Mary McNamara is a culture columnist and critic for the Los Angeles Times. Previously she was assistant managing editor for arts and entertainment following a 12-year stint as television critic and senior culture editor. A Pulitzer Prize winner in 2015 and finalist for criticism in 2013 and 2014, she has won various awards for criticism and feature writing. She is the author of the Hollywood mysteries “Oscar Season” and “The Starlet.” She lives in La Crescenta with her husband, three children and two dogs.
Latest From This Author
I loathe the term ‘helicopter parent,’ writes columnist Mary McNamara. But amid a teen mental health crisis and other pressures, don’t blame us for being anxious.
April 23, 2024
Alex Garland’s powerful war drama is ostensibly a tribute to the fourth estate. But the film is absent the examination of causes and consequences central to great journalism.
April 15, 2024
O.J. Simpson’s murder trial followed fast on the heels of devastating civil unrest and a deadly earthquake — a time when Los Angeles was so used to reeling it became a state of mind.
April 11, 2024
Disney has many urgent problems for Bob Iger to tackle. Too much inclusivity in its movies and TV series is not one of them.
April 3, 2024
Like darkness emanating from Mordor, rat-a-tat headlines about Trump signal the return of a figure dead set on power. And no one is coming to save us.
March 29, 2024
Movies and TV shows have fetishized close friendship to the point that the real, often fraught rhythms of such relationships have been lost. Not so in ‘Merrily We Roll Along.’
March 28, 2024
Many will shame royal watchers for speculating about the Princess of Wales’ health. But catastrophic missteps by the royal communications apparatus created this mess.
March 22, 2024
The Max series inspired by Amy Chozick’s 2018 book “Chasing Hillary” is more like the love child of “Scandal” and “The Sex Lives of College Girls” than a real portrait of reporting.
March 14, 2024
After a doctored image and unsatisfying apology, the palace fell into a pattern familiar from Princess Diana and Meghan Markle: making a difficult situation worse.
March 12, 2024
“Oppenheimer” won several top awards, including best picture, director and lead actor, while lead actress went to Emma Stone for “Poor Things.” Billie Eilish won best song after Ryan Gosling performed “I’m Just Ken.”
March 10, 2024