The Studio: 5 Reasons Why You Should Watch Seth Rogen's Unhinged Apple TV+ Comedy

So you made it through Severance and are looking for ways to flex that Apple TV+ subscription? Allow us to point you to Seth Rogen's crafty comedy The Studio.

The premise: Rogen plays Matt Remick, a movie lover who's promoted to be the head of the fictional Continental Studios. Matt wants to preserve the art of cinema, only his team of infighting execs are often at odds with corporate overlords and narcissistic artists, setting the stage for impossible situations, cringeworthy run-ins and heaps of physical comedy. Despite the studio's successes, nothing seems to calm the team's never-ending sense of panic, which often erupts into egotistical screaming that teeters on catastrophe. As the official description notes: "It's the job Matt's been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him."

So why should you get down with this TV series about movie-making? Keep scrolling for a few good reasons (in no particular order) — and if you've already seen it, light up the comments with your thoughts!

Joining Rogen in the Hollywood-set workplace comedy are Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek), Kathryn Hahn (Agatha All Along), Ike Barinholtz (The Mindy Project) and Chase Sui Wonders (the underrated Generation). Saying that this ensemble delivers would be an understatement. Whether they're at each other's throats vying for Matt's time or trying to survive the latest production snafu, the cast consistently brings the funny, spitting fiery lines over one another as the camera swoops and swirls around them (more on that later).

Barinholtz plays Sal Saperstein, a Continental executive and Matt's close friend who was also in consideration for the studio head position. And O'Hara plays Patty Leigh, Matt's mentor whose job he ultimately usurps. Both relationships play into the group's quirky and outrageous dynamic, often putting Matt in compromising positions (when he's not creating nightmare situations of his own) or piling on to his misery-of-the-week. Every workplace outing needs a strong cast, and The Studio's crop of comedy pros doesn't have a weak link in the bunch.

Curb Your Enthusiasm and Veep, undoubtedly two of the best comedies from the last couple decades, are infused into The Studio's DNA. Like the lovable curmudgeon that is the fictional Larry David, Matt can't help but put himself in cringey spots (or make those awkward situations even worse), whether he's trying to put together a politically correct cast (in "Casting") or defending the art of his biggest popcorn franchises ("The Pediatric Oncologist"). He has no problem refusing to let a conversation go if he feels he's sanctimoniously correct, no matter how uncomfortable. His ego can and does affect his actions — like in the May 7 episode "The Golden Globes" — and what he does there will have you squirming in your seat.

And when you think of Veep, what comes to mind? Chaos, screaming, incompetency, manic workplace situations? The Studio has all of that and more. Yet despite the absolutely bananas situations Matt finds himself in, he's still a likable guy whose heart is in the right place. That said, his personal anguish is our comedic gain.

The guest stars, they are aplenty! Heaps of 'em cycle in and out of The Studio including Greta Lee, Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Ice Cube, Adam Scott, Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, Steve Buscemi, Zoe Kravitz and so many more. Appearances are often not merely cameos. Many of the guest stars play a central role in a storyline. In Episode 3's "The Note," we guffawed multiple times as Matt and his staff kept passing the baton on who would give celebrated director Howard a critical note. And Wilde's appearance in "The Missing Reel" is pitch-perfect, as she goes toe-to-toe with Matt in order to manipulate him into funding some reshoots. Come for the series regulars, stay for the revolving door of stars who are all more than game to play along.

Supporting its superb acting and setups is its wowing camera work. In "The Oner," Matt and Sal visit the set of a Sarah Polley film as she plans to shoot a "oner" — a scene that's filmed in one continuous shot without cuts or edits — at magic hour. Of course, Matt finds multiple ways to botch the high-stakes shot, but in pure Studio fashion, the episode itself was shot with long swooping takes that demanded its cast be on their marks and on top of their games.

Director of photography Adam Newport-Berra excels at rotating the camera around the execs as they argue internally, or following them through walk-and-talks as they deliver complicated dialogue at rapid-fire speed. Every scene filmed is one shot, using one camera and one lens. One in particular from the premiere follows Matt and Quinn (Sui Wonders) as they cruise down the lot on a golf cart. It then follows them into their office as they greet some guests, then up the stairs and down a hall — all in one single shot. The elongated sequences give the series a unique perspective, making every frame pretty to look at and every scene that much more exciting. The use of 360-degree sets also helps give the series its realistic appeal, making you feel as if you're smack dab in the middle of Continental's bickering and infuriated staffers.

The Breaking Bad vet plays Griffin Mill, the CEO of Continental Studios and the man who hires Matt for the job. Cranston delivers an incredible performance as the money-focused head honcho, playing the character with an over-the-top joie de vivre that never feels cartoony. (It's the perfect appetizer to hold us over as we await that Malcolm in the Middle revival.) While we cannot yet elaborate on the sheer absurdity of the series' final two Vegas-set episodes (airing May 14 and 21), you'll just have to trust us on this one: Cranston is both unbelievable and unforgettable.

The Studio releases new episodes Wednesdays through May 21 on Apple TV+.