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…

Celebrated director Rob Reiner is worried about the rise of Christian nationalism—the use of Christian values to push a political agenda—and its impact on democracy. “A lot of people are unwittingly being drawn into this movement,” Reiner told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. To highlight this, Reiner teamed up with director Dan Partland to produce the do…

It’s Super Bowl weekend, which, if you’re not into sports, what are you supposed to do? Well, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott offers his tips on how to survive the game during your Super Bowl party. He also breaks down what to watch this weekend if you want to avoid the Super Bowl, and honestly, the one thing you should watch is ‘Love... Reconsidered’ sta…

Finding that next great character after a blockbuster series like This Is Us isn’t easy, but Justin Hartley figured it out with his new CBS drama Tracker (February 11). “As an actor, to get to play someone so different right after playing someone I thought was so special, it’s the time of my life,” told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. Hartley plays Colte…

Dan Gheesling from ‘The Traitors’ talks exclusively with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about his shocking elimination from the show, his showdown with Phaedra Parks, and his alliance with Parvati Shallow. Stick with Newsweek for more coverage of this amazing season of Peacock’s ‘The Traitors.’ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californ…

With the Grammys coming up, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by Sirius XM’s John Arthur Hill to discuss likely winners like Taylor Swift and SZA, and just to go over the general state of pop music. Spoiler alert: it’s bleak. You can listen to John Monday through Thursday on Sirius XM’s Radio Andy. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcas…

This week Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is breaking down the Barbie snub and other Oscar nomination surprises with Izzy Custodio of YouTube’s Be Kind Rewind. (Also discussed, the Barbie snub connection to Barbra Streisand’s snubs for Yentl and The Prince of Tides.) Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the lates…

When you’re as fit as hip-hop artist Common, people are naturally going to wonder about your secret to health and wellness. Fortunately for us, Common is sharing his secrets in his new book And Then We Rise. “The thing that I’m talking about is reaching a state of happiness and joy. Joy comes by taking care of self.” He breaks down his message into…

The wait is finally over, we know who the nominees are for the 96th annual Academy Awards. Of course, there were surprises, but overall, the nominees turned out the way Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott predicted, thank you very much. But let's ask the most important question: Who got snubbed? Spoiler: Barbie is FURIOUS! But Oppenheimer is very happy! Visit…

It’s been 25 years since ‘The Sopranos’ premiered on HBO. After that night, television changed forever. James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli and the rest of the cast and crew won 21 Emmy Awards over the course of the run of the David Chase drama. Today we’re remembering ‘The Sopranos’ with comic Paul Palmeri. It’s fun ch…

Now that we’re years into reality television being a mainstay, the question begs to be asked, what impact has it had on society? That’s a question Jake Johnson sets out to answer in his new film Self Reliance (Hulu). Johnson, who wrote and directed the film, also stars as Tommy, a man who gets embroiled in a life-or-death reality game show. “It is …

Awards season is in full swing. While the Golden Globes were boring, the Screen Actors Guild Award nominations added some much needed drama to the season. But it’s the Emmys that is on everybody’s mind. The real question is, will ‘Survivor’ finally win an Emmy after a 17 year absence from the awards? It could happen, and it’s large part to players …

Josh Hutcherson isn’t concerned with doing what you think he should. “There was an obvious path to take post-Hunger Games. But I made a conscious choice to say ‘no’ to a lot of things and not really just follow a predetermined [path],” Hutcherson told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. And that’s reflected in his two most recent roles. In David Ayer’s The B…

There’s a new show on Netflix you need to watch. It’s called ‘The Brothers Sun’ and it stars Michelle Yeoh, Sam Li, Justin Chien and many more. It’s part family drama, part action-packed crime story, and part comedy. It’s wild. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott chats with Michelle Yeoh and Sam Li about the series and how Michelle will navigate awards season…

Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is coming to you on Friday’s now with unfiltered (and a little unhinged) episodes of the Parting Shot. This week he discusses the Golden Globes, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and Dave Chappelle’s Netflix special. He’s also joined by comedians Eliot Glazer and Brent Sullivan. React as you listen, follow @HAlanScott on everything at …

There were so many great performances last year in film, but two stood out: Charles Melton’s performance in ‘May December’ and Colman Domingo’s performance in ‘Rustin.’ Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott spoke with Melton and Domingo about their performances and what it feels like to be in the mix with other Oscar hopefuls this year. Visit Newsweek.com to le…

We decided to end 2023 on a sweet note. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott welcomes the winner of ‘The Great British Bake Off’ Matty Edgell. The two talk about the season, why Matty hid his baking skills for so long, all those dirty jokes with Paul Hollywood, and what’s next for the young baker. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer an…

For Academy Award-winning actor Gary Oldman, now is the perfect time for his first TV series. Calling today a “whole new era of TV” after years of “snobbery” from film actors, he says, “You will see some of the best writing and acting and cinematography and set design in your home, on your TV,” Oldman told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. And that’s exact…

We have a sole Survivor! Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott speaks with Dee Valladares, the winner of ‘Survivor’ 45, the runners-up Austin Li Coon and Jake O’Kane. We go over this season’s biggest moves, lies, and that infamous showmance between Dee and Austin. H. Alan also spoke with the breakout stars from ‘Survivor’ 44 Carson Garrett, Carolyn Wiger, and Y…

Sometimes a performance comes along where when you watch it, you just can’t imagine anyone else playing that role. That’s what Fantasia Barrino has done in ‘The Color Purple’ (December 25). “I do believe that I am Celie. Celie is me.” In the adaptation of the Broadway musical based on the 1985 film and novel by Alice Walker, Barrino makes her big-s…

In 2024, the beloved cable channel Turner Classic Movies will turn 30, and for host Ben Mankiewicz—who recently celebrated his 20th anniversary at the helm—he still feels “so unbelievably fortunate to be associated with the channel.” It’s one of those rare networks where “it’s a little bit part of your identity” and “the only channel where the chan…

There are drag queens, and then there’s Bianca Del Rio. If you’re familiar with Bianca, you know exactly what you’re getting at one of her shows, but if you’re not, this episode will be an introduction to the human hurricane that is Bianca Del Rio. She joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss her new tour Dead Inside (tix at thebiancadelrio.com), …

When a photo of Kathy Griffin holding the fake decapitated head of former President Donald Trump went viral in 2017, her entire world stopped. “I was in the middle of a 50-city tour and all the shows got canceled within 72 hours,” she told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. After many years of self-care, not to mention fighting cancer, Griffin is back with …

There’s been a lot of hype lately about the Showtime limited series ‘Fellow Travelers.’ Part historical thriller about the Lavender Scare (the systematic outing and dismissal of LGBTQ+ federal government workers in the mid-20th century) and part steamy queer love story, ‘Fellow Travelers’ tells the story of the romance between Hawkins “Hawk” Fuller…

When you think of Bethenny Frankel, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Bravo’s The Real Housewives of New York City. But what may surprise you are the hundreds of millions of dollars her BStrong organization has delivered to people in crisis, such as for Ukrainian refugees and victims of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes. “Hollywood is the l…

Even Claire Saffitz, one of YouTube’s most popular bakers, still gets nervous about a recipe’s results. “I don’t really get anxious, but sometimes there is that sort of tinge of, ‘Well, I hope this turns out,’” she told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. And that’s after two New York Times best-selling cookbooks, ‘Dessert Person’ and ‘What’s for Dessert’ (C…

As she gets ready to drop her first rock album at age 77, Dolly Parton, the country music icon, speaks exclusively with Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott about her career, her love of rhinestones, culture wars, a certain penchant for plastic surgery—and more. Look for Dolly Parton on the cover of Newsweek (November 10th) and pick her album ‘Rockstar’ (Novem…

Leslie Jones, best known for her star-making turn on Saturday Night Live, is ready to share her story, on her terms and in her own way. She came up with the book’s title “because a whole bunch of people [would] come up to me and go, ‘Thats Leslie-f******-Jones!,’” Jones to Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. In her book, Leslie F****** Jones (Grand Central P…

For Josh Gad, the path to returning to Broadway following his star-making performance in ‘Book of Mormon’ wasn’t easy. “Book of Mormon is a once in a generation thing...you’re not going to replicate that. So why are you trying,” Gad told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. But one part Gad is willing to replicate from his ‘Mormon’ days in his new musical, ‘G…

If there’s one thing Danny Pellegrino, host of the hugely popular ‘Everything Iconic’ podcast, is ready for, it’s the holidays. “I’m a festive person. I love decorating for whatever holiday it is. I’m a huge fan of table scaping,” Pellegrino recently told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. And after the success of his bestselling first book, ‘How Do I Un-Re…

Jake Cohen’s first cookbook, ‘Jew-Ish’ (Harvest, 2021), was a perfect intro to the Instagram-famous cook. How to top it? It “was this mashup of everything I’ve done up to that point. The second book was starting from scratch,” Cohen told Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott. And that’s exactly what Cohen did with his new cookbook, ‘I Could Nosh’ (Harvest, Sept…