> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.theomnicosm.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # ‘I’m the eldest boy!’: With back-to-back finales, ‘Succession’ and ‘Barry’ end - URL: https://www.theomnicosm.com/im-the-eldest-boy-with-back-to-back/ - Published: 2023-05-30T11:00:20.000Z - Updated: 2024-01-13T02:29:59.000Z - Description: We said goodbye to two HBO mainstays on Sunday night. PLUS: Will Ferrell to tackle ‘Madden,’ my thoughts on new mini donuts, and who’s scoring the new ‘Ninja Turtles’? - Author: Bill Kuchman - Tags: Popculturology • Friday Newsletter, Popculturology, Succession, Barry Hello! This edition of **Popculturology** is going to be on the shorter side coming off the holiday weekend. While there was some news the past few days, it’s been relatively quiet when it comes to new movie trailers and major scoops. The weekend saw the end of *Succession* and *Barry*, two pillars of HBO’s Sunday night lineups the last few years. More on those shows below. We also made our way through the new season of *Queer Eye*. I’d like to think the show since has the same cultural impact that it did the first few seasons it was back on Netflix, but I had no idea there were new episodes available until we opened Netflix to see if there was anything fresh to watch a few nights ago. Today is the day when Season 3 of *I Think You Should Leave* hits Netflix. Hopefully we all have the chance to watch the new batch of episodes at least once today. Our daughter has been watching a lot of **Ms. Rachel** lately (if you know, you know), but I think she’s finally starting to be interested in *Sesame Street*. I got her some *Sesame Street* figures on Friday, and while she knew **Cookie Monster**, a lot of the gang was new to her. I randomly pulled up the *Sesame Street* segment where **Bert** and **Ernie** go fishing to show her some of the characters — which led to that being the *only* thing she wanted to watch for a day or two. It’s nice to see a *Sesame Street* segment from 1982 connect with a kid in 2023. #### This edition of Popculturology is free to all subscribers It’s been a little over a month since I relaunched **Popculturology**, refocusing it and adding new highlights like *Feature Presentation* and *Bonus Features*, I added the option to become a supporting subscriber. **For just $50, you can get a full year of Popculturology. A monthly subscription $5.** Both subscriptions bring you the two weekly editions of the newsletter plus **Deep SNL Thoughts** and **The Box Office Report**. I love writing this newsletter, and if you’re interested in becoming a supporting subscriber, please consider upgrading your subscription. --- ![In Today's Edition](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f591e78d2-141f-4953-b0c3-1da423631854_2028x160-17.png) - **Feature Presentation:** Succession and Barry call it - **The News:** Will Ferrell to play John Madden, *Moana* finds a director, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross scoring the new *TMNT* movie - **Snack Break:** Little Debbie Mini Zebra Donuts --- ![Feature Presentation](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2fdbb34dce-72b1-49a8-a676-d1154e39a357_2028x160-14.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2fa5f41851-3508-4425-b75f-6c1b6cf4460d_1920x1080-jpeg.jpg) Matthew Macfadyen and Sarah Snook in the Succession episode “With Open Eyes.” / HBO ### ‘We are bullshit’ Have two major HBO shows ever wrapped up their runs on the same night? *Succession* and *Barry* pulled off that feat on Sunday night, with both shows coming to an end after four seasons. Most importantly, both shows came to an end as part of their creators’ plans, not as a cancelation or some weird cost-cutting move by Warner Bros. Discovery. (*Westworld*, for example, was not so lucky.) While we didn’t watch the first season of *Succession* as it aired, it became a must-watch show for us once we caught up before the second season began. Over *Succession*’s final three seasons, I think the only episode we didn’t watch the night it premiered was “Connor’s Wedding.” You know, the episode where Logan died and everyone decided it was cool to immediately tweet about. I feel like our relationship with *Barry* was the inverse of how we moved along with *Succession*. *Barry* was an instant watch for us when it premiered in 2018\. **Bill Hader** as hitman was such a buzzy concept — how could we skip that? The final season, though, lost “we have to watch this right now” status for us. Sure, the 10 p.m. airtime didn’t help, but we’ll stay up that late to watch something if we *really* care about it. (God, I feel so old talking about staying up past 10\. I used to go to bed at 4 a.m.) A lot of this season’s episodes have been spoiled on Twitter before I can watch them, but *Barry* in its final form wasn’t a show I felt I had to protect myself from spoilers for. The finales for *Succession* and *Barry* reflected how I’d grown to feel about the two shows. There was no way we weren’t going to watch *Succession* on Sunday night. The show’s voice and sense of direction was just as strong as it had always been — even more so since Logan’s death. *Barry*, though, no longer seemed to have a purpose. After *Barry* was caught at the end of Season 3, this season spent so much time unwinding that ending, only to seem unsure what to do with the threads once they were unwound. (Don’t get me wrong, *Barry* still had some amazing moments like NoHo Hank and Cristobal at Dave & Busters.) In the end, *Succession* gave us the only finale that ever made sense for its story. There would be no Roy family member at the helm of Waystar Royco. As Logan had warned his children, they were not serious people. They were unfit to lead and unable to put aside their innate sense of self-destruction long enough to come together and defeat the threat posed to their legacy. “We are bullshit,” Roman declared once it became apparent that he and his siblings had been conquered. No matter how much money this family had, they were powerless and empty when it came time to rally together. “With Open Eyes” solidified *Succession* as a hall-of-fame HBO show, delivering an episode full of memorable moments. Kendall crying, “I’m the eldest boy!” in a desperate attempt to claim his father’s mantle. Shiv silently taking Tom’s hand in the car, the power dynamic between the two fundamentally shifted. Roman licking his mother’s husband’s precious cheese. Emmys for everyone. All of them! (Especially **Jeremy Strong**, [who was on the verge of going past the point of no return for the finale …](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/jeremy-strong-succession-finale-interview?ref=theomnicosm.com)) I can’t say that *Barry* stuck the landing like *Succession*. Unlike *Succession*, *Barry* was coming into its series finale without the founding of a solid season. The show never seemed quite sure what to do with *Barry* during its final run. Did Hader want the final season of *Barry* to be a deconstruction of this genre? There are so many moments in the series finale where the show zags around the expected resolution. Barry arrives at NoHo Hank’s headquarters with a zillion guns, ready to fight his way to John? Nope, the violence is already over and Fuches sends Barry’s son to him without any confrontation. The problem with this deconstruction, though, is that it makes the title character in *Barry* a nonfactor in his own show. While he was in prison, *Barry* continued without him. And after he escaped prison, he failed to have an impact on the characters around him. In the end, it didn’t seem like Sally paid for anything she did. Gene Cousineau took the fall for Barry’s actions, but only because of his own hubris. The biggest sin of *Barry*’s final season? We never got a scene with Barry and NoHo Hank together that wasn’t over the phone. Maybe Hader had a plan for how Barry and Gene’s stories would end, but in the process of getting there, the other pieces on the board became neglected. Whenever a big HBO show ends, it’s easy to get caught up in the “oh, what will HBO do with without this one?!” game. HBO’s been swapping out iconic shows for a long time now. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about *The Sopranos*, *Game of Thrones* or *Succession* — there’ll always be the search for the next watercooler show. Might I offer *The Righteous Gemstones* when it returns in June? *I love writing about pop culture, and I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter. *Are you a subscriber yet?* It’s the easiest way to make get *Popculturology* in your inbox. *Become a paid subscriber* to get every edition of *Popculturology*.* [Subscribe now](https://www.theomnicosm.com/subscribe) ![The News](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f9ee17adf-dcb9-44e2-a921-da5628f36f06_2028x160-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2fea0e27ab-ea2f-4fc7-b7bc-3f0bb86948ca_1920x1080-jpeg.jpg) ****Will Ferrell** in **Kicking and Screaming*. / Universal Pictures ### Will Ferrell to play John Madden in David O. Russell film Will Ferrell loves a sports movie. *Talladega Nights*, *Semi-Pro*, *Kicking and Screaming*. He has a movie where he’ll play a golfer in the works. [He was infamously passed over by ](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[**Adam McKay**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ for the role of ](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[**Jerry Buss**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ in ](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*Winning Time*](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/winning-time-adam-mckay-john-c-reilly-hbo-laker-series-1235097468/?ref=theomnicosm.com) (the role went to **Michael Shannon** before **John C. Reilly** replaced him), a move that ended the working relationship between Ferrell and McKay. [According to a ](https://deadline.com/2023/05/madden-will-ferrell-david-o-russell-team-for-amazon-mgm-movie-1235381096/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*Deadline*](https://deadline.com/2023/05/madden-will-ferrell-david-o-russell-team-for-amazon-mgm-movie-1235381096/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ report](https://deadline.com/2023/05/madden-will-ferrell-david-o-russell-team-for-amazon-mgm-movie-1235381096/?ref=theomnicosm.com), Ferrell has found a new sports icon to play: **John Madden**. If the deal goes through, Ferrell will star in *Madden* for director **David O. Russell** and Amazon/MGM. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2ff05828a6-e0fc-456e-8d31-5f6fbd8e943f_3333x65-75.png) ### The *Moana* remake better not throw away its shot The *Moana* remake has a director. According to **Daniel Richtman** ([via ](https://thedisinsider.com/2023/05/26/hamilton-director-thomas-kail-to-direct-live-action-moana/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*The DisInsider*](https://thedisinsider.com/2023/05/26/hamilton-director-thomas-kail-to-direct-live-action-moana/?ref=theomnicosm.com)), *Hamilton* director **Thomas Kail** has come aboard to helm the project. **John Musker** and **Ron Clements** directed the original version of *Moana*. From what I can find online, Kail has yet to direct a feature film, but has two projects (including an adaption of *Fiddler on the Roof*) in the works. The *Moana* remake will be his most high-profile movie, though. Kail isn’t the first *Hamilton* alum in the *Moana*\-verse, with **Lin-Manuel Miranda** writing songs for the original version. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2ff05828a6-e0fc-456e-8d31-5f6fbd8e943f_3333x65-76.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f378ede6b-48ab-4057-ab3a-ee5056859a49_2866x1446-png.jpg) A scene from the **Teenaga Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem* trailer. / Nickelodeon Movies ### Cowabunga! Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are scoring the new *TMNT* movie Here’s a combo I never thought to expect: **Trent Reznor** and **Atticus Ross** are writing the score for *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem*. Director **Jeff Rowe** [confirmed the news on Twitter on Sunday](https://twitter.com/roweyourboatz/status/1662913517979316225?s=61&t=v0TRLQgJ-EiPhUe6VCMm8A&ref=theomnicosm.com). “The score is absolutely AMAZING,” Rowe wrote. “Exhilarating, terrifying, heartbreaking, full of sounds I didn’t know existed. I don’t have the vocabulary to describe it. I love it so much.” Reznor and Ross have become a prolific scoring duo over the past decade or so, winning Oscars for *The Social Network* and *Soul* scores while also composing the music for *The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo*, *Gone Girl* and HBO’s *Watchmen* series. While there’s a new trailer for *Mutant Mayhem* coming out this week, Rowe clarified that it wouldn’t feature any of Reznor and Ross’ score. ”You’ll just have to wait until August 2 to have your mind shattered and rebuilt with beauty and then shattered again,” [he tweeted](https://twitter.com/roweyourboatz/status/1663175574796529665?s=61&t=v0TRLQgJ-EiPhUe6VCMm8A&ref=theomnicosm.com). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2ff05828a6-e0fc-456e-8d31-5f6fbd8e943f_3333x65-77.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2fd5adbd46-cf18-4476-a162-7c45bf7d3983_3000x1825-webp.jpg) ****Keanu Reeves** in **John Wick: Chapter 4*. / Lionsgate ### Quick hits - **I’m thinking he’s back — for a fifth time.** [Lionsgate revealed during an earnings call](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-wick-5-lionsgate-development-1235403474/?ref=theomnicosm.com) that a fifth *John Wick* film is in the works, saying, “We’re building out the world and when that *5* movie comes, it will be organic — will be organically grown out of how we’re starting to tell those stories. But you can rely on a regular cadence of *John Wick*.” - **‘I have a feeling that that might have been a factor in not being thought favorably of by Lorne Michaels’:** [**Mark Hamill**](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43960202/mark-hamill-interview/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ offered ](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43960202/mark-hamill-interview/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*Esquire*](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43960202/mark-hamill-interview/?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ his theory](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a43960202/mark-hamill-interview/?ref=theomnicosm.com) on why he’s never been asked to host *Saturday Night Live*. - ***Thunderbolts* halted.** With the studios still unwilling to meet the terms of the WGA, [the work stoppage pauses](https://www.thewrap.com/marvel-thunderbolts-halts-production-amid-writers-strike/?ref=theomnicosm.com) another Marvel Cinematic Universe film. *💬 💬 💬 *Comments, questions or recommendations?* Let me know!* [Leave a comment](#ghost-comments-root) ![The Box Office Report](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f7dffe5b3-967d-4fed-a736-b12fead88ac1_2028x160-4.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f2a1e02be-377e-40ea-a9cf-c1a1d851e018_2500x1314-jpeg.jpg) ****Halle Bailey** in **The Little Mermaid*. / Walt Disney Pictures **The Box Office Report** is **Popculturology**’s look at the weekend box office. It’s another great add-on available to paid **Popculturology** subscribers. Did you know that **Popculturology** is on Instagram? [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/popculturology/?ref=theomnicosm.com) ![The Links](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f2b680454-cb81-43a1-8f40-ccb6264905fc_2028x160-4.png) - [Yes, Haley Lu Richardson loves that ](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-05-29/haley-lu-richardsons-white-lotus-character-portia-one-of-the-few-to-root-for?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*White Lotus*](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-05-29/haley-lu-richardsons-white-lotus-character-portia-one-of-the-few-to-root-for?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ bucket hat too](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-05-29/haley-lu-richardsons-white-lotus-character-portia-one-of-the-few-to-root-for?ref=theomnicosm.com) (*Los Angeles Times*) - [Pour One Out for HBO Max’s Purple](https://www.vulture.com/article/hbo-max-purple-branding-eulogy.html?ref=theomnicosm.com) (**Bethy Squires**, *Vulture*) - [What ](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/succession-season-four-fashion?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*Succession*](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/succession-season-four-fashion?ref=theomnicosm.com)[’s Final-Season Fashion Means for Shiv, Kendall, and Roman](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/05/succession-season-four-fashion?ref=theomnicosm.com) (**Julie Miller**, *Vanity Fair*) - [The 17 Best ](https://www.vulture.com/article/snl-best-sketches-season-48.html?ref=theomnicosm.com)[*SNL*](https://www.vulture.com/article/snl-best-sketches-season-48.html?ref=theomnicosm.com)[ Sketches of Season 48](https://www.vulture.com/article/snl-best-sketches-season-48.html?ref=theomnicosm.com) (**Joe Berkowitz**, *Vulture*) **Spread the news!* Share *Popculturology* on social media.* ![Snack Break](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f6fe915ee-1565-4cfa-a0e0-83e58ed52781_2028x160-2.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f4/8b/f48be8ca-23c6-4d81-b0cf-da2fb0785911/content/images/2024/01/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f4dbed0a1-6539-4cb8-8e7e-ed1b828e4887_4032x3024-jpeg.jpg) ### Little Debbie Mini Zebra Donuts I love mini frosted donuts. They’re available at every grocery store and gas station, which makes them the perfect on-the-go breakfast for a long drive or while you’re waiting for a car inspection. While Hazel and I were at the grocery store on Monday morning, these caught my eye — and there was no way I wasn’t going to buy them. These are a perfect combo of the Little Debbie Zebra Cakes and the mini donut that we all love. I’m keeping them in the fridge to preserve the iconic artificial snap of the frosting. *That’s the end of this issue of *Popculturology*. Thanks for reading. If you don’t already subscribe, please hit the “Subscribe now” button. Tapping the ♥️ at the bottom of each post also helps the newsletter.* [Subscribe now](https://www.theomnicosm.com/subscribe)