ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY AND AWARD NEWS  AUGUST 29, 2019 Why Hollywood Is Obsessed With Ping-Pong Ping-Pong has become the new poker—at least in Hollywood, says TV writer John Lopez. Why? At least in part, it’s because the game—a humble pursuit historically associated more with grandma’s basement than gritty-glamorous backrooms and hotel suites—is “less hedonistic escape than work therapy for an industry running its dream factory at full tilt. The edgiest thing about Hollywood Ping-Pong is probably the existence of a secret, guests-only table at the Chateau Marmont—which in turn is probably the tamest thing about the Chateau Marmont.” In his amusing rundown of the TV industry’s new favorite pastime, Lopez chats with the likes of Bryan Cranston about how Ping-Pong gently whiffed its way into the heart of Tinseltown, and takes us inside pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s starry Ping Pong 4 Purpose fund-raiser, held annually at Dodger Stadium—an event that has attracted celebrities like Will Ferrell, Jason Bateman, and Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. Elsewhere in HWD, Luke Kirby opens up about playing Lenny Bruce in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Joanna Robinson catches up with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne, stars of the splashy new Amazon fantasy Carnival Row; Yohana Desta ponders Leslie Jones’s post–Saturday Night Live legacy; and Joy Press digs into the question of why American TV producers just can’t resist adapting Israeli formats.

It’s a Hit From writers rooms and studio lots to Dodger Stadium, the humble game of table tennis is taking the City of Angels by storm. One paddle-crazed TV writer explores the phenomenon—and tests his skills against the best. READ MORE » Heeeeere’s Lenny Emmy-nominated Marvelous Mrs. Maisel guest star Luke Kirby joins this week’s Little Gold Men podcast to talk about his utterly unique—but also very accurate—portrayal of the legendary Lenny Bruce. READ MORE » Faerie Tale Cara Delevingne and Orlando Bloom on their new Amazon series, Carnival Row, about a refugee faerie who is embroiled in a mysterious, Jack the Ripper–like plot. READ MORE » Keeping Up With Leslie Jones The larger-than-life performer is exiting Saturday Night Liveafter five years. How will her tenure be remembered? READ MORE » Land of Milk and TV Shows From Homeland to Euphoria to Sacha Baron Cohen’s new Netflix series, American TV can’t stop adapting inventive Israeli formats. READ MORE »