The E-List

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!🎄 Every December, millions cozy up on the couch with the remote for their annual dose of holiday cheer, but what makes a Christmas movie truly magical? From timeless classics to Hallmark and Lifetime favorites, these films hit the sweet spot of nostalgia, romance, and escapism. In this episode, we break down what makes a Christmas movie binge-worthy and get an insider perspective from film director John Stimpson, the creative force behind A Cherry Pie Christmas, A Christmas Kiss, and other seasonal hits.

That’s right! Netflix and Warner Brothers Discovery are getting nice and cozy this holiday season. The signed and sealed deal, which is a whooping $83 billion, is almost delivered. Now, we’re in a Department of Justice Monopoly waiting game.    But how does this affect Hollywood unions? Or the streaming consumers? Or AMC Stubs A-Listers?    There’s more to merger than meets the eye, so let’s break it down - E-List style. ⚠️👀📺

Hot off the press—it’s The E-List! Megan and Malaika are back for a spooktacular Halloween Eve premiere 👻  Horror is having a serious moment, from Oscar-nominated The Substance to box office hits Sinners and Weapons. Dead Meat writer Tim Choi joins to break down why scary movies are taking over screens. Press play for a killer episode 🔪

We all have them — the stories that shaped us. The book that made us feel seen, the movie we’ve watched a hundred times, the TV show that feels like home, the song that’s forever tied to a moment in our lives. Today, we’re each bringing one of each — one book, one film, one show, one song — and unpacking why they’ve stuck with us all these years.

You may have noticed the quiet cancellations of some of your favorite shows – The Recruit, Glow, The Society – each shelved without explanation, fanfare, or happy endings. While these stung, recent headlines hit harder: CBS pulling the plug on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the cancellation of E-News, and the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the financial backbone of NPR and our friends at Sesame Street and other PBS shows. This week we’re talking about the fall (and fight) of late night. Let’s break it down, E-List Style. 

It's a hot E-List summer, and we are deep in the villa. We are so excited for this episode because today, we’re talking all things Love Island 2025. The group chats are popping off with invisible messages. I’ve started tapping my thumb and index finger, and don’t even get me started on Megan THE Stallion. This season is already unhinged in the best way — and we’ve got recaps, reactions, and some spicy predictions for the finale.

Today we’re diving into the glossy, chaotic world of Hollywood publicity – the smoke and mirrors behind your favorite headlines, red carpet moments, and suspiciously timed breakups. From fake relationships to Super Bowl shockers, we're talking about the stunts that dominate your For You Page and get publicists either fired... or famous. Is all press really good press? Have PR stunts gone too far? Let's break it all down E-List style.

Have you ever been watching TV and said to yourself, “I wish I could make TV of anything in my head”...well, do we have great news for you! Normally we talk Film and TV, but since Megan and Malaika can’t seem to shut up about how people need to read these days, let’s go back to basics. Without the fundamental storytelling skills ripped from literature, there would be no writing of prestige TV shows like Game of Thrones or The Handmaid’s Tale, and certainly no shows like Bridgerton or Heartstopper. While books aren’t always made into TV shows, you can bet your bottom dollar that every writer of your favorite shows started out as a reader. Literacy, book bans, and the benefits of sounding out words - let’s break it all down, E-List style.

The week we recorded this episode, the Trump administration had just implemented tariffs that sent the US economy in a tailspin. The stock market lost over 6 trillion dollars in value, economists are predicting a 25-60% chance of a recession, and eggs are still very expensive. But for an industry that has been struggling since the COVID-19 pandemic, how will this affect entertainment? What changes will come to struggling theaters and over-inflated streaming services? How have different economic disasters affected the Entertainment Industry in the past and what does it mean for the future? Let’s break it all down - E-List style.

Microdramas—Hollywood’s fast-rising wave of vertical, ultra-short videos—are rewriting the rules of Hollywood. Low quality and often produced on a shoestring budget, they nevertheless dominate attention in a way that polished platforms like Quibi never could, quickly becoming a billion-dollar industry. Verticals’ success taps into deep psychological impulses: our craving for immediacy, novelty, and dramatic storytelling. And, at their center is a fresh generation of creatives who see microdramas as a fast route to visibility and a quick buck.

Happy Thanksgiving, E-Listers! Gobble Gobble, we know you’re thankful for another episode, and we’re thankful for YOU🫶 Settle in! This holiday, we’re serving up our definitive (and very important) ranking of the best Turkey Day TV episodes to fuel your festive binge!

Artificial intelligence is transforming Hollywood from the inside out. AI actors, scripts, and digital doubles—oh my! The E-List dives into how tech is taking center stage in Tinseltown and whether creativity can keep its star billing in a machine-made world.

From Superheroes to dinosaurs, from John Wick kicking ass to dragons taking names, there’s no shortage of big budget films in theatres.  But in the past few years, you may have noticed a change on the posters. a bolder footnote saying “Filmed for IMAX” or “Edited for Dolby” or maybe you look on AMC and wonder why something is cheaper in “laser”.  Today, we’re breaking down premium movie formats - E-List style. 

You may remember the time Elmo pulled out his iPhone to tweet us a simple question, “How are you doing?”—and what followed was a collective mental breakdown from the PBS-raised generation. The kids are not okay. Public media—the last pure thing in this capitalist hellscape—is under attack. Sesame Street? Struggling. NPR? Slashing staff. PBS? Holding on by a pledge drive. Elmo might be next in line at the unemployment office. Big Bird’s got a resume on Indeed. Oscar the grouch is still living in a trash can. So, today on the E-List we’re breaking down the role of public media, what happens if we lose it, and how to chase sunny days again, so show me how to get to The E-List.

As spring settles into summer and new blockbusters hit theatres, we couldn’t help but wonder - are Rom-Coms a dead genre? While  we are still rewatching classic Romantic Comedies, the production of new theatrically released films seems kaput. While streaming services like Netflix and Max still churn out the occasional “return-to-form” Rom-Com, they are always perceived as DOA, until proven otherwise. So, let’s break down an underrated genre - E-list Style.

Disney—once the home of pure magic, happily-ever-afters, and dreams coming true—now seems to be stuck in a never-ending PR nightmare. From live-action remakes that no one asked for to diversity initiatives that have sparked both applause and outrage, the House of Mouse is caught in the middle of a culture war. Today, we’re diving into Disney’s DEI dilemma, the Snow White controversy, and what this all says about the future of Hollywood. Let’s break it all down—E-List style.

This week, coming right off the Bachelor finale, let’s talk about, well, The Bachelor! While Grant may have just found the love of his life, Bachelor Nation is less than sunshine and roses these days. Between toxic showrunners, a revolving door of questionable producers, and new controversies every season, it’s time we break down one of TV’s most popular dating programs.

As we wrap up the 2024 Awards Season—where A-listers bask in golden statuettes and standing ovations—we at The E-List wanted to touch on a conversation that’s rarely discussed outside the City of Angels: the Hollywood Hierarchy. Film actors reign supreme, TV stars fight for legitimacy, influencers are knocking at the gates, and reality TV? Well, some still refuse to call it ‘real’ entertainment. But is that hierarchy still relevant in 2025? And if it is…who’s really on top? Let’s break it all down, E-List style.

Welcome to our podcast! We’re your backstage pass to pop culture, Hollywood, and the entertainment industry—told from the perspective of E-Listers hustling our way in. This week we're discussing this year's Oscars, The 97th Academy Awards. Who won, who lost, and what makes a great nominee. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @EListPodcast and on substack @TheEList