Laurence Pevsner

Laurence Pevsner served as Director of Speechwriting for the U.S. Ambassador to the UN and as a speechwriter for West Wing Writers. The inaugural Moynihan Public Scholar at the City College of New York and a contributor to McSweeneys, he is working on a non-fiction book about public apologies and a novel about buried treasure.
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What Franklin Can Teach Us About Diplomacy

As conflicts rage on across the world and the need for diplomacy rises, the new Apple TV+ series Franklin — about America’s first diplomat — offers lessons for our times, as a former speechwriter for the US Ambassador to the UN explains.

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Transport Me: Holiday Movies from Around the World

If you and your family are getting tired of the same old Christmas stories year after year, why not dig a little deeper and try these picks from around the world?

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From SNL to the Director’s Chair: Kyle Mooney Talks Nostalgia, Freestyle Raps & Y2K

He stood out for hilariously awkward and offbeat SNL characters like the eccentric Bruce Chandling and the painfully relatable Chris Fitzpatrick. Whether parodying cringeworthy YouTube personalities or channeling the overly sincere energy of ’80s public access TV, Kyle Mooney’s knack for finding humor in the bizarre and uncomfortable has always set him apart. Beyond SNL,

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Romance Me: Meet Your Holiday Streaming Date

Single this holiday season? Luck-y you. You’re free to binge – and fall for – all the charming, seductive, irresistible protagonists across the streamers. Check out these holiday-themed stories for starters.

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The Holdovers

A cross-generation comedy drama that’s earned five Academy Award nominations, The Holdovers will tug at your heartstrings as it wrestles with themes of grief and loneliness, and it will ultimately nurture hope.

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Dune: Part Two

A mesmerizing immersive experience, Dune: Part Two is a film you won’t quickly forget. From the collective talents of its high wattage ensemble cast to the stunning cinematography, costumes and sound design, its a blockbuster that will stimulate all the senses along with your emotions.

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What to Watch (and Avoid) with Friends and Family over Thanksgiving

What to watch – and what to skip – if you’re spending Thanksgiving with kids, teenagers, older generations, or all of them under one roof? Your 2022 Watercooler Guide to holiday movies.

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Tokyo Vice

On one level, Tokyo Vice is the story of one man’s kamikaze mission to bring down the Yakuza. But it’s also a mesmerizing noir drama that unfolds into a tense thriller — and ultimately serves as an important reminder that freedom of the press is worth fighting for.

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Awards Season Catchup: A Watercooler Guide to Shōgun

An immersive must-watch embraced by critics, the new Shōgun brings a new perspective on the epic historical drama about the battle between East and West in 17th century Japan.

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What the Netflix Hit The Diplomat Can Teach Us All

In the midst of all the hype about a dating show (Love is Blind) and a dark, LA-set comedy (Beef), a complex political drama that requires undivided attention rose to the top of the Netflix chart in 2023.  At its core, The Diplomat is a series about bureaucratic machinations, yet the show ups the ante

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The Best of What’s New in Streaming: April 2021

If you stick to the path I’ve cut for you with this vouched-for movies and shows, you’ll avoid getting lost in the streaming jungle and succumbing to the dreaded condition of option paralysis.

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The Best of What’s New on Netflix: April 2021

The best new films and shows on Netflix this April feature big stars — from Idris Elba to Jason Bateman, Melissa McCarthy to Octavia Spencer and Amanda Seyfried. A quick guide to help curate your queue.

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What to Watch if You’re Spending Spring Break at Home

Avoid Miami — and the rest of the spring break towns — and live vicariously by streaming these party films from the comfort of your own living room.

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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Recap Episode 2: “The Star-Spangled Man with a Plan”

In the second episode of Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the two lead characters finally share the screen, but the only thing they can agree on is how much the new Captain America sucks. A primer and post-op for Falcon #2.

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I May Destroy You

An addictive, provocative, Emmy-nominated limited series that challenges how we think and feel about our own relationships – romantic, platonic, and professional. Creator and star Michaela Coel captivates.

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The Godzilla and King Kong Movies You Need to Watch Before Godzilla vs. Kong

Godzilla vs. Kong is coming soon, so pop some popcorn, grab some candy, and watch these Godzilla and King Kong films to prepare for the epic battle!

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Honeyland

A visually stunning, intimately told story that will alternately grip and move you as it drives home the urgency of the larger environmental issues at stake.

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Zack Snyder’s Justice League

With all the DC heroes together in their best light, a gorgeous, more layered production — the Snyder Cut is a great case study for how much of a difference directing and editing can make.

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The Flight Attendant

A funny murder mystery thriller that doubles as a high-stakes trip around the world,

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