31:
272:, where he began writing television reviews during his sophomore year in 1993. Sepinwall was later critical of his writings from this period, describing it as full of "misspellings, bad grammar and, even worse, observations that make me cringe".
390:, Sepinwall left the newspaper in 2010 for a job at the entertainment journalism website HitFix, where he would review as many as 15 television shows each week. On that site, he also did a podcast with television critic Dan Fienberg called
227:
said
Sepinwall "changed the nature of television criticism" and called him the "acknowledged king of the form" with regard to weekly episode recaps and reviews. Sepinwall and television critic Dan Fienberg hosted a podcast at HitFix called
1268:, September 17, 2017. Accessed December 25, 2022. "The College Club of Fanwood-Scotch Plains welcomes Scotch Plains resident Alan Sepinwall for the program at its Oct. 23 meeting. The title of his presentation is
397:
In 2010, Slate.com writer Josh Levin said
Sepinwall "changed the nature of television criticism" and called him the "acknowledged king of the form" with regard to weekly episode recaps and reviews.
664:
354:
as "a new form" that combined episode recaps with analyses of the show's subtexts and hidden meanings. Sepinwall has said his writing style was partially inspired by newsgroup reviews of
372:
on the website "All TV". Around that time, he also began maintaining his own private blog, "What's Alan
Watching", in which he posted reviews and interacted directly with readers.
1076:
1167:
551:
partially credited
Sepinwall for the show's revival, which reportedly helped increase Sepinwall's prestige. Sepinwall has been a particularly strong advocate for such shows as
543:, of which Sepinwall was a strong proponent, he wrote an open letter to NBC executives urging them to renew the show and encouraging them to seek revenue by expanding existing
951:
1233:
1140:
984:
802:
834:
417:, a show which he strongly praised. He later wrote that, in hindsight, he regretted appearing on the show due to "the extreme blurring of the line it caused".
1257:
1046:
537:
gave
Sepinwall the sole interview he granted to any journalist at the end of the show. In 2009, when NBC was contemplating canceling the action-comedy
322:
and cop shows in general, and concluding that shows in the police drama genre had to massively change in the new reality, or no longer be made at all.
1200:
403:
writer Steve
Heisler called Sepinwall "an inspiration to TV critics throughout the country". Sepinwall made a cameo appearance as an extra in an
1402:
461:
which he had never seen. The review, in which
Sepinwall detailed what a complete disaster and bad idea the special was, was later published in
1412:
1016:
1407:
1397:
1382:
1102:
1068:
862:
1163:
232:, in which they discussed and reviewed television until October 2015. During his time at Uproxx, Sepinwall hosted a podcast called
1359:
772:
941:
1223:
245:
1387:
974:
824:
794:
1128:
1422:
360:
television episodes written by
Timothy W. Lynch, as well as the episode recaps and discussions generated on the website
738:
719:
700:
677:
648:
625:
602:
337:
1254:
918:
1042:
281:
154:(born October 19, 1973) is an American television reviewer and writer. He spent 14 years as a columnist with
1377:
404:
449:
269:
190:
59:
1190:
580:
456:
669:
516:
257:
1364:'Self-published book makes New York Times books of the year list,' Alison Flood, 19 December 2012
361:
1392:
867:
309:
261:
1012:
553:
413:
1334:
1098:
872:
1417:
265:
8:
829:
614:
308:, I wouldn't have the career or the life that I currently do". However, after the 2020
301:
253:
161:
1295:
762:
734:
715:
696:
673:
659:
644:
621:
598:
544:
539:
213:
547:
marketing deals. The show was ultimately renewed, and NBC Entertainment co-chairman
294:. Those reviews helped lead Sepinwall to begin a career in television journalism at
256:, and his mother, Harriet, is a former professor of social studies education at the
640:
291:
224:
1261:
979:
296:
174:, where he worked for two years. Since 2018, he has been the chief TV critic for
156:
98:
512:
492:
164:
until leaving the newspaper in 2010 to work for the entertainment news website
1371:
1228:
1164:"'Community' - 'The Psychology of Letting Go': You just broke my force field"
1136:
1072:
946:
767:
548:
502:
463:
440:
399:
314:
218:
176:
122:
692:
529:
507:
350:
199:
1347:
534:
482:
438:
In May 2018, Sepinwall announced he was leaving Uproxx and was moving to
207:
granted his sole interview to
Sepinwall. In 2009, Sepinwall openly urged
204:
30:
1224:"Revisiting the Horror Show That Was 1978's 'Star Wars Holiday Special'"
942:"A History of Violence: Why I Loved Cop Shows, and Why They Must Change"
665:
TV (The Book): Two
Experts Pick the Greatest American Shows of All Time
559:
527:, which was published and released in 2004. In 2007, immediately after
345:
249:
913:
364:. Around 2005, in addition to his newspaper columns, Sepinwall began
356:
341:
286:
185:
908:
497:
477:
264:. Sepinwall attended Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in
1321:
1289:
709:
657:
487:
312:
by a Minneapolis police officer, Sepinwall wrote a long piece in
1129:"Rightfully adored TV critic Alan Sepinwall leaves New Jersey's
1308:
1195:
421:
170:
165:
114:
106:
710:
Sepinwall, Alan & Seitz, Matt Zoller (January 8, 2019).
348:
described Sepinwall's week-to-week, post-episode reviews of
365:
1285:
408:
221:
sarcastically credited Sepinwall for the show's revival.
208:
183:
Sepinwall began writing about television with reviews of
424:. From 2017 to 2018, Sepinwall hosted a podcast called
336:'s television columnist in 1996. He is a member of the
1069:"The Star-Ledger's Alan Sepinwall Moves to HitFix.Com"
1255:"The College Club welcomes Alan Sepinwall on Oct. 23"
475:
Sepinwall has interviewed such television figures as
280:
In the 1990s, Sepinwall was a particular fan of the
613:
428:with fellow Uproxx television critic Brian Grubb.
689:Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion
447:As a stretch goal for charity fundraising during
16:American television critic and writer (born 1973)
1369:
1191:"Programming Note: Alan Sepinwall Is Moving On"
1036:
1034:
728:
686:
634:
611:
592:
1122:
1120:
1043:"In which I talk about Slate talking about me"
1006:
1004:
1002:
525:Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love The O.C.
1031:
856:
854:
852:
595:Stop Being a Hater and Learn to Love The O.C
1117:
999:
902:
900:
898:
896:
894:
892:
890:
239:
236:with fellow television critic Brian Grubb.
825:"Paid Notice: Deaths SEPINWALL, DR. JERRY"
29:
1221:
1188:
1161:
1040:
972:
939:
849:
795:"Chuck: An open letter to NBC to save it"
792:
1010:
887:
1126:
1370:
975:"Best of the '00s in TV: Introduction"
860:
1403:People from Scotch Plains, New Jersey
1222:Sepinwall, Alan (December 30, 2020).
1041:Sepinwall, Alan (February 14, 2011).
1019:from the original on December 2, 2016
973:Sepinwall, Alan (December 21, 2009).
906:
731:Welcome to the O.C.: The Oral History
729:Sepinwall, Alan (November 28, 2023).
612:Sepinwall, Alan (November 21, 2012).
420:In 2016, Sepinwall began writing for
217:, and NBC Entertainment co-president
1304:, Sepinwall's Rolling Stone articles
805:from the original on 19 October 2016
687:Sepinwall, Alan (October 10, 2017).
375:
1413:Jewish American non-fiction writers
1162:Sepinwall, Alan (October 7, 2010).
1011:Fienberg, Daniel (April 26, 2010).
837:from the original on March 30, 2014
583:, with his wife, daughter and son.
318:detailing his mixed feelings about
304:; in 2004, Sepinwall said "without
13:
1343:, Sepinwall and Fienberg's podcast
1170:from the original on June 26, 2018
1105:from the original on June 26, 2018
1049:from the original on June 26, 2018
861:Kaplan, Ron (September 11, 2008).
586:
325:
211:to renew the action-comedy series
14:
1434:
1408:University of Pennsylvania alumni
1398:People from Montville, New Jersey
1383:American male non-fiction writers
1279:
1203:from the original on May 20, 2020
1143:from the original on 23 June 2011
1127:Heisler, Steve (April 26, 2010).
987:from the original on May 31, 2011
940:Sepinwall, Alan (9 August 2020).
921:from the original on 29 June 2011
907:Levin, Josh (February 14, 2011).
793:Sepinwall, Alan (20 April 2009).
593:Sepinwall, Alan (July 27, 2004).
515:. He also wrote a book about the
290:and wrote reviews of the show on
137:6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
1296:"Alan Sepinwall - Rolling Stone"
1189:Sepinwall, Alan (May 30, 2018).
1099:"Firewall & Iceberg Podcast"
1079:from the original on 8 July 2011
1013:"HitFix welcomes Alan Sepinwall"
954:from the original on 18 May 2022
763:"Alan Sepinwall - Rolling Stone"
635:Sepinwall, Alan (May 21, 2013).
574:
431:
1356:, Sepinwall and Grubb's podcast
1248:
1236:from the original on 2020-12-30
1215:
1182:
1155:
1091:
1061:
775:from the original on 2019-07-11
966:
933:
817:
786:
755:
338:Television Critics Association
1:
748:
470:
457:The Star Wars Holiday Special
197:. In 2007, immediately after
637:The Revolution Was Televised
616:The Revolution Was Televised
7:
1388:American television critics
1330:, Sepinwall's older writing
454:Sepinwall agreed to review
332:Sepinwall began working as
252:. His father, Jerry, was a
10:
1439:
1423:21st-century American Jews
450:The George Lucas Talk Show
270:University of Pennsylvania
193:, which led to his job at
191:University of Pennsylvania
60:University of Pennsylvania
1317:, Sepinwall's Uproxx blog
581:Scotch Plains, New Jersey
275:
141:
133:
90:
82:
65:
55:
37:
28:
21:
1335:"Firewall & Iceberg"
863:"They pay you for this?"
670:Grand Central Publishing
258:College of St. Elizabeth
240:Early life and education
1322:"What's Alan Watching?"
1309:"What's Alan Watching?"
362:Television Without Pity
868:New Jersey Jewish News
658:Sepinwall, Alan &
533:ended, series creator
392:Firewall & Iceberg
310:murder of George Floyd
262:Morristown, New Jersey
230:Firewall & Iceberg
203:ended, series creator
1270:What's Alan Watching?
712:The Sopranos Sessions
662:(September 6, 2016).
244:Sepinwall grew up in
597:. Chamberlain Bros.
386:After 14 years with
268:. He studied at the
266:Caldwell, New Jersey
254:psychopharmacologist
189:while attending the
168:. He then wrote for
1378:American columnists
579:Sepinwall lives in
72:Television reviewer
1266:Community Bulletin
1260:2022-12-26 at the
1075:. April 26, 2010.
833:. August 6, 1998.
830:The New York Times
660:Seitz, Matt Zoller
620:. Self published.
519:teen drama series
733:. Mariner Books.
545:product placement
292:Usenet newsgroups
149:
148:
83:Years active
1430:
1355:
1342:
1329:
1316:
1303:
1300:rollingstone.com
1273:
1252:
1246:
1245:
1243:
1241:
1219:
1213:
1212:
1210:
1208:
1186:
1180:
1179:
1177:
1175:
1159:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1148:
1124:
1115:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1101:. HitFix. 2011.
1095:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1065:
1059:
1058:
1056:
1054:
1038:
1029:
1028:
1026:
1024:
1008:
997:
996:
994:
992:
970:
964:
963:
961:
959:
937:
931:
930:
928:
926:
904:
885:
884:
882:
880:
871:. Archived from
858:
847:
846:
844:
842:
821:
815:
814:
812:
810:
790:
784:
783:
781:
780:
759:
744:
725:
714:. Abrams Books.
706:
683:
654:
641:Touchstone Books
631:
619:
608:
51:
48:October 19, 1973
47:
45:
33:
19:
18:
1438:
1437:
1433:
1432:
1431:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1368:
1367:
1346:
1333:
1320:
1307:
1294:
1282:
1277:
1276:
1262:Wayback Machine
1253:
1249:
1239:
1237:
1220:
1216:
1206:
1204:
1187:
1183:
1173:
1171:
1160:
1156:
1146:
1144:
1133:for HitFix.com"
1131:The Star-Ledger
1125:
1118:
1108:
1106:
1097:
1096:
1092:
1082:
1080:
1067:
1066:
1062:
1052:
1050:
1039:
1032:
1022:
1020:
1009:
1000:
990:
988:
980:The Star-Ledger
971:
967:
957:
955:
938:
934:
924:
922:
905:
888:
878:
876:
859:
850:
840:
838:
823:
822:
818:
808:
806:
791:
787:
778:
776:
761:
760:
756:
751:
741:
722:
703:
680:
651:
628:
605:
589:
587:Published works
577:
473:
436:
388:The Star-Ledger
384:
370:The Star-Ledger
334:The Star-Ledger
330:
327:The Star-Ledger
297:The Star-Ledger
278:
242:
195:The Star-Ledger
157:The Star-Ledger
129:
99:The Star Ledger
78:
56:Alma mater
49:
43:
41:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1436:
1426:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1366:
1365:
1357:
1348:"TV Avalanche"
1344:
1331:
1318:
1305:
1292:
1286:Alan Sepinwall
1281:
1280:External links
1278:
1275:
1274:
1247:
1214:
1181:
1154:
1116:
1090:
1060:
1030:
998:
965:
932:
909:"The TV Guide"
886:
848:
816:
785:
753:
752:
750:
747:
746:
745:
740:978-0063342798
739:
726:
721:978-1419734946
720:
707:
702:978-1419724831
701:
684:
679:978-1455588190
678:
655:
650:978-1476739670
649:
632:
627:978-0615718293
626:
609:
603:
588:
585:
576:
573:
513:Vince Gilligan
493:Matthew Weiner
472:
469:
435:
430:
383:
374:
329:
324:
277:
274:
241:
238:
152:Alan Sepinwall
147:
146:
143:
139:
138:
135:
131:
130:
128:
127:
126:(2018–present)
119:
111:
103:
94:
92:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
77:
76:
73:
69:
67:
63:
62:
57:
53:
52:
39:
35:
34:
26:
25:
23:Alan Sepinwall
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1435:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1406:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1393:Living people
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1363:
1362:
1358:
1353:
1349:
1345:
1340:
1336:
1332:
1327:
1323:
1319:
1314:
1310:
1306:
1301:
1297:
1293:
1291:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1271:
1267:
1263:
1259:
1256:
1251:
1235:
1231:
1230:
1229:Rolling Stone
1225:
1218:
1202:
1198:
1197:
1192:
1185:
1169:
1165:
1158:
1142:
1138:
1137:The A.V. Club
1134:
1132:
1123:
1121:
1104:
1100:
1094:
1078:
1074:
1073:Business Wire
1070:
1064:
1048:
1044:
1037:
1035:
1018:
1014:
1007:
1005:
1003:
986:
982:
981:
976:
969:
953:
949:
948:
947:Rolling Stone
943:
936:
920:
916:
915:
910:
903:
901:
899:
897:
895:
893:
891:
875:on 2011-09-27
874:
870:
869:
864:
857:
855:
853:
836:
832:
831:
826:
820:
804:
800:
796:
789:
774:
770:
769:
768:Rolling Stone
764:
758:
754:
742:
736:
732:
727:
723:
717:
713:
708:
704:
698:
694:
690:
685:
681:
675:
671:
667:
666:
661:
656:
652:
646:
642:
638:
633:
629:
623:
618:
617:
610:
606:
600:
596:
591:
590:
584:
582:
575:Personal life
572:
570:
566:
562:
561:
556:
555:
550:
549:Ben Silverman
546:
542:
541:
536:
532:
531:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
509:
504:
503:Josh Schwartz
500:
499:
494:
490:
489:
484:
480:
479:
468:
466:
465:
464:Rolling Stone
460:
458:
453:
451:
445:
443:
442:
441:Rolling Stone
434:
433:Rolling Stone
429:
427:
423:
418:
416:
415:
410:
406:
402:
401:
400:The A.V. Club
395:
393:
389:
382:
378:
373:
371:
367:
363:
359:
358:
353:
352:
347:
343:
339:
335:
328:
323:
321:
317:
316:
315:Rolling Stone
311:
307:
303:
299:
298:
293:
289:
288:
284:police drama
283:
273:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
237:
235:
231:
226:
222:
220:
219:Ben Silverman
216:
215:
210:
206:
202:
201:
196:
192:
188:
187:
181:
179:
178:
177:Rolling Stone
173:
172:
167:
163:
159:
158:
153:
144:
140:
136:
132:
125:
124:
123:Rolling Stone
120:
117:
116:
112:
109:
108:
104:
101:
100:
96:
95:
93:
89:
85:
81:
74:
71:
70:
68:
64:
61:
58:
54:
50:(age 50)
40:
36:
32:
27:
20:
1361:The Guardian
1360:
1351:
1338:
1326:Blogspot.com
1325:
1312:
1299:
1269:
1265:
1250:
1238:. Retrieved
1227:
1217:
1205:. Retrieved
1194:
1184:
1172:. Retrieved
1157:
1145:. Retrieved
1130:
1107:. Retrieved
1093:
1081:. Retrieved
1063:
1051:. Retrieved
1021:. Retrieved
989:. Retrieved
978:
968:
956:. Retrieved
945:
935:
923:. Retrieved
912:
877:. Retrieved
873:the original
866:
839:. Retrieved
828:
819:
807:. Retrieved
798:
788:
777:. Retrieved
766:
757:
730:
711:
693:Abrams Books
688:
663:
636:
615:
594:
578:
568:
565:Breaking Bad
564:
558:
552:
538:
530:The Sopranos
528:
524:
520:
508:Breaking Bad
506:
496:
486:
476:
474:
462:
455:
448:
446:
439:
437:
432:
426:TV Avalanche
425:
419:
412:
398:
396:
391:
387:
385:
380:
376:
369:
355:
351:The Sopranos
349:
333:
331:
326:
319:
313:
305:
295:
285:
279:
243:
234:TV Avalanche
233:
229:
223:
212:
200:The Sopranos
198:
194:
184:
182:
175:
169:
155:
151:
150:
121:
113:
105:
97:
86:1994–present
1418:1973 births
809:11 December
535:David Chase
483:David Simon
205:David Chase
118:(2016–2018)
110:(2010–2016)
102:(1994–2010)
66:Occupations
1372:Categories
1352:Uproxx.com
1339:Hitfix.com
1313:uproxx.com
1166:. HitFix.
1045:. HitFix.
1015:. HitFix.
779:2019-07-13
749:References
604:1596090065
560:The Shield
471:Interviews
346:Josh Levin
250:New Jersey
246:Pine Brook
44:1973-10-19
914:Salon.com
414:Community
357:Star Trek
342:Slate.com
320:NYPD Blue
287:NYPD Blue
225:Slate.com
186:NYPD Blue
91:Employers
1258:Archived
1234:Archived
1201:Archived
1174:June 25,
1168:Archived
1147:June 15,
1141:Archived
1109:June 25,
1103:Archived
1083:June 15,
1077:Archived
1053:June 25,
1047:Archived
1023:June 15,
1017:Archived
991:June 15,
985:Archived
952:Archived
925:June 15,
919:Archived
879:June 15,
841:June 15,
835:Archived
803:Archived
773:Archived
569:The Wire
521:The O.C.
511:creator
501:creator
498:The O.C.
491:creator
481:creator
478:The Wire
366:blogging
142:Children
1290:Twitter
1240:May 18,
1207:June 3,
523:called
488:Mad Men
411:comedy
407:of the
405:episode
344:writer
1196:Uproxx
958:18 May
799:NJ.com
737:
718:
699:
676:
647:
624:
601:
567:, and
505:, and
422:Uproxx
381:Uproxx
377:HitFix
302:Newark
276:Career
171:Uproxx
166:HitFix
162:Newark
134:Height
115:Uproxx
107:HitFix
75:writer
540:Chuck
214:Chuck
1242:2022
1209:2018
1176:2018
1149:2011
1111:2018
1085:2011
1055:2018
1025:2011
993:2011
960:2022
927:2011
881:2011
843:2011
811:2016
735:ISBN
716:ISBN
697:ISBN
674:ISBN
645:ISBN
622:ISBN
599:ISBN
554:Lost
379:and
368:for
306:Blue
38:Born
1288:on
517:Fox
409:NBC
300:in
282:ABC
260:in
209:NBC
160:in
1374::
1350:.
1337:.
1324:.
1311:.
1298:.
1272:."
1232:.
1226:.
1199:.
1193:.
1139:.
1135:.
1119:^
1071:.
1033:^
1001:^
983:.
977:.
950:.
944:.
917:.
911:.
889:^
865:.
851:^
827:.
801:.
797:.
771:.
765:.
695:.
691:.
672:.
668:.
643:.
639:.
571:.
563:,
557:,
495:,
485:,
467:.
444:.
394:.
340:.
248:,
180:.
46:)
1354:.
1341:.
1328:.
1315:.
1302:.
1264:,
1244:.
1211:.
1178:.
1151:.
1113:.
1087:.
1057:.
1027:.
995:.
962:.
929:.
883:.
845:.
813:.
782:.
743:.
724:.
705:.
682:.
653:.
630:.
607:.
459:,
452:,
145:2
42:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.