Five Series That Peel Back Hollywood’s Curtain

This article rounds up five stellar series that dive into the absurd, unsettling, and endlessly alluring world of Hollywood.

The Studio

While many Hollywood tales follow visionary directors or rising actors, “The Studio,” crafted by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, centers on Matt Remick (Rogen), the newly minted president of Continental Studios. A cinephile at heart, Remick finds himself stuck producing a mindless blockbuster, placating pampered stars, and untangling daily crises. He once dreamed of mingling with legendary actors and directors on set, but as a bigwig, he makes everyone uneasy. This sharp, timely comedy spares no one: Martin Scorsese sheds tears, Ron Howard faces pushback over a cloyingly sentimental ending, Zac Efron is eyed for stealing a film reel, and Greta Lee angles for a private jet during awards season. Hollywood hasn’t laughed this hard at its own expense in ages.

The Franchise

With Armando Iannucci, of “Veep” and “The Thick of It” fame, among its writers, “The Franchise” zooms in on the chaotic production of a blockbuster, “Tektō: Eye of the Storm.” It’s a disaster from the start: German director Eric (Daniel Brühl), accustomed to auteur cinema, clashes with the inane comic-book script, lead actors raise doubts, rewrites pile up, and the studio fumes. Assistant director Daniel (Himesh Patel) scrambles to save the sinking ship. Directed by Oscar-winner Sam Mendes for its debut episode, the series skewers Marvel’s formulaic, hollow spectacles. “The Franchise” lays bare a doomed shoot that somehow lurches forward despite itself.

Episodes

British shows often spawn American remakes, and “Episodes” chronicles one such saga—the birth of a Hollywood version of a hit series under the iron grip of producers. Matt LeBlanc, of “Friends” renown, plays both himself and the star of the retooled show. Writers Sean (Stephen Mangan) and Beverly (Tamsin Greig) arrive in Los Angeles brimming with hope, only to watch their cherished project morph into a ratings-driven caricature. “Episodes” exposes the TV industry’s underbelly while slyly mocking the cultural chasm between America and Britain. LeBlanc’s charm alone is worth the watch—he revels in his star power, stirring chaos and gliding through unscathed.

BoJack Horseman

Set in a near-human world populated by anthropomorphic animals, “BoJack Horseman” follows its titular character, once the star of the sitcom “Horsin’ Around.” Now a washed-up has-been, BoJack drowns in booze and drifts through endless parties, utterly lost. Sure, he lives in a swanky villa atop the Hollywood Hills, but joy eluded him long ago. Desperate for a comeback in film and sluggishly penning a memoir, BoJack’s story grows bleaker with each season. This dramedy starkly reveals fame’s fleeting nature—stars fade fast, cinema offers only an illusion of life, and screen idols often unravel as eccentrics or neurotics.

30 Rock

Though set in New York, the satirical “30 Rock” revolves around a fictional NBC sketch show, “TGS with Tracy Jordan,” steeped in Hollywood’s rules. Head writer and producer Liz (Tina Fey) juggles the antics of her crew and erratic star. Every day spirals into dizzying chaos with unpredictable outcomes. The sitcom dazzles with its bold—for its era—premise: a flawed heroine who fires staff, occasionally belittles colleagues, yet owns her missteps and strives to grow. Sprinkled with recurring musical numbers—including a guitar-strumming Bryan Cranston—it’s a whirlwind of wit and heart.