EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW awards expert Joey Nolfi—lay it all on the line with their final predictions for the Oscars. Will a surging ‘CODA’ upturn the race? Who’ll be at the podium when they finally announce Best Actress? After months of speculation and campaigning, we’ve got a pretty good idea. Then we present our interview with Jane Campion, the New Zealand filmmaker behind ‘The Power of the Dog,’ whose recent triumph at the DGA Awards looks lik...
Mar 21, 2022•52 min•Season 8Ep. 20
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW critic Leah Greenblatt—dive deep into the race for Best International Feature, a bracket that, pound for pound, may be better than the Best Picture one. We also discuss the finer points of interviewing Kristen Stewart. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 14, 2022•51 min•Season 8Ep. 19
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW critic Leah Greenblatt—discuss the Best Actor race as we head into the final weeks of Oscar campaigning. Triumphant at the SAG Awards, Will Smith may have this one in the bag. (We think so.) At least whoever wins will get their full, glorious moment during the telecast, unlike those nominated in the eight categories that, for the first time ever, will distributed during the pre-show. We've got some thoughts about this. The...
Mar 07, 2022•52 min•Season 8Ep. 18
EW editor Jason Lamphier and EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker discuss Grammy winner Brandi Carlile’s five nominations this year, celebrate the thrilling highs (and high notes) of her soaring ballad “Right on Time,” and chat with the singer-songwriter about whether she thinks she can take home some of the biggest trophies of the night. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 04, 2022•53 min•Season 8Ep. 17
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker—dive deep into Aaron Sorkin’s 'Being the Ricardos': how it expands upon our understanding of Lucille Ball, as well as the ‘50s TV word in which she operated. We also discuss the wide-ranging career of Nicole Kidman, who, from ‘To Die For’ and ‘Moulin Rouge!” to her current triumph, has often been underestimated. She’s our special guest, and speaks about her preparation for the role, as well as wha...
Feb 28, 2022•48 min•Season 8Ep. 16
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with their special guest, EW writer Maureen Lee Lenker—explore the many facets of Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast': the performances, the black-and-white cinematography, how it functions as a memoir, and, of course, its Oscar chances. Then, listen to our interviews with Jamie Dornan (yes, we also talk about his instantly classic musical number in 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar') and the legendary Ciarán Hinds, Oscar-nominated for the first time in his ...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 8Ep. 15
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf revisit the Best Supporting Actress race. Now that the field has clarified and we have our five Oscar nominees, who has the advantage? Will Kirsten Dunst, finally nominated for the first time in her career, eclipse her competition? Or are other campaigns surging? Then, listen to our interview with Ariana DeBose, whose electrifying performance in ‘West Side Story’ has earned her a nomination. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more ab...
Feb 14, 2022•47 min•Season 8Ep. 14
In our latest episode, EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf—along with special guests Gerrad Hall and Joey Nolfi—respond to Tuesday morning's Oscar nominations. Snubs! Surprises! Even more snubs! We sift through the rubble and salvage what we can of the ‘House of Gucci’ campaign. Then, listen to our fun and casual chat with Kirsten Dunst, an interview that goes deep into her acting process and experiences on ‘The Power of The Dog.’ (Yes, she has a Benedict story.) For complete awards coverage,...
Feb 08, 2022•1 hr•Season 8Ep. 13
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf track all the latest developments as the Oscar race heats up, including announcements from several prominent guilds: DGA, PGA, WGA and BAFTA. They also offer some final predictions on the eve of Oscar nominations. Then, listen to our exclusive interviews with Dakota Johnson and Penélope Cruz, both coming off roles that showcased them better than ever. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Season 8Ep. 12
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf make the case for their under-the-radar favorites: the performances that, for whatever reason, aren't quite in the awards conversation as prominently as they should be. (Who are they? You'll just have to listen to find out!) Then, listen to our exclusive interviews with Oscar Isaac and Jodie Comer, two stars who turned in career-high work in 2021. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 8Ep. 11
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf touch on recent developments in the race: the rise of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s contemplative Japanese drama ‘Drive My Car,’ a worthy winner of multiple year-end critics awards; and the still-evolving status of the Best Supporting Actor race. Kodi Smit-McPhee (‘The Power of the Dog’) is the front-runner, but beyond him, the field is wide. Then, we feature our interview with Jon Bernthal, best known for tough guys in “The Punisher’ and ‘Sicario,’ but expanding his...
Jan 24, 2022•52 min•Season 8Ep. 10
In our latest episode, EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf break down the SAG nominees, a pivotal precursor for the Oscars: The snubs (Spencer’s Kristen Stewart), surprises (Bradley Cooper! Ben Affleck!) and biggest takeaways from the guild that makes up the biggest voting branch in the Academy. Our hosts also discuss movie style: Nightmare Alley is a feast of design, from its lush interiors and golden-hued cinematography to its costumes, hair and prop work. We chat about these so-called “cra...
Jan 17, 2022•52 min•Season 8Ep. 9
Music editor Alex Suskind and digital writer Marcus Jones talk about what it means to be a Grammy Artist™, predict the Best R&B Album and Song winners, and chat with 13-time nominee H.E.R. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 13, 2022•50 min•Season 8Ep. 8
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf turn to the Best Supporting Actress race: Who has the most heat going into the busiest part of awards season? Is it King Richard’s Aunjanue Ellis? Belfast’s Caitríona Balfe? Then, listen to our exclusive interview with Ruth Negga, an Oscar nominee for 2016’s Loving and now very much in contention for Rebecca Hall’s directorial debut, Passing. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
Jan 10, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Music editor Alex Suskind and critic at large Leah Greenblatt run down the big nominations (and big controversies) of the 2022 Grammy Awards, the highs and lows of ceremonies past, and chat with three-time nominee St. Vincent. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 30, 2021•42 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf dive into the Best Director race, a wide-open contest between Hollywood veterans and indie upstarts alike: Will it be Jane Campion, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Spielberg or someone else entirely? Netflix has also financed some admirable directorial debuts this year, including behind-the-camera work from actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Hall and today's interview, the incredible Halle Berry. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more about ...
Dec 20, 2021•39 min•Season 8Ep. 5
Awards expert Joey Nolfi joins us this week to break down the Best Actress race as it stands right now: Kristen Stewart still has much momentum coming out of the fall festivals with her turn as an unhappy Princess Diana in ‘Spencer’, but several other contenders are coming on strong. Then, listen to Joey’s exclusive interview with Lady Gaga: a fun conversation about acting, research and her immersion into the real-life Patrizia Reggiani, the fashion-world murderess. For complete awards coverage,...
Dec 13, 2021•44 min•Season 8Ep. 4
EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf go behind the mask of actorly transformation: Sometimes it's makeup and hair, other times it's vocal training and pure chops, and increasingly, it's facial prosthetics. From Nicole Kidman in 'The Hours' to Jared Leto doing his thing in 'House of Gucci'. Then, stick around for our interview with Jessica Chastain, changed from the inside out into Tammy Faye Bakker in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye.' For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Learn more abo...
Dec 06, 2021•45 min•Season 8Ep. 3
Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf dive into their analysis of the Best Actor Oscar race: a competitive field with room for former winners (Denzel Washington, Joaquin Phoenix), one overdue icon (Will Smith) and plenty of potential spoilers (you'll have to listen!). Then we feature our interview with Benedict Cumberbatch, on the cusp of locking in a nomination for his ferocious, committed performance in Jane Campion's 'The Power of the Dog'. For complete awards coverage, go to EW.com/awardist. Lea...
Nov 22, 2021•39 min•Season 8Ep. 2
In our season 8 premiere, EW’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf chat about the frontrunners right now, as well as some personal favorites they'd like to see become contenders for Best Picture. Unlike last year's indie-dominated Oscar race, this year has a more traditional mix of studio fare and edgy triumphs. Then we feature interviews with three hotly buzzed directors: Kenneth Branagh ('Belfast'), Questlove ('Summer of Soul') and Mike Mills ('C'mon C'mon'). For complete awards coverage, go to ...
Nov 15, 2021•41 min•Season 8Ep. 1
Starting November 15th, The Awardist is BACK to cover the road to the 2022 Oscars! Hear interviews with this year’s best and brightest, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kenneth Branagh, Ruth Negga, and many, many more! Plus, in-depth conversations about which performances blew us away, our winner predictions, and which films were overlooked. Hosted by Entertainment Weekly’s Clarissa Cruz and Joshua Rothkopf, new episodes drop every Monday. Subscribe so you don’t miss anything!!...
Nov 10, 2021•3 min
Emmy-nominated Lovecraft Country stars Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett, Michael K. Williams, Courtney B. Vance, and Aunjanue Ellis celebrate the show’s many nominations, mourn its cancellation after one season, explain their personal connections to their characters, and share moving reaction from viewers of their supernatural horror-drama. Plus, co-hosts Kristen Baldwin and Gerrad Hall welcome EW executive editor Patrick Gomez, to discuss his conversation with those actors, and we break down th...
Aug 23, 2021•50 min•Season 7Ep. 13
SNL Emmy nominees Cecily Strong and Bowen Yang join The Awardist to talk about Bowen’s historic nomination — the first SNL featured cast member to be nominated. They take us inside some of their most memorable season 46 sketches and characters, including Jeanine Pirro and the Iceberg that sank the Titanic. Cecily also addresses her future on the show, the two tell us what it’s like behind the scenes moments before the show goes live, how their approach to comedy changed and responded to everythi...
Aug 16, 2021•55 min•Season 7Ep. 12
black-ish co-stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross join EW’s The Awardist from the set of their Emmy-nominated comedy to discuss their favorite episodes — and why Ross has the entire hair and make-up trailer to herself. Plus EW’s Gerrad Hall and Kristen Baldwin break down the Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Comedy races, featuring the black-ish stars as well as Jason Sudeikis, Jean Smart, Kenan Thompson and more. More at ew.com, ew.com/awardist, and @EW. Host/Producers: Gerrad Hall (@ger...
Aug 09, 2021•45 min•Season 7Ep. 11
Emmy winner and current nominee Kate Winslet joins The Awardist to talk about her hit HBO limited series Mare of Easttown — why audiences connected to much with her grieving mother character, getting the look just right (that’s a wig!), caring for Jean Smart after an on-set injury, SNL’s Murdur Durdur sketch, and much more. Plus, co-hosts Kristen Baldwin and Gerrad Hall handicap the Limited/Anthology Series or Movie and Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie categories. More at ew.c...
Aug 02, 2021•53 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Pose co-creator/writer/director Steven Canals and star Mj Rodriguez celebrate the show’s 9 Emmy nominations — including Rodriguez’s history-making Lead Actress nod — and explain the finale’s “Sex and the City moment.” Plus, EW’s Kristen Baldwin and Gerrad Hall handicap the Outstanding Drama Series race and the Crown-tastic Lead Actress in a Drama category. More at ew.com, ew.com/awardist, and @EW. Host/Producers: Gerrad Hall (@gerradhall) and Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin); Producer/Editor: ...
Jul 26, 2021•49 min•Season 7Ep. 9
The Emmy-nominated ‘Ted Lasso’ star reveals how a plea to the universe in her garden resulted in a dream job that shoots 20 minutes from her house. Plus EW’s Gerrad Hall and Kristen Baldwin dive into the Comedy Series and Comedy Supporting Actress races — can anything stop ‘Ted Lasso’? More at ew.com, ew.com/awardist, and @EW. Host/Producers: Gerrad Hall (@gerradhall) and Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin); Producer/Editor: Lauren Klein (@ltklein); Executive Producers: Shana Naomi Krochmal (@sha...
Jul 19, 2021•45 min•Season 7Ep. 8
Emmy nominations have been announced, and co-hosts Kristen Baldwin and Gerrad Hall discuss the snubs and surprises, break down some of the top contenders — including The Crown, The Mandalorian, WandaVision, and Ted Lasso — and take a look at some of this year’s double nominees, including Jean Smart and Kenan Thompson. Plus, we talk to The Crown stars Emma Corrin and Josh O’Connor — who played Princess Diana and Prince Charles on the fourth season of the Netflix drama — about their most “outlandi...
Jul 14, 2021•44 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Co-hosts Kristen Baldwin and Gerrad Hall break down the packed supporting actor and actress in a drama categories, plus ‘It’s a Sin’ creator Russell T. Davies and stars Olly Alexander and Lydia West join us to talk about their powerful HBO Max limited series about the rise of HIV/AIDS in England and its impact on one group of friends. More at ew.com, ew.com/awardist, and @EW. Host/Producers: Gerrad Hall (@gerradhall) and Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin); Producer/Editor: Lauren Klein (@ltklein...
Jun 21, 2021•46 min•Season 7Ep. 6
Kaley Cuoco talks to The Awardist co-host Kristen Baldwin about coping with a lot of “up and down emotions” as star and exec producer of the HBO Max comedy-thriller The Flight Attendant. Plus, Kristen and co-host Gerrad Hall analyze the hotly-contested Drama categories, featuring everything from The Crown to The Mandalorian. More at ew.com, ew.com/awardist, and @EW. Host/Producers: Gerrad Hall (@gerradhall) and Kristen Baldwin (@KristenGBaldwin); Producer/Editor: Lauren Klein (@ltklein); Executi...
Jun 14, 2021•44 min•Season 7Ep. 5
