Jen Chaney
@jenchaney.bsky.social
Current: TV and film critic free agent. Former: Vulture, WashPost. Prev bylines: NYT, Vanity Fair, others. Literally wrote the book on Clueless.
Olivia Dean is awesome.
November 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Olivia Dean is awesome.
I just watched John Travolta, as Santa Claus, perform "Greased Lightning" in a Capital One commercial, and I will never be the same.
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I just watched John Travolta, as Santa Claus, perform "Greased Lightning" in a Capital One commercial, and I will never be the same.
You'd think that slathering a dead bird with a mayonnaise-herb spread would be sexy. But it's really not.
November 27, 2025 at 6:04 PM
You'd think that slathering a dead bird with a mayonnaise-herb spread would be sexy. But it's really not.
STRANGER THINGS 5 VOLUME 1 is out now. Here's my non-spoilery review/commentary on the nature of the show's cross-generational appeal.
www.tvguide.com/news/strange...
www.tvguide.com/news/strange...
Stranger Things 5 Confirms the Show's Status as a Cross-Generational All-Timer
Nothing brings people together like the Upside Down
www.tvguide.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:21 AM
STRANGER THINGS 5 VOLUME 1 is out now. Here's my non-spoilery review/commentary on the nature of the show's cross-generational appeal.
www.tvguide.com/news/strange...
www.tvguide.com/news/strange...
I try to do this with other writers, and it means so much when I occasionally receive a kind word from a reader or fellow journalist. Last year, I got an email from the sister of the victim in a murder case back in the '90s, a story I covered when I was a baby reporter. (1/2)
If you like a writer's work, tell them! Email, LinkedIn message, DM, even in person at an event. It can make a huge difference in their lives, especially right now with declining freelance budgets, layoffs, stagnant salaries, the threat of AI, and dwindling book advances.
November 26, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I try to do this with other writers, and it means so much when I occasionally receive a kind word from a reader or fellow journalist. Last year, I got an email from the sister of the victim in a murder case back in the '90s, a story I covered when I was a baby reporter. (1/2)
Went on NPR's 1A yesterday to discuss movies to watch over Thanksgiving, in theaters and at home. I also did pretty well at holiday movie trivia!
the1a.org/segments/the...
the1a.org/segments/the...
The perfect Thanksgiving 2025 movies
If you’re anything like Charlie Brown, you might feel like the holidays come around faster every year.
the1a.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Went on NPR's 1A yesterday to discuss movies to watch over Thanksgiving, in theaters and at home. I also did pretty well at holiday movie trivia!
the1a.org/segments/the...
the1a.org/segments/the...
The fact that Timothee Chalamet's "pursuit of greatness" SAG speech last year was really just him in character as Marty Supreme.
a man and a woman are sitting at a table and laughing
ALT: a man and a woman are sitting at a table and laughing
media.tenor.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:11 AM
The fact that Timothee Chalamet's "pursuit of greatness" SAG speech last year was really just him in character as Marty Supreme.
There are few things you can count on in this world. But you can count on this: I will never, ever skip the title sequence of any STRANGER THINGS episode.
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
There are few things you can count on in this world. But you can count on this: I will never, ever skip the title sequence of any STRANGER THINGS episode.
Preach, Olivia! I also got locked out of tickets in three separate pre-sale attempts.
www.vulture.com/article/oliv...
www.vulture.com/article/oliv...
Olivia Dean Calls Out ‘Vile’ Ticketmaster Prices
“Live music should be affordable and accessible and we need to find a new way of making that possible.”
www.vulture.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Preach, Olivia! I also got locked out of tickets in three separate pre-sale attempts.
www.vulture.com/article/oliv...
www.vulture.com/article/oliv...
I literally just told a friend that Zohran must have cast a spell on Trump and, also, this meeting was a backdoor cross-promotion for WICKED: FOR GOOD.
Not only has he never looked at Don Jr. or Eric like this, he’s never been so happy to bask in JD Vance’s presence either.
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
the son he always wanted
November 21, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I literally just told a friend that Zohran must have cast a spell on Trump and, also, this meeting was a backdoor cross-promotion for WICKED: FOR GOOD.
This is a very fun documentary about LOST and its fandom, and I swear I am not just saying that because I am in it.
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is a very fun documentary about LOST and its fandom, and I swear I am not just saying that because I am in it.
Okay, but seriously: WHERE IS IT?
[Me, calmly logging onto the Internet]
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
November 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Okay, but seriously: WHERE IS IT?
On a similar note, I'm so grateful that I worked at community newspapers right out of college. I learned so goddamned much from that and those opportunities essentially don't exist anymore.
Ugh. So fucking awful.
My first job in journalism was as a copy editor, and I truly believe it taught me as much about journalism — on the copy desk in Warren, Ohio — as anything else I’ve learned since.
My first job in journalism was as a copy editor, and I truly believe it taught me as much about journalism — on the copy desk in Warren, Ohio — as anything else I’ve learned since.
Stop laying off copy editors and then complaining about errors and lack of reader trust challenge
November 20, 2025 at 6:14 AM
On a similar note, I'm so grateful that I worked at community newspapers right out of college. I learned so goddamned much from that and those opportunities essentially don't exist anymore.
I feel like we should talk more about how the intro to Lily Allen's "Pussy Palace" sounds so much like the STRANGER THINGS theme, and also how fucking awesome that is.
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I feel like we should talk more about how the intro to Lily Allen's "Pussy Palace" sounds so much like the STRANGER THINGS theme, and also how fucking awesome that is.
Reposted by Jen Chaney
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
[Me, calmly logging onto the Internet]
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
November 18, 2025 at 5:18 PM
[Me, calmly logging onto the Internet]
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
HAS PART 2 DROPPED YET?
Look, I already know I'm going to hell so I may as well enjoy this current rap battle of bad metaphors to explain affairs with political sources.
November 18, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Look, I already know I'm going to hell so I may as well enjoy this current rap battle of bad metaphors to explain affairs with political sources.
The brutality in this industry continues...
Today, Paste Magazine shuttered all its non-music verticals, a choice I am both professionally and personally heartbroken about. Sadly, I am once again looking for a place that wants to let me write about Books and TV on the regular, so hit me up if that’s you or anyone you know.
November 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The brutality in this industry continues...
I think it's inspiring how the Commanders keep inventing new ways to blow games. American innovation at its finest.
November 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I think it's inspiring how the Commanders keep inventing new ways to blow games. American innovation at its finest.
That was a reeeeeally short Weekend Update. Guess there's just not enough weird news these days!
November 16, 2025 at 5:31 AM
That was a reeeeeally short Weekend Update. Guess there's just not enough weird news these days!
I am a HUGE Olivia Dean fan and so happy to see her on SNL.
November 16, 2025 at 5:19 AM
I am a HUGE Olivia Dean fan and so happy to see her on SNL.
I swear to God, if these announcers don't stop saying that William & Mary's men's basketball team has never been in the NCAA tournament, I'm going to lose what little remains of my mind.
November 15, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I swear to God, if these announcers don't stop saying that William & Mary's men's basketball team has never been in the NCAA tournament, I'm going to lose what little remains of my mind.
I'm listening....
Synopsis: THE SHUFFLE chronicles the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears’ iconic rap music video that became a cultural phenomenon enroute to the team’s storied Super Bowl XX championship.
Synopsis: THE SHUFFLE chronicles the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears’ iconic rap music video that became a cultural phenomenon enroute to the team’s storied Super Bowl XX championship.
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I'm listening....
Synopsis: THE SHUFFLE chronicles the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears’ iconic rap music video that became a cultural phenomenon enroute to the team’s storied Super Bowl XX championship.
Synopsis: THE SHUFFLE chronicles the making of the 1985 Chicago Bears’ iconic rap music video that became a cultural phenomenon enroute to the team’s storied Super Bowl XX championship.
Reposted by Jen Chaney
Yessss. I can finally watch this in the highest possible definition!
November 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Yessss. I can finally watch this in the highest possible definition!