Critics’ Cult Classics: Emily Nussbaum on “Slings & Arrows”
Summary
In this episode of Critics at Large, host Alex Barish interviews New Yorker TV critic Emily Nussbaum about her favorite cult classic, the Canadian series Slings and Arrows. Nussbaum discusses the show’s unique blend of comedy and drama, its exploration of the tensions between artistic integrity and economic survival in theater, and its pioneering tone. They also touch on the current state of television, comparing the fragility of modern streaming to the ephemeral nature of live performance.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: Progressive, Hero Foods, and Monarch
Intro: Critics at Large and guest Emily Nussbaum
Introducing Slings and Arrows and its creators
Why Slings and Arrows is a cult classic favorite
Plot summary: Oliver Wells, Jeffrey Tennant, and Hamlet
Shakespeare's relevance and the Ophelia scene
Mental instability, art, and the show's reception
Comparison to 30 Rock and Orange is the New Black
Theater vs. Television and Call My Agent
Economic struggles in theater and the final season
The ephemeral nature of theater and rewatching
Outro and credits
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