The Originals

Agree with Observer critic Rex Reed that 2022 is “the worst year in history for Oscars”? If so, have we got an eyebrow-singeing hour for you. Not only does the 83 year-old icon give the business to Best Picture nominees The Power of the Dog (“I fell asleep several times”) Licorice Pizza (“one of the worst movies ever made”) and Belfast (“I couldn't understand more than every third word”), Reed reignites feuds with both the living and the dead. Why Reed believes Melissa McCarthy owes him a big thank you for calling her a “tractor-sized” “female hippo” in a 2013 review. Why John Lennon was “very square.” How Lauren Bacall was “mean as a snake.” As for King of Pop Michael Jackson? “No talent!” Our episode guarantee: No listener will emerge unoffended. PLUS: a torrent of Haterade for Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty--as well as a defense of “friend” Woody Allen. Fasten your seatbelts! Mentioned in episode: Earbuds Podcast Collective includes The Originals on a Best Of list. The Originals recommends: The Industry With Dan Delgado.  

Through absolutely no fault of this episode’s guests, Andrew shares three interviews that now sound a little odd, a little untimely, maybe even a little creepy owing to the fact that they were all recorded before the deaths of Betty White, Norm McDonald and Halyna Hutchins (the cinematographer killed after the accidental discharge of Alec Baldwin’s prop gun on the indie western, Rust). First up, Joel Thurm, author of the upcoming memoir, Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season: Confessions of a Casting Director, shares his memories of working at NBC on The Golden Girls and reveals how Betty White’s fellow castmates really felt about the comedy legend, who died in January at 99. Next, Legendary Hollywood producer (Fast Times At Ridgemont High, The Untouchables) Art Linson remembers his near death experience producing 1997's The Edge with a very grumpy and very bearded Alec Baldwin. Finally, actor and writer Fred Stoller shares tales of bullying, petty theft and tennis involving his (mostly) friend, the late Norm Macdonald. Mentioned and recommended: Joel Thurm’s Sex Drugs & Pilot Season (available spring 2022) Buy Joel Thurm's fun gossip-drenched book, Sex, Drugs & Pilot Season Art Linson’s What Just Happened Fred Stoller’s Maybe We’ll Have You Back Andrew Goldman’s The Desk

In light of Peter Bogdanovich’s January 6 death, “The Originals” releases a never-before-heard 2019 interview in which the Oscar-nominated director narrates his own story. Candid, shocking, and often hilarious, Bogdanovich shares tales of the rapturous reception to The Last Picture Show, the sex that changed his life, the Cybill affair that ended his marriage, the mistakes that bedeviled his career, his affection for Singapore’s hookers, and why he wasn’t broken up when Billy Wilder died. Also, discussed: the shocking 1980 murder of Dorothy Stratten—and how he ended up marrying the sister he met at 11.  A mind-blowing hour with a legend.

A top-to-bottom reassessment of 1986 classic Pretty In Pink with Duckie himself, Jon Cryer. Which team was Duckie playing for? Was Duckie a stalker? Why did Molly Ringwald end up with Blane, “a major appliance” when he was obviously such a dud? Why were co-stars Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy so lame on set to the Duck-ster? Plus, a ten-year retrospective on the testosterone (or was it oxy?) meltdown of Cryer’s Two And A Half Men costar Charlie Sheen, peddler of disembodies vagina pics, and possibly the 47th POTUS. PLUS: Trump v Sheen tale of the tape, No, Jon’s not Matthew Broderick, not-really getting his cherry popped by Demi Moore, and all the HUGE similarities Cryer has with Pete Davidson. AND—an unfortunate Goldman/Cryer duet en español.

Holiday special! Andrew breaks out the horn of plenty to celebrate Thanks-for-giving-us-the-hottest-sex-scene-ever with Jennifer Tilly, Oscar-nominated star of the groundbreaking, super-steamy lesbian thriller, Bound. Tilly, currently reprising her role as murderous doll consort Tiffany in Chucky on USA/SYFY, discusses her ambivalence about her decades-long close association with an evil piece of plastic. Plus: loving, and looking after a dying ex-husband, why she still works even though she has beaucoup Simpsons dough, and the reason she could, but doesn’t, hate her sister Meg. Plus, the real possibility that the self-described poker “degenerate” may well gamble away her entire fortune. ALSO the tale of one very unlucky showbiz bird.    

Scenes from a rock and roll marriage. In this super intimate episode, model and author Paulina Porizkova reveals everything you were ever curious to know about her marriage to The Cars’ Ric Ocasek: what she first saw in him, why they lived together after separating, and why, upon his death, he attempted to disinherit her. Porizkova also shares her thoughts on Tyra Banks who fired her from America’s Next Top Model, one-time beau and Oscars date Aaron Sorkin, and Elite Models founder John Casablancas. (One of them, is, in Porizkova's words, “full of shit.”) Andrew and the 56 year-old fashion icon discuss: parental abandonment, middle aged sex, and why she’s always crying on Instagram. Plus--what the “most beautiful girl in the world" is looking for in a man—and why she hasn’t been able to find it yet. We’ll be breaking some news with this one. Here’s Andrew’s 2011 New York Times magazine interview with Ric Ocasek, in which the late rocker says he’d prefer to listen to William Burroughs grumble than get anywhere near a water slide.

Pre-gaming for the October 1 release of The Many Saints of Newark? Trust us--this is the interview with The Sopranos creator David Chase you need to hear. Chase shares his surprising reaction to the death of James Gandolfini. Andrew timidly says Chase looks like a man who might have murdered dozens. Chase provides all the darkest, most hilarious stories about Norma, his mother, the inspiration for Livia Soprano. Plus, some score settling with the critics who hated The Sopranos finale. AND—some candid and brutal thoughts on Les Moonves, the lame-brained Paramount executives who buried Not Fade Away not to mention the cheapskates at HBO who nickeled and dimed his epic early Hollywood project to death. No Many Saints spoilers within--except that it's really great. 

A deep, dark, sometimes unsettling look into the mind of writer, director Paul Schrader, whose new film The Card Counter, starring Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish hits theaters September 10.  The First Reformed and Affliction director bears all—his bleak Calvinist upbringing, how his dad felt about his “porn” film, the days spent driving around LA with a fifth of liquor under the seat and a gun in the glove box while writing Taxi Driver. Hear about his unwelcome correspondence with would-be Reagan assassin (and Jodie Foster fan) John Hinckley. Why Scorsese, unlike he, just couldn’t be trusted with Scarface piles of coke. Plus: blunt reviews of Joker and The Irishman--and a surprising admission to Andrew about his pre-premiere mindset. Click here to read Stephen Rodrick’s unforgettable 2013 piece about the making of The Canyons, Schrader's crowdfunded erotic thriller starring Lindsay Lohan and porn star James Deen. (New York Times sub. req.)

Andrew reignites his decades-simmering crush on Kristin Chenoweth, the diminutive Tony and Emmy winning performer with the ungodly soprano range, currently featured on Apple +’s Schmigadoon. Hear it all! The addiction to Jewish guys (Aaron Sorkin among them), the X-rated meteorological talent, the reason she wants to cut off a finger, her murderous rampage in the kitchen, clues about her secret famous biological father, PLUS her shocking end times predictions. Hottest Originals yet. "Glitter and Be Gay" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnJIMSy-o4k "Cheno Note" compilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouySgzTsGXE

A rollicking special Pride episode with Emmy winner and COVID-19 breakout Instagram star Leslie Jordan. Jordan may be small (he’s 4’11”) and an actor (American Horror Story, Will & Grace), but he’s never been a small actor. Those who only recently discovered his delightful social media presence will find a lot to love here—and guaranteed, you don’t know a fraction of his story. Why did Truman Capote make him throw up? Why did he teach Matt Lauer about teabagging? Who’s the most unpleasant sitcom star he’s ever had the displeasure of working alongside? And what’s it like to get shot with a crossbow during a lover’s quarrel? This episode has everything-- from “momma” to meth. Hands down, the funniest Originals guest yet. Watch him in Fox’s upcoming second season of “Call Me Cat” and buy his hilarious new memoir, How Y’All Doing, here: https://www.amazon.com/How-Yall-Doing-Misadventures-Mischief/dp/0063076195