The Business - podcast cover

The Business

Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter.

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Episodes

New TV Season, New TV World; Taking Hollywood's Temperature

NBC rolls out its new season with the help of a new programming consultant -- the advertisers. We talk to network co-chair Marc Graboff . Plus, massive changes in the way the business does business is causing even more stress than usual in a stress-filled town. The therapist who has his finger on the pulse of Hollywood says it's definitely racing.

May 11, 200930 min

Hollywood on the Hill; 'Death' of Adult-oriented Films, Part II

We look at selling Hollywood on the Hill with MPAA chief Dan Glickman . On April 21, the MPAA held its second "Business of Show Business" symposium in Washington, DC. Plus, could bad news for big-budget studio films for adults be good news for cheaper indie fare? We talk to Michael London , producer of Milk, The Visitor and Sideways .

May 04, 200930 min

'State of Play' Gets No Play; Marketing 'Fast and Furious'

A recent spate of films have scored underwhelming results at the box office. But is the death of big-budget studio movies for grown-ups greatly exaggerated? Plus, how do you rake in the biggest April opening in box office history?

Apr 27, 200930 min

The 10 O'Clock Drama Drama: The Streamy Awards

Does Jay Leno’s move to 10pm mean the death of broadcast television’s hour-long drama? Plus, walking the red carpet at the Streamy Awards, the Oscars for web TV.

Apr 06, 200930 min

Indie Film, Indeed

Did you love Juno or Slumdog Millionaire ? Then you should be worried about independent film as money dries up and the studios are giving up on art house movies. We talk with a man at the center of it all – John Cooper , the newly appointed head of the Sundance Film Festival. Plus, indie film may be facing tough times, but film festivals haven't got the memo.

Mar 30, 200930 min

Updating 'Idol'

We talk to Fox reality czar Mike Darnell about changes to that American TV behemoth, American Idol .

Mar 23, 200930 min

Disney Chair Dick Cook; Sweeps Week

Kim Masters joins the show as host today. A scary question for the Chairman of the Walt Disney Studios: will DVD sales ever bounce back? Plus, the sweeps week dinosaur. Why do they still exist?

Mar 16, 200930 min

Oscar Assumptions; SAG Saga, Part Duh

Assumptions may make an *%$@! out of you and me…but not during the Academy Awards. We talk about how once again the safe bets paid off on Oscar night. Plus, the SAG saga, Part Duh…will the actors ever have a contract?

Mar 02, 200930 min

Technology and the Business

This week, we talk about the Oscars' sci-tech awards and ask: Why do Hollywood's techo geeks have to sit at the kid's table? Plus, producer Dean Devlin uses technology to lead TV into the digital future. His new TNT show, Leverage , is 100% digital, from camera to finished product.

Feb 16, 200930 min

Do You Recognize This Man?; Sumner's Discontent

Getting famous isn't all its cracked up to be. Just ask Peter Jacobson , aka Dr. Chris Taub on the Fox hit, House . Plus, Sumner's discontent: who is the aging head of Viacom, and what does that mean for the future of his company?

Feb 09, 200930 min

Stiffing Staffing Season

This week, two smart but naive ad guys from Chicago make it in TV, despite themselves. We talk to the creators of the new TNT drama, Trust Me .

Feb 02, 200930 min

The TCA's: Getting Your 15 Minutes

The networks have just finished their dog and pony show for the TV critics. We take a peek inside what's known as the TCA's. Plus, celebrity publicist Howard Bragman helps you find your 15 minutes.

Jan 26, 200930 min

The 100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood

The Hollywood Reporter's 17th annual "100 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood" list. What does is say about the progress of women in the business? How do power lists in general reveal Hollywood's insecurities?

Jan 12, 200930 min

The Hollywood Year to Be

2008 was a roller-coaster of a year for show business. What’s in store for the industry in 2009? It's the Hollywood year-to-be with Lauren Schuker of the Wall Street Journal and Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times.

Jan 05, 200930 min

Best of the Business: Carrie Fisher

As Princess Leia, she was saved from the Empire by Luke, Han and Chewy. As Carrie Fisher , she's had to rely on a higher power to save herself from drugs and alcohol. Plus, going to the big show, Showest.

Dec 29, 200830 min

Best of the Business 2008: Favorite Features

We revisit our favorite feature stories of 2008: the woes of a video-game reviewer, going to the movies with babies, Hollywood's fascination with swag, and what it's like to be a lady in the testosterone fueled world of the paparazzi.

Dec 22, 200830 min

That Was the Hollywood Year That Was!

The ups, the downs, the all arounds of the business of show in 2008. We talk with Lauren Schuker of the Wall Street Journal and Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times.

Dec 15, 200830 min

'Che,' Longer than the Cuban Revolution; She-Pap

Laura Bickford , the producer of Steven Soderbergh's new epic Che , on themaking and marketing a four-hour movie in an age of multi-tasking and quick cutting. Plus, a female in the testosterone-fueled world of the Hollywood paparazzi?

Dec 08, 200830 min

Why Doesn't Hollywood Love Theater?; Horror Goes Comedy

You're in a play? But I thought you said you were in show business? We look at the weird relationship between Hollywood and LA's legit stage. Plus, even though they're not actors, directors can get typecast, too.

Dec 01, 200830 min

Hollywood Goes to the Middle East

With a full-fledged production facility, major investments in film, and two world class film festivals, the United Arab Emirates is the next country to role the dice on Hollywood.

Nov 24, 200830 min

Shrugging Off Atlas Shrugged, Redux

Hollywood's been beguiled and bedeviled by Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged since it was published in 1957. Fifty years later, why hasn't it been made into a movie? We talk to legendary producer Al Ruddy, the first guy to get Rand's go ahead…in 1974. (This is a rebroadcast of a program that originally aired on September 8. However, the "Hollywood News Caravan" is new.)

Nov 10, 200830 min

Mini-Majors, Endangered Species?; The Sundance Marathon

This indie film was all about the art until the studios got in the game. How will independent film change again now that the studios seem to be backing away? Plus, watching movies 'til you drop with the programmers of the Sundance Film Festival.

Oct 27, 200830 min

Could the Economic Downturn Be Good for TV Networks?

Will record-low consumer confidence cause companies to pull their ads off network television or will broke Americans staying at home be a boon to the TV viewing? Plus, the director of Repo! The Genetic Opera may have his career repossessed.

Oct 20, 200830 min
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