Pop Culture Confidential

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Episode 174: Holland Taylor "Hollywood" Apr 22, 2020

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Icon Holland Taylor joins us this week! Ms Taylor has a long career in the theatre and on Broadway. She’s starred in films like ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ and on television in shows like ‘Bosom Buddies’ with Tom Hanks, ‘Two and a Half Men’ and she won an Emmy for her role on ‘The Practice’. Recently we saw her in Jay Roachs’ ‘Bombshell’. Now she's starring in Ryan Murphys, much awaited, new Netflix series ‘Hollywood' as studio exec Ellen Kincaid. The cast also includes Broadway icon Patti LuPone, Darren Criss and Queen Latifah. Producer Janet Mock recently described the show like this: "HOLLYWOOD is a love letter to our little industry town where dreamers dwell, stars are born, and magic transcends reality.” ‘Hollywood’ premieres on Netflix May 1st, 2020

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Episode173: Italian journalist Alessio Lasta, reporting from the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic Apr 19, 2020

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For the award winning Italian journalist Alessio Lasta reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic, in Northern Italy, is like nothing he has ever done before. It's like fighting a war with an invisible enemy, he says. Mr. Lasta is the the Milano based correspondent for the weekly, political talk show "Piazzapulita" on channel La7, one of the most viewed talk shows in Italy. His reports from inside the intensive care units were seen in Italy and around the world, and they changed the perception of the Covid 19 pandemic In our conversation we talk about how, and when, he first started to realize that the pandemic had overwhelmed the region, the personal stories he has encountered, how he works, the lockdown, Italy’s phase-2 and how the stories he has reported on have affected him tremendously. Alessio Lasta has reported for Rai and Mediaset. He has reported on the Italian bank crisis, right wing extremism and is the author of the book "La più bella. La Costituzione tradita. Gli italiani che resistono", published by "add editore", a reportage that shows the lives of many forgotten Italians, without rights". Twitter: @alessiolasta @PiazzapulitaLA7

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Epi172 writer Chris Smith on Trump's press briefings,claims ‘total authority' +the rise of Gov Cuomo Apr 15, 2020

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Journalist and author Chris Smith (Vanity Fair, NyMag) joins us to discuss Trumps press briefings, his claims to have “total authority” and his relationship to the media during the Corona pandemic. Plus , Mr Smith has followed and written extensively about NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and talks about his background, his relationship to Trump and how he is handling the crisis. Chris Smith is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair, New York Magazine and his recent book, The Daily Show (The Book), is a New York Times Bestseller.

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Episode 171: Steve Schirripa, 'Sopranos', 'Talking Sopranos' Apr 10, 2020

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We had the best time talking to actor Steve Schirripa (Sopranos, Blue Bloods) who played one of our favorite characters on The Sopranos, Bobby ‘Baccala’ Baccalieri; the big hearted wise-guy, Uncle Juniors caretaker who later married Tony Soprano’s sister Janice. In the conversation Mr Schirripa takes us back to filming the first scene with the the great James Gandolfini and the rest of the crew, how Bobby changed over the arc of the series, creator David Chase attention to detail and and how he found out about Bobbys death. And, about his new podcast! Sopranos co-stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa host the definitive Sopranos re-watch podcast. More info here: www.talkingsopranos.com

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Episode 170: Arian Moayed 'Succession' Apr 04, 2020

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We had such a great conversation with actor, writer, theatre director and arts educator Arian Moayed! We talked about Mr Moayed's background, acting and healing through the arts and, of course, his terrific performance as Stewy Hosseini on HBO's ‘Succession’… SO many great Succession stories, it will blow your minds! Behind the scenes of the show, great anecdotes, and good tales of Stewy and the dysfunctional Roy family! The Iranian born, Chicago bred, Tony nominated Arian Moayed (The Humans, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) is the co-co-founder of Waterwell, multimedia theater company that also teaches drama to hundreds of public school students in the New York area. He will star in Shonda Rhimes upcoming Netflix series ‘Inventing Anna’ and, of course, ‘Succession’ season 3 BONUS!!!! On PCC Premium this week 10 minutes of bonus material; an extra deep dive into a Succession scene with Arian Moayed! Become a member here: popcultureconfidential.supportingcast.fm Thanks for your support!

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Episode 169: The changing landscape of TV/Film with Erik Anderson. + our 'Tiger King' deep dive! Mar 31, 2020

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On this episode Christina Jeurling Birro and Erik Anderson (AwardsWatch) discuss some big industry news during these hard pressed and ever changing times: China reopened, then quickly shut down the countries movies theaters, the new landscape of television that’s on the internet and more. We talk about how New York Governor Cuomo’s press briefings are striking a nerve. And what else are we watching and looking forward to? From the entertaining new show Making The Cut/Project Runway, to the excellent season three of Ozark to the new series Tales from the Loop. Plus we take a real deep dive into the Netflix doc everyone is watching ‘Tiger King’! Erik Anderson www.awardswatch.com

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Epi 168: Kimmel, Fallon and how late night is tackling the Corona crisis. With journalist Jen Chaney Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

The show must go on----from home! Journalist and TV critic Jen Chaney (New York Magazine, NY Times) joins me to talk about how the late night talk shows are tackling their productions during the Coronavirus epidemic. The TV and Film industries are changing minute by minute as the Covid-19 outbreak shuts down productions and wreaks havoc on the industries and the people working in them. And it’s a new situation for the late night talk shows as well; Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert and the rest are finding other ways to keep their shows going. Many are broadcasting from their homes while in self-isolation: via iPhone, with the help of their kids, with guests on Skype. I talk to Jen Chaney about how this experiment is going and what it means for the future of late night.

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Episode 167: Judith Heumann "Crip Camp" (Netflix), Author "Being Heumann" Mar 24, 2020

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This week we are honored to have disability rights activist Judith Heumann on the show. Ms Heumann is the author of “Being Heumann” (together with Kristen Joiner) and stars in the new Netflix documentary “Crip Camp”, exec produced by Michelle and Barack Obama. She talks to us about how her experiences; like contracting polio in 1949, being denied the right to attend school at age five, facing discrimination in life and work, have shaped her activism and civil rights work. Judith Heumann is an internationally recognized leader in the disability rights community. She served in the Clinton Administration as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and she was appointed by President Obama as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. “Being Heumann” is on Amazon now and “Crip Camp” premieres on Netflix March 25th

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Epi 166 An update w/ Erik Anderson: the state of the film industry, movies abt self-isolation & more Mar 20, 2020

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Epi 166 An update w/ Erik Anderson: the state of the film industry, movies abt self-isolation & more by Pop Culture Confidential

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Episode 165: Writer/Producer Ed Burns "The Plot Against America" Mar 13, 2020

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This week on Pop Culture Confidential the great writer/producer Ed Burns. Burns, a former Baltimore detective and public school teacher, has together with David Simon written and produced some of TVs greatest shows, including "The Wire”. The Philip Roth novel "The Plot Against America” (published in 2004) imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey. The story follows the family as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation towards fascism. Now writers/producers David Simon and Ed Burns have taken on the book and made a 6 hour HBO miniseries starring Zoe Kazan, John Turturro and Winona Ryder. We talked to Ed Burns about the series, why Donald Trumps’s presidency makes the show so urgent right now, the future of democracy and so much more. “The Plot Against America” premieres on HBO on March 16th

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