Melissa Roth

The founder of the Watercooler, Melissa Roth has written for Rolling Stone, VanityFair.com, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, among other outlets.
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Angel City

A goose-bump inspiring docuseries that takes us on to the field and into the surprising back story of how LA’s new professional women’s soccer team came to be, upending the model behind pro sports teams and finally, truly, changing the game.

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The Serpent Queen

If you’re looking for some historical context for all the news and fictional obsession with monarchs, The Serpent Queen brings a modern, often funny take on one of the most powerful female rulers in history, one that sheds light on our current preoccupation with all things royal.

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Irresistible

A post-election escape watch from Jon Stewart, the 2020 political satire works as an entertaining crash course on local campaign organizing while doubling as an expose on the dysfunctions of the “election economy.”

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Flee

The most urgent and relevant Oscar-nominated film of 2022, Flee is a deeply personal documentary about a man’s childhood as a refugee that inspires as it creates empathy for those forced out of their homelands.

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Charlie Wilson’s War

A suddenly timely look back at how the U.S. first escalated involvement with Afghanistan in the 1980s, told through an eye-opening story that feels like it had to be made up by its Oscar-winning screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin.

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The Last Letter from Your Lover

A date night movie that transports you to a lush 1960s French Riviera, the adaptation of the JoJo Moyes novel entwines two eras and two sharply contrasted romances, delivering a wistful summer escape watch.

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Sex and Lucía

A cinephile’s choice for a Netflix and Chill night, Sex and Lucia is a steamy and intoxicating portrait of two lovers … and their other lovers … that explores the blurry lines between reality and imagination, love and lust, tragedy and obsession.

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My Neighbor Totoro

A joyful, enchanting classic, My Neighbor Tortoro is the rare film that can captivate all ages, from young kids to their parents and grandparents.

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Origin Story: How Friends Became the Ultimate Watercooler Hit

After a year-long delay due to the pandemic, the much-anticipated Friends Reunion Special finally has a “stream date”:  Thursday, May 27th, a tribute to its original “Must-See TV” night.  The big event has already driven legions of fans sign up for HBOMax, turning the service into “Must Stream TV.” David Janollari was a young development

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Melissa Roth

The founder of the Watercooler, Melissa Roth has written for Rolling Stone, VanityFair.com, Marie Claire, and The Washington Post, among other outlets.
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How to Fill the Succession Void

Whether you tuned in for the family dysfunction, the timely media-tech business stories, the back-room political machinations, or the Greg and Tom comedy, Succession has captivated many of us over the past five years. Despite their treacherous behavior and ruthless, WTF insults, the characters and their plottings have become a reliably fun and familiar Sunday

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You’re the Worst

Through the eyes of two cynics who seem doomed to be alone, You’re the Worst embraces the complexity of modern relationships and the many emotional layers they surface. It’s also an accurate and empathetic portrait of what it’s like to live with clinical depression.

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A 90s Slacker Film for the Reluctant College Grad

When Kicking and Screaming came out in 1995, it fit squarely within the youth culture of its time. With Clinton in the White House and the Pixies on the radio, apathy was par for the course. The term “slacker” became a signifier for a certain kind of seemingly unambitious cool-kid scene. Coming of grad-age in

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Behind the Scenes of Kandahar: An Interview with Director Ric Roman Waugh

Director Ric Roman Waugh is known for his high-octane, true-to-life action dramas, from Snitch (starring Dwayne Johnson) to National Champions (with J.K. Simmons) to The Angel Has Fallen (starring Gerard Butler). His latest film, Kandahar — in theaters Memorial Day Weekend — drops us into modern day Afghanistan, deep behind enemy lines, as an undercover

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Angel City

A goose-bump inspiring docuseries that takes us on to the field and into the surprising back story of how LA’s new professional women’s soccer team came to be, upending the model behind pro sports teams and finally, truly, changing the game.

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Derry Girls

Like the community and era they represent, the Derry Girls bring a feisty resilience to their teenage troubles, and in spite of the larger Troubles surrounding them, they’re unafraid to speak their minds and stand up for themselves.

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Class of ’09

A smart, complex, and timely take on the past and future of law enforcement in the U.S., Class of ’09 is sure to generate moral questions while driving much needed conversation. 

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The Other Two

A surprisingly sweet satire about fame in all its forms, The Other Two proves that not even superstars have it easy. But with the support of family — biological or created — making it as an actor/writer/manager/singer/fashion designer/talk show host/influencer is a little more feasible.

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Riviera

If you’re looking for a glitzy, sexy, escape, Riviera serves up three seasons of a lush, soapy mystery series dripping in yachts, conspiracies, globe trotting art world intrigue, and spy thriller plots that include a somewhat timely Russian threat.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The transporting new story of the history and politics of Middle-earth after the brutal war with Morgoth, and the quests of dwarves, elves and men to rebuild and thrive in the aftermath as they prepare to confront the reemergence of an evil force.

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The Watercooler Guide to Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power

The Watercooler Guide to “Power of the Rings” gives a quick refresher to the Rings franchise and the 2-minute need-to-know about the themes, central questions, characters, and world-building behind the much-anticipated series.

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House of the Dragon: The Qs that need As

If you spent the first episode of House of the Dragon combing wikis for family trees, character guides, and Game of Thrones refreshers, you were surely left with some gaps and several questions.  To prep you for Episode 2, we’ve sifted out six questions that need answers before you dive any deeper: Who was the

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How to Jump Into House of the Dragon

“Madness and greatness are two sides of the same coin. Every time a new Targaryen is born … the gods toss the coin in the air and the world holds its breath to see how it will land.” It is that time again. The return of the labyrinthine world of Westeros, this time in Game

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Hidden Gems: TV Shows for Families to Watch Together

Last chance to bond with the kids before back to school? We’ve gathered picks for the best hidden gem TV series you can watch with every member of your family — as well as those tricky tweens and teens. They’re sure to get you talking.

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Street Food: USA

If you’re looking for a vicarious vacation that will leave your mouth watering and your cultural curiosity enriched, Street Food: USA is worth the watch. The short series makes the case that cheap street eats are just as worthy as restaurant meals while bringing a new appreciation for a city and its communities.

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A League of Their Own (2022)

A fun, heartfelt, and inclusive take on America’s favorite pastime, the new A League of Their Own series is also a history lesson that makes for a great cross-generational watch.

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Prey

An action-packed gory callback to its original film, Predator, Prey brings a fresh point of view and historical setting to the story.  It builds slowly to develop character backstories but crescendos in an epic battle that will keep you glued to the screen — and rooting for the unlikely protagonist.

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