All I could think about during last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy is how it will feel to watch the series if the Affordable Care Act is fully repealed. To be very clear: I know there are far worse consequences of the bill than its impact on TGIT programming. Thousands will sicken and die. I could easily be one of them. All I'm trying to do is illuminate the lens through which I was watching the episode. And to be even clearer: The repeal isn't set in stone yet. Keep calling, keep writing, get louder. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below To be fair, Grey's has always shied away from delving too deeply into the financial lives of its patients (they've been all too eager to dig into the financial health of the hospital though). We don't see patients frantically paging through bills once they've been discharged or calling their insurance companies to get procedures cleared. But it bears mentioning that the show's two most memorable episodes about financial hardship for patients both aired during the Bush administration: Joe the bartender's inability to pay for his expensive brain surgery and Ryan, the young boy who "trick or treated" for doctors and … Continue reading →

Bay Street Theater has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynne Nottage's Intimate Apparel, which will be presented at the Sag Harbor venue July 430. Directed by Bay Street Theater Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, the cast will be headed by Kelly McCrearyone of the stars of ABC's Grey's Anatomyas Esther Mills. McCreary will be joined by Portia (Ruined, McReele, Our Lady of 121st Street) as Mrs. Dickson, Blake DeLong (Othello; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812) as Mr. Marks, Julia Motyka (Bay Street's Travesties, Richard III) as Mrs. Van Buren, Edward O'Blenis (Uncle Vanya, Tall Grass) as George, and Shayna Small (The Colored Museum) as Mayme. In Intimate Apparel, according to Bay Street, there's a delicate line between love and desire. Esther Mills is a skilled African American seamstress and has her own successful business in 1905 making lingerie for both society ladies and ladies of the night. But she is lonely. As she searches for something more in her life, she unearths truths long hidden in the deepest recesses of her heart. The creative team includes composer Michael Holland, set designer Jeff Cowie, lighting designer Mike Billings, costume designer Emilio Sosa, … Continue reading →

Dramatic revelations in penultimate episodes often prove to be pivotal in the life of a new series beyond mere plot mechanics. Its at this point that a show either proves to be worthy of admiration or falls apart under the weight of its own ambition. Riverdale has been one of the most engaging, blissfully bonkers, and visually rich new shows Ive seen in a long time. It knows exactly how to hit that elusive sweet spot that so many teen dramas aim for. But I was worried that the reveal of Jasons murderer wouldnt meet my expectations. Part of my apprehension stems from the nagging issues that have been weighing down recent episodes like Veronicas off-putting characterization and the complete sidelining of characters I previously enjoyed like Josie. But Anatomy of a Murder didnt just meet my expectations it exceeded them. Im left yearning for more high-intensity drama, witty comebacks, and family drama. This episode has everything. Incest, maple syrup intrigue, unhinged mothers, several showdowns, and Alice holding a gun, proving once again shes not one to be messed with. This isnt the kind of exhilarating and fun episode that quickly fades from memory. By exploring the fractures within these … Continue reading →