays Joey, a New York native grieving the recent loss of his beloved mother. He takes to remembering both her and his nonna (that's the Italian term for grandmother, if you're unaware) by trying to recreate their signature dishes, food that he remembers being filled with love. This inspires him to buy a vacant restaurant space on Staten Island - a very Italian part of New York - and create a place where customers are treated like family. And the cooks? They're real-life nonnas, sharing the traditional meals from their ancestral villages. To play these nonnas, Chbosky has cast a quartet of Oscar-nominated talent - Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Brenda Vaccaro (Once is Not Enough), Talia Shire (Rocky) and Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking). On the whole, the nonnas aren't given a great deal of fleshing out, but there is one scene where they share their stories and let loose a little, and it's lovely to see. The film also includes Joe Manganiello and Linda Cardellini, both impressive in supporting roles. While a lot of the film is devoted to Joey's struggles in getting the restaurant off the ground, it's the moments when food - and love - is shared where it really shines. Nonnas is completely formulaic but lovely nonetheless, just like a good bowl of pasta. Keep watching during the credits for pictures of the real-life restaurant and nonnas that inspired this film. Tim Allen is back with another sitcom in Disney+'s Shifting Gears. Allen plays a widowed father whose life is given a shake-up when his daughter (the always-likeable Kat Dennings) returns home with her two kids in tow. The production quality of this one is pretty poor and it couldn't be more obvious that they're filming in studio sets, but if you're craving some throwback sitcom action (with canned laughter and obvious punchlines galore) it might hit the spot. Also stars Seann William Scott. Over on Binge Asher Keddie returns as Evelyn Jones for season two of Strife, the series based on Mia Freedman's Mamma Mia platform. This time around the fictional women's site has some competition, and there's an internet troll determined to bring Evelyn down. On Prime Video fans of British reality star Molly Mae Hague are treated to a second season of her docu-series Molly Mae: Behind It All. Prime also has a brand new movie starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander: The Assessment. This suspenseful sci-fi-ish film reads like a Twilight Zone episode - prospective parents must undergo an intense seven-day assessment for the right to have a child. Also stars Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver and Indira Varma. If that sounds too heavy and you'd prefer some laughs, head to Netflix for the R-rated short-form comedy series Bad Thoughts, from Tom Segura. Unwitting mystery solver Charlie Cale is back with the return of Poker Face. Rian Johnson's delightful series once again pairs charismatic star Natasha Lyonne with a bevy of big names in each episode. To recap, Charlie (Lyonne) was working in a Las Vegas casino when she learned some things she shouldn't have after her friend was killed, and ended up going on the run in her classic car with a standover man on her tail. After that particular bind was sorted - but not before she helped solve several different mysteries across the US - Charlie found herself on the wrong side of a crime boss, and once again looking over her shoulder. This season, at least in the first three episodes which dropped together before returning to a weekly format, she's still on the run, moving from place to place and stumbling into murders along the way. And the guest stars are back and just as impressive as last season's crop (which included the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Chloe Sevigny, Nick Nolte), starting with a bang in the first episode. This one sees multiple Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo play not one, not two, but FIVE different characters. It's a lot of fun, and each character is clearly distinguished not just by costume, but by accent and mannerisms. There's also Katie Holmes, Giancarlo Esposito, Rhea Perlman and John Mulaney, while future episodes promise to bring Awkwafina, Aussie Geraldine Viswanathan, Melanie Lynskey, Corey Hawkins, BJ Novak and plenty more. Poker Face is one of the most fun series on streaming, and Lyonne is such a compelling lead to watch. Her easy charm, trademark husky-voiced dry delivery and crazy hair are iconic. Procedurals have rarely been so enjoyable. You won't be disappointed to dive back into this one. If you're looking for comfort food in movie form, look no further than Netflix's Mother's Day offering, Nonnas. This film from director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder) is a celebration of sharing love through food, a meditation on grief and found family, and a sweet story inspired by a real restaurant. Vince Vaughn plays Joey, a New York native grieving the recent loss of his beloved mother. He takes to remembering both her and his nonna (that's the Italian term for grandmother, if you're unaware) by trying to recreate their signature dishes, food that he remembers being filled with love. This inspires him to buy a vacant restaurant space on Staten Island - a very Italian part of New York - and create a place where customers are treated like family. And the cooks? They're real-life nonnas, sharing the traditional meals from their ancestral villages. To play these nonnas, Chbosky has cast a quartet of Oscar-nominated talent - Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Brenda Vaccaro (Once is Not Enough), Talia Shire (Rocky) and Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking). On the whole, the nonnas aren't given a great deal of fleshing out, but there is one scene where they share their stories and let loose a little, and it's lovely to see. The film also includes Joe Manganiello and Linda Cardellini, both impressive in supporting roles. While a lot of the film is devoted to Joey's struggles in getting the restaurant off the ground, it's the moments when food - and love - is shared where it really shines. Nonnas is completely formulaic but lovely nonetheless, just like a good bowl of pasta. Keep watching during the credits for pictures of the real-life restaurant and nonnas that inspired this film. Tim Allen is back with another sitcom in Disney+'s Shifting Gears. Allen plays a widowed father whose life is given a shake-up when his daughter (the always-likeable Kat Dennings) returns home with her two kids in tow. The production quality of this one is pretty poor and it couldn't be more obvious that they're filming in studio sets, but if you're craving some throwback sitcom action (with canned laughter and obvious punchlines galore) it might hit the spot. Also stars Seann William Scott. Over on Binge Asher Keddie returns as Evelyn Jones for season two of Strife, the series based on Mia Freedman's Mamma Mia platform. This time around the fictional women's site has some competition, and there's an internet troll determined to bring Evelyn down. On Prime Video fans of British reality star Molly Mae Hague are treated to a second season of her docu-series Molly Mae: Behind It All. Prime also has a brand new movie starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander: The Assessment. This suspenseful sci-fi-ish film reads like a Twilight Zone episode - prospective parents must undergo an intense seven-day assessment for the right to have a child. Also stars Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver and Indira Varma. If that sounds too heavy and you'd prefer some laughs, head to Netflix for the R-rated short-form comedy series Bad Thoughts, from Tom Segura. Unwitting mystery solver Charlie Cale is back with the return of Poker Face. Rian Johnson's delightful series once again pairs charismatic star Natasha Lyonne with a bevy of big names in each episode. To recap, Charlie (Lyonne) was working in a Las Vegas casino when she learned some things she shouldn't have after her friend was killed, and ended up going on the run in her classic car with a standover man on her tail. After that particular bind was sorted - but not before she helped solve several different mysteries across the US - Charlie found herself on the wrong side of a crime boss, and once again looking over her shoulder. This season, at least in the first three episodes which dropped together before returning to a weekly format, she's still on the run, moving from place to place and stumbling into murders along the way. And the guest stars are back and just as impressive as last season's crop (which included the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Chloe Sevigny, Nick Nolte), starting with a bang in the first episode. This one sees multiple Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo play not one, not two, but FIVE different characters. It's a lot of fun, and each character is clearly distinguished not just by costume, but by accent and mannerisms. There's also Katie Holmes, Giancarlo Esposito, Rhea Perlman and John Mulaney, while future episodes promise to bring Awkwafina, Aussie Geraldine Viswanathan, Melanie Lynskey, Corey Hawkins, BJ Novak and plenty more. Poker Face is one of the most fun series on streaming, and Lyonne is such a compelling lead to watch. Her easy charm, trademark husky-voiced dry delivery and crazy hair are iconic. Procedurals have rarely been so enjoyable. You won't be disappointed to dive back into this one. If you're looking for comfort food in movie form, look no further than Netflix's Mother's Day offering, Nonnas. This film from director Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder) is a celebration of sharing love through food, a meditation on grief and found family, and a sweet story inspired by a real restaurant. Vince Vaughn plays Joey, a New York native grieving the recent loss of his beloved mother. He takes to remembering both her and his nonna (that's the Italian term for grandmother, if you're unaware) by trying to recreate their signature dishes, food that he remembers being filled with love. This inspires him to buy a vacant restaurant space on Staten Island - a very Italian part of New York - and create a place where customers are treated like family. And the cooks? They're real-life nonnas, sharing the traditional meals from their ancestral villages. To play these nonnas, Chbosky has cast a quartet of Oscar-nominated talent - Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas), Brenda Vaccaro (Once is Not Enough), Talia Shire (Rocky) and Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking). On the whole, the nonnas aren't given a great deal of fleshing out, but there is one scene where they share their stories and let loose a little, and it's lovely to see. The film also includes Joe Manganiello and Linda Cardellini, both impressive in supporting roles. While a lot of the film is devoted to Joey's struggles in getting the restaurant off the ground, it's the moments when food - and love - is shared where it really shines. Nonnas is completely formulaic but lovely nonetheless, just like a good bowl of pasta. Keep watching during the credits for pictures of the real-life restaurant and nonnas that inspired this film. Tim Allen is back with another sitcom in Disney+'s Shifting Gears. Allen plays a widowed father whose life is given a shake-up when his daughter (the always-likeable Kat Dennings) returns home with her two kids in tow. The production quality of this one is pretty poor and it couldn't be more obvious that they're filming in studio sets, but if you're craving some throwback sitcom action (with canned laughter and obvious punchlines galore) it might hit the spot. Also stars Seann William Scott. Over on Binge Asher Keddie returns as Evelyn Jones for season two of Strife, the series based on Mia Freedman's Mamma Mia platform. This time around the fictional women's site has some competition, and there's an internet troll determined to bring Evelyn down. On Prime Video fans of British reality star Molly Mae Hague are treated to a second season of her docu-series Molly Mae: Behind It All. Prime also has a brand new movie starring Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander: The Assessment. This suspenseful sci-fi-ish film reads like a Twilight Zone episode - prospective parents must undergo an intense seven-day assessment for the right to have a child. Also stars Himesh Patel, Minnie Driver and Indira Varma. If that sounds too heavy and you'd prefer some laughs, head to Netflix for the R-rated short-form comedy series Bad Thoughts, from Tom Segura.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Poker Face's Natasha Lyonne & Rian Johnson On 'Completely Gonzo Bonkers' Season 2 & Which Former Co-Star They Want For Season 3
Poker Face If the first season of Poker Face was about Natasha Lyonne's Charlie outrunning her past, its sophomore season finds her looking for a place to belong. More from Deadline 'Poker Face' Season 2: Everything We Know So Far Natasha Lyonne Almost Forgot 'Poker Face's John Cho Was In 'American Pie': 'I Haven't Seen Those' 'Dig' Comedy From Amy Poehler & Mike Schur Picked Up To Series By Peacock Ahead of the Season 2 premiere, returning to Peacock on May 8 with the first three episodes, Lyonne and series creator Rian Johnson spoke to Deadline about how they 'dig in deeper to the character' after she gets the mafia off her back. 'The episodes where there's this personal stake and driver to tether to like that are really fun,' explained Lyonne. 'But she has that kind of driver in a weird way that she did from Natalie (Dascha Polanco) in the pilot. 'I guess I'm gonna hit the road for a while until I feel safe to call another person home again,' is the underbelly of that.' While Charlie goes on more of an internal journey this season, she still manages to come across plenty of murders that need solving, which is where they had fun. 'Having done the first season and feeling like the engine really does work on this show, it kind of gave us permission to say, 'OK, what else can we do with it? What can we try?'' explained Johnson. 'And so, doing ['Sloppy Joseph'], which is conceptually a little bit more out there, or the 'Gator Joe' episode, which goes completely gonzo bonkers, I feel like we gave ourselves permission to kind of have fun like that.' And with the weekly anthology format that practically stands as its own mystery short, the star-studded guest roster for Season 2 is even longer than its predecessor, featuring reunions with Lyonne's co-stars from Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) and Orange Is the New Black (2013-'19). Lyonne also offered up another guest star idea for Season 3. 'Jennifer Coolidge! Does she wanna be in Poker Face? Because she should be!' she said after realizing they were both in American Pie (1999) with Season 2 guest star John Cho. Read on for Deadline's interview with Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson about Season 2 of Poker Face. DEADLINE: RIAN JOHNSON: Well, it struck us in the writers' room that it felt like kind of the most challenging thing for that character to actually take away this external pressure of being chased and to put it back on her. Where does she want to be? And why can't she settle down any place? And why does she, by her nature, kind of keep moving? And also, every time she settles in a place now, for an episode, she's kind of interrogating it to see, 'is this where I belong' in a deeper way. And that seemed like that was going to give us more ammunition for each episode to have her dig in a little deeper, and we knew the format could support it. I don't think the audience genuinely cares that there are people chasing her with guns. I think she moves to a different place each week and they go with it. So, for a lot of reasons, it made sense and it felt like a way to dig in deeper to the character. DEADLINE: JOHNSON: That came out of Kate Thulin, who wrote that episode. She just has a brilliant, demented mind. NATASHA LYONNE: Kate is great. JOHNSON: And that came out of us thinking, 'OK, what are the lowest stakes we can possibly build a Poker Face episode on and have it work?' And of course, I think it's a real nail-biter of an episode, because it feels very intense. Even though the stakes seem low, when you're in grade school politics, the stakes feel very elevated. But that's a good example of how, having done the first season and feeling like the engine really does work on this show, it kind of gave us permission to say, 'OK, what else can we do with it? What can we try?' And so, doing that episode, which is conceptually a little bit more out there, or the 'Gator Joe' episode, which goes completely gonzo bonkers, I feel like we gave ourselves permission to kind of have fun like that. DEADLINE: LYONNE: Well, I don't know if that's really fair. I would say I've stepped in and directed it some. Last season, an episode, and this season, two. And I guess, Rian has directed … but just to say that I mean, it really is from the mind of Rian Johnson. and what that means is something pretty highly specific. It means that, even though we came about this show kind of kicking around the diner together, it's a real Rian Johnson bonanza. So, any sort of guest director is directing it in a nod to a style that is so defined and buoyant and effective, that there's things embedded into the DNA. For example, any sort of insert shot on Poker Face is a real Rian Johnson special. That's not just, any insert will do ya. So, I think that it's really on you, sir, to talk about all that, delighted though I am to have directed a bunch. JOHNSON: Also, though, to kick it back, I feel like because each of the episodes is so distinct in its style, we always wanna empower the directors and give them the feeling that, we don't give them a visual bible, we don't give them rules in terms of how the show is shot. They know the show from having seen it, and we just tell them, 'You shoot it in whatever style you think is best going to serve this episode.' LYONNE: Rian, Rian, Rian. Real talk. At the end of the day, Rian, you're a genius. You're a clear genius, you're my friend and I adore you. You're one of our great auteurs, and simply put, any great master of the form does have a complete mind's eye, vision in mind for every episode. So I think that there is—speaking as a Salvador Dali to this Alfred Hitchcock operation, which is my code name—it's just not true. You can't just put a melting clock in a desert and put it any which way you want. You can shoot a melting clock in the desert in a way that is in a fashion that builds on story for a perfect Rian Johnson puzzle box episode of Poker Face. So, I just think that it's worth mentioning. And I think it's a joy for all of us, whether that's Mimi Cave or Janicza Bravo or myself or Clea DuVall or Ti West, I think it's so fun for us that it gets to be that way, because there is kind of a template. And I think that they are all kind of in a way, love letters to you. … I think that the goal is to really feel like, as a guest director on Poker Face, the goal is to make you happy. JOHNSON: Well, I'm happy. DEADLINE: But I'm a CheerleaderOrange Is the New BlackSlums of Beverly Hills JOHNSON: It's a combination of us texting friends, but also taking swings of people that we've always kind of admired and wanted to be on the set with. Had you worked with John Cho before? LYONNE: I think that he's maybe in some of the American Pies. I'll be honest, I haven't seen those. I did see the first one at the premiere. I do love Chris and Paul Weitz. I do talk a lot of shit about that movie, it's mostly just because I don't understand high school or proms or suburbia. But I think that John's in those movies. Because whenever I see John around town or something, we're always like, 'American Pie!' And then, when he got to set, we were like, 'American Pie!' But I was sort of playing along, if I'm honest, because I was just like, we've been doing that bit for over a decade, and so I kind of had to commit to the bit. He is in the movies, right? DEADLINE: LYONNE: Jennifer Coolidge! Does she wanna be in Poker Face? Because she should be! JOHNSON: Let's bring her in. But Cynthia [Erivo], I wanted to work with Cynthia for years and never got to work with her. So to me, it's a combination of bringing in good friends and taking wild swings. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Celine Song's 'Materialists' So Far 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
