The Town with Matthew Belloni

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Society & Culture
**The Town with Matthew Belloni**

Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt is joined by major executives, dealmakers, and journalists, to discuss what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.

Latest Episodes:

Will Smith Resigns From the Academy Apr 02, 2022

Show notes

Matt reacts to Will Smith’s resignation from the Academy and explains the details of the decision.

Host: Matt Belloni

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2022 Grammy Awards and the State of the Music Industry Mar 31, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by Variety executive editor Shirley Halperin to look ahead to Sunday’s 2022 Grammy Awards. They forecast what we will see out of Kanye, whether this will be Olivia Rodrigo’s night, whether a Grammy win still matters to an artist's success, how Vegas as a venue will affect the show, and how streaming saved the music industry.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Shirley Halperin

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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WWE President Nick Khan Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by WWE president Nick Khan to chat about the WWE as a media entity, including its deal with Peacock and whether a potential acquisition is looming. Nick talks about how the WWE wants to develop new wrestlers, changing the narrative of the sport, The Rock’s career, 'Wrestlemania,' and more.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Nick Khan

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Oscars Aftermath Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

It’s the morning after, and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins Matt to give a report on the 2022 Academy Awards. They discuss the fallout after the Will Smith–Chris Rock slap, the viewership spike after an all-time low in 2021, and if the modified show format was a success. Later, Matt and Craig review Matt’s past month of predictions.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Live From Inside the Oscars: The Will Smith-Chris Rock Slap Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Live from inside the Dolby Theater at the Academy Awards, Matt and The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg react to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in the face onstage during the show.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Scott Feinberg

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme song: Devon Ronaldo

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How to Gamble on the Oscars Mar 25, 2022

Show notes

Oscar math expert Ben Zauzmer joins the show to outline his Oscars prediction model and to forecast who his model believes are mathematically the most likely winners in each category. Later, Matt gives a prediction of his own on the 2022 Oscars.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Zauzmer

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Do the Oscars Need to Be Saved? Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by author Mark Harris to discuss the Academy’s decision to cut eight categories from the live Oscars broadcast, and to debate whether or not the ceremony needs to be changed—and if so, how much? Later, Vulture’s Joe Adalian comes on to talk about Amazon hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards and whether awards shows can survive on streaming services.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Mark Harris and Joe Adalian

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The NFL Sunday Ticket Bidding War and How Peyton and LeBron Went Hollywood Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by co-head and partner at WME Sports Josh Pyatt to discuss why broadcasters are seeing huge paydays, which streaming service needs NFL Sunday Ticket the most, what effect the Manning-cast will have on future broadcasts, why some athletes succeed in building an entertainment business while others fail, and more. Matt finishes the show with a take on NFL announcers.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Josh Pyatt

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Do Stars Still Need Agents? Plus, Iger vs. Chapek, and Oscar Drama Begins! Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

Are the middlemen who have dominated Hollywood for decades in trouble? Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the future for Hollywood intermediaries, the ongoing turmoil at Disney, and Rachel Zegler of 'West Side Story’ not receiving an invitation to the Oscars.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Amazon Closes Deal to Acquire MGM. Now What? Mar 17, 2022

Show notes

Matt is joined by chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform Andy Wallenstein to discuss Amazon’s $6.5 billion purchase of MGM Studios and what this means for Amazon's future in the movie and television industry, how this will affect Amazon prime members, and how this will play out in Hollywood.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Andy Wallenstein

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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