Episodes

This week, Oscar nominated director and executive producer Lenny Abrahamson (Frank, Room, The Little Stranger) joins us to talk about his critically acclaimed and audience beloved series Normal People, an adaptation of the Sally Rooney novel. We talk about young love, sexual consent, the intimacy between the characters , the controversy, a possible continuation of Marianne and Connell's story and much more!

The man, the myth, The Jesus! Actor/writer/director John Turturro joins us to talk about his new movie ‘The Jesus Rolls’! As well as creating the iconic character with the Coen brothers, about the underachievers, the dreamers, the ‘passione’ and so much more. From 'Do the Right Thing' ,'Barton Fink', to 'Quiz Show’  and 'The Big Lebowski’  Mr Turturro has brought to life some of the most memorable characters in cinema history. On TV he starred in 'The Night Of 'and most recently as Rabbi Bengelsdorf  in Davids Simons' HBO miniseries  'The Plot Against America' based on the Philip Roth novel.  'The Jesus Rolls' premieres in Sweden on May 8th and is available to rent or buy on VOD in the US

Screenwriter, playwright and five time BAFTA award winner Jack Thorne joins us to talk about his new Netflix series ‘The Eddy’, directed by Academy Award winner Damien Chazelle. Also, how E.T. impacted his writing and life, writing the smash hit Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for the stage, his process, crossing all genres, and much more!

Erik Anderson, editor-in-chief of Awardswatch.com…

Director Jason Hehir joins us to talk about “The Last Dance” his series that, this week, became the most in-demand documentary in the world! “The Last Dance” is a brilliant deep dive into  Michael Jordan,  the Chicago Bulls' dynasty and the final championship season in 1997-98. It features never before seen footage and exclusive interviews with Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, coach Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson, Presidents Obama and Clinton and many more. Airing on @ESPN and @NETFLIX

Eric Deggans, TV critic and media analyst at NPR …

Icon Holland Taylor joins us this week! Ms Taylor has a long career in the theatre and on Broadway. She’s starred in films like ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Legally Blonde’ and on television in shows like ‘Bosom Buddies’ with Tom Hanks, ‘Two and a Half Men’ and she won an Emmy for her role on ‘The Practice’.  Recently we saw her in Jay Roachs’ ‘Bombshell’. Now she's starring in Ryan Murphys, much awaited, new Netflix series ‘Hollywood' as studio exec Ellen Kincaid. The cast also includes Broadway icon Patti LuPone, Darren Criss and Queen Latifah. Producer Janet Mock recently described the show like this:  "HOLLYWOOD is a love letter to our little industry town where dreamers dwell, stars are born, and magic transcends reality.” ‘Hollywood’ premieres on Netflix May 1st, 2020

For the award winning Italian journalist Alessio …

Journalist and author Chris Smith (Vanity Fair, N…

We had the best time talking to actor Steve Schirripa (Sopranos, Blue Bloods) who played one of our favorite characters on The Sopranos, Bobby ‘Baccala’ Baccalieri; the big hearted wise-guy, Uncle Juniors caretaker who later married Tony Soprano’s sister Janice. In the conversation Mr Schirripa takes us back to filming the first scene with the the great James Gandolfini and the rest of the crew, how Bobby changed over the arc of the series, creator David Chase attention to detail and and how he found out about Bobbys death. And, about his new podcast! Sopranos co-stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa host the definitive Sopranos re-watch podcast. More info here: www.talkingsopranos.com

We had such a great conversation with actor, writer, theatre director and arts educator Arian Moayed! We talked about Mr Moayed's background, acting and healing through the arts and, of course, his terrific performance as Stewy Hosseini on HBO's ‘Succession’… SO many great Succession stories, it will blow your minds!  Behind the scenes of the show, great anecdotes, and good tales of Stewy and the dysfunctional Roy family! The Iranian born, Chicago bred, Tony nominated Arian Moayed (The Humans, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) is the co-co-founder of Waterwell, multimedia theater company that also teaches drama to hundreds of public school students in the New York area. He will star in Shonda Rhimes upcoming Netflix series ‘Inventing Anna’ and, of course, ‘Succession’ season 3 BONUS!!!! On PCC Premium this week 10 minutes of bonus material; an extra deep dive into a Succession scene with Arian Moayed! Become a member here: popcultureconfidential.supportingcast.fm Thanks for your suppor…

On this episode Christina Jeurling Birro and Erik…

The show must go on----from home! Journalist and TV critic Jen Chaney (New York Magazine, NY Times) joins me to talk about how the late night talk shows are tackling their productions during the Coronavirus epidemic.  The TV and Film industries are changing minute by minute as the Covid-19 outbreak shuts down productions and wreaks havoc on the industries and the people working in them. And it’s a new situation for the late night talk shows as well; Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert and the rest are finding other ways to keep their shows going. Many are broadcasting from their homes while in self-isolation: via iPhone, with the help of their kids, with guests on Skype. I talk to Jen Chaney about how this experiment is going and what it means for the future of late night.

This week we are honored to have disability rights activist Judith Heumann on the show. Ms Heumann is the author of “Being Heumann” (together with Kristen Joiner) and stars in the new Netflix documentary “Crip Camp”, exec produced by Michelle and Barack Obama. She talks to us about how her experiences; like contracting polio in 1949, being denied the right to attend school at age five, facing discrimination in life and work, have shaped her activism and civil rights work. Judith Heumann is an internationally recognized leader in the disability rights community. She served in the Clinton Administration as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and she was appointed by President Obama as the first Special Advisor for International Disability Rights. “Being Heumann” is on Amazon now and “Crip Camp” premieres on Netflix March 25th

Epi 166 An update w/ Erik Anderson: the state of …

This week on Pop Culture Confidential the great writer/producer Ed Burns. Burns, a former Baltimore detective and public school teacher, has together with David Simon written and produced some of TVs greatest shows, including "The Wire”. The Philip Roth novel "The Plot Against America” (published in 2004) imagines an alternate American history told through the eyes of a working-class Jewish family in New Jersey. The story follows the family as they watch the political rise of Charles Lindbergh, an aviator-hero and xenophobic populist, who becomes president and turns the nation towards fascism. Now writers/producers David Simon and Ed Burns have taken on the book and made a 6 hour HBO miniseries starring Zoe Kazan, John Turturro and Winona Ryder. We talked to Ed Burns about the series, why Donald Trumps’s presidency makes the show so urgent right now,  the future of democracy and so much more.  “The Plot Against America” premieres on HBO on March 16th

Very happy to welcome back the Editor-in-Chief of…

We feel the need for speed!! On the show this week actor Rick Rossovich who played Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner, wingman to Val Kilmer’s Iceman in Top Gun (1986). Mr. Rossovich talks about his career, his experiences on Top Gun, the myths and legacy of the franchise, his work in TV and more! All leading up to this summer and the release of Top Gun: Maverick, the sequel 33 years in the making! Will we see him in The new movie on June 26th 2020? Well, we will just have to wait and see. Grab your Ray Bans and catch this interview now! Rick Rossovich has starred in some of the most pop culturally iconic films and TV shows ever: The Lords of Discipline, Streets of Fire, The Terminator, Steve Martin’s Roxanne  and Navy Seals . He played Dr. John 'Tag' Taglieri on ER and, and spent two years playing Lt. Anthony Palermo on Pacific Blue.

We are thrilled to bring you this special and personal conversation with actor Alicia Vikander! She talks to us about starring as feminist icon Gloria Steinem in the upcoming film ‘The Glorias’ (directed by Julie Taymor), about how she has has found her voice and what she wants to do with her Hollywood power! After more than a decade in the industry, and post Oscar-win, Alicia Vikander speaks to Christina about how she is learning to take small breaks and how cooking helps! About her focus and how she and Steinem connected in personal ways. How, early in her Hollywood career, an actress spoke up for her in an uncomfortable, sexist situation and how much that taught her. And how she wants to use her voice and her power to play women from all angles and all dimensions and to get smaller movies with interesting writer/directors off the ground, like her upcoming film ‘Blue Bayou’. And much more! ‘The Glorias’ premiered at Sundance and will out later this year.

On this Pop Culture Confidential Oscar week special:  Predicting the Oscars with math, analytics and good old fashion statistics! Our guest is mathematician Ben Zauzmer. Mr. Zauzmer majored in applied math at Harvard University and works as a manager of baseball analytics for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He applied his knowledge to his passion: the movies, and he has created a complex mathematical model to calculate a nominee’s percentage probability of winning. His model includes different factors: historic data,  the film’s wins and losses at other awards shows leading up to the Oscars, the actors age, if they are playing a real character, box office etc. His predictions have been published in The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, and The Washington Post.  Ben Zauzmer is the author of the new book ‘Oscarmetrics, The Math Behind the Biggest Night in Hollywood’.  Available on Amazon. Follow Ben Zauzmer on twitter: @BensOscarMath

It’s our 2020 Oscar predictions special!  We are thrilled to welcome Kyle Buchanan back to the show, for the 3rd year in a row. Mr Buchanan is the New York Times Carpetbagger columnist and reporter, covering every aspect of awards season. Join us as we predict the winners and discuss this years Academy Awards! Will 1917 or Parasite take Best Picture? Will there be upsets? So much to cover! Follow Mr. Buchanan on twitter @kylebuchanan

Episode 159: Oscar week special! 'Citizen Canine', author Wendy Mitchell by Pop Culture Confidential

OSCAR WEEK on POP CULTURE CONFIDENTIAL Award-winn…

OSCAR WEEK on Pop Culture Confidential! Revisit …