While I refuse to watch The Idol, I know a lot of people are hate-watching it, or watching it just to laugh and mock the stupidity of the show. Honestly, I’ve enjoyed the widespread derision of the show as well. I’m, like, hate-writing about it? It was hilarious when GQ caught up with The Weeknd about how his character – who is supposed to be a charismatic cult leader – comes across like an uncharismatic loser and con artist, and Abel was like “no, that’s exactly what we were going for!” Then HBO/Max tried to pretend like The Idol was never supposed to be a full first-season, ten-episode TV show with a potential for a second season. HBO corporate was like “no, it was ALWAYS supposed to be a SIX-episode limited series!” Well, hilariously, now it looks like the footage was so awful, they edited everything down so now the fifth episode will be the end of this dreadful show.
The Idol‘s tour is ending sooner than we thought. Next week’s Episode 5 of the controversial HBO drama is being billed as the “season finale,” even though the series was originally reported as having six episodes. The finale, titled “Jocelyn Forever,” will air this Sunday at 9/8c.
An HBO rep declined to comment, but a source tells TVLine, “The season ended up being five episodes when it was all said and done after Sam [Levinson] took over and made significant changes. The story only ended up requiring 5.”
Rumors swirled of a swift cancellation by HBO, with the New York Post quoting an inside source as saying: “This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series.” But HBO pushed back on that by tweeting out a denial: “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined. It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”
Here’s the thing – there really are a lot of people hate-watching The Idol, and I’ve seen some numbers which show that The Idol really is one of HBO’s most-watched new series in years. Like, at a purely viewership perspective, The Idol is doing well and the show is getting a lot of buzz. The problem is, the buzz is wall-to-wall negative – it’s train-wreck television and everyone involved in The Idol looks dumb as hell. So HBO/Max has to decide whether they want to give the people more dreadful material to mock, or whether they put this terrible show out its misery. It looks like they’ve decided. Do you even know how terrible a show has to be for a network to cut an episode on such little notice?
Heh. The Idol is so bad that they’re cutting a six episode season to five which really makes you wonder what they don’t want people seeing lol.
— roxane gay (@rgay) June 27, 2023
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Sam Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye attend “The Idol” photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France.,Image: 778496867, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / Avalon
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- Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp attend “The Idol” photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France,Image: 778498062, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Olivier Huitel / Avalon
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- Abel ‘ The Weeknd ‘ Tesfaye, Lily-Rose Depp and Director Sam Levinson photographed during the photocall for The Idol as part of the 76th Cannes International Film Festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France on 23 May 2023.,Image: 778513454, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Julie Edwards / Avalon
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- Premiere of ‘The Idol’ during the 76 Cannes Film Festival. Featuring: Abel Tesfaye The Weeknd, Lily Rose Depp, Sam Levinson Where: Cannes, France When: 22 May 2023 Credit: IPA/INSTARimages **UK, USA AND AUSTRALIA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- Premiere of ‘The Idol’ during the 76 Cannes Film Festival. Featuring: Abel Tesfaye, The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp and Sam Levinson Where: Cannes, France When: 23 May 2023 Credit: Aurore Marechal/Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- HBO Original Series ‘The Idol Premiere Afterparty at Cannes Film Festival. Featuring: Lily-Rose Depp Where: Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France When: 22 May 2023 Credit: Robert Smith/INSTARimages
I don’t watch the show, but yeah I wonder how bad is some of the material that they are cutting it down to 5 instead of 6? Like what happens? They already filmed it…money has already been spent. It must be something insane.
Not watching it at all. Every review I’ve seen has said it is terrible.
I’m watching it.
I think I know what they are going for. They better deliver. If not then “the idol” was nothing but hurtful tropes. If they do deliver then it’s a cautionary tale for All sides. Like some people need to be reminded of reality.
I actually want to remember I wrote this and comeback to give my take when it ends. I have met a version of all these people in real life. I honestly think the show is too real for the industry. It’s too much of an expose`. The sex is over the top. But those people act like that. It’s part of the act. I have fast forwarded a lot.
I’m not at all curious about this show- but now i am curious about *your* take on this show.
Agree with your take that the show is not satire & grounded in reality, but it’s the “reality” of The Weeknd’s idea of who he is, or could be….which is just one narc’s fodder. Movies, shows, plays & acting are supposed to be detached, insightful & intentional views of people, not an excuse to take money to film violent fantasies in your own home. This was an expose- of The Weeknd & Sam Levinson.
YES. I found it deeply unsettling that they filmed such graphic scenes in his house…likely in his master bedroom? It’s such a power imbalance.
Vi—I love what yr saying here & hope you do remember (& I remember) to come back cause I’d love to hear it
I can’t wait for The Weekend to run to the media with some BS that all 6 episodes we’re never supposed to be aired.😂😂
I’ve only seen snippets, and I think the show has a better story arc going for it than what is being reported. However the problem is there are too many gratuitous sex scenes and the fact that the Weekends acting just absolutely sucks which drags the show down, along with Sam L’s awful reputation. I don’t like the Weekend at all and always found him sleazy so I’m super stoked he’s being called out if I’m honest 🙂 But if they had hired a real actor to play his role and toned down the unnecessary nudity a bit this could have been a great show.
To me, maybe Daddy Johnny Depp stepped in, took a look at the series and absolutely thought the worst about his daughter’s part. They all know they played everything wrong, are so embarrassed just at the thought of having it diffused out and forever to the public and have decided to cut down all the cringest parts so they wont be remembered, or asked to explain some parts they decided to do. It only says that the worst was yet to come. Good call, save yourselves, “actors”.
Ya no I don’t think Johnny stepped in nor dose he carry the power anymore to make it happen.
Does he even know his daughter is in the show?
By all reports they are not close, & he was not a present father while the kids were young.
They were both in Cannes at the same time and didn’t support each other’s projects. I’m pretty sure they don’t talk.
Not watching for so many reasons.
But I wonder, to anyone who did watch, is Dan Levy in it or did he get his part cut?
Thank you for any replies.
Is it too late to cut it back to zero episodes?
I watched a little bit of the first episode and really enjoyed up until The Weeknd’s character was introduced and then it lost all appeal.
100% agree. It would have been such a good show if it had stayed about her and her handlers/managers. They are all so funny and represent the only REAL satire in the series. And maybe her issues become a problem, and then some seedy guy (a guy who can act so…not the weeknd) or cultish boyfriend figure could be a part of it but not completely overtake her as the main character. Could have had 3 seasons or more. Sigh.
I watched up to episode 3. I like LRD. The Weeknd is what kills the show and makes it horrible. The rest of the characters and dynamics are perfectly fine. The nudity is a bit much but there’s literally NO CHEMISTRY between LRD and The Weeknd, none. The Weeknd is what ruined it, if you took him out of the series, it would be ok. Not wonderful but possibly, Watch worthy. He comes across as such a loser, in real life, a girl like LRD would never go for him. So he wanted to feel cool and that’s how he got his character, he pulled it from his insecurities. His music is okay though but acting is just not for him.
Tried to hate watch it, I gave up, a show that is so bad to even hate watch it, wow
I only could put up seeing Dan Levy’s part for 2 sec, ok 4 sec tops, that was it
Who knows it may become a cult show in years to come, just like Showgirls
I’ve watched it, LRD is a really good actress, and carries her role well. The weeknd is awful, zero charisma, awkward sex scenes, just, no. If they had gotten a powerhouse actor to play the part, and had fleshed out the characters more, I think it could have been good, but the way it is, it’s pretty much like ‘show girls.’
RELEASE THE WEEKNDCUT.