The Parting Shot with H Alan Scott

In this episode of Parting Shot, we sit down with the "Powerhouse in Pigtails" herself, Margaret Josephs. While the future of Real Housewives of New Jersey remains a hot topic, Josephs is busy proving she is much more than a reality star. We dive into her "full circle" journey as a licensing expert—from the Macbeth Collection to her new TikTok Shop sensation, Soirée. Josephs also gets transparent about her wellness journey with LifeRX and explains why authenticity has always been her ultimate business strategy. Whether you're a Bravo superfan or a budding entrepreneur, this conversation on the art of the deal is a must-listen. Josephs discusses everything from navigating the "generational trauma" of the RHONJ cast to why she is leaning back into her creative roots to build a massive lifestyle empire. Shop Soirée: https://drinksoiree.com/ Learn more about LifeRX: https://tinyurl.com/mv8yzufs Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow H. Alan Scott: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Academy Award nominee Catalina Sandino Moreno joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to discuss her latest lead role in the Netflix thriller The Rip. Catalina reflects on the 20-year legacy of her breakout performance in Maria Full of Grace and shares what it's really like working alongside industry titans Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Plus, she offers a rare, behind-the-curtain piece of advice for first-time Oscar nominees navigating the whirlwind of awards season. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when the ultimate reality TV strategist decides to turn the camera on the genre itself? This week, we're joined by two-time Survivor legend Stephen Fishbach to celebrate the release of his propulsive debut novel, Escape! Stephen pulls back the curtain on reality TV production, exploring the psychological toll of being turned into a television character and the thin line between fame and humiliation. We dive deep into why he chose a jungle survival competition as the setting for his thriller and how much of his own lived experience made it onto the page. From looking back at his legacy to discussing the current state of the game ahead of Survivor 50, Stephen offers a masterclass in both strategy and storytelling. Newsweek's H. Alan Scott even put him on the spot to find out if the master strategist would ever join Alan Cumming in the castle for a season of The Traitors. Whether you're a die-hard member of the Survivor community or just a fan of sharp, bingeable fiction, this is a fascinating look at the human beings working inside the entertainment machine. Get your copy of Escape! at the link below: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/792925/escape-by-stephen-fishbach/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We now live in a world where Kate Hudson is a two-time Academy Award nominee. Let that sink in. The 98th Academy Award nominations are officially out, and while we're usually the first to complain about the Academy playing it safe, this year they chose violence. From historic record-breaking hauls to the complete and utter erasure of Oz, the nominations for the Class of 2026 are nothing if not dramatic. Newsweek's H. Alan Scott is joined by colleagues Lauren Giella and Kyle McGovern to react to every snub, surprise, and "shook" moment of the season. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jay Shetty is known for guiding millions through life's biggest questions, but what happens when the advice gets "messy"? In this episode, Jay joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to discuss his new Audible Original series, Messy Love, where he steps away from abstract concepts to work directly with real people navigating the complexities of modern dating and long-term commitment. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we're chatting with the incomparable Mandy Mango fresh off her departure from RuPaul's Drag Race. Known for her wit and her warmth, Mandy joins us to pull back the curtain on what really happens when the cameras stop rolling and the lipstick message is written. Mandy gets real about the moment she was voted off and how she processed the judges' critiques. She also talks about how she balances the high-stakes world of being a registered nurse with the high-glamour world of professional drag. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After the huge success of her memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy marks a bold transition to fiction with new novel Half His Age. But to McCurdy, no matter the genre, it's all about the voice, and she's confident about hers. “I feel like my voice is my voice.” Half His Age explores the “funny-sad” tightrope of Waldo, a girl with an unconventional attraction toward her teacher. “Though this is told through Waldo's perspective as a 17-year-old senior in high school, there's certainly a lot of overlap in our voices, in our point of view.” The story had an impact on McCurdy. “For this book, I had a lot of experiences where I'd feel so much rage that I'd be crying.” To hone this energy, she rids herself of outside influences. “I not only don't read, but I also don't socialize.” She's already plotting a film adaptation. “Maybe 50 percent of making a good film or TV show is writing a good film or TV show.” Fortunately, she's already halfway there as a bestselling author. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Vanderpump Rules has a new face, and he's already stirring the pot. This week, Shayne Davis joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to pull back the curtain on his debut season and the "player" label that seems to be following him. Shayne opens up about the reality of filming, the pressure of joining an iconic cast, and his deeply personal journey with sobriety while navigating the high-octane West Hollywood nightlife. Plus, we review his Hinge profile and well... things were seen. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The castle just got a lot quieter, but the drama is only getting louder. This week, we're joined by the two most talked-about departures from The Traitors Season 4: Michael Rapaport and Tiffany Mitchell. First, Michael Rapaport joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to address the firestorm surrounding his exit. He breaks down that explosive roundtable moment and the "secret-keeping" remark directed at Colton Underwood that many viewers labeled homophobic. Plus, we confront the internet's latest obsession: the way he eats and drinks on camera. Is he trolling us, or is that just the Rapaport way? Then, Big Brother legend Tiffany Mitchell stops by to get real about her banishment. She addresses the "defensive" label and opens up about the emotional moment she revealed she was playing for the prize money to support her family—a rare, vulnerable look behind the strategist's mask. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After five seasons playing Gregory on ABC's Abbott Elementary, Tyler James Williams is adding a new title to his job: director. “I think for a while, I have been wanting to get my hands dirty in another aspect of the process.” The actor learned that he approaches directing differently because of his acting background. “My brain thinks in act breaks and pacing, and I guess finding the funniest way to see something and show something.” This evolution for Williams is just another notch in an already impressive career that introduced characters like his breakout lead role as a child actor on Everybody Hates Chris and Lionel in the film Dear White People. “There's definitely a consistent thread that runs through all of them. That is a guy who's trying to find his way ultimately, who may be a bit more awkward and outside of the norm than most people, but who's sincerely trying.” And because his work on Abbott Elementary has resulted in multiple Emmy nominations, that's inspired impressive red-carpet moments with co-star Chris Perfetti. “We understood that we may have a little bit more hill to climb. So with that being the case, we're gonna have fun with it.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The fire has been extinguished—or has it? Today I'm sitting down with the spicy DD Fuego to unpack her exit from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 18. DD doesn't hold back on why she feels she shouldn't have been in the bottom, the "unfiltered" truth about her elimination, and how she's handling it. Plus, we dive into her iconic relationship with her boyfriend James (yes, that James from the legendary episode of Real Housewives of New York). Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you put a Real Housewife legend and a Big Brother winner in a Scottish castle? Apparently, a whole lot of being misunderstood. I sat down with Porsha Williams and Ian Terry to discuss their (criminally short) time on The Traitors. It was truly a case of "wrong place, wrong time" for both of them. Ian—our resident genius—was murdered in the night because he was simply too smart to live. Meanwhile, Porsha was busy being "Porsha 4 Real," which the rest of the group naturally mistook for Traitor behavior. We talked about the paranoia, the banishments, and so much more. And I'll be chatting with all the faithfuls and traitors this season, so watch this space. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dacre Montgomery chats Dead Man's Wire, working with Gus Van Sant, life after Stranger Things and just how to pronounce his name. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when your own eyes and ears become a weapon against you? This week, Newsweek's H. Alan Scott is joined by Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) and Melissa Barrera (Scream, Abigail) to declassify their mind-bending new Peacock series, The Copenhagen Test. (It's seriously so good!) (And yes, Simu was asked about Oh, Mary!) Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Newsweek's H. Alan Scott sits down with the legendary Stephen Lang to discuss the next chapter of the Avatar saga. Known for his powerhouse portrayal of Colonel Miles Quaritch, Lang takes us behind the scenes of the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash and reveals how the shifting landscape of Pandora is changing the man we thought we knew. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Yes, Asher Grodman is a two-time Critics Choice nominee for his performance as Trevor on CBS' Ghosts, but he knows what you (and host H. Alan Scott) really wants to talk about: his legs. Sure, the work too, but as a ghost who has to “live” for eternity with no pants on, one is bound to wonder just how Grodman keeps it all… in. We chatted about that, the incredible ensemble on Ghosts, why his performance and character are surprisingly nuanced, and where he thinks things are going for him this season. (There's romance!) He also attempts to explain sports to H. Alan. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Director Paul Feig wants you to support local movie theaters, ideally at his new movie The Housemaid, based on the popular book series by Freida McFadden. “My last three movies have been streamers, and thank God I got to make movies, but I make movies for audiences in a room.” Adapting a popular book into a film is “intimidating,” but Feig is content with McFadden's approval. “She said she thinks it's better than the book. That was a huge thing to hear from the author.” The film follows Millie (Sydney Sweeney), a live-in maid for Nina (Amanda Seyfried), who begins to discover this perfect family is hiding dark secrets. “The marketing department's line says, ‘Spend the holidays with a family more dysfunctional than yours.' And I think that's kinda true.” Best known for directing comedies like Bridesmaids and Spy, Feig has created his own genre of thrillers with a comedic edge. Watch my interview with Paul, Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/paul-feigs-genre-expanding-take-housemaid-11221295 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James L. Brooks, director of classics like Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News and As Good as it Gets, returns to form with Ella McCay, his first film in 15 years. Newsweek's H. Alan Scott chatted with Brooks about the inspiration behind the story and how the women in his life inspired so many of his iconic female characters. Later in the chat Scott chatted with Jamie Lee Curtis about what it's like to be asked to be in a Brooks film and Emma Mackey on the stress of playing the title character. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/9plwtg4aemo Read the feature in the latest issue of Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/james-l-brooks-returns-to-form-with-ella-mccay-11183470 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wagner Moura chats with Newsweek's H. Alan Scott about The Secret Agent, the Oscars buzz surrounding it and why “carrying Brazil with us” makes the moment so special. Transcript: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/wagner-moura-on-the-secret-agent-oscars-and-his-return-to-brazilian-film-11182568 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Newsweek's H. Alan Scott sits down with the iconic Susan Powter, the original wellness influencer of the 90s, to discuss her unexpected journey from the heights of fame to driving for Uber Eats. Her journey is documented in the Jamie Lee Curtis produced documentary ‘Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter.' In this candid conversation, Susan opens up about her decision to step away from the spotlight, the challenges she faced, and the resilience that kept her going. Discover the untold story behind "Stop the Insanity" and how Susan's energy and authenticity continue to inspire. This is a raw and real exploration of life beyond the limelight. Video: https://youtu.be/CyMBQ6MNSPg Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daniel Craig and Rian Johnson discuss faith in “Wake Up Dead Man,” praising Josh O'Connor's humor and Glenn Close's legendary performance in the new mystery. Newsweek's H. Alan Scott chats with Johnson and Craig about the origins of the story; O'Connor about his love of comedy; and finally Close about how her time in a cult as a child inspired her performance. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Erika Alexander and Kim Coles join Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to chat about their podcast ReLiving Single, the "limitless creativity" of Living Single and the sitcom's enduring impact on pop culture. You can watch the first season of ReLiving Single on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReLivingSinglePodcast Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star and New York Times bestselling author Heather Gay joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to discuss her powerful new special, Surviving Mormonism. We dive into how reality TV has become an unexpected frontier for defining Mormon culture, why women are leading that charge, and how Heather is navigating her own journey from "Bad Mormon" to cultural trailblazer. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Initially, Kal Penn was hesitant to do a podcast because “every actor has a podcast.” Fortunately for us, he created Here We Go Again, focused on why history keeps repeating itself. “I loved the fact that you could talk about history repeating itself through pop culture, through politics. But it's not a political podcast by any means.” That said, Penn, an actor who took a break from Hollywood to work in the Obama administration, still very much has a foot in advocacy. “If you wanna go through the death spiral of social media and make yourself anxious,” go for it, he says, but he's not going to join. Instead, he's going to invite people to “come knock on doors...it's gonna move the needle on real conversations.” And one thing fans continue to discuss is their love for his Harold & Kumar franchise. Recounting a time he ran into political adviser Karl Rove and found out he was a fan, Penn realized, “as long as we stay truthful to the characters, the hope is that as polarized as this world is, we can still make a movie for everybody.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Netflix's ‘Stranger Things' comes to an end, Gaten Matarazzo, 23, is focused on soaking in the final moments. “I really want to take it in and enjoy it. I don't think I'll ever be in something that makes quite as much of an impact the way ‘Stranger Things' has.” Matarazzo plays Dustin, who we see grappling with a loss. “I wanted to see a bit of a pessimism that I think [is how] a lot of children approach their grief.” He's grateful to have understood the scale of the sci-fi series. “I spent a good chunk of my time trying to really recognize how special it was. And to live very much in the present.” But that last day on set was surreal. “It was a good day, but it was a very weird next morning. One of the most eerily quiet, melancholy kind of mornings that any of us had ever experienced.” But Hollywood did what Hollywood does, it moves on. “It kind of hurts your feelings how quickly everything starts getting turned over. It's like, ‘Please don't touch anything for a while.'” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Clear the stage and light the lights! Drag superstars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme return to the podcast to pull back the curtain on their brand-new tour, The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show. We discuss their creative partnership, DeLa's growing empire as a director for drag's biggest stars, and Jinkx's show-stopping, history-making turns on Broadway in Chicago and Oh, Mary! From holiday camp to the Great White Way, this chat has it all. For more on the new holiday show, visit https://www.jinkxanddela.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Actor Ed Helms loves a deep dive into a snafu from the past. “I love the hubris, our amazing capacity for ineptitude and terrible decision-making.” He's turned that obsession into the hit podcast SNAFU, inviting guests to break down some of history's most entertaining bloopers. “The snafu is often not just the initial problem, but it's [a] sort of scurrying aftermath of people trying to cover their tracks.” Each prior season focused on one historical moment, but season four has a new one every episode—and “dramatically” more episodes. “It is proving to be a ton of work, but it's super fun.” Hit podcast host is a new turn for Helms, best known for his work in TV and film. “Office fans are just so, so sweet and delightful. Hangover fans can be a little more aggro, but that's good.” But it's that intimate relationship he creates with podcast fans that feels more earned: “Those feel like my deep peeps.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Melissa Peterman, the first season of NBC's Happy's Place was a dream come true; getting a second season is an embarrassment of riches. “Getting a pilot is the lottery. Getting that pilot picked up is another gigantic win that is getting rarer and rarer.” Peterman plays Gabby, friend and co-worker of Bobbie, played by Reba McEntire, owner of the fictional tavern Happy's Place. The sitcom reunites Peterman and McEntire, who first appeared together on Reba. “I think there is value in the second banana. There's value in the sidekick.” While fans see her as way more than just a sidekick, Peterman knows how rare it is to get a second chance with a hit sitcom. “It's almost more precious because I know how rare it is to get a second chance with your best friend.” Busier than ever, Peterman also co-hosts Hallmark's Finding Mr. Christmas. “I would be really sad if I didn't get to host a game show or go be with people. I genuinely like people.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Considering the number of iconic women that have worked on Ryan Murphy projects, it's shocking Glenn Close hasn't. That's changing with Hulu's All's Fair. “I was intimidated until I started to understand the tone. And once I understood the tone, then it became really fun,” Close told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Close plays Dina, a powerful lawyer in an all-female firm that includes actors Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash and Naomi Watts, among others. “To bring all that energy...and all that experience together is bound to create something really unique.” It also created a special bond. “This group of women, they'll be my friends for the rest of my life.” Part of what keeps Close working, beyond immense talent, is that she refuses to repeat herself—“I'm basically up for anything as long as it represents a new exploration.” She'll next be seen in Rian Johnson's Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, offered the same week as All's Fair. “I got two Ryans in the same week. It was like, what?” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, I have a serious and emotional conversation with actor Michael Chernus about his challenging new role as John Wayne Gacy in Peacock's Devil in Disguise. He shares how he mentally prepared to play the serial killer and why this limited series is different by focusing on the victims of these horrific crimes. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Padma Lakshmi's new cookbook, Padma's All American, is a natural extension of her Hulu series Taste the Nation. In fact, the documentary laid the groundwork for the book, says the former Top Chef host. “Once we had done the show, I had all these communities I had already embedded myself in,” she told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Beyond recipes, the book carries an important message: Lakshmi “was trying to...really highlight the positive effects of having all these contributions from immigrants.” For Lakshmi, the recipes are ultimately a vehicle for connection. “I am hoping that the food will entice you, will almost be like a bait to get closer to your neighbors. Hopefully you'll be curious enough to get to know the culture that the food came from and the people that are making this food.” Lakshmi returns to TV with the new CBS reality competition series America's Culinary Cup, where elite chefs compete for a major prize. “It doesn't look like any other TV set or studio I've ever seen.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“I need to get obsessed by projects so I can be involved in. I want to be entirely disappearing in a project.” And that's exactly what Marion Cotillard has done in joining season four of The Morning Show (Apple TV+). Cotillard plays Celine Dumont, the new board president of the fictional news network who hails from a French dynasty and has plans to shake things up. The Oscar-winning actress found her first TV series “very different from a movie,” but leaned into the “best advice” from co-star Billy Crudup. “He knew that I was freaking out. He said, ‘You know what they did on the first three seasons. You know how smart they are. Give your total trust and be a happy puppet. Let them direct you.'” Part of what interested Cotillard about the series is what it says about the state of journalism. “Journalism sometimes has to have strong opinions [in order] to dig into subjects, but also to open the door of very ugly things.” Joining a TV series fits with how Cotillard has led her career since winning the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose. “I was solely following my choices. I never had any plan. I was so lucky that amazing directors offered me amazing journeys.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The most terrifying thing about nuclear weapons isn't the warheads, but how quiet we as a society have become about them. The Cold War-era fear of total annihilation has morphed into a dangerous cultural amnesia that Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow finds deafening. With her newest film, A House of Dynamite, she is determined to make the world listen again. “I think the fact that the conversation has drifted off has a lot to do with the fact that nuclear weapons have sort of been normalized,” Bigelow tells Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. “And that in and of itself is a pretty terrifying idea. And the fact that we don't look at it with the kind of global annihilation prospect that we should. I mean, we don't tend to take it very seriously.” Pick up our cover story on Bigelow in the latest issue of Newsweek. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even before Patricia Arquette signed on to play Maggie Murdaugh in Hulu's Murdaugh: Death in the Family, she was already “obsessed” with the infamous case of convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh. “I had been following it and watched documentaries and different shows about it,” she told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. “I was just really doing a deep dive looking at Narcissistic Personality Disorder.” One of the things that really fascinated Arquette about Maggie was her slow, tragic realization of her husband's true nature. “I like that her awakening starts to happen but even until the last second she still never thinks he's capable of that.” In the end, it was “that danger of your own partner being capable of something so scary was so chilling to me and for her and for all these women.” The Academy Award and Emmy winning actress has been busy in recent years with various projects like Severance on Apple TV+, and her busy schedule is not something she takes for granted. "I'm just grateful honestly at this age that I'm still able to work and getting really good parts and being able to do some more character work, because when you're a young girl, you don't get parts like that, and you don't get chances like that." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you write a love story where the central characters can't touch? Well, if anybody can, it's Nicholas Sparks. “This is a difficult love story to pull off,” Sparks told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott about his new novel Remain, which he collaborated on with director M. Night Shyamalan, who is adapting the book into a feature film. “One of the reasons we're doing this, of course, is, hey, maybe some of my readers who don't see M. Night films will go see Remain. Maybe some of his fans who would never think of reading something that I write, maybe they will give that a shot.” And they should, because Remain is a haunting love story that is both tonally very much a Nicholas Sparks novel, but also wholly different. It also helps to visualize the actors playing the characters in the film adaptation. “If someone picks it up and they say, ‘Tate, I wonder what he looks like.' Well, Google Jake Gyllenhaal, that'll help.” While the impact of Spark's work is “something I very seldom think about,” he does like when he'll hear a passing reference to one of his books in pop culture. “I'm the first to giggle when The Notebook comes up on Big Bang Theory or wherever it comes up. It's a lot of fun. It makes me smile.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To play Alex Murdaugh, Jason Clarke wasn't going to turn the man into a caricature, telling producers, “I'm not going to play a bad guy here,” Clarke told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Instead, Clarke focused on the “tragedy of Roman proportions” in Hulu's ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family,' based on the true story of a South Carolina man convicted in 2023 of murdering his wife and son. “We're not here to sensationalize it or even to replay it. We're there to open it up.” Clarke has two other big projects this year. The first is the Apple TV+ series ‘The Last Frontier,' where he plays a U.S. Marshal in Alaska hunting fugitives who escaped a plane crash. “It's a gut thing. Do I feel like doing eight months in the snow and the winter and the action? You know what? Yes.” Then there's ‘A House of Dynamite,' about which he says director Kathryn Bigelow has “stripped back a lot of the usual tools of cinema.” This diversity in roles is exactly why Clarke does what he does. “The times I'm grumpy, I'm frustrated, I'm hurting, I realized just how lucky I am and also what I'm capable of, and that if you find the right things, you can really disappear into them.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://link.newsweek.com/join/for-the-culture Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Keira Knightley is the first one to say her new film The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix) is “rather tense.” That said, “part of the joy of making something that's sort of so tense and twisted and strange is when you're working with really lovely people, you can also have a bit of a giggle,” Knightley told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Knightley plays Laura Blacklock, a journalist on an assignment on a super yacht with billionaires who don't believe her when she stumbles on a gruesome secret. She says the film is “definitely playing with the idea of like, women are not believed,” but that gave her the opportunity to do something she's never done before. “Love being the hero, as well. It was very exciting.” In fact, she joked about telling a fellow actor, “'I don't care that you can run that fast. You don't get to catch me because I'm the hero, OK?'” [laughs] Looking back at her career, while she doesn't have the nostalgic relationship with her films that many fans have, she does look back on quite a few fondly, particularly Bend It Like Beckham. “There is still not another film about women's soccer. And it did have a place in that cultural landscape. And I think it did help to tell girls that it was okay to like soccer and play soccer.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, Tonatiuh joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to discuss the powerful new film, Kiss of the Spider Woman. We explore the importance of Latin excellence on screen and why this story is so topical for queer and trans communities today. We also break down the incredible, star-making performance at the heart of the film by Tonatiuh and what it was like to work alongside powerhouses of talent like Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna and director Bill Condon. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a star and producer on High Potential, Kaitlin Olson is all-in on the ABC dramedy, now in its second season. “The heart and soul of this show is Morgan's family and her children, and I don't want those to ever be cheesy.” Olson's Morgan is a single mom with an extraordinary gift: She's able to piece together information to solve once unsolvable crimes. Finding the balance between family and crime was key to Olson. “Getting it right was really important to me.” And having a say as a producer ensures her creative voice is heard. “I'm grateful every day that I'm in a place where I can trust my instincts and say, ‘This isn't working, and here's how I think we can change it.'” This place in her career has been hard-earned, after 20 years playing Deandra “Sweet Dee” on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. “For a show that on the outside looks like a dumb comedy, it's not. It's a commentary. It's so intelligently written.” Now an Emmy-nominee for her work on Hacks, Olson hopes people take comedic actors more seriously. “There's a common misconception that comedic actors can't really act and it's like, okay, you try and make me laugh. It's hard to make someone laugh. Comedy is a talent.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Get ready to get messy. This week, we're joined by the brilliant and hilarious Brandon Kyle Goodman for a gloriously unfiltered, absolutely NSFW chat. You know them as the writer and voice on Netflix's Big Mouth, but Brandon is a multi-talented force dedicated to helping us all embrace our most authentic, chaotic, and beautiful selves. We dive headfirst into their incredible book, You Gotta Be You, discussing everything from radical self-acceptance to the messy parts of life we're often told to hide. Brandon spills the tea on the inspiration behind their podcast, Tell Me Something Messy, and gives us a peek behind the curtain of their iconic "Messy Mondays" on Instagram. Strap in for a conversation that covers it all: the highs and lows of creative life, the power of owning your story, and why being a little bit messy is a goddamn superpower. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Elvira firmly believes Halloween requires spooky snacks, and she's here to provide some inspiration with Elvira's Cookbook from Hell: Sexy, Spooky Soirées and Celebrations for Every Occasion. "I ate every single recipe. I was tasting every single one and they were all great," Cassandra Peterson, the actress behind Elvira, told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. "I do love to cook, however. I don't know about Elvira. I don't think she cooks so much, but I love cooking." For the past 45 years, Elvira has been a staple of Halloween. “I've never had a Halloween off.” But that's ok, because she's proud of playing such a vital role in so many people's lives. “I get gay guys coming up to me and saying, ‘Oh, you saved me, because I had your poster in my bedroom and my parents were like, ‘Oh thank God, he's not gay.' Little did they know.” And ultimately, she knows that despite never having Halloween off, she's given something back to the dark souls of the world with Elvira and has no plans to stop. “It's fun and people get a laugh out of it. And that's what's important. Laughing is important. We need to laugh more than ever. And if I can do that for people, I hope I can do it for a long, long time.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Hotel Costiera, Jesse Williams was drawn to making "something that is global.” The new Prime Video series stars Williams as Daniel De Luca, a former Marine who returns home to Italy to work at a hotel, only to find himself tasked with finding the missing daughter of the hotel's owner. While he has “no complaints” filming in Positano paradise, “I tried to stay relatively disciplined, but I ate a lot of pasta and bread,” Williams told Newsweek's H. Alan Scott. Of the character, he related to his duality. "I don't really say I'm half anything," he notes. "That has to have found itself stewing in something Daniel DeLuca is dealing with." And this series represents a new phase for Williams, taking creative control as a producer. "It certainly feels good... to bet on you in the same way you're trying to bet on yourself.” After leaving his iconic role on Grey's Anatomy, his first move was a deliberate challenge, first going to Broadway and now this, raising the stakes even further by creating an original show. “It's not based on IP or something else. Like it's really trying to forge something new in a space.” But at the end of the day, it's all about the process. "I love the collaboration that exists in our business." Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For millions of people, a trip to a Disney park is a special occasion, a magical escape. But what if it was your job? What if your office was Main Street, U.S.A., and your daily task was to ride attractions and eat snacks for an audience of thousands? Today we're talking to someone who lives that reality: David Vaughn, one of the most engaging Disney content creators on YouTube and social media. He joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to pull back the curtain to ask him what the job is really like, what drives his passion for the parks, and we get an honest answer to the ultimate question: does having to press 'record' change the way you experience the magic? For more on David Vaughn: https://thedavidvaughn.com/ Follow David's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavidVaughn Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What comes to mind when you hear the term 'Disney Adult'? Is it a stereotype, a punchline, or something much deeper? Today, we're getting the definitive take from the person who literally wrote the book on it. AJ Wolfe, the brilliant creator of the essential YouTube channel, The Disney Food Blog, and now the author of the fantastic new book, 'Disney Adults: Exploring (And Falling In Love With) A Magical Subculture,' joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott on today's episode of the Parting Shot Podcast. We're diving into the joy, the community, and the misconceptions behind one of the most passionate fandoms in the world. From the psychology of nostalgia to the business of running a Disney media empire, get ready for a truly magical conversation. Pick up Disney Adults: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Disney-Adults/AJ-Wolfe/9781668069219 Follow AJ Wolfe's Disney Food Blog: https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/ Subscribe to my newsletter: https://www.newsweek.com/newsletter/the-culture/ Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott Subscribe to Newsweek's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/newsweek See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.