First, Katey Rich talks to the star and director of Empire of Light, inspired by the loneliness of early pandemic lockdowns and Mendes’s own mother. Then Rebecca Ford talks to the writer and director of Tár, who is happy about any fan theories about his movie— but won’t reveal how Lydia Tár got her EGOT. 
 E-mail us at littlegoldmen@vf.com  Find Little Gold Men on Twitter: @HWD  Follow our hosts: @kateyrich, @rilaws, @beccamford, @davidcanfield97  Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs.  

Interviews: Olivia Colman and Sam Mendes (Empire of Light) and Todd Field (Tár)

Little Gold Men is the inside story of Hollywood, from awards shows and red-carpet premieres to the hard work and whisper campaigns that get people there. Weekly episodes feature obsessive, expert conversations about the best of television and film, with special guest appearances from stars, creators, and critics. LGM also dives deep into Oscar history, and offers insight into all the other awards that make up Hollywood’s continual dash toward glitz and glory. For more on Little Gold Men, visit vanityfair.com/podcast/little-gold-men

TV & Film

The summer box office seems to be revived thanks to Inside Out 2, but does its success mean we will be stuck with sequels? David and Richard discuss the prospects and recommend some quieter films worthy of checking out this season. Plus, as nominations voting for the Emmy Awards closes next week, they make a plug for some of their favorite shows and performances in contention. 

Are we trapped in an endless loop of sequel land?

John Mulaney gives us a peek into the making of Everybody’s in LA and shares his favorite moments from the live show. Then, Jessica Lange joins us to connect the dots between her former characters and her current roles in The Great Lillian Hall and Mother Play.  

John Mulaney and Jessica Lange on Making New Art with Old Friends

On this week’s roundtable episode of the Little Gold Men podcast, the panelists discuss Broadway’s biggest night, when a play with music just might outshine all the musicals.

Predicting the Big Winners at This Year’s Tony Awards

New York theater icon Liza Colón-Zayas joins the show this week ahead of The Bear’s season three premiere for an emotional reflection on her long, at times painful journey to the FX phenomenon—for which she may net her first-ever Emmy nomination next month. Then, fellow first-time contender Jonathan Bailey goes deep on his epic queer romance Fellow Travelers, and the rich bond he developed with co-star Matt Bomer. 

The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas on Finding Her Breakout Role After 30 Years on Screen

David is joined by Vanity Fair staff writers Chris Murphy and Savannah Walsh for an in-depth conversation on the state of the Emmy race, from the controversy swirling around limited-series frontrunner Baby Reindeer to the impact of Shōgun’s eleventh-hour recategorization as a drama series. Plus: Following Hacks’ rapturously received third season, can it challenge The Bear’s comedy crown?

Interviews: Olivia Colman and Sam Mendes (Empire of Light) and Todd Field (Tár)

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