{"id":80098,"date":"2023-08-29T09:36:07","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T23:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/?post_type=articles&p=237942"},"modified":"2023-08-29T08:15:17","modified_gmt":"2023-08-29T08:15:17","slug":"the-idol-cancelled","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/the-idol-cancelled\/","title":{"rendered":"HBO Says “Goodbye, Angel” To ‘The Idol’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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‘The Idol’ has been cancelled after one season. Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HBO’s sleaze-dripped drama,\u00a0The Idol,\u00a0<\/em>has officially been cancelled after its one-season run. Indeed, the streaming conglomerate is officially saying “Goodbye, Angel” to Lily-Rose Depp’s ‘Jocelyn’<\/a> and The Weeknd’s ‘Tedros’.<\/p>\n

The polarizing series, which garnered controversy due to its adulterous content matter and alleged behind-the-scenes drama, has been described by the network as “one of HBO\u2019s most provocative original programs” in a statement provided to Vanity Fair<\/em> <\/a>confirming the conclusion of the show.<\/p>\n

“After much thought and consideration, HBO, as well as the creators and producers have decided not to move forward with a second season,” the statement read. “We\u2019re grateful to the creators, cast, and crew for their incredible work,” the network added.<\/p>\n

The series, which was co-created by\u00a0Euphoria’s\u00a0<\/em>Sam Levinson and Grammy Award winner The Weekend (who went by his real name, Abel Tesfaye, in the show’s credits), was dubbed to be a creation from their “sick and twisted minds”.<\/p>\n

Yet, with news of this cancellation, it’s clear this sordid and seedy love story is crawling back to the “gutters of Hollywood” from which it came.<\/p>\n

\"The-Idol-Jocelyn-Bodysuit\"
Lily-Rose Depp as the pop-star protagonist, ‘Jocelyn’, in The Idol<\/em>. Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The five-episode series followed Depp’s ‘Jocelyn’,<\/a> a troubled, chain-smoking former child star hoping to reinvent her persona as a “truly f***ing nasty, nasty, bad pop girl”, as Troye Sivan’s ‘Xander’ puts it in the show.<\/p>\n

However, any intelligent commentary on the music industry or female autonomy was overshadowed by The Weekend’s maniacal ‘Tedros’, a nightclub owner and modern-day sex cult leader. Unlike Jim Jones, Tedros didn’t feed his cult members Kool-Aid, but rather a cocktail of illicit substances to ensure their entrapment, in return promising them record deals for their devout devotion.<\/p>\n

The five episodes were chunky at most and X-rated at best, with the final plot twist evidence of the lack of cohesive direction and last-minute artistic changes made under Levinson’s tenure.<\/p>\n

As revealed in a damning Rolling Stone <\/em><\/a>expos\u00e9 published before the show’s debut at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival<\/a>, the publication alleges that the show reportedly became “twisted torture porn” when Levinson took the helm as director and co-writer.<\/p>\n

A source speaking to the publication claimed the show became plagued by “delays, reshoots, and rewrites” after The Weekend reportedly “felt the show was heading too much into a ‘female perspective'”.<\/p>\n

The show was originally set to be directed by Amy Seimetz of The Girlfriend Experience,\u00a0<\/em>however, she parted from the project with reportedly “roughly 80 per cent of the six-episode series finished”. Perhaps in another universe, we will see Seimetz’s version of The Idol\u00a0<\/em>come to fruition, female perspective and all.<\/p>\n

\"The-Idol-Jocelyn-Tedros\"
The Weeknd as ‘Tedros’ and Lily-Rose Depp as ‘Jocelyn’ in\u00a0The Idol.\u00a0<\/em>Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This profile certainly marred\u00a0The Idol’<\/em>s reputation before a single frame of the show even went to air. However, the onslaught of reviews from the show’s premiere at Cannes, certainly proved that the show faced difficulties from the get-go. Without even looking at the horrific scenes of abuse, manipulation and violent nudity, critics panned the direction and tone of the show.<\/p>\n

As GRAZIA’s editorial director, Jessica Bailey, explained in her review<\/a> of the show: “If you haven\u2019t caught on yet, Levinson\u2019s lens is shot for the male gaze.”<\/p>\n

“Depp is seen in compromising positions constantly\u2014and when she masturbates, we never see her achieve pleasure\u2014surely a far cry from the direction the show was originally meant to take when it first started shooting under a female director.<\/p>\n

“Take away the controversies, you have a good show\u2014and one that yes men will tell you received a five-minute standing ovation at its May 22 premiere here in Cannes. (Note: just like in the bedroom, five minutes isn\u2019t that long in the land of Cannes!)”<\/p>\n

According to a Forbes<\/em><\/a> report,\u00a0The Idol <\/em>also became the “worst-reviewed show in HBO history, by far.”<\/p>\n

And while\u00a0The Idol\u00a0<\/em>will certainly soon be taught to bourgeoning film-makers and marketing magnates about the show’s failures and shortfalls, we still have to acknowledge the one good thing that came from the show: Lily-Rose Depp’s summer bop, “World Class Sinner”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42674,"featured_media":80099,"template":"","format":"standard","categories":[17,16],"yoast_head":"\n'The Idol' Officially Cancelled At HBO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"'The Idol' has officially been cancelled by HBO and will not return for a second season. 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