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Taylor Sheridan called into Bill Simmons’ podcast from his Wyoming ranch to discuss his new book How Not to Die in Prison, co-written with Tom Nelson, and his many hit series, and during the extended virtual conversation, the Yellowstone co-creator did not hold back when discussing his feelings about television critics, Paramount and studio executives in general, or Los Angeles.
The prolific writer-producer-director of hit series ranging from Landman to 1923 to Tulsa King has been largely snubbed from the Emmy Awards over the years; however, the second season of Landman and the first of The Madison are strong contenders heading into this year’s nominations.
Many have questioned why Sheridan shows has been often overlooked (including The Hollywood Reporter). Sheridan’s series attracts massive viewership and most receive strong reviews — but not all. Sheridan took issue with the critical reviews he has received of his series over the years, telling Simmons during their wide-ranging The Bill Simmons Podcast chat that he admits to “rage-bait”-ing reviewers, citing Demi Moore’s role in season one of Landman as an example, when he was accused of sidelining the megastar.
“When I met with Demi about that I said, ‘Here’s the thing: You’re going to be an extra in this show for seven episodes, and the critics are going to come after me. ‘I’m underutilizing [Moore], can’t write for women, all this nonsense,'” he said, discussing his evolving plans for Moore in Landman. “Then I’m going to kill your husband [played by Jon Hamm, at the end of season one] and you’re going to have to run the oil company. The critics and me — I don’t care what they think, and it annoys the shit out of them that I don’t care. I’ll be the first to tell you that there are things that I do that rage-bait them a bit, and this is one of them. I could have given them more episodes so they could have realized that flip, but I didn’t. I just sent them the first three. Because fuck ’em, honestly.”
