Entertainment
'Hannah Gadsby's Gender Agenda' pushes progress through punchlines at Netflix
With the arrival of “Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda,” the battle of Gadsby versus Netflix is officially on pause. “The last time Netflix brought this many trans people together, it was for a protest. So, progress!” the comedian jokes in the trailer for the new special, premiering Tuesday.
Now three specials deep — “Nanette,” “Douglas” and “Something Special” — Gadsby knows that in order to change the tone of a conversation, you first have to be willing to participate. So with this latest offering, Gadsby plays ringleader while showcasing incredible genderqueer comedic talent from all over the globe. Curated by Gadsby and taking place at the iconic Alexandra Palace Theatre in London, “Gender Agenda” features sets by Jes Tom, Asha Ward, Chloe Petts, Alok, Mx. Dahlia Belle, Krishna Istha, as well as a weird little guy, DeAnne Smith. (Calm down, it’s cool.)
The performers in this thoughtfully crafted group are all pros, so they’re right at home telling stories through jokes about topics like slurs, failing, being hot and gay, being a masculine lesbian, having fun with gender, rebranding anxiety, testosterone side effects, and there’s even a discussion on a baggage movement that we fully stand behind. Teaching, learning, laughing — they all identify as funny on that stage. Of the very variety.
“Gender Agenda” isn’t a lecture either. It’s simply comedic voices with a mix of humor, from dark to light. It has something for everyone, by design. “I put a lot of thought into the curating process. I wanted to create a show and not just, ‘here’s one comic, here’s another, here’s another’ … I took a lot of joy in creating a lineup that complemented each other and kept surprising. I think everyone will like someone,” Gadsby says.
In “Nannette,” you discussed self-deprecating humor and how you’ve used it in your act for years until you began playing with the honesty of storytelling. For “Gender Agenda,” did you encourage the comedians on the lineup to embrace their truths beyond just getting a laugh from the audience?
I still do self-deprecating, as it’s a really tough habit to break, but also, I think everyone should be capable of a little self-deprecation. I think it’s a really important texture, but for the individuals on the lineup, I didn’t interfere with tone or content or anything. People really have to feel comfortable with their own voices, but we did work at it. We also provided a space to work out material and facilitated the process of developing camaraderie, so everyone felt at ease.
Did you get to pick the venue that “Gender Agenda” was filmed in? Because great call on Alexandra Palace Theatre. It’s really beautiful.
We put a lot of thought into where in the world that we wanted to do this because we wanted to give the sense of it being a global community as opposed to U.S.-centric, which you know, can often happen. The “Ally Pally” is wonderful, and the word palace elevates it. It’s been restored beautifully, but there’s a bit of grunge to it, so I feel like it complements the queer community in that sense. It just sort of gave the event the feeling of some sort of elevated grandeur. It is a beautiful room.
Does paving ways like this while in beautiful rooms make you feel extra grateful that you didn’t quit the industry like you once wanted to?
Yeah, and it’s a little heavy and that’s why I hibernate and live outside of the showbiz world as much as I possibly can. You know, that was a very unique moment. I was just a hard-working artist who produced work that hit at a specific moment of extreme virility. For me personally, it was important to regain my equilibrium after that, but the upside of all of it meant that I could continue doing the comedy that I wanted to, to a certain extent. I have kept my focus on live comedy and performing, but now I have this fanbase that trusts when I’m trying to move in different directions, so I don’t have to take it personally.
Curated by Gadsby and taking place at the iconic Alexandra Palace Theatre in London, “Gender Agenda” features sets by Jes Tom, Asha Ward, Chloe Petts, Alok, Mx. Dahlia Belle, Krishna Istha, as well as a weird little guy, DeAnne Smith.
(Jess Gleeson / Netflix)
That’s great because the comment world versus real world is a really difficult balance for a lot of people.
I have this fairly unique position where I am able to insulate myself to a certain extent from that. But with that, I feel a personal responsibility to keep pushing those hot buttons. The thing I’ve discovered between positive and negative commentary on my work is, the negative is often one note, but it can also be overbearing. Then there’s also an individual tenor, which is the praise, and it’s just richer. It feels like I have a connection to a more human interface as opposed to the backlash.
I’ve read some really great comments that use the word “historic.” Do you feel like this special will shake up the landscape?
I haven’t read this feedback, I actually try not to. I take a very long time to process things, so I’ll probably take some time to process this whole thing after it’s relevant. I think my position is that I’m someone who starts a conversation, but I don’t feel the need to control the conversation or win the conversation. I feel like I have a talent to stir pots that need to be stirred.
I think you’re very humble. Admittedly, I learned about a handful of new comics because of this special and was happy to hear a lot of irreverent dark comedy. It’s almost like I didn’t expect it.
It’s a secret because of lack of representation. We all know that representation of one is not gonna do anything. But when you get a group of us together, the diversity is just apparent, and it’s not forced. It’s just a bunch of individuals with such distinct individual lives. And that’s the thing about being genderqueer in this moment particularly.
There really is a nice rhythm to the special, and it’s partially because everyone has their own specific point of view and style. They complement one another, but also stand out.
There’s a very different experience across generations so I tried to represent a little diversity within this lineup. Everyone is really great in their own right. If you take the heat out of it, the negative backlash, it picked up as a wedge issue, and the culture wars— gender is still a fascinating subject. It’s not dull and I think it would be great if we could have a broader conversation about gender without, you know, just the ridiculousness of the fear it’s all wrapped up in now. So, I wanted to have that moment. I wanted to create a little bit of breath where it’s like, let’s just have a space where we’re not trying to defend ourselves. I didn’t want to make this special as an opposition to the output of content on the platform, I just wanted to create another space.
Any chance Netflix will help facilitate that space by turning this into a series?
Personally, I would love that. There’s a depth of talent out there and stand-up is an accessible art form to be able to do. There are queer comedy scenes all over in the U.K. and New York — this is happening. I’m not inventing this talent. It’s there in the grassroots. I’d just love to create a more accessible upwards trajectory for this community. But that will rely on disrupting the algorithms to get them trending this way. I think it’s fairly safe to say that we need people to watch. That’s the only thing that’s gonna really shift it and sadly, that probably means that I’ll need to say something controversial. Kidding, but we’ll wait and see.
The sixth outing in the director’s chair for filmmaker Kirk Jones, I Swear dramatizes the real-life story of touretter John Davidson (played by Robert Aramayo). Tourette’s Syndrome, for those unfamiliar with the condition, is a nervous system disorder that causes various tics, the most prolific being erratic and explicit language. However, as I Swear expertly showcases, the syndrome is far more than ill-timed outbursts of curse words. Davidson’s story is one of societal frustration, finding your people (both with and without the condition), and using your voice to help others rise. The subject and subject matter are handled with absolute care and understanding under Kirk’s measured vision and Robert Aramayo’s BAFTA-winning performance.
The film kicks off with the greatest exclamation to democracy ever uttered (*%#! the Queen!), as a nervous John Davidson prepares himself before entering an awards ceremony hosted by Britain’s royal family. Right away, the film tells us what it is: a triumph over adversity that blends humor and human drama with education. It’s an important setup, as the film flashes back to Davidson’s 1980s youth, where we see his time as a star soccer recruit flatline as his condition takes hold. Davidson’s life spirals from there. Some aspects, like school bullying and accidental run-ins with authority figures, are expected but important to empathizing with young Davidson’s (young version, played with heart by Scott Ellis Watson) new everyday life. The more tragic, a complete meltdown of his family system, is unsettling if quick. His father (Steven Cree) is never given enough screen time to explore his alcohol coping tendencies. However, his mother Heather’s descent into easy fixes and blaming is crushing and convincing. Harry Potter series actress Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle) gives a layered performance as Heather. Someone who loves her son, but also feels cursed by him as the entire family exits the picture. It’s bitter, she’s tired, and fills each conversation with ‘only medication and your mother can save you’ energy.
From there, the viewer and Davidson find refuge in a host of characters. Maxine Peake plays Dottie, the mother of a childhood friend and a retired mental health nurse. Screen vet Peter Mullan plays maintenance man Tommy Trotter. Together, they help Davidson build a life and an understanding of himself that carries the film forward into its second half. After that, the film is primarily a 3-actor show as director Kirk fills the screen with these tour-de-force performances. Peake and Mullan are great vessels to get the film’s main message across: patience, love, and a shared responsibility between the diagnosed and those who understand their struggle can help change the path for people quickly left behind by a normative world. Together, they are the soul of the movie, with the filmmakers clearly hoping the audience will follow their lead after they exit the theater (in my case, the beautiful Oriental Theater for the Milwaukee Film Festival). Both performances are perfectly warm and reflective and shouldn’t be left out in discussions of I Swear.
I say this because the movie is anchored by The Rings of Power actor Robert Aramayo, who leaves Elrond’s elf ears behind to bring an acute naturalism to his performance of main character John Davidson. Aramayo’s physicality and timing of the fitful Tourettes Syndrome never feel out of place or overplayed. In fact, the movie as a whole does an amazing job of never veering into sentimentality. While many moviegoers left with tissues dabbing their eyes, the filmmaking never felt like it was forcing that reaction out of audiences. It straddles the line between feel-good and reality with every story beat and lands squarely on the side of letting the real inform our feelings. Anyone with an ounce of empathy will grasp the film’s message and hopefully take it with them into life.
I Swear continues at the Milwaukee Film Festival on Tuesday, April 21st, and releases nationwide April 24th, 2026, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Several private equity firms and Hollywood power players, including United Talent Agency and longtime agent Patrick Whitesell, have expressed interest in buying parts of Casey Wasserman’s music and sports management firm after it abruptly went up for sale.
Wasserman became ensnared in controversy earlier this year after his salacious decades-old emails to Ghislaine Maxwell, an accomplice of child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, were released as part of the U.S. Justice Department’s trove of Epstein files.
The agency auction is in the early stages, according to three people close to the process but not authorized to comment.
Earlier this week, several interested parties submitted proposals to meet a preliminary deadline in the auction, two of the sources said.
The company, which changed its name to the Team last month, is expected to be valued at around $3 billion.
Providence Equity Partners holds the majority stake. The private equity firm has discussed selling the entire company or carving off Wasserman’s minority interest. Providence also has considered selling the bulk of the firm and staying on as a minority investor, one of the sources said. Another scenario could involve separating, then selling the individual business units that make up the Team.
Wasserman and Providence’s company boasts an enviable roster of music artists, including Kendrick Lamar, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran. Its sports marketing practice is viewed as particularly lucrative and has potential to grow in value as big dollars flow into sports that draw large crowds.
Wasserman, who declined to comment, has a veto right over any sale of the company that he has spent a quarter of a century building.
UTA, which also declined to comment, is among the most aggressive suitors, the sources said. The Team’s sports marketing and music representation divisions would dramatically boost the Beverly Hills agency’s profile and client roster.
Whitesell, former executive chairman of Endeavor, separately has been motivated to make investments in sports, media and entertainment since last year when he left the talent agency that he and Ari Emanuel built. Whitesell launched a new firm with seed money from private equity firm Silver Lake, and last spring he started WIN Sports Group to represent professional football players.
Whitesell wasn’t immediately available for comment.
European investment firm Permira also has expressed interest, according to a knowledgeable source. Permira declined to comment.
The New York Times first reported that Permira, UTA and Whitesell had expressed interest.
The sales process is expected to stretch into summer, the knowledgeable people said. The auction could become complicated particularly if Providence decides to unwind the business.
For example, UTA could not buy the entire company because of the Brillstein television unit. The agency is bound by an agreement with the Writers Guild of America that prevents it from owning television production.
Investment bank Moelis & Company is managing the sale. A representative of the firm declined comment.
Wasserman also is the chairman of LA28, the nonprofit group that will be staging the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in two years.
Following revelations of Wasserman’s 2003 emails with Maxwell, several musicians and athletes — led by pop artist Chappell Roan and soccer star Abby Wambach — said that, to stay true to their values, they would leave the agency then known as Wasserman.
Wasserman apologized to his staff for “past personal mistakes” and said he would sell the agency.
He had limited dealings with Epstein, flying on the financier’s jet along with former President Clinton for a September 2002 humanitarian trip through Africa.
Wasserman, a prolific Clinton fundraiser whose legendary grandfather, Hollywood titan Lew Wasserman, helped the Democrat win the 1992 presidential election, was joined on Epstein’s jet by his then-wife, Laura, actor Kevin Spacey, Epstein, Maxwell — who was convicted of sexual abuse in 2021 — and others, including security agents.
The LA28 board’s executive committee unanimously voted to keep Wasserman as chairman, citing his “strong leadership” of the Games.
Pizza Movie (2026) Director: Nick Kocher and Brian McElhaney, Star: Gaten Matarazzo and Sean Giambrone
Somehow, I got through an hour of this movie. I was seconds away from turning off in the first fifteen minutes because of the juvenile humor. Pizza Movie is too silly, repetitive, and the characters are annoying. Stranger Things Gaten Matarazzo and Sean Giambrone star as college friends, Jack and Montgomery. College angles are rarely seen in films right now, and that’s the one saving grace of the film. Similar to high school, people are also trying to fit in. The story and visuals were too corny. You can only watch someone’s head exploding for so long without letting yours.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) Director: Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, Stars: Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy
I never saw the first Super Mario Brothers Movie when it was out, but I heard it got positive reviews. My brother always loved playing Super Mario video games as a kid, and I’d watch him. I tagged along with my friends to see Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and it’s a cute and fun film. I like it when movies explore the video game world. The animation creates unique worlds and characters. The characters are split into their own storylines, and for me, I felt like it worked. It adds more action, especially for kids who are seeing the films.
Emily in Paris Season 5 (2025) Creator: Darren Star, Stars: Lily Collins and Ashley Park
After a bright spot in season 4, I thought season 5 of Emily in Paris would continue its growth in the story and its protagonist, but no, it’s all drained out in the usual Emily (Lily Collins) mishaps. Ashley Park (Mindy) has become too good for this show. Emily and Mindy waste several opportunities because of their love lives. The whole relationship angle is ruining it. I don’t understand why Alfie (Lucien Laviscount) is still in the show. I thought writers learned their lesson, but by the last episode, they’re continuing to bring the past into an apparent season 6.
Sarah’s Oil (2025) Director: Cyrus Nowrasteh, Stars: Naya Desir-Johnson and Zachary Levi
There’s always history lurking right beneath our noses. Sarah’s Oil (2025) tells the true story of Sarah Rector, an Oklahoma-born African American girl who became the first black female millionaire in the U.S. Naya Desir-Johnson is fierce and driven as Sarah. Zachary Levi is also along for the ride as Bert, a man who helps Sarah. Kate (Bridget Regan) was another favorite character as an intelligent woman. Cyrus Nowrasteh was drawn to the subject for its story and its themes. Nowrasteh’s direction is compelling as he unearths a hidden story from history. The film is streaming on Amazon Prime.
Jack Goes Boating (2014) Director and Star: Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Ryan
Jack Goes Boating (2014) didn’t quite work for me, largely because of its slow pace and uneven storytelling. The film stars the late Seymour Hoffman as Jack, who also directed the film. This was Hoffman’s first and only time in the directing chair. Amy Ryan also stars in the film, giving a solid performance. This was also based on a play that Hoffman starred in. Jack wants to participate in a swim championship. That’s hardly what the film is about, tracking other characters’ stories. While the film aims for quiet intimacy, it ultimately drags, making it an underwhelming viewing experience.
You Kill Me (2016), Director: John Dahl, Stars: Ben Kingsley, Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson
Meet You Kill Me (2016), yet another film that I found in the museum of underrated gems. The concept revolves around Frank (Ben Kingsley), a hitman, who is sent to an A.A. meeting to get his mind focused again. A different story happens, where Frank falls in love with Laurel (Tea Leoni). Leoni is one of my favorite actresses. It also stars the funny Luke Wilson. I liked the trio’s dynamics. You Kill Me is a mental health movie. It’s okay to make changes if you’re not happy. I recommended that you keep an eye out for this movie.
-
Arkansas2 minutes ago
#24 Arkansas Explodes for Eight Runs in Eighth to Race past Missouri State in Midweek Rematch
-
California8 minutes agoCalifornia Islamic calligraphy artist preserves ancient tradition during Arab American Heritage Month
-
Colorado14 minutes agoAvalanche vs. Kings Game 2: Key takeaways as Colorado wins OT thriller, takes 2-0 series lead
-
Connecticut20 minutes agoOpinion: This Earth Day make polluters pay
-
Delaware26 minutes agoDelaware’s first elementary school radio station hits the airwaves
-
Florida32 minutes agoFlorida investigating AI role in mass shooting at university
-
Georgia38 minutes agoMan accused in fatal Georgia shooting spree dies in jail, officials say
-
Hawaii44 minutes agoPolice Commission narrows Honolulu chief candidates to 6 semifinalists