Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief at AwardsWatch joins us with the latest and best industry news: Mulan’s move to Disney+, Venice film festivals excellent line up of female directors, is Netflix leading the Oscar race? and more! Plus Christina is loving HBO’s upcoming Lovecraft Country and we’re both so excited for Judas and the Black Messiah. Listen now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2020•39 min
DANNY TREJO, the legend, on Pop Culture Confidential! Mr Trejo talks to us about his story, from a life of crime to hard prison time at San Quentin and Folsom prisons. How he turned his life around and how a promise to always help others led him to his massive Hollywood career with over 350 credits to his name! His films include ‘Heat’, ‘Machete’, ‘Desperado’, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Spy Kids’. The new documentary “Inmate #1, The Rise of Danny Trejo’ is streaming now. His new cookbook is “Trejos Tac...
Aug 05, 2020•46 min
We love it when Erik Anderson (Editor-in-Chief of Awardswatch.com) joins us to talk about all the latest news! This week we talk about Christopher Nolans ’Tenet’, cancelled premieres and possible international release. And it’s a great year for documentaries: we talk about a few that have really moved us: ‘John Lewis: Good Trouble’, ‘Disclosure’ and ‘Welcome to Chechnya’. PLUS what going on with celebrities in quarantine? We we wonder about the #FreeBritney movement and Will Smith and Jada Pinke...
Jul 22, 2020•35 min
An exclusive hour with actor Brian Cox! Mr Cox joins us to talk about his incredible portrayal of Logan Roy on HBO’s Succession, who he jokingly calls his “evil twin”. We go deep into the making of the show, his thoughts on Logans motivations, emotional scenes with Jeremy Strong and much more. Plus Mr Cox childhood, background and prolific career in roles such as Hannibal Lecktor in Manhunter and Robert McKee in Adaptation. And of course what he knows about Succession season 3! Learn more about ...
Jul 13, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Director Sam Feder joins us to talk about his critically acclaimed documentary 'DISCLOSURE: Trans Lives on Screen', streaming now on Netflix! The doc looks at transgender representations in film, television and media through interviews with trans actors, artists and activists including Laverne Cox, Lilly Wachowski, Yance Ford, Jen Richards and Chaz Bono. A history filled with with stereotypes, tropes, heartbreak, bravery, and progress Sam Feder talks to Christina about trans representation throu...
Jul 10, 2020•47 min
Erik Anderson, chief editor of Awardswatch.com, joins us again to bring us up to date on the ever changing industry news, the Oscar date changes and new rules. Plus some of the summers hottest movie premieres: Da 5 Bloods, Shirley and The King of Staten Island. And what’s going on with Chris Nolans Tenet? All this and more, listen now! Erik Anderson twitter @awards_watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2020•34 min
Award winning host, author and executive producer Padma Lakshmi joins us this week! We talk about her excellent new documentary series 'Taste the Nation' (Hulu). Here she takes us on a journey across the US exploring the diverse food culture of various immigrant groups the shape America. Padma Lakshmi also talks to us about her own story, her mother who left India for NYC and how this has shaped her, living an honest life, Top Chef and so much more. Join us! Taste the Nation premiers on Hulu , J...
Jun 16, 2020•39 min
We are thrilled to welcome Karina Longworth to the show! Longworth is the creator and host of the now iconic podcast 'You Must Remember This'. Her excellent new season is called ‘Polly Platt, The Invisible Woman’ about the interesting and huge life of the Oscar nominated production designer, writer and producer Polly Platt. In our interview we talk about Polly Platt’s unfinished memoir, Platt’s marriage to and collaboration with Peter Bogdanovich, who had an affair with Cybill Sheperd during the...
Jun 11, 2020•34 min
Eric Deggans, media analyst (NPR/NBC) and author of ‘Race-Baiter: How The Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation’ joins us to talk about yet another case of police brutality that has shocked the world, Trumps response and a system that allows for racism and violence to keep happening. You will find Mr Deggans article “A Tale of Two Videos: Why the Images of George Floyd Dying Broke the Nation” here; https://ericdeggans.tumblr.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...
Jun 03, 2020•51 min
Erik Anderson, chief editor of Awardswatch.com, joins us for a summer movie preview! 2020, a very uncertain summer in the midst of the Corona pandemic BUT hopefully it can bring us a whole bunch of interesting and anticipated movies, both to VOD and in theaters! Will Christopher Nolan save the summer by being the first to open wide on July 17th? Spike Lee's trailer for Da 5 Bloods looks great! The Hamilton movie out a full year early. What can we expect to see, what will be pushed. And what abou...
May 21, 2020•30 min
This week, Oscar nominated director and executive producer Lenny Abrahamson (Frank, Room, The Little Stranger) joins us to talk about his critically acclaimed and audience beloved series Normal People, an adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel. We talk about young love, sexual consent, the intimacy between the characters , the controversy, a possible continuation of Marianne and Connell's story and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 12, 2020•42 min
The man, the myth, The Jesus! Actor/writer/director John Turturro joins us to talk about his new movie ‘The Jesus Rolls’! As well as creating the iconic character with the Coen brothers, about the underachievers, the dreamers, the ‘passione’ and so much more. From 'Do the Right Thing' ,'Barton Fink', to 'Quiz Show’ and 'The Big Lebowski’ Mr Turturro has brought to life some of the most memorable characters in cinema history. On TV he starred in 'The Night Of 'and most recently as Rabbi Bengelsdo...
May 06, 2020•28 min
Screenwriter, playwright and five time BAFTA award winner Jack Thorne joins us to talk about his new Netflix series ‘The Eddy’, directed by Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle. Also, how E.T. impacted his writing and life, writing the smash hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for the stage, his process, crossing all genres, and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 04, 2020•27 min
Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief of Awardswatch.com, joins us for a special update and a break down of the new rules presented by the Academy! This Oscar year the Academy will allow VOD releases to qualify while major theaters are closed, they are changing the rules on awards campaigning, combining the two sound categories and more! Listen now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 01, 2020•13 min
Director Jason Hehir joins us to talk about “The Last Dance” his series that, this week, became the most in-demand documentary in the world! “The Last Dance” is a brilliant deep dive into Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls' dynasty and the final championship season in 1997-98. It features never before seen footage and exclusive interviews with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, coach Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson, Presidents Obama and Clinton and many more. Airing on @ESPN and @NETFLIX ...
Apr 30, 2020•22 min
Eric Deggans, TV critic and media analyst at NPR joins us to talk about the state of television in the Corona age. Netflix stunning growth, how the broadcasters are fairing, the “at home” format like 'SNL at home', the shutdowns and what to expect going forward. Plus what we should be watching now, his best tips, the Michael Jordan doc series The Last Dance, the incredible season of Better Call Saul, Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney and more. Twitter @Deggans Learn more abo...
Apr 25, 2020•28 min
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 ...
Apr 22, 2020•18 min
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 Co...
Apr 19, 2020•34 min
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 ...
Apr 15, 2020•24 min
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 ...
Apr 10, 2020•40 min
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, Be...
Apr 04, 2020•51 min
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 excel...
Mar 31, 2020•34 min
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 findin...
Mar 26, 2020•15 min
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 in...
Mar 24, 2020•27 min
Epi 166 An update w/ Erik Anderson: the state of the film industry, movies abt self-isolation & more by Pop Culture Confidential Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2020•20 min
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, ...
Mar 13, 2020•26 min
Very happy to welcome back the Editor-in-Chief of AwardsWatch.com, Erik Anderson AND to announce our new collaboration! We will be collaborating on some interviews, podcast episodes and more. On this week’s show Erik and Christina have an interesting conversation about some of the most pressing news affecting the entertainment industry right now; the Weinstein verdict and the Polanski protests at the César awards. How the Corona/Covid-19 virus is affecting the entertainment industry, upcoming fi...
Mar 03, 2020•55 min
We feel the need for speed!! On the show this week actor Rick Rossovich who played Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner, wingman to Val Kilmer’s Iceman in Top Gun (1986). Mr. Rossovich talks about his career, his experiences on Top Gun, the myths and legacy of the franchise, his work in TV and more! All leading up to this summer and the release of Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel 33 years in the making! Will we see him in The new movie on June 26th 2020? Well, we will just have to wait and see. Grab your Ray Bans a...
Feb 25, 2020•33 min
We are thrilled to bring you this special and personal conversation with actor Alicia Vikander! She talks to us about starring as feminist icon Gloria Steinem in the upcoming film ‘The Glorias’ (directed by Julie Taymor), about how she has has found her voice and what she wants to do with her Hollywood power! After more than a decade in the industry, and post Oscar-win, Alicia Vikander speaks to Christina about how she is learning to take small breaks and how cooking helps! About her focus and h...
Feb 13, 2020•43 min
On this Pop Culture Confidential Oscar week special: Predicting the Oscars with math, analytics and good old fashion statistics! Our guest is mathematician Ben Zauzmer. Mr. Zauzmer majored in applied math at Harvard University and works as a manager of baseball analytics for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He applied his knowledge to his passion: the movies, and he has created a complex mathematical model to calculate a nominee’s percentage probability of winning. His model includes different factors: ...
Feb 07, 2020•34 min
