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Melanie McFarland (page 50)

Melanie McFarland is Salon's award-winning senior culture critic. Follow her on Bluesky: @McTelevision

Tina Fey is seen on the set of the TV show "30 Rock" on location | Jimmy Kimmel from "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" (ABC/Randy Holmes/Marcel Thomas/FilmMagic)

Like it or not, it’s comedy’s turn to contend with its role in perpetuating systemic racism

Melanie McFarland
Matthew Rhys in "Perry Mason" (HBO)

“Perry Mason” is a stylish, Depression-noir reboot that doesn’t exceed its basic procedural roots

Melanie McFarland
Laverne Cox in "Disclosure" (Netflix)

Netflix’s potent “Disclosure” explores how Hollywood has both damaged and uplifted transgender lives

Melanie McFarland
Zuri Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, "Sherman's Showcase" (IFC)

From gas masks to kente cloth, “Sherman’s Showcase” Juneteenth special is well-timed and prescient

Melanie McFarland
Michael Cimino and George Sear, "Love, Victor" (Hulu)

“Love, Victor” is Hulu’s likable spinoff of “Love, Simon” that questions who gets a great love story

Melanie McFarland
On The Record, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and The Rape of Recy Taylor (HBO/Warner Media/Augusta Films/Harpo Films/Salon)

5 films to watch that proclaim Black Women’s Lives Matter too

Melanie McFarland
Matthew McConaughey on 'Uncomfortable conversations with a black man", Trevor Noah from the Social Distancing Daily Show, and the 75 year old man in Buffalo who was knocked down by police (Salon/Comedy Central/Emmanuel Acho/Twitter/@WBFO)

Black lives, white eyes: what’s different this time is we’re locked down and can’t excuse it away

Melanie McFarland
Avatar The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon)

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” remains one of the purest portrayals of fighting fascism on modern TV

Melanie McFarland
Spike Lee's "Da 5 Bloods" (Netflix)

With “Da 5 Bloods” Spike Lee triumphantly reflects with Black experience of the Vietnam War

Melanie McFarland

Before John Boyega became “Star Wars” hero Finn, he was far more revolutionary in “Attack the Block”

Melanie McFarland
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other members of Congress gather at the Emancipation Hall, kneel as they take moment of silence to honor George Floyd, and victims of racial injustice on Monday, June 8, 2020. (Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Image)

Take 2: White allies, here’s another list of what to do and what not to do, or wear, or watch

Melanie McFarland
Michaela Coel in "I May Destroy You" (HBO)

HBO’s “I May Destroy You” is a fearless and extraordinary work of traumatic art

Melanie McFarland
Do the Right Thing (Universal Pictures)

Understand racism by watching these movies and TV shows exploring the Black experience in America

Melanie McFarland
Actor John Boyega speaks to the crowd during a Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park on June 3, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

John Boyega spoke out against racism, but Hollywood has punished actors for that in the past

Melanie McFarland
Edie Falco in "Tommy" (CBS)

On TV, protesters are faceless rabble while cops are bestowed with humanity

Melanie McFarland
Stressed out African American woman (Getty Images)

White allies: Here’s a basic list of do’s and don’ts to help you with your helplessness

Melanie McFarland
Flowers in the Attic (Lifetime)

The Lifetime movie turns 30: Escape reality with a marathon of nannies, cheerleaders & kids in peril

Melanie McFarland
Ramy Youssef and Mahershala Ali in "Ramy" (Hulu)

“Ramy” Season 2 benefits from the calm, charismatic guidance of Mahershala Ali, as do we all

Melanie McFarland
Audra McDonald and Christine Baranski in "The Good Fight" (CBS All Access)

In a fitting finale, “The Good Fight” makes the case for nipping Jeffrey Epstein whodunit in the bud

Melanie McFarland
"Looney Tunes," "Love Life," "The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo," "Legendary" (HBO max)

HBO Max is here – but not for everyone! Here’s how to watch, plus reviews of every original show

Melanie McFarland, Ashlie D. Stevens, Mary Elizabeth Williams, Hanh Nguyen
Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs in "Snowpiercer" (TNT)

“It’s like being black in America”: “Snowpiercer” star Daveed Diggs on the Tailies with no agency

Melanie McFarland
Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, "The Lovebirds" (Netflix/Paramount Pictures)

“Lovebirds” is a romance-deficient career misstep for the enjoyable Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani

Melanie McFarland
Janelle Monae in "Homecoming" (Amazon)

“It’s capitalism over citizenship”: Janelle Monae on our dystopia echoing Amazon’s “Homecoming”

Melanie McFarland
Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate in "Dead to Me" (Netflix)

“Dead to Me” is the ideal fantasy for being mated in captivity

Melanie McFarland
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