Pop Culture Confidential

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Episode 90: Jennifer Haley – Writer, Mindhunter Nov 29, 2017

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Thrilling, dark, gripping and tense are just some of the words used to describe the hit Nexflix series Mindhunter. Playwright Jennifer Haley is a writer and co-producer on the series, and joins us this week to share her experience getting into the minds of FBI agents and serial killers. Mindhunter is a meticulously paced crime drama based on the writings of the pioneering serial killer profiler John E Douglas. Along with his team, they interviewed the likes of Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, and Ed Kemper during the seventies and eighties which resulted in a redefining of criminal profiling forever. The series has wonderful casting, beautiful cinematography, and some of the creepiest conversations you will hear this year. Lead by David Fincher who is Executive Producer and director of four of the episodes, the writers on Mindhunter have delivered an amazing array of characters.

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Episode 89: Amanda Hess, The New York Times Nov 20, 2017

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In light of the perpetually expanding list of people accused of sexual abuse in the entertainment industry, we speak to journalist Amanda Hess about her New York Times article “How the Myth of the Artistic Genius Excuses the Abuse of Women”. Host Christina Jeurling Birro speaks to Hess about separating the art from the artist, an industry in denial, why the myth of the artistic genius has been used to excuse abusive behavior, Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., the power of journalism, how we should continue covering this story and more.

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Episode 88: Breaking Bad 101 with Alan Sepinwall Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

On this week’s episode, we are joined by writer and TV critic Alan Sepinwall to discuss his new book Breaking Bad 101: The Complete Critical Companion, an unrivalled guide to one of television’s most important shows.  Sepinwall is a TV critic at Uproxx, He is also the author of the book The Revolution Was Televised, which is a favorite. Sepinwall is also co-author of TV The Book with another great critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who has been a guest on the podcast multiple times. Sepinwall’s latest book is THE complete guide to Breaking Bad, covering each episode of the series in Vince Gilligan’s phenomenal series that reinvented the TV narrative in so many ways.

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Episode 87: Director Kasper Collin & Sasha Stone of Awards Daily Oct 25, 2017

Show notes

On this week’s episode, we speak to Kasper Collin who directed the critically acclaimed music documentary I Called Him Morgan. Collin’s documentary accounts the life and musical legacy of jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan and the life of his common-law wife Helen Morgan, who would first save his life, then kill him. The documentary premiered at the Venice Film Festival and Metacritic announced the film as the best reviewed movie of the first half of 2017. We also speak to Sasha Stone of Awardsdaily.com to discuss the entertainment industry’s reaction to the disturbing sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and the Oscar Academy’s decision to expel Weinstein.

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Episode 86: Jeff Schaffer – Executive Producer, Curb Your Enthusiasm Oct 05, 2017

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After a six-year hiatus – Curb Your Enthusiasm is back! On this week’s episode, we speak to executive producer, writer and director Jeff Schaffer who takes us behind the scenes of the latest season with all of its awkwardness, insensitivity and laugh-out-loud comedy. Mr. Schaffer also speaks with host Christina Jeurling Birro about working with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld on 'Seinfeld', what he learned writing for the Harvard Lampoon, and much more.

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Episode 85: Pamela Adlon Sep 18, 2017

Show notes

On this episode of Pop Culture Confidential, Pamela Adlon speaks about life, parenting, and her jewel of a show – Better Things. After a fantastic, Emmy nominated first season of her semi-autobiographical series, Adlon is back with an already critically acclaimed Season 2 of Better Things. Pamela Adlon directs, produces, co-writes and stars in the show, which has given us some of the most touching and relatable comedy about a single working mother of three.

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Episode 84: The 2017 Fall Movie and Oscar Preview Special Sep 14, 2017

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Last week we covered 2017’s Fall TV and Emmy awards, but September also marks the start of Oscar season and the big Fall movie releases. There are also the major film festivals like Venice, Toronto, and probably most important in terms of Oscar predictions – the Telluride Film Festival. In the last decade, eight Best Picture Oscar winners, including 12 Years a Slave, Argo, Birdman and Moonlight made their North American debut at Telluride. You could say that the festival has become something of an Oscar predictor. Joining us to talk about the Fall movies, Telluride and the start of Oscar season, is writer and senior contributor at Awardscircuit.com, Mark Johnson.

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Episode 83: The 2017 Fall TV & Emmy Prediction Special Sep 07, 2017

Show notes

It’s here! The annual Pop Culture Confidential Fall TV preview and Emmy awards prediction special. We take a look at the Fall TV season, what shows and trends are we most looking forward too, and we share our 2017 Emmy predictions! Guiding us through all of this - critic Jazz Tangcay, lead writer at Awardsdaily.com.

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Episode 82: Writer & Director Ruben Östlund Aug 25, 2017

Show notes

Our guest, Swedish director/writer Ruben Östlund, is the newly crowned winner of the Cannes Palme d’Or for his latest film "The Square", which is described as a poignant satirical drama reflecting our times. The suspenseful satire tackles the Swedish art scene, politics, media, community and national identity. The film stars Danish actor Claes Bang, Elizabeth Moss, Dominic West and motion capture artist Terry Notary, who gives a mesmerizing performance as the “ape-man” during a black-tie museum dinner. Östlund’s previous film "Force Majeure" won him the Jury Prize at Canne in 2014 and became a huge international hit. It’s about a father who runs away from danger instead of protecting his family and the emotional aftermath. The situation brings up the expectations of manliness and the uncomfortable humor of life itself. It was recently announced that "The Square" will represent Sweden at the 2018 Academy Awards, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome its writer/director Ruben Östlund.

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Episode 81: Sterling K. Brown Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

An Emmy winner in 2016 for The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Emmy nominee this year for this role on the massive NBC hit This Is Us, Sterling K. Brown has had quite a year. Last year we were captivated by the excellent FX drama The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, starring this week’s guest along with Sara Paulson and John Travolta, just to name a few. Brown portrayed prosecutor Christopher Darden with a performance that was complex, nerve wrecking and critically acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Brown has had a long acting career with success on both stage and television but his role as Randall on This Is Us seems to have propelled him to the next level. His characters’ emotional journey and struggles have had audiences really connecting with the universal themes of family, joy and loss. The show ended the Spring season as the highest rated new network series among adults 18 to 49 with an impressive 12,8 million viewers watching the season 1 finale. This Is Us returns to NBC for its second season on September 26th with guest appearances by Sylvester Stallone, Dan Lauria and Debra Jo Rupp. Not to be missed! Brown can be seen in the upcoming film Marshall, alongside Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad and Kate Hudson. He is currently in production on three feature films; Marvel’s Black Panther, Fox’s The Predator, and Hotel Artemis, alongside Jodie Foster.

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