Awards Chatter

'Awards Chatter' is a podcast that features in-depth interviews with the most interesting and accomplished people in show business. Created and hosted by: Scott Feinberg

TV & Film
Film Interviews
376
Kobe Bryant - 'Dear Basketball'
The Lakers legend reflects on his hardwood career, how 'Black Mamba' saved him, why he retired via a poem that he's turned into an acclaimed animated short — plus who he considers the greatest NBA player ever, how he feels about National Anthem kneeling and more. But first: Veteran Academy members Alec Lorimore and Arnold Schwartzman look back on the David vs. Goliath battle that ultimately resulted in the creation of a documentary branch of the Academy.
68 min
377
Judi Dench - 'Victoria and Abdul'
The legendary stage and screen actress, who made her professional debut 60 years ago, reflects on landing her first great film role at 63, earning all seven of her Oscar noms (one of whihc resulted in a win) over the 20 years since and why she may or may not have Harvey Weinstein's name tattooed on her bum. But first: THR's film editor Gregg Kilday joins Scott to recap the last week in the awards race.
39 min
378
Benedict Cumberbatch - 'The Current War'
One of the most exciting actors of his generation, who made his name on TV as a 21st century Sherlock Holmes and in films ranging from 'The Imitation Game' to 'Doctor Strange,' reflects on the appeal of acting, experiencing sudden celebrity and playing real people, most recently Thomas Edison. But first: Toronto International Film Festival artistic director Cameron Bailey and CEO Piers Handling join Scott to recap the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival.
89 min
379
Kumail Nanjiani - 'The Big Sick' & 'Silicon Val...
The trailblazing Pakistan-born comedian, writer and actor — one of the few brown men ever to play a lead in an American movie — reflects on coming to America at 18, falling in love with stand-up and making the most emotionally vulnerable period in his life the center of a movie that now has grossed more than $50 million worldwide and is the second best-reviewed release of 2017 so far. But first: THR's editorial director Matthew Belloni joins Scott to discuss the 42nd Toronto International Film Festival.
75 min
380
Gal Gadot - 'Wonder Woman'
The 32-year-old Israeli who played DC Comics’ most iconic female character in the first big-studio superhero film ever to center on a female protagonist — the hit of the summer — discusses her unusual road to Hollywood, her champions and trolls ("They had a lot to say about the lack of boobs and the lack of booty") and her film's critical, commercial and social success. But first: THR's executive editor (features) Stephen Galloway joins Scott to discuss the 42nd Telluride Film Festival.
63 min
381
Tracee Ellis Ross - 'Black-ish'
This year's Golden Globe winner for best actress in a comedy series discusses what it was like growing up as Diana Ross' daughter, why her current show and character are socially significant and why she has mixed feelings about the accolades that she's been racking up, of late.
54 min
382
Kristen Wiig - 'Saturday Night Live'
The actress who Lorne Michaels ranks among the "top three or four" 'SNL' cast members ever reflects on how she fell in love with improv, why she co-wrote and starred in 'Bridesmaids' and then followed its massive success with indie dramedies and what it's like to return to Studio 8H as a host.
60 min
383
Common - '13th'
The Grammy- and Oscar-winning rapper discusses the evolution of his voice (musical and political), Fox News haters and how mass incarceration became a focus of both his activism and his latest, Emmy-nominated song.
68 min
384
Snoop Dogg - 'Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner P...
Over a blunt, the gangsta rap and hip-hop icon candidly reflects on his quarter-century in the public eye — the highs (literal and figurative) and lows (jail time, a murder charge, losing friends to the east coast-west coast rivalry), plus secrets of survival and reinvention (pimp, peacemaker and now Emmy-nominated cooking show host).
64 min
385
Lorne Michaels - 'Saturday Night Live'
In a rare interview, one of the most important figures in the history of comedy discusses the roots of his iconic variety show, dissects its 42nd season (its most watched in 23 years and most Emmy-nominated ever) and reveals his thoughts on retirement and what he'd like to happen to 'SNL' after he's gone.
35 min
386
John Turturro - 'The Night Of'
One of the finest character actors ever — a regular in the movies of Spike Lee, the Coen brothers and Adam Sandler — reflects on being ethnic-looking, overcoming a mid-career crisis that almost led him to retire and why so many of his projects — from 'Do the Right Thing' to his latest, the HBO limited series for which he's Emmy-nominated — address bigotry.
63 min
387
Susan Sarandon - 'Feud: Bette and Joan'
One of the most revered actresses of her generation — a best actress Oscar winner currently in contention for a best actress (limited series) Emmy — looks back on her accidental entry into showbiz, achieving her greatest successes after 40, her controversial political views and why TV is the new home for actresses of a certain age.
70 min
388
Stephen Colbert - 'The Late Show with Stephen C...
Late night's comeback kid — as in, its ratings leader and an Emmy frontrunner just a year after some began writing him off — discusses the tragedy that led him to comedy, the evolution of "Stephen Colbert" on Comedy Central and why his fortunes, as David Letterman's successor, turned around after Trump's election.
72 min
389
Julia Louis-Dreyfus - 'Veep'
Arguably the greatest comedy actress in TV history reflects on how a bad experience at 'SNL' led to 'Seinfeld,' how she stared down "the 'Seinfeld' curse" and why she loves playing bumbling politician Selina Meyer on the hit HBO show that won the last two Emmys for best comedy series.
55 min
390
Jimmy Kimmel - 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' & 'The Oscars'
The veteran amongst broadcast's current crop of late-night hosts opens up about his 15 years on the job, worshipping Letterman and feuding with Leno, hosting an insane Oscars and sharing an emotional 13-minute monologue about his newborn son.
77 min
391
Reese Witherspoon - 'Big Little Lies'
'America's Sweetheart' reflects on becoming an A-list superstar, hitting a terrible slump during which she was declared a 'has-been' and then reinventing herself as an actress/producer and Oprah-like champion of great books.
48 min
392
Sterling K. Brown - 'This Is Us'
The TV star whose breakthrough — back-to-back Emmy noms, for 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' last year and the NBC charmer that became the highest-rated new series of this year — was 15 years in the making, reflects on struggles, loss and gratitude.
71 min
393
Ryan Murphy - 'Feud: Bette and Joan'
One of TV's most prolific and daring content creators — the man behind 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Glee,' 'American Horror Story' and 'American Crime Story,' among other groundbreaking shows — reflects on hopping between genres, tearing down barriers and building a family of collaborators.
65 min
394
John Boyega - 'Detroit'
The 'Star Wars' breakout discusses his explosion into superstardom, the industry's handling of diversity and representation, what to expect from 'The Last Jedi' and why he regards Kathryn Bigelow's new drama about the 1967 Detroit riot as "the biggest movie of my career."
56 min
395
Elisabeth Moss - 'The Handmaid's Tale'
The "Queen of Peak TV," who made her name on 'The West Wing,' 'Mad Men' and 'Top of the Lake,' discusses why her "heart's really in television," what she took away from each of her major roles and how Trump has impacted the way people consume the hugely acclaimed Hulu drama for which she might finally win an Emmy (or two).
59 min
396
Robert Pattinson - 'Good Time'
The 31-year-old Brit, best known as the male star of the fantasy 'Twilight' franchise, reflects on sudden celebrity, 'Twihard' fanatics and their strong feelings about his former relationship with Kristen Stewart and how his 10-year career-reinvention plan is operating right on schedule.
47 min
397
Laverne Cox - 'Orange Is the New Black'
The first openly trans person ever to receive an acting Emmy nom — now two — or to appear on the cover of 'Time' reflects on a lifetime of discovering herself, fending off bigots and blazing a trail for others.
83 min
398
Kris Jenner - 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians'
The 61-year-old mother of six and grandmother of six — among the most powerful and controversial people working in TV today, as an EP and star of the E! reality series and its spinoffs and "Momager" of her costars — opens up about O.J. (Nicole was one of her best friends), her ex Bruce (who had $200 when they married), "haters" and why her family and shows are actually good for America.
67 min
399
Jay Leno - 'Jay Leno's Garage'
The big-chinned legend of late-night — who hosted 'The Tonight Show' for 23 years — opens up about his unlikely ascent from vagrant to Johnny Carson's successor, the truth about his friendships-turned-feuds with Dave and Conan and why he now hosts a show about cars for CNBC.
67 min
400
Jill Soloway - 'Transparent' & 'I Love Dick'
The force behind two of TV's edgiest shows and winner of the last two comedy direction Emmys, who recently transitioned from female to non-binary, opens up about their bumpy climb from writer to showrunner, the gamble that changed their career and how they are trying to "topple the patriarchy" on screen and off.
72 min