The Business

This week, Eric Deggans talks to Eric Kripke, creator of the Amazon Prime series The Boys, about criticism of the show’s final season. Elon Musk went online to trash the finale of the politically provocative superhero satire, and some of the show’s less wealthy fans also didn’t care for it either. Kripke also talks about how The Boys managed to be pretty prescient about the current state of the country, and whether the franchise–with its multiple spinoffs–is actually becoming like the superhero genre it mocks.  Plus, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the firing of CBS’ 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley. The duo also discuss the success of the movie Backrooms, and how it made its leap from YouTube to the big screen.

This week, Kim Masters talks to Jack Thorne, who won all the prizes for writing the Netflix series Adolescence, about his new series, an adaptation of the novel Lord of the Flies. They also discuss how Adolescence revealed Netflix’s stunning global reach, and why series star Stephen Graham has a co-writing credit, even though Graham doesn’t actually write. Thorne also tells Kim about being diagnosed as autistic in his mid-40s. Plus, Kim and Matt Belloni discuss the major shakeup at CBS’ 60 Minutes. Bari Weiss, the controversial head of the network’s news division, fired two correspondents and other staff, and hired someone with no broadcast news experience to run the vaunted show.

This week, Eric Deggans talks to Courtney Kemp, co-creator of the Netflix crime drama Nemesis, about the changing TV landscape, and whether she sees Hollywood standing by diversity initiatives despite the pushback from the Trump administration. She also explains how some executives who give her notes don’t necessarily grasp what matters to her audience. After signing an overall deal with Netflix in 2021, Kemp developed Nemesis, a Los Angeles-set crime story built around ambition, class, and power.  [Editor’s note: this segment was taped before it was announced that Kemp had signed an overall deal with Apple TV, and did not renew her deal with Netflix.] Plus, host Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the penultimate episode of which included a jab by Bruce Springsteen directed at Larry and David Ellison. The duo also assess the latest Star Wars release - The Mandalorian and Grogu. Disney has a lot riding on whether the franchise can successfuly turn a popular TV series into a box office hit. [Editor’s note: this segment was taped before the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired.]

Kim Masters wraps up her two-part conversation with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Shatner reflects on his deeply emotional journey to space at age 90 and Tyson shares why he isn’t picky about the show biz gigs he takes. The pair also reflect on technological disruption, including how the rise of AI inspired Shatner to record a heavy metal album about the Industrial Revolution. Their two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd, will be at The Saban Theatre May 19-20.  Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the strength of the new AI protections outlined in the recently finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. They also discuss Disney’s awkward upfronts pitch, and Netflix’s continued expansion into live sports and events.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about their upcoming two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd. In the first installment of a sprawling two-part conversation, the pair reflect on how syndication helped solidify Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon, why studio executives don’t know what they’re doing, and they wrestle over the universe’s biggest questions. Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the seismic shift at Netflix following the company’s decision to give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film a 49-day theatrical window ahead of its streaming debut. They also discuss the ups and downs from Disney’s latest quarterly earnings report and the newly finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with director Kirk Jones and actor Robert Aramayo about I Swear, the BAFTA winning film about Tourette’s advocate John Davidson. Jones talks about using his own life savings to self-finance the project after potential backers pushed him to tone down the film’s language, and how that decision allowed him to cast Aramayo in the lead without studio oversight. Aramayo discusses the physical and emotional demands of portraying Davidson, a role that required extensive preparation and ultimately earned him a BAFTA. They also reflect on the widely publicized moment at the BAFTA ceremony that brought renewed attention to Tourette’s syndrome. Plus, in the aftermath of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni unpack the FCC scrutiny facing The Walt Disney Company over a recent late-night jab from Jimmy Kimmel. The duo also explore the unexpected box office strength of a controversial Michael Jackson biopic and the delicate balancing act at Lionsgate as it weighs a potential sequel amid ongoing public backlash.  

As 2024 comes to an end, we want to thank you, our listeners! We asked you to send us your burning questions about the industry, and you delivered – from around the world. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dish it out over everything from the mind numbing amount of trailers before movies, to the surprising reason behind FYC billboards – we’re looking at you, studio execs. Did we answer your question in our first ever listener mailbag? Tune in to find out!

Michelle Ashford, creator of Showtime's Masters of Sex, talks about making a show about sex that's not exactly sexy.

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro on what he’s learned from failure and how he navigates the rocky waters of the film business.

Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter. 

"Breaking Bad" Creator Vince Gilligan says to be a showrunner you need to be a cult leader.

Filmmaker Derek Cianfrance on Ryan Gosling and the art/business balance of movie-making.

Agent-turned-manager-turned Producer Gavin Polone on his new movie, Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, and what it reveals about his star client...

The year 2009 was a crazy year for the business, and 2010 should top it. This week, its the Hollywood year to be with Cynthia Littleton of Variety and John Horn of the Los Angeles Times.

The ups, the downs, the all arounds of the business of show in 2008.  We talk with Lauren Schuker of the Wall Street Journal and Scott Collins of the Los Angeles Times.