After five seasons playing Gregory on ABC’s Abbott Elementary, Tyler James Williams is adding a new title to his job: director. “I think for a while, I have been wanting to get my hands dirty in another aspect of the process.” The actor learned that he approaches directing differently because of his acting background. “My brain thinks in act breaks and pacing, and I guess finding the funniest way to see something and show something.” This evolution for Williams is just another notch in an already impressive career that introduced characters like his breakout lead role as a child actor on Everybody Hates Chris and Lionel in the film Dear White People. “There's definitely a consistent thread that runs through all of them. That is a guy who's trying to find his way ultimately, who may be a bit more awkward and outside of the norm than most people, but who's sincerely trying.” And because his work on Abbott Elementary has resulted in multiple Emmy nominations, that's inspired impressive red-carpet moments with co-star Chris Perfetti. “We understood that we may have a little bit more hill to climb. So with that being the case, we're gonna have fun with it.” 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The fire has been extinguished—or has it? Today I’m sitting down with the spicy DD Fuego to unpack her exit from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18.  

DD doesn't hold back on why she feels she shouldn't have been in the bottom, the "unfiltered" truth about her elimination, and how she’s handling it. Plus, we dive into her iconic relationship with her boyfriend James (yes, that James from the legendary episode of Real Housewives of New York). 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you put a Real Housewife legend and a Big Brother winner in a Scottish castle? Apparently, a whole lot of being misunderstood.  

I sat down with Porsha Williams and Ian Terry to discuss their (criminally short) time on The Traitors. It was truly a case of "wrong place, wrong time" for both of them. Ian—our resident genius—was murdered in the night because he was simply too smart to live. Meanwhile, Porsha was busy being "Porsha 4 Real," which the rest of the group naturally mistook for Traitor behavior.  

We talked about the paranoia, the banishments, and so much more. And I’ll be chatting with all the faithfuls and traitors this season, so watch this space.  

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dacre Montgomery chats Dead Man's Wire, working with Gus Van Sant, life after Stranger Things and just how to pronounce his name. 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when your own eyes and ears become a weapon against you? This week, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) and Melissa Barrera (Scream, Abigail) to declassify their mind-bending new Peacock series, The Copenhagen Test. (It’s seriously so good!)  

(And yes, Simu was asked about Oh, Mary!)  

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott sits down with the legendary Stephen Lang to discuss the next chapter of the Avatar saga. Known for his powerhouse portrayal of Colonel Miles Quaritch, Lang takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash and reveals how the shifting landscape of Pandora is changing the man we thought we knew. 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes, Asher Grodman is a two-time Critics Choice nominee for his performance as Trevor on CBS’ Ghosts, but he knows what you (and host H. Alan Scott) really wants to talk about: his legs. Sure, the work too, but as a ghost who has to “live” for eternity with no pants on, one is bound to wonder just how Grodman keeps it all… in. We chatted about that, the incredible ensemble on Ghosts, why his performance and character are surprisingly nuanced, and where he thinks things are going for him this season. (There’s romance!) He also attempts to explain sports to H. Alan.  

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Director Paul Feig wants you to support local movie theaters, ideally at his new movie The Housemaid, based on the popular book series by Freida McFadden. “My last three movies have been streamers, and thank God I got to make movies, but I make movies for audiences in a room.” Adapting a popular book into a film is “intimidating,” but Feig is content with McFadden’s approval. “She said she thinks it’s better than the book. That was a huge thing to hear from the author.” The film follows Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a live-in maid for Nina (Amanda Seyfried), who begins to discover this perfect family is hiding dark secrets. “The marketing department’s line says, ‘Spend the holidays with a family more dysfunctional than yours.’ And I think that’s kinda true.” Best known for directing comedies like Bridesmaids and Spy, Feig has created his own genre of thrillers with a comedic edge. 

Watch my interview with Paul, Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/paul-feigs-genre-expanding-take-housemaid-11221295 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James L. Brooks, director of classics like Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News and As Good as it Gets, returns to form with Ella McCay, his first film in 15 years. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott chatted with Brooks about the inspiration behind the story and how the women in his life inspired so many of his iconic female characters. Later in the chat Scott chatted with Jamie Lee Curtis about what it’s like to be asked to be in a Brooks film and Emma Mackey on the stress of playing the title character.  

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/9plwtg4aemo 

Read the feature in the latest issue of Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/james-l-brooks-returns-to-form-with-ella-mccay-11183470 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wagner Moura chats with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about The Secret Agent, the Oscars buzz surrounding it and why “carrying Brazil with us” makes the moment so special. 

Transcript: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/wagner-moura-on-the-secret-agent-oscars-and-his-return-to-brazilian-film-11182568 

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture 

Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to Newsweek’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.