- 1 hour ago
American Classic S01E01 (2026)
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00:28For more information, visit www.fema.org
00:36Testing, Richard, can you hear me?
00:38Test, one, two.
00:39One, two, yes.
01:05Any time.
01:11Yeah, I know.
01:12I know, I know.
01:14Richard, any time.
01:18Push me.
01:20Sorry, sorry?
01:21Push me.
01:26More.
01:34Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester,
01:38and let not women's weapons, water drops, stain my man's cheeks.
01:45No, you unnatural.
01:48No, you unnatural hags.
01:55I will have some.
01:56I will have such revenges on you both.
02:03Hold the camera.
02:24It never gets any easier, does it, darling?
02:28It certainly never gets any easier to watch.
02:31What does that mean?
02:32The actress playing Goneril.
02:35That was an accent, right?
02:36Yes, Norwegian.
02:38Was that not a problem?
02:40Was that not pointed out as a problem?
02:42I mean, I don't mean to be politically incorrect,
02:45but what did King Lear adopt?
02:47It took me out of the play.
02:49It took me right out of the play, as did the set.
02:52No, not what I would have done.
02:54Well, we couldn't afford you, could we?
02:57Well, overall, though, you liked it.
02:59And by it, I mean, you know who?
03:01Darling, you were wonderful.
03:03The director, she could just get down on his knees.
03:05I wasn't pushing?
03:06Not at all.
03:07There was no effort.
03:09That's what was so effective.
03:11You looked so weak and sapped and broken.
03:15You made me cry.
03:16I'm sure anyone with a heart cried at the sight of that.
03:21I know you don't read reviews, but...
03:24No.
03:24No, no, no.
03:25Holly...
03:26No, I have to...
03:26I have raves.
03:28Can you believe it?
03:29Raves across the board.
03:31Except for the New York Times.
03:32Even the Times.
03:34I don't believe it.
03:36No.
03:36What is his name?
03:38Xerxes?
03:39Xander.
03:39Xander Young.
03:40Xander Young, yeah.
03:41I only skimmed the review, but he clearly loved it.
03:45He said you were the anchor.
03:46The anchor?
03:47Yes.
03:47Wow.
03:49He...
03:49Hmm.
03:50He has liked me in ten years.
03:52He has not.
03:53No.
03:54Here's to small victories.
03:56Bastard.
03:59Can we go somewhere quiet?
04:00I can't bear this music.
04:02You know, we can talk about, you know, the play and...
04:05No, no, no, no.
04:06My performance.
04:07Darling, you cannot depend on your ex-wife for your social life.
04:10Anyway, I'm here with David.
04:13Even my colorist?
04:14No, God, no.
04:15Divorce the way of David.
04:16It's not a date.
04:18He wanted to see the play.
04:20I didn't want to come alone.
04:22David!
04:25David.
04:26Well, I want to play your role.
04:28That was a really excellent play.
04:30Yes.
04:31I have no idea how you remember all those lines.
04:34Don't say that, David.
04:35Only idiots say that.
04:37Look at the time.
04:38Wow.
04:40I, uh, I have a, um, I've got a thing, thing.
04:43Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
04:44You see, you see, you see what you've done?
04:46Sorry.
04:47Easy.
04:47Slow down, cowboy.
04:48Take it easy, darling.
04:49Okay, well, hello, everybody.
05:03Table for Xander Young.
05:04Mr. Young?
05:06We have your table ready for you.
05:08Right this way.
05:08Can I, uh, try something like that?
05:14Anything else?
05:15Here you are.
05:16Enjoy.
05:18Enjoy.
05:44Zander Young.
05:46Yes.
05:47Richard Bean.
05:49I heard you liked my leer.
05:51I agree with you.
05:53I'm glad we're on the same page.
05:55At last.
05:56I can't talk to you.
05:57Why not?
05:58I can't talk to you about what I write.
05:59I'm afraid there are very strict rules.
06:02Journalistic ethics.
06:03Oh.
06:03Well, I just wanted to swing by and tell you that, uh, I appreciate your support.
06:08I've waited a long time for it.
06:09But, um, truth be told, I haven't been a fan of your writing for quite some time.
06:15But, I'm starting to like it now.
06:18Did you read the review?
06:19Troy.
06:19No, I had it summarized for me.
06:22He loved the production.
06:23He didn't like you.
06:24Troy.
06:24I'm a little confused.
06:25Because he liked the production, but he didn't like the leer?
06:29Hmm.
06:29I don't think that's possible.
06:31Do you know how much shit he has to sit through every week?
06:32We do not engage.
06:33You're not engaging, Xander.
06:34I am engaging.
06:35Okay?
06:37I saw the show, too.
06:39And?
06:40Lifeless.
06:41Passionless.
06:42Uh, yes.
06:43I'm trying to process this.
06:46I was told that he said I was the anchor.
06:50Like an anchor.
06:52Dragging the whole thing down.
06:55That's very different.
06:56We can't discuss this.
06:58No, of course not.
06:59You can only slander me in print, but not to my face.
07:01It's not slander.
07:02It's an opinion.
07:03It's not an opinion.
07:04It's a megaphone.
07:07I have an opinion.
07:10I think...
07:11Troy.
07:12Troy is too young for you.
07:14But I'm not going to write a piece about it in the New York Times, because that would be rude.
07:19Do you know he used to love you?
07:20He still talks about your Hamlet at some little theater in Pennsylvania.
07:24Wait a minute.
07:25You came and saw my Hamlet at the MFT.
07:28He wanted to see this kid that everyone was talking about, and he thought that he'd seen the future of
07:33American theater.
07:34We're leaving.
07:35But that Richard Bean is long gone.
07:37And now, you're here on your own opening night.
07:40A sad old man drinking alone.
07:43Troy.
07:43A man more lost and defeated than King fucking Lear.
07:47There, I just summarized the review for you.
07:49You're welcome.
07:49Come on.
07:49Come on.
07:53No!
07:55What the fuck?
07:57You're a natural hag!
08:00No regrets.
08:02Were you drunk?
08:04No!
08:04Were you high?
08:05No, what I was was justifiably miffed at a dismissive, cruel review from a third-rate critic.
08:15And that's why you attacked him and his husband and called them unnatural hags?
08:21That's a quote from the play.
08:23Great.
08:24There is a whole subreddit, whatever the fuck that is, about you being a homophobe.
08:29Someone called it gay bashing.
08:30I'm a Broadway actor, okay?
08:32I'm as gay as a man can be without actually being gay.
08:36You know what I'm saying?
08:37So, you know, no, you weren't there.
08:40No, I wasn't.
08:41Luckily, there's video.
08:45Okay.
08:48But they shall be the terrors of the earth!
08:52You look deranged.
08:53No, I'll not weep!
08:54King Lear is quite deranged at this point in the play.
08:57I see.
08:57Get away from me!
09:06Get off of me!
09:10Why is the table on fire?
09:12I don't know.
09:13I don't know.
09:13I must have left before any first responders showed up.
09:18This is a viral shitshow, Richard.
09:20Because it's taken out of context.
09:22I mean, I'm not saying it's a deep fake.
09:26Could we say it's a deep fake?
09:28Nah.
09:29I'm going to lean into the drugs and booze angle.
09:32Oh, good.
09:33I'll put out a statement.
09:34Yeah, but not an apology.
09:36Oh, you're filled with remorse.
09:39And regret.
09:39And shame.
09:40I'm not filled with any of those.
09:43I told a critic the truth.
09:46I have no remorse.
09:47I feel no shame.
09:48I'm a little embarrassed by the fact that I did launch into a verse of Edelweiss because I was trying
09:54to diffuse the situation.
09:56But, uh, apologies?
09:58Regret?
09:58Mm-mm.
09:59No.
09:59So, you write whatever you want to write.
10:02I don't care.
10:03I have to go to the theater.
10:06Why?
10:08Because I thought maybe I'd do a matinee of King Lear.
10:11What the fuck?
10:12No, Richard.
10:13You have no matinee.
10:14You have no evening performance either.
10:18The producers are putting you on hiatus.
10:20A forced hiatus.
10:21While I clear this shit up.
10:24I have to be on that stage.
10:25Every performance, people are going to think...
10:27What?
10:28That you had some kind of public breakdown?
10:30Well, you did, Richard.
10:32You had a small, involuntary mental collapse, which I'm going to say was caused by mixing booze with medication you
10:40were taking for back pain.
10:41I'm going to need a month to clear this up.
10:44Maybe two in the meantime.
10:47Leave.
10:48Leave?
10:49As in, go somewhere else.
10:50And I don't mean Brooklyn.
10:51I mean, like, a remote island.
10:53Another country.
10:55Another state, at the very least.
10:57So, uh, I'm being banished from Broadway for entertaining people.
11:04That's what I do!
11:07Okay.
11:12Hello?
11:13Mom's dead.
11:14Who's this?
11:15John.
11:16John who?
11:18Your brother.
11:19Oh, hi.
11:19Hi, John.
11:20This is my brother.
11:21Did you say Mom's dead?
11:25Yes.
11:30Did she read the review?
11:40He's coming tomorrow.
11:42He cannot go to the theater.
11:44Promise me.
11:46What do you want me to say?
11:48I don't know.
11:48Say anything.
11:49It's being fumigated.
11:50It's tented.
11:52Lie.
11:55Lie.
11:56God, why did you have to tell him?
11:58Why did I tell him his mother died?
11:59He has not seen her in three years.
12:01The only person he cares about is himself.
12:03You know that.
12:04He just beat up a critic.
12:05It's all over the internet.
12:06It's literally the most narcissistic thing a person can do.
12:09I will deal with him.
12:10I can't handle his crap right now.
12:13He's going to come back here.
12:14He's going to intone all over the place.
12:18Just in case you forgot, we are so financially fucked.
12:24What is that?
12:25A bijou.
12:26Oh, no.
12:27No.
12:28No, no, no.
12:28You cannot.
12:29You cannot ply me with alcohol.
12:30No.
12:33I feel so bad for your dad.
12:36I know you do.
12:39Oh, sweet Jesus.
12:40I don't know how you do it.
12:42It's about how you express the limit.
12:47How the two of you came from the same parents, I will never understand.
12:51Richard has to pay for the funeral.
12:56I'll ask him.
12:56No, no.
12:57You will tell him.
12:58You will look him in the eye.
13:02Keep him away from the theater.
13:24Hey, pal.
13:25Oh.
13:38Good, you're here.
13:42Glad to be here.
13:44Yeah, I got to.
13:45Oh.
13:46Thanks.
13:47Over.
13:47Over here.
13:52Wow.
13:52Change the bed, huh?
13:54Huh?
13:57God, look at this.
13:58Everything.
13:59Everything's closed.
14:00Yeah, well, times are tough.
14:02Struggling, like everywhere else.
14:05Still feels like home.
14:08I'd love to swing by the theater.
14:10No, no, that's not the...
14:12Let's go to dad.
14:12Just for a minute, I have to stand on that stage.
14:14You know, I need the inspiration.
14:16Hey, no, hey, Richard, let's just, you know, let's focus on mom and dad today.
14:20Okay?
14:21Come on, I'll take you home.
14:22Okay.
14:22Get set.
14:23Sure.
14:23You're right.
14:23Yeah.
14:24I'm glad she went quickly.
14:26No.
14:27She didn't.
14:28Actually, you know, she was sick for a while.
14:30Cool.
14:30I just saw her last spring.
14:32No.
14:33Yes, I brought her that ostrich egg from Harris.
14:36No, no, that was three years ago.
14:37Three years.
14:38No, it wasn't three years.
14:38Three years?
14:39Three years.
14:40This is me.
14:42How's dad taking it?
14:44Well, he's, uh, coping.
14:47You know, it's hard.
14:57Listen, you need help with the funeral.
15:00Oh, I'll take care of it.
15:02I'll stage something theatrical but discreet.
15:06Death will be the theme, but it can't be all about death.
15:08It'll also be uplifting.
15:10But appropriately depressing.
15:13Music has to be there.
15:15Quintet, maybe.
15:16I meant paying for it.
15:17I know it's asking a lot, and I hate doing it, but maybe it'll help you with the guilt
15:24I hope you're feeling for not having seen her in all of this time.
15:39All right.
15:55Hey, here.
15:55Here you go.
15:57You're not coming in?
15:58No, I would, but look, I've got a crazy afternoon.
16:01Miranda's there.
16:02She'll, uh, set you up.
16:03Miranda, great.
16:05She spends a lot of time with dad.
16:06It's like two peas, those two.
16:08It's nice.
16:09She'll love seeing you.
16:10And I, her.
16:12Hey.
16:12Hey.
16:13Come by tonight.
16:15I'll make you dinner.
16:16Oh, great.
16:17I'll stop by the theater on the way.
16:18Yeah, no, don't, don't do that.
16:19Just spend time with dad.
16:21Okay?
16:22I'll come by and get you.
16:25Great.
16:26Oh, and Richard?
16:29Don't tell dad about the, uh, the thing with mom.
16:31What thing?
16:32The death thing.
16:33That she's dead.
16:34He doesn't know.
16:35He doesn't?
16:37Won't he, won't he sort of figure that out when he sees her in the coffin?
16:40Just don't.
16:40Okay?
16:41It'll upset him.
16:42He won't know how to process it.
16:43And this is a longer conversation.
16:45Just, he'll love seeing you.
16:46Okay?
16:46Just enjoy each other.
16:48Okay.
16:49I'll see you later.
16:54Okay.
17:00Dad?
17:05Miranda?
17:10Miranda?
17:15Dad?
17:26John, you sound like a woman.
17:29Speak from the diaphragm.
17:31It's Richard.
17:34Richard, my sun, my star.
17:38Come on up.
17:39Wait, I'll push him around.
17:40I don't want to frighten you.
17:44Dad?
17:45You're home.
17:47Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
17:50Look at you.
17:52Uh-uh.
17:52Oh, wow.
17:54I'm a mess.
17:56I didn't know you were coming.
17:58I wanted to surprise you.
18:00You have been, uh, working very hard.
18:03Oh, yes.
18:04Oh, yes.
18:04Look at this gentleman here.
18:07Who is he?
18:08No, I know it's hard without the hair.
18:12It's, uh...
18:13You did his earnest at MFT.
18:16Oh, Christ.
18:17Oscar Wilde.
18:19Ah, ha, ha, ha.
18:20You see that?
18:20Yeah.
18:21Yeah, Dad, I'm sorry I've been away so long.
18:24Well, you're here now.
18:26Sit.
18:27Ahem.
18:29Ahem.
18:31Ahem.
18:31Ahem.
18:31You were only 23 years old when you did it.
18:34Ernest, I mean.
18:36That was the same year as we did much ado.
18:39So, have you two tied the knot yet?
18:43We two?
18:43You and Kristen.
18:45Uh, Kristen is married to John.
18:49But how does that work with both of you in New York?
18:52Well, she's here.
18:53I'm in New York.
18:54Ah.
18:56This happy yoke will put him.
18:58So, tell us.
19:00How are things on the Great White Way?
19:03Oh, they're great.
19:05In fact, I just opened there in King Lear.
19:08Lear?
19:09Did you hear that, Bill?
19:12Now, why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, and thou no breath at all?
19:20Thou shalt come no more.
19:22Never, never, never, never, never.
19:28How were the reviews?
19:31They were all raised, raised.
19:34Do you remember our Lear?
19:36You, Edmund, John as Edgar, you boys were terrific.
19:41And Ethel as Reggie.
19:43She was terrifying.
19:45I built a theater.
19:47Best in the country.
19:49But this is what I'm most proud of.
19:53My eldest, my artist.
19:57And if I play my cards right, I'll talk him into doing another play here with me soon.
20:02The two of us together again.
20:05You think about that.
20:06I will, I will.
20:08There's something that I want to say, and I don't want you to respond to it.
20:15I just want you to sit there and listen to me.
20:17Sure.
20:18Oh, boy, this is harder than I thought it would be, and I don't know why.
20:26Here it goes.
20:30I'm gay.
20:32Oh.
20:33I'm a gay man.
20:35I was always a gay man.
20:37But I just never allowed myself to be one.
20:40But now, in the twilight of my years, I'm motivated to tie up loose ends.
20:45Now, I want you to understand that this is not the dementia talking.
20:51Okay.
20:53I'm gay.
20:54I'm a gay man.
20:56I've always been a gay man.
20:57But now, in my twilight years, I...
21:04Didn't I say that already?
21:06You did, Dad.
21:07Yeah.
21:08That's the dementia.
21:10Well, I think that's wonderful, Dad.
21:12I'm so happy for you.
21:14I knew you would understand.
21:16Have you told John yet?
21:18Oh, hell no.
21:18I can't tell him anything.
21:20He worries.
21:21He thinks I'm losing my mind.
21:24Oh.
21:25There's one more thing.
21:26You must promise me something, Richard.
21:28You must promise me.
21:29I...
21:30What?
21:31You won't tell your mother.
21:35I won't.
21:46Uncle Richard?
21:51Amanda.
21:52Oh, my God.
21:54Oh, you're all grown up.
21:57Don't cry.
21:58No, no, no, no, no.
21:59Please, if you start crying, I'll start crying.
22:01No, no, no.
22:02You just miss her.
22:03Well, we all do.
22:05Yes, I know.
22:06God, I'm so glad you're here.
22:08Are you okay?
22:09Oh, no.
22:10She had a good life.
22:12No, I meant with the review and the whole thing with the critic.
22:16Oh, that?
22:17Yes, well, um...
22:19You know, I'm kind of surprised it actually didn't happen after the Beckett.
22:21I actually managed to repress that one.
22:24Yeah, thanks for reminding me.
22:26How do you know about all that?
22:28Mom forwards me all your reviews.
22:30Really?
22:30What's that about?
22:31She's trying to discourage me, I think.
22:33From what?
22:34Being happy, I guess.
22:38I never had more fun than when I went to visit you in New York.
22:41Nana would take me to see your shows.
22:43You came a lot, yes, didn't you?
22:44Wait a minute.
22:45You were a child.
22:46What were you, eight when you came to see Virginia Woolf?
22:48I was so scared, but I loved it.
22:50I loved all of it.
22:51All the actors and shows and the parties.
22:54It was magic.
22:55How many funny shows did you actually see?
22:58A lot.
22:59Really?
22:59Yeah, because that was the one place she saw you.
23:02She had to die for you to come back.
23:05Don't say that.
23:08That's not true.
23:13It is true.
23:15I'm an asshole.
23:16Only sometimes.
23:18Oh, yeah.
23:20Yeah.
23:21Anyway, I think I want to live in New York.
23:24Oh?
23:26I remember you said if I want to be an actress, I should be there.
23:29And I can help you.
23:30Really?
23:31There are calls I can make, strings I can pull.
23:34Maybe not as many strings as before.
23:37I saw the video.
23:40Behold, I have a weapon!
23:43Maybe.
23:44But still, don't rush to New York.
23:46You've got a perfect opportunity right here in Millersburg.
23:49You've got a theater in your backyard.
23:51It's where I learned everything I know about acting.
23:53At the Millersburg Festival Theater.
23:55It was the perfect place to start a career.
23:58When I played Hamlet, the acoustics and such, whatever it is, it's magical.
24:03Because it was a communal experience.
24:08You know what I mean?
24:10Have you been to the theater?
24:12About yet.
24:13You should go.
24:19No, leave it.
24:50No, leave it.
25:09Put aside your worries, you won't have a care
25:12When the doorbell rings and the monster man is there
25:16It's no wonder he gets so many calls
25:20No one can resist my monster balls
25:24He's the matcha, matcha, matcha man
25:28You're in love with the matcha man
25:31Matcha, matcha, matcha man
25:35He's the matcha, matcha, matcha man
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