Contending at the Water Cooler

This week, we’re breaking down our complicated reactions to two wildly different films and a television show. All three of us have seen Demi Moore in The Substance, so it’s finally time to break down those wild plot twists and turns. And that ending… Then, Joey and Clarence bring Megan up to speed on the horror… the horror… of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis. Finally, Megan shares her reaction to the first episode of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

We close our podcast, as always, with the Flash Forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

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Podcast Music:

The post Podcast: Going Deep Into ‘The Substance,’ ‘Megalopolis,’ and More appeared first on The Contending.

Joey recently dove into the 2025 Oscars Best Actress race, which he called “Another Best Actress Bloodbath.” He brings that analysis to Contending at the Water Cooler along with a first time guest to the podcast: The Contending staff writer Frank J. Avella. We all dive into the bloodbath, figure out who are the nomination locks, and who lives on the periphery as the playing field becomes a little more clear.

We close our podcast, as always, with the Flash Forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

We’re expanding the reach of our podcast, so we’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Podcast Music:

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As is the tradition at the Water Cooler, Team Contending gathers in full (minus Frank J. Avella) to break down the winners, the losers, and the overall production of last night’s 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

Instead of the media we’re most anticipating, we put series and performances in our Emmy Time Capsule to open this time next year!

We’re expanding the reach of our podcast, so we’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Podcast Music:

The post Podcast: Team Contending Gathers To Review / Argue About the 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards appeared first on The Contending.

This weekend’s Creative Arts Emmy Awards saw FX’s Shōgun receive a record number of wins for a series in a single year. So does that mean the series will dominate the Drama categories on Sunday night’s Primetime Emmy ceremony? Does Hacks‘ shut-out this past weekend mean it will receive similar treatment at the hands of The Bear? We talk about all of this as we prepare for Sunday’s 76th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

But first, Joey talks about his experience at the Toronto International Film Festival and the films he loved there.

As always, we list the media we’re most anticipated in the upcoming week.

We’re expanding the reach of our podcast, so we’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Podcast Music:

The post Podcast: What Do the Creative Arts Emmys Tell Us About Next Weekend’s Primetime Emmy Awards? appeared first on The Contending.

It’s only Joey and Clarence at the Water Cooler this week as Megan’s taking the weekend off. Clarence reviews his experience at this year’s fantastic Telluride Film Festival. Joey launches from there to preview his upcoming travel to the Toronto International Film Festival. What movies overlap? What new movies will Joey cover for The Contending at the Toronto International Film Festival? Have a listen and find out?

As always, we list the media we’re most anticipated in the upcoming week.

We’re expanding the reach of our podcast, so we’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings!

Or click here!

Podcast Music:

The post Podcast: Recapping the Telluride Film Festival, Previewing the Toronto International Film Festival appeared first on The Contending.

Welcome to The Contending’s Contending at the Water Cooler podcast! Hopefully, if everything goes well, you’re able to subscribe, download, and listen to our latest podcast. If not, then no worries! We will figure it all out.

This week, Clarence, Megan, and Joey bring their annual tradition of the Fantasy Oscar pool to The Contending. They each select five actors, five actresses, and three films to track throughout the year. Each selection earns points for awards at festival, critics groups, guilds, and of course the 2025 Academy Awards. Joey won last year. Will he repeat?

Then, Joey and Megan break down Zoe Kravitz’s Blink Twice, now playing in theaters.

As always, we list the media we’re most anticipated in the upcoming week.

We’re expanding the reach of our podcast, so we’re deeply appreciative for your shares, likes, and positive ratings!

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Podcast Music:

The post Podcast: ‘Blink Twice!’ It’s a New Dawn, A New Day, A New Website, and We’re Feelin’ Fantasy Oscar appeared first on The Contending.

Joey, Megan, and Clarence break down the top races in the 2024 Emmy race just as voting members of the Television Academy cast their ballots. But first, we catch up on a few housekeeping items and revisit a few things we’ve been watching in our downtime.

As always we close with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

Thanks for listening and thank you, in advance, for subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcasts!

The post Emmys 2024: Taking Stock of the Top Categories As the Television Academy Cast Their Ballots appeared first on Awards Daily TV.

Clarence Moye sits down with Emmy-winning composer Jeff Russo who returns to the Emmy conversation this year with Fargo Year 5.

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The post Emmy-Winning Composer Jeff Russo Returns To Noah Hawley’s ‘Fargo’ World, Emmy Contention appeared first on Awards Daily TV.

Clarence brings the Cooler up to speed on Disney’s upcoming film slate fresh from his attendance at D23’s Disney Entertainment Expo. On the way, he caught Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain’s Mothers’ Instinct on the place as did Megan on another flight. They talk about that film and wonder why it didn’t receive a broader cinematic release.

But first, they chat briefly about their upcoming venture: The Contenders.

As always we close with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

Thanks for listening and thank you, in advance, for subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcasts!

The post D23, ‘Mothers’ Instinct,’ and a Few Words On Our New Venture appeared first on Awards Daily TV.

On another podcast favorite, Megan, Joey, and Clarence break down two additional music Emmy categories — Main Title Theme and Music and Lyrics — with small snippets of each nominated entry so you too can follow along at home!

As always we close with the flash forward to the media we’re most anticipating in the upcoming week.

Thanks for listening and thank you, in advance, for subscribing and rating us on Apple Podcasts!

The post 2024 Emmys: Making Sweet Music With the Emmy Nominated Main Title Themes, Music and Lyrics appeared first on Awards Daily TV.