Comedy

Busy Philipps, co-stars in the series "Girls5eva," which begins its third season next month on Netflix. It's just one of the Tina Fey projects Philipps has premiering this year. She's also in the new movie musical version of the 2004 film "Mean Girls." Busy Philipps spoke with Fresh Air's Ann Marie Baldonado.

Einbinder co-stars with Jean Smart in the HBO Max series Hacks. Her new Max special is Everything Must Go. Einbinder grew up in a comedic household — her mom, Laraine Newman, is an original SNL cast member. Being funny was "the main currency in our home," she says. "It was a love language for sure."

Stand-up comedian, actor and author Michelle Buteau. She stars in the new movie "Babes" alongside her real-life friend, Ilana Glazer. It's a comedy about friends who have grown up together and confide in each other as they take different paths toward motherhood. Michelle Buteau also stars in the semi-autobiographical series "Survival Of The Thickest," which has been picked up for a second season on Netflix.

David Bianculli offers an appreciation of the star of Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show, who died July 18. In 1998, Newhart told Terry Gross that his signature stammer was not an affect.

Paul W. Downs co-created and stars in the HBO Max Series 'Hacks'. The series centers on Deborah Vance (played by Jean Smart), a veteran comedian whose career is waning. In response, Deborah's manager (played by Downs) brings in a Gen-Z comic named Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to help freshen up her act. Along the way, Hacks explores themes of sexism in comedy and the nuances of "cancel culture" — as when some of Deborah's old offensive jokes resurface.

Amer grew up in Kuwait, where he enjoyed a comfortable life — until the first Gulf War forced his family to flee to the U.S. His Netflix show Mo is in its second season. Originally broadcast in 2022.

We celebrate the NBC mockumentary by listening back to archival interviews with Carell, Gervais, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, Mindy Kaling and executive producer Greg Daniels.

As Hacks returns for its fourth season, we listen back to archival interviews with stars Smart and Einbinder, and with series co-star and co-creator Downs. Originally broadcast in 2021 and 2024.

Harrison Ford costars in the series "Shrinking." Seasons 1, 2 and 3 are streaming on Apple TV, and it's been renewed for a fourth season.

In the new sitcom Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson stars as a rookie second grade teacher in an under-resourced, majority Black public elementary school in Philadelphia.

In the Apple TV+ sci-fi drama, now in its second season, Scott plays a man who has a chip implanted in his brain that allows him to sever his work and home lives. Originally broadcast April 6, 2022.

The comic, who plays a rodeo clown in his new FX comedy series, says he is "not creeped out by clowns." Galifianakis is also the creator of the Emmy Award-winning web comedy series Between Two Ferns.