NOC Review: ‘Freakier Friday’ is a Fun, Chaotic Nostalgic Charmer

August 7, 2025August 7, 2025 Mike Manalo

From The Parent Trap to Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan’s dominance in pop culture through the late ‘90s/early ‘00s was inescapable. And with good cause, because some of those films went on to become true classics, with many getting a second life with either musical remakes (Mean Girls) or in the case of Freaky Friday, legacy sequels. Surprisingly, that’s actually a great thing, because with Freakier Friday, the movies aren’t the only things getting a second life. Welcome back, Lohan!

Fandom, Television1 Comment

Finding ‘The Good Place’ Five Years Since it Went Off the Air

February 19, 2025February 27, 2025 Keina C

Morality and philosophy have always been heavy subjects, influential and integral yes, but also intense and often strayed away from. The Good Place established itself, circa 2016, as a funny, colorful TV show with one premise in mind: tackling the afterlife. That’s all it was at the start, but as the show progressed, so too did the characters.

Star Wars, Television4 Comments

‘The Acolyte’ is Exactly What ‘Star Wars’ Needed

July 25, 2024July 24, 2024 Swara Salih

Before The Rise of Skywalker at the tail end 2019, I was a big Star Wars fan. The release of the singularly subpar final chapter of the Sequel Trilogy had me distraught about the franchise, severely dampening my fandom. The recidivism of Episode IX had me believe that there was no true moving forward. We would be destined to remain in the strict boundaries of Jedi vs. Sith without a critical examination and growth of what these stories could be.

Podcasts, Star Wars, Television

The Middle Geeks Episode 67: ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ Season 1 Review

July 23, 2024July 23, 2024 Swara Salih

Arezou joins us once again along with new guest Noor to review one of the most riveting Star Wars series yet.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Star Wars

Hard NOC Life 344: ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ and the Rise of Darth Bortles

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Hard NOC Media

Hard NOC Life is back… for now. This episode, Dominic and Keith share their thoughts on Star Wars: The Acolyte as a whole and what it was like to see two Asian actors duel with lightsabers,

Reviews, Star Wars, Streaming

‘The Acolyte’ Makes for a Fresh, Accessible Entry into ‘Star Wars’ Canon

June 4, 2024July 23, 2024 Lauren Lola

For a franchise of stories set a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, this will be the furthest back in time many Star Wars fans will be experiencing. The Acolyte is the first live-action series set during the High Republic Era; a period of time where both the Republic and the Jedi were at their best.

Interview, Star Wars

Manny Jacinto on the Mystery of His Character in ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’

May 30, 2024May 29, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Manny Jacinto makes it clear that he’s playing neither a good nor a bad guy in the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte. Instead, his character, Qimir is described by the Star Wars Data Bank as a “former smuggler living life as a trader, procuring unusual things and enjoying a life of leisure.”

Interview, Star Wars

Superfan Amandla Stenberg Studied Wookiepeedia to Become Master of ‘Star Wars’ Lore

May 29, 2024May 29, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Amandla Stenberg, a true Star Wars aficionado since her childhood, has now stepped into the galaxy far, far away with her role in the new Disney+ series The Acolyte, a testament to her deep-rooted passion for the franchise.

Interview, Star Wars1 Comment

‘The Acolyte’ Showrunner Leslye Headland on Asian Leads in ‘Star Wars’

May 28, 2024May 28, 2024 Laura Sirikul

It’s no secret that George Lucas was inspired by Asian culture to form what we know as Star Wars. Eastern philosophy has also played a role in creating The Force and many of the film’s character elements, including character names and places.

Hard N.O.C. Life, Star Wars

Hard NOC Life 339: Revenge of the Sixth

May 6, 2024May 7, 2024 Hard NOC Media

It’s still Star Wars Day on Hard NOC Life! Dominic and Keith celebrate the combination of AAPI Heritage Month and new Star Wars content via the latest Acolyte trailer. Keith also explains why “Revenge of the Fifth” makes zero sense when “Sixth” is the better pun. They also share their initial reactions to the first look at David Corenswet as Superman.

Star Wars, Streaming, Television

First Official Trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ is Here

March 19, 2024March 20, 2024 Mike Manalo

The High Republic era is among us! Hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga began, there was an era where the Jedi order was at the height of its power, during the golden age of the Galactic Republic. Only seen in animation, comics, and novels, we are finally getting our first live-action project set during this era of Star Wars this June. Coming Soon — Star Wars: The Acolyte!

Animation, Marvel, Television

Exclusive Clip: Manny Jacinto Joins Marvel’s ‘Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur’

February 2, 2024February 2, 2024 Laura Sirikul

Five-time Emmy-winning series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is back and has a NEW challenger… and his name is Brian Glory!

Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Interview: Jenny Slate and Manny Jacinto Discuss ‘I Want You Back’

February 11, 2022 Sophia Soto

Jenny Slate and Manny Jacinto star in the new rom-com, I Want You Back. The film premieres today, exclusively on Prime Video. Slate portrays Emma while Jacinto takes on the role of Logan.

Streaming, Television

Check Out the Official Trailer for Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Sophia Soto

Hulu has just released the official trailer and key art for the new original Nine Perfect Strangers. The eight-episode series premieres on the streaming platform with three episodes on Wednesday, August 18. New episodes will continue to release weekly. Nine Perfect Strangers stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone, and Manny Jacinto.

Streaming, Television

Watch Hulu’s New Teaser for ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Sophia Soto

From award-winning Executive Producer David E. Kelley, Nine Perfect Strangers will be a total of eight episodes. The series stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone, and Manny Jacinto. Check out the new teaser and key art that Hulu just released!

Streaming, Television

Hulu Announces Premiere Date for ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021 Sophia Soto

Nine Perfect Strangers will premiere on August 18 with a weekly release. The series will be eight-episode total and stars Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone, and Manny Jacinto.

Streaming, Television

Get a First Look at Hulu’s New Limited Series ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’

April 25, 2021May 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

During The Oscars, viewers were treated with a sneak peek of Nine Perfect Strangers. The talented cast includes Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Michael Shannon, Luke Evans, Bobby Cannavale, Regina Hall, Samara Weaving, Melvin Gregg, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Tiffany Boone, and Manny Jacinto.

Television, Toys1 Comment

Oh Dip! You Can Now Pre-Order ‘The Good Place’ Funko Pops

December 6, 2019February 4, 2020 Keith Chow

Even though The Good Place is by far one of the best shows on TV, there is not a lot of official merch available for the series. Fortunately, Funko is rectifying that situation by unveiling a series of Pop! Vinyl figures featuring everyone’s favorite Soul Squad. The show may be ending, but it can now live on forever on your display shelves for all of Jeremy Bearimy.

Take a look at each Pop! below and pre-order from Entertainment Earth now for delivery in June 2020.

Continue reading “Oh Dip! You Can Now Pre-Order ‘The Good Place’ Funko Pops”

Interview, Television

Lunch with William Jackson Harper of ‘The Good Place’

October 24, 2019December 6, 2019 Valerie Complex

Last week, The Nerds of Color was invited to join other journalists for a special intimate lunch with William Jackson Harper, one of the stars of the hit NBC comedy The Good Place. Now in its fourth and final season, Harper — who plays Chidi Anagonye, the ethical and moral center of Team Cockroach, aka The Soul Squad — took time out to reflect on the opportunity to be part of a special show and the differences between making television and film.

Continue reading “Lunch with William Jackson Harper of ‘The Good Place’”

Guest Post, Marvel, Television3 Comments

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘The Good Place’ are Basically the Same Thing

May 14, 2018February 19, 2025 Dominic Mah

It took me a weekend of binge-watching to wake up to the fact that Avengers: Infinity War and the NBC sitcom The Good Place are almost the same story. Except, Infinity War is a superhero slugfest about cosmic catastrophe, and The Good Place is an observational comedy about the afterlife. Apart from that existential difference, they have very noticeable parallels.

Podcasts, Television

Southern Fried Asian: Manny Jacinto

April 11, 2018October 25, 2019 Southern Fried Asian

Manny Jacinto may not be an actual Southern Fried Asian, but he plays one on TV! Keith welcomes the star of NBC’s hit comedy, The Good Place on a brand new pod!