The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV series)

The Andy Warhol Diaries
Promotional poster
GenreDocumentary
Based on
The Andy Warhol Diaries
by
Written byAndrew Rossi
Directed byAndrew Rossi
Narrated byBill Irwin, using Resemble AI to simulate Andy Warhol's voice[1]
Opening theme"Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
ProducerMaya E. Rudolph
Cinematography
EditorSteven Ross
Running time53–78 minutes
Production companies
  • Abstract
  • Dakota Group, Ltd
  • Submarine Deluxe
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)

The Andy Warhol Diaries is an American documentary television limited series from writer and director Andrew Rossi,[2][3][4][5] and executive producer Ryan Murphy, based on the 1989 book of the same name by Andy Warhol, as edited by Pat Hackett. The series simulates the famed pop artist narrating his own diary entries through the use of artificial intelligence technology.[6] Netflix debuted the series of six episodes on March 9, 2022.[7]

The Andy Warhol Robot helped inspire the concept for the AI voice in the series,[6] along with Warhol's cultivated image as an "asexual robot" at The Factory in the 1960s,[8] and his claim that "Machines have less problems."[9] Actor Bill Irwin provided the narration that was morphed by the AI software.[1]

Synopsis

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Warhol began dictating diary entries via phone in 1976, taking stock of his life in great detail. Longtime friend and collaborator Pat Hackett maintained the diary for eleven years and reflects on the life of the artist. The series traces Warhol's relationships with interior designer Jed Johnson, Paramount Pictures executive Jon Gould, and fellow artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.[10][11]

Others interviewed for the series include Bob Colacello, Christopher Makos, Rob Lowe, Jerry Hall, Mariel Hemingway, Tony Shafrazi, Mary Boone, Vincent Fremont, Shelly Dunn Fremont, Jamie Wyeth, Glenn Ligon, Larry Gagosian, José Carlos Diaz, David LaChapelle, Wilfredo Rosado, Peter Wise, Donna De Salvo, Jay Johnson, Kenny Scharf, Alan Wanzenberg, Michael Chow, Patrick Moore, John Waters, Greg Tate, Julian Schnabel, Marc Balet, Lee Quinones, Donald Warhola, Futura 2000, Daniela Morera, Debbie Harry, Paige Powell, John Reinhold, Gigi Williams, Jay Gould, Jeffrey Deitch, Jessica Beck, Cornelia Guest, Madelyn Kaye, Lisa Birnbach, Fab 5 Freddy, R. Couri Hay, Benjamin Liu, Lucy Sante, Tama Janowitz, Katy Dobbs, Whit Stillman, and Jane Holzer.[12][13]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date
1"Smoke Signals"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Traces Warhol's path from Pittsburgh into the New York City art scene.
2"Shadows: Andy & Jed"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Warhol takes on the role of portrait painter for the illustrious. Meanwhile, his Studio 54 haunting and partaking disrupts his relationship with live-in-boyfriend Jed Johnson.
3"A Double Life: Andy & Jon"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Warhol takes on modeling and early reality TV while he has a love affair with the not "out" young Paramount Pictures executive Jon Gould.
4"Collab: Andy & Basquiat"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Focuses on Warhol's artistic collaborations and personal relationship with Jean-Michel Basquiat amidst New York City's booming 1980s graffiti art scene.
5"15 Minutes"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
Warhol enters prime time via Saturday Night Live and The Love Boat as his friendship with Basquiat sours.
6"Loving the Alien"Andrew RossiMarch 9, 2022 (2022-03-09)
AIDS hits NYC, The Last Supper series, Warhol unexpectedly dies

Critical reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 96% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Employing some risky stylistic flourishes that Andy Warhol himself might have approved of, these Diaries are a revelatory glimpse into the inner life of a purposefully unknowable artist."[14] On Metacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

Jack Seale of The Guardian described the series as "a startling biopic told with the artist's own words".[16] Daniel D'Addario of Variety wrote that "the series both summons Warhol's affectless voice and insists on finding the intellect and emotion behind the coolly evaluating gaze".[5]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022
 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Ryan Murphy, Andrew Rossi, Josh Braun, Alexis Martin Woodall,
Stanley Buchthal, Dan Braun, Stacey Reiss, and Maya E. Rudolph 		Nominated [17]
[18]
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program Andrew Rossi (for "Shadows: Andy & Jed") Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program Wolfgang Held (for "Collab: Andy & Basquiat") Nominated
Gotham Independent Film Awards Breakthrough Nonfiction Series The Andy Warhol Diaries Nominated [19]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Song — Documentary Series - TV Daniel Braun (for "So Afraid to Lose You") Won [20]

References

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  1. ^ a b Magazine, Smithsonian; McGreevy, Nora. "Hear an A.I.-Generated Andy Warhol 'Read' His Diary to You in New Documentary". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  2. ^ Knight, Christopher (March 4, 2022). "Review: Netflix's 'The Andy Warhol Diaries' is a love story, not an art story — and that's why it works". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  3. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (March 7, 2022). "'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Review: Ryan Murphy's Netflix Docuseries". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Holub, Christian (February 23, 2022). "Hear an Andy Warhol A.I. voice narrate the trailer for new Netflix docuseries". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  5. ^ a b D'Addario, Daniel (March 8, 2022). "'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Summons the Genius, and the Person, Behind the Image: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Watercutter, Angela. "Why The Andy Warhol Diaries Recreated the Artist's Voice With AI". Wired.
  7. ^ Tapp, Tom (February 23, 2022). "'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Trailer: First Look At Ryan Murphy's Six-Part Documentary Series For Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  8. ^ "How Is Andy Warhol Narrating 'The Andy Warhol Diaries'?". Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  9. ^ Mullen, Pat (2022-03-09). "The Andy Warhol Diaries Explores the Man in the Machine". POV Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. ^ Waltz, Amanda (March 8, 2022). "The Andy Warhol Diaries looks at "intensely private" life of Pittsburgh-born pop artist". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  11. ^ Moran, Justin (March 3, 2022). "'The Andy Warhol Diaries' Spotlights the Pop Artist's Queer Love Story". Paper. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (March 7, 2022). "Netflix's 'The Andy Warhol Diaries': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ Kinsella, Eileen (February 25, 2022). "Thanks to the Magic of A.I., Andy Warhol Will Narrate a New Netflix Documentary Series on His Life From Beyond the Grave". Artnet. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Andy Warhol Diaries". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Andy Warhol Diaries – Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Seale, Jack (March 9, 2022). "The Andy Warhol Diaries review – a startling biopic told with the artist's own words". The Guardian. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "The Andy Warhol Diaries". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  18. ^ Moreau, Jordan (July 12, 2022). "Emmys 2022: Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  19. ^ Lewis, Hilary (November 28, 2022). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Tops Gotham Awards; Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  20. ^ Anderson, Erik (November 3, 2022). "'Black Panther,' 'Bros,' 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' lead Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
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