If you ask Bette Midler how she got her part in the new film ‘The Fabulous Four,’ it wouldn’t have anything to do with her legendary status as an Oscar-nominated actor. “I think they needed a ham, a big ole ham.” Midler plays Marilyn, a widow getting remarried who rekindles a friendship with three college girlfriends (Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ral…

The last day of the Republican National Convention proved to be memorable (and very, very weird). It involved Kid Rock (I know), Hulk Hogan (I KNOW) and a lot of awkward dancing to music you know those people at the convention center have never heard before. But it all culminated in Donald Trump’s highly anticipated speech as he accepted his party’…

When Lisa Kudrow was approached to star in a serialized adaptation of the 1981 film ‘Time Bandits’ for TV (July 24th on Apple TV+), she jumped at the chance to work with creators Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris. “I love the way they tell stories and their sense of humor.” In this version, Kudrow plays Penelope, the leader of a group …

Day three of the Republican National Convention featured the crowning of JD Vance as Trump’s VP pick, the return of Donald Trump Jr., and somehow Matt Gaetz’s face went viral. Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the third night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink. All week H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the GOP Convention. Visit n…

Day two of the Republican National Convention played out like a reality show, with just as any reality TV show stars in attendance. It was a night of unity, a lot of kissing the ring of Donald Trump, and a lot of humanizing Trump. Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the second night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink. (The two also …

Day one of the Republican National Convention was both inspiring and weird. Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the first night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink. From Donald Trump’s first appearance after the assassination attempt, the announcement of JD Vance as Trump’s V.P. pick, and, oh yeah, Amber Rose spoke, we’re talking abo…

All week long, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the Republican National Convention, the biggest event on TV this week. The attempted assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump will certainly change the tone of the convention, but what impact will it have on the campaign? Newsweek’s Jenni Fink and Alex Backus join to talk all…

A little under 10 years ago, Disney introduced the Descendants franchise, giving new life to their iconic animated characters in a modern live-action TV movie. The premise worked. “It is just truly such a killer concept,” says Kylie Cantrall, who stars as Red, the daughter of Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts (played by Rita Ora), in their late…

It’s H. Alan Scott’s birthday, and in honor of his birthday he invited a celebrity on who also just happens to be one of his closest friends, KimChi from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’ The two talk about what KimChi has planned for RuPaul’s DragCon in July, KimChi Chic Beauty and KimChi’s podcast ‘1 For the Table.’ RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2024 is presented by W…

From Hollywood to Washington, there’s one question everyone is asking: What is Joe Biden going to do? After Biden’s disastrous debate performance, prominent donors in Hollywood now want him to drop out of the race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris or other prominent Democrats like Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer. Considering the amount of m…

In the 1980s, a group of actors called the “Brat Pack” came to define a generation. Turns out, the term came from one sentence in a New York Magazine article. Now, 40 years later, one of those stars, Andrew McCarthy, is reevaluating the impact that description had in his new documentary Brats (on Hulu). “It just became the catchphrase.” In the film…

An op-ed written by John Mac Ghlionn titled “Taylor Swift Is Not a Good Role Model” sent the internet into a tizzy over the weekend. Basically, it said Swift isn’t a good role model because she’s single, among other things. People started to text me, H. Alan Scott, about it because I work at Newsweek. So, I figured a response was in order. I invite…

If you’re like basically every American today, you’re asking yourself, ‘What happened at that presidential debate and is Joe Biden ok?’ At least that’s what Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is asking himself. So today he’s joined by his colleague at Newsweek, Alex Backus (reporter and editor), to ask every question most Americans are asking after watching …

The trailer for ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (June 28) shows star Lupita Nyong’o carrying a cat around moments before New York City is overtaken by aliens. For Nyong’o, the scariest thing on set weren’t the aliens, but rather the cat in her arm. “I had a deadly fear of cats. I couldn’t be in the same room as cats. I would break out in tears.” Calling h…

It's rare for a piece of theater to become such a cult hit that it moves from downtown to Broadway, but that's exactly what's happening with Cole Escola's ‘Oh, Mary!’ For Escola, who previously was best known for their YouTube sketches and collaborations with Amy Sedaris, "it feels like I scored a goal for the home team." Oh, Mary! is an absurd com…

This year Kara Young broke a Tonys record, becoming the first Black person to receive three consecutive nominations and only the sixth person ever to do so. "It feels special that the third [nomination] is historical, but more historical in the sense that it's civil rights activist Ossie Davis' words that are being activated and recognized." Young'…

What happens when superheroes turn evil? That’s the question ‘The Boys,’ based on a series of graphic novels, sets out to answer. “They’ve done such a good job of having the essence of these really insane comics, while also making them palatable for TV,” Chace Crawford, who plays superhero The Deep, says about the Prime Video original series, now i…

When you’ve been a fat kid, a little bit of that fat kid stays with you, no matter if you stay fat or not. But how to cope with that? Well, that’s exactly what comedian Ian Karmel and his sister, Alisa Karmel, PsyD, aim to tackle in their poignant memoir T-Shirt Swim Club: Stories From Being Fat in a World of Thin People (June 11). “I’ve seen so of…

If you’re anything like Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott, you prefer to show your pride during Pride month in a dark movie theater watching a great film. Well, the Academy Museum in Los Angeles has everything you need to do exactly that. This summer the Academy has a full program dedicated to Pride, showcasing landmark queer films. On today’s episode, H. A…

Do you ever have that moment where you’re scrolling through Instagram and you come across a profile so perfectly suits your taste? One that leaves you asking, ‘How am I just discovering this account?’ That’s exactly what happened to Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott when he came across Blakely Thornton’s account. Thornton, who calls himself a pop culture an…

Maya Hawke wears many hats: actor, writer, singer. But for Hawke, everything comes down to words. "I just see myself as a person who likes to try to tell stories, who's in love with language." She's doing that with several recent projects, including her third album ‘Chaos Angel’ (May 31). "I don't respond to vibes really," she says. Instead, she fo…

Did you know there’s a streaming service solely dedicated to comedy? It’s true, and it’s called Dropout. Did you also know it’s ad free? Yep! Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott spoke with Dropout’s CEO and host of ‘Game Changer,’ Sam Reich, and Dropout’s Director of Development, Paul Robalino, about Dropout’s origins (it was previously CollegeHumor), where i…

We have a winner for Survivor 46, and it’s Kenzie Petty! Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott chats with Kenzie and the runner-up's Charlie Davis and Ben Katzman about this wild season filled with twists, turns, and a pretty contentious jury. (And yes, we talked about Taylor Swift with Charlie too, because we had to.) Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the…

Anne Rice’s novel ‘Interview With the Vampire’ has a rabid fan base, intensely protective of the story and any adaptations of it. Thankfully for Jacob Anderson, who plays Louis de Pointe du Lac in the AMC original series based on Rice’s novel, the fans seem to be on board. “I do get a sense that people feel like we did right by the characters.” Now…

Monét X Change is unlike any other drag queen to come out of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ and that’s because her talents go so far beyond just drag. Sure, you may know her as the first queen of color to win RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars or from her crazy popular podcast Sibling Rivalry, which she co-hosts with her drag sister, Bob The Drag Queen. But now y…

Michelle Buteau is proof that you can strike it big anytime. At 46, she's out with her new film Babes (May 17), she has a hit Netflix series based on her memoir Survival of the Thickest and is the first woman to film a comedy special at Radio City Music Hall. She says there's this idea you should "have it all figured out by 40, you should be doing …

Comedian Nikki Glaser never wants to offend. “I never want to say offensive or raunchy [things] or push the envelope, because that speaks to some kind of comedian who wants to rile people up,” Glaser told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Instead, on her new HBO comedy special Someday You’ll Die (May 11), she wants to hit you with “honest and really funny,…

What do you do when Hollywood wants you to be one thing, but you have a wholly different outlook about yourself? For Chris Pine, breaking the mold of expectations meant creating the new film Poolman (May 10). “Believe it or not, it’s probably the most personal thing I’ve ever made.” And it should be, considering he not only stars in it as Darren Ba…

After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Max-original Emmy Award-winning series ‘Hacks’ is back. And Hannah Einbinder, who plays Ava, the comedy writer to legendary—and difficult—stand-up comic Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), used the time off to figure out how to be a person again. “I went on the road, I did stand-up, but I kind of had to fill in the rest …

For Eugenio Derbez, making the transition from being one of Mexico’s most recognizable faces in comedy to the American market was not easy. “We don’t laugh at the same things. Humor in Mexico and in the U.S. is completely different. I had to reinvent myself,” Derbez told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. He’s done a good job of reinventing himself because …

Because of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ drag has exploded. But what is often lost with all this drag we’re seeing on our televisions are the stories from small-town America, what’s really happening in cities that are sometimes overlooked and where, often, these “drag bans” are popping up. That’s where HBO Max’s ‘We’re Here’ comes in. ‘We’re Here’ shows dr…

Reality TV has changed the landscape of not only television, but also pop culture. Its impact can be felt in every aspect of our lives, and—as some would argue—its impact may have even led to the election of former President Donald Trump. That’s a huge impact. (Or should we say, ‘yuge.’) Considering this, what is the state of reality TV? Where are …

If you’re a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, then this episode of the Parting Shot podcast is for you. Not only will Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott be chatting with the season 16 top three finalists Sapphira Cristál, Nymphia Wind and Plane Jane, he’ll also chat with Q and Tia Kofi, who was just recently crowned the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the Worl…

Penn and Kim Holderness are widely celebrated for their entertaining viral parody videos (singing included!) on topics ranging from parenting and helping kids with homework and masking up for the pandemic (to the tune of the Hamilton soundtrack) to “stupid” healthy habits and everything in between. Now, Penn and Kim are tackling a serious subject c…

If you’re one of the millions of Americans singing the praises of ABC’s ‘Abbott Elementary,’ fear not, they’ve heard you. “We love to hear it,” says Chris Perfetti, who plays Jacob Hill on the Emmy-winning sitcom about teachers at a Philadelphia public school. As for the show’s success, “it’s everything I’ve dreamt of as an actor.” For Perfetti, fi…

A Jew accidentally stumbles upon a gathering of white nationalists. For most, this would be a cause for concern, but for Alex Edelman it’s an opportunity for a hit one-man comedy show. “I always wanted to be a stand-up. I always thought that stand-up was the most fun, cool, delightful thing.” Edelman’s new HBO comedy special Just for Us (April 6) f…

If there’s one thing that’s true about Gillian Anderson, it’s that she isn’t afraid of a challenge. And that’s exactly what she’s doing in her new film, tackling the role of journalist Emily Maitlis in Netflix’s ‘Scoop’ (April 5), which documents the team behind the bombshell 2019 BBC interview with Prince Andrew over his involvement with Jeffrey E…

Comedy legend Jane Lynch stops by to talk with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about hosting ‘The Weakest Link,’ and she looks back at some her iconic performances in ‘Glee,’ ‘Best in Show,’ and ‘Only Murders in the Building.’ Honestly, the story she shares about Jennifer Coolidge is just everything. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we …

Describing Ramy Youssef’s work isn’t easy, because the multi-hyphenated talent refuses to settle on just one thing. “I feel really inspired to connect in the way that it makes sense.” That started out with stand-up, but has since morphed into acting, writing, directing and producing. The New Jersey native’s next endeavor, right on the heels of his …

How much do we really know about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln? That’s a question Tobias Menzies hopes to answer in Apple TV+’s ‘Manhunt’ (March 15). “The thing that really struck me was the newness of the nation, that it wasn’t really all knitted together properly, it was still so raw.” Menzies plays Edwin Stanton, the U.S. Secret…

Bringing the life story of activist Shirley Chisholm to screen wasn’t an easy task for Regina King. “This has been a labor of love. My sister [Reina] and I have been at this for close to 15 years now.” Netflix’s Shirley (March 22) focuses on Chisholm’s long shot 1972 presidential campaign after she became the first Black woman elected to Congress. …

James Marsden is good at keeping fans on their toes. Following his Emmy-nominated success with ‘Jury Duty,’ Marsden has three very different projects in 2024, the first being Michael Keaton’s ‘Knox Goes Away’ (March 15). “I like to take opportunities that are very different tone, and this was just like, ‘Wow, you’re in the company of great people h…

Well, the day has arrived, we have a winner of season two of Peacock’s ‘The Traitors.’ Or is it winners? Well, you’ll just have to listen to Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott talk exclusively with them. (You see how we’re intentionally not revealing their name or names? You’re welcome!) Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to cat…

Understanding the balance between dark comedy and mystery is a unique quality of Annette Bening, which she puts to good use in Peacock’s limited series Apples Never Fall (March 14), based on Liane Moriarty’s book. “Everybody has a secret, and that’s fun.” Bening plays Joy Delaney, the matriarch of a seemingly perfect family who suddenly disappears.…

Whatever you do, don’t call Gayle King an icon. “Diana Ross, to me, is an icon.” Fair. But one moniker she is fine with is America’s best friend. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I like that.” And it fits, considering her many titles: center anchor of CBS Mornings, editor at large of Oprah Daily, co-host of CNN’s King Charles. “If I get five [hours…

A new season of CBS’ Survivor is upon us, and former player Rob Cesternino stopped by to talk with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about the new season, his recent chat with Jeff Probst, and his crazy popular podcast Rob Has a Podcast. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subs…

YouTube star Grace Helbig talks with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about her recent breast cancer diagnosis and everything she’s learned since. Grace and H. Alan have been friends for years, but one thing they never thought they’d have in common would be cancer. They chat about that, what it was like to go to the same chemo center in Beverly Hills, and …

Carrie Preston is ready to step into the spotlight. The Emmy-winning veteran character actress will helm the title role in Elsbeth on CBS (February 29), playing Elsbeth Tascioni, a character she originated 14 years ago on The Good Wife and its spinoff The Good Fight. “When this part came along, what was happening on the page was so extraordinary fo…

Survivor’s Parvati Shallow chats with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about being discovered as a traitor on Peacock’s ‘The Traitors,’ why she aligned with Big Brother’s Dan Gheesling against Phaedra Parks from ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta,’ The Bachelor’s Peter Weber game play, and those iconic headbands. Stick with the Parting Shot, because we’ll be …

We’re in the middle of a Jodie Foster renaissance. The two-time Oscar winner is not only starring in one of the hottest limited series on TV right now, HBO’s True Detective: Night Country, but also picked up yet another Oscar nomination for her performance in Netflix’s Nyad. For True Detective, Foster responded to the balance between drama and horr…