The Business

This week, Eric Deggans talks to Courtney Kemp, co-creator of the Netflix crime drama Nemesis, about the changing TV landscape, and whether she sees Hollywood standing by diversity initiatives despite the pushback from the Trump administration. She also explains how some executives who give her notes don’t necessarily grasp what matters to her audience. After signing an overall deal with Netflix in 2021, Kemp developed Nemesis, a Los Angeles-set crime story built around ambition, class, and power.

[Editor’s note: this segment was taped before it was announced that Kemp had signed an overall deal with Apple TV, and did not renew her deal with Netflix.]

Plus, host Kim Masters and Matt Belloni discuss the end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the penultimate episode of which included a jab by Bruce Springsteen directed at Larry and David Ellison. The duo also assess the latest Star Wars release - The Mandalorian and Grogu. Disney has a lot riding on whether the franchise can successfuly turn a popular TV series into a box office hit.

[Editor’s note: this segment was taped before the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired.]

Kim Masters wraps up her two-part conversation with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Shatner reflects on his deeply emotional journey to space at age 90 and Tyson shares why he isn’t picky about the show biz gigs he takes. The pair also reflect on technological disruption, including how the rise of AI inspired Shatner to record a heavy metal album about the Industrial Revolution. Their two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd, will be at The Saban Theatre May 19-20.

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the strength of the new AI protections outlined in the recently finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. They also discuss Disney’s awkward upfronts pitch, and Netflix’s continued expansion into live sports and events.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about their upcoming two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd. In the first installment of a sprawling two-part conversation, the pair reflect on how syndication helped solidify Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon, why studio executives don’t know what they’re doing, and they wrestle over the universe’s biggest questions.

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the seismic shift at Netflix following the company’s decision to give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film a 49-day theatrical window ahead of its streaming debut. They also discuss the ups and downs from Disney’s latest quarterly earnings report and the newly finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with director Kirk Jones and actor Robert Aramayo about I Swear, the BAFTA winning film about Tourette’s advocate John Davidson. Jones talks about using his own life savings to self-finance the project after potential backers pushed him to tone down the film’s language, and how that decision allowed him to cast Aramayo in the lead without studio oversight. Aramayo discusses the physical and emotional demands of portraying Davidson, a role that required extensive preparation and ultimately earned him a BAFTA. They also reflect on the widely publicized moment at the BAFTA ceremony that brought renewed attention to Tourette’s syndrome.

Plus, in the aftermath of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni unpack the FCC scrutiny facing The Walt Disney Company over a recent late-night jab from Jimmy Kimmel. The duo also explore the unexpected box office strength of a controversial Michael Jackson biopic and the delicate balancing act at Lionsgate as it weighs a potential sequel amid ongoing public backlash.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with Ben McKenzie about his documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which examines fraud in the cryptocurrency world. The actor discusses leaning into his popularity as Ryan on The OC as a narrative device in the film—one that helped get him in the room for a cringe-inducing interview with now-convicted crypto figure Sam Bankman-Fried. McKenzie also explains how he bet against crypto to help finance the project and shares some thoughts on the celebrities who profited from crypto endorsements.

Plus, as the White House Correspondents’ Dinner approaches—with Donald Trump expected to attend and a mentalist booked instead of a comedian—Masters and Matt Belloni examine concerns about the event’s legitimacy, media boycotts, and the broader political entanglements facing outlets like CBS News under David Ellison’s leadership.