It Happened In Hollywood

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On this podcast, Seth Abramovitch, senior writer at The Hollywood Reporter, and Chip Pope, an Emmy-winning TV writer and comic, take you behind the scenes of the indelible pop culture moments that shaped Hollywood history — with special guests who were actually there. In a town where everything old…

The Hollywood Reporter


    • May 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 69 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The It Happened In Hollywood podcast is an absolute gem for film enthusiasts. As a listener who just discovered this podcast two weeks ago, I have been hooked and marathoning episodes ever since. One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to dive into the behind-the-scenes stories and mini-dramas that are often forgotten or overlooked in the filmmaking process. The one-on-one conversations with directors of unique and groundbreaking films provide a rare insight into their creative process, screenwriting, casting, festival runs, and battles with studio heads. The hosts do an excellent job of keeping the tone positive, silly, yet smart and informative. Even if I am not familiar with a particular guest's work, I find them interesting and engaging.

    However, there are a few drawbacks to this podcast. Firstly, some listeners may not enjoy the theme song, which can be off-putting. Additionally, while the podcast covers a wide range of films and directors, there are limited episodes available currently. This can leave fans craving more content and eagerly awaiting the next season.

    In conclusion, The It Happened In Hollywood podcast is an incredibly enjoyable listen for anyone interested in the world of cinema. It offers a refreshing and pleasant experience by providing insightful interviews with directors alongside witty commentary from the hosts. Despite a few minor flaws, this podcast stands out among others in its genre due to its entertaining format and engaging guests. I highly recommend giving it a listen whether you're a film aficionado or simply looking for an informative and funny show to enjoy.



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    Latest episodes from It Happened In Hollywood

    Sean Baker & Darren Dean: 'Prince of Broadway'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 51:52


    The Oscar-winning Anora director shares memories of creating his first festival film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    David Chase and Alex Gibney: ‘The Sopranos' and ‘Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 48:27


    The enigmatic ‘Sopranos' creator and his documentarian join Seth for a chat about making history-changing TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Charles Burnett: 'Killer of Sheep'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 38:11


    Indie pioneer Charles Burnett recollects the making of his 1978 masterpiece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Pam Grier: 'Jackie Brown'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 75:47


    Join the first female action star as she retells the making of Quentin Tarantino's third film Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Amy Irving: 'Crossing Delancey'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 44:08


    The star of the ultimate “Jewish romcom” joins us to reminisce about making the 1988 charmer and shares memories of her marriage to Steven Spielberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Patrick Wilson: 'Little Children'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 42:31


    Join “Prom King” Patrick Wilson for an episode all about laundry room trysts and suburban ennui. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Nancy Olson: ‘Sunset Boulevard'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 52:18


    The star of Billy Wilder's Hollywood-skewering noir from 1950 regales with tales of the making of the classic film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Bob Gale: 'Back to the Future'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 65:36


    The screenwriter of 1985's biggest box-office hit stops by the podcast to regale us with the making of a time-travel classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chad Stahelski: 'John Wick'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 48:19


    The fight coordinator turned A-list action director reveals all about the film that launched his career — and a billion-dollar franchise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Kevin Smith: 'Chasing Amy'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 72:51


    The Clerks director stops by for a hilarious episode about the making of his 1997 queer(ish) indie rom-com starring Ben Affleck. Music Credits: Damian Souder The Supercell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    John Carpenter: 'They Live'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 33:25


    Cinematic master John Carpenter joins the podcast to unpack the making of the paranoid sci-fi classic from 1988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jennifer Kent: ‘The Babadook'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 44:27


    The writer-director of the 2014 indie horror joins the podcast to unpack the making of a cult favorite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Emile Hirsch: ‘Into the Wild'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 59:08


    The star of Sean Penn's provocative film about going off-grid describes the physical toll of the production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Penelope Ann Miller: ‘Big Top Pee-wee'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 34:52


    It's the greatest podcast on Earth: Pee-wee Herman's (aka Paul Reubens') second big-screen outing is the subject of this fun-filled episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Iain Softley: ‘Hackers'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 41:20


    The director of the cult 1995 film starring Angelina Jolie and worshipped by early-internet fanatics stops by. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Casey Affleck: ‘The Assassination etc'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 76:33


    The Oscar-winner drops by to unpack the making of a Western epic with Brad Pitt.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly: ‘Bound'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 48:55


    The stars of the Wachowskis' steamy and stylish first feature reunite to retell the making of a cult classic.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Tom Tykwer: 'Run Lola Run"

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 35:32


    Director Tom Tykwer joins Seth to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the genre-bending sleeper hit that captivated the world in 1999. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Karyn Kusama: 'Girlfight'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 54:25


    The visionary director behind ‘Yellowjackets' and ‘Jennifer's Body' joins Seth to revisit the making of her debut, the 2000 Sundance sensation ‘Girlfight.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Walter Murch: 'Return to Oz

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 46:38


    The Oscar-winning editor of ‘Apocalypse Now' stops by to recount writing and directing his dark, brilliant tale of Dorothy Gale's journey back to Oz.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Stockard Channing: 'Six Degrees of Separation'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 46:02


    The Oscar-nominated actress relives the making of the 1993 film about a brilliant young con man played by Will Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Michael Phillips, Tony Bill and David S. Ward: ‘The Sting'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 72:05


    Seth is visited by the screenwriter and producers of the Oscars-sweeping classic that turned cons and Ragtime music into box-office gold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Stephen Frears: 'Dangerous Liaisons'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 41:20


    Sex! Deception! Gossip! It's all there in the delectable ‘Dangerous Liaisons.' Director Stephen Frears joins the podcast to relive the making of the classic 1988 film and winner of three Oscars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Greg Mottola: 'The Daytrippers'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 51:08


    The ‘Superbad' director joins the podcast to talk about his first film, ‘The Daytrippers,' starring Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Parker Posey and Liev Schreiber and made on a $60,000 budget.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Stephan Elliott: 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 56:56


    Join us for a desert holiday as writer-director Stephan Elliott reveals all the secrets of making his 1994 indie comedy smash from Down Under. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Ed Zwick: 'The Last Samurai'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 49:11


    The podcast returns for a fifth season with Ed Zwick, writer-director of 2003's Tom Cruise war epic, THE LAST SAMURAI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Jerry Zucker: ‘Airplane!' and ‘Ghost'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 64:46


    Shirley, we are completely serious. The writer-director stops by for a rare interview about the making of two classics — one, a broad comedy, the other a supernatural romance that made pottery and the afterlife hot.

    Steven Lisberger: ‘TRON'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 84:04


    The visionary writer-director of 1982's TRON reveals how he brought all those Light Cycles, Solar Sailors and glowing neon circuitry to life.

    Richard O'Brien: ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2023 58:40


    It's astounding — time is fleeting: It's 50 years since ‘The Rocky Horror Show' debuted on a cramped London stage and launched a phenomenon. Composer and star Richard O'Brien joins Seth to retrace every step.

    Julie Taymor: 'Across the Universe'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 92:26


     Prepare to be transported to a world of psychedelic wonder as visionary filmmaker Julie Taymor takes us behind the scenes of her 2007 masterpiece 'Across the Universe', revealing the intricate and mind-bending creative process that brought this unforgettable  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Gregg Araki: 'The Doom Generation'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2023 63:57


    Seth talks with filmmaker Gregg Araki who discusses the making of his provocative and controversial 1995 film 'The Doom Generation'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Matthew Broderick: 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 64:17


    The star of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' joins Seth to talk about the making of this classic John Hughes film that captured the hearts of many. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Penelope Spheeris: 'Wayne's World'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 66:40


    Seth is joined by the director of 'Waynes World' who shares her experience making her first studio film with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Alex Cox: 'Repo Man'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 51:45


    Seth is joined by the writer and director of the 1984 movie 'Repo Man' which stars Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Terry Gilliam: 'Brazil'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 89:04


    In the debut episode of season 4, Seth is talking with Terry Gilliam about the making of his 1985 dystopic sci-fi film 'Brazil'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Season 4 is Coming on May 10th

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2023 1:44


    It Happened In Hollywood is back for a 4th season and we didn't hold any punches. Watch the classics and listen to the creators talk about how they came to be. This season we will talk with the people that brought you 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' 'Repo Man,' 'Wayne's World' and much more. It all kicks off with Terry Gilliam talking about his dystopian black comedy 'Brazil.' The season debuts on May 10th, so subscribe on your podcast app of choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Julian Fellowes: 'Gosford Park'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 71:08


    The creator of 'Downton Abbey' and HBO's 'The Gilded Age' joins Seth to talk about writing 2001's 'Gosford Park,' which won him an Oscar and jumpstarted his career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    John Sayles: 'The Brother from Another Planet'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 66:49


    The writer and director of the 1984 sci-fi film 'The Brother from Another Planet' joins Seth to talk about the making of the Harlem-based story that follows a mute alien with six toes being chased by Men in Black. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Griffin Dunne: 'After Hours'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 55:20


    Seth is joined by the star of 'After Hours' to talk about the making of Martin Scorsese's ninth film which follows a man just trying to get home from SoHo in the 80s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Edward Packard: 'Choose Your Own Adventure'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 57:23


    Seth is joined by the mastermind behind the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book series that has helped influence many different types of TV, film, and games over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Michael Lehmann: 'Heathers'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 75:21


    The Director of 'Heathers' joins Seth to talk about how the cult classic, starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, helped to predict violence in schools and laid the groundwork for movies such as 'Mean Girls.' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Ron Shelton: 'Bull Durham'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 54:58


    Writer-Director Ron Shelton joins Seth to discuss the sports classic 'Bull Durham' which almost didn't get made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Randal Kleiser: 'Grease'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 72:17


    The director of the blockbuster musical 'Grease' joins Seth to reminisce about the late Olivia Newton-John and share stories about the making of an iconic film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Walter Hill: 'The Warriors'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 55:37


    Writer-Director Walter Hill joins Seth to share the making of the 1979 neon-colored classic, 'The Warriors.' Theme music composed by: Paul Masvidal and Sean Malone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    warriors walter hill paul masvidal

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