Maria Bamford: The Artist Is a Comedian Bear

The latest in pop-culture news, recaps, and reviews, plus close reads, profiles, interviews, and more from Vulture.com. [Brand Logo]( stand-up [Maria Bamford: The Artist Is a Comedian Bear]( Local Act explores what the stand-up values most in her work: being onstage and making fun of what’s important to her. Photo: Apple TV+ There’s a breed of comedy special from experienced comedians in which the hour of stand-up doubles as an argument for what stand-up as an art form should be. [Nanette]( is the most familiar example from the past several years, while [Zainab Johnson’s Hijabs Off]( is a more unusual version for a debut hour. [Marc Maron’s special from earlier this year]( is a classic of the genre, blending social commentary, autobiographical storytelling, and a clearly articulated set of ideas about the purpose of stand-up, its responsibility to its audience, and how it works at its best. Specials like these are always fascinating and rarely subtle. Thesis statements about the purpose of art aren’t often funny material, and they can be laden with too much sincerity. As a result, the transitions into and out of the “serious,” self-reflective sections tend to be either overt or heavily lampshaded: Isn’t it funny how this part isn’t all that funny? [read more]( The Latest TV Recaps • Below Deck Mediterranean: [The Blame Game]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Stories We Think You’ll Like [Netflix Just Published Viewing Data for Nearly Every Show It Has With an asterisk: It’s the platform’s most transparent report yet, but it’s not everything.]( By Josef Adalian [Lady Whistledown Hasn’t Tired of Drama Bridgerton’s regency-era instigator carries on in the third season, out May 16.]( By Alejandra Gularte [We Asked Fantasia About ‘Take Your Time, Tasia’ And Oprah’s private plane that saved the day.]( By Tom Smyth [What Is Jonathan Majors’s Domestic-Violence Trial About? What did the driver from the night of the alleged attack say?]( By Victoria Bekiempis [Golden Globe Nominations Shake Up the MFL Leaderboard The first major nominations of the season mark a tide shift in in the MFL.]( By Vulture Editors [Protect Ya Neck When Wu-Tang Clan Heads to Vegas For the city’s first ever hip-hop residency.]( By Justin Curto [Paddington Goes From Peru to London to the Stage A new musical about the bear is being written in the U.K.]( By Jason P. Frank [Everything We Know About How Dune 2 Is Doin’ From its new release date to Austin Butler lookin’ like a worm in the trailer.]( By Rebecca Alter [YSL Trial Delayed to January After Defendant Stabbed Shannon Stillwell was reportedly “stable” following the December 10 attack.]( By Justin Curto [North Carolina Says ‘I Do’ to Love Is Blind Season 6 Tenured hosts Vanessa and Nick Lachey are prepping the pods.]( By Alejandra Gularte [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Today’s Crossword]( 10-Across, Six Letters: Movie palace in Times Square, back in the day. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Getty, Everett A newsletter of TV and movie recommendations. [Sign up]( to get it every week. [Get the Newsletter]( [logo]( [facebook logo]( [instagram logo]( [twitter logo]( [unsubscribe]( | [privacy notice]( | [update preferences]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Was this email forwarded to you? [Sign up now]( to get this newsletter in your inbox. [View this email in your browser.]( You received this email because you have a subscription to New York. Reach the right online audience with us For advertising information on email newsletters, please contact AdOps@nymag.com Vox Media, LLC 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Copyright © 2023, All rights reserved