I'm Having an Episode

Each week, The Hollywood Reporter’s Mikey O’Connell attempts to stay on top of the latest in TV and entertainment (and stay sane) with a little help from his colleagues, friends and a revolving door of actors, comics, writers, showrunners and filmmakers.

TV & Film
TV Reviews
News
1
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II + Avoiding Another Hollyw...
'Wonder Man' and 'Man on Fire' actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II joins to discuss his recent spike in work, his evolving metric for success and potholes in New Orleans. But first, THR's Katie Kilkenny explains how both the writers' and actors' unions reached speedy deals with the studios after 2023's catastrophic strikes, what was won and lost in the negotiations and a rare west coast appearance of our beloved Scabby the Rat!
39 min
2
Craig Mazin Talks 'Sheep Detectives,' 'The Last...
Celebrated screenwriter and showrunner Craig Mazin swings by to talk about his latest feature, 'The Sheep Detectives,' as well as the juggling act of making 'The Last of Us' for TV viewers and video game fans. Also, Mikey reveals a dark secret.
41 min
3
All 'Devil Wears Prada 2' With Aline Brosh McKe...
Mikey, Mia Galuppo and Lacey Rose discuss the millennial fixation with The Devil Wears Prada, where Miranda Priestly ranks among Meryl Streep performances and what aspects of the film aged better than others. Then, Aline Brosh McKenna, the screenwriter behind both the original and its follow-up, joins to talk about the sequel she never thought she'd write and tackling the much-humbled world of magazines.
64 min
4
Linda Cardellini + 'Hacks' and 'Euphoria' Return
Actress Linda Cardellini ('Freaks and Geeks,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' 'Dead to Me') joins to talk about HBO's 'DTF St Louis,' working with Miss Piggy and her career's horror pivot. But before that, THR critics Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han talk about the final season of 'Hacks,' the probably final season of 'Euphoria' and the final seasons that blew their minds — and broke their hearts.
57 min
5
The World Isn't Ready for Leslie Jones at a 10
Leslie Jones may be one of the highest energy working comedians, but, in this week's episode, she says she's rarely going above a five or six. She also talks about her vetoed SNL sketches, lessons from the Ghostbusters backlash and recently walking onto Ziwe's set... with zero awareness of Ziwe's rage bait schtick.
31 min
6
Olivia Munn + A Shot of Box Office Optimism
Actress Olivia Munn, star of Apple TV's 'Your Friends and Neighbors' pipes in to discuss why shea nearly quitting acting and how one of her best lessons came from an experience with a very bad director. But first, Mia Galuppo joins to talk about the 2026 films most likely to keep people going to theaters after the success of 'Project Hail Mary.'
55 min
7
Julio Torres' Color Commentary + Reassessing TV...
Filmmaker, stand-up and former 'SNL' writer Julio Torres talks about sharing his 'Color Theories' in a new HBO special, getting heckled in the Hamptons and his potential amusement park with Tilda Swinton. That's after Dan Fienberg and Mikey debate TV reboots — or are they revivals? — with an analysis of Buffy's demise and a game of FMK.
67 min
8
Project Hail Mary's Drew Goddard + Why The Come...
Drew Goddard, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter behind 'The Martian,' has another space-set epic in 'Project Hail Mary.' He talks about writing the script with a massive budget in mind and his ABC hit 'High Potential.' That's after THR senior writer Chris Gardner and Mikey break down the history of Lisa Kudrow's 'The Comeback' — and why it's back on HBO after a 12-year break. 
49 min
9
Michael Urie + The Oscar Ballot Cheat Sheet
Shrinking actor Michael Urie opens up about being the only Broadway actor not on the Gilded Age and legacy of Ugly Betty; That's after Vanity Fair's Rebecca Ford helps Mikey construct a mostly fool-proof ballot for your Oscar pool. #BRAZIL!
64 min
10
'Scream' Filmmaker Kevin Williamson + The Peaco...
Kevin Williamson pipes in to talk about returning to the franchise with Scream 7, his biggest hits and working with the late James Van Der Beek. And, now that The Traitors and The Olympics are over, Daniel Fienberg joins Mikey to discuss what exactly is happening over on Peacock.
61 min
11
'Love Story' Creator on Our Kennedy Obsession +...
Connor Hines, showrunner of 'Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette,' joins to talk about the challenges of casting and executing his buzzy FX drama. That's after reporter Ashley Cullins, author of 'Your Favorite Scary Movie,' joins Mikey to dig into the history of the Scream franchise before its movie No. 7.
47 min
12
Taylor Tomlinson Takes Us to Church + Survivor ...
Comedian Taylor Tomlinson digs into the evolution of her stand-up with Netflix special Prodigal Daughter and her two-year tenure as a late-night host. But first, David Canfield returns to help Mikey understand allure (and Applebee's references) of CBS' Survivor.
50 min
13
Paula Pell’s Journey From SNL to Scene Stealer ...
Legendary comedy writer Paula Pell talks about her evolution from mothering sketch comedians to acting (Girls5Eva and, now, The Burbs) after Mia Galuppo joins to discuss that Marty Supreme speed bump and the history of messy Oscar campaigns.
54 min
14
Sherry Cola Goes to Therapy + Charli XCX's Endl...
Actress and comedian Sherry Cola discusses the perks of therapy — both in real life and on the new season of Shrinking. That's after David Canfield joins Mikey to live in Charli XCX's The Moment and examine the pop-star-to-Hollywood pipeline. 
54 min
15
Judd Apatow on His New Mel Brooks Documentary +...
Mia Galuppo mines the storied history of the Sundance Film Festival — Weinstein hitting screenwriters! Near plane crashes! Golden retrievers! — ahead of its last go in Park City; and Mikey interviews Judd Apatow about his new documentary (Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!), the late Rob Reiner and the state of the studio comedy. 
50 min
16
Nia DaCosta Talks Building The Bone Temple + Br...
Filmmaker Nia DaCosta pipes in from London to talk about her spin on the 28 Years Later franchise — just don't call them zombies! —  after I Said No Gifts host Bridger Winegar pays a visit to discuss pressing Utah-set reality TV news and the state of comedy writing in 2026.
60 min
17
The Softer Side of Josh Charles + Heated Rivalr...
Actor Josh Charles swings by to discuss his new series, Best Medicine, and growing up on camera, after Lacey Rose joins Mikey to talk about the significance of Canadian hockey drama Heated Rivalry's surreal run atop the HBO Max charts and why it won't be part of the Emmy race.
53 min
18
Simu Liu Will Build His Own James Bond + The Gr...
Actor Simu Liu opens up about his Hollywood learning curve, racism in casting and his new spy series after a quorum of Hollywood Reporter staffers debate the merits (and cost) of the L.A. cake that Tom Cruise famously gifts his friends and associates every Christmas.
58 min
19
Robby Hoffman Will Joke About Anything... If It...
Comedian and actor Robby Hoffman, closing out a very good year with her Netflix special Wake Up, talks poverty, the irrelevance of political correctness and how she'd fare on The Traitors. That's after THR's David Canfield joins to debate the good and the bad of The Golden Globes and Mikey offers an obligatory take on the Warner Bros. sale.
61 min
20
SNL's Sarah Sherman Gets Gross (In a Good Way);...
Comedian Sarah Sherman visits to talk about her wild new HBO special (Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh), John Waters core and being SNL's resident weirdo, after Lacey Rose and Mikey debate how Gwyneth Paltrow became a cultural obsession as the Goop goddess returns to acting in Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme.
40 min
21
Wicked Screenwriter Dana Fox Wishes She Sang Th...
'Wicked: For Good' screenwriter Dana Fox discusses the movie musical's conclusion, the necessity of rom-coms and her Little House on the Prairie reboot... after Mia Galuppo joins Mikey to debate awards season movie-going priorities and Mikey yells about the long wait for Stranger Things season five.
58 min
22
Rhea Seehorn Can Keep a Secret... And Is Every ...
Rhea Seehorn discusses 'Pluribus,' reuniting with Vince Gilligan and vending machine tutorial videos. But first, Mia Galuppo joins Mikey to ponder reality TV's current obsession with the women of Utah.
46 min
23
Leanne Morgan Loves Erewhon Chicken, Plus Kim K...
Leanne Morgan discusses Dollywood, L.A. Costco anonymity and flirting with Pedro Pascal... after Mikey digests the wild press tour (and unprecedentedly bad reviews) for Kim Kardashian and Ryan Murphy's All's Fair.
38 min
24
Rachel Sennott, 'Welcome to Derry' and Hallowee...
47 min
25
How 'Nobody Wants This' Went From Near-Implosio...
37 min