The Press Box
The Ringer
The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker catch you up on the biggest media stories, from sports to politics and everything in between.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 14, 2017 • 38min
'The Press Box'—Jemele Hill and how politicization affects ESPN (Ep. 351)
The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and Sean Fennessey discuss Jemele Hill, starting with her rise at ESPN (5:00), her upbringing in Detroit (15:00), the Trump administration's response to Hill's tweets (18:00), the impact of politicization on ESPN (26:00), and Hill's next move (32:00).
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Sep 8, 2017 • 34min
‘The Big Picture’ — 'It' Director Andy Muschietti on Adapting Stephen King (Ep. 350)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Kate Knibbs about Stephen King’s classic horror novel ‘It’ (0:30) before sitting down with Andy Muschietti, who discusses adapting the book for the screen and re-creating the terrifying character Pennywise (6:20).
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Sep 7, 2017 • 37min
’Insecure’ Season 2 Finale Preview (Ep. 349)
The Ringer’s Hannah Giorgis and Alison Herman look ahead to the season finale of HBO’s ‘Insecure’ by first celebrating the nuanced character developments in Season 2 (2:50), highlighting the show’s place among the summer TV landscape (8:15), and giving recognition to the showrunners’ even-handed approach in tackling the issues facing black employees in the workplace (10:40). Then they voice their expectations about how the finale will address the protagonists’ various romantic relationships (19:40), whether ‘Insecure’ will head the route of a sitcom or a more in-depth social commentary (23:30), and whether perhaps the Issa-Lawrence relationship will be reconciled (27:00).
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Sep 6, 2017 • 38min
'Jam Session' — At Home with Meghan Markle, George Clooney, and Serena Williams (Not At the Same Time) (Ep. 348)
The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Meghan Markle's Vanity Fair cover story (5:00), George Clooney's renewed availability (21:00), and Serena Williams's new baby and decision to remain living solo before marriage (30:00).
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Sep 1, 2017 • 36min
'The Big Picture' — Jay Baruchel’s Directorial Debut and Making an Authentic Hockey Movie (Ep. 347)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Katie Baker about the best hockey films ever made (0:30) before he sits down with actor and now director Jay Baruchel about making his first film, 'Goon: Last of the Enforcers'; hockey fandom; and filming the perfect hockey fight (6:00).
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Aug 28, 2017 • 28min
‘Jam Session’ — An Unhappy Conversation About Taylor Swift (Ep. 346)
The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss Taylor Swift's shaky roll-out of her new single, 'Look What You Made Me Do,' and accompanying VMA video release (5:00), Swift's corporate sponsorships (12:00), Katy Perry's credibility in the pop music world (17:00), and the winners and losers from MTV's Video Music Awards (22:00).
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Aug 25, 2017 • 41min
'Death Note’ Director Adam Wingard on Building Monsters and Hollywood Whitewashing Controversies (Ep. 345)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and Justin Charity chat about the Netflix film ‘Death Note’ and the difficulties of adapting anime (1:00). Then Sean sits down with director Adam Wingard to discuss how he went from scraping by to directing large-scale projects like ‘Death Note’ and the forthcoming ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ (13:00).
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Aug 25, 2017 • 41min
Southern Rap Special: Best Albums, Dopest Mixtapes, and the Future of the Genre (Ep. 344)
Ringer East Coast bureau chief Donnie Kwak is joined by special projects editor Hannah Giorgis and staff writer Micah Peters to talk omissions from "The 20 Best Southern Rap Albums Ever" article on The Ringer, including reader submissions (0:35). Then, Donnie sits down with a roundtable of The Ringer’s music experts to discuss their favorite Southern rap mixtapes (10:20) and predict the future of the genre (31:00).
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Aug 23, 2017 • 32min
‘Jam Session’ — Taylor Swift Spectacular (Ep. 343)
The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Amanda Dobbins discuss the announcement of Taylor Swift’s upcoming album ‘Reputation’ (1:10), her new media strategy after her feud with Kim Kardashian West (5:40), the decision to release a single before the VMAs as it relates to her ongoing rivalry with Katy Perry (20:00), and which guests will be featured on the new album (26:35).
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Aug 18, 2017 • 41min
'The Big Picture' — Janicza Bravo and Brett Gelman Channel Rejection and Anxiety to Make ‘Lemon’ (Ep. 342)
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey chats with Alison Herman about Janicza Bravo’s approach to uncomfortable comedy and her direction of “Juneteenth,” the instant-classic episode of ‘Atlanta’ (1:00). Then Sean sits down with Bravo and her husband/producing partner, Brett Gelman, to discuss the tumultuous five-year process of getting their film ‘Lemon’ into the world (10:00).
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