Awards Chatter

The 'Parks and Rec' scene-stealer turned leading lady reflects on the stroke that changed her at 21, landing three major parts in her first week in LA, breaking out of the 'deadpan' box and why she wants to host the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At a celebration of the podcast's 500th episode, one of the most popular and admired comedians of his generation reflects on his path from comedy student to 'Saturday Night Live' writer and host; his five standup specials, including his latest, on Netflix, which addresses his battle with addiction; and whether he would say yes if asked to host the Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary English actor of stage and screen reflects on his dark childhood, and how he found his escape from it in the theater; the fateful series of events in 1987 led to him, at the age of 47, becoming Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the starship 'Enterprise'; and why, after years of 'X-Men' films, plays, voiceover work and much else, he agreed to return to the part with which he is most closely associated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The comedy legend reflects on getting through childhood tragedies, why he was drawn to sketch in his native Canada (at Second City and 'SCTV') and in the U.S. (at 'SNL' and 'The Martin Short Show') and what is at the root of his nearly 40-year friendship and collaboration with Steve Martin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six Broadway standouts — nominated for 'Into the Woods,' 'A Doll's House,' 'Kimberly Akimbo,' 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' 'Topdog/Underdog' and 'Parade,' respectively — discuss the challenges and rewards of their parts, COVID's lasting impact on theater, the writers strike and the Tonys, their dream roles, plus more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience in the Campari Lounge at the Cannes Film Festival, the Swedish Oscar winner reflects on her transition from dancing to acting, the ups and downs of her life-changing 2015, her husband Michael Fassbender and her 2023 return to Cannes as the star of a film in competition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Kuwait-born Palestinian standup comedian turned co-creator/writer/star of the first Palestinian-American television comedy series reflects on his 20-year journey to become an American citizen, comedy mentors including Dave Chappelle and teaming with Ramy Youssef on two trailblazing TV shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The distinguished actor and singer of stage (he's been nominated for four Tony noms across three decades) and screen (he's best known for the film ‘Spotlight’ and the TV series ‘Smash’ and ‘13 Reasons Why’) reflects on his path to showbiz; decisions to leave ‘Next to Normal’ and ‘Hamilton’ after their off Broadway runs; and career since starring in a best picture Oscar winner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the biggest breakout stars of recent years reflects on the sacrifices that her family made to enable her to pursue acting, the challenges and rewards of her Emmy-nominated work on HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’ and why she is so proud of her new film, the first on which she has ever been #1 on the callsheet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of TV’s most trailblazing, talented and prolific storytellers reflects on her path to Shondaland and ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ why she cringes at the attention paid to her shows’ racial diversity and what led her to jump from ABC to Netflix and to venture into the world of ‘Bridgerton.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Emmy winner — who in 2022 became the first Black winner of best supporting actress in a comedy series in 35 years — reflects on her Tony-nominated turn in the original Broadway production of 'Dreamgirls,' why she almost walked away from showbiz after leaving the hit TV show 'Moesha' and the fateful series of events that led to her meeting Quinta Brunson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the top young stars in Hollywood reflects on the importance to his career of Matthew Vaughn and Dexter Fletcher; the running thread that Elton John played in his life even prior to playing him in 'Rocketman'; and why he relished the opportunity to do longform television for the first time for Apple TV+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the TCM Classic Film Festival, one of the last surviving stars of Hollywood's Golden Age reflects on working as a kid alongside the likes of Cecil B. DeMille and Spencer Tracy; employing his tumbling background to dance in musicals like 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' and 'West Side Story'; and why, shortly after his Oscar nom for 'Peyton Place,' he "dropped out" of the biz, and then later returned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the TCM Classic Film Festival, the legendary star of late '50s/'60s rock 'n' roll and beach movies reflects on his path from trumpeter to teen idol, his experiences off screen and on with Annette Funicello and what his life is like today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The self-described "oddball" actress/writer/director/producer reflects on child stardom, her years away from the business due to addiction and her remarkable run of the past decade with Netflix's 'Orange Is the New Black' and 'Russian Doll' followed by an acclaimed new Peacock series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at CAA in Los Angeles, the Oscar-nominated (‘House of Sand and Fog’) and Emmy-winning (‘House of Saddam’) actress reflects on her journey to acting and away from Iran, her difficult decision to play a terrorist on ‘24’ and the current crisis in her homeland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Boulder International Film Festival, the legendary 83-year-old actor reflects on his many years as a struggling actor, his career-making and Oscar-winning turn in Milos Forman’s ‘Amadeus’ and his recent career resurgence on several hit TV shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ahead of Sunday's Oscars, the first person of Asian descent to lead Hollywood's most powerful organization reflects on connecting the American and Chinese film industries before shifting to producing films like 'The Joy Luck Club,' how racist jokes told at the Oscars in 2016 motivated her to become active in the Academy and how she feels about Chris Rock, Will Smith and accusations that Academy members are racist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British Tony-nominated playwright and Oscar-nominated filmmaker reflects on his path to theater and film, the roots of his interest in Ireland and his latest reunion with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience of students at Chapman University, the breakout star reflects on breaking into the business as a pre-teen and then stepping away from it after the death of his mother, realizing his dreams on Broadway opposite Denzel Washington and on film under the direction of Quentin Tarantino, and the years of ups, downs and tireless work that went into his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Elvis Presley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience of students at Chapman University, the beloved star of 1990s films like ‘Airheads,’ ‘George of the Jungle’ and ‘The Mummy’ reflects on his path to acting, why he receded from the spotlight for several years and what went into his Oscar-nominated comeback performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world-famous activist and youngest-ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize reflects on why she began fighting for all girls to receive a proper education, how she rebuilt her life after being shot by a member of the Taliban and what she hopes to achieve with an increased presence in Hollywood, from forming a production company to signing on to a documentary short that has since been nominated for an Oscar. But first: Joshua Seftel, the director of that film, reflects on making it and working with Malala. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at Chapman University, the former child star turned 2023 Oscar nominee reflects on coming to America from Vietnam and making ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ and ‘The Goonies,’ walking away from acting for two decades and making one of the greatest comebacks in Hollywood history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the two-time Oscar winner reflects on her unexpected path to screen acting, how she landed and tackled the roles for which she is best known and the massive undertaking of playing symphony orchestra conductor Lydia Tár. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The beloved veteran, a best supporting actress Oscar nominee 29 years after she was a best actress Oscar nominee for her portrayal of Tina Turner, reflects on her humble upbringing and Yale education, the early roles that established her as one of the top talents in the business and the ups and downs that followed over the next three decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at Chapman University, the Irish A-lister and newly-minted Oscar nominee reflects on his experience with sudden stardom, transitioning from big-budget films to indies and his three-film collaboration with Martin McDonagh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Nobel-winning novelist best known for 'The Remains of the Day' and 'Never Let Me Go' reflects on his journeys from Japan to England and from writing songs to fiction; why he has often written characters who deceive themselves and repress their emotions; and why he wanted to adapt Akira Kurosawa's film 'Ikiru,' which he first saw as a boy, into a new film set in 1950s London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The James Cameron of Tollywood reflects on his family of filmmakers, helping to forge a pan-Indian cinema and bringing together two of India's biggest stars for what has proven to be one of India's biggest — and most acclaimed — blockbusters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With five best director and two best picture Oscars between them, this trio of filmmakers are a living and breathing rebuttal to Donald Trump's claim that Mexico isn't "sending their best." In a rare joint interview, they reflect on the origins of their friendship, coming to America and ushering in a new golden age of Mexican cinema. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of her generation's most admired stage and screen actresses reflects on being an emancipated child star on 'Dawson's Creek,' pursuing naturalism in films like 'Brokeback Mountain,' 'Wendy and Lucy' and 'Blue Valentine' before turning more recently to expressionistic work in 'My Week with Marilyn' and 'Fosse/Verdon' and the challenges and rewards of playing Steven Spielberg's mother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fast-rising star of stage and screen reflects on growing up as the daughter of an immigrant who was skeptical about her ambitions, what led her to major parts on Broadway and on TV's 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' and how she feels about the explosion of her career and her latest film — the principal stars of which are of Asian descent — at a time when anti-Asian bigotry is surging across America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary singer and guitarist of the trailblazing punk/new-wave band Blondie reflect on the fateful way in which they came together, the creation of their biggest hits (including four which hit #1) and the new Grammy-nominated box set 'Blondie: Against The Odds 1974-1982,' which chronicles the band’s initial eight-year run prior to its seventeen-year hiatus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York-born/LA-based filmmaker reflects on how his family and upbringing shaped him and his films, the pros and cons of being a darling of Cannes and the increasingly uphill climb of making the sorts of indie, personal films he prefers to make. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at Chapman University, the Mexican filmmaker who has been recognized with four competitive Oscars and one honorary Oscar reflects on how music informs his movies, why his films focus on parent-child relationships and immigration and what drives him to tackle massively challenging projects like 'Birdman,' 'The Revenant' and his latest, Mexico's submission for this year's best international feature Oscar race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The legendary singer/singwriter formerly of Talking Heads reflects on the formation and breakup of that band, the international influences that have shaped his solo career and how he came to write, with Ryan Lott and Mitski, the original song 'This Is a Life' for the 2022 film that is now A24's highest-grossing release ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The only person who has ever won Oscars for both acting and writing reflects on how her pursuit of sketch comedy gave way to dramatic acting, the roots of her deep feminism and why, at 63, she took on one of the most intimidating parts of her career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most commercially successful producers in Hollywood's history reflects on his beginnings in advertising, his rollercoaster partnership with the late Don Simpson and the two 'Top Gun' blockbusters that he made with Tom Cruise 36 years apart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the musican and actor reflects on his colorful adolescence, his gravitation to and success with both rap and pop-punk and why he has added acting to his portfolio, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Newport Beach Film Festival, one of the biggest box-office stars of the past quarter-century reflects on his path to comedy and acting, what inspired his funniest movies and lines and his mid-career foray into more dramatic roles, such as the NBA scout he played in an acclaimed Netflix film earlier this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at Chapman University, the Malaysian actress reflects on blazing a trail for female martial artists in Hong Kong cinema, introducing the modern Bond girl 25 years ago and getting to show that she can do, well, everything everywhere all at once in A24's biggest hit to date. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In front of an audience at the Newport Beach Film Festival, the Oscar and Tony winner returns to the podcast, seven years after his first visit, and reflects on his collaborations with Tom Hooper, the movie on which Harvey Weinstein bullied him and the roles for which he has received the most acclaim, from Dr. Stephen Hawking in 'The Theory of Everything' to a nurse with a dark secret in a new Netflix film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Aussie actress who has shot to stardom as Shiv Roy on HBO's Emmy-winning drama series reflects on almost landing the lead in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' right out of drama school, how the casting director who cast her in 'Steve Jobs' changed her career years later, what makes Shiv tick and what it's been like becoming a celebrity during a pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The voice of millennial Black women for more than a decade," in the words of The Washington Post, reflects on how she became enamored with TV, the robbery that inspired her web series 'The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl' and how that show, along with Larry Wilmore and Prentice Penny, shaped her five-season masterpiece for HBO, the first premium cable scripted series ever created by and starring a Black woman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The TV veteran of '8 Simple Rules' and 'The Big Bang Theory' reflects on her start in the business, the lessons and loss of mentor John Ritter and breaking out of sitcoms to produce and star in an HBO Max comedic thriller that has now brought her three Emmy nominations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first woman of color to ever run a Hollywood studio, who is now the head of global television at the world's preeminent streamer and one of TIME's 100 most influential people in the world, reflects on climbing the ranks in a business in which no one looked like her, championing shows like 'The Mindy Project' and 'Master of None' and helping to guide to fruition 'Squid Game,' which is the biggest hit in her company's history and the first non-English-language show ever nominated for a best series Emmy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Oscar-winning filmmaker and world’s most famous living New Zealander reflects on his path to filmmaking and passion for visual effects, the crazy series of events that made it possible for him to make the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and the loss of a longtime collaborator that has driven him towards documentary filmmaking, most recently with an epic docuseries about the run-up to The Beatles’ final public performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune in to Scott’s 2014 Dodger Stadium interview with the greatest broadcaster in the history of sports, the voice of the Dodgers from 1950 in Brooklyn through 2016 in Los Angeles, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 94. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The first Black woman ever to receive three Emmy noms in a single year reflects on her path to comedy, appearances on others' shows (e.g. 'A Black Lady Sketch Show') while trying to sell one of her own and the teachers who inspired her hit new ABC sitcom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ‘SNL’ standout turned HBO auteur reflects on why he owes his career to Megan Mullally, what prevented him from enjoying his eight years in 30 Rock’s Studio 8H and how his work in the indie film ‘The Skeleton Twins’ led to the opportunity to co-create, write, direct and star in a TV series about a hitman/actor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During this conversation recorded at the 2015 TCM Film Festival, the legendary star of Hollywood’s Golden Age reflects on the classics she made with everyone from Hitchcock to Wilder, how she became a believer of New Age ideas and what she makes of the business today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices