Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air The Ringer

Larry is joined by writer, producer, and showrunner Janine Sherman Barrois to discuss her latest venture ‘The Big Cigar’ currently streaming on Apple TV+. They begin their conversation by discussing the difficulties of making a genuine high-budget biopic that features such a polarizing cultural icon like Huey Newton. Janine then shares what she learned about the Black Panthers during the creation process, in particular the group’s deep awareness of their image in relation to the media (17:50). Larry and Janine end the pod by talking about the importance of gathering contemporary accounts when making period pieces, praising the amazing cast of ‘The Big Cigar’, and giving advice to upstart writers looking to get into show business (38:34).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Janine Sherman Barrois
Producer: Chris Sutton
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Larry is joined by actor and comedian Stephen Merchant and they begin their conversation by comparing the American and British versions of ‘The Office’, and sharing stories from making their respective iterations of the hit TV show. They then pivot to the Amazon Prime series ‘The Outlaws’ which recently premiered its third season and features Merchant as a writer, producer, and actor (17:31). During their breakdown of the show Larry and Stephen touch on subjects as wide-ranging as the viability of lonely characters in storylines, the sadness of Donald Trump, and the invigorating energy of doing stand-up comedy (21:13). They end the pod by talking about the amazing cast of ‘The Outlaws’, their love of heists, and the career lessons Merchant has learned from his many occupational hats (39:51).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Stephen Merchant
Producer: Chris Sutton
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Larry is joined by U.S. Representative from California’s 17th congressional district Ro Khanna and they begin their conversation by discussing the protest movement happening on college campuses around the U.S. and the principal factors contributing to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. They then pivot to the congressional misconceptions surrounding TikTok before examining the viability of progressive capitalism and the role of AI in modern industry (20:22). After the break, Larry and Ro try to make sense of Donald Trump’s popularity, break down the immigration issue, and talk about the most important qualities in leadership (36:46).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Rep. Ro Khanna
Producer: Chris Sutton
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Larry is joined by attorney, political commentator, and host of 'The Bakari Sellers Podcast', Bakari Sellers, to discuss his new book ‘The Moment: Thoughts on the Race Reckoning That Wasn't and How We All Can Move Forward Now’. They begin their conversation by discussing the importance of relatability in politics and examining the level of this quality within Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Next, Bakari breaks down the personal and sociological reasons he decided to write his book and how he hopes it can re-engage readers, particularly African-American ones, to be more active in local and national politics (15:38). After the break, Larry and Bakari talk about what today’s youth can learn from traumas and grassroots movements of the past, the value of celebrity in activism, and some of the biggest issues concerning Black voters heading into the 2024 election (29:12).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Bakari Sellers
Producer: Chris Sutton
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Larry is joined by journalist and author Tiffany Cross and they begin their conversation by discussing the racial obstacles Tiffany faced during her time at MSNBC and how her passion for storytelling developed. They then dive into her new podcast 'ACross Generations with Tiffany Cross', and talk about how the show touches on, and attempts to bridge the gap between, the psychological motivations between different age groups in our society (17:55). This leads to some deep examinations on the keys to personal success, the importance of maintaining healthy dynamics within all facets of life, and the value of giving versus receiving gifts (30:20). After the break, Tiffany shares a personal story of interviewing her mom for the ‘ACross’ pod and explains the biggest existential issues stunting Black relationships today (47:01). Larry and Tiffany end the pod by shining a light on Tiffany’s new political podcast ‘Native Land Pod’ and debating the viability of African-American Trump voters (1:06:05).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Tiffany Cross
Producer: Chris Sutton
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Larry is joined by Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and producer Ed Zwick to discuss his new memoir ‘Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood’. They begin by examining the state of the film industry against other forms of modern media and reflect on the importance of the movie-going experience in the 1970s and '80s. Next, Ed expounds on some of the remarkable moments he experienced working with geniuses like Woody Allen, Matthew Broderick, and Denzel Washington, and on legendary projects like ‘Special Bulletin’, ‘Glory’, and ‘Thirtysomething’ (12:40). After the break, Ed offers tools to young creatives on dealing with fame, overcoming career lulls, and the finished script (45:37). Larry and Ed end the pod by talking about their favorite parts of filmmaking and the effect of streaming culture on Hollywood (54:46).
Host: Larry Wilmore
Guest: Ed Zwick
Producer: Chris Sutton
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