Awards Chatter

On the occasion of his first foray into directing, the greatest screenwriter of the last 25 years — for screens small ('The West Wing') and big ('The Social Network') — opens up about his unlikely journey from actor/bartender to writer, dissects his strengths (dialogue) and weaknesses (story) and opens up about past controversies (drugs, the Sony hack) and criticsms (how he handles female characte...

One of the most famous, accomplished, beautiful and enigmatic women in the world opens up about her love-hate relationship with acting (and how her choice of roles has been impacted by her rollercoaster of a personal life), her gravitation toward directing (her fourth directorial effort, a Khmer-language drama, is Cambodia's entry in this season's best foreign-language film Oscar race) and why bei...

The Mexican auteur reflects on the supernatural experiences that shaped him, lessons he learned from films that got derailed and why his latest work — "a musical-thriller-drama Douglas Sirk version of a monster movie" about "outsiders" striving to save "a filthy thing that came from South America" — is not only his favorite but "me, in my totality." But first: Annette Insdorf, a professor in the G...

The biggest star in Hollywood opens up about the evolution of her career and feelings about celebrity, the phone hack that left her feeling "gangbanged by the fucking planet" and her work with Darren Aronofsky on the most grueling and controversial movie of her career ("I kind of made it and broke it"). But first: Sid Ganis, the former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,...

The multi-talented, enigmatic artist reflects on juggling filmmaking with college, graduate and Ph. D studies; how an epiphany during the making of 'Pineapple Express' made possible his Oscar-nominated performance in '127 Hours'; and why he's drawn to eccentrics like the one he played in 'Spring Breakers' and Tommy Wiseau. But first: Will Arnett, the popular comedy actor, joins Scott to talk about...

The 27-year-old Aussie, who catapulted to international stardom through 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' discusses her conflicted feelings about fame and her 'bombshell' image, why she formed her own production company and how, through it, she helped to bring to life a dramedy about Tonya Harding that features the best performance of her career. But first: Kim Masters, a THR editor-at-large who has been...

One of the smartest and funniest people in show business — heretofore best known as half of the comedy team Key & Peele, which was at the center of an Emmy-winning Comedy Central sketch show of the same name from 2012 through 2015 — reflects on his path to writing and directing a $4.5 million film that grossed more than $250 million worldwide upon its release in February and remains 2017's most cr...

One of the most revered and influential composers of the past century reflects on the 'minimalism' style for which he's famous, collaborations with everyone from David Bowie to Martin Scorsese and scoring Brett Morgen’s terrific new documentary about the early work of primatologist Jane Goodall. But first: Ashley Cullins, a THR staff reporter specializing in legal coverage, joins Scott to discuss...

An unassuming director and his precocious leading lady reflect on their unlikely journeys — through iPhone movies and kiddie casting calls — to a collaboration that resulted in one of 2017's most acclaimed films. But first: THR's film critic and chief theater critic David Rooney joins Scott to dissect the first half of the 55th New York Film Festival. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by...

The Lakers legend reflects on his hardwood career, how 'Black Mamba' saved him, why he retired via a poem that he's turned into an acclaimed animated short — plus who he considers the greatest NBA player ever, how he feels about National Anthem kneeling and more. But first: Veteran Academy members Alec Lorimore and Arnold Schwartzman look back on the David vs. Goliath battle that ultimately result...

The legendary stage and screen actress, who made her professional debut 60 years ago, reflects on landing her first great film role at 63, earning all seven of her Oscar noms (one of whihc resulted in a win) over the 20 years since and why she may or may not have Harvey Weinstein's name tattooed on her bum. But first: THR's film editor Gregg Kilday joins Scott to recap the last week in the awards...

One of the most exciting actors of his generation, who made his name on TV as a 21st century Sherlock Holmes and in films ranging from 'The Imitation Game' to 'Doctor Strange,' reflects on the appeal of acting, experiencing sudden celebrity and playing real people, most recently Thomas Edison. But first: Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey and CEO Piers Handling jo...

The trailblazing Pakistan-born comedian, writer and actor — one of the few brown men ever to play a lead in an American movie — reflects on coming to America at 18, falling in love with stand-up and making the most emotionally vulnerable period in his life the center of a movie that now has grossed more than $50 million worldwide and is the second best-reviewed release of 2017 so far. But first: T...

The 32-year-old Israeli who played DC Comics’ most iconic female character in the first big-studio superhero film ever to center on a female protagonist — the hit of the summer — discusses her unusual road to Hollywood, her champions and trolls ("They had a lot to say about the lack of boobs and the lack of booty") and her film's critical, commercial and social success. But first: THR's executive...

This year's Golden Globe winner for best actress in a comedy series discusses what it was like growing up as Diana Ross' daughter, why her current show and character are socially significant and why she has mixed feelings about the accolades that she's been racking up, of late. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by Dennis Schweitzer and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about you...

The actress who Lorne Michaels ranks among the "top three or four" 'SNL' cast members ever reflects on how she fell in love with improv, why she co-wrote and starred in 'Bridesmaids' and then followed its massive success with indie dramedies and what it's like to return to Studio 8H as a host. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by Dennis Schweitzer and produced by Matthew Whitehurst. Lear...

The Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper discusses the evolution of his voice (musical and political), Fox News haters and how mass incarceration became a focus of both his activism and his latest, Emmy-nominated song. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by Dennis Schweitzer and produced by Matthew Whitehurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over a blunt, the gangsta rap and hip-hop icon candidly reflects on his quarter-century in the public eye — the highs (literal and figurative) and lows (jail time, a murder charge, losing friends to the east coast-west coast rivalry), plus secrets of survival and reinvention (pimp, peacemaker and now Emmy-nominated cooking show host). Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded and produced by Mat...

In a rare interview, one of the most important figures in the history of comedy discusses the roots of his iconic variety show, dissects its 42nd season (its most watched in 23 years and most Emmy-nominated ever) and reveals his thoughts on retirement and what he'd like to happen to 'SNL' after he's gone. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by Ryan Gabos and produced by Matthew Whitehurst....

One of the finest character actors ever — a regular in the movies of Spike Lee, the Coen brothers and Adam Sandler — reflects on being ethnic-looking, overcoming a mid-career crisis that almost led him to retire and why so many of his projects — from 'Do the Right Thing' to his latest, the HBO limited series for which he's Emmy-nominated — address bigotry. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, record...

One of the most revered actresses of her generation — a best actress Oscar winner currently in contention for a best actress (limited series) Emmy — looks back on her accidental entry into showbiz, achieving her greatest successes after 40, her controversial political views and why TV is the new home for actresses of a certain age. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, recorded by Ryan Gabos and prod...

Late night's comeback kid — as in, its ratings leader and an Emmy frontrunner just a year after some began writing him off — discusses the tragedy that led him to comedy, the evolution of "Stephen Colbert" on Comedy Central and why his fortunes, as David Letterman's successor, turned around after Trump's election. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg; recorded by Ryan Gabos; produced by Matthew White...

Arguably the greatest comedy actress in TV history reflects on how a bad experience at 'SNL' led to 'Seinfeld,' how she stared down "the 'Seinfeld' curse" and why she loves playing bumbling politician Selina Meyer on the hit HBO show that won the last two Emmys for best comedy series. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg, produced and recorded by Matthew Whitehurst. Learn more about your ad choices....

The veteran amongst broadcast's current crop of late-night hosts opens up about his 15 years on the job, worshipping Letterman and feuding with Leno, hosting an insane Oscars and sharing an emotional 13-minute monologue about his newborn son. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg Produced and Recorded by Matthew Whitehurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'America's Sweetheart' reflects on becoming an A-list superstar, hitting a terrible slump during which she was declared a 'has-been' and then reinventing herself as an actress/producer and Oprah-like champion of great books. Credits: Hosted by Scott Feinberg Produced and Recorded by Matthew Whitehurst Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices