The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, actors Helen Mirren and Alden Ehrenreich sit down to discuss their gripping new psychological thriller A Talent for Murder. Mirren stars as the reclusive author Patricia Highsmith alongside Ehrenreich's young editor Edward who is tasked with persuading her to write another Tom Ripley novel. The co-stars dive into the fascinating motives behind Highsmith's legendary characters, the queer themes woven into her work and how they both took a deep dive to understand the brilliant but complicated author. Plus, they reveal why neither of them has a real-life talent for murder.

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I’m reacting to Alex Gibney’s new documentary film 'Musk,' and my biggest takeaway is fear. The power Elon Musk holds is vast and wide, and it begs the question: should a person this rich hold this much power? From AI to international relations with his Starlink service, Musk wields immense influence, and Gibney’s documentary does a fantastic job of laying it all out.

I saw the film at the Ojai Documentary Film Festival in its first year, and 'Musk' was the opening night feature. The fact that this festival had a packed house for a nearly four-hour film says a lot about the event and the cultural moment documentary films are experiencing right now.

Joining me to discuss 'Musk' is Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella. We break down the cult of personality around Elon Musk, the surging popularity of documentaries, and why the Ojai Documentary Film Festival really speaks to the moment nonfiction films are having. Listen to our full conversation on this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast.

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On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, director Peter Berg and stars Nicholas Galitzine, Ray Nicholson, Bill Skarsgård and Tom Francis discuss the intense reality of their new Netflix WWII epic The Mosquito Bowl. Adapted from Buzz Bissinger's nonfiction book, the film follows renowned college football players who put their rising careers on hold to fight in the Pacific after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The cast and director dive into the highly immersive filmmaking process, the camaraderie formed while shooting in remote Australia and the emotional toll of bringing one of the most brutal cinematic depictions of war to life.

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On this episode of The Parting Shot, the original New York City Housewives have finally returned to our screens! Sonja Morgan, Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Ramona Singer, and Kelly Bensimon join the show to discuss their highly anticipated new E! series, The Golden Life.

After a massive fan outcry for the OGs to return, the women are proving that their fifties and sixties are their best years yet. We dive into how the new series—with a not-so-subtle nod to The Golden Girls—follows their genuine, unmanufactured friendships as they live it up in Palm Beach and the Hamptons. Plus, they open up about avoiding the classic reality TV trap, building successful careers outside the Bravo universe, and why viewers simply refused to accept any substitutes.

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If you’ve seen any of Jordan Klepper’s work on The Daily Show, one question begs to be asked: Why do supporters of Donald Trump keep talking to him at MAGA rallies?

In this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, Jordan Klepper sits down with Newsweek to discuss his latest half-hour special, The Daily Show Presents: Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse: Red Flags. Klepper breaks down the bizarre appeal of the camera, the tribalism and "costume party" atmosphere of modern political events, and how political narratives—like the recent shift to transphobia in Texas politics—are being used to distract voters. Plus, Klepper discusses media bias, the legacy of Jon Stewart, and how The Daily Show continues to shape the way audiences consume the news.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bTW8D97Rw2s

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How did Young Sheldon, a prequel series to The Big Bang Theory, become the rare example of a successful spinoff?

That’s exactly what Jessica Radloff’s new book, Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, uncovers. On this episode of the Parting Shot Podcast, Jessica sits down with H. Alan Scott to reveal the behind-the-scenes secrets of the beloved sitcom.

“We're not here to ruin anything, we're there to give you an insider's view into what made it work and a greater appreciation, and you're gonna learn a heck of a lot along the way,” Radloff told Newsweek.

With the blessing of creators Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, Radloff shares how surprised she was by the cast's incredible candor. “I give the cast of Young Sheldon a lot of credit because they are in every sense a family and they will admit they are a family that will disagree. They are a family that has gone through hard times,” she says. “The stories they shared were so heartfelt and so human that it surprised me how willing they were to go there.”

Ultimately, the show worked because of its universal relatability. “There's elements of everybody's family in this show. And that's what made you fall in love with them because you understood these dynamics. They exist in every single family.”

Get Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jessica-radloff/young-sheldon/9781538777848/

Listen to more episodes of the Parting Shot Podcast on Newsweek, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hulu’s Phony brings White Lotus alums Connie Britton and Sam Nivola together for a suspenseful new thriller that pushes both actors into deeply uncomfortable territory. Nivola stars as Sonny, a young man who wakes up after a tragic accident only to find that his mother, Ellen (Britton), doesn't quite seem to be his mother.

In this interview with Newsweek, Britton and Nivola break down the bizarre reality of the series and the thrill of actively running in the opposite direction of their past recognizable roles. Nivola opens up about the relief of stepping into the spotlight as a leading man (and navigating his new "internet boyfriend" status), while Britton jokes about her legendary television hair and why it deserves its own Emmy.

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On this episode of The Parting Shot, Jamie Lee Curtis reveals how a chance encounter with a limo driver sparked the idea for the new NBC comedy Newlyweds. She is joined by real-life spouses and co-stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly to discuss the joys of impulsively tying the knot in your sixties, the reality of navigating blended families, and the vital, communal experience of traditional network television.

From portraying vibrant, sexual older adults on screen to showing younger generations the value of taking real-life risks, the cast breaks down why Newlyweds provides the exact kind of relatable comfort food audiences need right now.

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This week on the Parting Shot Podcast, H. Alan Scott is joined by Senior Reporter, Lauren Giella, to talk about the anxiety of navigating the internet right now. We tackle the impossible: avoiding spoilers for You Can See Everything. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's bizarre, boundary-pushing documentary covering the final days before Elizabeth Holmes went to prison just dropped in theaters on October 16, and we debate whether going in blind is even possible in the era of social media.

Then, we pivot to how the 2027 awards season is shaping up. Christopher Nolan's massive historical epic The Odyssey is already tracking for an unbelievable 16 Oscar nominations. With Matt Damon starring as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, we break down whether Nolan is headed for another undisputed Best Picture sweep, or if highly anticipated contenders like Dune: Part Three or Luca Guadagnino's Artificial can sneak in and steal the Academy's attention.

Listen to the full breakdown and let us know in the comments: have you been spoiled yet?

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Do we really need another adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility? After speaking with the cast of director Georgia Oakley’s bold new film, the answer is an undeniable yes.

By stripping away the polished veneer, pristine makeup, and rigid etiquette of traditional costume dramas, this adaptation uncovers an intimate, raw, and feminist portrait of the Dashwood women surviving on their own terms.

In this episode of The Parting Shot, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott sat down with the cast—including Daisy Edgar-Jones (Elinor Dashwood), Caitríona Balfe (Mrs. Dashwood), Esmé Creed-Miles (Marianne Dashwood), Frank Dillane (John Willoughby), and Herbert Nordrum (Colonel Brandon).

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Comedian Anna Roisman joins Newsweek's H. Alan Scott on the Parting Shot podcast to break down a wild mix of pop culture headlines and seasonal comfort:

Kelly Clarkson’s "Big Mistake" Moment: Kelly was recently treated like Vivian Ward in an upscale shop, and we're unpacking the viral snub, the retail audacity, and why everyone loves a real-life Pretty Woman showdown.

The Return to Stars Hollow: Why Gilmore Girls remains the undisputed autumn comfort binge, how the viewing rituals change as it heads to Prime Video, and whether Stars Hollow still holds up.

Shane Gillis Hosts Saturday Night Live: The fallout from Shane Gillis’ latest return to Studio 8H, the groans and laughs during his opening monologue, and what it says about the current state of late-night comedy.

Tune in for unfiltered hot takes, laughs, and Anna Roisman’s hilarious perspective on all three!

Connect with Anna Roisman:

Instagram: @annaroisman

TikTok: @annaroisman

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"Have a seat." For a generation of television viewers, few phrases carried as much weight as that one. On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, I sit down with screenwriter Ajon Singh to talk about Primetime, the new A24 film starring Robert Pattinson as To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen. We get into the rise of the iconic Dateline NBC series, what its massive popularity says about us as a society and how Hansen has reacted to the film being made. Ajon also breaks down why Gen Z makes up nearly 70 percent of the film's audience and how modern social media algorithms have morphed Hansen's original premise into something even more chaotic. It is a fascinating look at the complicated legacy of justice as entertainment.

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With the real world feeling more like a 24/7 breaking news nightmare, it is no wonder we are all escaping into the comforting "competence porn" of Netflix's The Diplomat. On this episode of the Parting Shot podcast, I sit down with the cast and creator of the Emmy-winning series to talk about its fourth season. Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell share why the show's fan base spans generations and the appeal of playing characters who are adjacent to real-world chaos without the personal danger. Creator Debora Cahn opens up about the pressure of bringing in The West Wing alumni Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford, while Whitford gets real about why we desperately need shows that exalt public service. Plus, we talk about Keri's ongoing Emmy snubs and why her dream is to win a trophy while fast asleep.

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From the biggest Oscars blunder in history to a museum full of nightmares and Mark Zuckerberg's latest onscreen reckoning, we have a lot to talk about. Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella and H. Alan Scott break down this week's biggest pop culture moments on the Parting Shot podcast. We kick things off with the Academy Museum's new The Horror Show exhibit in Los Angeles and why it's a must-visit for scary movie fans. Then we get into Aaron Sorkin's 'The Social Reckoning' and why tech movies about Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman always feel a little outdated by the time they hit theaters. We also look back at the 10th anniversary of A24's 'Moonlight' and that unforgettable Best Picture mix-up with 'La La Land' at the Oscars.

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Three of the most talked-about books right now share one thing: queer themes. Josh Silver, author of Fruit Fly, joins H. Alan Scott on Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast to talk about sharing the spotlight with Marlon James' The Disappears and Douglas Stuart's John of John. "These two authors are like my heroes," he says.

Silver explains how Fruit Fly found its readers with no marketing budget, carried by online book communities to gay and straight audiences alike. He talks about making the jump from his YA novels HappyHead and Traumaland to his first adult novel, and about the road that took him from actor to nurse to author. He also takes on the MM label, the readers who arrived by way of Heated Rivalry and a publishing industry that he says believes in authentic voices, as long as they sell.

"Can we please call it a gay story?"

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In 2004, thousands of women applied for a Fox reality show that promised to turn "ugly ducklings" into beauties. It was called The Swan. Contestants spent three months cut off from friends and family while undergoing cosmetic surgery and intense fitness regimens, and most had no idea a beauty pageant was waiting at the end.

Now director Erin Lee Carr (Britney vs Spears, Mommy Dead and Dearest) revisits the show in the new Hulu documentary The Swan: Behind the Mirror. She joins H. Alan Scott on Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast to talk about what the show did to the women who lived it, the prizes that came with a tax bill and why she calls the women "patient zero for the internet's appetite to tear [people] apart."

Carr also reckons with her own hypocrisy, the audience's role in the judgment and how Ozempic and today's reality TV prove The Swan never really went away. Plus, the answer every woman gave to her final interview question: Would you do it again?

"We live in the world that The Swan built, in ways that we like to have outrage about and then comply with." Erin Lee Carr

The Swan: Behind the Mirror is streaming now on Hulu.

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From the Poltergeist curse to The Wizard of Oz, Hollywood runs on urban legends. But few have been snickered about longer than the baseless rumor involving Richard Gere and a gerbil.

Journalist Allen Salkin spent six years investigating it for Gerbil, a new 12-episode podcast from The Hollywood Reporter. He tracked down sources, ordered obscure magazines off eBay and visited Cedars-Sinai in person. Along the way, he debunks much of the story and uncovers an apparent earlier version of the rumor out of Philadelphia.

Salkin talks with Newsweek about why the rumor has survived four decades, what Gere's silence has meant for its staying power and what its durability says about the rest of us. Plus, why he doubts a single person started it and why he believes he knows the answer.

"What can we learn from the durability of this rumor?" Allen Salkin

Gerbil is available now from The Hollywood Reporter.

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It's time to talk about what's trending For the Culture. Newsweek Senior Reporter Lauren Giella joins H. Alan Scott to break down the week's biggest pop culture conversations.

First up: Taylor Swift has entered her nesting era. Now that she's married and in love, will her music suffer? Lauren argues it already has with The Life of a Showgirl.

Then, Saturday Night Live is back. We run through some of this season's hosts, including Jalen Brunson and Dakota Johnson, and H. Alan asks the question that keeps him up at night: Why won't Dakota Johnson return his calls?

Finally, Ryan Murphy brings the stars back for American Horror Story season 13. We celebrate the brilliance of Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson, and H. Alan makes his case for why Leslie Grossman deserves to lead a season.

Subscribe for more weekly conversations on what's trending For the Culture.

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Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison are back at Sacred Heart Hospital, and as the Scrubs reboot heads into its second season on ABC, the stars are still a little surprised at how well it's worked.

On Newsweek's Parting Shot podcast, Braff (J.D. Dorian) admits he was terrified to come back: "We did it for the fans, and the fans are very passionate about the original show." Chalke (Elliot Reid) explains how 25 years of history created a set where everyone feels safe enough to mess up, and Faison (Christopher Turk) says the cast never wanted to simply repeat what worked before: "We also want to be The Empire Strikes Back after Star Wars."

Plus, why Scrubs' mix of comedy and heart still stands out at a time when medical shows like The Pitt are leaning into the gritty stuff, and what it's like to show up to a job where you know you'll be laughing most of the day.

Scrubs season 2 premieres September 30 on ABC and Hulu.

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This week in culture: royals and reckonings collide. Princess Diana's revenge dress is heading to auction decades after it delivered the ultimate wardrobe comeback and could fetch millions. Macklemore was booted from Ed Sheeran's tour for saying Free Palestine, and everyone collectively lost their minds. And Channing Tatum has a finsta? Here's everything you need to know this week on the Parting Shot Podcast, because if it's happening in entertainment, it's For the Culture.

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