24 episodes
The Plot Thickens TCM
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- TV & Film
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4.6 • 3K Ratings
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For our third season, we're bringing you the iconic Lucy. How did a small-town girl who was told she had no talent become the funniest, most recognizable woman in America? From her early years as a model to her triumphant takeover of television, this is the story of Lucille Ball, as never heard before. Join host Ben Mankiewicz as he delves into the private world of America’s funniest redhead and hear for yourself the many triumphs and tragedies, with surprising revelations at every turn.
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Coming October 12: Lucy
From her early years as a model to her triumphant takeover of television, this is the story of Lucille Ball, as never heard before. Join host Ben Mankiewicz as he delves into the private world of America’s funniest redhead and hear for yourself the many triumphs and tragedies, with surprising revelations at every turn.
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The Devil’s Candy Bonus Episode
Author Julie Salamon joins TCM Host Alicia Malone for a revealing interview about what you didn’t hear during our second season of The Plot Thickens.
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You’ve Got to be a Genius to Make a Movie This Bad
The Bonfire of the Vanities tanks with both critics and the moviegoing public. Brian De Palma leads the autopsy, trying to understand how all these smart people made all the wrong decisions. The only upside is for Julie Salamon, whose book on the production is instantly hailed as a modern classic. But even that success comes at a price, as not everyone is thrilled to be immortalized by the book.
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The Best Movie We Ever Made
With production now in Los Angeles, Brian De Palma feels the pressure from prying studio executives – and from Bruce Willis, who starts directing other actors on how to be funnier. De Palma gets some much-needed encouragement from his friend Steven Spielberg, who is an old pro at playing the Hollywood game. Then, as post-production ramps up, studio heads see a first cut and love the film, though they have no idea how to market it.
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Hollywood Heat
As production moves to Los Angeles, the specter of sexism clouds the movie. Rumors swirl among the crew about Melanie Griffith’s plastic surgery, Kim Cattrall's weight loss, and an affair between actress Beth Broderick and director Brian De Palma.
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Wire Without a Net
The cast shows its true colors: some are easygoing and relatable, but not Bruce Willis. The New York shoot spirals over budget as the courtroom scene can only be shot at night, and the film’s entire opening is scrapped in favor of the most expensive Steadicam shot ever devised. Meanwhile, Bronx residents show up to throw garbage at the filmmakers, and one irate New Yorker confronts Brian De Palma directly.
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Customer Reviews
Highest Quality Podcast Series EVER!!
I listen to a lot of podcasts, audiobooks, and NPR Fresh Air episodes. This tops them all! I binged both season 1 & 2 and could stop. Please make many many more! It is incredibly interesting to get so in depth on directors and the life of movie production. I was deeply moved by the stories of achievement and tragedy.
Bonus points the series has amazing sound quality and I wish I could have the narrators talking to me every day about anything they are marvelous!
Fascinating, couldn’t wait to hear what’s next!
One of the most professionally produced audio offerings I’ve ever heard. So we’ll written and presented, you don’t even have to be a film buff. I devour each episode.
Yup
Season 1: In addition to having the perfect pedigree for the job as Turner Classic Movies primetime host, Ben Mankiewicz is knowledgeable, relaxed & articulate, shows a respectful manner with his guests. In this podcast, he is that in an intimate, extensive, conversational setting. Bogdanovich has had an incredibly interesting life, & is a treasure trove of movie history with a deep well of personal experience & insight into some of the most pivotal individuals in filmmaking. Unfortunately, he also has a creepy bent towards teenage girls, and the replacing one sister with an even younger one is cringeworthy. More access to Bogdanovich’s recordings of film history greats would have improved this.
Season 2: Sort of interesting in terms of getting a behind-the-scenes look at moviemaking, but unfortunately the narrator’s voice quality is extremely distracting to the content, and her friendship with /admiration of/pity for De Palma prevents an honest exploration of his egregious exploitation of women and the problematic personality aspects that contributed to his failures. It would have been a lot more interesting to hear about the project from a much more mature Hank’s perspective, or if Griffiths was able to provide some insight on her experience, not only with this particular film, but on a life spent trying to navigate Hollywood in female gender. The subject of her feeling the pressure to surgically “improve“ her body as the only bargaining chip she had in an industry with an insurmountable double standard of age scorn for women vs men is pretty much glossed over.As for Willis, I’ve never been a fan, but I was still shocked to learn of the unforgivable viciousness of the hate remarks he directed at Salamon; how sad that such utterly self absorbed/ugly/mean-spirited people even exist, let alone achieve any kind of success.