On today’s episode, Variety’s Brent Lang interviews Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as they breathe new life into “Waiting for Godot" on Broadway. And Ellise Shafer in London reflects on how the U.K. is paying tribute to a native son as the documentary “Ozzy: No Escape From Now” premieres. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 07, 2025•19 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the Taylor Swift effect on the box office as her album release party for “Life of a Showgirl” hit the multiplexes for one weekend only. And Variety’s legit editor Gordon Cox explains this year’s selections for our annual 10 Broadway Stars to Watch list. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 06, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, hear highlights from Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit including a lively session with digital native creatives Nicole Byer, Erin Foster, Sara Foster, Matt Rogers, Jake Shane and Benito Skinner, moderated by Variety’s Marc Malkin. Plus, highlights from a session with John Stamos and Zeam CEO Jack Perry detailing their build-out plans for the live streaming platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 03, 2025•24 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario goes inside the mind of a man who is playing a serial killer, “Monster: The Ed Gein Story” star Charlie Hunnam, for our Cover Story segment. And host Cynthia Littleton dives into the Variety archives to revisit a front page from October 1956 full of headlines that resonate today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 02, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety ’s Jennifer Maas explains the $55 billion buyout deal that will see Electronic Arts be taken over by three private equity firms. And music reporter Thania Garcia discusses Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show gig and why it’s such a significant decision for the Puerto Rican superstar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 30, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety’s Rebecca Rubin breaks down the opening weekend for “One Battle After Another” at the box office. And veteran international correspondent John Hopewell reports from San Sebastián in Spain where the annual film festival drew Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 29, 2025•20 min
On today’s episode, hear from top industry executives on the latest shifts in streaming and linear strategies, the rise of YouTube and savvy IP management. The full opening session from the Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit features Starz’s Alison Hoffman, NBCUniversal’s Lisa Katz, Amazon MGM Studios’ Laura Lancaster, Warner Bros. TV Group’s Brett Paul, Sony Pictures TV’s Katherine Pope and Fox’s Michael Thorn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 26, 2025•33 min
On today's episode, Variety's senior media reporter Gene Maddaus about his investigative report on Los Angeles Film School. The private business is facing allegations of massive student loan fraud. Variety’s gaming chief Jennifer Maas has the scoop on mobile gaming company Scopely. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 25, 2025•16 min
On today's episode, Variety TV chief Michael Schneider speaks to showrunner Sterlin Harjo, whose new series "The Lowdown" bows today on FX. Clayton Davis, Variety 's chief awards editor, discusses the surprise news that Christopher Nolan has taken on a side gig as president of the Directors Guild of America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 24, 2025•18 min
On today’s episode, Variety chief film critic Owen Gleiberman explains why the new Paul Thomas Anderson drama “One Battle After Another” is a movie for our times. And music chief Jem Aswad reflects on the legacy of Sylvia Rhone as the music industry veteran announces her retirement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 23, 2025•17 min
On today’s episode, Variety box office chief Rebecca Rubin explains the weak starts for “Him” and “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” and why Taylor Swift is a friend to exhibition. Brian Steinberg, Variety’s senior TV editor, breaks down the five-way brawl among Jimmy Kimmel, Disney, the FCC, Nexstar and Sinclair. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 22, 2025•18 min
The CMO of content ratings firm details how VideoAmp leverages first-party data to measure audiences across platforms. She explans how it has partnered with multiple media giants — including the NFL — to provide what it says is a more accurate picture of cross-platform viewership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 19, 2025•24 min
Variety co-Editor in Chief Ramin Setoodeh tells all in our Cover Story segment about his sit down with Julia Roberts and the cast of Luca Gaudagnino’s provocative new film “After the Hunt.” And chief music critic Chris Willman revisits a moment in time that defines an era: Lilith Fair. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 18, 2025•19 min
In today's episode, former Paramount Global majority owner Shari Redstone details her new investment in Israeli production banner Sipur. Variety business editor Todd Spangler and TV news editor Joe Otterson break down the latest on Redstone’s old shop as Paramount prepares a bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 17, 2025•18 min
The leader of the production company behind "Simone Biles Rising," "Aaron Rodgers: Enigma" and many more sports-related series details the company's business strategy and how it has navigated the content marketplace as an independent. Sankaran also discusses the company's new partnership with tennis star Coco Gauff and her IROC media venture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 385
In today's episode, Fifth Season co-CEOs Chris Rice and Graham Taylor talk "Severance" and what its Emmy noms haul means for the business. And TV editor Michael Schneider has a big idea for the new Emmy Awards TV contract. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 11, 2025•17 min•Ep. 30
In today’s episode, Variety TV editor Michael Schneider details his sit-down with Kathy Bates, the “Matlock” star who graces the cover of Variety’s annual pre-Emmy Awards issue. And Emily Longeretta details the movers, shakers and influential creatives who made Variety’s annual TV Producers Impact Report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 10, 2025•16 min•Ep. 30
In today’s episode, Variety’s Todd Spangler and Gene Maddaus discuss the latest legal moves for AI heavyweights Anthropic and Midjourney in their copyright infringement battles. And Variety’s Ethan Shanfeld describes comedy’s annual “mad dash” as “Saturday Night Live” finalizes its Season 51 cast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 09, 2025•17 min•Ep. 29
In today’s episode, Variety’s box office chief Rebecca Rubin breaks down the impressive numbers from “The Conjuring: Last Rites” and how it extends Warner Bros.’ box office streak to record territory. And Michael Schneider and Jazz Tangcay weigh in from backstage at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, where Giancarlo Esposito and Shawn Hatosy spoke from the heart about the state of showbiz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 08, 2025•19 min•Ep. 28
Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for Pushkin Industries, details the business vision for the premium audio studio that was founded in 2018 by Malcolm Gladwell and Jacob Weisberg. It’s home to great series such as Gladwell’s "Revisionist History" and “Against the Rules,” hosted by author Michael Lewis. Sandler details the company’s creator-first strategy of nurturing shows and talent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 05, 2025•21 min•Ep. 384
In today’s episode, Eric Sandler, chief strategy officer for Pushkin Industries, details the audio studio’s fall slate, which includes a look back at “The Big Short” with Michael Lewis and Pushkin co-founder Malcolm Gladwell taking on an infamous Alabama murder case on “Revisionist History.” Also, Jem Aswad, Variety’s executive editor of music, details his recent sit-down with the inimitable David Byrne. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 04, 2025•20 min•Ep. 27
In today’s episode, Daniel D’Addario, Variety’s chief correspondent, details for our Cover Story segment how Channing Tatum and director Derek Cianfrance revisited a true-crime tale for our times in “Roofman.” And international editor Elsa Keslassy breaks down the important buzz for the biz coming out of the Venice Film Festival. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 03, 2025•17 min•Ep. 26
In today’s episode, Brent Lang, Variety’s executive editor, breaks down an impressive week 4 box office performance for “Weapons” and a less-than-impressive industry-wide B.O. haul for the summer frame. Peter Debruge, chief film critic for Variety, details the reaction to Bruce Springsteen biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere” at the Telluride Film Festival, and why this particular high-altitude gathering is a movie lover’s dream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 25
The SVP of the Ventura TV operating system for The Trade Desk lays out the digital ad giant’s vision for the forthcoming OS, the challenges facing the business and how TTD hopes to rewrite the rules for CTV. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 29, 2025•24 min•Ep. 382
For the past four seasons on Showtime, Dr. Orna Guralnik has showcased the benefits of the talking cure to help relationships in crisis. In this revealing interview, she talks about why she was motivated to pull back the curtain on what's always been a private practice, and how she grapples with the ethics of psychoanalysis for public consumption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 22, 2025•31 min•Ep. 383
In today’s episode, Jazz Tangcay, Variety’s senior artisans editor, details her report on visual effects stalwart Industrial Light and Magic on its 50th anniversary. TV critic Alison Herman explains why she’s given the coveted Critics Pick seal of approval to the new Netflix comedy “Long Story Short.” And Tatiana Siegel previews the final installment of her podcast “Variety Confidential: The Life and Legend of River Phoenix.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 21, 2025•18 min•Ep. 24
In today’s episode, the Cover Story segment features Variety’s Brent Lang and Ramin Setoodeh detailing director Guillermo del Toro’s $120 million bet on a new vision for “Frankenstein” with help from Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac. Variety’s Jennifer Maas reports on the Sun Valley of gaming that is underway in Cologne, Germany. And Brian Steinberg sets the scene for ESPN’s big send off for the streaming app that launches Aug. 21. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 20, 2025•19 min•Ep. 23
In today’s episode, Cineverse CEO Chris McGurk and MicroCo CEO Jana Winograde join host Cynthia Littleton to discuss their new venture to bring super short, low budget drama series to the U.S. They gamely answer the question: How is this not Quibi? And Variety reporter Ethan Shanfeld details how AI tools are accelerating product placement in TV and film. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 19, 2025•18 min•Ep. 22
In today’s episode, we talk box office with Variety’s Rebecca Rubin about “Weapons” week 2 and a ho-hum start for “Nobody 2.” Brian Steinberg has the lowdown on the final tally of this year’s upfront advertising sales. And Tatiana Siegel sets the scene that unfolded at Variety’s Truth Seekers conference, including highlights from sessions with Jake Tapper, Ronny Chieng, Amber Ruffin, Roy Wood Jr. and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 18, 2025•22 min•Ep. 21
Encore Episode: Original air date: May 8, 2025 In a rare roundtable interview, six senior leaders at CAA discuss the evolution of the agency and its leadership following the ICM Partners acquisition. The group discusses how the rise of social media has changed the game for clients and how the work of agenting has expanded along with the scale of the entertainment industry. The participants are: ** Tiffany Ward (Managing Director and Scripted Television Agent) ** Jennifer Joel (Literary Agent and...
Aug 15, 2025•34 min•Ep. 381