The 2025 Emmy Nomination Awards: Winners, Snubs, and Thirstiest Campaigns
Matt is joined by Rebecca Ford, senior correspondent at Vanity Fair, to cohost The Town’s first Emmy Nomination Awards, the first awards show dedicated to nominations for an awards show. Matt and Rebecca give out awards like Biggest Winner, Sneaky Loser, Most Embarrassing Nomination for the Academy, Thirstiest Campaign, the “Enough Already” Award, Best Breakout Nomination, and more (01:45). Matt and Rebecca finish the show with predictions for Best Comedy Series, Best Drama Series, and Best Limited Series (23:37). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Rebecca Ford Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 Juli 32min
'Superman,' Marvel vs. DC, and the Studio Head Hot Seat
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the strong opening weekend for 'Superman,' talk about whether this movie is enough to kick-start a DC reboot, and revisit Marvel’s post-'Avengers' strategy as they look ahead to ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and beyond. Later, they discuss the impressive and timely run of box office successes from the Warner Bros. movie studio and take a look at which studio heads are on the hot seat as we near the end of summer (02:15). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about AMC Theatres (23:10). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14 Juli 29min
News and Deal Buzz From Inside Sun Valley’s Billionaire Summer Camp
Matt is joined by CNBC senior media and tech correspondent Julia Boorstin live from Sun Valley 2025 to discuss what we can expect from this year's summer camp for billionaires. Julia gives us the latest buzz on potential mergers, behind-the-scenes conversations about AI, the NFL's global plans, Linda Yaccarino leaving Twitter, and more (02:19). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the newly announced HBO sketch comedy show from Larry David and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground (26:17). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Julia Boorstin Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
11 Juli 32min
After a Historic Hollywood Tax Break, Is Moviemaking Coming Back to California?
Matt is joined by Joe Chianese of Entertainment Partners to unpack the new California tax bill, which will significantly expand the state's film and TV tax incentive, making California one of the most competitive states in the country for film and TV production. Joe helps us dig into the bill, what it actually means for film and TV productions, who benefits the most, who doesn’t, why this bill finally passed now, and whether this will spark a return to power for California in the film and TV production space (02:51). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Superman’ (25:27). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Joe Chianese Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
9 Juli 32min
Why the Paramount-Skydance Merger is "F*cking Up ‘South Park’"
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the standoff between ‘South Park’ creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker and Paramount amid the looming merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media. They break down the details of this public fight, why the new season of ‘South Park’ is delayed, and how the Trump-Paramount settlement could affect this situation (03:23). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Jesse Eisenberg potentially returning for the sequel of ‘The Social Network’ (26:23). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
7 Juli 32min
Bribe? Surrender? Both? Unpacking the Trump-Paramount Settlement.
Matt is joined by CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter to discuss Paramount reaching an agreement with President Donald Trump to settle his lawsuit with ‘60 Minutes’ for $16 million. They discuss the curious timing of the settlement amid the looming Paramount-Skydance merger, whether the FCC will approve this merger, the potential of a follow-up bribery investigation, how this will affect the Paramount and CBS brand, and the long-term political and journalistic implications of this agreement. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Brian Stelter Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2 Juli 27min
Jason Blum Opens Up About the 'M3GAN 2.0' Flop, the Blumhouse Slump, and Bouncing Back
Matt is joined by Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum to discuss why his new film, ‘M3GAN 2.0’, significantly underperformed in its opening weekend, making only $10M domestically, Blumhouse’s recent slump, what he has learned from this year, the state of the horror genre, and the highs and lows of moviemaking (02:20). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ (28:03). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Jason Blum Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
1 Juli 33min
Apple’s ‘F1’ Win and Big Tech’s Streaming vs. Theaters Debate
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the opening weekend box office performance of ‘F1,’ whether it should be considered a hit, and what this means for Apple’s interest in releasing movies in theaters. They also look at the rest of the tech streamers and discuss who is best positioned to release movies theatrically and, more importantly, who is most interested in doing so. Later, they discuss the disappointing opening weekend of 'Megan 2.0' and what this means for Blumhouse (02:20). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about what the most viewed show will be on Netflix this week (23:42). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here. Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com Host: Matt BelloniGuest: Lucas Shaw Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie LopezTheme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
30 Juni 32min
