Welcome to The Parting Shot! Your weekly dose of pop culture with H. Alan Scott. Conversations with celebrities, award show coverage, chats with industry insiders and the lowdown on exactly what to watch, read and listen to.

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Comedian Jack Whitehall is trading punchlines for the “good type of nerves” in the new series The Burbs. In this latest role, the British comedian navigates the “uncomfortable territories” of neighborhood life, a setting he finds surprisingly familiar. “I grew up in the suburbs of London—a very suburban street with a creepy Victorian house and a ghostly figure, who was usually just my father.” In this remake of the 1989 film of the same name, Whitehall and Keke Palmer play a couple who move back to his small suburban town, only to discover it’s not exactly what they were bargaining for. “I felt very familiar with that world, even if it’s now transposed to an American setting.” Speaking of his father, Michael, Whitehall is so glad their reality series Travels with My Father continues to help and entertain millions. “I feel so lucky that I had that time with him.” Despite Whitehall being busy with this show and Prime Video’s Malice, he still laments (jokingly) that his father has since ditched him for his own thing. “He even has his own podcast now!” 

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Harry Melling is very aware his work in the new film Pillion is about as far away as he can get from his portrayal of Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter franchise. “A lot of people, they’ll go, ‘Wow, Dudley Dursley’s in this kinky movie.’ And I don’t know what to say about that.” Fortunately for Melling, critics are praising his performance as a shy man, Colin, entering the BDSM subculture through a relationship with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). “What I loved about the story is meeting him in this brave moment of going, ‘I’m gonna give this a go.’ Watching him explore what he wants.” For Melling, this role is another example of how the actor is challenging the difficulties some child actors can have moving into more adult roles. “I always knew that I wanted to do this properly. Like I was a massive theater nerd, so I wanted to do theater, I wanted to work with the great movie directors. I took steps to bridge the gap.” With Pillion, it’s clear Melling is all grown up. 

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The Traitors star Colton Underwood talks strategy, his battle with Lisa Rinna and why the internet has his journey all wrong.

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Paul Giamatti on joining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, fulfilling his "dream role" to play a Klingon pirate, reflecting on The Holdovers and the persistent myth that he’s already won an Oscar. (He hasn’t, but should.) 

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Legendary composer and lyricist Marc Shaiman joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss his highly anticipated new book, Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner, and share intimate stories from his storied career in Hollywood and on Broadway. Marc dives into his deep bond with the late, great Rob Reiner, reflecting on their friendship and the creative synergy that defined so much of their work together. He also pulls back the curtain on his legendary collaborations with icons Bette Midler and Billy Crystal, offering a firsthand look at the chemistry behind some of entertainment's most memorable moments. Plus, Marc revisits the vibrant world of Hairspray, detailing the journey of bringing that modern classic to life. It is a heartfelt and hilarious conversation with a true titan of the industry about the art of collaboration and the stories behind the songs we love. 

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In this episode of Parting Shot, we sit down with the "Powerhouse in Pigtails" herself, Margaret Josephs. While the future of Real Housewives of New Jersey remains a hot topic, Josephs is busy proving she is much more than a reality star. We dive into her "full circle" journey as a licensing expert—from the Macbeth Collection to her new TikTok Shop sensation, Soirée. Josephs also gets transparent about her wellness journey with LifeRX and explains why authenticity has always been her ultimate business strategy. Whether you're a Bravo superfan or a budding entrepreneur, this conversation on the art of the deal is a must-listen. Josephs discusses everything from navigating the "generational trauma" of the RHONJ cast to why she is leaning back into her creative roots to build a massive lifestyle empire. 

Shop Soirée: https://drinksoiree.com/ 

Learn more about LifeRX: https://tinyurl.com/mv8yzufs 

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Academy Award nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss her latest lead role in the Netflix thriller The Rip. Catalina reflects on the 20-year legacy of her breakout performance in Maria Full of Grace and shares what it’s really like working alongside industry titans Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Plus, she offers a rare, behind-the-curtain piece of advice for first-time Oscar nominees navigating the whirlwind of awards season. 

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What happens when the ultimate reality TV strategist decides to turn the camera on the genre itself? This week, we’re joined by two-time Survivor legend Stephen Fishbach to celebrate the release of his propulsive debut novel, Escape! Stephen pulls back the curtain on reality TV production, exploring the psychological toll of being turned into a television character and the thin line between fame and humiliation. 

We dive deep into why he chose a jungle survival competition as the setting for his thriller and how much of his own lived experience made it onto the page. From looking back at his legacy to discussing the current state of the game ahead of Survivor 50, Stephen offers a masterclass in both strategy and storytelling. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott even put him on the spot to find out if the master strategist would ever join Alan Cumming in the castle for a season of The Traitors. Whether you're a die-hard member of the Survivor community or just a fan of sharp, bingeable fiction, this is a fascinating look at the human beings working inside the entertainment machine. 

Get your copy of Escape! at the link below: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/792925/escape-by-stephen-fishbach/ 

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We now live in a world where Kate Hudson is a two-time Academy Award nominee. Let that sink in. 

The 98th Academy Award nominations are officially out, and while we’re usually the first to complain about the Academy playing it safe, this year they chose violence. From historic record-breaking hauls to the complete and utter erasure of Oz, the nominations for the Class of 2026 are nothing if not dramatic. 

Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by colleagues Lauren Giella and Kyle McGovern to react to every snub, surprise, and "shook" moment of the season. 

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