Ben Travers Writer Indiewire

Ben Travers

TV Critic

Ben Travers is the New York-based TV Critic and Deputy Editor at IndieWire, where he’s been writing reviews, analyzing industry trends, and interviewing key figures since 2014. He is the 2021 winner for Best Entertainment Commentary at the Southern California Journalism Awards, and a 2020 finalist for Best TV Critic at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Ben helped launch IndieWire’s Consider This series, which advocates for each year’s most deserving awards contenders, and he was on set for “Veep’s” final day of filming. (Seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus eviscerate another human being live, in person, changed him forever.) A lifelong student of Sylvester Stallone and more-recent scholar of “The Leftovers,” “Better Things,” and “BoJack Horseman,” he is also an experienced moderator, having led conversations for the Television Academy, Screen Actors Guild, PaleyFest, SXSW, ATX TV Festival, and San Diego Comic-Con (at Hall H, in front of 6,000 screaming fans). Prior to joining IndieWire, Ben served as an editor and critic at PopMatters, as well as a production assistant on major motion pictures. He holds degrees in journalism and cinema from the University of Iowa. He loves puns, baseball, black coffee, and soft sweatshirts. Follow him on Twitter @BenTTravers and Instagram @BenTravers5

Latest by Ben Travers
A child and two angels watch a white, bearded cat smell the roses in 'Exploding Kittens,' an animated Netflix series
Part "Family Guy," part "Lucifer," part whatever it feels like, Netflix's animated adaptation of the Kickstarter party game treats viewers like cats chasing a laser pointer: constant distractions, no reward.
A bagel, hot dog, piece of gum, hot dog bun, and a shorter hot dog — all with googly eyes and mouths — stand next to each other in 'Sausage Party: Foodtopia,' the new Amazon series
Tastes Like... a Cash Grab
After conquering hungry, hungry humans in the 2016 film, a cart-full of foul-mouthed, mega-horny supermarket foods set out to restart society — but settle for repeating American history.
Rashida Jones sits at a table with a white earpiece in her ear, looking dejected, in a still from 'Sunny,' a new series on Apple TV+
It's Always Cloudy in Kyoto
Adapted from Colin O'Sullivan's 2018 novel, "The Dark Manual," Katie Robbins' genre mash-up follows a grieving wife and mother whose new robot companion may be the key to finding her family.
Simone Biles Netflix documentary, 'Simone Biles Rising,' shows the Olympic star in a white uniform with a bright light behind her
This July, the Olympics may lure people away from Netflix, but the streaming giant has a plan to bring them back (and not just with more "Suits").
Two chefs with coffee at a kitchen island, one sitting atop and the other leaning back against it; still from 'The Bear'
yes/no/maybe, chef
IndieWire's Ben Travers and Proma Khosla take a closer look at "The Bear" Season 3, covering the hottest and coldest dishes across all 10 episodes.
'The Bear' Season 3 stars Matty Matheson as Neil Fak, shown here in close up with a confused expression
Faster please, Chef!
Hulu released all 10 episodes of "The Bear" Season 3 at once, following the same strategy that's been used since the FX series became a surprise sensation. So why are we still clamoring for a weekly release?
'The Bear' Season 3 stars Ayo Edebiri as Sydney, shown here in close-up wearing an orange bandana, a white chef's coat, and a disappointed expression
Pick Up the Phone, Carmy
Reflective to the point of inertia, the new season marks a minor next chapter of Christopher Storer and Joanna Calo's restaurant drama, albeit with enough savory portions to satisfy loyal diners.
The best TV comedies of all time.
From "The Bear" and "Moonlighting" to "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Martin," these scripted TV comedies are the best of the best.
Barry Jenkins on the set of 'The Underground Railroad,' shown in a black-and-white photograph wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a white button-down, and clear glasses, standing next to a camera
Q&A
As the director's 2021 masterpiece makes its Criterion debut, Jenkins looks back on his first TV series, Amazon's controversial original release, and the unique power of long-form storytelling.
Eric Bogosian as Daniel Molloy in 'Interview with the Vampire' Season 2, Episode 7, 'I Could Not Prevent It' (shown here staring just above his laptop)
A Story of Love, Not Butchery
Season 2's penultimate episode, "I Could Not Prevent It," marks a uniquely fang-tastic achievement. Not only does it harness the show's greatest strengths into one unrelenting hour of television, but it also brings two years of patient preparation full circle.
Julio Torres stars in 'Fantasmas,' the HBO series, shown here looking over a glass wall while on the phone
Do a Bump for Fufu
Julio Torres' inspired new HBO series centers hamster nightclubs and sequined toilet seats while slyly crafting a vicious indictment of late-stage capitalism.
Devery Jacobs in 'Reservation Dogs,' Hoa Xuande in 'The Sympathizer,' and Emma Stone in 'The Curse' as part of a photo collage for the Emmys
Consider These
With Emmy nominations voting now open, IndieWire has compiled a helpful list of meritorious candidates for TV Academy members to consider. So please, dear readers, remember these names.
Top of The Line Weekly
A weekly digest that captures the best of our Top of the Line coverage.

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