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Julia (2022 TV series)

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Julia
GenreBiographical drama[1]
Created byDaniel Goldfarb
Starring
Theme music composerJeff Danna
ComposerJeff Danna
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
Running time43–49 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO Max
ReleaseMarch 31 (2022-03-31) –
May 5, 2022 (2022-05-05)
NetworkMax
ReleaseNovember 16 (2023-11-16) –
December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21)

Julia is an American comedy drama television series created by Daniel Goldfarb that premiered on HBO Max on March 31, 2022. It is based on the life of Julia Child in 1960s Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the production of her television cooking show The French Chef. In May 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 16, 2023. In January 2024, the series was canceled after two seasons.

Cast and characters

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Main

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Recurring

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Guest

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Season 1

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Season 2

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Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
18March 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)May 5, 2022 (2022-05-05)HBO Max
28November 16, 2023 (2023-11-16)December 21, 2023 (2023-12-21)Max

Season 1 (2022)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Omelette"Charles McDougallDaniel GoldfarbMarch 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)
In Oslo in 1961, cookbook author Julia Child and her husband Paul celebrate publishing company Knopf's offer to publish her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. One year later, the two live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Julia prepares to appear on a literary program on public television station WGBH-TV to promote her book. While doing her makeup, Julia meets associate producer Alice Naman, who had the idea to invite her as a guest. During the show, host Albert Duhamel is condescending toward Julia, but instead of discussing her book, Julia cooks an omelette onscreen. Julia and Paul go to dinner with their friend Avis DeVoto, who shames Paul after learning he did not watch the program. Julia's doctor informs her she is experiencing menopause. The next day, Julia sends Alice a letter proposing the idea of her hosting a cooking show. The male producers reject the idea, even though the station has received 27 letters from viewers wanting to see more of Julia. Alice delivers the news, but Julia offers to pay for a pilot episode, to which the station agrees. Paul is skeptical of the project, so Julia invites her editor Judith Jones to dinner, who convinces Paul to come around.
22"Coq au Vin"Charles McDougallDaniel GoldfarbMarch 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)
Julia attempts to win over WGBH producer and director Russ Morash, who considers cooking to be beneath his intellectual ideals for public television. Judith puts her editorial work with novelist John Updike on hold to travel to Cambridge, where she helps Julia develop the pilot episode with the help of Paul, Avis, and Alice. At the pilot taping of The French Chef Julia prepares coq au vin but must contend with nerves, an unfamiliar kitchen set, and production mishaps which leave her despondent, believing that the taping was a disaster. As the pilot is broadcast, everyone involved expects it to be a failure.
33"Boeuf Bourguignon"Melanie MayronEboni BoothMarch 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)
After the pilot broadcast, WGBH president Hunter Fox advocates for Julia's show, but the station lacks funding. Julia offers to pay for the show's food and crew expenses, raising money by hosting cooking classes in her home. Paul helps build the set based on Julia's home kitchen which he designed. Julia's friend Dorothy Zinberg and Avis volunteer to help with the show. As the first season production begins, Russ is placed in charge of The French Chef to his dismay, while Alice is promoted to producer of I've Been Reading the literary show hosted by Albert. Julia and Paul deal with a visit from Julia's father John who treats them with a dismissive attitude.
44"Petit Fours"Erica DuntonNatalia TemesgenApril 7, 2022 (2022-04-07)
The Boston Globe publishes a positive review of Julia's show, which aggravates a jealous Albert. At Julia's behest, Judith arranges for John Updike to appear on I've Been Reading to distract and appease Albert. Russ invents a technique to film close-ups of food through a mirror mounted above the set. Julia is invited to speak at her alma mater Smith College, where she encounters a woman who suggests she had a sexual encounter with Julia in college. Alice contacts public TV stations around the country in an attempt to sell distribution rights to The French Chef. To the surprise of Alice and her boss Hunter, KQED in San Francisco agrees to air the show. Paul opens an exhibition of his art at a local gallery, but is discouraged when only his photos of Julia sell. He acknowledges that his wife is the more successful artist and pledges to support her, but Julia feels uneasy about her growing fame.
55"Crepes Suzette"Jenée LaMarqueEmily BensingerApril 14, 2022 (2022-04-14)
Julia, Paul, Russ, and Judith travel to San Francisco on a promotional trip sponsored by KQED. Bolstered by the popularity of her show, Julia's book signing draws a large crowd. Culinary celebrity James Beard takes Julia on a night out, including a visit to a drag show where she meets Coco Van, a drag impersonator of herself. Paul feels excluded as everyone vies for Julia's time. In Boston, Alice feels unappreciated, receiving no credit for her syndication efforts.
66"Breads"Melanie MayronErica LipezApril 21, 2022 (2022-04-21)
Russ, sleep deprived due to a newborn at home, gives Alice more producing responsibilities, while an episode must be reshot due to a tape malfunction. Julia is inspired to change the episode's recipe to sweetbreads. Judith spends the week at Julia's to work with her on a bread recipe, but is disappointed when Paul replaces Julia who is busy with reshoots. However, Paul and Judith bond over their meticulous bread making experiments, and she considers doing more cookbook writing. Alice wants to hire a production assistant to replace volunteers Avis and Dorothy, but Julia nixes the plan, saying she is loyal to the two women and Alice as well. Julia receives word that her father has died and the next day dedicates the episode to him. With the show sold to four markets, Hunter proposes a second season, and Julia agrees under the conditions that the station pays for the food budget and that Alice is named a full producer.
77"Foie Gras"Jenée LaMarqueDaniel Goldfarb & Christopher KeyserApril 28, 2022 (2022-04-28)
Julia and her group travel to New York City to attend a public television gala hosted by WNET. When Paul catches the flu, Avis volunteers to watch over him, and the two become unlikely friends. Julia, Judith, and publisher Blanche Knopf have lunch at Lutèce, where Blanche bristles at the idea of television; later she demands that as her protégée, Judith should focus on literature rather than cookbooks. Russ meets with a civil rights documentary producer as he has ambitions to work on more serious projects, while Alice falls in love with Isaac, a New York lawyer. At the gala, feminist author Betty Friedan tells Julia that her show hurts women by keeping them locked into domestic roles, an accusation which disturbs Julia. Later while sitting alone, Julia is approached by Fred Rogers who comforts her.
88"Chocolate Souffle"Scott EllisChristopher Keyser & Daniel GoldfarbMay 5, 2022 (2022-05-05)
Alice is promoted to lead producer on The French Chef while Russ moves on to work on other programs just as he starts to appreciate the value of Julia's cookery. Alice and Isaac consider a long-distance relationship. Judith chooses to work on both fiction and cookbooks, rejecting Blanche Knopf's demand, but is shocked to learn that Blanche is suffering from rapidly-advancing blindness. With Betty Friedan's criticism still weighing heavily on her, Julia announces she is ending The French Chef after its 25-episode first season. Julia tells Paul that she originated the idea for the show and self-financed it, facts which she had previously kept secret from him. Avis senses that Julia really does want to continue the show despite her doubts. Paul gives an impassioned plea to Julia to embrace everything she wants to do, including the show because it brings joy to people. Julia decides to return for a second season, with the stipulation that she will take time off to visit her co-author Simca in France to work on her next cookbook.

Season 2 (2023)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
91"Loup en Croûte"Melanie MayronDaniel Goldfarb & Christopher KeyserNovember 16, 2023 (2023-11-16)
In France, Julia butts heads with Simca while working on volume two of their cookbook. In Boston, Alice faces pressure to find the network’s next hit.
102"Fried Chicken"Melanie MayronChristopher Keyser & Daniel GoldfarbNovember 16, 2023 (2023-11-16)
After failing to see eye-to-eye with Simca, Julia proposes a culinary showdown. Meanwhile, Alice and Avis each face new romantic possibilities.
113"Pressed Duck"Scott EllisTeleplay by : Daniel Goldfarb & Christopher Keyser
Story by : Erica Lipez		November 16, 2023 (2023-11-16)
Left to her own devices in Paris, Avis bonds with a prominent existentialist, while Julia turns to her friends at Le Cordon Bleu for help with an impossible recipe. As WGBH experiences a shake-up, Alice goes through a trial of her own.
124"Chocolate Mousse"Jenée LaMarqueNatalia TemesgenNovember 23, 2023 (2023-11-23)
After returning to Boston, Julia finds herself at odds with her new director and Avis's new beau. Later, a run-in with an old colleague finds Julia fielding questions from the FBI.
135"Bûche de Noël"Erica DuntonEmily BensingerNovember 30, 2023 (2023-11-30)
While preparing for an interview with Life magazine, Julia is thrown by a surprise visit from Paul’s domineering twin brother, Charles.
146"Chartwinkerie"Melanie MayronKate Fodor & Thaddeus McCantsDecember 7, 2023 (2023-12-07)
While WGBH prepares for their annual fundraiser, Julia receives an offer from a network with the funds to take The French Chef to the next level.
157"Shrimp & Grits"Jenée LaMarqueChristopher KeyserDecember 14, 2023 (2023-12-14)
After receiving an invitation from the White House, the WGBH crew travels down to the nation’s capital for a chance to film inside the President’s own kitchen. Back in Boston, Paul finds himself at the beck and call of various friends in need.
168"Lobster Américaine"Scott EllisDaniel GoldfarbDecember 21, 2023 (2023-12-21)
When the FBI descends on WGBH, Julia uses her experience in wartime espionage to keep the crew safe from accusations of “un-American conduct.”

Production

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The series entered development at HBO Max in September 2019 after being greenlit for a pilot order, with Chris Keyser showrunning, and Joan Cusack nearing a deal to star in the titular role.[2] By March 2020, Cusack had exited the series, and Sarah Lancashire was cast as Julia. Tom Hollander, Brittany Bradford, Bebe Neuwirth and Isabella Rossellini were added in supporting roles.[3] In March 2020, three days into initial filming of the pilot, production was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

In September 2020, David Hyde Pierce was cast to replace Hollander, who exited the project.[5] In July 2021, Robert Joy, Erin Neufer, James Cromwell and Adriane Lenox were added to the cast.[6]

Filming of the pilot resumed in Boston in October 2020.[7] In January 2021, it was announced that the pilot—written by Daniel Goldfarb and directed by Charles McDougall—had been picked up to series, with an 8-episode order.[8] Filming wrapped in September 2021.[9]

The series premiered on March 31, 2022, with the first three episodes available immediately and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until May 5.[10] On May 4, 2022, HBO Max renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on November 16, 2023.[11][12] In September 2022, it was reported that Rachel Bloom joined the cast for the second season.[13] In January 2024, it was reported that the series was canceled after two seasons.[14]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating with an average rating of 8.0/10, based on 44 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Sarah Lancashire inhabits Julia Child with infectious joie de vivre in this appetizing valentine to the iconic chef."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]

For the second season, Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.0/10, based on 10 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Understanding its strengths and leaning straight into them, Julia's deuxième cours is a delectable trifle that viewers will savor."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 76 out of 100 based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]

Amy Amatangelo, for Paste, wrote that the "series is billed as a comedy and there are definitely funny moments—notably when people are literally on the floor assisting Julia in the filming of her show—but Julia explores not just how pioneering Child was in showing cooking on TV, but how pioneering she was for television production in general. [...] Ultimately, the series hinges on Lancashire’s transformative performance. [...] The series thrives through its strong female characters".[19] David Cote, for The A.V. Club, gave Julia a B+ and wrote that "each 45-ish-minute episode walks a line between sentimental period drama and high-toned sitcom. [...] Lancashire carries the season on sturdy shoulders".[20] Cote commented that the "season arc is fairly standard" and that "the nearest Julia has to a villain is Feminine Mystique author Betty Friedan (Tracee Chimo), who chides Child at a public television gala for setting back the cause. It's a powerful moment that shakes Julia and complicates her status as female liberator".[20]

Kathryn VanArendonk, for Vulture, called the show a "bracing, comforting hit of competence porn: people who care, doing their jobs well". VanArendonk highlighted that "the effort to loop Child into the cultural and historical context of her time makes Julia a better show than it could otherwise have been. [...] Julia has some flaws, but its good qualities outweigh the missteps".[21] Caroline Framke, for Variety, compared Julia to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as both shows share the producer Daniel Goldfarb; the show "does a remarkable job recreating a specific slice of upper middle class life as anchored by a white woman whose outsized personality comes with similarly notable talent".[22] Framke wrote that "even as the series (from showrunner Chris Keyser) identifies more complex themes at play — Julia's heartbreak at hitting menopause before having a child, her Black producer Alice (Brittany Bradford) struggling to gain the respect she deserves — it's mostly happy to skip along the (admittedly very charming) surface".[22]

Both Framke and VanArendonk praised Bradford's performance as Alice, a fictional character based on the actual producer Ruth Lockwood, but criticized Alice's storyline in the show.[21][22] Framke commented that "by making her a Black woman, Julia tries to be more inclusive than the reality without fully reckoning with what it would mean for a Black woman to be producing a show made by and catering to well-off white women who might fancy themselves more progressive than they truly are".[22] VanArendonk wrote that while Julia shows Alice experiencing workplace harassment, it does not force the audience "to think about racism all that much. [...] Alice is an invention who feels too neatly invented".[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire Is Julia Child In New Series Named For The Kitchen Icon". 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  2. ^ Otterson, Joe (September 6, 2019). "Julia Child Series Starring Joan Cusack Nears Pilot Order at HBO Max". Variety. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  3. ^ Porter, Rick (March 12, 2020). "Julia Child Drama at HBO Max Sets Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "In 'Julia,' a British Acting Treasure Takes on an American Icon". Vanity Fair. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 15, 2020). "David Hyde Pierce Replaces Tom Hollander In HBO Max's Julia Child Drama Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  6. ^ White, Peter (July 12, 2021). "'Julia': HBO Max Rounds Out Cast Of Julia Child Drama With Robert Joy, Erin Neufer, James Cromwell & Adriane Lenox". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Johnson, Megan (October 29, 2020). "Film crews descend on downtown Boston to film HBO Max pilot 'Julia,' based on legendary chef Julia Child". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 14, 2021). "HBO Max Orders Julia Child Series 'Julia' Starring Sarah Lancashire & David Hyde Pierce". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  9. ^ Goldfarb, Daniel [@DanielGoldfarb3] (September 28, 2021). "And that's a wrap! Can't wait for everyone to see what we've cooked up. #julia #JuliaChild #HBOMax" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (February 15, 2022). "Julia Child Comedy Series Starring Happy Valley's Sarah Lancashire Gets HBO Max Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  11. ^ White, Peter (May 4, 2022). "Julia Renewed For Season 2 At HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Gelman, Vlada (August 29, 2023). "Julia Gets Season 2 Premiere Date on Max". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Otterson, Joe (September 13, 2022). "Rachel Bloom Joins Julia Season 2 at HBO Max (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  14. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 10, 2024). "Julia Canceled After Two Seasons at Max". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Julia: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  16. ^ "Julia: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  17. ^ "Julia: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "Julia: Season 2". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  19. ^ "HBO Max's Julia Is a Delicious Treat". Paste. 2022-03-24. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  20. ^ a b Cote, David (March 28, 2022). "HBO Max's Julia is tasty TV comfort food". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  21. ^ a b c VanArendonk, Kathryn (2022-03-31). "Cozy Up With Julia, a Warm and Welcoming Treat". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2022-03-31. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  22. ^ a b c d Framke, Caroline (2022-03-30). "HBO Max's 'Julia' Brings 'The French Chef' Icon to Life, But Misses Some Key Opportunities: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on 2022-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
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