The Town with Matthew Belloni

Latest Episodes:

A New Look at Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood’s Enablers Jul 11, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by New Yorker writer Ken Auletta to discuss his new book, ‘Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence,’ a biography detailing Weinstein’s rise to dominance in the film industry, his web of collusion, and his scramble to protect himself. Ken details the long and difficult process of writing and covering this story over the past two decades.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ken Auletta

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 10 Nicest Stars in Hollywood Jul 07, 2022

Show notes

There are many rumors about who celebrities really are when the cameras are off. Tabloids, manicured interviews, and public appearances often shape the perception of our favorite stars. But we don’t always know who they really are in real life. Is Matt Damon really that nice? What about Tom Hanks? Today, Matt and his former colleague at The Hollywood Reporter Lacey Rose draw from past interactions, connections, and word of mouth to put together their definitive list of the 10 nicest stars in Hollywood.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lacey Rose

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Predictions for Sun Valley’s Summer Camp for Billionaires Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the annual Sun Valley conference, dubbed a “summer camp for billionaires,” where chief executives and board chairmen gather for private conversations that often lead to major deals across the tech and media landscape. Matt and Lucas discuss their experience attending Sun Valley conference in the past and prognosticate over which conversations could and should take place.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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CAA and the New Reality of Talent Agencies Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by author and journalist James Andrew Miller to discuss the ramifications of CAA's acquisition of ICM, including the consolidation of top-level talent agencies, why ICM decided to sell, how this will affect the future of content, and more.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: James Andrew Miller

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Producer Jason Blum on Money vs. Creativity Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by producer, founder, and chief executive of Blumhouse Productions, Jason Blum, to discuss the evolution of economics in the entertainment industry in the age of streaming. Later, Matt runs Jason through a lightning round of questions about various topics in Hollywood.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Jason Blum

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2022 Half-Year Hollywood Awards Jun 27, 2022

Show notes

As we near the halfway point of 2022, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw host the first-ever Half-Year Hollywood Awards. They give out awards for the winner and loser of the past six months, Biggest Publicist Fail, Head-scratcher Deal, Most Annoying Trend, predict who will win the next six months, and more.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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You Will Pay More for Disney Parks and You Will Like It Jun 23, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by theme park journalist and podcast host Carlye Wisel to talk about the Disney Parks ecosystem, what's new post-pandemic, how they are making all this money, and the future of this important part of the entertainment industry. Then, Matt gives a prediction about the upcoming movie ‘Elvis.’

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Carlye Wisel

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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How the Pandemic Changed the Way You Consume Entertainment Jun 21, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the pandemic has affected movies, live TV, streaming, and music. They break down the disappointing opening weekend for Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ and how it may foretell the future of moviegoing, a dip in TV viewership across the country, the future of showrunner megadeals, and the music boom of the 2020s.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Who Survives at the New CNN? Jun 16, 2022

Show notes

CNN is facing a major makeover at the hands of its new leaders David Zaslav and Chris Licht, but it could mean trouble for old correspondents. Matt brings on Puck writer and CNN expert Dylan Byers to break down Licht’s new strategy and its potential for success.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Dylan Byers

Producer: Devon Manze

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The ‘Stranger Things’ vs. ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Value War Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by Julia Alexander of Parrot Analytics to discuss the record-breaking opening week for ‘Stranger Things,' the series' competition with 'Obi-Wan Kenobi,' and the most valuable properties in streaming.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Julia Alexander

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Devon Manze

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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