314 episodes

Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt will touch on what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.

The Town with Matthew Belloni The Ringer

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.5 • 619 Ratings

Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to streaming wars. Multiple times each week, Matt will touch on what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.

    Aaron Sorkin, Live From D.C.

    Aaron Sorkin, Live From D.C.

    In a special live episode, Matt and Puck colleague Peter Hamby are joined by screenwriter, playwright, and film director Aaron Sorkin to discuss the current state of Hollywood, the impact of AI on writers, politics, why he fired his agents, and much more.

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.
    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: Aaron Sorkin and Peter Hamby

    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 29 min
    Which Bidder Is Best for Paramount?

    Which Bidder Is Best for Paramount?

    Matt is joined by author and Puck writer Bill Cohan to break down the latest in the Paramount bidding war. They discuss Sony’s interest in joining Apollo Global Management’s bid for Paramount and how it differs from David Ellison's Skydance Media bid. They also explore how each bid would affect Paramount’s stockholders, which bid Shari Redstone prefers, and more. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Challengers.’

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.
    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: Bill Cohan


    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 31 min
    Netflix’s Backtrack on Transparency

    Netflix’s Backtrack on Transparency

    Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s pivot away from reporting subscriber growth and average revenue per user every quarter. The two question why Netflix is doing this and how this step back from transparency will affect other streaming services and the greater streaming landscape. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about primetime television.

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: Lucas Shaw

    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 32 min
    Taylor Swift’s Questionable Return to TikTok

    Taylor Swift’s Questionable Return to TikTok

    Matt is joined by Nathan Hubbard—former CEO of Ticketmaster, current CEO of Firebird Music and Ringer podcaster—to discuss the return of Taylor Swift’s music to TikTok despite distributing partner Universal Music Group's boycott of the platform. They debate whether or not Taylor Swift should allow her music to reap the benefits of TikTok while other artists suffer. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction on the upcoming horror film ‘Abigail.’

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: Nathan Hubbard

    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 31 min
    Hollywood’s Struggle to Reinvent Itself

    Hollywood’s Struggle to Reinvent Itself

    Matt is joined by John Peters, Accenture’s global lead for media and entertainment, to look at which Hollywood studios are struggling to keep up with the wants of consumers and which are adapting to the times. John outlines why studios that make radical decisions are best positioned to succeed, and whether social media is the entertainment industry's biggest competitor. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Netlfix’s Q1 earnings

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.
    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: John Peters

    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 31 min
    The Best and Worst Media Mergers of the 21st Century

    The Best and Worst Media Mergers of the 21st Century

    Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back at the 21st century's biggest media and entertainment mergers and acquisitions, discuss how many of them actually worked, and anoint their best and worst deals of the century. They then look ahead to the potential deal between Paramount Global and David Ellison’s Skydance Media. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Jason and Travis Kelce’s podcast, ‘New Heights.’

    For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

    Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

    Host: Matt Belloni
    Guest: Lucas Shaw

    Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
    Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
619 Ratings

619 Ratings

So Deep. ,

Just okay because of barking dogs.

It seems like every episode with certain guests has barking dogs in the background. The host seems totally fine with it. I have to skip ahead through the dog barking because it’s unlistenable and miss those parts. Otherwise, the opinions are usually fine.

Admiral Anonymous ,

Great Show, Jerk Host

MB is the ultimate yada, yada when his guest challenges a flippant stance.

Topics and guest are great, what he discusses is great. He’s just a jerk 40% of the time.

Producer Craig rocks!

JJ Jolly ,

Journalist?

You guys have a really good show, but you’re literally lose stars every day if you continually call Don lemon, a “real journalist“
Please do not confuse what journalism actually means and what Don Lemmon actually brings to the profession

good God

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