The Press Box

The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Amanda Dobbins and K. Austin Collins rank and debate the best movies of 2017. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker discuss John Skipper’s resignation as ESPN president and the future of the company (03:00), the backlash to the mainstream acceptance of 'Star Wars' (24:00), and objectivity in sports journalism (38:20). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With another new ‘Star Wars’ movie in theaters and the franchise once again dominating the cultural conversation, The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh revisits the franchise’s forgotten lean years, when ‘Star Wars’ nearly faded away in the long drought between the original and prequel trilogies. Through interviews with prominent figures from Lucasfilm and the fan community of the 1980s and 1990s, Ben retraces the decline and subsequent resurgence of ‘Star Wars’ as the series fulfilled its destiny as the powerful intellectual property and source of fan fixation that it is today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Justin Charity and K. Austin Collins unpack the tension between prominent black intellectuals Ta-Nehisi Coates and Cornel West (1:00) and then critique Eminem’s lackluster new album ‘Revival’ and one-sided feud with President Trump (15:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with writer-director Rian Johnson about making ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi,’ putting his own spin on the franchise, and his upcoming spinoff trilogy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'This Week in Ringer Culture’ features ‘The Watch’ on the top TV shows of 2017 (00:30), ‘Jam Session’ on a crazy George Clooney gift-giving story (05:30), ‘House of Carbs’ on Pizza Hut’s alcohol delivery (10:15), ‘Against All Odds With Cousin Sal’ with ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm's’ Bob Einstein on his favorite entertainers (13:30), ‘The Rewatchables’ on the 2007 thriller ‘Zodiac’ (18:30), and ‘Binge Mode’ celebrating the droids of 'Star Wars' (23:15). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'This Week in Ringer Sports’ features ‘The Ringer NFL Show’ on the impact of the Carson Wentz injury (00:30), 'The Bill Simmons Podcast' with Kevin Clark and Bill's dad on the Patriots-Steelers matchup (5:00), ‘One Shining Podcast With Titus and Tate’ on Duke losing to Boston College (08:45), ‘The Ringer NBA Show’ on the Rockets as a potential landing spot for LeBron this offseason (14:30), ‘The J.J. Redick Podcast’ with Karl-Anthony Towns on the current crop of NBA big men (19:15), ‘Ringer FC’ on the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchups (23:45), and ‘The Masked Man Show’ on the main event for New Japan’s 'Wrestle Kingdom 12' (27:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker examine how the media covers 'Star Wars' (02:00), Mike Francesa and the last segment of sports radio (22:30), and Wright Thompson's departure from Twitter (34:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Andy Greenwald go back to 2007 to discuss the most fascinating year for movies in recent memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Armie Hammer's performance in "Call Me by Your Name," his career thus far, and what's next for him (0:15). Then they talk about George Clooney and some of his recent (and not-so-recent) media morsels (14:10), wish Taylor Swift a happy birthday (21:45), and speculate on a possible J-Rod holiday engagement (26:20). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices