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 and two dogs.
Latest From This Author
‘You Can See Everything’ raises all sorts of questions about truth, lies and documentary filmmaking, but it skirts the most obvious mystery: In a world full of con artists, fraudsters and liars, why can’t we quit Elizabeth Holmes?
Former musician, Scientologist and Charlie Sheen punching bag Chuck Lorre created some of the biggest sitcoms in television history. Now he’s written a dishy, thoughtful how-I-did-it memoir.
- Voices
Commentary: As David Ellison names his new empire Skydance, the message is clear: He owns Hollywood
By naming the product of two mergers Skydance, David Ellison relegates two of Hollywood’s founding studios to a sub-brand stew and attempts to erase a bunch of controversial hires.
In the 1970s, the environmental movement sparked a string of ‘nature rebels’ horror films. As climate change increases deadly interaction between humans and wildlife, homicidal rats and frogs no longer seem quite as far-fetched.
From Mariska Hargitay’s carefree hosting style and musical numbers to an emotional moment with Michael J. Fox and surprises by presenters, the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were a pleasant evening of distraction.
Columnists Mary McNamara and Glenn Whipp broke down the 2026 Emmy Awards as they happened. Here were the night’s biggest storylines.
A perfect marriage of horror and comedy, ‘Widow’s Bay’ reminds us that ignoring monsters won’t make them go away.
Everything changed during the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and we all watched it happen, live on TV.
Our list of the 33 best Los Angeles crime movies is an underworld worth getting lost in, and includes “Chinatown,” “Heat,” “Pulp Fiction” and “Kiss Me Deadly.”
Gloria Steinem always listened more than she spoke, which is one reason her words had such lasting impact.