The Idol is a gripping HBO drama television series that is captivating audiences in the US and Canada. Co-created by award-winning musician The Weeknd, Euphoria showrunner Sam Levinson, and Reza Fahim, this show takes viewers on a riveting journey through the highs and lows of the music industry.
The Unique Appeal Of The Idol
What sets this new show apart from other drama series? In addition to its immersive narrative, The Idol boasts an impressive lineup of talent. Starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, who portrays a rising pop icon named Jocelyn, the series features appearances from real-life artists such as Jennie Kim from K-Pop supergroup Blackpink, multi-instrumentalist Moses Sumney, and producer Mike Dean. This fusion of fiction and reality enhances the authenticity of the show, making it a must-watch for music and drama enthusiasts.
The Idol series poster displayed on a laptop screen and Max logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on June 8, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For those eager to dive into this provocative drama, The Idol is readily accessible in the US and Canada. The series can be streamed on Max, Max Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, and Spectrum On Demand. This range of streaming options allows viewers to enjoy The Idol on their platform of choice. This ensures a seamless viewing experience wherever you can get the available streaming options.
The 4K Experience
To further enhance the viewer’s experience, The Idol is available in 4K. This high-resolution format provides unparalleled image quality, immersing viewers in the intricate world of the music industry. With every frame, viewers can appreciate the meticulous production design and high-quality cinematography that goes into creating The Idol.
TOPSHOT – (From L) Canadian singer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye aka The Weeknd, French-US actress Lily-Rose Depp and US director Sam Levinson arrive for the screening of the film “The Idol” during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 22, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)
The new show is sure to have a dedicated fanbase, eagerly awaiting every twist and turn in this dynamic narrative. To keep up with the latest streaming news and updates about The Idol, platforms like JustWatch provide comprehensive information. JustWatch gives you streaming options, release dates, and more.
Conclusion/TLDR
“The Idol” is more than just a television series; it’s a journey into the heart of the music industry, filled with compelling characters, emotional depth, and raw talent. Whether you’re in the US or Canada, numerous streaming platforms make it easy to join the journey. With the added bonus of 4K streaming, you can fully immerse yourself in the intense drama and captivating performances that make “The Idol” a standout series. Don’t miss out on this unique viewing experience – tune in to “The Idol” today!
**TRIGGER WARNING** The following recap contains descriptions of self-harm that some readers may find upsetting.
The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp’s new show The Idol has certainly made an impression on viewers. Although the first episode elicited comments about both of their acting skills, people were intrigued enough to give the second episode a go. Last night, HBO premiered “Double Fantasy,” which went all the way with all of the allusions to sex from Episode 1. In fact, this could very well be the episode that makes people check out, or stick around for the long haul.
Evolution Of A Pop Star
Overall, a lot took place during the 50-minute runtime of “Double Fantasy.” Firstly, it begins with Jocelyn who is clearly ready to reinvent herself after taking Tedros’ critiques about her singing to heart. If you remember, he told her she sings like she doesn’t know how to have sex. This subsequently prompts her to re-record “World Class Sinner” with a whole bunch of moans and breathy cadences. She shows her management team the song and says that this is what she wants to release. Ultimately, they are mortified by the change in sound, and her manager lambastes her for being “ungrateful.” This is where we learn that Jocelyn had to have a tour canceled following the death of her mother. This was mostly spawned by the fact that she had a mental breakdown, which is something we heard a bit about in Episode 1.
Following this scene, Jocelyn calls Tedros and asks if he can come over to record some songs. However, he is currently in one of his clubs and reveals that he will be busy for a few days. Additionally, his friend Izaak is there. Although we will learn more about Izaak later, it is important to point out that he is in the midst of trying to get with Leia, Jocelyn’s assistant. Again, this is a plot point that returns throughout the episode.
Overall, the majority of The Idol episode 2 takes place on set during the music video shoot for “World Class Sinner.” However, it quickly devolves into a mess that brings Jocelyn’s mental well-being into question. First off, Jocelyn arrives on set almost three hours late. It’s here that her manager Nikki explains that she had cuts on her thighs and that they were being airbrushed. This is a very obvious allusion to self-harm, although we never actually see it take place. Throughout all of this, her team is scrambling to get information on Tedros, who they claim is from Hawaii, and owes a lot of people money. From there, Jocelyn is a bit taken aback by the strip club setting of the music video and it clearly isn’t to her liking. Despite trying to power through, she messes up her takes and continues to ask for new takes. Although the director is getting mad, Jocelyn keeps trying but continues to fail.
After asking to continue the shoot the next day, she is talked out of it by her other manager, Chaim. Throughout all of this, there is an absolute calamity on set. This leads to numerous jump cuts of various different people talking about Jocelyn and what’s going on. Clearly, there is a lot riding on her performance here, and she isn’t living up to the expectations. Finally, however, she nails her final take. The only issue is, the camera was out of focus. This leads to a mental breakdown on set where Jocelyn can be heard calling for her mom, all while her feet and thighs begin to bleed. Nikki then tells Joss that needs to go home and rest. She also promises that they can film the music video the next day.
Betrayal In The Works
However, during the music video shoot, Nikki realized that the best dancer in the room is Dyanne. Dyanne was the stand-in for Jocelyn during rehearsal. Ultimately, she was the one teaching Jocelyn how to do her moves. While Jocelyn was trying to collect herself during the shoot, Nikki was asking Dyanne to sing for her. Upon learning that she’s quite good, she has her lay down a track. Lastly, before moving on from the music video setting, Nikki tells the journalist from Vanity Fair that the story is about to get bigger. Presumably, this has to do with Nikki’s new obsession with Dyanne, and her realization that Jocelyn may not be cut out for being a Global sensation.
In the next scene of The Idol episode 2, we find out that Jocelyn is actually broke and needs to make these songs happen. Otherwise, she could lose everything. This subsequently prompts her to call Tedros as she wants him to come over. However, the plot takes a turn as after their phone call, we see Dyanne with him. The show establishes that he and Dyanne are a couple. Moreover, he reveals that Nikki has called him personally about signing her. This is interesting as the rest of Jocelyn’s team has expressed fear about Tedros and his newfound influence on their star. Overall, this new revelation makes it seem like Tedros has some sinister plans for Joss.
Later that night, Tedros shows up with Izaak and a girl named Chloe. The latter appears extremely happy to be at Jocelyn’s house and immediately goes skinny dipping. Meanwhile, Izaak meets up with Leia while Tedros and Jocelyn do their own thing. Eventually, the show devolves into borderline softcore porn. Jocelyn and Tedros go off to the bedroom, as do Leia and Izaak. Meanwhile, Chloe is lurking in the shadows, watching Tedros command Jocelyn to do things for him.
Wrapping Up “The Idol” Episode 2
Lastly, The Idol ends with the following morning’s events. Chloe wakes up early and begins to play the piano beautifully. Moreover, she can be heard singing a song that impresses Jocelyn. She and Tedros then go down to the piano, as Izaak and Leia also arrive. That’s when Izaak begins to sing a duet, revealing that these two actually have a song together on Tedros’ label. Jocelyn begins to tear up at the song, and the episode ends.
From here on out, it is difficult to get a read on where this show is going to go. However, it is clear that there are some unique plot points on the horizon. That said, a lot of the dialogue and scenes can be a bit much to bear at times. Only time will tell whether or not this continues to be a success for HBO, or a horrendous flop. Let us know what you thought of episode 2 of The Idol, in the comments section below.
The Saturday Night Live writers may be on strike, but their actors are still delivering on the laughs. This week, Chloe Fineman took to social media to give us an uncanny imitation of a fictional pop star from a buzzy new show.
Though only one episode of Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s new series, The Idol, has aired so far, Fineman has her imitation of pop sensation Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) down to a T.
In a video shared by Fineman, the SNL actress dresses as Jocelyn, wearing a red lacy coat, and smoking cigarettes. In another clip, Fineman is seen wearing a black lingerie set and practicing choreography, recreating a scene from The Idol in which Jocelyn is practicing choreography for an upcoming music video. At one point, Fineman also recreates the shocking scene, in which The Weeknd’s character, a club owner and cult leader named Tedros, places red fabric over Jocelyn’s head, although Fineman’s recreation was less dark and more humorous.
The Weeknd caught wind of Fineman’s imitation, and simply replied with a series of crying emojis, implying that he couldn’t keep it together.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, The Weeknd revealed his plans to release new music in conjunction with each episode of HBO’s The Idol. Alongside a photo from the show, he announced that he would be kicking off this initiative this week. He did so by dropping Jocelyn’s pop song titled “World Class Sinner” and the theme score called “The Lure.” Jocelyn, for those who have not watched the show, is Lily Rose-Depp’s character. She is a pop star on the rise who is readying a new single for release in the first episode. In an Instagram post, The Weeknd shared his excitement for fans to hear the soundtrack.
“I was planning on dropping the whole soundtrack for idol by the finale, but I’m too hyped…” Abel said in his Instagram post. “Instead, I wanna drop new music from the show every week with each episode. I’m excited for you guys to hear what we’ve been cooking and all these new incredible artists that are a part of this show… this week… Jocelyn’s pop song ‘world class sinner’ and ‘the lure’ (theme score)… episode 2 this Sunday.” So, it looks like the songs from the previous week’s episode may be dropping the week after they air. That means that we can likely expect whichever songs are in this week’s episode to drop next Friday. For the time being, however, fans can enjoy the show’s first two offerings.
The Weeknd And Lily Rose-Depp Are Word Class Sinners
The first two songs that The Weeknd dropped from The Idol may not please his fans. However, that is not because they are bad – they are just not extremely focused on The Weeknd as an artist. “The Lure,” a dreamy score for the opening of the show, does feature some of Abel’s vocals near the end. “World Class Sinner,” on the other hand, is almost entirely Lily Rose-Depp. She sings about how open-minded she is, sexually speaking. “You can pull my hair, touch me anywhere,” she coos on the chorus.
While the music may be good, many fans complained about the explicit nature of the show. Some had some very strong insults for the first episode. However, The Weeknd contends that people just don’t understand it. In fact, he compared it to the response when he first released music. “When I first started making music, it was the exact same thing,” Abel said. “It was provocative, and I knew it was going to be tough for people. And a lot of people didn’t like it. Not to compare it, but I feel that this is kind of like that again. This is not going to be for everybody, and that’s fine. We’re not politicians.” What do you think of the new tracks? Sound off in the comments below to let us know!
Quotable Lyrics:
‘Cause I know that you Don’t really know how to handle it So get down on your knees and Get ready to become my b*tch
Throughout the past few weeks or so, The Idol has been getting panned by critics. For those unaware, this is the new show starring The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp. Moreover, the show was co-created by Sam Levinson, who is famous for Euphoria, among other things. Overall, the criticism of the show began during the Cannes Film Festival. Many felt as though the show was way too sexual, and that it was beyond good taste. This created lots of anticipation for the show, thus confirming the notion that all press is good press. Last night, the show premiered on HBO, and we got quite an introduction to the main characters.
“The Idol” Presents Us Jocelyn
The first frame of the episode gives us a close-up of Lily-Rose Depp’s face as she is in the midst of a sensual photoshoot. Depp plays Jocelyn, a global pop star who is currently on the rise. She is set to drop a new album, and the aforementioned photoshoot is for her cover art. During this scene, Jocelyn plays up the sex appeal as she even flashes her chest in the midst of the shoot. This subsequently angers one of the assistants on set, who claims this violates her nudity rider. However, Jocelyn refuses to listen as she and her team claim that she can do whatever she wants. Right from the get-go, the show is establishing the pop star as someone who is not afraid of embracing sexuality.
While all of this is going on, a new scandal emerges online. This is due to a case of revenge porn against Jocelyn. A picture of her having sex ends up leaking online, specifically on Reddit. Overall, the picture is quite explicit, and it’s better to just watch the show if you want to know what’s depicted. That said, Jocelyn becomes the number one trending topic on Twitter, and all of this is happening unbeknownst to her. Throughout all of this, her large team of publicists and managers attempt to figure out what to do. It has been established that the artist has had psychotic breaks in the past, and they don’t want to push her into another one.
Not to mention, Jocelyn has to learn choreography for the music video to her lead single “World Class Sinner.” Her team decides it is better to tell her after the practice session, as they don’t want her to be in her own head about it. However, during this time, Jocelyn can sense that something is going on. Regardless, she gets through the practice session unscathed before being told of the situation. While the viewer is led to believe that she will be devastated by this scandal, she doesn’t seem to care. She claims that it could have been worse, and her team reluctantly agrees. Moreover, some of her team decides that this is good anyway, as she can now be seen as a victim, and a Feminist icon.
As a way to show the paparazzi that she is unbothered by all of this, Jocelyn and her team go out to a nightclub that same evening. While there, she is introduced to The Weeknd’s character Tedros. Tedros owns the nightclub, and when he sees Jocelyn, he begins to watch her intently from a distance. He is clearly enamored by her and lets the entire club know that she is in the building. Additionally, he asks her to dance, and she agrees without any reluctance. This subsequently leads to a dance montage in which you can see the immediate chemistry between Tedros and Jocelyn. After a long makeout session, the two end up going their separate ways for the night, and the next day begins.
Jocelyn Hates Her Own Music
During the daytime, Jocelyn sits down for an interview with a journalist from Vanity Fair. The journalist asks her questions about the picture, but she refuses to answer. Moreover, she is also asked about her mom who recently passed away. Once again, Jocelyn is able to maneuver around a real answer. This scene eventually fades out and we get a scene in which Jocelyn is getting ready for a date with Tedros. The date is taking place at Jocelyn’s mansion, and she ups the sex appeal again with a red and black lace robe and some high-heels.
When Tedros arrives, he immediately gives off some bizarre vibes. The Weeknd’s portrayal of this character is mysterious, but also downright creepy. For instance, he stuns Jocelyn’s assistant by giving her a kiss on the cheek as he walks in. Subsequently, he and Jocelyn grab a drink at her mini-bar where they discuss music. This is where Jocelyn admits that she hates her own music. She calls it superficial pop that has no substance. However, Tedros disagrees, noting that Prince made pop music and was a legend. Eventually, Jocelyn brings Tedros to her at-home studio and shows “World Class Sinner.”‘
Tedros tells Jocelyn that the song is great, however, she sings it like someone who doesn’t know “how to f***.” It’s a ridiculous and cringe statement that is an indictment of some of the writing here. However, Jocelyn vows to prove this is not the case. This eventually leads to Tedros wrapping Jocelyn’s head in her own robe and cutting a slit in the mouth so she can breathe. The implication here is pretty clear, and then the episode just ends.
Episode 1 of The Idol certainly leaves you feeling like more could have been explained. However, we imagine there will be a lot of ground covered over the coming episodes. As for the criticisms of the show, it’s easy to see where those were coming from. There is a lot of gratuitous sex, and for a lot of people, it may be a bit much. Either way, HBO, Sam Levinson, and The Weeknd are confident they have a hit on their hands, with The Idol. Only time will tell whether or not that’s the case.
In a recent interview, Lily-Rose Depp shared details of what it was like working on the set of her new series alongside The Weeknd, The Idol. While discussing the creative processes of different actors she worked with on the show, she got into The Weeknd’s methods, revealing that she occasionally had to “steer clear” of the artist on set.
“I don’t think anybody went full method — nobody lost their minds,” Depp explained. “Well,” she continued, “sometimes when Abel would get — I don’t want to reveal too much about where Abel’s character goes, but when he would be in full Tedros mode sometimes, I would steer clear of him. I’d be like, ‘He’s in his zone right now.’”
Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye (2R), Lily-Rose Depp, Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson 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)
Depp went on to explain, “For something that does, of course, explore darker themes and has some pretty heavy emotional moments to it and everything, the vibe on set was quite lighthearted.” She says, “We’re all really good friends and we all are similar people and really understand each other. We were having a lot of laughs, listening to a lot of music, dancing around, and that kind of energy is what made the heavier moments easier and possible, because whenever you knew that there was a bigger, emotional scene coming up, you felt like you were surrounded by people that you feel comfortable with, people that have your back, and you feel that in the show.”
The Idol premieres in the U.S. on June 4, and has already managed to stir up some controversy. Some critics noted frequent nudity in the series, while a Rolling Stone piece on the set’s culture featuring one interviewee comparing the script to “sexual torture porn,” also made waves. The piece explored the series’ production, and revealed a “major creative overhaul” that took place after Amy Seimetz left the crew. Accounts detailed a behind-the-scenes “shitshow,” on set. The project still has many supporters, however, including actress Sharon Stone, who said The Idol “addresses the root of crisis in entertainment.”
Ahead of the series premiere of HBO’s The Idol this weekend, the show’s co-creator Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye has given us another taste of the show’s soundtrack. Tonight (June 2), he has shared “Popular” which features Playboi Carti and the original pop idol herself, Madonna.
These days, getting Playboi Carti and Madonna on a track is a task that proves equally difficult, however, The Weeknd, who is considered an idol of his time, managed to make it happen. On “Popular,” The Weeknd, who is likely singing from the perspective of his character, a cult leader named Tedros, alludes to a woman doing whatever it takes to become famous.
Over the course of the song, The Weeknd is likely alluding to Jocelyn, a fictional pop star on The Idol played by Lily-Rose Depp. Carti and Madonna garnish the song with hypnotic ad-libs and harmonies.
The Idol had its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival last weekend, however, the series, which The Weeknd co-created with Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson, was panned by critics, who likened the series to softcore pornography.
Viewers will finally get to see the often-delayed series this Sunday.
The Idol premieres 6/4 at 9 p.m. EST on HBO. Episodes will air weekly on Sundays and be available to stream on Max.
Madonna is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The Weeknd is set to make his television acting debut this weekend as The Idol officially debuts on HBO. Overall, the show has been getting panned by critics. Most of this stems from the fact that there is a lot of sexually explicit material in the show. Additionally, there have been some allegations made regarding some of the behavior on set and behind the scenes. Not to mention, Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson is writing the show, and he is known for stirring up controversy. Needless to say, the show hasn’t even premiered and it is off to a pretty rough start.
However, The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp seem to heavily believe in this new project. During their week at the Cannes Film Festival, the two stars of the show had nothing but good things to say about it. Moreover, there is a soundtrack that goes with this show, and of course, it is being put together by Abel. Sure, the critics may hate it, but those involved are excited, so good for them. Now, a new trailer has touched down today and it certainly turns up to the raunchy meter.
The trailer showcases the relationship between The Weeknd’s character and Depp’s. Abel plays Tedros who is helping pop star Jocelyn reach her full potential. However, their relationship becomes all about sex and drugs, as well as all of the other vices one could imagine. Just like Euphoria, it seems like this show is ramping up the sex. For some, this is just too gratuitous and needs to be toned down. Although, if Sam Levinson has taught us anything, it’s that he doesn’t know how to do that,
For those of you out there who want to watch the show, you will be able to do so as of Sunday, June 4th on HBO. However, watch at your own discretion. This doesn’t look like it is going to be for everyone. Overall, it will be fun to see the Rotten Tomatoes audience scores. Let us know what you think of this trailer, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music and entertainment worlds.
The Idol‘s big debut at Cannes Film Festival last week made one thing abundantly clear – not everyone is a fan of The Weeknd’s first TV series. The Canadian multi-talent stars in the new HBO series alongside 23-year-old Lily-Rose Depp, who’s pulled into the cult-like world of fame and fortune to fulfill her dreams of becoming a massive pop star. The previously released trailers have hinted that plenty of salacious content is in store, and the fact that Euphoria director Sam Levinson is also on board led viewers to go in with an “expect the unexpected” mindset.
Still, it seems many were left upset by the near-constant nude imagery of Depp, whose breasts and bottom are reportedly shown off in every episode. For the most part, the negative reactions have outweighed the positive ones. However, Hollywood icon Sharon Stone’s Instagram Story lit up with praise for The Idol and its leads. “I just watched the first two episodes of @theidol. @lilyrose_depp and Abel (@theweeknd) [are] so sure-footed,” she wrote a few days ago.
“Sam Levinson addresses the root of crisis in entertainment,” the 65-year-old further remarked. “Which comes first, the brilliance? Or the heartache?” Obviously, not everyone agrees with her take. However, seeing as Stone has appeared in projects like Catwoman, The Quick and the Dead, Casino, and the Basic Instinct franchise throughout her career, she certainly knows a thing or two about the industry and its shadow side.
Interestingly enough, it was actually Stone’s Basic Instinct character who Depp drew on for inspiration, as the young starlet told Entertainment Tonight. Rather than directly taking influence from pop stars who already exist, she also looked at figures like Gene Tierney and Lauren Bacalls. HBO’s The Idol is set to premiere next Sunday (June 4). Will you be tuning into The Weeknd’s scandalous new series? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more pop culture/music news updates.
Lily-Rose Depp’s work alongside The Weeknd in The Idol didn’t hit the mark with audiences in France. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old is still adored in the eyes of her latest lover, 070 Shake. The actress confirmed her relationship with the singer via Instagram recently. At the time, she revealed that they’ve spent the past four months getting to know each other. While they didn’t make their red carpet debut during the HBO show’s premiere at Cannes this week, Shake was waiting for her partner at LAX upon her arrival back in the US on Thursday (May 25).
As Page Six reports, the creatives shared a passionate kiss as paparazzi cameras snapped away. Depp was casually dressed for her flight, wearing a cropped white tee with no bra underneath and black sweatpants. She attempted to conceal her identity with a pair of sunglasses. Now that she’s achieved TV star status, however, it’ll be nearly impossible for the blonde beauty to blend in with the crowd. Especially once The Idol makes its world debut in the coming weeks.
Abel ‘The Weeknd’ Tesfaye and Lily-Rose Depp attend “The Idol” photocall on May 23, 2023, in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)
As for the “Nice to Have” hitmaker, born Danielle Balbuena, she wore an oversized denim jacket, also sporting her signature curly hair. Even with the scathing reviews slamming the hypersexualization of Depp’s pop star character, she seems far more focused on the love unfolding in front of her. According to The Hollywood Reporter, there are hardly any scenes “without the camera showing flashes of [Lily’s] breasts or ass.”
“You start to wonder if this is building to anything, and by episode two it seems likely that it’s probably not,” they further noted. Rolling Stone previously shared similar criticisms of the show, but The Weeknd and his co-star didn’t seem bothered by those either. Find photos of Lily-Rose Depp and 070 Shake’s romantic airport reunion here. Will you be tuning into HBO’s The Idol when it premieres later this year? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.
