Jen Chaney Author Archive
Give A Gift
MOST RECENT ARTICLES BY:

Jen Chaney

TV Critic
See all their articles from across New York Magazine
@chaneyj
[email protected]

Vulture and New York TV critic Jen Chaney previously worked for the Washington Post and has bylines at the New York Times and Vanity Fair. She also wrote As If: The Complete Oral History of Clueless.

  1. close reads
    O.J.: Made in America Gives Us a Human Portrayal of Nicole BrownNicole Brown was a victim of murder. But in the ESPN O.J. Simpson documentary, she’s also a human being and a strong woman.
  2. trends
    Wrecked and the Challenges of TV ParodyThe new TBS Lost spoof shows us what works and what doesn’t when TV shows try to satirize other TV shows.
  3. tv review
    BrainDead Is a Delightfully Weird ShowA lot of heads explode on this show.
  4. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: A Girl Is Arya StarkArya’s final battle with the Waif is absurdly satisfying.
  5. emmy insider
    Emmys 2016: With Jon Hamm Out of the Picture, Who Are the Top Actor Contenders?The lead actor in a drama slate has been wiped clean of Don Draper and Walter White. Does this mean it’s Kevin Spacey’s year?
  6. close reads
    What Paige Jennings Tells Us About Where The Americans Will Go NextPaige is the key to understanding what lies ahead on The Americans, because her choices dictate her whole family’s future.
  7. close reads
    Has Game of Thrones Solved Its Woman Problem?As last night’s Yara Greyjoy scene demonstrated, Game of Thrones is doing a better job this season of putting women in the power seat.
  8. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: The Dog of War“The Broken Man” drops two big surprises, but it’s not as strong as previous episodes.
  9. first person
    On Six Feet Under and Those Moments When Life and TV CollideIt’s a show that felt extraordinarily personal to many people for a simple, obvious reason: We all lose loved ones.
  10. tv review
    UnREAL Is Back and Just As SeductiveUnREAL may be delving into the racial fray this season, but it’s still at its most compelling when it depicts being a woman in a misogynistic workplace. 
  11. tv review
    Do We Really Need the Variety Show to Make a Comeback?Maybe the variety show can’t be brought back from the dead, no matter how much talent is involved.
  12. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: Moral VictoriesYes, a girl has a name.
  13. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: Holding the DoorHodor? Hodor. Hodor, hodor, hodor.
  14. Game of Thrones Recap: So I WillBreaker of Chains. Mother of Dragons. Starter of Colossal Fires.
  15. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: End of WatchDoes Game of Thrones believe in God?
  16. overnights
    Game of Thrones Recap: Eyes Wide OpenDespite a happy surprise, “Home” quite literally goes to the dogs.
  17. overnights
    Game of Thrones Season Premiere Recap: The Gray LadyJon Snow is still dead, but there’s a big surprise in store for another character.
  18. legacies
    Why Downton Abbey Became a Massive Cultural PhenomenonIt’s destined to be a classic.
  19. overnights
    Downton Abbey Series Finale Recap: Happy EnoughAfter six seasons, Downton Abbey ends on a perfect, lovely note.
  20. live blog
    Join Vulture’s Downton Abbey Series Finale Live-blog, Sunday at 9 p.m.Vulture recapper Jen Chaney will be right here to hold your hand.
  21. wishes
    What We Hope Happens in the Downton Abbey FinaleGive Thomas some damn job stability, would ya?
  22. vulture lists
    The 20 Most Despicable Characters in Downton Abbey History, RankedFrom mildly appalling to the utter worst.
  23. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Mary, Mary, Quite ContraryEdith finally calls Mary the b-word — twice!
  24. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Tough NutcrackersA terrible accident, a canine surprise, and a top-notch episode.
  25. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Knock on Our DoorHell hath no fury like a Dame Maggie Smith scorned.
  26. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: There Will Be BloodAt last, the Dowager Countess’s cantankerousness makes someone spit up.
  27. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Doubting ThomasGwen returns, and so does Matthew Goode!
  28. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: My Best Butler’s WeddingWe now pronounce them man and wife, who is wearing a really fancy jacket.
  29. Downton Abbey Recap: Nothing Marigold Can StayIt’s 10 p.m. Edith, do you know where your child is?
  30. overnights
    Downton Abbey Premiere Recap: Let’s (Not) Talk About SexAfter five seasons, is this show still any good?
  31. walk up
    Key Things to Remember Before the Final Season of Downton AbbeyRefresh your memory regarding all things Crawley.
  32. Lin-Manuel Miranda on His Star Wars Cantina SongWatch him win an Oscar for it.
  33. star wars
    George Lucas Delivered His Verdict on The Force AwakensThe guy who created J.J. Abrams’s characters weighs in on the new Star Wars movie.
  34. high school tv showdown
    Better Show: My So-Called Life or Veronica Mars?A match-up of female-fronted classics asks if you prefer your high-school show prepared with aspiration, or empathy.
  35. swoon
    The Oral History of Clueless’s Climactic KissAn excerpt from the new As If!: The Oral History of Clueless.
  36. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: A Modest ProposalMatthew Goode and some wedding news give this uneven Downton season a happy ending.
  37. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Orange Is the New BatesWas it actually Mary who killed Mr. Green? Some theories after tonight’s episode.
  38. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: One Shade of Larry GreyPoor Isis!
  39. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: The Not-So-Silent BobEdith suffers an unimaginable loss. But hey, look: Mary got a killer haircut!
  40. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: WrestlemaniaFisticuffs! Yes, that’s what was needed to enliven this otherwise dull episode.
  41. overnights
    Parenthood Series Finale Cry-Cap: Teary Eyes, Full HeartsGood-bye, you wonderful, wonderful weekly sobs-travaganza.
  42. vulture lists
    Parenthood Character Crying RankingEighteen Braverman family members, ranked from least cry-worthy to most.
  43. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Shooting Up, Mouthing OffThings get a little more interesting at Downton. Oh, and a lot more heroin-y.
  44. overnights
    Parenthood Cry-cap: Round and Round in a Circle GameIn the penultimate episode ever, there’s new life, a decision that could lead to death, and, as always, a ton of crying.
  45. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Sex, Lies, and Spotted DickIt’s getting harder and harder to keep track of the lies on Downton Abbey … or to even care enough to try.
  46. overnights
    Downton Abbey Recap: Radio Ga GaEveryone freaks out about a wireless and a diaphragm.
  47. overnights
    Parenthood Cry-Cap: The Waiting RoomWe have reached the “crying our eyes out nonstop” portion of  Parenthood’s final season.
  48. overnights
    Downton Abbey Season 5 Premiere Recap: Burnin’ Down the HouseSame as the previous seasons of Downton Abbey. But now with more fire!
  49. overnights
    Parenthood Cry-Cap: Nowhere Else I’d Rather BeThis week’s episode was lovely and weepy.
  50. overnights
    Parenthood Recap: Tastes Like High SchoolAn episode that could’ve been mistaken for a late-’90s teen movie.
More Articles