Everyone has to pay the piper eventually, even upstanding American fathers just trying to do right by their families. Herman Levin (Morgan Spector) may not be the picture of paternal devotion — who could be with a son threatening to join the Hitler youth? — but he’s come pretty close to everyman perfection so far. By the fifth episode of “The Plot Against America,” however, Herman’s stubbornness and indecision is finally threatening to unravel the very fabric of the thing he purports to care about most: his family.
That’s thanks to his wife Bess (Zoe Kazan) finally speaking her mind. Not that she hasn’t tried to before, but by episode’s end she’s made her demands so clearly they’ll be impossible for Herman to ignore.
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That’s thanks to his wife Bess (Zoe Kazan) finally speaking her mind. Not that she hasn’t tried to before, but by episode’s end she’s made her demands so clearly they’ll be impossible for Herman to ignore.
More from IndieWire'My Brilliant' Friend Review: 'The Betrayal' Is This Season's Darkest Hour Yet'Better Call Saul' Review: Masterful 'Bad...
- 4/14/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
In his new HBO limited series, David Simon has just six hour-long episodes to cover the events of Philip Roth’s novel “The Plot Against America.” While the first episode took its time to set the stage, establish the players, and introduce the show’s fictionalized time period, the second episode did…pretty much the same thing. That’s not a good thing when you have limited time with which to tell a story. Things happened, sure, but even by the episode’s end, it still feels like Simon is putting the chess pieces in place rather than making any significant moves. What’s more, it’s easy to see 12 moves ahead, even if you haven’t read the book. The result makes for very dull TV indeed.
[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Plot Against America” Part 2.]
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[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “The Plot Against America” Part 2.]
More from IndieWireWarnerMedia Reports Large Viewership Increases for HBO Now, Other Platforms'Shiva Baby' Review: A Sugar...
- 3/24/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
When Philip Roth published “The Plot Against America” in 2004, his revisionist historical fiction in which Germany wins WWII and America elects a fascist who runs on xenophobia was an intriguing — if unsettling — thought experiment. In 2020, the bestselling novel has become an eerily prescient allegory. It’s no wonder that after the election of Donald Trump, HBO approached “The Wire” creator David Simon to adapt the novel. The resulting six-episode miniseries begins Monday night with a delicately rendered, if somewhat muted, opening episode.
Painted in the sepia tones of the past, “The Plot Against America” is far too close to an increasingly frightening present. Whether that ends up being too close for comfort or just distant enough to be a wake-up call (for anyone who still needs one) remains to be seen. The question lingering after the promising premiere, however, is whether now is in fact “the right time” for an...
Painted in the sepia tones of the past, “The Plot Against America” is far too close to an increasingly frightening present. Whether that ends up being too close for comfort or just distant enough to be a wake-up call (for anyone who still needs one) remains to be seen. The question lingering after the promising premiere, however, is whether now is in fact “the right time” for an...
- 3/16/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
This The Plot Against America review contains no spoilers.
It’s an old adage that most science fiction is written looking toward the future through the lens of the present. However, as recent period piece television series are proving, that trend seems to be turning backwards as well. Both ongoing and limited series like Chernobyl and The Americans are excavating specific points in our past for the sake of contemporary society.
While Philip Roth published his alternate-history novel The Plot Against America in 2004, the 2020 HBO adaptation helmed by The Wire co-creators David Simon and Ed Burns could not have been written for any time but the present. Told over only six hour-long episodes that span a little over two years (1940-1942), Plot tracks an alternate history in which aviator and national hero Charles Lindbergh (Ben Cole) beats Franklin Delano Roosevelt to become president of the United States. Manipulating the country...
It’s an old adage that most science fiction is written looking toward the future through the lens of the present. However, as recent period piece television series are proving, that trend seems to be turning backwards as well. Both ongoing and limited series like Chernobyl and The Americans are excavating specific points in our past for the sake of contemporary society.
While Philip Roth published his alternate-history novel The Plot Against America in 2004, the 2020 HBO adaptation helmed by The Wire co-creators David Simon and Ed Burns could not have been written for any time but the present. Told over only six hour-long episodes that span a little over two years (1940-1942), Plot tracks an alternate history in which aviator and national hero Charles Lindbergh (Ben Cole) beats Franklin Delano Roosevelt to become president of the United States. Manipulating the country...
- 3/13/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
When Philip Roth published The Plot Against America in 2004 — an alternate history where pilot Charles Lindbergh is elected president in 1940 on an antiwar and barely veiled anti-Semitic platform — George W. Bush was nearing re-election and NBC was debuting the second season of The Apprentice, a game show judged by the cartoonish New York real estate mogul Donald Trump. With the country at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this wasn’t a happy time for the U.S., but Roth’s story read more like a path thankfully avoided (the real...
- 3/10/2020
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
The emotional high point on HBO’s new limited series “The Plot Against America” comes when Herman (Morgan Spector) the father of a family of Jews in an increasingly anti-Semitic 1940s America, has been pushed past his limit by the bullying of his countrymen, including a fellow restaurant patron trying to intimidate him. The series, like the 2004 Philip Roth novel on which it is based, narrates an alternate history in which a President Charles Lindbergh appeases Adolf Hitler and gives rhetorical cover to prejudice stateside. This unhappy new era of mistrust is cemented by Herman’s having been harassed; as if to make an argument for the best of a disappearing America, Herman recalls a sentimental if slightly kitschy tune about the Wabash River, and stands to croon, ultimately humiliating the bigot who’d harassed him and earning a round of applause from the rest of the restaurant.
This incident establishes Herman,...
This incident establishes Herman,...
- 3/5/2020
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
Kayti Burt Feb 18, 2020
HBO has released the trailer for its The Plot Against America miniseries from The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns. Check it out...
If you're a fan of horrific alternate histories that are actually about our horrific contemporary reality, then HBO has some new content for you. The premium cabler is adapting Philip Roth's The Plot Against America novel, which imagines what would have happened if Charles Lindbergh had run for and been elected into the presidency during World War II, spurring on the rise of anti-Semitism and fascism in the country.
HBO just dropped the trailer, which stars David Krumholtz, Zoe Kazan, John Turturro, Morgan Spector, and Winona Ryder as working-class Jewish people living in New Jersey as the American political situation takes a turn deeper into hate, fear, and racism. The adaptation comes from The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns, so...
HBO has released the trailer for its The Plot Against America miniseries from The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns. Check it out...
If you're a fan of horrific alternate histories that are actually about our horrific contemporary reality, then HBO has some new content for you. The premium cabler is adapting Philip Roth's The Plot Against America novel, which imagines what would have happened if Charles Lindbergh had run for and been elected into the presidency during World War II, spurring on the rise of anti-Semitism and fascism in the country.
HBO just dropped the trailer, which stars David Krumholtz, Zoe Kazan, John Turturro, Morgan Spector, and Winona Ryder as working-class Jewish people living in New Jersey as the American political situation takes a turn deeper into hate, fear, and racism. The adaptation comes from The Wire's David Simon and Ed Burns, so...
- 2/18/2020
- Den of Geek
A Jewish family faces an existential threat as Nazis grab a foothold in the United States in the new trailer for HBO’s upcoming adaptation of the Philip Roth novel, The Plot Against America.
The alternate history centers around the Levins, a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey — not unlike Roth’s own — who must confront a surge of anti-Semitism after the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 election and aligns the U.S. with Nazi Germany. Although Lindbergh never ran for president, he expressed sympathy with Nazi Germany,...
The alternate history centers around the Levins, a Jewish family in Newark, New Jersey — not unlike Roth’s own — who must confront a surge of anti-Semitism after the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 election and aligns the U.S. with Nazi Germany. Although Lindbergh never ran for president, he expressed sympathy with Nazi Germany,...
- 2/18/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Fascism and Nazism take root in the United States in the new trailer for HBO’s upcoming adaptation of Philip Roth’s novel The Plot Against America.
Roth’s 2004 alternate-history story is based around a reimagining of the 1940 election, in which the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt and aligns the U.S. with Nazi Germany. While Lindbergh never actually ran for president, he had an avowed penchant for Nazi Germany, was a spokesperson for the anti-war/nativist America First Movement, and had a tendency to spout some casual anti-Semitism.
Roth’s 2004 alternate-history story is based around a reimagining of the 1940 election, in which the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt and aligns the U.S. with Nazi Germany. While Lindbergh never actually ran for president, he had an avowed penchant for Nazi Germany, was a spokesperson for the anti-war/nativist America First Movement, and had a tendency to spout some casual anti-Semitism.
- 1/30/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
HBO is the latest network to take to the Television Critics Association winter press tour, and the premium cabler dropped some premiere dates for us!
First up, Issa Rae's Insecure will return for its long-delayed fourth season on Sunday, April 12.
The hit series was renewed back in 2018, but like many TV shows, but it sat all of 2019 out.
The good news is that we're getting 10 episodes this season. The previous three seasons came in at 8 episodes each.
A new show coming to HBO later this year is The Plot Against America. The new limited series will debut Monday, March 16.
The series is based on the acclaimed Philip Roth novel of the same name, imagines an alternate American history during World War II, told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they endure the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who...
First up, Issa Rae's Insecure will return for its long-delayed fourth season on Sunday, April 12.
The hit series was renewed back in 2018, but like many TV shows, but it sat all of 2019 out.
The good news is that we're getting 10 episodes this season. The previous three seasons came in at 8 episodes each.
A new show coming to HBO later this year is The Plot Against America. The new limited series will debut Monday, March 16.
The series is based on the acclaimed Philip Roth novel of the same name, imagines an alternate American history during World War II, told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they endure the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who...
- 1/15/2020
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released the launch date and teaser for “Leslie Jones: Time Machine” and HBO announced the premiere date for “The Plot Against America.”
Dates
“High Maintenance” will return to HBO for Season 4 on Feb. 7. Created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the show’s fourth season follows The Guy (Sinclair) back traversing the city on his bicycle, having said goodbye to last season’s Rv. With a new friend by his side, The Guy drops in on a variety of customers whose disparate lives, jobs, identities and circumstances reveal the human connection that we all seek. Returning guest stars this season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney and Birgit Huppuch. Ira Glass and his team at “This American Life” will be featured in the upcoming season as new guest stars.
Dates
“High Maintenance” will return to HBO for Season 4 on Feb. 7. Created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the show’s fourth season follows The Guy (Sinclair) back traversing the city on his bicycle, having said goodbye to last season’s Rv. With a new friend by his side, The Guy drops in on a variety of customers whose disparate lives, jobs, identities and circumstances reveal the human connection that we all seek. Returning guest stars this season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney and Birgit Huppuch. Ira Glass and his team at “This American Life” will be featured in the upcoming season as new guest stars.
- 12/20/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
HBO has set its lead cast as production begins on The Plot Against America, its six-part miniseries based on the 2004 novel by the late Philip Roth. Stranger Things‘ Winona Ryder, Zoe Kazan (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Morgan Spector (Homeland), Anthony Boyle (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Azhy Robertson (Untitled Noah Baumbach Project), newcomer Caleb Malis and John Turturro (The Night Of) star in the mini, which hails from Annapurna Pictures and Joe Roth.
Written and executive produced by frequent collaborators David Simon and Ed Burns, The Plot Against America imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Kazan is Elizabeth “Bess” Levin, an insightful mother and homemaker, fears for the future as she tries to protect...
Written and executive produced by frequent collaborators David Simon and Ed Burns, The Plot Against America imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Kazan is Elizabeth “Bess” Levin, an insightful mother and homemaker, fears for the future as she tries to protect...
- 4/10/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Anthony Boyle, Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector, Caleb Malis, and Azhy Robertson will lead the ensemble cast of HBO’s miniseries “Plot Against America” from David Simon.
Simon and Ed Burns will executive produce the show along with Joe Roth, Nina K. Noble, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, Susan Goldberg, and Jeff Kirschenbaum. The project will be co-exec produced by Dennis Stratton and the late Philip Roth.
Based on Roth’s novel, the six-part series will imagine an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh — an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Boyle is a rising star who won a Tony and Olivier Award for his performance in the hit play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” He can next be seen opposite Nicholas Hoult...
Simon and Ed Burns will executive produce the show along with Joe Roth, Nina K. Noble, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, Susan Goldberg, and Jeff Kirschenbaum. The project will be co-exec produced by Dennis Stratton and the late Philip Roth.
Based on Roth’s novel, the six-part series will imagine an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh — an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Boyle is a rising star who won a Tony and Olivier Award for his performance in the hit play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” He can next be seen opposite Nicholas Hoult...
- 4/10/2019
- by Justin Kroll
- Variety Film + TV
The Plot Against America will involve Winona Ryder, John Turturro and Zoe Kazan, among others.
Based on the 2004 novel by Philip Roth and written/exec-produced by The Wire‘s David Simon and Ed Burns, HBO’s six-part mini imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Kazan (from Simon’s The Deuce) has been cast as Elizabeth “Bess” Levin, an insightful mother and homemaker whose fears about the...
Based on the 2004 novel by Philip Roth and written/exec-produced by The Wire‘s David Simon and Ed Burns, HBO’s six-part mini imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism.
Kazan (from Simon’s The Deuce) has been cast as Elizabeth “Bess” Levin, an insightful mother and homemaker whose fears about the...
- 4/10/2019
- TVLine.com
Winona Ryder and John Turturro and five others were cast in David Simon’s upcoming HBO miniseries, “The Plot Against America.”
Simon and Ed Burns are adapting the six-part miniseries from the late Philip Roth‘s book of the same name. Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector, Anthony Boyle, Azhy Robertson and Caleb Malis will also star.
The series imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism. In the novel, Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election, with the story based on his own isolationist ideas from Lindbergh’s days as a spokesman for the America First Committee.
Also Read: Hollywood Worries: Will HBO Still Be the Home of Prestige TV After Richard Plepler's Departure?
Ryder will star as Evelyn Finkel,...
Simon and Ed Burns are adapting the six-part miniseries from the late Philip Roth‘s book of the same name. Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector, Anthony Boyle, Azhy Robertson and Caleb Malis will also star.
The series imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey, as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation toward fascism. In the novel, Lindbergh defeats Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1940 presidential election, with the story based on his own isolationist ideas from Lindbergh’s days as a spokesman for the America First Committee.
Also Read: Hollywood Worries: Will HBO Still Be the Home of Prestige TV After Richard Plepler's Departure?
Ryder will star as Evelyn Finkel,...
- 4/10/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
HBO's limited series The Plot Against America has found its collaborators.
Winona Ryder, Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector and John Turturro will star in the six-episode drama, an adaptation of Philip Roth's 2004 alternate-history novel from David Simon and Ed Burns (The Deuce, The Wire). The cast also includes Anthony Boyle, Azhy Robertson and Caleb Malis. Production began April 10.
The Plot Against America is set in an alternate American history and centers on a Jewish family in New Jersey who watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator hero and xenophobic populist who becomes president, defeating Franklin D....
Winona Ryder, Zoe Kazan, Morgan Spector and John Turturro will star in the six-episode drama, an adaptation of Philip Roth's 2004 alternate-history novel from David Simon and Ed Burns (The Deuce, The Wire). The cast also includes Anthony Boyle, Azhy Robertson and Caleb Malis. Production began April 10.
The Plot Against America is set in an alternate American history and centers on a Jewish family in New Jersey who watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator hero and xenophobic populist who becomes president, defeating Franklin D....
- 4/10/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
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