The Press Box

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss what led to Kanye West's latest controversial statement (2:13). Then, TMZ producer Van Lathan joins the show to discuss his confrontation with Kanye on 'TMZ Live' (15:48) and what happened after the cameras went off (30:33). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker deconstruct the media reaction Michelle Wolf's jokes (03:15), the role journalists played in bringing Bill Cosby to justice (26:00), and Mike Francesa's brief retirement and return to WFAN (28:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and David Shoemaker take an exhaustive trip through the galaxy to break down the plot twists, character deaths, and paths forward for the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the action-packed, plot-heavy ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ SPOILER ALERT: The second half of this episode contains serious spoilers for the movie. Be warned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Justin Charity and Kate Knibbs discuss Kanye West's latest deep dive into the MAGA life (1:38), how rants are his signature art form (9:37), and the parallels between him and Donald Trump (12:15). Then they break down the incel movement, which started as an innocent online community but has grown into a deadly threat (17:40). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down Donald Trump's infatuation with Maggie Haberman (03:00), the media's outrage regarding sideline reporter Allie LaForce's question to LeBron James (23:00), and the fallout from 'Harper's' magazine firing editor James Marcus (41:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with legendary filmmaker Willam Friedkin, who’s responsible for films such as 'The French Connection,' 'The Exorcist,' 'Sorcerer,' and 'To Live and Die in L.A.' Friedkin discusses his distinguished career in film and why, at 82, he decided to create a new documentary about a real-life exorcism called 'The Devil and Father Amorth.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with comedic actor, director, and writer Jay Chandrasekhar about returning to make a ‘Super Troopers’ sequel 17 years after the original. Chandrasekhar also discusses what it’s like being an Indian American in Hollywood, returning to his roots, and bridging the divided audiences in comedy. More from Sean Fennessey on Movies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Khloe Kardashian giving birth in the midst of her boyfriend's cheating scandal (0:38), Beyoncé's Coachella takeover (22:07), and Gwyneth Paltrow's engagement party, which definitely wasn't a wedding (33:35). More from The Ringer: The Beyoncé-at-Coachella Exit Survey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss the news of Sean Hannity being Michael Cohen's third client (02:00), the "Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week" (15:015), the James Comey book tour (19:15), and the media's coverage of the missile strike on Syria (39:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with filmmaker Andrew Haigh about his emotionally devastating ‘Lean on Pete,’ about an orphaned boy (Charlie Plummer) and his horse, the titular Pete, and their journey from Oregon to Wyoming in search of a long-lost family member. Haigh also discusses his long career as a director and the difference between making TV shows and making movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Justin Charity and Kate Knibbs break down Mark Zuckerberg’s week testifying in front of Congress (2:04) and what the legislators questioning him were missing (14:03). Then, they discuss the backlash against the ‘Simpsons’ character Apu (18:07) and how the series decided to address the controversy this week, which caused even more outrage (20:19). More from The Ringer: A Visual Guide to the Facebook Congressional Hearing Five Pressing Questions About Facebook’s Future ‘The Simpsons’ Decides There’s No ‘Problem With Apu’ ‘The Problem With Apu’ Wonders How to Rehabilitate the Embarrassing ‘Simpsons’ Character Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker sit down to unpack 'The Atlantic' severing ties with Kevin D. Williamson (02:00), how 'The Simpsons' responded to criticism of Apu's character (25:45), and the statement that news anchors on Sinclair-owned stations read (37:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with Kay Cannon, the veteran screenwriter on ‘30 Rock,' New Girl,’ and all three ‘Pitch Perfect’ movies to discuss her new R-rated studio comedy and directorial debut ‘Blockers’ and her transition from writing to directing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss actress Allison Mack's reported involvement in the alleged sex cult called Nxivm (1:38), Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan's breakup (12:48), Chris Hemsworth and Matt Damon's budding friendship (21:43), and the possible bad blood between Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss (28:06). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop More from The Ringer: The Leonardo DiCaprio Baseball Cap Bracket Check out other podcasts from The Ringer Podcast Network On NXIVM: Here Comes The Legal Protection - Blind Gossip How ‘Smallville’ Actress Allison Mack Became a Women-Branding Cult Leader - The Daily Beast Inside a Secretive Group Where Women Are Branded - The New York Times On the Channing Tatum/Jenna Dewan breakup All the Gossip About Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan’s Divorce - The Cut Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s David Shoemaker and Bryan Curtis discuss President Trump and Amazon’s latest spat (2:30), ESPN’s new morning show ‘Get Up!’ (18:05), and the latest Tiger Woods tell-all biography (35:51). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In preparation for Steven Spielberg's ‘Ready Player One,’ The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan discuss and debate the prolific filmmaker's best movies of all time. They cover everything from ‘Jaws’ to ‘Jurassic Park,’ from the ‘Indiana Jones’ series to ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ and many, many more (1:00). And later, CEO of The Ringer Bill Simmons stops by to give his take on how terrifying 'Jaws' was and Spielberg's career (43:00). Ringer web store Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on 'Damage Control,' The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins discuss the unrealistic expectations surrounding Stormy Daniels’s ‘60 Minutes’ interview (1:47), the obsession with creating nostalgia porn for millennials (18:33), and how ‘Ready Player One’ may not be as groundbreaking as gamers think (29:04). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop More from The Ringer: Subscribe to 'The Recappables' The Hilarious Life And Agonizing Death of Online Comedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with 'Wild Wild Country' directors Maclain and Chapman Way and producer Mark Duplass about the arduous process of making an in-depth documentary that features a 64,000-acre ranch in Oregon, a spiritual guru, ritualistic group sex, assassination plots, guns, drugs, and bioterrorism. You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss the Cambridge Analytica scandal and Mark Zuckerberg’s apology tour (02:00), the news that Sports Illustrated’s parent company intends to sell the venerable magazine (21:20), and a Fox News analyst leaving the network while Breitbart hemorrhages readers (34:45). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins break down the timeline of Ben Affleck's phoenix back tattoo now that we finally know it's real (1:52). They also discuss Cynthia Nixon's announcement that she's running for New York governor (24:21), Aubrey O'Day's alleged affair with Donald Trump Jr. (27:15), Rihanna's takedown of Snapchat (34:13), and the latest in the Reese Witherspoon/'Big Little Lies' universe (38:53). More from The Ringer: Cynthia Nixon Might Not Be the Average Celebrity Candidate The Secret Ingredient—and Best Hope—of ‘Roseanne’ Subscribe to 'The Recappables' Also: Photos of Ben Affleck's back tattoo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker examine the startling story behind John Skipper's ESPN departure (01:45), Chris Cuomo's pivot to primetime (19:30), and how cable news is staffing the White House (28:30). They wrap up the show by reflecting on some notable media moments from the NCAA Tournament (33:15). Read Bryan Curtis's article "The New Draft Gurus" here: https://t.co/8hZGuxkOmQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan recap the best movies they saw at the SXSW Film Festival, including ‘Ready Player One,’ ‘A Quiet Place,’ ‘Eighth Grade,’ and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on 'Damage Control,' The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins discuss critics’ confusing handling of Ava DuVernay’s ‘A Wrinkle In Time’ (1:17), why wishing for black artists to have opportunities to make mediocre work is flawed thinking (19:44), and the cultural-appropriation accusations against Bruno Mars (21:39). More from The Ringer: ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Is a Noble Failure The ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Exit Survey Subscribe to 'The Recappables' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss the media spectacle surrounding Donald Trump's alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels (03:00), the controversy following New York Times columnist Farhad Manjoo's social media experiment (22:00), and how Michael Smith's departure from 'SportsCenter' reflects ESPN's programming problem (34:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer Editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with first time director Cory Finley about his film ‘Thoroughbreds’ and his transition from playwright to filmmaker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down the handling of the Academy Awards (01:45), what Hope Hicks's White House departure means for the press (22:45), and the FBI vs. the University of Arizona by way of ESPN and Mark Schlabach (35:30). Read Miles Surrey's "The Winners and Losers of the 2018 Academy Awards" here: https://t.co/FR1HeJsNqi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins rejoice at the end of awards season and discuss Sunday night’s Oscars (1:21). They also talk about Barbra Streisand cloning her dogs (17:23) and the four billboards outside Palm Springs in honor of Serena Williams (22:26). More from The Ringer: 2018 Oscars coverage Subscribe to 'Bachelor Party' Related Links: Barbra Streisand Explains: Why I Cloned My Dog (New York Times) Serena Williams' four billboards (Instagram) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with filmmaker Francis Lawrence about making ‘Red Sparrow,’ his fourth film in a row starring Jennifer Lawrence; their working relationship forged through ‘The Hunger Games’ movie franchise; and his new creative venture with Apple TV. More on movies from the Ringer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on 'Damage Control,' The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins discuss the strange media phenomena surrounding the Parkland activists (1:18), Donald Glover's identity crisis playing out in The New Yorker (12:06), and the outcry over Mo'Nique’s pay-equity campaign against Netflix (26:08). More From The Ringer: The Surprising, Very Public Evolution of Donald Glover Subscribe to 'The Recappables' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker talk about how the NRA became a media entity (03:00), the messy Winter Olympics coverage (17:45), and Amos Barshad's article about The Player's Tribune (34:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with The Ringer’s Amanda Dobbins and K. Austin Collins and New York Times critic Wesley Morris to discuss eerie similarities between ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ and the notorious 2006 Best Picture winner, ‘Crash’ (0:00). Then, Chris Ryan joins to discuss ‘Shape of Water’ and its status as the clear front-runner to win Best Picture (0:00). More on the Oscars from The Ringer: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiI3wRw9PbSYHic2RJiHo4UxfhVD2DYWb https://www.theringer.com/oscars Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey speaks with acclaimed writer and director Alex Garland about the making of the Natalie Portman sci-fi thriller ‘Annihilation’ and the tricky nature of adapting Jeff VanderMeer’s best-selling book. They also discuss Garland’s first film, ‘Ex Machina’; his time as a novelist and screenwriter of movies like ‘28 Days Later...’ and ‘Sunshine’; and a lot more. For more movie coverage, check out The Ringer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Jennifer Aniston’s divorce from Justin Theroux (2:00), Amy Schumer saying yes to the wrong dress (15:31), what’s going on with Jennifer Lawrence’s career (19:51), and The Daily Mail’s weird new direction (23:00). More from The Ringer: ‘Irreplaceable You’ and the Strange, Sweet, and Crushing Literature of Terminal Cancer Essays Subscribe to 'The Big Picture' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss how the media, and the survivors, shaped the coverage of last week’s high school shooting in Parkland, Florida (02:00); Laura Ingraham vs. LeBron James (24:00); and the furor over the New York Times op-ed page (35:30). Check out Justin Charity's article "Contrarian Conflagration: The Fire and Fury of the New York Times Op-ed Page" here: https://t.co/0zox44pIEG Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer Editor-in-Chief Sean Fennessey speaks with Academy Award-nominated documentarian Yance Ford about making Netflix’s ‘Strong Island,’ a personal film about the tragic murder of his brother, William, and the larger implications in the story about segregation, race, violence, and power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with ‘Wallace and Gromit’ creator and Academy Award–winning animation director Nick Park to discuss the time-consuming process of making stop-motion animation, his commitment to the form, and his new underdog cavemen comedy, ‘Early Man.’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins on the meme-ification of Kim Jong Un’s sister (1:18), the overheated response to the Obama family’s official portraits (8:22), The New York Times’ op-ed problem (13 :30), and—in anticipation of 'Black Panther'—the merits of the 'Blade' film franchise (22:04). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker break down the prank pulled on Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges (03:45), the 'Black Panther' backlash and reviewing movies in 2018 (23:30), and the rivalry between NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania (41:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey speaks with filmmaker Alex Ross Perry about his quick-and-cheap working style and his shift from art house movies like his latest, ‘Golden Exits,’ to his upcoming big-budget ‘Winnie the Pooh’ adaptation for Disney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with filmmaker Bryan Fogel to discuss his Academy Award–nominated documentary, ‘Icarus.’ Fogel explains how his journey into the world of blood doping and cycling was transformed into a larger story about the state-run Russian Olympic doping program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Kylie Jenner’s birth announcement before Juliet gives her official Kardashian baby-name ranking (0:36). They also have an update on Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet’s exciting Oscars press tour (22:18) and discuss the latest in celebrity real estate, featuring Taylor Swift, Jemima Kirke, and Jennifer Aniston (27:41). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker examine the media's coverage of Super Bowl, including the feud between Philly fans and Cris Collinsworth (06:00), the fights on radio row (15:30), and the chaos in Philadelphia (20:30). They then celebrate the Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week (22:45) before discussing why Lewis D’Vorkin was ousted as L.A. Times editor (27:30) and The New York Times' beef with the publication (37:30). Finally, they wrap up by looking at the news of Felix Salmon's salary at Fusion (42:30) and how every stop in a journalist's career is a bubble (44:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer Editor-in-Chief Sean Fennessey speaks with documentarian Erin Lee Carr (‘Mommy Dead and Dearest’) about her new project “Drug Short,” an installment in Netflix’s new doc series ‘Dirty Money’ and why she’s drawn to grim and morally gray stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins discuss Donald Trump’s first State of the Union address (2:52), why Representative Joe Kennedy III’s Democratic response was underwhelming (8:06), and the complicated reactions to Marvel’s upcoming film 'Black Panther' (15:36). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker examine why it took so long for the media to cover the Larry Nassar case (03:00), Jason Isbell's war on fake news (18:00), and the odds that Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight gets sold (34:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss the news about Meryl Streep joining the cast of ‘Big Little Lies’ (0:58), what Ellen Pompeo had to say about being the highest-paid woman in a prime-time drama (13:26), and the magical world of celebrity real estate and HGTV (24:26). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Amanda Dobbins, and K. Austin Collins react to the 2018 Oscar nominations. They break down the front-runners, the most shocking snubs, and what to look forward to come March 4. Also: the Academy’s apparent love of fish sex. https://www.theringer.com/2018/1/23/16923366/academy-award-nominations-get-out-lady-bird-three-billboards-shape-of-water-snubs-surprises Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker mourn the end of 'The Awl' (03:00), award the "Overworked Twitter Joke of the Week" (19:30), sift through the Tony Romo backlash (22:00), and discuss Slate.com's extreme makeover (37:15). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins unpack the media firestorm surrounding a Babe.net article about Aziz Ansari (1:00). Then, Ringer colleague Kate Knibbs joins for a conversation about sexual misconduct and high-profile apologies (16:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker examine the journalistic "shithole" that Donald Trump created last week (05:00), the content that attached itself to the Stefon Diggs's walk-off touchdown (23:15), and Facebook's announcement regarding media posts (34:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices