The E-List

Happy 250th, America! Your birthday present? Season 3 of The E-List! As the country celebrates a milestone amid a deeply divided political and cultural moment, we're diving into the movies that have sold us an idea of America. From war films and historical dramas to stories that celebrate, question, or challenge the American Dream, we explore how Hollywood sells patriotism. Are we buying it? And w...

It's the season finale of The E-List!! To cap off an amazing season, we wanted to take a look into what it's like to be your own boss and fulfill your dream of making your own content  your way. This week we’re sitting down with a professional YouTuber – Patrick – the creator behind  “My Friends Call Me Pat.” As a solo writer, editor, and star, Patrick knows the ins and outs of independent content...

From hidden-camera chaos to 24/7 livestreams, surveillance has become one of entertainment’s most reliable formats. In this episode, we unpack how shows like Big Brother turned constant observation into prime-time drama, how Punk'd made humiliation a punchline, and why social experiments like What Would You Do? Aim to expose the bystanders. From the prank wars of Impractical Jokers to today’s door...

Hollywood’s finest have once again gathered at the Dolby Theatre for cinema’s most glamorous night! In this episode, we react to the 98th Academy Awards, breaking down the biggest wins, the most surprising moments, and the speeches everyone will be talking about all week. From long-awaited victories to controversial snubs, we unpack the night’s standout moments and debate whether the Academy got i...

Some directors don’t just make movies—they leave a signature. From film school debates to Letterbox’d threads, the elusive idea of the “auteur” has shaped how we talk about cinema, but does it still hold up? In this episode, we break down auteur theory, spotlight the films that build legendary careers, and ask whether anyone can truly be an auteur in the age of studio mergers, I.P. wars, and strea...

This week, we’re joined by our friend and NYC-based comedian Danya Trommer! With 10 years in stand-up, Danya has toured across the country, hit major festivals, hosted a weekly show, and racked up a viral set with Don’t Tell Comedy. They’re here to give us the 1-2-3 of becoming a stand-up comedian — what it actually takes, what nobody tells you, and why bombing is basically a rite of passage. And...

It may be winter, but there’s another season upon us: awards season. While actors, writers, and producers judge each other, the public is busy judging the red carpet, and the internet is ruthless. Celebrities now dominate Fashion Week, while influencers have become red carpet regulars. So how does that hideous dress you saw on one person end up on someone else, and then somehow on you? We’re break...

The exodus from Hollywood has two faces: mass unemployment pushing creatives into survival mode, and burnout driving others to leave by choice. Whether due to layoffs or disillusionment, more people than ever are stepping away from the entertainment machine. This week we're breaking down leaving the Entertainment business E-List Style.

Microdramas—Hollywood’s fast-rising wave of vertical, ultra-short videos—are rewriting the rules of Hollywood. Low quality and often produced on a shoestring budget, they nevertheless dominate attention in a way that polished platforms like Quibi never could, quickly becoming a billion-dollar industry. Verticals’ success taps into deep psychological impulses: our craving for immediacy, novelty, an...

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!🎄 Every December, millions cozy up on the couch with the remote for their annual dose of holiday cheer, but what makes a Christmas movie truly magical? From timeless classics to Hallmark and Lifetime favorites, these films hit the sweet spot of nostalgia, romance, and escapism. In this episode, we break down what makes a Christmas movie binge-worthy and get an i...

That’s right! Netflix and Warner Brothers Discovery are getting nice and cozy this holiday season. The signed and sealed deal, which is a whooping $83 billion, is almost delivered. Now, we’re in a Department of Justice Monopoly waiting game.    But how does this affect Hollywood unions? Or the streaming consumers? Or AMC Stubs A-Listers?    There’s more to merger than meets the eye, so let’s break...

Happy Thanksgiving, E-Listers! Gobble Gobble, we know you’re thankful for another episode, and we’re thankful for YOU🫶 Settle in! This holiday, we’re serving up our definitive (and very important) ranking of the best Turkey Day TV episodes to fuel your festive binge!

Artificial intelligence is transforming Hollywood from the inside out. AI actors, scripts, and digital doubles—oh my! The E-List dives into how tech is taking center stage in Tinseltown and whether creativity can keep its star billing in a machine-made world.

Hot off the press—it’s The E-List! Megan and Malaika are back for a spooktacular Halloween Eve premiere 👻  Horror is having a serious moment, from Oscar-nominated The Substance to box office hits Sinners and Weapons. Dead Meat writer Tim Choi joins to break down why scary movies are taking over screens. Press play for a killer episode 🔪

We all have them — the stories that shaped us. The book that made us feel seen, the movie we’ve watched a hundred times, the TV show that feels like home, the song that’s forever tied to a moment in our lives. Today, we’re each bringing one of each — one book, one film, one show, one song — and unpacking why they’ve stuck with us all these years.

You may have noticed the quiet cancellations of some of your favorite shows – The Recruit, Glow, The Society – each shelved without explanation, fanfare, or happy endings. While these stung, recent headlines hit harder: CBS pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the cancellation of E-News, and the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the financial backbone of NPR a...

From Superheroes to dinosaurs, from John Wick kicking ass to dragons taking names, there’s no shortage of big budget films in theatres.  But in the past few years, you may have noticed a change on the posters. a bolder footnote saying “Filmed for IMAX” or “Edited for Dolby” or maybe you look on AMC and wonder why something is cheaper in “laser”.  Today, we’re breaking down premium movie formats -...

It's a hot E-List summer, and we are deep in the villa. We are so excited for this episode because today, we’re talking all things Love Island 2025. The group chats are popping off with invisible messages. I’ve started tapping my thumb and index finger, and don’t even get me started on Megan THE Stallion. This season is already unhinged in the best way — and we’ve got recaps, reactions, and some s...

Today we’re diving into the glossy, chaotic world of Hollywood publicity – the smoke and mirrors behind your favorite headlines, red carpet moments, and suspiciously timed breakups. From fake relationships to Super Bowl shockers, we're talking about the stunts that dominate your For You Page and get publicists either fired... or famous. Is all press really good press? Have PR stunts gone too far?...

Have you ever been watching TV and said to yourself, “I wish I could make TV of anything in my head”...well, do we have great news for you! Normally we talk Film and TV, but since Megan and Malaika can’t seem to shut up about how people need to read these days, let’s go back to basics. Without the fundamental storytelling skills ripped from literature, there would be no writing of prestige TV show...

You may remember the time Elmo pulled out his iPhone to tweet us a simple question, “How are you doing?”—and what followed was a collective mental breakdown from the PBS-raised generation. The kids are not okay. Public media—the last pure thing in this capitalist hellscape—is under attack. Sesame Street? Struggling. NPR? Slashing staff. PBS? Holding on by a pledge drive. Elmo might be next in line...

As spring settles into summer and new blockbusters hit theatres, we couldn’t help but wonder - are Rom-Coms a dead genre? While  we are still rewatching classic Romantic Comedies, the production of new theatrically released films seems kaput. While streaming services like Netflix and Max still churn out the occasional “return-to-form” Rom-Com, they are always perceived as DOA, until proven otherwi...

The week we recorded this episode, the Trump administration had just implemented tariffs that sent the US economy in a tailspin. The stock market lost over 6 trillion dollars in value, economists are predicting a 25-60% chance of a recession, and eggs are still very expensive. But for an industry that has been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic, how will this affect entertainment? What changes...

Disney—once the home of pure magic, happily-ever-afters, and dreams coming true—now seems to be stuck in a never-ending PR nightmare. From live-action remakes that no one asked for to diversity initiatives that have sparked both applause and outrage, the House of Mouse is caught in the middle of a culture war. Today, we’re diving into Disney’s DEI dilemma, the Snow White controversy, and what this...

This week, coming right off the Bachelor finale, let’s talk about, well, The Bachelor! While Grant may have just found the love of his life, Bachelor Nation is less than sunshine and roses these days. Between toxic showrunners, a revolving door of questionable producers, and new controversies every season, it’s time we break down one of TV’s most popular dating programs.