| How To with John Wilson | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | |
| Created by | John Wilson |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | John Wilson |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer |
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| Production location | New York City |
| Editor | Adam Locke-Norton |
| Running time | 25–37 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | October 23, 2020 (2020-10-23) – September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01) |
How To with John Wilson is an American television comedydocuseries created by filmmakerJohn Wilson.[4] The series, executive produced byNathan Fielder,Michael Koman and Clark Reinking, was ordered byHBO.[5] It premiered on October 23, 2020.[6]
On December 9, 2020, HBO renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on November 26, 2021.[7][8] In February 2022, the series was renewed for a third season.[1] In May 2023, HBO announced it would premiere on July 28 and be the final season. Wilson said he had decided it would be the last one.[9]
John Wilson attempts to give advice while dealing with his own personal issues. The 25-minute episodes, framed astutorials and filmed mainly on the streets ofNew York City, cover topics fromsmall talk toscaffolding.
Each episode is narrated in a second-person perspective, and features numerous shots edited together from hours ofB-roll. There is often aroad trip, convention ormemoir component.[10]
While each episode initially focuses on its title topic, in the course of his investigation, Wilson meets people and strikes up conversations that lead in unpredictable and diverse directions. For example, the episode "How to Improve Your Memory" ends up featuring a conference on theMandela effect inKetchum, Idaho.[11]
Wilson explained toVariety his process of making the show:
I try to draft very rough scripts of what might happen in an episode, and then we give it to production and put a plan in action to shoot it—and every single script is rewritten from the ground up by the time we're done in the edit. So much of the rewriting has to happen in the edit, because we're now writing to these shots that we never could have predicted that we would have, and they're always so much better than the stuff that we roughly conceived.[12]
Works that inspired Wilson include the documentariesThe Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (1980) byWilliam H. Whyte andThe Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988).[13]
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 6 | October 23, 2020 (2020-10-23) | November 27, 2020 (2020-11-27) | |
| 2 | 6 | November 26, 2021 (2021-11-26) | December 31, 2021 (2021-12-31) | |
| 3 | 6 | July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28) | September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [2] | Directed by [2] | Written by [2] | Original release date [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "How To Make Small Talk" | John Wilson | John Wilson | October 23, 2020 (2020-10-23) | 0.187[14] | |
John divulges a few surefire methods of encouragingsmall talk with absolute strangers. In an attempt at solitude, he tries not to form meaningful relationships duringMTV Spring Break inCancún, but ends up making an acquaintance nevertheless. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "How To Put Up Scaffolding" | John Wilson | John Wilson,Michael Koman and Alice Gregory | October 30, 2020 (2020-10-30) | 0.352[15] | |
The legacy of Grace Gold (who was killed by falling masonry) and the need for facade inspection in New York City is the focus of this episode. John attends a convention inNew Orleans and is disturbed by the lack of scaffolding around1031 Canal Street but less so at its subsequent collapse. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "How To Improve Your Memory" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman and Alice Gregory | November 6, 2020 (2020-11-06) | 0.288[16] | |
While out grocery shopping, John meets a man whose interest lies in theMandela effect and false memories, especially relating tobrand names and logos. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "How To Cover Your Furniture" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman and Alice Gregory | November 13, 2020 (2020-11-13) | 0.273[17] | |
In an attempt to make his furniture impermeable to his cat, John ends up exploring covers for all things, includingforeskin restoration. He concludes that covers (of any kind) give you only an illusion of control. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "How To Split the Check" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman and Alice Gregory | November 20, 2020 (2020-11-20) | 0.231[18] | |
John explores the politics, pitfalls and strategies employed when it comes to splitting the check after a meal with friends. At an annual gathering of referees, John is disappointed to find it's not the model of fairness and egalitarianism that he imagined. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "How To Cook the Perfect Risotto" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman and Alice Gregory | November 27, 2020 (2020-11-27) | 0.083[19] | |
John attempts to cook the perfectrisotto for his landlady as a mark of appreciation. But on the journey to perfection, he witnesses the first outbreaks ofCOVID-19 and finds it difficult to procure all the ingredients for his fifth attempt and withself-isolation now the order of the day, things become even harder. | |||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [3] | Directed by [3] | Written by [3] | Original release date [3] | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "How To Invest in Real Estate" | John Wilson | John Wilson,Michael Koman, Alice Gregory,Susan Orlean, andConner O'Malley | November 26, 2021 (2021-11-26) | 0.118[20] | |
John is offered to the chance to buy the house as his landlady is moving toLas Vegas. He decides to go window shopping around New York City to see what else is on offer. The prospect of becoming a landlord himself to meet the mortgage payments has John worried about the responsibility. | |||||||
| 8 | 2 | "How To Appreciate Wine" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley | December 3, 2021 (2021-12-03) | 0.068[21] | |
John ponders how to select the "right" wine as a way of fitting in and becoming an "insider". He recounts his close encounter withNXIVM andKeith Raniere while in ana cappella group at college, his only previous attempt at joining a club. After bluffing his way into the house of the CEO ofBang Energy drinks, John finally feels at home. | |||||||
| 9 | 3 | "How To Find a Spot" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Alice Gregory, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley | December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10) | 0.079[22] | |
Parking, the bane of every New York City driver's existence, is the subject on John's mind, particularly the inventive ways to secure and retain a spot, such as the weekly 90-minute shuffle on New York City neighborhood streets to allow the street cleaning department to do its thing. | |||||||
| 10 | 4 | "How To Throw Out Your Batteries" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Alice Gregory, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley | December 17, 2021 (2021-12-17) | 0.069[23] | |
What starts with a dilemma about the best way to get rid of spent batteries turns into John dispensing advice on how to dispose of the many items that New Yorkers are unsure of how to get rid of and a deep dive into why we sometimes find it hard to throw out even the most useless items. | |||||||
| 11 | 5 | "How To Remember Your Dreams" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley | December 24, 2021 (2021-12-24) | 0.049[24] | |
Attempting to more clearly remember his dreams after waking, John tries a few strategies, including keeping adream journal, culminating in making one particular dream a reality. In an attempt at avoiding bringing his subconscious into the real world, he also delves into his multiple appearances onCourt TV as a means of confronting reality head-on and staying grounded. | |||||||
| 12 | 6 | "How To Be Spontaneous" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Alice Gregory, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley | December 31, 2021 (2021-12-31) | 0.114[25] | |
John postulates that lack of planning means living in a constant state of exciting discovery. He points out that much of what appears to be spontaneous has in fact been meticulously planned beforehand, and in reality when you are truly spontaneous, you end up doing the second-best version of what you are trying to achieve or find places unexpectedly closed. An impulsive trip to see his former landlady in Las Vegas results in things not going as expected. | |||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title [26] | Directed by [27] | Written by [28] | Original release date [26] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "How To Find a Public Restroom" | John Wilson | John Wilson andMichael Koman | July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
With the demise ofpublic restrooms in public parks and the subway since the 1970s, relieving oneself has become a challenge when out and about in New York City. John visitsThe Hole, which isn't connected to the city's sewage system, and with his own toilet out of action, embarks on a quest to use bathrooms on private property, culminating in a trip to someunderground nuclear bunkers. | ||||||
| 14 | 2 | "How To Clean Your Ears" | John Wilson | John Wilson and Michael Koman | August 4, 2023 (2023-08-04) | |
Having had the wax professionally removed from his ears, John is overwhelmed by his now acute hearing. He talks to fellow New Yorkers about noise pollution but soon discovers they are annoyed by almost everything. A road trip toGreen Bank ensues where John witnesses theradio telescope being cleaned and meets some of the localelectro-sensitive residents. | ||||||
| 15 | 3 | "How To Work Out" | John Wilson | John Wilson and Michael Koman | August 11, 2023 (2023-08-11) | |
In an effort to look better, John considers becoming a member of a gym. Getting a 'before' photograph proves to be the first challenge. He finds the perfectmetaphor in agiant pumpkin contest, namely, the masculine urge to grow, but in a healthy way. | ||||||
| 16 | 4 | "How To Watch the Game" | John Wilson | John Wilson, Michael Koman and Allie Viti | August 18, 2023 (2023-08-18) | |
John explores how to become part of a sports fraternity, his complete lack of knowledge and interest being the only hurdles. Focusing on more niche interests, his interest is piqued at a vacuum cleaner collector's convention. | ||||||
| 17 | 5 | "How To Watch Birds" | John Wilson | John Wilson and Michael Koman | August 25, 2023 (2023-08-25) | |
The story of a violation ofbirdwatching ethics captures John's imagination while he investigates the pastime of birding. He considers making a documentary that relies on established facts, but even those come under scrutiny. | ||||||
| 18 | 6 | "How To Track Your Package" | John Wilson | John Wilson and Michael Koman | September 1, 2023 (2023-09-01) | |
When a non-delivery of a package occurs, couriers come under John's scrutiny. He decides to follow a shipment oforgans toArizona and witness for himself best practice in action. There, he stumbles onAlcor celebrating its 50th year of operation. Back at home, a postcard is delivered over 20 years after it had been mailed. | ||||||
How To with John Wilson has received critical acclaim. OnRotten Tomatoes, the first season has a score of 100% with an average rating of 7.8/10 based on 26 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Surprising, thoughtful, and superbly strange,How To with John Wilson's blend of documentary styles comes together to create a singularly delightful experience."[29] OnMetacritic, the first season has a weighted average score of 84 out of 100, based on 7 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[30]
Daniel Fienberg ofThe Hollywood Reporter wroteHow To with John Wilson is "funny, sad, and, in the end, shockingly profound."[31] Steve Greene ofIndieWire gave the series a positive review of an A−, saying it has "a hint of darkness and a wealth of empathy."[32]
The second season received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a score of 100% with an average rating of 9/10 based on 7 reviews.[33] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 92 out of 100, based on 4 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[34]
The third season received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a score of 100% with an average rating of 9.4/10 based on 14 reviews.[35] On Metacritic, the season has a weighted average score of 93 out of 100, based on 9 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[36]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | American Cinema Editors | Best Edited Non-Scripted Series | Adam Locke-Norton | Nominated | [37] |
| Gotham Awards | Breakthrough Nonfiction Series | Nathan Fielder,Michael Koman, Clark Reinking, andJohn Wilson | Nominated | [38] | |
| Cinema Eye Honors | Outstanding Anthology Series | Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman, Clark Reinking, and John Wilson | Nominated | [39][40] | |
| Outstanding Broadcast Editing | Adam Locke-Norton | Won | |||
| 2022 | TCA Awards | Outstanding Achievement in News and Information | How To with John Wilson | Nominated | [41][42] |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | Best Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series | Alice Gregory, Michael Koman, Conner O'Malley, Susan Orlean, and John Wilson | Nominated | [43] | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program | John Wilson, Michael Koman, Susan Orlean, and Conner O'Malley(for "How To Appreciate Wine") | Nominated | [44] | |
| Cinema Eye Honours | Outstanding Anthology Series | Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman, Clark Reinking and John Wilson | Won | [45] | |
| Outstanding Broadcast Editing | Adam Locke-Norton | Nominated | |||
2024 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special | John Wilson, Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman, Clark Reinking, Shirel Kozak | Nominated | [46] |
| Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming | John Wilson, Michael Koman, and Allie Viti(for "How to Watch the Game") | Nominated |
