Entertainment Is Broken

Brittlestar
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The world of entertainment through a Canadian lens with your hosts Sarah Hanlon and Richard Crouse.

Episodes

  1. From Picasso to Bad Bunny: Art as Resistance

    5D AGO

    From Picasso to Bad Bunny: Art as Resistance

    This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon hold up the “art is a mirror” cliché…then immediately use it to start a small, tasteful blaze. We’re talking art as resistance...from Picasso’s Guernica energy to pop culture moments that make the internet reveal its whole personality in public. We also take a beat to acknowledge the death of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek at 48, and why his openness about colorectal cancer matters...plus Richard’s blunt reminder that early screening can save your life (yes, even if you have “literally anything else” you’d rather do). Then it’s into the beautiful chaos: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show as storytelling, culture, and a giant empathy machine...complete with NYC water data that proves half of New York held it together out of respect for the performance (and then absolutely did not). From there, we connect dots between protest music and icon moments...Sinead O’Connor, Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Public Enemy, punk rock, Spike Lee, and what happens when resistance goes mainstream without getting sanded down into “brand-safe inspiration.” We also detour through Toronto’s disappearing music landmarks, including the news that Steve’s Music on Queen West is closing...and what that says about culture, community, and the slow gentrified vanishing of the places where scenes are born.

    55 min
  2. Melania and the Death of the Documentary

    FEB 5

    Melania and the Death of the Documentary

    This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah try to make sense of a glossy new Melania Trump “documentary” that feels less like filmmaking and more like the soft launch of a lifestyle brand. From its eye-watering budget to its suspicious lack of actual substance, the conversation quickly turns to what this project really is…and where it’s likely headed next (hint: streaming platform, branded candles, possibly an apron).

    40 min
  3. Traitors, Canada Shore & the Truth About Reality TV

    JAN 29

    Traitors, Canada Shore & the Truth About Reality TV

    Is reality TV trash…or is it secretly one of the most powerful storytelling tools we have? In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, film critic Richard Crouse and reality-TV scholar and Big Brother Canada winner Sarah Hanlon dive deep into the past, present, and future of reality television — just as Canada Shore lands in Kelowna, BC and The Traitors Canada proves the genre is having a full-blown renaissance. We unpack where reality TV really began (hint: it wasn’t Jersey Shore), why shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Traitors, Canada’s Drag Race, Love Island, and The Great British Bake Off keep pulling us in, and whether reality television is cultural junk food…or a machine for empathy.

    49 min
  4. Oscars… and an AI Judge Movie Disaster

    JAN 22

    Oscars… and an AI Judge Movie Disaster

    This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon break down the freshly announced Oscar nominations, from surprise snubs to horror films finally getting some long-overdue Academy love. The conversation kicks off with a brutal (and oddly fascinating) hate watch of Mercy, a new sci-fi thriller built around an AI judge, a ticking clock, and a future where justice takes 90 minutes or less. Is it anti-AI? Pro-AI? Or just… inert? Richard explains why this might be the ultimate “seatbelt movie.” From there, they dig into this year’s major Best Picture contenders, including Sinners, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another. The conversation covers Oscar predictions, blockbuster fatigue, genre bias, and what actually makes a great film.

    45 min
  5. Do Celebrities Really Die Anymore?

    JAN 15

    Do Celebrities Really Die Anymore?

    In this engaging episode, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon dive into the evolving landscape of celebrity culture, particularly focusing on the implications of Kevin Hart's recent deal with Authentic Brands Group. This unprecedented move allows Hart to sell his intellectual property while still alive, raising ethical questions about the commodification of celebrity and the transition from performer to brand. The conversation explores the potential consequences of such deals, including the risk of reducing artists to mere assets, and the impact of AI on the future of entertainment. Crouse and Hanlon also reflect on the nature of live performances versus digital recreations, emphasizing the importance of human connection in art and the unique experiences that live performances offer.

    49 min
  6. Heated Rivalry Worked. 
Can Canada Make Hit TV Shows Now Without Saying Sorry?

    JAN 8

    Heated Rivalry Worked. 
Can Canada Make Hit TV Shows Now Without Saying Sorry?

    In this engaging conversation, Sarah Hanlon and Richard Crouse explore the potential for Canadian television to create hit shows, particularly focusing on the success of 'Heated Rivalry.' They discuss personal experiences, the unique aspects of Canadian culture, and the importance of risk-taking in storytelling. The dialogue also touches on the impact of location and authenticity in Canadian productions, as well as the evolving landscape of media and representation in the industry.

    35 min
  7. Rob Reiner, Oscars, and More

    12/19/2025

    Rob Reiner, Oscars, and More

    This episode of Entertainment Is Broken begins with loss… personal, unexpected, and grounding. Richard Crouse shares an update on recovering from Bell’s palsy and how suddenly losing something you take for granted can shift your perspective on everything that follows. From there, Richard and Sarah Hanlon expand the conversation to legacy, creativity, and what survives when the platforms beneath our culture start to move. They reflect on the lasting power of film and television, the artists who live on through their work, and why legacy still matters even as entertainment fragments and reinvents itself in real time. The discussion moves into the bigger disruption reshaping the industry… the Oscars heading to YouTube, streaming absorbing podcasting, social platforms migrating to TV, and the slow unraveling of what we used to call “old media.” Along the way, they explore aging artists, the physical and emotional toll of touring, the rise of concert films, and whether the future of live entertainment might be more intimate, accessible, and human. Thoughtful, funny, and occasionally heavy, this episode is about change… and what remains when everything else is in flux.

    44 min
  8. Do The Golden Globes Matter? Is Paramount Evil?

    12/12/2025

    Do The Golden Globes Matter? Is Paramount Evil?

    In this episode of 'Entertainment is Broken', Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon delve into the complexities of award season, discussing the Golden Globe nominations, notable snubs, and the evolving role of hosts. They explore the significance of the Golden Globes in the current entertainment landscape, the impact of streaming on theatrical releases, and the emotional weight of personal stories in music. The conversation also touches on Quentin Tarantino's controversial remarks about actors and the irreplaceable experience of watching films in theatres. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of shared experiences in cinema and the ongoing dialogue about entertainment.

    55 min
  9. Have Concert Tickets Become Too Expensive?

    12/06/2025

    Have Concert Tickets Become Too Expensive?

    How much would you actually pay to see your favourite artist… and how much is too much? In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah start with a simple question about concert tickets and end up wandering through Bell’s Palsy pirate chic, David Bowie devotion, reality TV divorce drama, and whether Die Hard is officially a Christmas movie now that the Willis family says so (Spoiler: it is).

    55 min
  10. Do We Really Need Another One? Hollywood’s Sequel Addiction

    11/28/2025

    Do We Really Need Another One? Hollywood’s Sequel Addiction

    In this week’s episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon head back to Oz to poke at Hollywood’s favourite security blanket... the sequel. Are follow-ups actually good for storytelling, or just very good for spreadsheets? Along the way, Richard also shares something a lot more personal than box office numbers: a major health scare that hit in the middle of recording last week’s episode. From there, Sarah and Richard talk pivots from billion-dollar franchises to the simple fact that none of this matters much if your health falls apart.

    46 min
  11. Headlines, Pop Culture Courtroom & the Stuff You Really Need to Watch

    11/22/2025

    Headlines, Pop Culture Courtroom & the Stuff You Really Need to Watch

    This inaugural episode delivers a full run through the entertainment landscape as entertainment insiders Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon break down the latest headlines, rule on cultural controversies in Pop Culture Courtroom, and highlight the movies, shows, music, books, and games you shouldn’t miss. Insightful, entertaining, and very them.

    49 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

The world of entertainment through a Canadian lens with your hosts Sarah Hanlon and Richard Crouse.

Information

  • Creator
    Brittlestar
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Stewart JW Reynolds
  • Show Website
    Entertainment Is Broken

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