Apple TV+ ‘The Studio’ Episode 8 Review - Awards, Absurdity, and a Whole Lot of Studio Shenanigans

Episode 8 of The Studio, titled “Golden Globes,” spins up the perfect storm of satire and sincerity as Continental Studios attempts to wrangle clout, chaos, and self-respect at one of Hollywood’s glitziest nights. This episode moves with a champagne-fizz energy, poking at the glossy surface of celebrity culture while managing to reflect something oddly sincere underneath.

Matt Remick played with a delicious mix of weariness and stubborn pride by Seth Rogen, is once again in the middle of the storm. His studio has finally landed a film in the awards conversation—barely, but enough to land invites, camera time, and the pressure to look important. Naturally, this leads to logistical nightmares and moral compromises that are as funny as they are uncomfortable. The episode kicks off with Matt scrambling to figure out how to turn a flimsy nomination into a PR win, a feat that involves red-carpet finessing, last-minute styling decisions, and some very awkward negotiations with influencers and talent agents.

The brilliance of The Studio lies in how it frames the spectacle of Hollywood not as glamorous or tragic, but as mildly ridiculous and endlessly performative. In this episode, the Golden Globes are a parade of exaggerated personalities and behind-the-scenes scrambling. Matt and Amy (Catherine O’Hara, in peak dry-wit form) have one of the best sequences on the red carpet, attempting to navigate the influencer invasion with the kind of resigned confusion that feels oddly relatable. Amy’s offhand comments about TikTok stars being prioritized over seasoned actors don’t just land as jokes—they sting, because they’re grounded in a very real frustration.

The episode doesn't feel like it’s trying to “expose” Hollywood. It’s smarter than that. Instead, it gently pokes at the contradictions and makes you laugh at them without turning bitter. There’s a particularly enjoyable subplot with Maya (Kathryn Hahn), who’s trying to coach an up-and-coming actress through press interviews. Her scenes are fast, funny, and revealing, showing just how curated every word that comes out of a celebrity’s mouth must be on a night like this.

Another subplot follows Sal (Ike Barinholtz), trying to network with executives at the after-party while hiding the fact that he’s not actually supposed to be there. It’s silly but charming and gives the episode some lighter beats amidst all the industry satire. These supporting arcs help the episode feel full and dynamic without stealing focus from the main thread.

If there’s one thing that slightly drags the episode down, it’s the occasional heavy-handedness of the satire. A few moments, especially during a mock acceptance speech montage, feel like they’re pressing the joke too far and repeating the same punchline. We get it—Hollywood is full of people saying empty things very earnestly. It’s funny the first few times, but it loses its punch by the end of the sequence. There’s also a sense that the show is teetering on the edge of becoming a little too self-aware for its own good, especially with how many direct nods it makes to the absurdity of awards season.

Still, the episode recovers with a closing scene that brings things back to Matt, sitting alone in a quiet moment after the party, scrolling through reactions and press coverage. There’s a small, almost invisible beat of disappointment there, not in failure, but in realizing how little all this noise actually means. It's a moment that doesn’t ask for sympathy but earns it anyway.

“Golden Globes” might not be the most groundbreaking episode of The Studio, but it is one of the most enjoyable. It captures the anxious, glittery madness of award nights without falling into sentimentality or cynicism. Its characters remain the biggest draw, each one flawed, funny, and just a bit too honest for their environment.

This episode is what The Studio does best: hold up a mirror, but with a slight smirk and a shrug. It knows the game. It’s not impressive, but it still plays along—if only for the free drinks and photo ops.

Final Score- [8/10]