The Lot is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for two seasons on AMC from 1999 to 2001.[3] It profiled the fictional studio Sylver Screen Pictures during the 1930s and the pursuits of its classic stars (such as Barbara Stanwyck, Greta Garbo and Shirley Temple). The show was not met with popular success but Jeffrey Tambor, Rue McClanahan, Linda Cardellini and Michael York all had notable recurring roles.[4]
The two seasons had two different plotlines. The first season (four episodes) detailed the rise and fall of young starlet June Parker (Linda Cardellini). Cardellini left to star in Freaks and Geeks, forcing a premature end to the first season. The second season (thirteen episodes) revolved around a new main character.
Cast
- Sara Botsford as Norma St. Claire, an aging actress and faded star
- Allen Garfield as Harry Sylver (season 1), owner of Sylver Studios
- Linda Cardellini as June Parker (season 1), a rising starlet
- Steven Petrarca as Charlie Patterson, a young screenwriter
- Stephanie Faracy as Mary Parker, a makeup artist, mother to June, and Norma's friend
- Francois Giroday as Fabian, a closeted designer
- Holland Taylor as Letitia DeVine, a high-powered Hollywood gossip columnist
- Perry Stephens as Jack Sweeney, an unscrupulous studio publicist
- Jonathan Frakes as Roland White, a playboy movie mogul
Episodes
Season 1 (1999)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "It" | Guy Ferland | Rick Mitz | August 19, 1999 |
| 2 | 2 | "Overnight Star" | Guy Ferland | Story by : Rick Mitz & Barbara Romen Teleplay by : Rick Mitz | August 19, 1999 |
| 3 | 3 | "Stardom" | Guy Ferland | Rick Mitz & Barbara Romen | August 20, 1999 |
| 4 | 4 | "Happy Landing" | Guy Ferland | Rick Mitz & Barbara Romen | August 20, 1999 |
Season 2 (2001)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | "A New Mogul in Town" | Doug Wager | Rick Mitz | January 7, 2001 |
| 6 | 2 | "Hooked on Hollywood" | Doug Wager | Susan Rice | January 14, 2001 |
| 7 | 3 | "The Portable Libby Wilson" | Sharon Hall | Steven Peros | January 21, 2001 |
| 8 | 4 | "Detox" | Sharon Hall | Hall Powell & Steven Peros | January 28, 2001 |
| 9 | 5 | "The Accident" | Jonathan Schmock | Colleen O'Dwyer | February 4, 2001 |
| 10 | 6 | "Nebraska Johnston" | Sharon Hall | Lori Lakin | February 11, 2001 |
| 11 | 7 | "Daddy Dearest" | Turi Meyer | Jay Wolpert | February 25, 2001 |
| 12 | 8 | "Stiffed" | Turi Meyer | Jay Wolpert | March 4, 2001 |
| 13 | 9 | "Danny Matthews Takes a Wife" | Doug Wager | Rick Mitz | March 18, 2001 |
| 14 | 10 | "The Mob Scene" | Turi Meyer | Dustin Hughes, Rick Mitz, & Barbara Romen | March 25, 2001 |
| 15 | 11 | "Oscar's Wild" | Sharon Hall | Kim Powers | April 1, 2001 |
| 16 | 12 | "Kids" | Turi Meyer | Rob Dames & Lenny Ripps | April 8, 2001 |
| 17 | 13 | "Property of Silver Screen" | Unknown | Unknown | April 22, 2001 |
Historical references
The characters of Priscilla Tremaine (Rue McClanahan) and Letitia DeVine (Holland Taylor) were based on gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, respectively.[5] A running end-credits gag had Letitia DeVine reporting ironic news items about period stars on her radio show, then insulting them sotto voce when the broadcast was over. Roland White (Jonathan Frakes) is based on millionaire aeronautical engineer and movie mogul Howard Hughes, who was known for his relationships with redheaded Hollywood starlets.[5]
A movie being made by Sylver Studios refers to The Moon Is Blue, a movie famously censored for having Maggie McNamara say the word "virgin" in one of her lines.
Sylver Studios was a stand-in for Samuel Goldwyn Productions. The title The Lot also refers to the famed Pickford-Fairbanks Studios lot in Hollywood, California, which rented out production space to multiple film studios.
Critical reception
Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel called The Lot "an acid satire on the Golden Age of Hollywood" that is "a clever blend of humor and Tinseltown lore".[2] He added, "The Lot has been made with flair and affection, but it also has a clear-eyed view of Hollywood folly, ambition and back-biting. It's like Singin' in the Rain without the music and without the love."[2] Cardellini received praise for her performance as June Parker.[4][1]
In Variety, Ray Richmond wrote, "The fact that 'The Lot' is cartoonishly overacted adds juice to the show’s camp irreverence, whether or not the scenery-chewing is intentional. Regardless, its creator-writer-exec producer Rick Mitz has clear affection for — and a sure grasp of — his subject."[1]
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costume Designers Guild Awards | 2002 | Excellence in Costume Design for Television – Period/Fantasy | Jean-Pierre Dorléac | Nominated | |
| Casting Society of America Awards | 2001 | Best Casting for TV – Comedy Episodic | Deborah Barylski, Pat McCorkle | Nominated | [6] |
| Emmy Awards | 2001 | Outstanding Costumes for a Series | Jean-Pierre Dorléac, Gilberto Mello | Won | [7] |
| Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Michael York | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Hairstyling for a Series | Cheri Ruff, Carl Bailey, Stephen Elsbree | Nominated | |||
| 2000 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series | Holland Taylor | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b c Richmond, Ray (August 19, 1999). "The Lot". Variety. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b c Boedeker, Hal (August 19, 1999). "Stingin' in the Rain". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ King, Susan (January 2, 2001). "Behind the Glamour of 1930s Hollywood in 'The Lot'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Smith, Austin (August 19, 1999). "A 'Lot' Going for This New Series". New York Post. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Pierce, Scott D. (August 19, 1999). "Fact and near-fact combine in AMC's gorgeous 'The Lot' 4-part miniseries re-creates golden age of Hollywood". Deseret News. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "2001 Artios Awards". Casting Society. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "The Lot". Television Academy. Retrieved March 26, 2025.