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Alan Sepinwall

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31: 272:, where he began writing television reviews during his sophomore year in 1993. Sepinwall was later critical of his writings from this period, describing it as full of "misspellings, bad grammar and, even worse, observations that make me cringe". 390:, Sepinwall left the newspaper in 2010 for a job at the entertainment journalism website HitFix, where he would review as many as 15 television shows each week. On that site, he also did a podcast with television critic Dan Fienberg called 227:
said Sepinwall "changed the nature of television criticism" and called him the "acknowledged king of the form" with regard to weekly episode recaps and reviews. Sepinwall and television critic Dan Fienberg hosted a podcast at HitFix called
1268:, September 17, 2017. Accessed December 25, 2022. "The College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains welcomes Scotch Plains resident Alan Sepinwall for the program at its Oct. 23 meeting. The title of his presentation is 397:
In 2010, Slate.com writer Josh Levin said Sepinwall "changed the nature of television criticism" and called him the "acknowledged king of the form" with regard to weekly episode recaps and reviews.
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as "a new form" that combined episode recaps with analyses of the show's subtexts and hidden meanings. Sepinwall has said his writing style was partially inspired by newsgroup reviews of
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on the website "All TV". Around that time, he also began maintaining his own private blog, "What's Alan Watching", in which he posted reviews and interacted directly with readers.
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partially credited Sepinwall for the show's revival, which reportedly helped increase Sepinwall's prestige. Sepinwall has been a particularly strong advocate for such shows as
543:, of which Sepinwall was a strong proponent, he wrote an open letter to NBC executives urging them to renew the show and encouraging them to seek revenue by expanding existing 951: 1233: 1140: 984: 802: 834: 417:, a show which he strongly praised. He later wrote that, in hindsight, he regretted appearing on the show due to "the extreme blurring of the line it caused". 1257: 1046: 537:
gave Sepinwall the sole interview he granted to any journalist at the end of the show. In 2009, when NBC was contemplating canceling the action-comedy
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and cop shows in general, and concluding that shows in the police drama genre had to massively change in the new reality, or no longer be made at all.
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writer Steve Heisler called Sepinwall "an inspiration to TV critics throughout the country". Sepinwall made a cameo appearance as an extra in an
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which he had never seen. The review, in which Sepinwall detailed what a complete disaster and bad idea the special was, was later published in
1412: 1016: 1407: 1397: 1382: 1102: 1068: 862: 1163: 232:, in which they discussed and reviewed television until October 2015. During his time at Uproxx, Sepinwall hosted a podcast called 1359: 772: 941: 1223: 245: 1387: 1128: 974: 824: 794: 1422: 360:
television episodes written by Timothy W. Lynch, as well as the episode recaps and discussions generated on the website
738: 719: 700: 677: 648: 625: 602: 337: 1254: 918: 1042: 281: 154:(born October 19, 1973) is an American television reviewer and writer. He spent 14 years as a columnist with 1377: 404: 449: 269: 190: 59: 1190: 580: 456: 669: 516: 257: 1364:'Self-published book makes New York Times books of the year list,' Alison Flood, 19 December 2012 361: 1392: 867: 309: 261: 1012: 553: 413: 1334: 1098: 872: 1417: 265: 8: 829: 614: 308:, I wouldn't have the career or the life that I currently do". However, after the 2020 301: 253: 161: 1295: 762: 734: 715: 696: 673: 659: 644: 621: 598: 544: 539: 213: 547:
marketing deals. The show was ultimately renewed, and NBC Entertainment co-chairman
294:. Those reviews helped lead Sepinwall to begin a career in television journalism at 256:, and his mother, Harriet, is a former professor of social studies education at the 640: 291: 224: 1261: 979: 296: 174:, where he worked for two years. Since 2018, he has been the chief TV critic for 156: 98: 512: 492: 164:
until leaving the newspaper in 2010 to work for the entertainment news website
1371: 1228: 1164:"'Community' - 'The Psychology of Letting Go': You just broke my force field" 1136: 1072: 946: 767: 548: 502: 463: 440: 399: 314: 218: 176: 122: 692: 529: 507: 350: 199: 1347: 534: 482: 438:
In May 2018, Sepinwall announced he was leaving Uproxx and was moving to
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granted his sole interview to Sepinwall. In 2009, Sepinwall openly urged
204: 30: 1224:"Revisiting the Horror Show That Was 1978's 'Star Wars Holiday Special'" 942:"A History of Violence: Why I Loved Cop Shows, and Why They Must Change" 665:
TV (The Book): Two Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time
559: 527:, which was published and released in 2004. In 2007, immediately after 345: 249: 913: 364:. Around 2005, in addition to his newspaper columns, Sepinwall began 356: 341: 286: 185: 908: 497: 477: 264:. Sepinwall attended Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in 1321: 1289: 709: 657: 487: 312:
by a Minneapolis police officer, Sepinwall wrote a long piece in
1129:"Rightfully adored TV critic Alan Sepinwall leaves New Jersey's 1308: 1195: 421: 170: 165: 114: 106: 710:
Sepinwall, Alan & Seitz, Matt Zoller (January 8, 2019).
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described Sepinwall's week-to-week, post-episode reviews of
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sarcastically credited Sepinwall for the show's revival.
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Sepinwall began writing about television with reviews of
424:. From 2017 to 2018, Sepinwall hosted a podcast called 336:'s television columnist in 1996. He is a member of the 1069:"The Star-Ledger's Alan Sepinwall Moves to HitFix.Com" 1255:"The College Club welcomes Alan Sepinwall on Oct. 23" 475:
Sepinwall has interviewed such television figures as
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In the 1990s, Sepinwall was a particular fan of the
613: 428:with fellow Uproxx television critic Brian Grubb. 689:Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion 447:As a stretch goal for charity fundraising during 16:American television critic and writer (born 1973) 1369: 1191:"Programming Note: Alan Sepinwall Is Moving On" 1036: 1034: 728: 686: 634: 611: 592: 1122: 1120: 1043:"In which I talk about Slate talking about me" 1006: 1004: 1002: 525:Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love The O.C. 1031: 856: 854: 852: 595:Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love The O.C 1117: 999: 902: 900: 898: 896: 894: 892: 890: 239: 236:with fellow television critic Brian Grubb. 825:"Paid Notice: Deaths SEPINWALL, DR. JERRY" 29: 1221: 1188: 1161: 1040: 972: 939: 849: 795:"Chuck: An open letter to NBC to save it" 792: 1010: 887: 1126: 1370: 975:"Best of the '00s in TV: Introduction" 860: 1403:People from Scotch Plains, New Jersey 1222:Sepinwall, Alan (December 30, 2020). 1041:Sepinwall, Alan (February 14, 2011). 1019:from the original on December 2, 2016 973:Sepinwall, Alan (December 21, 2009). 906: 731:Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History 729:Sepinwall, Alan (November 28, 2023). 612:Sepinwall, Alan (November 21, 2012). 420:In 2016, Sepinwall began writing for 217:, and NBC Entertainment co-president 1304:, Sepinwall's Rolling Stone articles 805:from the original on 19 October 2016 687:Sepinwall, Alan (October 10, 2017). 375: 1413:Jewish American non-fiction writers 1162:Sepinwall, Alan (October 7, 2010). 1011:Fienberg, Daniel (April 26, 2010). 837:from the original on March 30, 2014 583:, with his wife, daughter and son. 318:detailing his mixed feelings about 304:; in 2004, Sepinwall said "without 13: 1343:, Sepinwall and Fienberg's podcast 1170:from the original on June 26, 2018 1105:from the original on June 26, 2018 1049:from the original on June 26, 2018 861:Kaplan, Ron (September 11, 2008). 586: 325: 211:to renew the action-comedy series 14: 1434: 1408:University of Pennsylvania alumni 1398:People from Montville, New Jersey 1383:American male non-fiction writers 1279: 1203:from the original on May 20, 2020 1143:from the original on 23 June 2011 1127:Heisler, Steve (April 26, 2010). 987:from the original on May 31, 2011 940:Sepinwall, Alan (9 August 2020). 921:from the original on 29 June 2011 907:Levin, Josh (February 14, 2011). 793:Sepinwall, Alan (20 April 2009). 593:Sepinwall, Alan (July 27, 2004). 515:. He also wrote a book about the 290:and wrote reviews of the show on 137:6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 1296:"Alan Sepinwall - Rolling Stone" 1189:Sepinwall, Alan (May 30, 2018). 1099:"Firewall & Iceberg Podcast" 1079:from the original on 8 July 2011 1013:"HitFix welcomes Alan Sepinwall" 954:from the original on 18 May 2022 763:"Alan Sepinwall - Rolling Stone" 635:Sepinwall, Alan (May 21, 2013). 574: 431: 1356:, Sepinwall and Grubb's podcast 1248: 1236:from the original on 2020-12-30 1215: 1182: 1155: 1091: 1061: 775:from the original on 2019-07-11 966: 933: 817: 786: 755: 338:Television Critics Association 1: 748: 470: 457:The Star Wars Holiday Special 197:. In 2007, immediately after 637:The Revolution Was Televised 616:The Revolution Was Televised 7: 1388:American television critics 1330:, Sepinwall's older writing 454:Sepinwall agreed to review 332:Sepinwall began working as 252:. His father, Jerry, was a 10: 1439: 1423:21st-century American Jews 450:The George Lucas Talk Show 270:University of Pennsylvania 193:, which led to his job at 191:University of Pennsylvania 60:University of Pennsylvania 1317:, Sepinwall's Uproxx blog 581:Scotch Plains, New Jersey 275: 141: 133: 90: 82: 65: 55: 37: 28: 21: 1335:"Firewall & Iceberg" 863:"They pay you for this?" 670:Grand Central Publishing 258:College of St. Elizabeth 240:Early life and education 1322:"What's Alan Watching?" 1309:"What's Alan Watching?" 362:Television Without Pity 868:New Jersey Jewish News 658:Sepinwall, Alan & 533:ended, series creator 392:Firewall & Iceberg 310:murder of George Floyd 262:Morristown, New Jersey 230:Firewall & Iceberg 203:ended, series creator 1270:What's Alan Watching? 712:The Sopranos Sessions 662:(September 6, 2016). 244:Sepinwall grew up in 597:. Chamberlain Bros. 386:After 14 years with 268:. He studied at the 266:Caldwell, New Jersey 254:psychopharmacologist 189:while attending the 168:. He then wrote for 1378:American columnists 579:Sepinwall lives in 72:Television reviewer 1266:Community Bulletin 1260:2022-12-26 at the 1075:. April 26, 2010. 833:. August 6, 1998. 830:The New York Times 660:Seitz, Matt Zoller 620:. Self published. 519:teen drama series 733:. Mariner Books. 545:product placement 292:Usenet newsgroups 149: 148: 83:Years active 1430: 1355: 1342: 1329: 1316: 1303: 1300:rollingstone.com 1273: 1252: 1246: 1245: 1243: 1241: 1219: 1213: 1212: 1210: 1208: 1186: 1180: 1179: 1177: 1175: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1150: 1148: 1124: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1101:. HitFix. 2011. 1095: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1084: 1065: 1059: 1058: 1056: 1054: 1038: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1024: 1008: 997: 996: 994: 992: 970: 964: 963: 961: 959: 937: 931: 930: 928: 926: 904: 885: 884: 882: 880: 871:. Archived from 858: 847: 846: 844: 842: 821: 815: 814: 812: 810: 790: 784: 783: 781: 780: 759: 744: 725: 714:. Abrams Books. 706: 683: 654: 641:Touchstone Books 631: 619: 608: 51: 48:October 19, 1973 47: 45: 33: 19: 18: 1438: 1437: 1433: 1432: 1431: 1429: 1428: 1427: 1368: 1367: 1346: 1333: 1320: 1307: 1294: 1282: 1277: 1276: 1262:Wayback Machine 1253: 1249: 1239: 1237: 1220: 1216: 1206: 1204: 1187: 1183: 1173: 1171: 1160: 1156: 1146: 1144: 1133:for HitFix.com" 1131:The Star-Ledger 1125: 1118: 1108: 1106: 1097: 1096: 1092: 1082: 1080: 1067: 1066: 1062: 1052: 1050: 1039: 1032: 1022: 1020: 1009: 1000: 990: 988: 980:The Star-Ledger 971: 967: 957: 955: 938: 934: 924: 922: 905: 888: 878: 876: 859: 850: 840: 838: 823: 822: 818: 808: 806: 791: 787: 778: 776: 761: 760: 756: 751: 741: 722: 703: 680: 651: 628: 605: 589: 587:Published works 577: 473: 436: 388:The Star-Ledger 384: 370:The Star-Ledger 334:The Star-Ledger 330: 327:The Star-Ledger 297:The Star-Ledger 278: 242: 195:The Star-Ledger 157:The Star-Ledger 129: 99:The Star Ledger 78: 56:Alma mater 49: 43: 41: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1436: 1426: 1425: 1420: 1415: 1410: 1405: 1400: 1395: 1390: 1385: 1380: 1366: 1365: 1357: 1348:"TV Avalanche" 1344: 1331: 1318: 1305: 1292: 1286:Alan Sepinwall 1281: 1280:External links 1278: 1275: 1274: 1247: 1214: 1181: 1154: 1116: 1090: 1060: 1030: 998: 965: 932: 909:"The TV Guide" 886: 848: 816: 785: 753: 752: 750: 747: 746: 745: 740:978-0063342798 739: 726: 721:978-1419734946 720: 707: 702:978-1419724831 701: 684: 679:978-1455588190 678: 655: 650:978-1476739670 649: 632: 627:978-0615718293 626: 609: 603: 588: 585: 576: 573: 513:Vince Gilligan 493:Matthew Weiner 472: 469: 435: 430: 383: 374: 329: 324: 277: 274: 241: 238: 152:Alan Sepinwall 147: 146: 143: 139: 138: 135: 131: 130: 128: 127: 126:(2018–present) 119: 111: 103: 94: 92: 88: 87: 84: 80: 79: 77: 76: 73: 69: 67: 63: 62: 57: 53: 52: 39: 35: 34: 26: 25: 23:Alan Sepinwall 22: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1435: 1424: 1421: 1419: 1416: 1414: 1411: 1409: 1406: 1404: 1401: 1399: 1396: 1394: 1393:Living people 1391: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1381: 1379: 1376: 1375: 1373: 1363: 1362: 1358: 1353: 1349: 1345: 1340: 1336: 1332: 1327: 1323: 1319: 1314: 1310: 1306: 1301: 1297: 1293: 1291: 1287: 1284: 1283: 1271: 1267: 1263: 1259: 1256: 1251: 1235: 1231: 1230: 1229:Rolling Stone 1225: 1218: 1202: 1198: 1197: 1192: 1185: 1169: 1165: 1158: 1142: 1138: 1137:The A.V. Club 1134: 1132: 1123: 1121: 1104: 1100: 1094: 1078: 1074: 1073:Business Wire 1070: 1064: 1048: 1044: 1037: 1035: 1018: 1014: 1007: 1005: 1003: 986: 982: 981: 976: 969: 953: 949: 948: 947:Rolling Stone 943: 936: 920: 916: 915: 910: 903: 901: 899: 897: 895: 893: 891: 875:on 2011-09-27 874: 870: 869: 864: 857: 855: 853: 836: 832: 831: 826: 820: 804: 800: 796: 789: 774: 770: 769: 768:Rolling Stone 764: 758: 754: 742: 736: 732: 727: 723: 717: 713: 708: 704: 698: 694: 690: 685: 681: 675: 671: 667: 666: 661: 656: 652: 646: 642: 638: 633: 629: 623: 618: 617: 610: 606: 600: 596: 591: 590: 584: 582: 575:Personal life 572: 570: 566: 562: 561: 556: 555: 550: 549:Ben Silverman 546: 542: 541: 536: 532: 531: 526: 522: 518: 514: 510: 509: 504: 503:Josh Schwartz 500: 499: 494: 490: 489: 484: 480: 479: 468: 466: 465: 464:Rolling Stone 460: 458: 453: 451: 445: 443: 442: 441:Rolling Stone 434: 433:Rolling Stone 429: 427: 423: 418: 416: 415: 410: 406: 402: 401: 400:The A.V. 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Index


University of Pennsylvania
The Star Ledger
HitFix
Uproxx
Rolling Stone
The Star-Ledger
Newark
HitFix
Uproxx
Rolling Stone
NYPD Blue
University of Pennsylvania
The Sopranos
David Chase
NBC
Chuck
Ben Silverman
Slate.com
Pine Brook
New Jersey
psychopharmacologist
College of St. Elizabeth
Morristown, New Jersey
Caldwell, New Jersey
University of Pennsylvania
ABC
NYPD Blue
Usenet newsgroups
The Star-Ledger

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