{{Short description|Online newspaper and entertainment website}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = The A.V. Club | image = The A.V. Club logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | caption = | type = Popular culture, entertainment, news, reviews, politics, progressive | format = Internet | owners = Paste Media Group | publisher = | chief_editor = Danette Chavez<ref name="chavez">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/the-official-song-list-for-a-v-undercover-season-9-1851592868 |title=Here's the official song list for A.V. Undercover season 9 |website=The A.V. Club |date=2024-07-15 |access-date=2024-07-16}}</ref> | founded = {{start date and age|1993}} | political_position = | language = English | ceased_publication = | headquarters = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | circulation = | ISSN = | website = {{URL|http://avclub.com}} }}
'''''The A.V. Club''''' is an online newspaper<ref>{{cite web|last=Castillo|first=Jay|date=14 December 2017|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/4682858/this-photo-is-the-perfect-example-of-what-internet-will-look-like-if-net-neutrality-losses/|title=This Photo Is The Perfect Example Of What Internet Will Look Like If Net Neutrality Loses|website=Inquisitr|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=21 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621053814/https://www.inquisitr.com/4682858/this-photo-is-the-perfect-example-of-what-internet-will-look-like-if-net-neutrality-losses/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in 1993 as a supplement to its satirical parent publication, ''The Onion''. Since March 2024, it is owned by Paste Media and unassociated with ''The Onion''.
While it was a part of ''The Onion''{{'}}s 1996 website launch, ''The A.V. Club'' had minimal presence on the website at that point. A 2005 website redesign placed ''The A.V. Club'' in a more prominent position, allowing its online identity to grow. Unlike ''The Onion'', ''The A.V. Club'' is not satirical.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/about/|title=About Us|date=|website=The A.V. Club|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260303004757/https://www.avclub.com/about|archive-date=March 3, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> The publication's name is a reference to audiovisual (AV) clubs typical of American high schools.<ref name="About Us">{{cite news|url=http://www.avclub.com/about/|title=About Us|date=|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=12 November 2015|url-status=deviated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230042310/http://www.avclub.com/about/|archive-date=December 30, 2015}}</ref>
==History== In 1993, five years after the founding of ''The Onion'', Stephen Thompson, a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, launched an entertainment section of the newspaper.<ref name="NPR">{{cite web |title=Stephen Thompson, Writer/Editor, NPR Music |url=https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson |accessdate=July 23, 2017 |work=NPR Music |publisher=NPR |archive-date=6 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143254/https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson |url-status=live }}</ref> Its name refers to audio visual clubs offered by American high schools during the late 20th century for students to use and learn about equipment like speakers and projectors.<ref name="About Us" />
Alongside ''The Onion''<nowiki/>'s move from Madison, Wisconsin, to New York City in early 2001, the ''A.V. Club'' staff also left Madison to move into ''The Onion''<nowiki/>'s satellite office in Chicago. However, Thompson chose to stay in Madison, and in December 2004, Thompson was fired from his position as founding editor.<ref name="thompson_npr_bio">{{cite web |title=Bio for Stephen Thompson, Editor, NPR Music |url=https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson |access-date=12 November 2015 |publisher=NPR |archive-date=6 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206143254/https://www.npr.org/people/5244882/stephen-thompson |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wenc |first=Christine |title=Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire |publisher=Running Press |year=2025 |isbn=9780762484430 |pages=83,191,198}}</ref>
In 1996, both ''The Onion'' and ''The A.V. Club'' debuted on the Internet.<ref name="wayback_snapshot_1999">{{cite web |url=http://www.theonion.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961231135054/http://www.theonion.com/ |archive-date=31 December 1996 |title=The Onion: America's Finest News Source |work=The Onion |date=19 December 1996 |access-date=23 March 2017}}</ref> ''The A.V. Club'' was originally a subsection of the main ''theonion.com'' domain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theonion.com/|date=19 December 1996|access-date=19 July 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961219015005/http://theonion.com/|archive-date=19 December 1996|title=The ONION, Number One in News}}</ref> The supplement was moved to its own domain name, ''theavclub.com'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theonionavclub.com/|date=30 September 2001|access-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991127154002/http://www.theavclub.com/|archive-date=27 November 1999|title=The Onion's A.V. Club|url-status=live}}</ref> before the 2005 acquisition of the shorter ''avclub.com'' domain name.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://avclub.com/content/home|title=Home|website=The A.V. Club|date=6 August 2005|access-date=13 August 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050806021741/http://avclub.com/content/home|archive-date=6 August 2005}}</ref> The latter change coincided with a redesign that incorporated reader comments and blog content. In 2006, the website shifted its content model to add content on a daily, rather than weekly, basis. Some contributors have become established as freelance writers and editors.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
According to Sean Mills, then-president of ''The Onion,'' the ''A.V. Club'' website first reached more than 1 million unique visitors in October 2007.<ref name=DS>David Shankbone (24 November 2007). "An interview with 'America's Finest News Source'", ''Wikinews''</ref> In late 2009, the website was reported to have received more than 1.4 million unique visitors and 75,000 comments per month.<ref name="trib">{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-1027-onion-av-cluboct27,0,313036,full.column |title=Onion's A.V. Club is building up its brand |work=Chicago Tribune |first=Steve |last=Johnson |date=27 October 2009 |access-date=14 March 2010}}</ref>
At its peak, the print version of ''The A.V. Club'' was available in 17 different cities.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gilmer|first=Marcus|title=The Onion bids adieu to print|url=http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/the-onion-bids-adieu-to-print/|access-date=17 April 2014|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=8 November 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419020639/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/the-onion-bids-adieu-to-print/|archive-date=19 April 2014}}</ref> Localized sections of the website were also maintained with reviews and news relevant to specific cities. The print version and localized websites were gradually discontinued, and in December 2013, print publication ceased production in the last three markets.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Kyle|title=The Onion & A.V. Club ending print publication next month|url=http://www.avclub.com/article/the-onion-av-club-ending-print-publication-next-mo-105342|work=The A.V. Club|date=8 November 2013|access-date=17 April 2014|archive-date=22 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622164728/http://www.avclub.com/article/the-onion-av-club-ending-print-publication-next-mo-105342|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 9 December 2010, the website ''ComicsComicsMag'' revealed that a capsule review for the book ''Genius, Isolated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth'' had been fabricated. The book had not yet been published nor even completed by the authors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicscomicsmag.com/2010/12/most-amazing-review-of-the-year.html|title=The Most Amazing Review of the Year|publisher=Comics Comics|access-date=9 December 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211124932/http://comicscomicsmag.com/2010/12/most-amazing-review-of-the-year.html|archive-date=11 December 2010}}</ref> After the review was removed, editor Keith Phipps posted an apology on the website, stating that the reporter being assigned to review the book could not locate a copy of it ("for obvious reasons"), so they fabricated it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/an-apology-from-the-a-v-club-1798223093|title=An apology from ''The A.V. Club''|publisher=The A.V. Club|access-date=9 December 2010}}</ref> Leonard Pierce, the author of the review, was terminated from his freelance role with the website.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/fishbowlny/av-club-writer-loses-gig-after-faking-review/313703|title=AV Club Writer Loses Gig After Faking Review|last1=Kaufman|first1=Rachel|website=Adweek|date=10 December 2010 |access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref>
===2012–2014 staff departures=== On 13 December 2012, long-time writer and editor Keith Phipps, who oversaw the website after Stephen Thompson left, stepped down from his role as editor of ''The A.V. Club''. He said, "''Onion, Inc.'' and I have come to a mutual parting of the ways."<ref name="untitledkeithphippsproject_201212">[http://keithphipps.tumblr.com/post/37838115256/goodbyes-and-hellos Goodybyes & Hellos] ''Untitled Keith Phipps Project'', 13 December 2012</ref><ref name="avclub_keithphipps_201212">[https://www.avclub.com/keith-phipps-is-no-longer-editor-of-the-a-v-club-1798235195 Keith Phipps is no longer editor of ''The A.V. Club''] ''The A.V. Club'', 14 December 2012</ref><ref name="criticwire_201212">[http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/editor-keith-phipps-leaves-the-a-v-club Editor Keith Phipps Leaves ''The A.V. Club''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216043315/http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/editor-keith-phipps-leaves-the-a-v-club |date=16 December 2012 }} ''Criticwire'', 13 December 2012</ref> On 2 April 2013, long-time film review editor and critic Scott Tobias stepped down as film editor of ''The A.V. Club''. He said via Twitter, "After 15 great years @theavclub, I step down as Film Editor next Friday."<ref name="untitledkeithphippsproject_201212_2">[http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/scott-tobias-leaves-av-club-site-looking-for-a-film-editor "Scott Tobias Leaves A.V. Club, Site Looking For a New Film Editor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405002614/http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/scott-tobias-leaves-av-club-site-looking-for-a-film-editor |date=5 April 2013 }}, ''Criticwire'', 2 April 2013</ref>
On 26 April 2013, long-time writers Nathan Rabin, Tasha Robinson, and Genevieve Koski announced they would also be leaving the website to begin work on a new project with Scott Tobias and Keith Phipps.<ref name="avclub_update_20140426">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130429102116/http://www.avclub.com/articles/an-update-from-the-av-club,97016/ An Update from ''The A.V. Club''] ''The A.V. Club'' 26 April 2013</ref> Koski also said that she would continue to write freelance articles.<ref name="koski_twitter_20140426">{{cite tweet |author=Genevieve Koski |user=GenevieveKoski |number=327780117315215360 |date=26 April 2013 |title=To clarify: I'll still contribute as a freelancer whenever I can, but I am no longer an editor. So you can't blame me for mistakes anymore! |language=en |access-date=13 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422055043/https://twitter.com/GenevieveKoski/status/327780117315215360 |archive-date=22 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Writer Noel Murray announced he would be joining their new project, while continuing to contribute to ''The A.V. Club'' in a reduced capacity.<ref name="avclub_update_20140426" /> On 30 May 2013, those six writers were announced as becoming part of the senior staff of ''The Dissolve'', a film website run by Pitchfork Media.<ref name="dissolve">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/50949-introducing-the-dissolve-a-new-film-site/ |title=Introducing The Dissolve, A New Film Site |work=Pitchfork |date=31 May 2013 |access-date=30 May 2013 |archive-date=3 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603085452/http://pitchfork.com/news/50949-introducing-the-dissolve-a-new-film-site/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In April and June 2014, senior staff writers Kyle Ryan, Sonia Saraiya, and Emily St. James left the website for positions at ''Entertainment Weekly'', ''Salon'', and Vox Media, respectively.<ref name="Indiewire_20140609">{{cite journal |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/av-club-exodus-continues-as-todd-vanderwerff-becomes-voxs-first-culture-editor |title=A.V. Club Exodus Continues as Todd VanDerWerff Becomes Vox's First Culture Editor |first=Sam |last=Adams |journal=Indiewire |date=9 June 2014 |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213020/http://blogs.indiewire.com/criticwire/av-club-exodus-continues-as-todd-vanderwerff-becomes-voxs-first-culture-editor |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="adweek_20140421">{{cite journal | url=http://www.adweek.com/news/press/matt-bean-staffs-entertainment-weekly-157151 | title=Matt Bean staffs up at Entertainment Weekly | first=Emma | last= Bazilian | journal=Adweek | date=21 April 2014 | access-date=25 August 2015 }}</ref> In 2015, Ryan returned to Onion, Inc. for a position in development.<ref name="cmykyle_20150316">{{cite web | url=http://kyleryan.tumblr.com/post/113792966983/ | title=I know it might sound strange, but I believe you'll be coming back before too long | website=CMYKyle: Kyle Ryan's Shameless Self-Promotion | first=Kyle | last=Ryan | date=16 March 2015 | access-date=25 August 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Following his departure from ''The Dissolve'' earlier that month, Nathan Rabin returned to write freelance for the ''A.V. Club'' website in May 2015.<ref name="avclub_nathanrabin_archive">{{cite web | url=http://www.avclub.com/author/NathanRabin/ | title=Nathan Rabin • The A.V. Club | first=Nathan | last=Rabin | website=The A.V. Club | date=25 August 2015 | access-date=25 August 2015 | archive-date=25 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025073948/http://www.avclub.com/author/NathanRabin/ | url-status=live }}</ref> He renewed his regular column "My World of Flops". ''The Dissolve'' folded in July 2015.<ref name="dissolve_20150708">{{cite web | url=http://thedissolve.com/news/6187-the-end/ | publisher=The Dissolve | title=The End | access-date=8 July 2015 | date=8 July 2015 | last=Phipps | first=Keith | archive-date=8 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708130121/http://thedissolve.com/news/6187-the-end/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
===Univision era=== In January 2016, Univision Communications acquired a 40% controlling stake in Onion Inc., the parent company of ''The A.V. Club''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Area Satirical Publication The Onion Sold To Univision (Seriously)|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|publisher=NPR|date=19 January 2016|first=David|last=Folkenflik|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=21 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621052203/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/19/463535648/area-satiric-publication-the-onion-sold-to-univision-seriously|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, Univision also purchased Gawker Media and reorganized several of Gawker's sites into the new Gizmodo Media Group, a division of Fusion Media Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2016/09/22/univision-rebrands-gawker-media-as-gizmodo-media-group-starts-translating-content-for-univision-com/|title=Univision Rebrands Gawker Media As Gizmodo Media Group; Starts Translating Content For Univision.com|work=Forbes|date=22 September 2016|first=Veronica|last=Villafañe|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118071719/http://www.forbes.com/sites/veronicavillafane/2016/09/22/univision-rebrands-gawker-media-as-gizmodo-media-group-starts-translating-content-for-univision-com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 16 February 2017, ''The A.V. Club''{{'s}} editor-at-large, John Teti, posted an article on the website announcing the upcoming release of a television series, titled ''The A.V. Club'', based on the website.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Teti |first=John |date=16 February 2017 |title=The A.V. Club will soon exist in TV show form |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/v-club-will-soon-exist-tv-show-form-250460 |access-date=23 March 2017 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref> The series, hosted by Teti, began airing on Fusion on 16 March 2017 and ran for one season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=William |date=15 March 2017 |title=The A.V. Club TV show debuts tomorrow night, on Fusion |url=http://www.avclub.com/article/v-club-tv-show-debuts-tomorrow-night-fusion-252145 |access-date=15 March 2017 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref> The series featured news, criticism, and discussions about various popular-culture topics and featured staff members from the website.
The site was subsequently migrated from Bulbs, an internal content management system developed by Onion Inc., to the Gawker-developed Kinja platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/news/kinja-publishing-system-heart-gawker-lives-under-univision|title=Kinja, the publishing system at the heart of Gawker, lives on under Univision|date=16 June 2017|first=Benjamin|last=Mullin|publisher=Poynter|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140418/https://www.poynter.org/news/kinja-publishing-system-heart-gawker-lives-under-univision|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avclub.com/welcome-back-to-the-a-v-club-1798329810|title=Welcome (back) to The A.V. Club|author=Laura M. Browning and Sean O'Neal|website=The A.V. Club|date=23 August 2017|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-date=21 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621052213/https://www.avclub.com/welcome-back-to-the-a-v-club-1798329810|url-status=live}}</ref> Audience reviews hosted on the previous site were deleted and the Kinja comment system was heavily derided by the site's commenting community, leading to a sharp decline in activity.
==== Unionization ==== In March 2018, employees announced they had unionized with the Writers Guild of America, East.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 March 2018|title=Staff of the satire website The Onion has unionized|url=https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|access-date=1 September 2020|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024410/https://apnews.com/474f4a636212453ead62a789ab6c4904|url-status=live}}</ref> The union comprises "all of the creative staffs at Onion Inc.: ''The A.V. Club'', ''The Onion'', ''ClickHole'', ''The Takeout'', Onion Labs, and Onion Inc.'s video and art departments."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Club|first=The A. V.|title=Onion Inc. has unionized|url=https://www.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858|access-date=1 September 2020|website=News|date=29 March 2018|language=en-us|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809202621/https://news.avclub.com/onion-inc-has-unionized-1824163858|url-status=live}}</ref> (''ClickHole'' was acquired by ''Cards Against Humanity'' in February 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cards Against Humanity Bought Clickhole|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole|access-date=1 September 2020|website=BuzzFeed News|date=3 February 2020|language=en|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218103110/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katienotopoulos/cards-against-humanity-buys-clickhole|url-status=live}}</ref>) The union was recognized on 20 April 2018 and reached a contract agreement with management on 20 December 2018.<ref name="tweet1">{{cite tweet |number=1075831417509240838 |user=OnionIncUnion |title=We're proud to announce that the Onion Inc Union has a contract! We voted unanimously to ratify our first contract as a union under @wgaeast. We're incredibly happy. https://t.co/YufzA6KpIk |author=Onion Inc Union |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309185402/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/1075831417509240838 |archive-date=9 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The contract includes "annual pay increases, minimum pay grades, strong diversity and anti-harassment language, just cause, union security, editorial independence, intellectual property rights, and an end to permalancers."<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 December 2018|title=Onion Inc. Ratifies First Contract with the Writers Guild of America, East {{!}} Press Room|url=https://www.wgaeast.org/onion-inc-ratifies-first-contract-with-the-writers-guild-of-america-east/|access-date=1 September 2020|website=Writers Guild of America, East}}</ref>
=== G/O Media era === In July 2018, Univision announced it was looking for a buyer for the entire Gizmodo Group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2018 |title=Hi, we're the A.V. Club, and we're for sale |website=The A.V. Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/hi-were-the-a-v-club-and-were-for-sale-1827493253}}</ref> In April 2019, Gizmodo and ''The Onion'' were sold to private-equity firm Great Hill Partners, which combined them into a new company named G/O Media.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Hayes |first1=Dade |date=8 April 2019 |title=Univision Finalizes Sale Of Former Gawker Portfolio And The Onion To Private Equity Firm Great Hill Partners |url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/univision-finalizes-sale-of-former-gawker-portfolio-and-the-onion-to-private-equity-firm-great-hill-partners-1202591007/ |access-date=16 January 2020 |work=Deadline Hollywood |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111234020/https://deadline.com/2019/04/univision-finalizes-sale-of-former-gawker-portfolio-and-the-onion-to-private-equity-firm-great-hill-partners-1202591007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Baragona |first=Justin |date=2024-03-26 |title=G/O Media Continues Fire Sale, Dumps A.V. Club and Takeout |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/go-media-continues-fire-sale-dumps-av-club-and-takeout |access-date=2024-03-27 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513110710/https://www.thedailybeast.com/go-media-continues-fire-sale-dumps-av-club-and-takeout |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2019, executive editor Laura M. Browning and managing editor Caitlin PenzeyMoog left.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hays |first1=Kali |date=26 July 2019 |title=The Media Carousel: A roundup of who's been hired, fired or maybe just jumped ship in media land recently |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/media/media-editors-hiring-layoffs-2019-1203227682/ |access-date=6 May 2020 |website=Women's Wear Daily |publisher=PMC}}</ref> In early 2020, former ''People'' magazine and ''Entertainment Weekly'' editor Patrick Gomez was named editor-in-chief, and it was announced that the site was opening a Los Angeles bureau.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patrick Gomez Named Editor-in-Chief, The A.V. Club, Reid To BDG Fashion Director |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/345357/patrick-gomez-named-editor-in-chief-the-av-club.html |access-date=16 January 2020 |website=mediapost.com |language=en |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621053926/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/345357/patrick-gomez-named-editor-in-chief-the-av-club.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2021, Yahoo! Entertainment and E! Online alum Scott Robson joined to lead the team.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Media |first=G/O |title=G/O Media Announces New Editors In Chief Of AV Club, Gizmodo, Jezebel |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/go-media-announces-new-editors-in-chief-of-av-club-gizmodo-jezebel-301366488.html |access-date=2021-10-27 |website=prnewswire.com |language=en |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914205831/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/go-media-announces-new-editors-in-chief-of-av-club-gizmodo-jezebel-301366488.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 18 January 2022, the union representing staff at the website announced that all seven staff members based in Chicago had taken severance as opposed to accepting a mandatory move of work location to Los Angeles.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1483504541266063360 |user=OnionIncUnion |title=UPDATE: The seven A.V. Club workers in Chicago have decided to take their union-contract-protected severances rather than move to L.A. without a cost-of-living adjustment. A statement from the union (1/X): https://t.co/IOUwuR0TWn |author=Onion Inc Union |date=18 January 2022 |access-date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902182333/https://twitter.com/OnionIncUnion/status/1483504541266063360 |archive-date=2 September 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> This predominantly affected the senior staff of the site and comprised the managing editor, film editor, TV editor, associate editor, senior writer, assistant editor, and editorial coordinator.<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1483505082645856257 |user=OnionIncUnion |title=The A.V. Club will be losing its managing editor, film editor, TV editor, associate editor, senior writer, assistant editor, and editorial coordinator. These workers oversee the site's film, TV, music, comics, and books coverage, and are essential to its daily operations. 5/X |author=Onion Inc Union |date=18 January 2022 |access-date=13 December 2022 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120070343/https://twitter.com/onionincunion/status/1483505082645856257 |archive-date=20 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> After this, the headquarters of the A.V. Club was moved to Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/news/a-farewell-to-the-a-v-club/|title=A farewell to the A.V. Club|first=Kelly|last=Garcia|website=Chicagoreader.com|date=30 March 2022|access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref>
=== Paste Media era === In March 2024, it was reported that G/O Media had sold ''The A.V. Club'' to Paste Media, who had previously bought the dormant G/O Media sites ''Jezebel'' and ''Splinter News'' for a relaunch.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2023-11-29 |title=Weeks After Shutdown, Digital Media Brand Jezebel Is Acquired By Paste Magazine Along With Long-Dormant Politics Site Splinter |url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/jezebel-acquired-by-paste-magazine-splinter-digital-media-1235642351/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> This resulted in ''The A.V. Club'' being completely separated from ''The Onion'', with G/O Media selling ''The Onion'' to Global Tetrahedron the following month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2024-04-26 |title=The Onion, Following Acquisition, Names Former NBC News Reporter Ben Collins CEO – Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/the-onion-sold-g-o-media-global-tetrahedron-1235895683/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Two employees were laid off as part of the transition. Paste Media CEO Josh Jackson stressed that ''Paste'' and ''The A.V. Club'' would not be consolidated together and assured that the comments, briefly disabled by G/O Media, would be restored.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paste Media Acquires The AV Club |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/paste-magazine/paste-media-acquires-av-club |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=Paste Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2024, various changes were announced, including that the ''A.V. Undercover'' web series would be revived after a 7-year hiatus, A.I. written articles during the G/O Media era would be removed, familiar writers would return (including Nathan Rabin and Ignatiy Vishnevetsky), and a subscriber program will be introduced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=Help us choose the songs for A.V. Undercover season 9! |website=The A.V. Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/av-undercover-season-9-voting-songs-2024-1851533090 |access-date=2024-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611192051/https://www.avclub.com/av-undercover-season-9-voting-songs-2024-1851533090 |archive-date=11 June 2024 }}</ref> In July 2024, Danette Chavez, a writer and editor for ''The A.V. Club'' from 2015 to 2022, rejoined the website as editor-in-chief.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Here's the official song list for A.V. Undercover season 9 |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-official-song-list-for-a-v-undercover-season-9-1851592868 |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>
''Endless Mode'', a spin-off of ''Paste''{{'s}} games section that launched in July 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Garrett |date=2025-07-01 |title=Endless Mode: It’s the New Thing |url=https://www.endlessmode.com/video-games/hi/endless-mode-its-the-new-thing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250701135503/https://www.endlessmode.com/video-games/hi/endless-mode-its-the-new-thing |archive-date=2025-07-01 |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Endless Mode |language=en-US}}</ref> merged with ''The A.V. Club''{{'s}} games section just five months later in November, with Garrett Martin remaining editor of the section.<ref name="TheWrap-2025">{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Benjamin |date=2025-11-17 |title=Paste Cuts Film, TV Teams to Recenter on Only Music Coverage |url=https://www.thewrap.com/paste-layoffs-film-tv-team/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Garrett |date=November 17, 2025 |title=The A.V. Club Games announces a new era |url=https://www.avclub.com/new-games-section-endless-mode-paste-games |access-date=November 17, 2025 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2026, ''Kotaku'' and ''Aftermath'' reported that the games vertical was effectively shuttered after Paste Media laid off ''The A.V. Club Games'' staff, including Martin. ''The A.V. Club'' stated it was refocusing its film and television coverage, however, the website "will continue to have some games coverage, but we cannot sustain a full-time staff covering it with our smaller team".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=May 1, 2026 |title=Paste Games Is Finally Dead And It Sucks |url=https://kotaku.com/paste-media-puts-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-a-storied-gaming-legacy-2000692448 |access-date=May 1, 2026 |website=Kotaku |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MacLeod |first=Riley |date=May 1, 2026 |title=Paste Ends The Games Coverage That Gave So Many Writers Their Start |url=https://aftermath.site/paste-games-endless-mode-av-club/ |url-access=limited |access-date=May 1, 2026 |website=Aftermath |language=en}}</ref>
==Awards== In 2017, ''The A.V. Club'' won an Eisner Award for "Best Comics-related Periodical/Journalism" (for works published in 2016).<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards: 2010-Present |url=https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |website=Comic-Con |date=2 December 2012 |publisher=San Diego Comic Convention |access-date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213024118/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-award-recipients-2010-present |url-status=dead }}</ref> The award went to writers Oliver Sava, Caitlin Rosberg, Shea Hennum, and Tegan O'Neil. The award also went to editor Caitlin PenzeyMoog.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rife |first1=Katie |title=Holy crap, The A.V. Club won an Eisner Award |url=https://www.avclub.com/holy-crap-the-a-v-club-won-an-eisner-award-1798264301 |website=The A.V. Club |date=22 July 2017 |publisher=Onion Inc. |access-date=6 May 2020}}</ref>
==''A.V. Club'' year-end and decade-end lists== Starting in 1999, only lists written by individual writers were published. Beginning in 2006, ''The A.V. Club'' began publishing website-consensus, year-end album and film rankings, together with lists created by individual writers, followed by annual rankings of television shows from 2010 onward. Additionally, decade-end lists were published for the 2000s and 2010s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Best Of 2010 S – Pop culture news, movie, TV, music and gaming reviews. |url=https://www.avclub.com/tag/best-of-2010s |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=12 January 2020 |language=en-us |archive-date=21 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621064706/https://www.avclub.com/tag/best-of-2010s |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The best films of the '00s |url=https://www.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-the-00s-1798222348 |website=The A.V. Club |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=12 January 2020 |language=en-us |archive-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129185236/https://film.avclub.com/the-best-films-of-the-00s-1798222348 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Books==
* {{cite book | first=Stephen | last=Thompson | author2=A.V. Club Staff | date=December 10, 2002 | title=The Tenacity of the Cockroach: Conversations With Entertainment's Most Enduring Outsiders | publisher=Three Rivers Press | isbn=978-0609809914 | url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780609809914 }} * {{cite book | author1=A.V. Club Staff | date=October 13, 2009 | title=Inventory: 16 Films Featuring Manic Pixie Dream Girls, 10 Great Songs Nearly Ruined by Saxophone, and 100 More Obsessively Specific Pop-Culture Lists | publisher=Scribner | isbn=978-1416594734 | url=https://archive.org/details/inventory16films00avcl_0 }} * {{cite book | first1=Nathan | last1=Rabin | date=October 19, 2010 | title=My Year of Flops: The A.V. Presents One Man's Journey Deep Into the Heart of Cinematic Failure | url=https://archive.org/details/myyearofflopsavc0000rabi | location=New York | publisher=Scribner | isbn=978-1439153123 }} * {{cite book | first1=Zack | last1=Handlen | first2=Todd | last2=VanDerWerff | author-mask2=Emily St. James | date=October 16, 2018 | title=Monsters Of The Week: The Complete Critical Companion To The X-Files | url=https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/monsters-of-the-week_9781419732478/ | location=New York | publisher=Abrams Press | isbn=978-1419732478 }}
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== *{{Official website}}
{{Paste Media Group}} {{The Onion}} {{Univision Communications}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:A.V. Club}} Category:The Onion Category:Mass media in Chicago Category:Newspapers established in 1993 Category:American review websites Category:Online newspapers with defunct print editions Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions