In this episode: A look ahead to next year's awards shows… 

Plus, two compelling documentaries that are worth seeking out.

“The Stranger at the Gate” tells the story of a U-S Marine with a plan to bomb a mosque. The compassion he was met with from the members of the congregation set him on a very different path

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

In this episode: As we await a verdict in Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault trial in Los Angeles, some new lawsuits have been filed against Bill Cosby and filmmaker James Toback in New York.

Plus, my conversation with writer, comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani about his new Hulu series, “Welcome to Chippendales” and why he was reluctant at first to take on the role.

And I'll speak with Anna Diop, star of "Nanny," a horror film centered on a recent immigrant from Senegal working as a caregiver for a family in New York City.

In this episode: It’s one thing to eat turkey. 

It’s another thing to release one.  A Thanksgiving Disney disaster. Plus, John talks to Emma Corrin, star of a new steamy remake of once-banned Lady Chatterley’s lover, still controversial after almost a hundred years.

But first, one woman’s crusade to expose the family that helped fuel the opioid crisis and remove their name from famous museums, as documented by Oscar-winning director Laura Poitras

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

In this episode: The latest in the legal fallout of the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last year…

Plus, I’ll talk with filmmaker Noah Baumbach about his new movie “White Noise," an adaptation of Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel of the same name, starring Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver. And I'll chat with comedian Chris Estrada about his Hulu series “This Fool,” set in his hometown of South L.A. 

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In this bonus episode: You may have heard the big news that after losing billions of dollars on its streaming platforms, Disney CEO Bob Chapek was fired Sunday night. The new boss is the same as the old boss…Bob Iger. He ran the company from 2005 until he announced his retirement in 2020, when Chapek took over. The news broke during the Disney Plus live broadcast of Elton John’s concert at Dodger Stadium, which was supposed to be a big night for Chapek, in a much better way.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

On this week’s episode – “Wakanda Forever” is a box office bright spot, but most other films just aren’t filling seats.

Plus, the new movie “She Said” is about the New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein story and helped launch the Me Too movement. I’ll talk with Zoe Kazan, one of the stars of the film.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In this episode: What the Walt Disney Company’s latest earnings report tells us about how the entertainment industry is trying to reinvent itself - and how it’s going so far.

Plus, John talks with the director and co-writer of the first-ever German film adaptation of “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In this episode: One bright spot at the box office? Horror films are making a killing.

Plus, actor Jeremy Strong of HBO’s Succession fame, talks about his new movie “Armageddon Time,” and why he says acting sometimes requires accessing your worst potential.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In this week's episode: An opera about an enslaved Islamic scholar from Michael Abels, the composer of Jordan Peele's horror films.

Plus, Tar is writer/director Todd Field's first film in 15 years... He wrote it for Cate Blanchett, who jumped at the demanding role.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

On this week’s episode – after multiple arrests, allegations of grooming, and felony burglary charges, why is Warner Brothers still standing by Ezra Miller?

Plus, a fascinating new documentary breaks down the ways that women in film are objectified through shot design.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.