MetroNews Hotline

Entertainment reporter Kristyn Burtt joins Dave Weekley on Hotline to break down a huge holiday media weekend. She explains why the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade posted another year of major ratings growth, propelled by live-event demand and viral anticipation for the K-Pop Demon Hunters. Kristyn also previews Netflix's explosive new Diddy documentary, outlines the legal fight brewing over allegedly stolen footage, and digs into the long-running feud between 50 Cent and Sean Combs. At the box office, she covers the surprise surge for Zootopia 2, the ongoing success of Wicked: For Good, and raises a provocative question about whether Glen Powell is truly Hollywood's next leading man. The segment closes with 2026 TV trends driven by Gen Z and Gen Alpha's push for longer streaming seasons.

Chef Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley for a post-Thanksgiving edition of Hotline, answering a surge of listener questions on food safety, holiday prep, and Christmas dinner strategy. Paul explains the safest way to thaw a turkey in brine, whether brining meaningfully increases sodium, and why he saves compound butter for the finished slice of prime rib rather than the roast itself. The conversation shifts to Christmas cooking as Paul outlines the four knives every home cook should own, how much to spend on a good chef's knife, block vs. bag storage, carbon steel vs. stainless, and why dull knives are the most dangerous tool in your kitchen. A practical, engaging, and highly educational segment for home cooks heading into the holidays.

James Beard–nominated chef Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley on Hotline for one last round of pre-Thanksgiving kitchen wisdom — including whether you can brine a frozen turkey, how long it really takes to thaw, and whether flash-frozen birds are actually fresher than “fresh” turkeys in stores. Paul walks through his marathon week prepping nearly 60 holiday orders at 1010 Bridge, answers listener questions on roasting duck, rising wholesale turkey prices, and the eternal battle between smooth vs. chunky mashed potatoes. The segment closes with cranberry sauce strategy, smoked turkey love, and the revelation that Chef Paul's personal Thanksgiving preference is… meatloaf.

Entertainment correspondent Kristyn Burtt joins Dave Weekley on Hotline with a packed Thanksgiving-week rundown. The two break down the huge $150 million opening for Wicked: For Good and what it means for Ariana Grande's next career move — from rom-com potential to award-season strategy. Kristyn also previews this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup, from Cynthia Erivo to Busta Rhymes, and shares why every performance is lip-synced. The conversation closes with Netflix's rollout plan for Stranger Things' fifth and final season, complete with key episodes fans should rewatch before the holiday binge.

Dave Weekley, Coop, Ryan, and Matt dive into another spirited edition of Buy or Sell that swings from kitchen chaos to ancient customer service. Matt starts with a war on bread machines, arguing they're the most disappointing appliance ever made. Ryan follows with a hilarious history lesson on the oldest known customer complaint tablet — a Bronze Age man furious over bad copper and rude service. Coop closes with a big-picture proposition: whether today's celebrity joyrides into space will eventually lead to cheaper, accessible flights for everyone. The crew wraps with a lightning round on free beer and ice cream as a college sports attendance booster.

Dave Weekley, Coop, and Ryan open Hotline with a long, wonderfully unhinged crosstalk that starts with snack runs in the rain and Coop's near-emergency almond shortage — and somehow spirals into ice cream in winter, geezer-cardigan fashion rules, and a full-blown debate over Wicked and Wicked: For Good. The trio riff on Hollywood weight-loss conspiracies, House of the Dragon, Ted Danson's immortality, and the universal Dad Truth of sitting in the driveway listening to the radio. A classic, freewheeling Hotline open that feels like the mics were simply switched on mid-conversation.

Mountain Stage host Larry Groce joins Dave Weekley on Hotline for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about music, memories, and the show's next big moments. Larry reflects on the passing of Todd Snider, who appeared on Mountain Stage 17 times and was beloved for turning every set into a little theatrical story. He previews the sold-out December 7th anniversary show featuring the Bacon Brothers, shares highlights from Bob Thompson's Joy to the World holiday concerts, and teases January's kickoff with Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. The pair even detour into fishing, poetry, and why Larry still watches country award shows “when he stumbles across them.”

Filling in for Dave Weekley, Coop welcomes Abrar Al-Heeti of CNET for a packed tech rundown. They break down Meta's major courtroom victory in the FTC antitrust case — and what it signals for future action against Big Tech. Abrar also explains Amazon's new partnership with Ford to sell used cars directly through Amazon, the rollout of Zoox's free robo-taxi program in San Francisco, and a disturbing new AI avatar tool that lets users “talk” to deceased loved ones. The two finish with a sharp warning about YouTube's automatic 4K upscaling and what it may do to archival video history.

With Dave out, Coop welcomes Professor Michael Seigel of Penn State for a deep dive into space news. Seigel explains why the newly observed 3I Atlas qualifies as a true interstellar comet, what its chemical signatures reveal, and why it's not an alien probe. They explore the scientific dream of retrieving samples from such objects, then turn to the fading Swift Observatory, which is slowly falling from orbit — and how a private-sector rescue mission could save it. The conversation highlights the rapid growth of commercial spaceflight and why we may be living in a modern space golden age.

Entertainment correspondent Kristyn Burtt joins Dave Weekley on Hotline to unpack a huge week in Hollywood. The two discuss the box office flop of The Running Man reboot starring Glen Powell, how shifting demographics and audience trends hurt the film's opening, and what it means for Powell's future as “Hollywood's next Tom Cruise.” Kristyn also covers Tom Cruise's long-awaited honorary Oscar, the announcement of a new Star Trek film reboot with a fresh cast, and Wicked's massive $150 million opening weekend that's reigniting the holiday box office

James Beard–nominated chef Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley on Hotline for a deep dive into Thanksgiving cooking — from the right way to brine a turkey to exactly how much bird you should buy per guest. Paul breaks down foolproof brining techniques, safe stuffing alternatives, make-ahead prep strategies, and how to avoid the classic “dry turkey” disaster. The conversation also touches on holiday restaurant trends, Virginia Tech's surprising coaching shakeup, and listener questions on thawing and roasting the perfect bird

Hotline's Dave Weekley and Ryan Nicholson dive into the latest from the gaming world in this week's Video Game Report. The two discuss the newest leaks and release speculation around Grand Theft Auto VI, and whether Rockstar can live up to the decade-long hype. They also cover Nintendo's surprising new hardware strategy, why retro collections from Sega and PlayStation are topping wish lists, and the nostalgic comeback of 8-bit favorites heading into the holidays. A lively mix of gaming news, humor, and nostalgia — straight from Hotline's resident player one

Germain Lussier from Gizmodo joins Dave Weekley on Hotline to discuss Christopher Nolan's upcoming Odyssey — a massive mythological epic shot on 2 million feet of IMAX film and featuring a powerhouse cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway. Germain explains why Nolan wanted to make “the biggest myth movie ever made” and how it could redefine the genre. The two also talk Stephen King adaptations that deserve a reboot — from Maximum Overdrive to The Dark Tower — and react to Peacock canceling Rian Johnson's hit series Poker Face after two seasons

Abrar Al-Heeti from CNET joins Dave Weekley on Hotline with the week's biggest tech stories. The two discuss Google's federal lawsuit against a Chinese cybercrime group accused of running fake package-text scams that stole millions of credit cards worldwide. Then, Abrar breaks down Amazon's new AI shopping tool “Rufus”, which can buy items automatically when prices drop — and why the name might be its biggest flaw. They close with Apple's newest luxury misfire: the $250 iPhone pocket, a designer accessory that looks like a “shrunk sweater” for your phone

Steelers Depot's Dave Bryan joins Dave Weekley on Hotline with breaking news that Pittsburgh has signed cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. to the practice squad. The two unpack how Samuel's health recovery and bloodline pedigree could bolster a banged-up Steelers secondary, then turn to Aaron Rodgers' worst game as a Steeler, dissecting missed throws, zero takeaways, and an 0-for-9 third-down start. They close with injury updates on Darius Slay, roster moves involving Sebastian Castro and Juan Thornhill, and whether Mike Tomlin could ever be traded — a rumor rekindled by speculation out of New York

Entertainment reporter Kristyn Burtt joins Dave Weekley on Hotline from Los Angeles with a packed Hollywood rundown. The two discuss Netflix's reboot of A Different World, set to follow the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert at Hillman College, with Debbie Allen returning to direct. Kristyn also weighs in on Sidney Sweeney's Christy Martin biopic, its box office collapse despite strong reviews, and how PR missteps may derail her awards hopes. The conversation closes with Tom Bergeron's return to Dancing with the Stars for its 20th anniversary and his long-awaited redemption after being fired in 2020

James Beard–nominated chef Paul Smith joins Dave Weekley on Hotline for a wide-ranging food chat that starts with culinary travel and ends with breakfast perfection. Paul shares stories from “food-cations” in Miami, Charleston, and Las Vegas, why most restaurants close for Thanksgiving to give teams family time, and how grab-and-go dinners have become the holiday's hidden hero. The conversation shifts to eggs — from mastering the perfect fried egg to the secret behind fluffy omelets and why the best chefs always “respect the egg.”