Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, actors Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich sit down to discuss their gripping new psychological thriller A Talent for Murder. Mirren stars as the reclusive author Patricia Highsmith alongside Ehrenreich's young editor Edward who is tasked with persuading her to write another Tom Ripley novel. The co-stars dive into the fascinating motives behind Highsmith's legendary characters, the queer themes woven into her work and how they both took a deep dive to understand the brilliant but complicated author. Plus, they reveal why neither of them has a real-life talent for murder. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

I’m reacting to Alex Gibney’s new documentary film 'Musk,' and my biggest takeaway is fear. The power Elon Musk holds is vast and wide, and it begs the question: should a person this rich hold this much power? From AI to international relations with his Starlink service, Musk wields immense influence, and Gibney’s documentary does a fantastic job of laying it all out. 

I saw the film at the Ojai Documentary Film Festival in its first year, and 'Musk' was the opening night feature. The fact that this festival had a packed house for a nearly four-hour film says a lot about the event and the cultural moment documentary films are experiencing right now. 

Joining me to discuss 'Musk' is Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella. We break down the cult of personality around Elon Musk, the surging popularity of documentaries, and why the Ojai Documentary Film Festival really speaks to the moment nonfiction films are having. Listen to our full conversation on this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, director Peter Berg and stars Nicholas Galitzine, Ray Nicholson, Bill Skarsgård and Tom Francis discuss the intense reality of their new Netflix WWII epic The Mosquito Bowl. Adapted from Buzz Bissinger's nonfiction book, the film follows renowned college football players who put their rising careers on hold to fight in the Pacific after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The cast and director dive into the highly immersive filmmaking process, the camaraderie formed while shooting in remote Australia and the emotional toll of bringing one of the most brutal cinematic depictions of war to life. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

On this episode of The Parting Shot, the original New York City Housewives have finally returned to our screens! Sonja Morgan, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Ramona Singer, and Kelly Bensimon join the show to discuss their highly anticipated new E! series, The Golden Life.

After a massive fan outcry for the OGs to return, the women are proving that their fifties and sixties are their best years yet. We dive into how the new series—with a not-so-subtle nod to The Golden Girls—follows their genuine, unmanufactured friendships as they live it up in Palm Beach and the Hamptons. Plus, they open up about avoiding the classic reality TV trap, building successful careers outside the Bravo universe, and why viewers simply refused to accept any substitutes.

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot

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

If you’ve seen any of Jordan Klepper’s work on The Daily Show, one question begs to be asked: Why do supporters of Donald Trump keep talking to him at MAGA rallies? 

In this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, Jordan Klepper sits down with Newsweek to discuss his latest half-hour special, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags. Klepper breaks down the bizarre appeal of the camera, the tribalism and "costume party" atmosphere of modern political events, and how political narratives—like the recent shift to transphobia in Texas politics—are being used to distract voters. Plus, Klepper discusses media bias, the legacy of Jon Stewart, and how The Daily Show continues to shape the way audiences consume the news. 

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bTW8D97Rw2s

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

 Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

How did Young Sheldon, a prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, become the rare example of a successful spinoff? 

That’s exactly what Jessica Radloff’s new book, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, uncovers. On this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast, Jessica sits down with H. Alan Scott to reveal the behind-the-scenes secrets of the beloved sitcom. 

“We're not here to ruin anything, we're there to give you an insider's view into what made it work and a greater appreciation, and you're gonna learn a heck of a lot along the way,” Radloff told Newsweek. 

With the blessing of creators Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, Radloff shares how surprised she was by the cast's incredible candor. “I give the cast of Young Sheldon a lot of credit because they are in every sense a family and they will admit they are a family that will disagree. They are a family that has gone through hard times,” she says. “The stories they shared were so heartfelt and so human that it surprised me how willing they were to go there.” 

Ultimately, the show worked because of its universal relatability. “There's elements of everybody's family in this show. And that's what made you fall in love with them because you understood these dynamics. They exist in every single family.” 

Get Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jessica-radloff/young-sheldon/9781538777848/

Listen to more episodes of the Parting Shot Podcast on Newsweek, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

Hulu’s Phony brings White Lotus alums Connie Britton and Sam Nivola together for a suspenseful new thriller that pushes both actors into deeply uncomfortable territory. Nivola stars as Sonny, a young man who wakes up after a tragic accident only to find that his mother, Ellen (Britton), doesn't quite seem to be his mother. 

In this interview with Newsweek, Britton and Nivola break down the bizarre reality of the series and the thrill of actively running in the opposite direction of their past recognizable roles. Nivola opens up about the relief of stepping into the spotlight as a leading man (and navigating his new "internet boyfriend" status), while Britton jokes about her legendary television hair and why it deserves its own Emmy. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

On this episode of The Parting Shot, Jamie Lee Curtis reveals how a chance encounter with a limo driver sparked the idea for the new NBC comedy Newlyweds. She is joined by real-life spouses and co-stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly to discuss the joys of impulsively tying the knot in your sixties, the reality of navigating blended families, and the vital, communal experience of traditional network television. 

From portraying vibrant, sexual older adults on screen to showing younger generations the value of taking real-life risks, the cast breaks down why Newlyweds provides the exact kind of relatable comfort food audiences need right now. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

This week on the Parting Shot Podcast, H. Alan Scott is joined by Senior Reporter, Lauren Giella, to talk about the anxiety of navigating the internet right now. We tackle the impossible: avoiding spoilers for You Can See Everything. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's bizarre, boundary-pushing documentary covering the final days before Elizabeth Holmes went to prison just dropped in theaters on October 16, and we debate whether going in blind is even possible in the era of social media.

Then, we pivot to how the 2027 awards season is shaping up. Christopher Nolan's massive historical epic The Odyssey is already tracking for an unbelievable 16 Oscar nominations. With Matt Damon starring as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, we break down whether Nolan is headed for another undisputed Best Picture sweep, or if highly anticipated contenders like Dune: Part Three or Luca Guadagnino's Artificial can sneak in and steal the Academy's attention.

Listen to the full breakdown and let us know in the comments: have you been spoiled yet?

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

Do we really need another adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility? After speaking with the cast of director Georgia Oakley’s bold new film, the answer is an undeniable yes. 

By stripping away the polished veneer, pristine makeup, and rigid etiquette of traditional costume dramas, this adaptation uncovers an intimate, raw, and feminist portrait of the Dashwood women surviving on their own terms. 

In this episode of The Parting Shot, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott sat down with the cast—including Daisy Edgar-Jones (Elinor Dashwood), Caitríona Balfe (Mrs. Dashwood), Esmé Creed-Miles (Marianne Dashwood), Frank Dillane (John Willoughby), and Herbert Nordrum (Colonel Brandon). 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

Comedian Anna Roisman joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott on the Parting Shot podcast to break down a wild mix of pop culture headlines and seasonal comfort:

Kelly Clarkson’s "Big Mistake" Moment: Kelly was recently treated like Vivian Ward in an upscale shop, and we're unpacking the viral snub, the retail audacity, and why everyone loves a real-life Pretty Woman showdown. 

The Return to Stars Hollow: Why Gilmore Girls remains the undisputed autumn comfort binge, how the viewing rituals change as it heads to Prime Video, and whether Stars Hollow still holds up.

Shane Gillis Hosts Saturday Night Live: The fallout from Shane Gillis’ latest return to Studio 8H, the groans and laughs during his opening monologue, and what it says about the current state of late-night comedy.

Tune in for unfiltered hot takes, laughs, and Anna Roisman’s hilarious perspective on all three!

Connect with Anna Roisman:

Instagram: @annaroisman

TikTok: @annaroisman

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot

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

"Have a seat." For a generation of television viewers, few phrases carried as much weight as that one. On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, I sit down with screenwriter Ajon Singh to talk about Primetime, the new A24 film starring Robert Pattinson as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen. We get into the rise of the iconic Dateline NBC series, what its massive popularity says about us as a society and how Hansen has reacted to the film being made. Ajon also breaks down why Gen Z makes up nearly 70 percent of the film's audience and how modern social media algorithms have morphed Hansen's original premise into something even more chaotic. It is a fascinating look at the complicated legacy of justice as entertainment.

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot

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

With the real world feeling more like a 24/7 breaking news nightmare, it is no wonder we are all escaping into the comforting "competence porn" of Netflix's The Diplomat. On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, I sit down with the cast and creator of the Emmy-winning series to talk about its fourth season. Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell share why the show's fan base spans generations and the appeal of playing characters who are adjacent to real-world chaos without the personal danger. Creator Debora Cahn opens up about the pressure of bringing in The West Wing alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford, while Whitford gets real about why we desperately need shows that exalt public service. Plus, we talk about Keri's ongoing Emmy snubs and why her dream is to win a trophy while fast asleep.

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot

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

From the biggest Oscars blunder in history to a museum full of nightmares and Mark Zuckerberg's latest onscreen reckoning, we have a lot to talk about. Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella and H. Alan Scott break down this week's biggest pop culture moments on the Parting Shot podcast. We kick things off with the Academy Museum's new The Horror Show exhibit in Los Angeles and why it's a must-visit for scary movie fans. Then we get into Aaron Sorkin's 'The Social Reckoning' and why tech movies about Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman always feel a little outdated by the time they hit theaters. We also look back at the 10th anniversary of A24's 'Moonlight' and that unforgettable Best Picture mix-up with 'La La Land' at the Oscars.

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot

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

Three of the most talked-about books right now share one thing: queer themes. Josh Silver, author of Fruit Fly, joins H. Alan Scott on Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast to talk about sharing the spotlight with Marlon James' The Disappears and Douglas Stuart's John of John. "These two authors are like my heroes," he says. 

Silver explains how Fruit Fly found its readers with no marketing budget, carried by online book communities to gay and straight audiences alike. He talks about making the jump from his YA novels HappyHead and Traumaland to his first adult novel, and about the road that took him from actor to nurse to author. He also takes on the MM label, the readers who arrived by way of Heated Rivalry and a publishing industry that he says believes in authentic voices, as long as they sell. 

"Can we please call it a gay story?" 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

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

In 2004, thousands of women applied for a Fox reality show that promised to turn "ugly ducklings" into beauties. It was called The Swan. Contestants spent three months cut off from friends and family while undergoing cosmetic surgery and intense fitness regimens, and most had no idea a beauty pageant was waiting at the end. 

Now director Erin Lee Carr (Britney vs Spears, Mommy Dead and Dearest) revisits the show in the new Hulu documentary The Swan: Behind the Mirror. She joins H. Alan Scott on Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast to talk about what the show did to the women who lived it, the prizes that came with a tax bill and why she calls the women "patient zero for the internet's appetite to tear [people] apart." 

Carr also reckons with her own hypocrisy, the audience's role in the judgment and how Ozempic and today's reality TV prove The Swan never really went away. Plus, the answer every woman gave to her final interview question: Would you do it again? 

"We live in the world that The Swan built, in ways that we like to have outrage about and then comply with." Erin Lee Carr 

The Swan: Behind the Mirror is streaming now on Hulu. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

From the Poltergeist curse to The Wizard of Oz, Hollywood runs on urban legends. But few have been snickered about longer than the baseless rumor involving Richard Gere and a gerbil. 

Journalist Allen Salkin spent six years investigating it for Gerbil, a new 12-episode podcast from The Hollywood Reporter. He tracked down sources, ordered obscure magazines off eBay and visited Cedars-Sinai in person. Along the way, he debunks much of the story and uncovers an apparent earlier version of the rumor out of Philadelphia. 

Salkin talks with Newsweek about why the rumor has survived four decades, what Gere's silence has meant for its staying power and what its durability says about the rest of us. Plus, why he doubts a single person started it and why he believes he knows the answer. 

"What can we learn from the durability of this rumor?" Allen Salkin 

Gerbil is available now from The Hollywood Reporter. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

It's time to talk about what's trending For the Culture. Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella joins H. Alan Scott to break down the week's biggest pop culture conversations. 

First up: Taylor Swift has entered her nesting era. Now that she's married and in love, will her music suffer? Lauren argues it already has with The Life of a Showgirl. 

Then, Saturday Night Live is back. We run through some of this season's hosts, including Jalen Brunson and Dakota Johnson, and H. Alan asks the question that keeps him up at night: Why won't Dakota Johnson return his calls? 

Finally, Ryan Murphy brings the stars back for American Horror Story season 13. We celebrate the brilliance of Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson, and H. Alan makes his case for why Leslie Grossman deserves to lead a season. 

Subscribe for more weekly conversations on what's trending For the Culture. 

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

Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison are back at Sacred Heart Hospital, and as the Scrubs reboot heads into its second season on ABC, the stars are still a little surprised at how well it's worked. 

On Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast, Braff (J.D. Dorian) admits he was terrified to come back: "We did it for the fans, and the fans are very passionate about the original show." Chalke (Elliot Reid) explains how 25 years of history created a set where everyone feels safe enough to mess up, and Faison (Christopher Turk) says the cast never wanted to simply repeat what worked before: "We also want to be The Empire Strikes Back after Star Wars." 

Plus, why Scrubs' mix of comedy and heart still stands out at a time when medical shows like The Pitt are leaning into the gritty stuff, and what it's like to show up to a job where you know you'll be laughing most of the day. 

Scrubs season 2 premieres September 30 on ABC and Hulu. 

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

This week in culture: royals and reckonings collide. Princess Diana's revenge dress is heading to auction decades after it delivered the ultimate wardrobe comeback and could fetch millions. Macklemore was booted from Ed Sheeran's tour for saying Free Palestine, and everyone collectively lost their minds. And Channing Tatum has a finsta? Here's everything you need to know this week on the Parting Shot Podcast, because if it's happening in entertainment, it's For the Culture. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott’s newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

Laura Baginski, co-founder of Earlybirds, joins host Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about the dance party that starts at 6 PM and wraps by 10 so everyone gets home for a full night of sleep. "I'm not dead yet, so I do like to go out and have fun." Earlybirds was built around that idea, and it has grown into a movement of early evening dance parties for women and gender expansive people in 50 cities. Each party gives 10 percent of proceeds to nonprofits that uplift women and the gender expansive community. Last year that added up to close to $40,000, and Laura says the total could triple this year. The story starts with Susie Lee, Laura's high school friend, who said yes to the idea while living with stage four metastatic breast cancer. Susie has since passed, and Laura carries her mission forward through the Susie Lee Legacy Fund. H. Alan and Laura also get into what surprises Laura most about the parties: the crying, the joy and the people who tell her the dance floor is where they feel like themselves again. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott’s newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

He almost missed the story of his career. Investigative journalist Joe Sexton sat down with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about HBO's A Killer Story, his six year pursuit of the Dana Chandler case, and the citizen sleuth who wouldn't let it go. 

Sexton explains why it took roughly 3,000 emails from Eileen Umbehr before he took her tip seriously, how a unanimous Kansas Supreme Court reversal convinced him something had gone badly wrong in Chandler's original trial, and how he tried to stay skeptical of Eileen and her husband Keen even as he came to rely on their years of research. He also walks through the thought exercise that still keeps him up at night: if Chandler did it, how exactly did she pull it off? 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott’s newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

Senior Reporter Lauren Giella joins H. Alan Scott to dig into the week's biggest culture stories. Carole Radziwill returns to The Real Housewives of New York with her name tangled in the Epstein files thanks to her old friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, and she isn't backing away from the questions. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's Elizabeth Holmes film You Can See Everything shocked Telluride audiences who didn't even know what they were about to watch. And Robert Pattinson's Primetime, his Chris Hansen drama about the making of To Catch a Predator, is already stirring Oscar buzz and controversy after its Venice premiere. Subscribe to Newsweek's Parting Shot Podcast for more culture conversations that go beyond the headlines. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott’s newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

Ryan Murphy takes on the Lizzie Borden legend and turns Rebecca Hall and Charlie Hunnam loose on it. Hall and Hunnam break down their work on Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, from balancing camp with real tragedy to watching newcomer Ella Beatty carry the season as Lizzie. Hunnam talks reuniting with Murphy and writer Ian Brennan after making Jungleland with Max Winkler. Hall digs into playing Abby Borden as a woman starved for attention and stuck in a life she never wanted. Subscribe to Newsweek's Parting Shot Podcast with H. Alan Scott for more conversations with the cast and creators shaping this season of Monster. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott’s newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  

Subscribe to the Parting Shot Podcast: https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot 

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

Hasan Minhaj is best known for his political comedy on ‘The Daily Show’ and ‘Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj,’ but his latest project hits closer to home. Minhaj sat down with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss Netflix's ‘Best of the Best,’ which he produced, co-wrote and co-stars in. 

The film follows two Indian American best friends who compete in college Bollywood dance competitions, inspired by real circuits like Best of the Best, Legends and the Desi Dance Network. Directed by Lena Khan and starring Priyanka Kedia and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, the movie centers on friendship and whether that bond can survive competition. 

"It's really, really about sisterhood and their friendship," Minhaj tells Newsweek. "And will that bond last." 

Minhaj also opens up about balancing this new creative direction with the political commentary he's known for, including his podcast ‘Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know.’ 

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

Andrew Garfield has never been afraid of a message movie. From The Social Network to Under the Banner of Heaven to his upcoming turn as Sam Altman in Artificial, the Oscar nominated actor keeps gravitating toward roles that carry something bigger. On this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast, Garfield joins me to talk about his latest, The Uprising.

Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film sends Garfield back to 1381 England as a nameless ploughman crushed by King Richard II's taxes, whose fight against the crown becomes the true story behind the legend of Robin Hood. Garfield explains why the film's economic anger feels ripped from today's headlines, why he thinks real change starts with the individual rather than those in power and why he keeps being drawn to work that says something without setting out to.

The Uprising is in theaters September 11.

Watch our chat on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YNzB2AT_1zU

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

Subscribe to my channel and hit the bell for new episodes of the Parting Shot Podcast every week. More at https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot.

Sign up for my For the Culture newsletter at https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com.

#AndrewGarfield #TheUprising #PartingShotPodcast #Newsweek #PaulGreengrass

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

Damien Warren-Smith performs every Penguin Classic novel in under an hour, mostly naked, as his alter ego Garry Starr. On this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast, Warren-Smith joins me to talk about Garry Starr: Classic Penguins, his new solo show making its Off Broadway premiere at Studio Seaview.

Warren-Smith explains how a decade of theater acting led him to clown training in Paris with Philippe Gaulier, how a scrappy clown troupe called The Plague of iDiots gave Garry Starr his name and why performing naked has become the least complicated part of the job. We dig into what makes a great clown, how audiences react to the nudity once the show gets going and where Damien ends and Garry begins.

Garry Starr: Classic Penguins plays Studio Seaview in New York City through October.

Watch our chat on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ztds_6SfEHY

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

Subscribe to my channel and hit the bell for new episodes of the Parting Shot Podcast every week. More at https://www.newsweek.com/podcasts/the-parting-shot.

And sign up for my For the Culture newsletter at https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com.

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

Wynn Everett and Frankie A. Rodriguez join H. Alan Scott to talk about the second season of Hulu's "Chad Powers," where their characters give the rest of us a way into a football show. "We're both theater kids," Everett says, which explains a lot about how they approached it. They get into the straight-guy, gay-guy friendship at the center of the series and why it works without ever announcing itself, what Glen Powell is actually like as a number one on the call sheet, and how the show walks the line between camp and heartbreak. Plus, Rodriguez on why the locker room is really just backstage. 

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

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

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

Kristen Johnston has been stealing scenes for three decades. She joins H. Alan Scott to talk about playing Leanne Morgan's sister on the second season of Netflix's "Leanne," what auditioning opposite John Lithgow taught her about comedy and why her life splits neatly into before Lexi Featherston and after. Plus, what Michael Patrick King told her right before the biggest speech of her career. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott's newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

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

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

Leanne Morgan spent 27 years in stand-up before Netflix handed her a sitcom in her 60s. She joins H. Alan Scott to talk about season two of "Leanne," what Kristen Johnston taught her about working a multicam set and the wave of women over 60 currently running the format. "We must be the new it girls, I guess," Morgan says. Plus, what Netflix executives told her when she pitched the show, and why she is still surprised anyone let her in the room. 

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott's newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com 

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

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

Fifteen years of apologizing, fifteen years of not speaking and one dinner party.

John Galliano pulls out of the 2027 Costume Institute exhibition that would have honored him, ending weeks of backlash over the antisemitic and racist remarks that got him fired from Dior in 2011. H. Alan Scott and Lauren Giella ask whether stepping away was the right call, whether the Met outsourced a decision it should have made itself and what enough would even look like.

Then Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger, which documents Liam and Noel Gallagher's 2025 reunion tour and delivers their first joint interview since the split, in theaters September 11 before it streams on Hulu and Disney+.

And Gwyneth Paltrow, whose leaked Hamptons invite honoring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tests how far a wellness brand can stretch.

Subscribe to H. Alan Scott's newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com

For more: https://linktr.ee/halanscott

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

Microdramas are the vertical-video soap operas taking over your phone: one- or two-minute episodes stacked 60 deep, full of love triangles, betrayals and cliff-hangers. H. Alan Scott sits down with Newsweek's Lauren Giella and actor Jason Caceres, who has shot more than 100 microdramas since 2023 between roles on Hacks and Criminal Minds, to unpack how apps like ReelShort and DramaBox built an $11 billion industry projected to top $20 billion by 2030. They get into the pay, the six-day shoots and why Marc Jacobs just launched one starring Rowan Blanchard. Somewhere, a former Quibi executive is punching a wall. 

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

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

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

Dolly Parton has died at 80, and the loss is impossible to size. Newsweek's Lauren Giella joins H. Alan Scott to talk through a legacy that ran far past country music, from the "9 to 5" crossover to the movies to Dollywood to the Imagination Library to a business strategy that was, somehow, love. H. Alan also reflects on the hour he spent interviewing Dolly a few years back, what she was actually like in a room, and why the welcome she extended to every single person was always the real gift. There is never going to be another one.

For more, visit: Dolly Parton's Real Gift Was Never the Voice. It Was the Open Door

Subscribe to my newsletter: Home | For The Culture

Follow me: H. Alan Scott | Linktree

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

Anthony Bourdain was never just a chef. Dominic Sessa joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to talk about ‘Tony,’ the new film that follows a 19-year-old Bourdain through a summer in Provincetown after a rejection from Vassar, drawn from his 2000 memoir ‘Kitchen Confidential.’ Sessa came to the role with almost no relationship to the man: "I wasn't working from a place of trying to meet this standard of who he was in my mind." What he played instead was a kid absorbing everything around him. "I'm a 19-year-old young guy who doesn't really know anything about the world but pretends they do." 

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

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

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

If it’s happening in the world of entertainment, it’s for the culture. And there’s a lot going on. For example, New York is insufferable right now and it kind of earned it. (Sam Smith is even writing love songs about it.) Oprah is out here discovering the mute button after four decades of letting the haters live rent free. Howard Stern is doing the math on what one show a week means for a man who built an empire on showing up every morning. Ryan Murphy is dangling a Glee reboot in front of a country that could use a show choir. And Kaia Gerber writes fan fiction she has no intention of posting. Everyone here is being weird and nobody is sorry. 

Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott and Lauren Giella break down this week’s hottest stories. 

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

Jeffrey Epstein's crimes were crimes against children. That is not how the country talked about them. Elizabeth J. Letourneau, PhD, who leads the Johns Hopkins Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, and journalist Luke Malone join Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss their book ‘One in Five: Why Child Sexual Abuse Is Our Biggest Public Health Crisis and What We Can Do to Stop It.’ On the coverage, Letourneau does not hedge: "I am outraged." The two unpack why "up to 70 percent of child sexual abuse is at the hands of other kids," why predator language fails and why this crisis is preventable, not inevitable. 

The book is now available wherever you buy book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/elizabeth-j-letourneau-phd/one-in-five/9781541603844/ 

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

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

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

Summer's almost done, so let's see what it left behind. A festival that forgot what made it singular. A pop star who decided the conversation about her body was not one she had to attend. And a lot of men finally admitting they need somewhere to put their stuff. Three stories, all circling the same question: What do we do with the people we watch? Labor Day is fast approaching. Consider this the end of summer receipt. 

First up, comedian Coltown Dowling joined Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to break down why Lollapalooza should go back to being a touring festival. They also chatted about how Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been spotted around Toronto in fashionable man bags, which begs the question, are we in a man bag summer? Finally, Newsweek’s Lauren Giella chats about this complicated discussion circling around Ariana Grande at the moment.  

Follow Colton Dowling: https://www.instagram.com/coltondowling/ 

Follow Lauren Giella: https://www.instagram.com/slaur_/ 

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

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

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

It's no surprise that horror films are often allegories for larger societal issues, like racism with Get Out (2017) or male entitlement with Curry Barker's recent Obsession (2025). But rarely does the final girl, the last woman standing to confront the killer, get a redemption story of her own. That changes with Jane Schoenbrun's Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. 

"I think just the genre ambiguity, the fact that it is not totally categorizable in one way," Hannah Einbinder told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about what drew her to the project. "The way that it uses horror slasher tropes to ultimately be something that is empowering is just cool. I hadn't seen anything like it." 

Gillian Anderson said the impact was apparent the moment she walked onto the set. 

"It's one thing to read something on the page," she said. "And then there's another thing, stepping onto a set that has been so perfectly production designed and created for the sole purpose of the viewing public. There's a meta aspect of it that I don't even think I anticipated." 

Listen to this conversation about one of the most original films of the year. Watch the video on YouTube.  

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

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

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

Eric Goode and his producing partner Jeremy McBride have made a run of hit documentaries about what happens when humans get a little too into certain animals. With Netflix's Tiger King and HBO's Chimp Crazy, Goode explored the personalities behind the obsessions. In both cases, his subjects ended up in prison. 

Now, with Monsters of God, airing on HBO, Goode turns to exotic reptiles and the people who smuggle them. It is his most personal series yet. Goode, a turtle conservationist, comes to realize he is not only observing. He’s also part of the problem. 

Goode and McBride chatted with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about the series and why it’s their most personal yet.  

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

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

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

This has been quite a week in culture. First, Newsweek's H. Alan Scott reviews Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the latest chapter in Tom Holland's run as the wall crawler under director Destin Daniel Cretton. Then, Alan shifts gears to talk about Julien's Auctions putting one of television's most beloved props up for bid: Sophia Petrillo's purse from The Golden Girls. From blockbuster superheroes to sitcom history, this episode covers a lot of ground. Tune in for the review, the auction update and everything in between on this episode of Parting Shot. 

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

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

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

Crystal Methyd just became the first Drag Race winner out of Missouri, and she is not slowing down. She sits down with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to unpack her All Stars run, why she waited to return after a pandemic-era original season, and the tour she just announced: the Enchanted Forest Tour, a full stage production with dancers, puppets and chaos hitting the road soon. Then runner-up Joey Jay talks through one of the wildest arcs the franchise has ever produced: eliminated in the third bracket, brought back for the final round, then storming all the way to the top two. Joey gets honest about playing the game on RuPaul's orders, taking improv classes to sharpen the comedy, and why drag is camp first and glory second. Two friends, two very different paths to the finale, one very good conversation. 

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

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

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

 In the 1970s, Tony Powell was a star defender for Norwich City. Then he vanished. Decades later, filmmakers Ramiel Petros and Nicholas Freeman found him living as the manager and sole resident of a fading West Hollywood motel, a gay man who walked away from everything at the height of his career rather than live a lie. Petros and Freeman join H. Alan to discuss their documentary 'The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel,' how a chance encounter on Santa Monica Boulevard became their directorial debut, why Tony's story matters now and his hope that it inspires other athletes to come out. 

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

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

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

Golf has never been the loudest sport, but Netflix's The Hawk is making the case that it should be. Will Ferrell stars as Lonnie Hawkins, a pro golfer chasing the fame he had at his 2004 peak, complete with a signature drink, a colorful camper and outfits that could stop traffic on the back nine. In this two-part conversation, Ferrell and Molly Shannon, reuniting on screen for the first time since Talladega Nights, tell me why golf is such an infuriating game and what makes Lonnie so fun to play. Then Luke Wilson, Jimmy Tatro and Fortune Feimster join to debate whether golf is actually boring, share stories from the course and explain why Lonnie is the kind of guy you root for. The Hawk is streaming now on Netflix. Watch the full conversation on YouTube for more from the cast of the year's funniest new sports comedy. 

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

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

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

Reality TV is having a moment and Gibson Johns is here to break it all down. The podcast host and pop culture expert joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to unpack the Zach and Bryce bromance that took over Love Island USA this season, a friendship so beloved it arguably outshined every actual couple in the villa. Then it's on to Summer House, which just landed its first ever Emmy nomination after a season of scandal that gripped the Bravoverse. And finally, the two celebrate 20 years of The Real Housewives, a franchise so dominant it just spawned an entirely new show, The Golden Life, reuniting the RHONY legends in Palm Beach. Grab a martini glass. She's startin'. 

Follow Gibson Johns at https://www.instagram.com/gibsonoma

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

Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott sits down with Julie Klausner to talk New York's chaotic summer, the meaning of "cool" across generations and why Hulu’s Difficult People is finally getting a physical release on Blu-ray. They dig into chosen family on screen, from The Golden Girls to Will & Grace, and how friendship, not romance, has always been Julie's favorite story to tell. Julie reflects on the show's legacy, the shift from peak TV to algorithm-driven content and why she still believes in creating for its own sake. As she puts it, "my obligation as an artist" is "to make things and connect with people." 

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

Follow @HAlanScott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott 

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

Comedian Anna Roisman joins me for a packed episode covering the biggest stories in pop culture right now. 

First, the Emmy race for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, which is already a two-woman fight: Lisa Kudrow for The Comeback and Jean Smart for Hacks. Nobody is debating whether they get nominated, only who takes it home.  

Then, a win for movie-loving millennials. Mike Myers is returning as Austin Powers, and Jim Carrey is coming back as the Grinch with director Ron Howard. We get into why millennial nostalgia keeps working at the box office, and why more of both feels less like a cash grab and more like a gift. 

Finally, Madonna. Her shelved biopic wasn't exactly a ray of light for Universal, but she has turned it into a holiday for Apple TV on the next season of The Studio.  

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

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

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

It is America's 250th birthday and what better way to celebrate than talking George Washington. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott sits down with William Franklyn-Miller, the British actor stepping into his first leading role as a 21-year-old Washington in the new film Young Washington. They get into the irony of a Brit playing the father of our nation, the wooden teeth he thankfully dodged and what we still do not know about our first president. Plus bonus chats with director Jon Erwin, Kelsey Grammer and Sir Ben Kingsley (yes, you have to say Sir). Then head to Newsweek.com for H. Alan's list of the 10 best presidential performances in film and TV. Now go eat a hot dog. 

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

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

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

Tristan Schukraft is one of the most influential figures in queer life right now, and chances are you already know his work. He's the founder of MISTR, the free online platform that has become the largest prescriber of PrEP in the U.S., representing 20% of all prescriptions nationwide. He's the owner of the Abbey, the legendary West Hollywood gay bar in Los Angeles. And he's the man behind Tryst Hotels, a growing collection of boutique properties built specifically for queer travelers, with locations open and in development from Puerto Vallarta to Provincetown to Rio de Janeiro. 

This week, Newsweek's H. Alan Scott sits down with Schukraft to talk about why he started MISTR, how it works for both insured and uninsured patients, and why eliminating new HIV infections in the U.S. is closer to reality than most people realize. They also get into the Sister platform, National PrEP Day with Cardi B, bringing the Real Housewives to Capitol Hill and what it actually takes to preserve queer institutions at a moment when so many are disappearing. Plus, Schukraft opens up about his six boyfriends, his Razor scooter hustle and why he built his dream hotel after one too many mojitos on a Puerto Rican beach. 

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

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

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

Zoey Deutch and Nick Robinson join us to talk about their new Netflix film Voicemails for Isabelle, a rom-com about grief, love and the most tech-friendly meet-cute in film history. They break down with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott why Netflix has become the new home for the romantic comedy, what it's like to film a rain scene in actual rain and why, despite starring in a movie about voicemails, neither of them can stand getting one. 

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

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

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

Three conversations, one big picture. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is talking rom-com representation with comedian Naomi Ekperigan, making the argument for an unapologetic Office reboot with Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella, and trying to figure out exactly how Tom Holland accidentally confirmed his own wedding to the entire internet. 

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

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

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