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“The Idol” Episode 5 Recap: The Finale

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The Idol starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp has proven to be an exceptionally polarizing show. Overall, this has been for a very good reason. There have been some truly disgusting plotlines as well as some acting chops that have left a lot to be desired. Moreover, it was announced that the first season would end one episode earlier than initially advertised. Needless to say, it has been a bit of a mess, albeit one that has proven enticing. In fact, the show can be likened to a catastrophic track wreck that you simply cannot take your eyes off. That said, the season finale aired last night, and it was a doozy.

Jocelyn & Tedros Are Done With Each Other

After having slept with her ex-boyfriend Rob in the previous episode, it was clear that her distaste for Tedros was mounting. Subsequently, in the finale, we get more of that as Joss repeatedly tries to kick Tedros out of recording sessions, to no avail. Everyone in the room seems exasperated with the man, but he maintains his presence. This is all taking place as Joss’ team decides to come to the house to discuss her tour. Unsurprisingly, Tedros sticks around despite Joss’s numerous attempts to get him to leave the premises.

Once her team arrives, they are immediately taken aback by all the odd characters standing around. It is immediately noted that the whole thing feels like a cult. From there, many artists begin performing, and Joss’ managers are amazed. However, things immediately begin to sour as Leia learns that Rob is being accused of rape by the girl he took a photo with in Episode 4. Xander is in on the whole thing and refuses to talk to Leia about it. Overall, it is a disaster, which is happening unbeknownst to Jocelyn. Although, once she does find out about it, she immediately realizes that Tedros is in on it.

Tedros Kicked Off The Idol, Or Is He?

Following this debacle, Jocelyn grabs Tedros and demands he leaves the premises. However, he threatens to kidnap her and kill her if she so much as calls the cops. She subsequently brings Chaim into all of this and tells him to pay Tedros as much as possible to get him out of their lives. This leads to Jocelyn performing her new song for her managers, who are simply blown away. They then say the tour is back on, which proves to be a huge win for her and Tedros’ artists, who will get to open for her.

As this happens, Tedros is taken by security guards take thrown into the back of a van with Chaim. Chaim cuts Tedros a $500K check to leave forever, although he refuses it. This forces Chaim into Plan B, where he goes to the Vanity Fair reporter and gets her to include Tedros’ past in her piece. Of course, she was more than excited to do this as it ultimately enhanced the story. Needless to say, this is presented as the final nail in Tedros’s coffin. However, things can’t just end that easily.

The Grand Finale

Ironically enough, the last stages of The Idol take place on stage. We jump six weeks ahead and it is revealed to us by Chaim and Nikki that she has dropped three hit singles in the span of just a month and a half. Furthermore, she has sold out a stadium tour, with her first stop at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. We get numerous shots of soundcheck where Tedros’ artists are excited about their new roles.

Moreover, we find out that bad information came out regarding Tedros. This then leads to a shot of Tedros entering the stadium premises. He goes to the box office and asks if an artist pass has been left for him. Surprisingly, there was an artist pass for him. He then makes his way to Joss’s dressing room, where Destiny meets him. She tells him from now on, he must be on his best behavior. Subsequently, Jocelyn enters the room and says she wants him around and that she loves him. They then head to her stage, and she speaks to her crowd. Shockingly, she brings Tedros up on stage, and her team is mortified, and rightfully so. However, she kisses Tedros, and once he walks off the stage, she faces the crowd and is met with thunderous cheers and applause.

Another Season Of The Idol?

From there, The Idol title card flashes on screen, and the finale comes to a close. Numerous loose ends are left for the viewer to figure out. From Rob to Dyanne, there is a lot unanswered. Although, the final scene tells us there is very little more for this show to do. If I were you, I wouldn’t expect a second season anytime soon. Let us know what you thought of The Idol, in the comments section below.

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“The Idol” Takes A Shot At Kanye West In Series Finale

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Over the weekend the finale episode of The Weeknd’s The Idol series aired on HBO. The show has been controversial from the very start for things like its portrayal of women. The show was also consistently blasted by critics throughout its entire run for supposedly bad writing and acting. Now, according to TMZ, in the show’s final episode it takes a shot at another source of controversy, Kanye West.

The rapper famously shot off with a series of antisemitic rants last year. At his peak of volatility, he expressed his adoration for Adolf Hitler during an interview. Even when he was given the opportunity to clarify he instead doubled down on his statements. Now months later The Idol is taking aim at his comments. In a scene where the show’s lead Jocelyn is trying to convince her management she’s ready to go back on tour, they remain unconvinced. In what seems like a misguided argument, she cites Kanye West as a reason for why she is capable of going on tour. “You know f*cking Kanye was filling arenas until he decided to start following Adolf Hitler,” she says.

“The Idol” Aims At Kanye West

Even since he largely disappeared from the public eye, Kanye West has continued to have a controversial time. The rapper is a part of two ongoing lawsuits that he’s trying to have thrown out. The first deals with a space that GAP rented for their collaboration. West reportedly made permanent changes to the space violating a contract that explicitly forbids it. Now GAP is denying that they’re responsible for West’s action in the space. Kanye is also trying to get the lawsuit thrown out himself.

Kanye West is also dealing with the ongoing suit from his Donda Academy. Three teachers sued the institution for reportedly firing them based on racial motivations. West denied all of the allegations and denied that he had a direct role in them. What do you think of The Idol‘s joke at Kanye West’s expense? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Rihanna, Kanye West, & Paul McCartney’s “FourFiveSeconds” Reaches 1 Billion Spotify Streams

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The Weeknd Two Singles, Including Lil Baby & Suzanna Son Collab “False Idols,” Ahead Of “The Idol” Finale

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No matter how you feel about The Idol, the best thing that really came out of that show is new music from The Weeknd. Critics and fans might pan his acting but that certainly hasn’t impacted how we receive his music. The Idol provided an excellent opportunity for the Toronto artist to deliver some new heat. With the series finale set for this Sunday, he came through with two new singles ahead of its finale, including a highly-anticipated collaboration alongside Lil Baby titled, “False Idols.”

Alongside Suzanna Son, who plays the role of Chloe on the HBO series, the Atlanta star and the Dawn FM singer serve up a banger. With The Weeknd and Mike Dean delivering an apocalyptic production, Suzanna Son’s haunting vocals tie together the hook. However, Lil Baby sets the tone, swooping in with an impressive verse that finds him delicately balancing fame and the streets with slight socio-political undertones, rapping, “I don’t got beef with you n***as/ Got beef with the system/ Big bro at the end of his habeas.” The two previously linked up on Ye’s “Hurricane” but “False Idols” strengthens the chemistry between The Weeknd and Lil Baby.

Read More: “The Idol” Episode 4 Recap: “Stars Belong To The World”

The Weeknd Tags Lil Baby & Suzanna Son 

The Weeknd first previewed “False Idols” earlier this week on an Instagram Live session, leading to much hype surrounding the record. The record is also accompanied by “Like A God,” both appearing on The Idol Episode 5 Part 1 – an indication that The Idol will end with a two-part finale, despite claims that it would end after five episodes. Still, it’s an exciting record and arguably one of Lil Baby’s better performances in recent times.

In the past few months, The Weeknd’s unleashed a handful of singles to accompany his television series. He tapped Playboi Carti and Madonna for the Neptunes-esque, “Popular.” Last week, he released “One of The Girls” with Lil Rose Depp and JENNIE of K-Pop group, Black Pink. He also dropped off a cover of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy,” and another collaboration with Rose Depp, “Fill The Void,” alongside Ramsey. Check out “False Idols” and “Like A God” above. 

Read More: “The Idol” To End One Episode Early

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Bethenny Frankel Defends The Weeknd’s “The Idol” Performance: “It’s Totally Realistic”

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Bethenny Frankel came to the defense of HBO and The Weeknd in response to negative reviews of The Idol. The Real Housewives of New York City star argued that everything on TV doesn’t have to be PG.

“There are 50 sleazy, sleazy Hollywood guys like [The Weeknd’s character] that I remember from living in LA,” she said in a TikTok video Tuesday. “It’s totally realistic, so what are we doing?”

Read More: The Weeknd Beefs With Oreo After Their Recent Diss

The Weeknd, Sam Levinson, & Lily-Rose Depp, At Cannes

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 23: (L-R) Sam Levinson, Lily-Rose Depp and Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye attend “The Idol” photocall at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 23, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)

“[People are] making Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd these villains. It’s a fiction story! Don’t watch it!” Frankel added. “Like what happened to everyone? Everything’s supposed to be rinsed? And there are no fictional characters anymore?” Frankel concluded: “Has everyone lost their f–king minds? OK, you don’t like the show, don’t watch it. Suck your thumb, get a pacifier and shut the f–k up!”

The Idol has been getting almost universally negative reviews from critics and fans alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a score of just 24%. The series follows a fictional pop star named Jocelyn and her relationship with The Weeknd’s character, Tedros.

Bethenny Frankel Defends “The Idol”

@bethennyfrankel

What’s going on? #theweekend #theidol #hbomax

♬ original sound – Bethenny Frankel

The Weeknd recently discussed his goals with the series during an interview with Variety. He explained that he wants to show the dark side of fame. “Well, my goal was for people to feel that way when they watch it, you know, and that they’ll reassess [fame],” he explained. “It’s almost educational, that this is what comes with being incredibly famous. You’re surrounded by people who you’re not sure what their true intentions are, even if it seems like they’re good. You just never know. But of course, I’ve been very fortunate to have people around me that I’ve known almost my entire life, which is important, and is a gift.”

Read More: The Weeknd Goes Back & Forth With Twitter Users Over “The Idol”

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Kanye West’s Shut-Down TV Show Pilot Surfaces Online

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Kanye West has a lot of titles attached to him, but one that he apparently pursued that never got to manifest was “TV show mogul.” Moreover, according to reports from Far Out Magazine, the Chicago artist pitched a series to HBO back in 2007 that never got to see the light of day. Until now, that is, as a leak of the show’s presented pilot apparently found its way online thanks to Internet sleuths. According to reports and rumors complied over the years, the show was intended to be titled “A Little Inappropriate,” perhaps a little too fitting for a character like him. Furthermore, he wanted to fuse “Curb Your Enthusiasm” with “Entourage,” as he’s a big fan of Larry David’s work.

Other names involved in the cast were Don C, friend and designer, rapper GLC, Jeff Garlin (of “Curb” fame), and comedians JB Smoove and Wyatt Cenac. “Kanye knew he wasn’t a good improviser,” Cenac stated to Vulture back in 2013. “He’d read something that Seinfeld said about surrounding himself with better talent and that he would rise to the occasion. And so that was his hope.”

Read More: Drake Was Reportedly Eager To Narrate Kanye “Jeen-Yuhs” Doc

Kanye West’s Leaked TV Show Pilot

The leaked pilot above sees the 46-year-old juggle a CD signing with his rowdy crew of colleagues. Afterwards, he’s worried about bad fast-food breath when visiting a terminally ill fan for the Make-A-Wish foundation. However, Kanye West (whose Bape hoodie is zipped up to his face) discovers that the teen isn’t actually that sick. But he does think that he’s a better rapper than him. For fans of shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” or even something like “Veep,” this premise sounds right up those shows’ alleys.

According to reports, the Yeezy creative had already shot interviews for the first season. They included Nelson George, Professor Boyce Watkins, and Cornel West. Still, eventually HBO decided to pass. “HBO was like, ‘We didn’t pay for a show with these no-name motherf***ers. Find a way to put some Kanye in this,’” Cenac claimed. Considering all his current endeavors, a Ye show certainly sounds like it would be a fever dream. For the latest news and updates on Kanye West, stick around on HNHH.

Read More: Kanye West’s “Yeezus” Turns 10

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The Weeknd Hit With More Criticism For His Acting In Episode 3 Of “The Idol”

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The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp are co-stars on HBO’s new show, The Idol. Prior to the debut of this show, it was mired in controversy. For instance, there was a report from Rolling Stone that showcased the alleged misconduct that took place on set. Moreover, it got a pretty tepid reaction at Cannes, which is never a good sign. Overall, the critics were panning the show, and it hadn’t even been by viewers at home. Not to mention, it came on following the end of Succession, so there were already lofty expectations.

In the first two episodes, it became clear that the critics got a few things right. The writing has been a bit cringe, to say the least. Moreover, The Weeknd isn’t exactly Daniel Day-Lewis or Denzel Washington. His acting has been a bit rough, and fans are not letting him go unscathed. The Twitter reactions to his performances are a pretty good example of this. Twitter is always a litmus test for people’s cruelty, and that has certainly been the case in relation to The Idol.

The Weeknd Marches On

The Weeknd
Lily-Rose Depp et Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) le 23 mai 2023 à Cannes. (Photo by Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Last night, we got Episode 3, called “Daybreak.” Overall, this was a pretty upsetting episode that dealt with some very difficult things. Moreover, it saw The Weeknd’s character getting even grimier than he already was. He becomes a controlling and maniacal manipulator in this episode. However, the acting doesn’t exactly match how the character is written. This subsequently led to a lot of comments on Twitter, particularly in relation to a scene where Tedros chews out a stylist at a Valentino store.

Let The Roasting Begin

“The actor in this scene with Tedros deserves an Emmy for not laughing bc I’m sorry that was so funny and not intimidating at all lmao,” one user wrote. “I can’t take Abel serious in this show,” said another. Needless to say, fans are less than impressed with this show so far. While it is certainly provoking some visceral reactions, it’s not doing so in a way that is nuanced or particularly tasteful. Let us know what you think of the show, in the comments below.

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“The Idol” Is Dominating Social Media, But Viewership Remains Uncertain

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Is The Idol any good? Audiences and critics are deeply divided. The show, created by Sam Levinson, the man behind Euphoria, has proven deeply controversial. Starring Lily Rose-Depp and The Weeknd, The Idol focuses on the relationship between disgraced popstar Jocelyn (Depp) and DJ/cult leader Tedros (The Weeknd). Controversy has surrounded the show since its production days, with criticism leveled at the likes of The Weeknd.

Viewing figures may paint the show as a success. However, audiences and critics alike have absolutely panned the show. On Rotten Tomatoes, the holds a 25% critic score and a 58% audience score. Episode 2, the most recent episode to be released, was viciously mocked for its sex scenes and incredibly cringey dialogue. Furthermore, sources indicated that HBO is unwilling to greenlight the show for a second season. Despite this, there is likely one major reason it hasn’t been outright canceled.

The Idol Surpasses First-Week Viewing Figures For Other HBO Hits

According to HBO, the premiere of The Idol received 3.6 million views in its first week, surpassing the first-week totals of Season 1 of The White Lotus (3 million) and Euphoria (3.3 million). Furthermore, The Idol continues to top the rankings at televisionstats.com, a site that attempts to quantify online engagement for television shows. However, the site does not account for viewing figures. It is simply a representation of how much a show is being searched for and talked about on social media.

Despite this, is The Idol in a bubble? Viewership dropped 12% between episodes 1 and 2. Furthermore, viewership will likely continue to drop after the overwhelmingly negative reaction to the show’s second episode. By the end of its first season, The White Lotus was averaging 9.3 million viewers. Meanwhile, Euphoria was averaging 6.6 million. Unless things drastically turn around, it’s unlikely that The Idol is going to reach these sorts of numbers before the end of the show. The reaction to The Idol is reminiscent of the reaction to Morbius, another media property everyone talked about but no one actually watched. While The Idol‘s future remains to be seen, it just goes to show that social media should not be used as a gauge of success.

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Will There Be Season 2 Of ‘The Idol?’

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the idol hbo
Getty Image / HBO

The Idol sparked plenty of controversy leading up to and following the Cannes premiere, which essentially ended up being a glitzy premiere for an intentionally shocking series. At least, that’s the indication still present following the show’s first two episodes, which appears to be the maximum screened for both critics and at-home audience alike.

The show hasn’t been a ghost town for viewership, although one scene racked up more YouTube views than the entire relevant episode did on HBO and Max. So, will we be seeing any more confusing and straight-up bad sex scenes in a second season from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye?

That remains unclear, although HBO PR has spoken, as noted below. This week, however, a Page Six report claimed that a second season will probably not be in the cards although “[t]he door is definitely still open — it’s definitely not a decision [yet].” This appeared to be based upon second-week viewing figures being noticeably lower than the debut episode. Yet perhaps people have since felt compelled to catch up with what GQ called “the worst sex scene in history,” which add up to several minutes that I wouldn’t mind scrubbing from memory.

So, we may or may not see more of Tedros’ unsexy directives to his cult members because HBO subsequently responded on Twitter. “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” the premium cable channel wrote through their PR handle. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”

Well, at least Blackpink fans seem to be happy with more Jennie? Silver linings.

HBO’s The Idol airs on Sunday nights and streams on Max.

HBO Says “The Idol” Season 2 Is Not Yet Confirmed

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According to HBO, it has not yet been confirmed whether or not The Idol will be returning for a second season. Rumors that the show will be canceled after it’s first season have been circulating as of late. The network took to social media today to clear things up. “It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” they wrote on Twitter. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”

Page Six recently reported that an unnamed source made claims about the series. “This was never meant to be a long-running show, it was always … a limited series,” the source reportedly claimed. “The door is definitely still open — it’s definitely not a decision [yet]. At this point, this is normal in our process … we’re only two episodes in.” They say the source also added, “It’s a Sam Levinson show, and you know what you’re getting with a Sam Levinson show.“

Read More: Episode 2 Of The Weeknd’s “The Idol” Leaves Social Media Shook With Self-Harm & NSFW Scenes

The Idol Season 2 Is Undetermined

The Weeknd’s series, co-created by Sam Levinson, has received it’s fair share of criticism since it’s pilot episode aired. Critics have called out the show for its abundant on-screen nudity and dark themes. After episode 2 of The Idol aired earlier this week, the show received mixed reviews for it’s shocking depictions of self-harm. Viewers claim that The Weeknd’s character, Tedros, “gets creepier by the minute.” Other fans can’t wait to see another episode.

The Weeknd responded to backlash for the show in a recent interview with GQ Magazine. He told the outlet, “I’m loving it. It’s definitely shaken up the culture for sure [laughs].” “We knew we were making something dark and controversial but true to what we want to say,” The Weeknd also explained, “I just think discussion is healthy, no matter what. To me it’s like, I’m just happy that there’s conversation. That’s important for anything I do, especially this new medium that I’m in.”

Read More: “The Idol”: Sources Allegedly Call The Weeknd “Egomaniacal,” Not Renewing

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HBO Said A Decision ‘Has Not’ Been Made Regarding ‘The Idol’s’ Return For A Second Season

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the idol 2023
Eddy Chen/HBO

Despite a few reports to the contrary today, it looks like The Idol hasn’t officially been canceled. However, that doesn’t mean it’s coming back after this season.

Following numerous reports claiming that The Idol, which is the brainchild of Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, would not return for a second season, HBO shared a statement from their official PR social accounts noting that several outlets reported this news incorrectly.

“It is being misreported that a decision on a second season of The Idol has been determined,” read a tweet. “It has not, and we look forward to sharing the next episode with you Sunday night.”

At the time of writing, only two episodes of The Idol have aired, however, the reception hasn’t fared well.

A British GQ review called a sex scene in the second episode “the worst sex scene in history.”

In an interview with American GQ, The Weeknd noted that this particular scene was supposed to be unsexy.

“How ever you’re feeling watching that scene, whether it’s discomfort, or you feel gross, or you feel embarrassed for the characters,” he said. “It’s all those emotions adding up to: This guy is in way over his head, this situation is one where he is not supposed to be here.”

The Idol airs Sundays at 9 p.m. EST on HBO. Episodes are also available for streaming on Max.