Mary Elizabeth Williams
Verified
As seen in:
Medium,
MSN,
The New York Times,
Yahoo Entertainment,
Yahoo Life,
HuffPost,
Yahoo News,
NPR,
The Conversation,
Chicago Sun-Times
and
Articles by Mary Elizabeth Williams
The radical politics of "Dancing With the Stars"
A chorus of boos seems to rise up in the presence of Sarah Palin — and America wants to believe. A teen mom gets in a pitch for abstinence. An outspoken comic declares: “It’s a tough time for the gay community.
My first summer after skin cancer
A year ago, my family and I were kicking off what I would later refer to as the best summer ever. Over the next three months, we swam in the lake at Wellfleet, and ate ice cream on the High Line. The kids went on boat rides around the city and ran around in sprinklers at camp. I had sunset picnics and romantic strolls around Governor's Island. Then I found out I had malignant melanoma on my head. And summer would never be the same.
Celebrity buddy breakups are a lot like ours Original
Her romances may have been overanalyzed to death, but the very public, one might even say performative nature of Taylor Swift's relationship with her girl squad has long provided ample fascination for the gossip press and an unnerving amount of creative fodder for her lyrics. But lately, the once-tight bond between the Grammy winner and bestie Blake Lively appears to be cracking under the weight of the "It Ends With Us" debacle.
You don't have to give up Harry Potter to quit J.K. Rowling
I genuinely feel for younger people, who will never have the pleasure of experiencing the unproblematic version of Rowling and her novels. For millennials and Gen Z kids like mine, there was once a golden era when you could just daydream all day about getting your invitation to Hogwarts without any associations with a full-time transphobe.
You don't have to give up Harry Potter to quit J.K. Rowling
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways I genuinely feel for younger people, who will never have the pleasure of experiencing the unproblematic version of Rowling and her novels.
JD Vance isn't even trying to align his politics with the Catholicism he chose
There's an old John Mulaney routine in which he imagines what one might say to persuade someone to convert to Catholicism. First, "Don't Google us," he suggests in an "SNL" monologue from 2019, before adding, "You know that strange look of shame and unhappiness I have in my eyes at all times, especially after sex, and it was all forced on me at birth? What if you voluntarily signed up for it?" Six years later, here we are with a vice president who's done exactly that.
JD Vance isn't even trying to align his politics with the Catholicism he chose
There's an old John Mulaney routine in which he imagines what one might say to persuade someone to convert to Catholicism. First, "Don't Google us," he suggests in an "SNL" monologue from 2019, before adding, "You know that strange look of shame and unhappiness I have in my eyes at all times, especially after sex, and it was all forced on me at birth? What if you voluntarily signed up for it?" Six years later, here we are with a vice president who's done exactly that.
Katy Perry shows what not to do when a friend is accused of abuse Original
As one of the most successful musical artists of all time, Katy Perry can do pretty much whatever she wants. She's had nine number-one hits and sold millions of albums worldwide. She has gone into outer space for the length of time it takes to microwave a potato.
Katy Perry shows what not to do when a friend is accused of abuse
11 hours ago In autism circles and beyond, Temple Grandin’s story is well known. Grandin, who is autistic, is a pioneer who helped transform the world’s understanding of those who think differently — in pictures instead of words. Today, at 77, Grandin holds a Ph.D., is a professor of animal science at Colorado …
Prince Harry's estrangement isn't unique: Here's how to negotiate cutting family ties
"I would love reconciliation with my family." It's a poignant statement from anyone dealing with family estrangement, but one that carries particular candor when it's coming from a prince.
"She's the coolest motherf****r": Patricia Clarkson's favorite role yet is an American hero
Actor Patricia Clarkson is proud of her reputation for playing "unsavory" characters, but the one she describes as "the coolest motherf****r in the world" was an Alabama mom who worked at a tire company.
"She's the coolest motherf****r": Patricia Clarkson's favorite role yet is an American hero
Actor Patricia Clarkson is proud of her reputation for playing "unsavory" characters, but the one she describes as "the coolest motherf****r in the world" was an Alabama mom who worked at a tire company.
Here's how the Catholic cardinals should choose the next pope
The death of Pope Francis in April has created a conspicuous space at the top of the Catholic Church's org chart. As someone who's studied negotiation and also served eight years in uniform in Catholic school, I have been thinking constantly lately about what happens next, and what it's going to take to put the next man into the chair of St. Peter and get that white smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel.
Paul Feig doesn't make movies with women to be political, they're just more fun
Paul Feig is a little surprised to be here, too. The director of fan-favorite films like "Bridesmaids," "Spy" and "The Heat" — as well as, of course, the creator of the beloved TV series "Freaks and Geeks" — had long resisted the Hollywood imperative to franchise every blockbuster, sticking to a "pretty hardcore" policy against sequels. But there was something about the twisty alchemy of his 2018 surprise smash "A Simple Favor" that made him want to come back for more.
Paul Feig doesn't make movies with women to be political, they're just more fun
Paul Feig is a little surprised to be here, too. The director of fan-favorite films like "Bridesmaids," "Spy" and "The Heat" — as well as, of course, the creator of the beloved TV series "Freaks and Geeks" — had long resisted the Hollywood imperative to franchise every blockbuster, sticking to a "pretty hardcore" policy against sequels. But there was something about the twisty alchemy of his 2018 surprise smash "A Simple Favor" that made him want to come back for more.
If Meghan really wants to win over her critics, she could take a lesson from the king
What does Meghan really want? It's a question I've been returning to at regular intervals over the last few years. I've wondered about it during the surprise 2020 "Megxit" to the United States, while watching the sympathetically constructed 2022 docuseries "Harry & Meghan" and lately, witnessing Meghan's high-profile blitz of slenderly related new ventures.
If Meghan really wants to win over her critics, she could take a lesson from the king
What does Meghan really want? It's a question I've been returning to at regular intervals over the last few years. I've wondered about it during the surprise 2020 "Megxit" to the United States, while watching the sympathetically constructed 2022 docuseries "Harry & Meghan" and lately, witnessing Meghan's high-profile blitz of slenderly related new ventures.
Meghann Fahy stars in nearly every scene of "Drop," but she admits, "I still get nervous"
"Before I got into this," Meghann Fahy told me, "I thought maybe I would study psychology and become a therapist." Now, in her star-making role in director Christopher Landon's ("Happy Death Day") twisty new thriller, "Drop," she's finally getting to try it on.
Meghann Fahy stars in nearly every scene of "Drop," but she admits, "I still get nervous"
"Before I got into this," Meghann Fahy told me, "I thought maybe I would study psychology and become a therapist." Now, in her star-making role in director Christopher Landon's ("Happy Death Day") twisty new thriller, "Drop," she's finally getting to try it on.
Why the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni feud keeps escalating — and how they can resolve it
If Blake Lively thought for a moment that donuts would help her gain a much-needed tactical victory, she sorely miscalculated. Deep in the throes of her ongoing war with her "It Ends With Us" costar and director Justin Baldoni, Lively recently stopped by a friend's Connecticut bake shop to do some "baking with genius food friends" and hand out treats to customers.
"Forever the girl accused of murder": Amanda Knox is finally free to be as weird as she wants to be Original
"There's a joke I'm working on," Amanda Knox told me. Knox, the American student accused of murder, who spent four years in an Italian prison, is figuring out a one-liner. "It's blaming Zach Braff for my wrongful conviction because of 'Garden State,'" she explained.
Randall Park on "The Residence" and why the successes of Asian-Americans are "wins for all of us"
"We know how cruel and harsh the world is" is not necessarily a statement you'd expect to hear from Randall Park. In a career spanning from the YouTube cult classic "Ikea Heights" to a breakout cameo on "The Office," through "Fresh Off the Boat," "Always Be My Maybe" and his recurring presence as Agent Jimmy Woo in the MCU, Park has consistently proven himself one of the most reliably affable actors in entertainment.
Tori Amos' muses always brought mystical spark to her music, but now they've become realists Original
It's been 33 years since her breakthrough album, "Little Earthquakes," catapulted Tori Amos to stardom. Back then, Amos was unlike anyone else on MTV — beautiful, yes, delicate, clearly, but unquestionably defiant as well. Now, at 61, she’s still one of a kind, but with new challenges. Amos is frank about maturing in the music industry, specifically when it comes to the rigors and shrinking opportunities for women that come with age.
"I've been acting my entire life": The hardest part of Tan France's first acting job felt familiar
"The hardest part was really trying to pretend to be straight," Tan France said of his new role in the new darkly comedic Hulu series "Deli Boys," where he plays a Cockney gangster with a flair for violence. Yet, the "Queer Eye" star is also talking about the first several years of his life.
“I can't be loved by everyone. I'm not Ina Garten”: How Antoni Porowski got over his critics
Antoni Porowski is ready to talk about the guacamole. "Look," he says now, "it affected me at the beginning in a really big way." Back in 2018, when the Montreal native debuted on a rebooted "Queer Eye," he and his castmates became an overnight cultural phenomenon. Yet, along with the fame and the accolades (The show has gone on to win 11 Emmy Awards), there came a deeply Porowski-centered discourse.
Rick Steves, mild-mannered travel expert, wants to radicalize you
If you could take a road trip with your younger self, how well do you think the two of you would get along? Would you have an admiration for each other? Would you even recognize each other? Rick Steves, the one-man brand behind a European tour company, dozens of travel books, and some of the most soothing content on PBS, has, of late, been getting reacquainted with the person he once was — and the fork in the road that set him on a path he’s remained on ever since.
Rick Steves, mild-mannered travel expert, wants to radicalize you
Rick Steves Salon Generate Key Takeaways If you could take a road trip with your younger self, how well do you think the two of you would get along? Would you have an admiration for each other? Would you even recognize each other?
Rick Steves, mild-mannered travel expert, wants to radicalize you
20 Interesting Facts About Italy That You Didn’t Know Our guide on the most interesting facts about Italy that you didn’t know about. Italy is one of the most fascinating and historically rich countries …
"You're trained not to be too pushy": Actor Julia Stiles had to unlearn being a "people pleaser" Original
"I'm a romantic at heart," says Julia Stiles. But anyone familiar with the actress' most indelible roles, from the flinty Kat Stratford of 1999's "10 Things I Hate About You" to the vengeful Lumen Pierce on "Dexter," would know that her romantic streak has been leaning a little dark for decades now.
Turn the channel on the inauguration with these counterprogramming suggestions Original
|
COMMENTARY From "Twin Peaks" to "Chicken Nugget," preserving your sanity on Inauguration Day is just a click away Let's not watch the Presidential inauguration this time (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) Only you know if you require this reassurance, but just know that you are under no obligation to watch the second inauguration of You-Know-Who.
By Melanie McFarland, Hanh Nguyen Verified, Kelly McClure Verified, Mary Elizabeth Williams Verified, Nardos Haile, Nicholas Liu, Amanda Marcotte
|
salon.com
How being child-free became a provocative part of comedian Rose Matafeo's stand-up act Original
"No one needs to care whether I have children or not," says Rose Matafeo. Yet when the 33-year-old actor, director, writer and comic was tapped last year to host the child-sized spinoff of the U.K. competition show "Taskmaster," at least one member of the British press immediately made assumptions about her own maternal aspirations. After all, if a woman is working with children, surely she must feel a pull toward bearing and raising them.
"Any actor worth their weight is a character actor": Why Margo Martindale loves her Hollywood label
Margo Martindale, the three-time Emmy Award winner, is so well-regarded for her acting that she plays an animated version of herself on "BoJack Horseman" where she is called "esteemed character actress Margo Martindale." She has taken on indelible roles in prestige dramas from "Million Dollar Baby" to "August: Osage County" to "Justified" and "The Americans, but what Martindale has never been, until now, is a leading lady.
"I've done my time": Annette O'Toole talks "Virgin River" and leaving Superman behind for good
When you've spent nearly 60 years in show business, you might be justified in thinking about cutting back or hanging it up. But for "Virgin River" star Annette O'Toole, other people's retirements are her golden opportunities.
“Unzip, let it rip and fly”: Bridget Everett put it all out there for us - and got a gift in return Original
Bridget Everett is dancing to Blondie and Bette Midler. She is snarling like a tiger and kicking up her high heels as she poses for photographs in Salon’s New York studio. And all I want to do is tell her about the dead people in my life. The star and creator of Max's beautifully honest and critically-acclaimed show "Somebody Somewhere," which winds down after three seasons this Sunday, first gained attention for her fearlessly campy cabaret act.
"People were ready to laugh": "Fargo's" Allison Tolman on why "St. Denis Medical" is so appealing
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Store and/or access information on a device You can choose how your personal data is used.
"She ripped up her own formula": How Taylor Swift single-handedly changed pop music
There are no accidents in Taylor Swift's world. On the bright June night my family and I saw the Eras tour, her surprise songs were "I Forgot That You Existed" and "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things." Did I mention it was Scooter Braun's birthday? It was classic Taylor, sliding in an Easter egg for the fans to interpret.
The evolution of Rosemarie DeWitt's career, from "Sex and the City" to "deeply flawed" Disney mom Original
Take it as a green flag if your partner has a crush on Rosemarie DeWitt. Although the veteran actress ran the gamut playing characters in films like "Rachel Getting Married" and "La La Land," and shows ranging from "Mad Men" to "Black Mirror" to "The Boys," she says that "When people tell me that their husbands like my work, I think, 'Oh, you must really love your wife.'" Because, as she explained to me, "I think I'm trying to play you.
“A wounding disappointment”: Why Kamala Harris’ defeat cuts so deep for women Original
I was in a Manhattan museum on a recent October weekend when I noticed the Post-It tacked inside the stall in the ladies' room. "Woman to woman," it read, "Remember, your vote is private. Harris/Walz!" The message was one of encouragement, but it made my heart sink. Never in my lifetime have I lived through an election campaign in which this needed to be shared.
“A wounding disappointment”: Why Kamala Harris’ defeat cuts so deep for women
A bar chart showing the distribution of electoral votes for the presidential race. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. Kamala Harris has 223 electoral votes and 47.3% percent of the popular vote. Donald Trump has 279 electoral votes and 51.0% percent of the popular vote.; President 65,987,130 votes (47.3%) 270 electoral votes to win 71,081,469 votes (51.0%)
Scott Speedman embraces his fandoms, from “Felicity” to “Teacup”: “I never want to run from that”
Scott Speedman is in it for the tingle. The 49-year-old actor has racked up dozens of roles in long-running series like "Animal Kingdom," "You" and "Grey's Anatomy," as well as fan-favorite appearances in hit films like the "Underworld" franchise. And along the way, he's had a few moments where he's felt something a little extra.
Scott Speedman embraces his fandoms, from “Felicity” to “Teacup”: “I never want to run from that”
Scott Speedman is in it for the tingle. The 49-year-old actor has racked up dozens of roles in long-running series like "Animal Kingdom," "You" and "Grey's Anatomy," as well as fan-favorite appearances in hit films like the "Underworld" franchise. And along the way, he's had a few moments where he's felt something a little extra.
My mother's final secret: Searching for the little sister I never knew I had Original
I'd been having dinner with my cousin Danny, in town for a few days on a business trip, when he lightly dropped the bombshell. We'd been talking about the usual things that families talk about — the trouble we'd gotten into as kids, the Thanskgivings we'd shared. Then I asked him what, if anything, he remembered about my father. Danny, seven years older than me, easily summoned fond tales of my mom's boyfriend horseplaying with him and his brothers.
Ruth Reichl: “The delicious revolution" was a distraction from America's food crisis
Most people wouldn't recall the early days of the pandemic as "the moment I've been waiting for my whole life." But Ruth Reichl, whose new documentary "Food and Country" reveals America's food crisis from the perspective of the farmers, ranchers, restauranteurs and activists whose livelihoods were upended by it, isn't most people.
"All love stories end in tragedy": "The Notebook" author Nicholas Sparks defines his genre
Nicholas Sparks has a talent for making you weepy. His 24th novel, "Counting Miracles," which leapt to the top of the New York Times bestseller list in its first week and is already , is no exception. The story of an Army Ranger's search for the father he never knew — and of the woman who steals his heart along the way — is replete with the classic Sparks themes of heartbreak, tragedy, loneliness, second chances, plenty of emotional plot twists and of course, romance.
Peter Gallagher always took “The O.C.” seriously. Sandy Cohen was the dad of his dreams, too
Peter Gallagher is reminiscing about a defining moment in his acting career. It was the early aughts, and he had just been cast in a buzzy Fox drama in the role of Sandy Cohen. Some of his friends, however, had concerns. Why was he throwing it all away on what they dismissively wrote off as a teen soap? At the time, he was a Tony Award-nominated performer who had given acclaimed performances under directors like Steven Soderbergh and Robert Altman. But Gallagher knew he was on to something.
"The Old Man" star Jeff Bridges: "I didn't think I was going to work again" Original
Jeff Bridges really is that chill. Within minutes of our meeting for the first time, he is recommending meditative breathing techniques and calling me by the name I reserve for close friends. And by the time he's left our "Salon Talks" interview, I've also received a big, encompassing hug, because he's a hugger.
“It’s like we were astronauts”: From peak TV to “Fallout,” Walton Goggins ascends to new heights Original
"It's always been like the perfect stock," says Walton Goggins. The 52-year-old actor isn't talking about his portfolio — although that's probably doing well lately too — but his acting resume.
An ability to play kindness got Lamorne Morris a role on "Fargo," then came the Emmy nomination Original
When Lamorne Morris got the call from “Fargo” showrunner Noah Hawley offering him a leading role in Season 5, he was confused at first. “You want Winston in this?” he recalls thinking, referring to the character he played for seven seasons on Fox’s eminently bingeable “New Girl,” sensitive prankster and cat lover Winston Bishop. For the audience to connect with “Fargo” character deputy Witt Farr, Hawley knew he needed somebody with Morris's rare skill for communicating simple human kindness.
"God never hands me a softball": Sandra Lee explains why she hasn't worked in 8 years Original
"Isn't it pretty? " Sandra Lee asks me, and I have to agree. The Emmy Award-winning television host, author and coiner of the word "tablescape " is leading me, via Zoom, to a corner of her living room to show me one of her most prized possessions — the blue ribbon she won for display and design 32 years ago at the Los Angeles County Fair. "That ribbon is 48 inches long. The head on that ribbon is 16 inches," she notes with the authority of someone accustomed to doing the math.
The "Star Wars" moment when "Industry" star Ken Leung knew he'd arrived Original
For an actor who’s currently playing one of television’s most electrifyingly cutthroat characters, Ken Leung is refreshingly upbeat. As Eric Tao on HBO Max’s “Industry,” Leung has had a fitting vehicle for the volatility he’s so good at conveying in memorable roles from “Lost” to “Missing.” And in the show’s third season, he gets to fully descend into what Leung describes as Eric’s epic, high-decibel “midlife crisis” — just at the moment he’s being elevated to the highest peak of his career.
Show More
loading
Actions
Get in touch with Mary Elizabeth
Contact Mary Elizabeth, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack