For Natasha Lyonne, humor is essential for any detective mystery. “I do love that sense of television where it’s a very light touch. It’s a little bit, hey, come hang out again,” Lyonne told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott on the latest Parting Shot. She teamed up with Knives Out creator Rian Johnson to make Poker Face (Peacock, January 26). Lyonne plays Charlie Cale, who has the gift to decipher when people are lying, as she encounters crimes from quirky characters. “While she does have this undeniabl...
Jan 25, 2023•31 min•Ep. 79
Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott woke up extra early to give you his first reactions to the Oscar nominations for the 95th Academy Awards. Listen as he finds out who the nominees are. And follow Newsweek as we cover all things Oscar until the big show on March 12, 2023. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture’ newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. IMPORTANT LINKS...
Jan 24, 2023•15 min•Ep. 78
It isn’t every day you get to speak with an Oscar winner, but today is your lucky day. Octavia Spencer joined Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott on the latest episode to talk about her hit Apple TV+ series ‘Truth Be Told,’ where she keeps her Oscar, and so much more. She said playing Poppy Scoville-Parnell, a true-crime podcaster out to solve crimes on Truth Be Told (January 20 on Apple TV+), was always in the cards for Octavia Spencer. “I've had this affinity for true-crime and investigative journalism. ...
Jan 18, 2023•27 min•Ep. 77
Today we’re chatting about everything RuPaul’s Drag Race! Joining Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott are two Drag Race experts: longtime judge Ross Mathews and past winner and host of the Drag Race podcast ‘Race Chaser,’ the one and only Alaska Thunderf*ck. They talk season 15, the show’s move to MTV, and so much more. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture’ newsletter. Follow H. Alan Sco...
Jan 11, 2023•39 min•Ep. 76
When it comes to dolls, you either love them, think they’re creepy, or are indifferent. Fortunately for Allison Williams, she falls into the latter category. “I don’t have a deep-seated doll aversion,” Williams told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Which makes her the perfect person to star in a film like ‘M3GAN’ (January 6), about a realistic robot doll that is supposed to be a child’s best friend, but turns out to be everybody’s worst enemy. Williams plays Gemma, M3GAN’s creator, who suddenly is forc...
Jan 04, 2023•23 min•Ep. 75
Looking back at the year that was, there’s one guest who stands out as defining one for Newsweek’s Parting Shot: Bette Midler. She joined Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ but they also talked about her career, ‘The First Wives Club’ and the 50th anniversary of her debut album ‘The Divine Miss M.’ So enjoy this trip down memory lane with H. Alan, and thanks for listening to the podcast this year. Many, many exciting guests and episodes await you in 2023. Visit Newsweek.com ...
Dec 29, 2022•33 min•Ep. 74
Some people are so big, it’s almost impossible to think of any actor portraying them. But when they do, and do it right, like Naomi Ackie has as Whitney Houston in ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ (December 23), it’s magic. “How do you humanize someone who you’ve held to such high esteem for so long? That is what she needs, though,” Ackie told Newsweek’s Parting Shot. Ackie says “I initially came in being like ‘I have to be exactly like Whitney,’” but admits, “I’m not a shapeshifter, but I do know ...
Dec 21, 2022•25 min•Ep. 73
Today we’re doing a deep dive into holiday pop culture with Danny Pellegrino and Jake Cohen. Danny is the New York Times bestselling author of ‘How Do I Un-Remember This?’ and host of the Everything Iconic podcast. Jake is also a New York Times bestselling author of the cookbook ‘Jew-ish.’ I chatted with the two of them about holiday movies, food and traditions that we just can’t get enough of for Christmas and Hanukkah. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch u...
Dec 14, 2022•50 min•Ep. 72
Hollywood nepotism is, to put it bluntly, unhinged. Discovering new talent is so rare these days. It always feels like you see some new person in a TV show or movie, they’re doing a good job, only to discover they’re the son or daughter of some celebrity or producer or director. Even though that doesn’t take away from their talent, it does change how you look at them. So when you see a new talent, freshly discovered, it’s exciting. So today we’re spotlighting two amazing new talents: Micheal War...
Dec 07, 2022•36 min•Ep. 71
With the second season of Hulu’s ‘The Kardashians’ coming to a close, and amid the scandals surrounding Kim Kardashian currently (Kanye West, the Balenciaga photo scandal, etc.), are the Kardashians as a brand still culturally relevant? When ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ premiered on E! in 2007, the family became a pop culture sensation. Over the years we’ve seen everything (literally), their lives have been lived in front of a camera, both the ones they invite in and the intrusive lens of t...
Nov 30, 2022•50 min•Ep. 70
For Tim Allen, revisiting his iconic lead role in ‘The Santa Clauses’ (November 16, Disney+) was more than just creating "content" for a nostalgic streaming audience. "We had a great responsibility,” he told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott on the Parting Shot. For Allen, who is "humbled" to be "reminded that I have been part of Santa Clause," he wanted the new miniseries to "make sense for the adults like me." Part of that meant filling in some holes left by the original 1994 film, ‘The Santa Clause.’ ...
Nov 23, 2022•18 min•Ep. 69
Luke Evans is closing out 2022 with not one, not two, but three big projects. "All avenues are being covered this year,” Evans told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. First, there was his nearly unrecognizable turn as the Coachman in Disney's live-action remake ‘Pinocchio’ back in September. Next, he plays a brother on a mission to save his kidnapped sister in ‘Echo 3’ on Apple TV+ (November 23). "It's a really sweeping story." And finally, he'll voice Ebenezer Scrooge in the animated musical ‘Scrooge: A...
Nov 16, 2022•26 min•Ep. 68
If you think about it, purely based on her 40-plus-year career, Brooke Shields is the perfect podcast host because she has a story for everything. "This is a new world for me, and I'm really enjoying it. It's such an honor to be this age and still being asked to do the thing that I love to do." With Now What? Shields, after "so many decades" on the other side of the interview, "having no problem answering questions," is now the one asking them. "I've never had a problem being an open book. It's ...
Nov 09, 2022•29 min•Ep. 67
Do you sometimes miss the childlike joy of making that single cookie in an Easy-Bake Oven? Well, Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski is ready to scratch that nostalgic itch with Netflix's Easy-Bake Battle: The Home Cooking Competition. "It was a long time in the making," Porowski told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about the reality series where home cooks compete in both sweet and savory cooking challenges for a $100,000 grand prize, using full-size ovens with restrictions mimicking the classic toy ones. "Th...
Nov 02, 2022•35 min•Ep. 66
Ryan Phillippe broke the internet before it was even possible to break the internet, and it's all because of one scene in the 1999 film ‘Cruel Intentions.’ Ever since the film's release, at least once a year, the scene featuring Phillippe's derriere goes viral on social media. "I used to have a really nice ass," Phillippe tells Newsweek's Parting Shot about the famous scene. "It's so odd, because early in my career, doing Cruel Intentions and Gosford Park, people thought that I was like a rich k...
Oct 26, 2022•24 min•Ep. 65
How did Phil Rosenthal go from Emmy-winning creator of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ to a global food superstar with the Netflix reality series ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ (October 18)? "Everything I learned about how to tell a story on TV is now in the service of this show. Family, friends, food, travel, laughs. My whole existence seems to be dedicated to these five things,” Rosenthal told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. But even Rosenthal admits the idea of him hosting a travel food show is wild. "This is the ...
Oct 19, 2022•34 min•Ep. 64
The image of Emmett Till’s mutilated corpse, murdered by white supremcists in 1955, changed the course of the Civil Rights movement. That change came because of Mamie Till, Emmett’s mother, who, despite her personal tragedy, knew what it could do for others. “She is the progenitor of a civil rights legacy that allowed for so many other acts of activism to occur,” Danielle Deadwyler, who plays Mamie in Till (in theaters, October 14) told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. On today’s episode, Danielle Dead...
Oct 12, 2022•45 min•Ep. 63
For Colin Hanks, playing Bob Broberg, the father of a girl abducted twice by the same man, in A Friend of the Family (Peacock, October 6), was an “exercise in going completely 100 percent out of my comfort zone,” he told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Based on the true story of Jan Broberg, who also produced the limited series, the show lays out in heavy and disturbing detail how the Broberg family, starting in 1972, fell prey to the predatory actions of Robert “B” Berchtold (played by Jake Lacy). “T...
Oct 05, 2022•50 min•Ep. 62
Bette Midler, the queen of Halloween, is back with ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ and she’s talking with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott all about it. “I have to say a huge fat thank you and a huge shout out to all the fans that basically made [Hocus Pocus 2] happen,” Midler says. “If it hadn’t been for them, we never would have been given the green light to do it.” The road from Hollywood flop to highly anticipated sequel (Sept. 30th on Disney+) took nearly 30 years. “All of us really pitched in. Sarah [Jessica Park...
Sep 28, 2022•35 min•Ep. 61
For Diego Luna, the sheer idea of being in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise was foreign. “I didn't even think about it. I was okay being a fan,’ Luna tells Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Now he’s starring in ‘Andor’ (September 21, Disney+), reprising his character Cassian from the 2016 movie ‘Rogue One.’ Part of what makes Luna’s involvement in the series so unique is the very thing he once worried would be a hindrance: his Mexican accent. “For me to play [a character] like that, where I would feel comforta...
Sep 21, 2022•33 min•Ep. 60
“I've always been someone who likes escapism, but also is too smart for escapism,” Rachel Bloom tells Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about what she has in common with her character Hannah on the new Hulu series ‘Reboot.’ The two also chatted about why reboots are so popular and whether she’d ever do a reboot to ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.’ Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at ...
Sep 16, 2022•30 min•Ep. 59
What could make a show about a mysterious cult even more terrifying? Being inspired by a true story. “Maybe it’s a morbid fascination, because it’s dark, but I do find cults very interesting.” Emily Deschanel chats with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about her new Netflix series ‘Devil in Ohio,’ her fascination with cults, and why she loves psychological thrillers. And, of course, they talked about her time on ‘Bones’ and whether she’ll ever star in something with her sister, Zooey Deschanel. Visit Ne...
Sep 14, 2022•23 min•Ep. 58
This week we’re breaking down the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by entertainment journalists Cameron Scheetz and Matthew Jacobs to go over who will win, who will lose, and who we really, really wish would win (but probably won’t). Does Quinta Brunson of ‘Abbott Elementary’ have it in the bag, or will Jean Smart from ‘Hacks’ take the gold for Best Actress in a Comedy? Will Netflix's ‘Squid Game’ or HBO's ‘Succession’ win Best Drama Series? And which 'Saturday Nigh...
Sep 09, 2022•55 min•Ep. 57
Jean Smart's turn as Deborah Vance on 'Hacks' won her the Best Leading Actress in a Comedy Series Emmy last year – and history seems poised to repeat itself this year. In this re-released chat, Jean sits down with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about the latest season of ‘Hacks’ on HBO Max. H. Alan Scott does his best to contain his excitement about speaking with Jean Smart. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. Follow H. Alan Scott on everyth...
Sep 02, 2022•21 min•Ep. 56
We're revisiting our chat with Oscar-nominated actress Amanda Seyfried ahead of a big night — 'The Dropout' is nominated for 6 Emmys, including Seyfried for her performance as Elizabeth Holmes. H. Alan chats with her about how she found Holmes’ unique voice, understanding the case against Holmes, and whether Seyfried will ever do another musical. Visit Newsweek.com for more podcasts and the latest news, and follow @Newsweek on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. See Privacy Policy at https://art19....
Aug 31, 2022•24 min•Ep. 55
When Cynthia Addai-Robinson was cast as Queen Regent Míriel in Amazon Prime’s highly anticipated ‘ The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ,’ she didn’t have time to feel nervous. “I felt just disbelief. It felt like winning the lottery, to be honest.” Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott chatted with Cynthia about the series, how it feels to play queen, and what she hopes people take from the series. “I think people are hungry for, especially within fantasy, something that feels forward facing…Just to be...
Aug 26, 2022•29 min•Ep. 54
Do you have what it takes to compete on CBS’s Survivor? Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott does not, which is why he decided to chat with two people who have about it. Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach join H. Alan to talk about their experiences competing on the reality competition series, what it’s really like, and how the edit doesn’t always tell the whole story. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAl...
Aug 24, 2022•32 min•Ep. 53
If anybody is going to fight a lion in a movie, it’s going to be Idris Elsa. And he does exactly that in ‘ Beast ’ (August 19). “We've put a movie together that feels like a popcorn movie,” Elba told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Elba plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a widower who takes his two daughters to a South African game reserve to heal the loss of their mother until things go dangerously wrong. “It's a survival film with an African American family. Culturally, I felt like something that we hadn't see...
Aug 19, 2022•16 min•Ep. 52
Jon Gabrus is ready to party. He does exactly that on TruTV’s ‘101 Places to Party Before You Die,’ which he co-hosts with pal Adam Pally (‘Happy Endings,’ ‘The Mindy Project’). Jon spoke with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about the show, where he likes to party, how he became comfortable with nudity and his path to body positivity. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at ...
Aug 17, 2022•37 min•Ep. 51
Using a beloved film like ‘ A League of Their Own’ as source material for a new Amazon Prime series by the same name comes with more than just anxiety, as co-creator and star Abbi Jacobson is acutely feeling right now. “Listen, this is people's favorite f**king movie. There’s so much pressure,” Jacobson tells Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott on the latest Parting Shot. The two chat about making the show, what it says about women today, and why telling these diverse stories is so important. Visit Newswee...
Aug 12, 2022•31 min•Ep. 50
