Leila Jordan Berger


Featured Articles

Some of the best of the best.

IndieWire •

‘The Fall’ Oral History: Tarsem and Lee Pace on Making Mischief in Over 20 Countries for an Epic No One Would Touch

What was the first story that captivated you as a child? That’s where “The Fall” starts.


Director Tarsem Singh‘s 2006 fantasy drama tells the story of Alexandria, a little girl who befriends Roy, a 1920s movie stuntman paralyzed in a Los Angeles hospital. He begins to tell her a magical story, all the while trying to manipulate her into getting him drugs to help him end his life. The film takes place partly in that sunny hospital and partly in impossible locations where the story of a group...
Paste Magazine •

The Right to Write: How the Writers Guild of America's Formation Remains Relevant 90 Years Later

“The motion picture industry is and has been in a state of uncertainty and transition.” These are the opening words on the first official union contract for screenwriters, written on April 6, 1933. With that phrase, written 90 years ago, the Screen Writers Guild was formed, the union that would eventually become the Writers Guild of America. When they spoke of “uncertainty and transition,” they referred to an industry quickly evolving with new technologies. The economy was in shambles. The futur
Paste Magazine •

It's All Content: Peak TV's Crash and the New Era of Television

When the term “Peak TV” began to spread, the inevitable was always waiting. If there’s a peak there must be a crash. It’s time to admit we are in that crash. But the Peak TV crash isn’t a decrease in the number of shows, it’s the way these shows inhabit and have transformed TV as a medium. TV has evolved into something much more sinister than abundance: it’s become merely content.

I. The Rise and Fall of Peak TV

Let’s take a step backward. In his paper “Reasons and Effects of the Peak TV Era”
Paste Magazine •

The Kids Aren't Alright: Inside Gen Z's Chaotic Introduction to Live Music

Live music is back! After a year and a half of isolation and virtual concerts, artists from every genre began to tour again in 2021 and now, halfway through 2022 and with festival season in full swing, it almost feels like the Before Times of concert-going. Almost.

A 2021 Billboard analysis found that the post-quarantine concert boom was heavily driven by first-time concert attendees. The demand for concerts and live experiences is greater than ever, with Billboard reporting a 300% increase in
Paste Magazine •

John Mulaney Reinvents His Persona in an Uncomfortably Vulnerable New Show

Who could’ve predicted John Mulaney would have the most tabloid-covered year?

The former SNL writer turned beloved stand-up comedian went through a divorce, a stint in rehab, a highly publicized relationship with actress Olivia Munn, and now has a baby on the way. In the midst of it all he returns with a new stand-up show, the first since the highly acclaimed Kid Gorgeous, titled From Scratch. The title and the poster design, that of Mulaney as a child, promised a more personal set than usual a
Insider •

AI is helping fragrance companies unlock the sensational possibilities of smell

This article is part of " ," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

Smell is perhaps the most powerful human sense. Think about the scent of fresh lavender or an evergreen forest; these might bring you peace or remind you of something unpleasant. Either way, you don't have control over how they affect you.

The connection between smell and emotion has intrigued scientists for decades. Every person experiences scents and feelings differently, which raises the question, why do
Los Angeles Times •

Commentary: 10 years ago, Amazon tried to reinvent TV pilots. Its failure foretold our streaming future

In 2013, Amazon’s fledgling streaming service, Prime Video, had a new form of competition to confront. With Netflix’s international expansion already proceeding at — the platform had that year launched buzzy original series “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black” — streaming entered the realm of “prestige TV” formerly dominated by premium and basic cable. It was no longer just a new technology: It had suddenly become the way for newcomers to challenge media companies that had dominated th
Paste Magazine •

Hollywood Is Going Back to the Assembly Line

The year is 2023 and you want to watch a specific movie. You check all the streaming services you have, a number that has steadily grown over the years. You remember seeing it on HBO Max—sorry, Max—but it’s not there anymore. After scrolling through miles of titles on Netflix you can’t find it there either, although you do learn that there is now an Extraction 2. No luck on Prime Video, nothing on Peacock, and you don’t even bother checking Disney+. But every search just churns up more posters a
Paste Magazine •

The 2024 Emmy Nominations Signal That a New TV Era Is Here

Doesn’t it feel like we just did this? Well, we did. After the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes delayed the 75th Emmys ceremony to this past January, it’s already time to start looking at the nominations for the 76th Emmys that will air this September. And after a strange midseason ceremony, the hope is this awards season will be an evening out of a hectic year for TV.But the 76th Emmys are also serving as a major turning point in the selection of nominations. The strikes acted as a dividing li...
Paste Magazine •

What Even Was Supernatural? 10 Years Ago, “Fan Fiction” Dared to Answer

How do you even begin to tackle Supernatural?The horror TV series about two brothers hunting supernatural creatures that first aired on The WB (which would later become The CW Network) in 2005 grew from a monster-of-the-week romp to a television juggernaut. During its 15 seasons the show witnessed the birth of social media (and later became one of the biggest fandoms on Tumblr, which did not exist when the show aired). Supernatural existed through three different presidential administrations, th...
Paste Magazine •

The Penguin Is Following HBO’s Formula for Prestige TV Success

The strongest sign that The Penguin, the TV spinoff of 2022’s The Batman, would be a good show was when it was announced that the series would switch from Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service Max to become an HBO original series. The decision was likely a combination of the generally confusing identity of Max to the public consumer and the desire to hitch The Penguin onto a brand name that has historically stood for being the peak of premium TV and that launched the Golden Age of modern te...
Paste Magazine •

It Still Stings: Sherlock’s Biggest Cliffhanger Led to Its Downfall

Editor’s Note: TV moves on, but we haven’t. In our feature series It Still Stings, we relive emotional TV moments that we just can’t get over. You know the ones, where months, years, or even decades later, it still provokes a reaction? We’re here for you. We rant because we love. Or, once loved. And obviously, when discussing finales in particular, there will be spoilers:For my 12th birthday, I got a pillowcase. The cover was the design of the walls of a fictional flat, namely 221B Baker Street...
Paste Magazine •

The Rings of Power No Longer Makes Sense for Amazon's Prime Video

In the big sea of streaming services, Amazon’s Prime Video has always felt like the odd one out. Maybe it’s because the streamer exists as just another arm of Jeff Bezos’s empire that also includes the complete transformation of how purchasing anything works, electronic devices, and grocery stores. Prime Video has always been that thing you have, that small tab under the search bar you briefly see before typing in whatever you want delivered to your door in two days.Prime Video began as one of t...
Paste Magazine •

76th Emmys Roundup: A Mixed-Bag Ceremony That Struggled to Look to the Future

Didn’t we just do this?After the 2023 actors and writers strikes delayed the 75th Emmys ceremony to this past January, the show returned to honor the most recent crop of TV shows that graced our multitude of screens. The 75th Emmys had some high highs with its production design and celebration of the medium of TV. It also unfortunately continued the recent trend of clean sweeps with Succession, The Bear, and Beef winning almost every award they were nominated in for the Outstanding Drama, Comedy...
IndieWire •

‘The Fall’ Oral History: Tarsem and Lee Pace on Making Mischief in Over 20 Countries for an Epic No One Would Touch

What was the first story that captivated you as a child? That’s where “The Fall” starts.


Director Tarsem Singh‘s 2006 fantasy drama tells the story of Alexandria, a little girl who befriends Roy, a 1920s movie stuntman paralyzed in a Los Angeles hospital. He begins to tell her a magical story, all the while trying to manipulate her into getting him drugs to help him end his life. The film takes place partly in that sunny hospital and partly in impossible locations where the story of a group...
Business Insider •

Droughts are threatening California's water supply. The state is racing to save what's left.

Despite enduring droughts for much of the past 15 years, California continues to lead the nation in water consumption.During these dry periods, some of the state's local governments began to look for ways to diversify their water supplies away from lengthy pipelines and expensive, out-of-state sources.In 2012, San Francisco's Public Utilities Commission began developing the Onsite Water Reuse Program to investigate whether water reuse, also known as water recycling, in buildings could be a solut...
Paste Magazine •

Every Poker Face Episode, Ranked

Remember when TV shows had individual episodes that told contained stories? While still common on primetime, it’s a foreign phenomenon in the streaming era. That’s what makes Poker Face such a breath of fresh air. The howcatchem mystery show created by Rian Johnson features a case of the week format that gives each episode a tiny glimpse into the complex lives of a whole new group of people in a new place. Nastasha Lyonne shines as a dirtbag Columbo bouncing between odd jobs while utilizing her...
Paste Magazine •

Enjoying Brendan Fraser's Comeback? Thank TV

Sound the alarms, summon the townsfolk, and listen to the joyous news: Brendan Fraser is back. The iconic George of the Jungle and The Mummy franchise actor is once again a leading man in a major film with Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming drama The Whale. Oscar nomination whispers are already in the air, and Fraser has been welcomed back into the film industry with open arms and extremely long standing ovations. And if that’s not enough, Fraser fans will be rewarded again with his appearance in a lit...
Paste Magazine •

The MVP: Antony Starr Makes The Boys Stronger, Smarter, and Better

Editor’s Note: Welcome to The MVP, a column where we celebrate the best performances TV has to offer. Whether it be through heart-wrenching outbursts, powerful looks, or perfectly-timed comedy, TV’s most memorable moments are made by the medium’s greatest players—top-billed or otherwise. Join us as we dive deep on our favorite TV performances, past and present:

When The Boys aired in 2019, Avengers: Endgame was just leaving theaters and it felt like the grip superheroes had over the entertainme...
Paste Magazine •

Puppetry Steals the Show in Eric, So Why Aren’t Puppets in More Media for Adults?

It is a truth that must be universally acknowledged: people love puppets. Puppetry is one of the most endearing artforms in human existence. An artform of overwhelming fondness. They invite us to play pretend, to accept a felted reality and talk to a creature rather than acknowledge a hand.

Most of our collective love of puppets comes from childhood. Especially in the United States, puppetry is a staple of children’s TV. Many people alive today grew up watching puppets in some form, whether it
Paste Magazine •

Hacks Is Showing Us the Future of Gen Z Comedy

There always has to be a show on TV making fun of TV shows, and in our current moment that responsibility falls on Hacks. The Max comedy presently finishing its third season is the latest in a lineage of great skewerings like 30 Rock and most recently The Other Two that understand all the absurdity of contemporary entertainment.

But Hacks’ greatest addition to the genre is its decision to center the impact of the latest demographic influencing entertainment: Gen Z. Hacks’ Gen Z characters aren’
Insider •

Educating workplaces about AI will lead to better outcomes, say business leaders

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Artificial intelligence is virtually everywhere now. Companies are recognizing that they need to adopt the technology in their businesses, but given all the possibilities it offers, it's hard to know where to start.

During Business Insider's virtual event "Human-AI Collaboration: The Key to Workplace Ef
Insider •

Brands aren't hurt by advertising on hard news, a new report finds

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Editor's Note, 5/17/24: Business Insider maintains a high bar around covering ourselves d
Insider •

Waste-management facilities are using AI to turn trash into recycled treasure

• Millions of recyclable materials are put into incorrect waste streams every year.
• The UK startup Greyparrot uses AI to help mitigate environmental harm from improper waste disposal.
• This article is part of "Build IT," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

The proverbial "reduce, reuse, and recycle" approach to waste disposal is easier said than done. In the past few decades, global conservation initiatives have tried to promote an eco-friendlier attitude toward recycl
Insider •

AI has entered the workplace. 3 industry leaders discuss how businesses can embrace it.

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Artificial intelligence has become a centerpiece of conversation in almost every industry. As the new technology accelerates in skill and ubiquity, business leaders are racing to figure out what the relationship between workers and AI will look like in years to come.

Business Insider's virtual event "Hu
Insider •

I got severe acne after falling sick from appendicitis. The experience inspired me to start a plant-based-skincare company.

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Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jenny Evans, a facialist and busine
Insider •

While some companies are cutting the CMO role, Gen Z marketers still strive for the top job

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Marketing is going through a very visible transition. The CMO role at several companies,
Insider •

Passion and purpose inspire Brazilian chefs to serve authentic cuisines like the Carnival-favorite dishes feijoada and coxinha

• Chefs say Rio de Janeiro's culinary scene is popular at Carnival but deserves recognition year-round.
• The Brazilian chefs Leticia Schwartz and Luiza Souza shared their favorite dishes, including feijoada.
• This article is part of "Festivals of Flavor," a series celebrating Latin festival cuisines.

Leticia Schwartz, a Rio de Janeiro-born chef, has spent most of her career on a mission.

Her calling, she told Business Insider, is "to put Brazilian cuisine on the map." This inspired her to t
Paste Magazine •

The Regime Finale: The End of the HBO Miniseries and Its Sunday Night Reign

Are there any time slots more coveted on television than HBO’s Sunday night?

Ever since the premiere of The Sopranos 25 years ago, an HBO Sunday show meant you were going to be seeing the best of the best. It was the destination of must-watch prestige TV, from The Wire to Game of Thrones to Succession. Sunday night could make a show a success, seen most evidently with Chernobyl, the historical miniseries that took over the slot from Game of Thrones after its final season and became a surprising
Insider •

AI is helping fragrance companies unlock the sensational possibilities of smell

This article is part of " ," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

Smell is perhaps the most powerful human sense. Think about the scent of fresh lavender or an evergreen forest; these might bring you peace or remind you of something unpleasant. Either way, you don't have control over how they affect you.

The connection between smell and emotion has intrigued scientists for decades. Every person experiences scents and feelings differently, which raises the question, why do
Paste Magazine •

3 Body Problem Is the Consequence of a Post-Game of Thrones TV Landscape

There is a universal truth of the current state of television: Game of Thrones changed everything. The HBO series premiered in 2011 to a very different TV landscape. While expensive TV had been attempted before—especially at HBO, who paid record-breaking bills for series like Rome and Band of Brothers—there was nothing that had reached the same scale of expense and success before. Television, long the medium of small budgets and succinct ideas, was now open to the blockbuster model.

After such
Insider •

Emergency dispatchers are using AI and cloud-based tools to help those in need faster

• Emergency-response centers are using AI to improve and streamline services like live translation.
• Better tech could help workers prioritize calls, avoid logistical issues, and catch crucial details.
• This article is part of "Build IT," a series about digital tech trends disrupting industries.

Raquel Lewandowski has been working as a call taker at a call center in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for nearly 30 years.

In that time, she's seen technology modernize emergency-response services
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