The Business

KCRW
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TV & FILM
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Business Podcast

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.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    The Murdoch family’s own private ‘Succession?’; Encore: Writer Justin Kuritzkes on ‘Challengers’

    Kim Masters and Matt Belloni examine the secret battle for succession among the family of billionaire Rupert Murdoch. They also take a look at a curious Wall Street Journal profile on Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro.  Plus, we revisit Masters’ conversation with writer Justin Kuritzkes about the rollout of his first screenplay, Challengers, now a full-fledged film directed by Luca Guadagnino. He talks about how the Zendaya-led project was inspired by a US Open match that eventually led to him becoming a tennis obsessive. And he shares how he and his wife Celine Song — who experienced a similar career whirlwind last year with her Oscar-nominated feature Past Lives — manage to keep their work separate from their relationship.

    30 min

  2. 30 AUG

    The Journey of ‘Inside Out 2;’ Bronfman backs down

    Kim Masters and Matt Belloni banter about the summer box office, noting that it started with a whimper but is ending with a bang thanks to a sequel and two superheroes. Edgar Bronfman Jr. has withdrawn his bid for Paramount, and as the Venice Film Festival kicks off, Italy's increasingly right-wing government is courting Hollywood productions. Additionally, Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein, the writers of the Pixar megahit Inside Out 2, join Kim Masters to discuss the importance of putting animated movies in theaters instead of only on streaming platforms — as former Disney CEO Bob Chapek did during his tenure. They also address whether the culture at Pixar has changed since John Lasseter’s 2018 departure amid misconduct allegations.

    30 min

  3. 23 AUG

    Gary Oldman on ‘Slow Horses’; Edgar Bronfman Jr. enters the Paramount chat

    Matt Belloni and Alex Weprin discuss Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s unexpected bid for Paramount Studios, challenging the existing agreement with Skydance Media. Plus, Slow Horses kicks off its new season with nine Emmy nominations, including Best Drama Series and Best Actor in a Drama for Gary Oldman. Eric Deggans revisits his interview with Oldman, where the actor shares insights into his career, the challenges of his craft, and what drew him to his latest role. This conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood's most acclaimed actors.

    30 min

  4. 16 AUG

    Justin Simien’s ‘Hollywood Black’ chronicles the pioneers of African American cinema; Phoenix and Paramount bail

    Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss recent Hollywood developments, including Joaquin Phoenix's sudden exit from a film just days before shooting and Paramount Pictures' decision to shut down a studio and layoff 2,000 workers. The industry grapples with uncertainty as Paramount and other major players navigate shifting dynamics.  Plus, NPR’s TV critic and media analyst, Eric Deggans speaks with ‘Dear White People’ creator Justin Simien. His new docuseries Hollywood Black chronicles over a century of Black experiences in Hollywood, exploring the contributions of Black actors, writers, and directors. Simien discusses the pivotal pioneers like Donald Bogle and Oscar Micheaux while sharing personal insights on navigating racial barriers in the industry.

    44 min

  5. 9 AUG

    ‘Sing Sing’ director Greg Kwedar models pay equity; streamers still struggle

    Kim Masters and Matt Beloni discuss Hollywood’s second quarter earnings reports. Disney turned an early profit for streaming service ESPN+, but amusement park attendance still worried Wall Street. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery cites struggling TV business for $9 Billion loss.  Plus, Kim Masters speaks with filmmaker Greg Kwedar about his new film “Sing Sing.” Everyone involved in the production was paid the same daily rate, a model that Kwedar hopes could bring more parity to film sets. The movie stars Colman Domingo as an wrongly-convicted man staging a play inside the real Sing Sing. Much of the cast includes formerly incarcerated actors who play versions of themselves.

    44 min

  6. 2 AUG

    Jordan Klepper on surviving “bonkers” political news; Apple TV+ tightens its belt

    Kim Masters banters with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw about the future of Apple’s place in the streaming landscape. Apple TV+ has produced some of the most expensive series and movies in recent years. Now, the company wants to reign in spending after struggling to grow their audience. Plus, The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper joins us to talk about mining comedy from the increasingly “bonkers” political news. These days, he travels with a security team to report on MAGA rallies, a situation he never anticipated as an improv comedian. Klepper also shares his thoughts on the future of late night television. Episode Photo: (Full sentence caption + credit) Photo captions should be formatted as "Photo by __" whoever took the photos. Or "Photo courtesy of ____" if the person provided the photo and or did not take the photo.

    30 min

  7. 25 JUL

    How ‘Survive until 2025’ became Hollywood’s new mantra

    It’s been more than two years since anyone watched the second season finale of HBO’s “Euphoria.” Season three was delayed by the strikes that shut down Hollywood, and a series of dramatic events surrounding the creator Sam Levinson. The network has confirmed its return, but will the audience stay tuned-in? Plus, Comcast and its streaming service Peacock are hoping the Olympic games can reverse a recent subscriber shrinkage. It’s just one example of the television industry’s troubles. Low production, delayed premieres and a sense of uncertainty have plagued T.V. land this year. Kim Masters speaks with the Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg about what the latest Emmy nominations say about the state of the industry. Then NPR’s Eric Deggans breaks down what he learned at this month’s gathering with the Television Critics Association.

    30 min

  8. 19 JUL

    FX’s Emmy domination; ‘Shōgun’ makes awards history

    The 2024 Emmy nominations are here, with lots of record-breaking nods and surprises to unpack — along with the strategy behind Disney’s acquisition of FX. What does the success of Shōgun and The Bear say about streaming? And does a new Bank of America report on Warner Bros. Discovery suggest… “unbundling”? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break it down.  Plus, in honor of Shōgun’s 25(!) Emmy nominations, Masters revisits her conversation with creators Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo. The series made history this week with its Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama, becoming only the second non-English show ever considered. The husband-and-wife creative team talk about how they’ve been granted more control writing for television over feature films, and explain why FX took the risk on their very expensive, and heavily subtitled, period epic.

    30 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    KCRW
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2024
  • Episodes
    934
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © KCRW 2024
  • Show Website
    The Business

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