Cover Story this week Fall Street

Showtime offers a darkly comic look at the 1987 stock market crash

By Kenneth Andeel TV Media

Numbered among the worst stock market crashes in history is the October 1987 event that came to be known by the catchy, not-atall-scary nickname “Black Monday.” On that day, a complicated web of market forces, including insufficient regulation, international conflict and group psychology, came to a head in a market decline that was

1987 crash are still vigorously debated by economics professors, it seems like the fictionalized version presents viewers with a much more specific set of causes — and causers.

The tone of “Black Monday” might surprise anyone expecting a somber treatment of a historical event that caused real, lasting economic pain, but the series’ provenance explains its darkly comic take on the stock market disaster. “Black Monday” is executive produced by a team that includes Seth Rogen perbad” (2007), “Pineapple Express” (2008) and the ongoing comic book-to-television adaptation “Preacher.” These guys like to seek out the black humor in tragic or dangerous situations, and “Black Monday” carries that same stamp.

Given the iconic time period of the Black Monday crash, the television translation is a veritable pageant of ‘80s worship (or an ‘80s cringefest, depending on your age, perspective and taste). The trailers for “Black Monday” are an abso

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comedic chops and are clearly solid choices to thrive inside the show’s preposterously comic outlook. Wilson is a recurring guest star, and she steals scene after scene with her hilarious, doe-eyed intensity. “Black Monday” also features a seriously impressive roster of supporting players and guest stars, including Paul Scheer (“The League”), Melissa Rauch (“The Big Bang Theory”), Bruce Dern (“The Hateful Eight,” 2015), Ken Marino (“Party Down”) and Horatio Sanz (“Saturday Night Live”), all of whom are capable of doing a lot with a little, and turning in memorable performances with characters who may not see a lot of have more than a little interest in offering social commentary, even if it comes filtered through a layer of loud and ludicrous comedy. “Black Monday” promises to hold true to - fresh memories of 2008’s financial and probably have their own opin- average citizen has to its ups and downs, and the follies of the practi-

A student at a Florida high school found a rat in a vending machine. And when she saw the only food left in the machine were Terra Chips, she’s like, “I’ll take the rat.”

A family in California is looking for their son’s teddy bear after it floated away in a cluster of balloons. Then Pixar said, “Sold!”

After a Florida woman was caught with cocaine in her purse, she told police a gust of wind must’ve blown it in there. The officer was furious, until a gust of wind blew a joint into his mouth and he totally relaxed.

A 112-year-old man in Japan was just named the world’s oldest man. He’s very happy, and says he’ll remember this moment for the rest of his week.

Late Night With Seth Meyers

A man who turned 101 this week gained media attention after he credited his longevity to drinking one Coors Light every day at 4 p.m. for the past 15 years. So there you go: the secret to longevity is to lay off the Coors Light until you’re 86.

A woman had to be removed from a flight from Scotland to London yesterday after attempting to sneak an “emotional support” cat onto the plane. Fortunately, when the woman broke down in tears, the cat was there to not care at all.

Yale University has announced it will install a new 24-7 emergency contraceptive vending machine on campus. Said Harvard students, “Wasn’t Yale already Plan B?” greed or gambling goes too far is a risk in and of itself. But “Black Monday” appears to be a vicious sendup of those callous Wall Street spec-

2019 are primed to be especially receptive to a cinematic lambasting of -

All told, “Black Monday” seems duction value to emerge as an early hit in 2019. Whether you’re in it for a history lesson, the laughs, or just a chance to bask in the bygone excesses of the 1980s, this series is crashing down when “Black Monday” premieres Sunday, Jan. 20, on

MTV is reportedly working on a reboot of its animated show “Celebrity Deathmatch,” where Claymation recreations of famous people fight each other. And if you’re curious what a clay version of Ted Cruz looks like — about the same.

Weekend Update With Colin Jost and Michael Che

SpaceX launched a rocket into orbit carrying the cremated remains of 100 people. Unfortunately, they weren’t cremated when it launched.

Trump also announced that his attorney general nominee will be William Barr, who served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993. A reboot of someone with the last name Barr who was big in the early ‘90s? What could go wrong?

An eight-year-old in Pennsylvania has become a barber and now gives free haircuts to kids in the neighborhood. And guess what? They suck!

Pennsylvania police arrested a one-armed woman who was trying to rob a bank. Police say the hardest part was figuring out how to handcuff her.