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PODCAST

The Business

Lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors, hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter.

tv & film

All Episodes

30:02

‘The Alabama Solution’ filmmakers on exposing...

The Business ·

2025/11/07

This week, Kim Masters talks with documentarians Andrew Jarecki and Charlotte Kaufman about their film The Alabama Solution. The filmmakers reveal how an invitation from an unwitting warden to film a religious revival at an Alabama prison opened the door to their investigation. They met desperate prisoners who shared allegations of abuse and even murder. The film includes evidence that the prisoners captured on their cell phones, which were smuggled in and sold to them by prison

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30:02

Brad Falchuk on life, death, and ‘Famous Last Words’

The Business ·

2025/10/31

This week, Eric Deggans talks with Brad Falchuk about his Netflix series Famous Last Words. The longtime Ryan Murphy collaborator talks about adapting a Danish format built around deeply personal conversations that air only after the guests have died. He also explains why working with streamers isn’t so different from his days in cable television, and how living with dyslexia has made him a stronger writer and creative partner.Plus, NBCUniversal has snatched up Taylor

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30:02

How would a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. operate?

The Business ·

2025/10/24

Warner Bros. stock is up after CEO David Zaslav confirmed the company is on the market and open to offers. Following Netflix’s moderate Q3, dragged by an unexpected Brazilian tax hit, speculation is growing over the streamer’s possible interest in Warners. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has dismissed talk of buying legacy media networks, though the studio and streaming divisions may still be in play. Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw break down why Netflix might consider a

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38:31

Aziz Ansari on turning bad luck into 'Good Fortune'

The Business ·

2025/10/17

This week, Kim Masters talks to Aziz Ansari about his directorial debut, Good Fortune. After his 2022 project Being Mortal was shut down following a misconduct complaint involving star Bill Murray, Ansari regrouped. He gathered cast members Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer for a new film and added Keanu Reeves to the mix. He’s filling us in on how he overcame production delays and Reeves’ on-set injury. Plus, he addresses his controversial appearance at the Riyadh Comedy

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30:01

Noam Tibon on rescuing his family from Hamas in Barry...

The Business ·

2025/10/10

This week, Kim Masters speaks with The Road Between Us director Barry Avrich and retired Israeli General Noam Tibon, the latter of whom drove straight into the October 7 massacre to rescue his family. Despite the third-rail nature of anything involving Israel and Gaza, the pair hopes that the documentary can be viewed as a story about family. But politics were inescapable — the film was pulled from the Toronto Film Festival, reinstated after protests, and then greeted with

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30:02

A “Smashing” chat with Benny Safdie

The Business ·

2025/10/03

This week, Kim Masters talks with Benny Safdie about The Smashing Machine, his first solo feature since parting ways with his longtime creative partner (and brother) Josh. He recalls the immediate spark he felt when Dwayne Johnson approached him to play UFC fighter Mark Kerr, and why the story fits his ongoing fascination with characters who don’t quite win. He also reflects on his biggest lessons gleaned while working as an actor for luminary filmmakers like Paul Thomas

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41:16

Mike Figgis on chronicling the chaos of ‘Megalopolis’

The Business ·

2025/09/26

This week, Kim Masters talks to director Mike Figgis about Megadoc, his fly-on-the-wall chronicle of Francis Ford Coppola's self-financed $160 million dream project, Megalopolis. Figgis captures Coppola’s battles on set, including the turmoil that followed when the director’s improvisational style collided with the art department’s meticulous planning — a story Masters covered with her former colleagues at The Hollywood Reporter. Figgis was there to

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30:02

How affiliate pressure and FCC rhetoric put Kimmel on...

The Business ·

2025/09/19

ABC has indefinitely suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! following pressure from Nexstar and Sinclair, which own affiliated stations across the country. The move comes after Kimmel’s recent monologue about the assassination of Charlie Kirk prompted FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to issue a warning to Disney regarding the late-night host’s presence on ABC. What’s next for Kimmel and how has the industry responded to the suspension? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down

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30:02

THR’s Executive Awards Editor shares Emmy predictions

The Business ·

2025/09/12

The 77th annual Emmy Awards will air this Sunday night (Sept. 14) on CBS and Paramount+ — hosted by a first-timer, comedian Nate Bargatze. Kim Masters is joined by Scott Feinberg, Executive Awards Editor for The Hollywood Reporter, and they’re making predictions.Plus, money wins? Masters and her partner in Banter Matt Belloni unpack the latest Murdoch family lawsuit… And the increasing possibility of a Paramount Skydance purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery.

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30:02

Runway founder Cristóbal Valenzuela wants Hollywood...

The Business ·

2025/09/05

At 84, veteran mogul John Malone is still a power broker, hinting at “further consolidation in the media industry” following a recent sit down with David Ellison. Should we be on the lookout for a Warner–Paramount merger? Meanwhile in Vegas, the Sphere’s $100 million Wizard of Oz reimagining leans on AI to expand the visuals and even slip in cameos of David Zaslav and James Dolan. The Directors Guild did not take kindly to the stunt. Partners in Banter

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30:02

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ slays at the box office

The Business ·

2025/08/29

It’s official, KPop Demon Hunters’ sing-along screenings were a resounding success. The film about a KPop girl group who also hunt… well, you know… became an immediate global phenomenon via streaming on Netflix when it was released in June. Now that the desire for communal experiences has been made abundantly clear, what will this mean for the franchise going forward? Kim Masters and her partner in Banter Matt Belloni get into it.Plus, in an encore

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47:25

‘Shrinking’ co-creator & star Jason Segel: Live From...

The Business ·

2025/08/22

This week on a special episode of The Business, Kim Masters talks with Shrinking co-creator and star Jason Segel, recorded live at KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio. Segel looks back on highlights from Freaks and Geeks, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and The Muppets. He also discusses how Shrinking, now nominated for five Emmys, came together with co-creators Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein.Plus, after closing the $8 billion Paramount Global deal with David

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30:02

Paramount leadership announces a knockout deal for...

The Business ·

2025/08/15

David Ellison’s Paramount is off to a loud start, rolling out a James Mangold/Timothée Chalamet crime drama and a $7.7 billion, seven year UFC deal. Will the studio’s bold strategies play out as intended? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni break down Paramount’s next act.Plus, Masters talks to documentarian Petra Costa about Apocalypse in the Tropics, a follow-up to her Oscar-nominated 2019 film The Edge of Democracy. What started as a look at Brazil’s

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30:02

‘Severance’ cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné talks...

The Business ·

2025/08/08

This week, Kim Masters speaks to Severance director and cinematographer, Jessica Lee Gagné. The Quebecois filmmaker reflects on her collaboration with Severance executive producer Ben Stiller, which began on the Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora. She discusses becoming the first woman to be Emmy-nominated in the same year for both cinematography and directing in a drama series, and the major leap of faith it took to transition from a successful career as a DP

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30:02

‘Platonic’ creators Francesca Delbanco & Nick Stoller...

The Business ·

2025/08/01

Kim Masters speaks to Platonic co-creators Francesca Delbanco & Nicholas Stoller about what inspired their show about the comedy and complications of grown-up friendships. They talk about the challenge of writing characters—played by Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen—with none of the underlying sexual tension that has propelled so many television comedies to success. They also remember the time that Netflix boss Ted Sarandos sat through a lengthy table read of their

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30:02

Will Paramount produce a PSA (or many) for the Trump...

The Business ·

2025/07/25

[Editor’s note: this segment was taped before news broke of the FCC approval of the Paramount-Skydance merger.]New details from the ongoing Paramount-Skydance merger reveal a $20 million agreement to deliver public service announcements for the Trump administration. And following from the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, CBS News braces for potential changes in leadership. Kim Masters and Matt Belloni dive into what’s unfolding behind the

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30:01

Barry Diller calls out studios for reckless...

The Business ·

2025/07/18

In the conclusion of Kim Masters’ two-part conversation with Barry Diller, the veteran businessman reflects on his time helping build Rupert Murdoch’s Fox empire. Diller also criticizes studios for spreading misinformation—citing Oliver Stone’s JFK in particular—and weighs in on the now-resolved Trump-Paramount dispute, and the prospect of a David Ellison-led studio.Plus, Paramount’s looming merger with Skydance has South Park creators Matt

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30:01

Hollywood legend Barry Diller opens up via ‘Who Knew?’

The Business ·

2025/07/11

Kim Masters talks to Barry Diller about his memoir, Who Knew? The legendary studio exec reflects on his quick rise at ABC and how helped transform the third-ranked broadcast network into a force to be reckoned with. He also remembers a much happier time at Paramount, where he presided over a studio staffed with future industry stars. He also opens up about why none of his friends in the business are having much fun these days.Plus, summer movie season is heating up, with F1,

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30:02

Larry Charles offers a glimpse into his storied...

The Business ·

2025/07/04

Kim Masters talks to writer & director Larry Charles about his new memoir Comedy Samurai. He shares stories about writing for Seinfeld, directing Curb Your Enthusiasm, and his chaotic experiences working with Sacha Baron Cohen on Borat and Bruno. Charles also tells the story of an early morning call from Ari Emanuel that pulled the plug on his Larry David documentary the day before its HBO premiere.Also, it’s official: Paramount has settled with Donald Trump over a

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30:02

Food > fights: Phil Rosenthal on ‘Somebody Feed Phil’

The Business ·

2025/06/27

Eric Deggans chats with veteran sitcom showrunner Phil Rosenthal about the current state of the industry. The creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and host of the unscripted Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil reflects on how studios shape viewership data to fit their narratives. Rosenthal recalls challenging flawed testing at CBS early in his career and he reflects on the success of Raymond. He also shares how he pitched his food and travel series as: “Anthony Bourdain if he

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1,002 results

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