The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

The Comeback is back, and Michael Patrick King is here to talk about it. The co-creator and director joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to break down how he and Lisa Kudrow arrived at the idea of Valerie Cherish being cast in the first sitcom written by AI, what it means to finally see Valerie in the real world without cameras, and why they only return to the show when there's a seismic cultural shift worth exploring. He also gets into the origin of his creative partnership with Lisa, what makes her performance genuinely one of a kind, and why, after 21 years, this feels like the right moment to say goodbye to Valerie Cherish. Spoiler: it's a party, and you're invited. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dan Bucatinsky has been in Valerie Cherish's corner since the very beginning, and he's here to make the case for why she's always been a heroine, not a punchline. The actor and producer behind Billy, Valerie’s manager, joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about what makes this final season of The Comeback so emotionally satisfying, how the show manages to tackle AI without an agenda, and what it really means that Valerie is finally going head-to-head with the one person who knows her best. He also opens up about his decades-long creative partnership with Lisa Kudrow, the beautiful way season three honors the legacy of Robert Michael Morris (Mickey), and why, even as the cameras stop rolling on Valerie Cherish, he's not entirely ready to call it goodbye. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

She's back, and she needs to be heard. Lisa Kudrow joins the Newsweek's H. Alan Scott to talk about The Comeback season three, the one we didn't know we were waiting for but absolutely needed. We get into an evolved Valerie Cherish navigating AI, a gut-punch tribute to Robert Michael Morris and what it means that Val is suddenly the one in the room who has it most together. As Kudrow puts it, "everybody is in that place that Val was 20 years ago"—and she's not wrong. Plus: that ‘Friends’ moment, and why Stage 24 will finally have its hit TV show. This one is heartfelt, funny and essential listening for any fan of the show. Read the feature: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/the-comeback-returns-lisa-kudrow-on-why-valerie-was-always-right-11687203 Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

South by Southwest is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and it looks different than it ever has. Greg Rosenbaum, the festival's head of programming, joins me to talk about the creative reset forced by the demolition of the Austin Convention Center, the new neighborhood clubhouse model that's embedding communities throughout the city, and what it actually means to run all of SXSW simultaneously for the first time. Plus, the story of how the Daniels went from screening music videos at SXSW in 2012 to sweeping the Oscars with Everything Everywhere All at Once, and what that journey says about what the festival has always been trying to do. Newsweek will be at SXSW this year, covering it all. In fact, I'll be on stage with Jamie Lee Curtis on March 14 for what is sure to be a conversation worth the trip alone. Also, Newsweek’s Editor-In-Chief Jennifer Cunningham will be there on March 16 for the panel on the future of news. If you see us there, make sure to say hi. And make sure you watch this space and subscribe to my newsletter for all the latest.  Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Outlander audience is massive, and I learned that firsthand when I chatted with Caitríona Balfe, who plays Claire in the beloved, long-running Starz series. The response to that conversation, and to the show itself, was overwhelming. So I started wondering: who is the person who truly understands this fandom from the inside out? Turns out, she exists, and her name is Reshma Gopaldas. Reshma is a writer and podcaster who has been covering Outlander for years. If you haven't read her interviews with Caitríona and Sam Heughan in Vogue, do yourself a favor and click the link below. She joined me to talk about the series, its fandom and why the show connects with people in such a singular way. With the final season coming to Starz, there's no better time to listen. Listen to my chat with Caitríona Balfe: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/outlanders-caitriona-balfe-bids-farewell-a-quarter-of-our-lives-11537618 Follow Reshma on Substack: https://substack.com/@reshmago Follow Reshma on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReshmaGo Read her Vogue feature: https://www.vogue.com/article/caitriona-balfe-sam-heughan-outlander-season-8-interview Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some stories don't have clean endings. A.J. Daulerio published Hulk Hogan's sex tape, watched Gawker collapse under the weight of a $140 million lawsuit, and spent years wondering if he'd ever work again. He was somewhere between 90 and 100 days sober when he sat in that courtroom. He didn't know yet that all of it, the public humiliation, the professional exile, the long uncomfortable crawl back to himself, would eventually become the foundation for something genuinely good. Daulerio joined me to talk about that journey. We got into the Hulk Hogan trial, what sobriety actually looks like a decade in, and how The Small Bow podcast became a community for people who needed somewhere to land. He also talks about writing Hogan a letter in 2018 without telling his lawyers. It's a conversation worth sitting with. Visit thesmallbow.com to listen and watch the podcast.  Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I love weird. I especially love weird when it incorporates my favorite moments in pop culture. So when I recently saw Linus Karp and Joseph Martin's live show "Gwyneth Goes Skiing," a sort of musical retelling of Gwyneth Paltrow's 2023 ski crash trial, I knew I needed to chat with them. Turns out Karp and Martin are a pop culture nerd's favorite duo, because they've done tons of shows that scratch that weird, nostalgic itch: shows like "Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story," about Princess Diana, and "Fit Prince," a spoof on Hallmark made-for-TV movies. I chatted with this comedy duo and couple about pop culture, where they come up with ideas for their shows, and whether Paltrow herself has ever come to see it. For more on their work, follow their production company: https://www.instagram.com/awkwardprods For their live shows, visit https://linktr.ee/awkwardprods Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jenna Lewis-Dougherty and Kyle Fraser join Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to break down their Survivor 50 exits, shocking game moves and who they're rooting for to win it all. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tom Ellis is ready for his next chapter. The actor talks CBS’ CIA, the new Dick Wolf drama he couldn't turn down. It’s a character who won't be naked like Lucifer but could still “put you on the floor with one move.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gabriel Basso is back as Peter Sutherland in season three of Netflix’s The Night Agent, and he's thinking big. "Relatability breeds success and success kills relatability.” It's a juxtaposition that shapes both his character and his outlook on his career. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Caitriona Balfe reflects on the final season of the STARZ epic historical drama Outlander, bidding farewell to Claire, and to Sam Heughan’s Jamie Fraser after spending a “quarter of our lives” on the show.   Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daniel Radcliffe on starring with Tracy Morgan in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, his Broadway journey and Harry Potter: “I love that people love those movies.” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephanie and Ashley from Plus Size Park Hoppers join Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to discuss how their viral Instagram and TikTok accounts help plus-size Disney fans navigate theme parks with confidence. "We've all had those experiences where we go to get on a ride and we aren't able to fit and it doesn't feel good," Stephanie shares. The duo opens up about handling online hate, the loneliness epidemic driving parasocial relationships, and defending Disney adults. "Walt did not build Disney World for children," Ashley notes. "The whole message behind it was so adults can go and feel like children again." They also discuss Universal's restrictive policies and their mission to show that "you don't have to wait until you fit a certain mold to go enjoy yourself." Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Molly Sims joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about building YSE Beauty from the ground up. The model-turned-entrepreneur opens up about her skin struggles after having her first baby at 41, why she started formulating products in her basement, and how she refused to slap her famous name on the brand. Sims discusses the nerve-wracking pitch to get into Sephora, raising $15 million in six and a half weeks, and creating clinical skincare specifically for the 35-plus woman who felt forgotten by the beauty industry. She also shares why her eye cream became the number two bestseller at Sephora and her philosophy on product development. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Real Housewives of Potomac’s Candiace Dillard Bassett came to play when she walked into the The Traitors castle. After her shocking banishment, she quickly became a fan favorite. The reality star, who has dedicated “almost my entire third decade of life to reality television,” found herself at the center of controversy after voting for fellow traitor Robert Rausch, a move that many believe put a target on her back. However, Candiace stands firm in her decision, calling it “a very strategic move that I do not regret.” She explains that after watching Rob betray Lisa Rinna, another traitor, despite promising he wouldn't, she had no choice but to act. “If you are standing next to someone who has said to you, 'I'm sorry, I won't do this again,' and then they go do it again with glee in their heart, what else are you to think? You're coming for me next.” Despite her exit, Candiace isn't done playing the game, reminding fans, “I'm still a traitor, okay?” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to The Parting Shot! Your weekly dose of pop culture with H. Alan Scott. Conversations with celebrities, award show coverage, chats with industry insiders and the lowdown on exactly what to watch, read and listen to.Subscribe wherever you get podcasts.Visit newsweek.com for other essential podcasts and the latest news. And follow @Newsweek on all social platforms. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comedian Jack Whitehall is trading punchlines for the “good type of nerves” in the new series The Burbs. In this latest role, the British comedian navigates the “uncomfortable territories” of neighborhood life, a setting he finds surprisingly familiar. “I grew up in the suburbs of London—a very suburban street with a creepy Victorian house and a ghostly figure, who was usually just my father.” In this remake of the 1989 film of the same name, Whitehall and Keke Palmer play a couple who move back to his small suburban town, only to discover it’s not exactly what they were bargaining for. “I felt very familiar with that world, even if it’s now transposed to an American setting.” Speaking of his father, Michael, Whitehall is so glad their reality series Travels with My Father continues to help and entertain millions. “I feel so lucky that I had that time with him.” Despite Whitehall being busy with this show and Prime Video’s Malice, he still laments (jokingly) that his father has since ditched him for his own thing. “He even has his own podcast now!” Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Harry Melling is very aware his work in the new film Pillion is about as far away as he can get from his portrayal of Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter franchise. “A lot of people, they’ll go, ‘Wow, Dudley Dursley’s in this kinky movie.’ And I don’t know what to say about that.” Fortunately for Melling, critics are praising his performance as a shy man, Colin, entering the BDSM subculture through a relationship with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård). “What I loved about the story is meeting him in this brave moment of going, ‘I’m gonna give this a go.’ Watching him explore what he wants.” For Melling, this role is another example of how the actor is challenging the difficulties some child actors can have moving into more adult roles. “I always knew that I wanted to do this properly. Like I was a massive theater nerd, so I wanted to do theater, I wanted to work with the great movie directors. I took steps to bridge the gap.” With Pillion, it’s clear Melling is all grown up. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Traitors star Colton Underwood talks strategy, his battle with Lisa Rinna and why the internet has his journey all wrong.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Giamatti on joining Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, fulfilling his "dream role" to play a Klingon pirate, reflecting on The Holdovers and the persistent myth that he’s already won an Oscar. (He hasn’t, but should.) Subscribe to my newsletter: https://for-the-culture.beehiiv.com Follow me: https://linktr.ee/halanscott See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.