Episodes

Sopranos fans rejoice! The ‘Sopranos Sessions’ is a triple feature exploring the award winning series through critics, cast and creator David Chase. We talk to actor Vincent Curatola about his iconic performance as New York underboss Johnny ‘Sack’, his audition, working with Gandolfini & Chase, dying on the Sopranos, the new prequel ‘The Many Saints of Newark’, why the series endures and much more. Visit https://celebratethesopranos.com for more information on the film ‘Sopranos Sessions’

Yay! Erik Anderson AwardsWatch is back with us to talk about the most anticipated movies coming up in 2021, and who already has Oscar 2022 buzz! Plus we talk about the scandals surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the cancellation of the 2022 Golden Globes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award winning music supervisor Iain Cooke (‘Amy’, ‘It’s A Sin’) joins us talk about Apple TV+’s new docuseries “1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything”, executive produced by Academy, BAFTA and Grammy Award winners Asif Kapadia (“Amy,” “Senna”) and James Gay-Rees (“Amy,” “Senna,” “Exit Through the Gift Shop”). An exploration of the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 1971, including The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Joni Mitchell, Lou Reed and more. Premieres on AppleTV+ on May 21st

Actor Aaron Pierre talks to us about stepping into the daunting role of Caesar in Barry Jenkins' masterful adaptation of Colson Whiteheads novel ‘The Underground Railroad’. Jenkins discovered Aaron Pierre onstage in ‘Othello’ at the Globe theatre. Pierre also starred in the Superman prequel series ‘Krypton’ and is about to star in M. Night Shyamalan new thriller “Old” summer 2021. The Underground Railroad premieres on Amazon Prime on May 14th.

The reactions to writer, producer, director, Justine Batemans’ new book ‘Face : One Square Foot of Skin’ have been huge and it is already a best seller. The author joins us to talk about the book, why she wrote it and the themes of how society responds to aging faces. Justine Bateman earned two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination for her work on the 1980’s sitcom ‘Family Ties’. Bateman’s directorial feature film debut of her own script, ‘Violet’, had its World Premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival, it stars Olivia Munn, Luke Bracey, and Justin Theroux,  Her best-selling first book ‘Fame’  was published in 2018 and her second book’ Face’ is out now. In 2016, Justine earned her Computer Science and Digital Media Management degree from UCLA.

This week we are joined by award-winning composer Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Big Short, Succession). We talk about Mr Britell's deep collaborations with director Barry Jenkins and their most ambitious work together yet, the series adaptation of Colson Whiteheads' Pulitzer prize winning novel The Underground Railroad. Premiering on Amazon Prime on May 14th. And his work on Succession, the Kendall Roy rap and so much more.

We are capping off this long awards season with our final, and complete, Oscar predictions for 2021! Joining us is the maestro of Oscar predictions Erik Anderson, Editor-in-Chief at AwardsWatch for an interesting, surprising conversation about what could be a very historic evening. Have a great Oscar night and good luck with you ballots! twitter @awards_watch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A yearly tradition! We are so happy to have Kyle Buchanan (NY Times pop culture reporter and the awards season columnist) with us again this year to talk Oscars 2021. Kyle fills us in on all the behind the scenes info about this Sundays show: how will telecast producer Steven Soderbergh reinvent the show, the historic nominations this year and some very interesting, and surprising, predictions! Twitter @kylebuchanan

We are getting ready for Oscar with a very special episode! This week we dive into the ‘red carpet industrial complex’,  the multi billion dollar world of fashion & celebrity styling with expert in the field , Mr Joe Katz. Plus we talk about some historic red carpet hits and misses and Mr Katzs gives some predictions on what the celebrities will be wearing at this years Oscars on April 25th! Joe Katz is a personal stylist and fashion expert. For the past several decades he as been a fashion contributor and expert for outlets like Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and OK and In Touch magazines. He is the host of the The Katz Walk Podcast. He has reported on Oscar red carpets for the Associated Press, CBS and CNN. Joe Katz is also a personal stylist. He was the in house stylist at the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel and has worked with PR execs from Louis Vuitton to Prada to Ralph Lauren.

Always a blast to have author and critic Eric Deggans (NPR) with us to talk about the seasons most anticipated TV dramas. What to watch, what to skip! From HBO’s ‘Mare of Easttown’ starring Kate Winslet to Disney + ‘Loki’, Apple TV+ ‘Mosquito Coast’ and much more. Don’t miss! Twitter @Deggans

Film writer and critic John Bleasdale (The Guardian, The Independent, Sight & Sound) joins us for a conversation about some of the very interesting, upcoming biopics about iconic figures and films about Hollywood. From Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Pablo Larraín's ‘Spencer’ to Lady Gaga and Adam Driver in Ridley Scotts ‘House of Gucci’. We also discuss ‘Francis and The Godfather’ Barry Levinson’s film about the making of ‘The Godfather ‘ starring Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck directing the ...

Comedian, director, actor Bo Burnham stars in one of the best and most discussed films of the season, the critically acclaimed 'Promising Young Woman', written and directed by the Oscar nominated Emerald Fennell. Burnham joins us to talk about his multi-layered role as Ryan, about the interesting and difficult conversations audiences are having about the film, his massive You Tube comedy career, “cancel culture” and much more.

Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief of AwardsWatch joins us to talk about the Oscar nominations. The surprises, snubs and analysis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award winning filmmaker Amy Ziering joins us to talk about the much discussed 4 part HBO documentary series ‘Allen v. Farrow’. In ‘Allen v Farrow’ Ziering and co-director Kirby Dick examine the 1992 the sexual assault allegations made against director Woody Allen by his then 7 year old daughter Dylan Farrow,  how it was dealt with in the criminal justice system, the media narrative and more. ‘Allen v. Farrow” is streaming on HBO and HBOmax.

Scandals! Predictions! Fun! Critic and author The…

Writer Megan McLachlan (Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, AwardsDaily) joins us to talk about the latest news, controversies and Hollywood implosions. News and revelations that have rocked the pop culture landscape, fans and the industry alike. Follow Megan twitter @heydudemeg

Actor Nathaniel Curtis joins us to talk about his performance in Russell T Davies powerful, emotional and daring new series “It’s a Sin” about a group of friends in the 80s, grappling with the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We talk about how the script affected him, tackling his first TV role, the support on the set, working with intimacy coordinators, what he learned about grief and much more. ‘It’s a Sin’ is on Channel 4 (UK), HBO and premiering on HBO MAX in the US on Feb 18th

Christina and Erik Anderson (Editor-in-Chief, Awa…

An intimate conversation with writer/director Edoardo Ponti about his critically acclaimed new movie ‘The Life Ahead’. On the directing his mother, screen legend Sophia Loren, his parents influence, award season buzz and so much more ‘The Life Ahead’ is available on Netflix

Welcome to our Sundance Film Festival 2021 previe…

Our guest this week is journalist and Columbia Journalism School Professor Jessica Bruder. She is the author of ‘Nomadland’, now a major motion picture and Oscar frontrunner starring Frances McDormand, directed by Chloé Zhao. The book, and the movie, explores the subculture of older American workers, many priced out of their middle class life and with no pensions, who have given up traditional housing and are living in their RVs, trucks and campers. Modern nomads  searching for temporary employment. Jessica Bruder spent three years on the project and 15,000 miles of driving — from coast to coast—following the community. 'Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century' is available on Amazon The movie ‘Nomadland’ will premiere in the US on Feb 19th 2021 on Hulu and in selected theaters. In other territories in March.

Join us for an intimate conversation with this seasons' breakout star Paul Raci. Mr Raci is already garnering awards buzz for his role as Joe, a deaf Vietnam veteran and leader of a rehab for the deaf, in the critical acclaimed feature SOUND OF METAL. Mr Raci talks to us about how the role in many ways mirrors his own life, a Vietnam veteran and recovering addict himself. About his identity as a CODA, a Child of Deaf Adults. About growing up as a hearing child with two deaf parents and how he in many ways was a conduit for them in the hearing world. His Black Sabbath cover band where he performs entire concerts in ASL, American Sign Language. Working with actor Riz Ahmed and why director Darius Marder thought he was perfect for the role. Plus much more A full, written transcript of this interview (provided by https://www.scriptme.io) is available @ www.popcultureconfidential.com

Epi 206 Happy New Year! Christina & Erik's/Awards…

Happy Holidays listeners! Such a great Christmas special for you this week. A conversation with Pixar’s Pete Docter (co-writer, co-director & Pixar Chief Creative Officer) and Dana Murray (Producer) about SOUL, the new critically acclaimed feature starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey. We talk about the ‘Pixar brain trust’, the incredible animation and music of Soul, the first black lead in Pixar history, the heartbreak of not being able to release the film in theatres and much more, Very Happy Holidays to you all! SOUL premieres on Disney+ on December 25th