Meghan Markle’s Cash Grab, Hoda Kotb’s "Today Show" Absence, & Why Ethan Hawke Sould Win the Oscar

Summary

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The Nerve with Maureen Callahan

Episode: Meghan Markle’s Cash Grab, Hoda Kotb’s "Today Show" Absence, & Why Ethan Hawke Should Win the Oscar
Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Maureen Callahan

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Episode Overview

Maureen Callahan returns with a “banger” episode delving into three hot topics: Meghan Markle’s for-profit “retreat” in Australia, Hoda Kotb’s mysterious absence and questionable retreat from the “Today Show,” and a no-holds-barred Oscars preview with film expert “James from Corporate,” culminating in a passionate case for Ethan Hawke’s Oscar. With sharp skepticism, humor, and industry insight, Maureen takes apart the latest cultural scandals, exposes hypocrisy, and spotlights both scoundrels and underappreciated talents.

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1. Meghan Markle’s "Her Best Life" Retreat – A Royal Cash Grab?

[01:07 – 28:50]

Key Discussion Points

• Maureen on Meghan’s New Venture:
  Freshly dropped by Netflix, Meghan Markle pivots to hosting the “Her Best Life Retreat,” a high-priced girls’ weekend in Australia where attendees pay thousands for a momentary encounter—“maybe a group photo”—with the Duchess.

  • “Nothing has come to fruition. Nothing is working. Guests can spend thousands of dollars. And you know what that gets you? That gets you in the same mega ballroom as Meghan Markle.” —Maureen [03:10]

• Lady Colin Campbell (Lady C) Joins:
  Renowned royal biographer, Lady C, calls out the retreat as a transparent vanity project and questions its legitimacy and Markle’s pattern of inserting herself into events, comparing her to “Fergie, now.”

  • “She is the one who contacted the U.N. ...she said she was taking a break from ‘Suits’ and she would do anything.” —Lady C [22:15]
  • “She’s never been shy about suggesting things. She always wants more.” —Lady C [15:26]

• Harry’s Solo Gig:
  Prince Harry is booked for a standalone event on workplace mental health, which Maureen and Lady C lampoon as deeply ironic given “what the opposite of a safe workplace is” when working with Meghan.

  • “He’ll be able to tell everybody, but he’s not going to say, oh no, you know, my wife is a terrible bully... He knows all about avoiding bullying.” —Lady C [11:22]

• Royal Family’s Stance:
  Lady C shares palace insiders’ views: Both relief (diversion from larger royal scandals) and irritation (Harry and Meghan set up “a rival court”).

  • “They are presenting themselves as half-in, half-out, valid royals on a private visit that, of course, is going to be totally public.” —Lady C [18:25]

• Thomas Markle’s Situation:
  Discussion shifts to Meghan’s estrangement from her father, who is rehabilitating from a major surgery, with Lady C sharing personal anecdotes on Thomas’s decency and Meghan’s indifference.

  • “He is doing the best he can... She just cut him off at the knees.” —Lady C [24:54]

Notable Quotes

• “She excels at scams. Just my opinion.” —Maureen [01:53]
• “He [Harry] thinks he thrills to the power of this dominatrix. He’s a submissive, you know...” —Lady C [13:00]

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2. Hoda Kotb’s "Today Show" Absence & The Retreat That Wasn’t

[31:24 – 38:02]

Key Discussion Points

• Hoda Kotb Disappears:
  Hoda’s mysterious absence follows Maureen’s earlier reporting on internal drama at the “Today Show.” Maureen speculates whether unfavorable attention from The Nerve played a role.
• The "Joy 101 Retreat":
  Maureen’s colleague, Marlena, investigates Hoda’s supposed luxury women’s retreat—which allegedly sells out instantly and may not exist at all.
  - “We at the Nerve are very suspicious that that thing is even really happening.” —Maureen [34:09] - Hilarious phone call to the JW Marriott exposes utter confusion among staff and the retreat’s downgrade from ballroom to “garden area.”
  - “Gwyneth Paltrow would never.” —Maureen [38:03]
• Comparison to Meghan’s Event:
  Both women’s retreats are skewered as symptomatic of celebrities cashing in on wellness junkets with thin substance.

Notable Moments

• Live play-by-play of the retreat phone call features snark, disbelief, and Maureen dubbing Hoda “the alleged reported thief, plagiarist, what have you.” [31:24+]

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3. Cultural Offender Roundup

[38:03 – 43:49]

Key Discussion Points

• Harvey Weinstein Interview:
  Maureen swiftly dispatches the Hollywood Reporter’s jailhouse interview with Weinstein as “not worth your time.” She compares Weinstein’s classic victim stance to her own past off-the-record interaction.
  • “He exhibits and expresses zero remorse. He is the victim. And that’s exactly the Harvey Weinstein I met way back when.” —Maureen [41:10]
• Jack Schlossberg’s Congressional Run:
  Maureen shames media and voters for ignoring Schlossberg’s lack of a real work history or seriousness, highlighting a bumbling, viral social media clip about chocolate in his laptop charger.
  • “That’s a grown up you want legislating for you, is it not?” —Maureen [44:30]

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4. Troublemaker Feedback

[44:30 – 52:43]

Key Highlights

• Listeners fire off emails about the Kennedy family’s negligent dog ownership, questionable behaviors from historical figures, and concerns about Hollywood’s depiction of sexual violence (in “Marty Supreme”).
  • “This is the direct result of far too many young men growing up on porn and thinking that that is hot and that violence against women is hot.” —Maureen [50:00]
• Praise for Ethan Hawke’s Oscar-nominated turn in “Blue Moon.”
  • “Ethan Hawke deserves the Oscar for his ability to make Lorenz Hart pathetic, witty, delusional and brilliant simultaneously.” —Listener Grace [51:46]

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5. Oscars Film Chat – With James from Corporate

[61:01 – 92:43]

Key Discussion Points

A. Marty Supreme

• Controversial Sex Scene:
  Maureen and James dissect the exploitative, porn-derived sex scene between Timothée Chalamet and Gwyneth Paltrow, connecting it to dangerous broader trends in male filmmaking.
  • “Their sex scenes are all too often derived from porn. And I think this is incredibly dangerous messaging.” —Maureen [63:06]
• Movie as “Bad Man” Trope:
  James notes the film is clearly about a “juvenile” and agrees with critiques of male perspective.

B. One Battle After Another

• Casting Problems:
  Both pan Teyana Taylor as miscast; question why Paul Thomas Anderson’s film is so self-indulgent and lengthy.
  • “Paul Thomas Anderson needed a really good editor... things get really messy.” —Maureen [73:16]
• Standout Scene: Sean Penn’s character is anally violated with a gun in a moment Maureen calls “her favorite scene of the year” for sheer audacity.

C. Weapons Please

• Audience Divide:
  Maureen couldn’t finish it (“I bailed” [75:00]); James praises its genre innovation.
  • “Amy Madigan is the only person I really care about [at the Oscars].” —James [75:00]
• Allegory for School Shootings:
  Maureen critiques the film for not fully committing to its allegory.

D. Sinners

• Overhyped Vampire Flick:
  Both agree Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” is more cultural artifact than masterpiece.
  • “This is a vampire movie. That’s it.” —Maureen [78:58]
  • “He is a J.J. Abrams. He is not a Steven Spielberg.” —James [82:45]

E. Blue Moon

• Ethan Hawke Deserves the Oscar:
  Both lavish praise on “Blue Moon” and the Hawke-Linklater partnership.
  • “Ethan Hawke makes this guy somebody you want to listen to all night long.” —Maureen [86:34]
  • “To me [it] was like a wonderful movie to see on a plane… The writing was phenomenal.” —James [85:49]
• Hollywood Bias:
  They lament that Linklater and Hawke are overlooked by the Academy for working outside the industry machinery.

F. Other Film Nerd Moments

• Good-natured arguing about Oscars bloat, much-hyped disasters like “The Bride!”, and why “Sentimental Value” might be better left unfinished.
• Maureen promises to hate-watch “The Bride!,” while noting Hollywood’s critical sycophancy.

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6. Notable Quotes & Moments

Snark and Skepticism Throughout

• “We here at the Nerve, you and I, Lady C. We don’t forget. We have very long memories.” —Maureen [28:46]
• “If you stop to think, Meghan just cut him off at the knees when he was trying to maintain his dignity...” —Lady C [26:06]
• “That little scene we played from Oklahoma... speaks to the inner grammarian in me. I’ve never seen it represented on film before.” —Maureen [91:10]

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7. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meghan Markle’s Retreat & Royal Scandal: [01:07 – 28:50]
• Hoda Kotb & the Phony Joy 101 Retreat: [31:24 – 38:02]
• Cultural Offender Roundup (Weinstein/Schlossberg): [38:03 – 43:49]
• Troublemaker Feedback: [44:30 – 52:43]
• Oscars Film Discussion feat. James from Corporate:
  • Marty Supreme: [61:50 – 68:47]
  • One Battle After Another: [68:47 – 73:16]
  • Weapons Please: [75:00 – 77:25]
  • Sinners: [78:34 – 83:12]
  • Blue Moon & Ethan Hawke: [84:53 – 87:57]
  • “The Bride!” & other films: [88:51 – 92:43]

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8. Tone and Style

Witty, acerbic, unsparing in criticism yet generous with praise where deserved, Maureen navigates celebrity scandal and the pop culture machine with a sharp tongue and an investigative reporter’s instinct for hypocrisy.

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9. Closing

• For film fans and cultural troublemakers, Maureen invites listeners to her Oscars livestream, promises more love for Ethan Hawke, and leaves plenty of space for unchecked opinions in the next mini-episode.
• “Troublemakers, there is an Easter egg in today’s Nerve for tomorrow’s Mini. You are not going to want to miss it.” —Maureen [92:43]

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Follow @TheNerveShow on Instagram

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Summary compiled in the spirit and sharp tone of The Nerve with full attribution to host Maureen Callahan, guest Lady C, “James from Corporate,” and participating listeners as cited within episode segments.

Transcript

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[B]

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[A]

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[C]

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[B]

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[A]

You know how fine I am.

[C]

How fine?

[A]

I'm so fine that I'm at the Chanel Show.

[C]

Talk your talk.

[A]

What's your name and where you from? My name is Oprah. Hello and welcome to your Friday edition of the Nerve. I am your host, Maureen Callahan. We have a banger to ease you into your weekend. Happy Friday. Friday, we are going to start with the duchess of despair and darkness one, Meghan Markle, who's got a new side hustle. Right away, Netflix dumped her. She said, who needs you? I got another gig. It's a girls weekend because who doesn't think Meghan Markle when you think girls weekend?

[C]

Girls girl.

[A]

Fun, light hearted, easy, breezy, a great conversationalist in Australia. Australia, we love you at the Nerve. We have so many troublemakers in Australia and New Zealand. We are sorry they're our problem now, but they're coming your way. And we are going to ask that any troublemaker with means and or access who is so inclined try to infiltrate this event because we think it's another scam. She excels at scams. Just my opinion. It's called her best life retreat because again, who isn't living her best life is. If it isn't Meghan Markle, who's been shit canned by Netflix, by Spotify, by Lemonada, by Penguin, Random House. Nothing has come to fruition. Nothing is working. Guests can spend thousands of dollars. And you know what that gets you? That gets you in the same mega ballroom as Meghan Markle. As someone who's gone to events in these Mega hotel ballrooms. You know, you may as well be on the other side of a national border. The idea that you're going to get close to somebody like Meghan Markle without paying an arm and a leg, and even then, you're maybe going to get a nod, an acknowledgement, a photo. Don't touch me. Joining me to discuss this latest disgrace, my opinion and the latest on the royals is the one and only Lady C. Lady Colin Campbell will be joining us in a moment. Then we've got more developing Today show drama. And Marlena has made yet another phone call recorded to see what Hoda Copy who has been mysteriously absent from Studio 1A over at 30 Rock. You know, she's supposed to be having her big inaugural Joy 101 retreat beginning today, Friday the 13th. Marlena's phone call to this venue where this retreat is supposed to be taking place, it didn't go well. You guys are going to die. Okay, then we're going to talk briefly, briefly about the Harvey Weinstein Q and A that the Hollywood Reporter just published with him. They jailhoused him. That's what we call it in journalism. They went and spoke to him. It's a jailhouse interview at Rikers Island. We've got another whack at the runt of the Kennedy litter that is saying a lot. Not to worry. Also, next week we are going to be back with yet another installment of our hate watch of Love Story, JFK Jr. And Carolyn Bessette. But back to today's show. We will then be reading Troublemaker Feedback. See what I mean? It's a packed show. And then later, we have a new guest for you, a first timer who I think you're going to love. Somebody I have been looking to book for a very long time. Nobody loves and is as knowledgeable about movies and streaming and pop culture as this guy. He needs to be slightly anonymous, which only adds to the feeling of danger and mystery. Am I right? So we're going to have a little conversation about the state of films and the movies that are nominated and the performances that are nominated as we get ready for Oscars weekend and our Oscars livestream this Sunday. Don't forget, 6:30pm Eastern. Okay, troublemakers, are you ready? Are you ready? Let's go. We've talked before about why one skin stands out. And it's not just hype or pretty jars. It's real science. One Skin was founded by female PhD longevity science scientists. Excuse me, asking a very smart question is if zombie cells drive wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Why not target them directly? That's OS1, their proprietary peptide. The first proven to switch off those senescent cells making your skin feel stronger, smoother and more resilient. Plus, you can use OS1 face and body daily. I love their face cream. I've used this product. It is incredible. Backed by four peer reviewed clinical studies, free from from over 1500 harsh ingredients and awarded the National Eczema association seal of acceptance, this is skin care you can trust. Plus it has received 10,000 five star reviews and recognition from Bloomberg. Born from over a decade of longevity research, OneSkin's trademarked OS1 peptide is proven to target the visible signs of aging, helping you unlock your healthiest skin now and as you age. For a limited time, try one skin with 15 off using code NERVE at OneSkin co. NERVE. That's 15 off OneSkin co with Code Nerve. After you purchase, they're going to ask where you heard about them. Please support our show. Tell them you're a troublemaker and that the Nerve sent you. Joining us now is the one and only Lady, Colin Campbell, better known to all of us as Lady C, Royal biographer, New York Times bestselling author, Palace Insider. Someone who has never been afraid to say exactly what she thinks when it comes to Harry and Meghan. In fact, Lady C literally wrote the book. It's called Meghan and the Real Story. If you haven't read it yet, treat yourself this weekend. Welcome back to the Nerve, Lady C. Hello, my dear.

[D]

You're looking great, by the way. I love that you love pearls as well.

[A]

Oh, my goodness. I was just about to say the same to you, Lady C. You are looking resplendent in this beautiful. It's reading as an orange red on my screen. It's almost a nerve red. Your pearls, your dragonfly brooch. I'm wearing a bit of a. Is it kind of a scarab? You know, there's a little. There's a little. Keep it on top. But he means business, so let's. All right, let's talk Lady C. Let's get into it. It has been announced that. That none other than Meghan Markle, fresh off of her dumping by Netflix. They've made it. They've made no room for error. They're done with her. She is now going to be featured. The billing is actually, it's called Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Her best life retreat. But as best as I can tell, this girl's weekend like no other. That's one way to put it. Um, if you read the copy carefully, an event that promises a lot of word salad. That sounds very Meghan Markle. Quote, powerful conversations, relaxation, laughter and unforgettable experiences, including a quote, in person conversation with Megan. I don't know what that means. That is vague. Uh, one can also purchase a VIP experience which includes quote, seating at a table in front two rows for the gala dinner with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Never forget. I don't know what that means. As well as a group photo with the Duchess of Sussex, which I guarantee is going to be a class photo that everyone who spends approximately $202,300 US Meghan will be in the center. Everyone else will be arrayed. It'll be a one shot deal. Off you go. That's as close as she is getting to the unwashed masses who are going to pay for this. Lady C, what do you make of it?

[D]

Well, I think it's extraordinary. You know, I'm pretty sure she'll show up for the dinner and she'll swan around, but I think she's going to otherwise be very, very sort of inaccess. She might even be in Melbourne for a lot of it. Where Harry is going to be speaking about. Now what is Harry speaking about? Oh, was it taking dope or being a dope? I can't remember what he's speaking about.

[A]

I think he has booked a separate solo event after Meg. So after Megan announced this girls weekend again. Doesn't she seem like the ultimate girls girl? You know, everything she's done to poor Catherine, Princess of Wales, Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Elizabeth. Harry booked a solo event in which he is going to speak about workplace mental health issues. Lady C. To an audience of quote, you could not make this up. Industry leaders, policymakers, practitioners and advocates to share practical strategies for building psychologically safe, mentally healthy and high performing workplaces. Just like he and Megan have done.

[D]

Well, of course you need to remember that Harry and Meghan are the experts on bullying and how to, how to. So he'll be able to tell everybody, but he's not going to say, oh no, you know, my wife is a terrible bully and I know what you have to avoid. He's going to pretend as if it's all new to him and. But, but he knows all about avoiding bullying. Well, yeah, he does because he trails in the wake of a bully. And you know, I have to tell you, wouldn't it be wonderful if somebody leaked that Buckingham palace report on her behavior? Because I gather it's incendiary. Do you know she used to follow people around at Buckingham palace on the staff. And, like, she'd be stalking them. One week everything would be fine. The next week, she would alight upon somebody and she'd start to stalk them, and she'd literally follow them from place to place and create havoc for them. And so I think Harry is certainly actually an expert on speaking about safety in the workplace because he knows that what the old. What the opposite of it is. Having lived with Meghan, Lady C. There,

[A]

it would strain credulity to think that Harry had not been made aware that Meghan was engaging in such harassing and bullying workplace behavior at the palace, would it not?

[D]

He saw it. He saw it.

[A]

He saw it.

[D]

And he hasn't only seen it at the palace, he's seen it in. At Montecito. He's seen it everywhere. Megan doesn't. You know, he thinks he thrills to the. To the power of this dominatrix. He's a submissive, you know, he. He. When she cracks the whip at someone else, he most likely.

[A]

My God, you're killing me. You're so right. That explains. Explains this sick dynamic in which Harry sort of eventually, we hear the stories out of Montecito is that he will eventually go around on his own to whatever staffer has been abused and apologize and try to make things a little bit better. But you're reminding me that their first truly royal tour in Australia. This is again, I think, another attempt to feign a faux royal tour. But that first tour was reportedly when Megan turned to one of her aides and said, I cannot believe I'm not getting paid for this.

[D]

Oh, she did say that.

[A]

She did say that.

[D]

She did say that. And I'm sure she said it either before or after the tea managed to jump out of her. Her cup towards Lady Co.

[A]

So that story, Lady C. We have never, in America, as far as I can tell, ever been told who the alleged. So this has all been alleged, at least here in America, that on that very tour, Megan also, in a very displeased moment, threw a cup of hot tea. Very hot tea on an aid. I don't think we've ever heard the name Lady Cosgrove before, though, actually, I

[D]

might actually, because, remember, I've been on a lot of drugs recently because of.

[A]

Fair enough.

[D]

So I might have confused it. And. But she def. There was an incident with. Oh, yes, I have confused. There was the tea incident. And she actually berated Lady Cosgrove because her quarters were not sufficiently. Well, she. She didn't have the whole of Government House or whatever. It's called. She only had a part of it. And she.

[A]

Oh, she wanted the whole house. She wanted the run of the house to herself and to Harry.

[D]

She wanted more. You know, she always wants more. But, I mean, even when Meghan was a jobbing actress who couldn't get a role, she'd be offered a part and it would be three lines. And she'd nobble the director to increase it to 30 lines. She's always been, whatever she gets, she wants more, and she pushes for more. It's a sort of very unsavory attitude, I would have said. But she's well known for it. That's why she was such a failure until she got that part in suits. Because there were people in Hollywood. I mean, you check it out, you've got contacts in Hollywood. You'll discover people that people didn't. You know. Somebody would give her a job as a favor and she'd blow it because she was always wanting more. And let's not forget that. Is his name Howie Mandel? Is Howie Mandel.

[A]

Yes, Howie Mandel.

[D]

And Mrs. Mandel had to, you know, Howie Mandel complained to his wife about the fact that Meghan was full of ideas to expand her position. And Mrs. Mandel quickly realized what was going on and said, get rid of that girl. And he did.

[A]

This was while Meghan was a suitcase girl on an American game show called Deal or no Deal. And her job was to open a suitcase in which either there was money contained within or not. Megan auditioned for that job and then later, once she became royal, said that it was sexist, misogynistic and only objectified young women, and that they simply weren't interested in her vast, deep intellect.

[D]

Well, and there, of course, she's right. Because, I mean, we all know we should be sitting down at Meghan's feet and looking up at her as if she's Sophocles or Socrates and drinking in all the wisdom. Or is it poison that she has to offer? I think it might be poison.

[A]

Lady C, what do you hear about the Palace's reaction to Harry and Meghan deciding next month to take this trip to Australia, which seems like a very, very pointed, aggressive move as the monarchy is struggling amidst this Andrew crisis.

[D]

But I think, actually, in fairness, Maureen, that there are two. Two aspects to this. As long as Meghan and Harry are diverting people's attentions away from more concrete and serious matters, it's a welcome diversion.

[A]

Great point.

[D]

So I think there's that going on, but also there's no pleasure in the fact that yet again, Meghan and Harry are presenting themselves as half in, half out, valid royals on a private visit. That, of course, is going to be totally public. And so I think there are two sides to the coin insofar as Buckingham palace is concerned. But they're definitely not pleased. And, you know, Meghan and Harry set themselves up as a rival court.

[A]

Oh, yes.

[D]

And nobody likes it. And fortunately, it's not stepping on anybody's toes, per se, because the King's visit to America is not until the end of the month.

[A]

So I'm sure they will do something to try to provoke the King or to counter his media coverage. I don't know if you happen to see this column by Rebecca English in the Daily Mail, the headline vis a vis Megan. She's basically Fergie. Now, what royal insiders are saying about this $2,000 VIP Meet Meghan event. Surprising way the Duchess contacted organizers. So yet again, this is a pre. A pre planned event in which she inserted herself and invited herself in yet another pathetic attempt to seem relevant. And how much Harry is reportedly set to pocket. I mean, we don't even know what percentage of the hall these two are getting.

[D]

Well, I don't think it's going to be anything near what they would like to be getting. I mean, the income from Meghan's, whatever It's called thing is 900. Yeah. You know, that visit to the Intercontinental In Sydney, it's $932 million, but that includes 300 people, full capacity. Then, of course, they have to pay for food, et cetera, et cetera. And the organizers have actually said that they're not paying Meghan, but that doesn't mean they're not kicking back Meghan. And Harry will doubtless have been given maybe 20 or $30,000. I mean, he's gone, in a few short years from a million dollars a population to 30 or 20 or 30 or $40,000 a pop. I mean, they're really not doing very well, you know, if you look at it from that point of view. And also I gather that she suggested it to Marcus Anderson, who is friends with one of the organizers of the podcast and the whole weekend thing. And that's how it came about. And he interceded with her on behalf of the woman who's. I can't remember her name. It's something like Jackie Henderson or something like that.

[A]

She's the Australian radio personality. Right. Who goes by Jackie O. Is that who you're thinking of?

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

And Marcus Anderson is the Soho Soho. Soho House figure who also accompanied Megan to that Balenciaga show that the designer told New York magazine. Yes, Meghan invited herself to this.

[D]

Well, I'm sure she suggested it to Marcus Anderson. And he then suggested it on her behalf. You know, I mean, she. But she's never been shy about suggesting things. She is the one who contacted the U.N. elizabeth. Whatever her name is. I can't remember now. And she said she was taking a break from suits and she would be available and she would do anything. She would be her Girl Friday. And once she was there, she wangled where she got to make a speech in. In front of the General Assembly. You know, the famous speech where she said what a wonderful father she had and how everybody should have a father like hers and what a wonderful man he was. This was, of course, before it became inconvenient to cut him out of her life.

[A]

Yes. And this brings us to our. I was going to ask you this before we have to let you go. Harry and Meghan will be on that side of the world where Thomas Markle is still rehabilitating from having part of his leg amputated, being fitted for a prosthetic, having begged his daughter publicly for a visit or a phone call. What possible excuse could these two have, Megan in particular, for not chartering a private plane and going to pay a visit to her father? If they are this hell bent on making sure that they are the figureheads of charities around the globe, what could possibly be their excuse?

[D]

Lack of money. He doesn't have any. And they don't have enough to charter a plane. And unless. Unless somebody's going to give them the tickets, they.

[A]

Sure. Why wouldn't one of their very rich, powerful friends just loan them a jet?

[D]

Well, exactly. But then she'd have to come up with another excuse. She is. You know, I. I don't if you know her father, he's a. He's a really nice man. And in fact, I've been in touch with him recently. He's doing pretty well and.

[A]

Oh, that's so wonderful to hear. He is doing well.

[D]

His attitude is wonderful. You know, he's. He's trying to. He's. He's doing the best he can. Do you remember Alex Trebek?

[A]

I didn't know you were friends with Alex Trebek.

[D]

I'm friends with his. With his ex wife, Elaine Trebek. Carey.

[A]

Interesting. Okay.

[D]

We've been friends for over 50 years, and Elaine introduced me to Gigi, and Gigi, who was a huge child star. I mean, she was right up there almost as famous as Shirley Temple and now. And she taught Megan drama for many years. And she told me Thomas Marcus Sr. Is one of the nicest, kindest, most decent people she's ever met. He was kind and generous, always gave far more than you wanted. She said he was invaluable to. And. And. And in fact, there was an incident that. Where Meghan didn't get a role that she wanted, and she tried to force her father to not perform for everybody else. And, you know, because he would light it and he would do the stage, et cetera, and he did it, and she refused to speak to him for some considerable length of time. And Gigi told me he. He's a really lovely man. And I mean, I trust her because she had no reason to lie. And all my interactions with him have been that he's a really nice man. And if you stop to think Meghan just cut him off at the knees when he was trying to maintain his dignity, notwithstanding the fact that Buckingham palace had offered her to send out people to take care of him and her mother, she accepted it on behalf of the mother, but not on behalf of the father. And when he was hounded by the paparazzi and the press and humiliated Carl Rayner, who is one of Meghan's favorite go to paparazzi, he got in touch with Samantha and said, oh, I can organize for your father to get some good publicity and not be humiliated the way he's been by the press. And because I know this from Samantha and Thomas Senior. And so Thomas Senior wasn't interested. Samantha talked him into it, thinking she was doing a great favor for her father. And then Carl Rayner spun around and sold the story to the Mail on Sunday, saying that it was a setup, but the whole thing was set up. And both father and daughter believe that Meghan set it up to prevent the father from going to the. To the. I nearly said funeral. To the wedding.

[A]

And Easy mistake. Tomato, tomato, Harry's wedding, Harry's funeral, same thing.

[D]

But.

[A]

But that all goes to the point that I think Meghan Markle is banking on the world's media having a very short memory, the news cycle being what it is. Having forgotten that her father is still rehabilitating from a very, very serious, serious operation. One that he will have to adapt to, living with his. His for the rest of his life. We here at the Nerve, you and I, Lady C. We don't forget. We have very long memories. And we are. We are pulling for Thomas Markle. And I'm so happy to hear that he is doing well. He is probably better off without the dark cloud that is his daughter in his life. It sounds terrible to say, but I actually think it may be true. And we cannot wait to have you back yet again as these two continue be fouling the planet.

[D]

Thank you for having me. It's been as ever a joy. God bless.

[A]

Same to you Lady C. See you soon. Be well. Thank you to the one and only Lady C with her incredible intel. Nobody knows this institution the way she does. Coming up, Cultural Offender Roundup. We've got some all stars behaving badly plus your feedback. Back in a minute. Are you wrestling with bras that dig in? Shapewear that rolls down constantly, underwire that feels like medieval torture? Give Honey Love a try. This is a brand designed by people who actually wear bras. Women. Their crossover contour bra is wireless, but actually lifts and supports. No constant adjusting, no digging. Their cloud embrace sold out in hours. Their shapewear offers targeted compression that smooths without squeezing you like a sausage. So treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off [e-mail] nerve that's honeylove.com nerve after you check out, they're going to ask where did you hear about us? Tell them, please, that you are a troublemaker and that the Nerve sent you. Support our show while experiencing the new standard in comfort and support with Honeylove.

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VGW Group Void where prohibited by law. CTS and C's 21+ sponsored by Chumba Casino We Are back. Now, before we get in to troublemaker feedback, we must discuss another retreat, the original retreat promising joy once again. Meghan Markle, that alleged reported thief, plagiarist, what have you. We speak of Hoda Kotb, who, by the way, not for nothing, has been missing from that chair next to Craig Melvin over at the Today show. You know, the one she's been practically jumping out of since Savannah's mother went missing. Well, she's been absent from the show. Tuesday was her last day co hosting, it seems, and there was nary a mention, as far as we could tell, as to being Hoda's last day for a while. What a. What a great honor it's been to fill in for her. Dear BFF Savannah, last seen avoiding her hugs in Studio 1A as the paparazzi made sure to get there. Clear shots right inside. No Chanel, that lump in mold of a replica of a human being with a barely working intellect, Chanel has been warming that seat. And my theory, my humble theory, I submit to you as your cultural criminal prosecutor, is that Savannah either heard the Nerve, watched the nerve, or somebody told her about the Nerve episode that aired earlier this week. There were two of them in which I reported my sourcing from deep within the Today show, that Savannah's colleagues basically all said that her mother's abduction was karma for Savannah being a bitch. And I think the head, the first head to roll was Hoda's. I think the fir. I'm not saying Hoda said that by any means. I have no. No knowledge of any such thing. I'm not accusing her of that. But I am saying I think that Hoda's eagerness and barely concealed glee at being in that chair again. We've got first responders trying to revive Hoda's Joy 101 retreat because we're getting into that now. I think Savannah condition number one of her return. It's going to be blockbuster ratings. Hoda blacklisted from Studio 1A. Just my. Just my supposition, you know, I've been doing this long enough, but Hoda has toddled over to Arizona. The irony, you know, she began hawking this Joy 101 retreat for spring. We're not technically in spring yet. That's March 20th, I believe. So she. She. You know, again, if you're a conspiracy theorist, Hoda sets her retreat in Arizona. Savannah's from Arizona. Nancy Guthrie lives. You know. Anyway, we tried. We tried to get in, and Marlena was discovered. It's a longer story, but that's what we believe, anyway. So Hoda's Joy 101 retreat is starting today, Friday the 13th. Dark minds, dark hearts, dark souls. Now, this was billed, marketed nay as a luxury respite for the weary woman of the western world. It's being held at a JW Marriott. Now, no, there's no shame in staying at a JW Marriott. Marriotts are great. They are great hotels. But I'm saying Hoda is aspiring to the woman whose idea of a vacation is Canyon Ranch, who is laying out 10 to 15 grand for six days to be starved like beaten in a boot camp and leave like five pounds lighter, but you know, in a luxury setting, you know, or whose idea of a luxury vacation is they're staying in a five star suite at the Ritz in Paris. It's not at a JW Marriott in Camelback. In a tumble. It's there was like either Marriott Tumbleweed or Marriott Camelback. Anyway, you know, we at the Nerve are very suspicious that that thing is even really happening. Because when Marlena tried to sign up to get notified when tickets were going to be on sale to the next day Hoda, Hoda's website announced that the whole thing was sold out. So we went from we will shoot you an email when tickets are available for purchase to within less than 24 hours. Guess what, everybody? It's sold out. So guess what? Marlena called the Marriott to see if it was still happening. And if it is happening, which, you know, if it's happening, could they direct her to like, exactly where to go? Because it's kind of a big resort and we're a little bit lost. She recorded it because she is a genius. And we're all going to listen together. Here we go. This is the JW Marriott in Scottsdale. Yes. Yes, it is. Hi. I am, I am really confused. I was supposed to go to a retreat. Was it like for Hoda's Joy 101 it said was in the ballroom? I. I don't know. I'm kind of like lost. Where do I go? What is the group's name? Joy 101. It's Hoda Kapi's retreat. They told me it was in the ballroom. Right to the Wait music. Okay. Marlena just laughed in my ear of the retreat. It's the spring retreat for Joy 101 with Hoda Joy 101. I do not have Joy 101 at our property. Oh, oh, really? Wait, no, I'm sorry. Unless they named it something else, but I don't think so. JW Marriott Camelback Inn, and then there's JW Marriott Desert Ridge. There's no retreat there at all. I mean, I have groups that are here, but nothing under that name. Can I ask a question?

[D]

I'm.

[A]

I'm here with my friend. You have nothing under, you know, Hoda, Copy of the Today show?

[C]

Same.

[A]

There's nothing there under her organization or group. Thank you. This will be a. They have like a. This is your code word. It's real. They're really confused over there. You would think this would be like a top level event, that every employee at the front desk would know exactly who this is and where to go treat. But no. But no. It's a lengthy call. It's a lengthy wait time too. Are you here to set up or anything for the. No, I'm, I. I have a ticket for it. Retreat doesn't start until tomorrow. And that would be in the garden area. Oh. Oh my God. Okay. Thank you. Marlena speaks for Joy 101 attendees everywhere. Oh my God. Oh my God. It's in the garden area. So it's not even in the ballroom now. It's in the garden area of a Marriott. Gwyneth Paltrow would never. Okay. You know, I don't have much greater hope for Meghan Markle's event either. But I'm sure we'll be hearing from inside that little event. Okay, so moving on, I wanted to touch briefly on a huge interview that the Hollywood Reporter just published with none other than Harvey Weinstein. They conducted a jailhouse interview with him on March. It was published on March 10. And two days later, you know, they had bannered this interview on the website and then they very quickly buried it, which says to me that they got a lot of pushback that was very negative. Full disclosure. I know the reporter who conducted the interview. It's Mayor Roshan, who is actually also the editor in chief of the Hollywood Reporter. I worked with Mayor way way back when I was a baby reporter at New York magazine. He's a great guy, very smart, really good editor. I have my own Harvey Weinstein story. I don't know if I've shared this with you guys, but I was talking about it with Emily Jashinsky on her show on Wednesday. When Harvey was on trial here in New York on multiple counts of rape, he was toying with the idea of giving an exclusive interview to the New York Post. And so he called the New York Post, where he was very good friends with the then overseer of the New York Post and then the editor in Chief there at the time. I had worked with very closely for a long time and Harvey was dealing with him. And that editor said to Harvey, you can have it, but it's going to be Maureen or it's going to be no one. And Harvey said, okay, I went to meet Harvey. The meeting was off the record. And so what happened there remains off the record. But I can tell you that when I read this interview in which, and Harvey was also lying at the time, you know, like I got there and I was quickly informed that Harvey had had dinner the night before with an on air personality at Good Morning America. And I was like, what the fuck? You guys said that we were going to have the exclusive. What am I auditioning now? I came to call it my audition because Harvey in his mind is forever a producer and he's just, he was auditioning people. This was how he amused himself while he was on trial. But when I read this interview in the Hollywood Reporter, it's really not worth your time. You know, he, he exhibits and expresses zero remorse. It's everybody else's misunderstanding. He's the one who's wronged here. He is the victim. And that's exactly the Harvey Weinstein I met way back when. So, you know, there you have it. It's not worth your time. And then finally, before we get into troublemaker email, we have Jack Schlossberg who is polling. He is leading the polls in New York right now for an open congressional seat, an open U.S. congressional seat. And he has successfully, with the help of the mainstream media, scrubbed a lot of his social media, which if I'm to be kind, the rantings of a deeply unhinged 33 year old man who reports also were just published that indeed he has never had a real job in his entire life. He lives off of four family trusts and is getting an assist from a Kennedy besotted mainstream media. But, but the algorithm knows me well. And into my Instagram on the Evening of Wednesday, March 11th came this post by Jack Schlossberg which we are going to show largely unedited, so that the voters of New York and every hack in the mainstream media who's licking this guy's ass because he's related to JFK and Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. Be ashamed of yourselves, okay? Be deeply unchained ashamed. Here we go.

[C]

Hey guys.

[A]

So my computer won't. Something's wrong with my computer. It wasn't charging so I took it to the Apple store and I said,

[B]

hey, I don't know what's going on? My computer won't work. It won't charge.

[C]

It won't charge. I keep trying to charge it. Can you help?

[B]

Can you fix a computer?

[C]

There's got to be something wrong with the software.

[A]

Maybe I got a virus.

[B]

Maybe the.

[A]

I don't know.

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They said yeah, sure, come back in an hour. Came back in an hour. He said yeah, so Jack, right? I said, yeah. He said, so I found the problem. There's a bunch of chocolate in the charger port. Yeah, there's a bunch of melted chocolate

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Now

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that's a grown up. You want legislating for you, is it not? Now on to our troublemaker email and we are going to begin fittingly enough from one Irish person to another. Jack, he's half Irish. Fudge off. Okay. This comes from troublemaker Heather, a frequent writer and she, in advance of St. Patrick's Day, has dressed me in. I'm going to call this Irish warrior finery. If I could only do this justice. Oh, and the last image of me. Oh, there's two. Okay. What my father would be proud. One is I am holding a. A pot of gold which I love with this augers for the nerve. Heather. And then here is a. It's almost like an immemorium. It's almost like this is my funeral. And here's a photo of me next to on top of a like a wooden keg is a big, big mug of frothing green beer. Heather, I'm dying. It's so funny. Okay. From troublemaker Craig in Hollywood. Dear Maureen, the answer is yes. Craig, have you ever considered the possibility that JFK Jr. Did the world a gigantic favor by diverting his murderous suicidal tendencies? It was only a matter of time before he killed more people. I mean, he took innocence with him. Carolyn Bessette, complicated woman, troubled woman, did not deserve to die that way. Her sister, Lauren Bessette, a complete innocent. In this JFK Jr. I theorize and ask. Not with a lot of legitimacy behind me. I don't just pull it out of nowhere that JFK Jr. Was on a on a murder suicide mission that night. And once you see it, you can't unsee it. Craig continues. Imagine had Junior been elected president and used those very same devil may care Craig goes ha ha ha attitude against Russia, much like Daddy did the Cold War. Act two may have had a much more chilling ending. Love the show. Thanks, Craig. Love your feedback. Very insightful from troublemaker. Wanted to send a quick Email he writes to say, I'm really glad you called out that particular sex scene scene in Marty supreme between Gwyneth Paltrow and Timothy, not the new Marlon Brando Shyamalama ding dong. You know, Timothy, like Oscar voting's close now. He's just like, it's just like the ID is all out there and now he's comparing himself to Marlon Brando and some other legendary actor whose name escapes me. Don't worry, we're not done with Timothy, not by a long shot. And as I've discussed the Nerve, our Oscars livestream, we have a guest that we have wanted to have in studio since the Nerve began and that guest is going to be here. Bells on. You guys are going to die. You're going to die anyway. Who has written to us before. Continues. I don't think I've mentioned this in my previous emails to the Nerve, but I work as a solicitor, meaning lawyer in the UK and I also volunteer for a victim's action advocacy charity here. We have noticed over the last few years this the sex scene, by the way, in case you missed, that episode of the Nerve has Timote behind Gwyneth in a shower having sex and he's got his hand around her throat and he's choking her out and Gwyneth is acting as if she is an ecstasy and in some substance. I said the scene was disgusting. Gwyneth is should be ashamed of herself for not pushing back and saying there's no way I'm doing a scene like that. And that this is the direct result, result of far too many young men growing up on porn and thinking that that is hot and that violence against women is hot. And that's, that's something women want. And if women don't want it, we should be conditioned to want it. Fuck no. It's dangerous. As I said, never ever, ever let a man put his hands around your neck for any reason. Never let a man put any kind of implement or material around your neck for any reason. Continues. So he says. We have noticed over the last few years a really disturbing trend in the cases we've dealt with where we support young women who have been victims of domestic abuse and their abuser either started with or engaged in this type of behavior. This is what's called conditioning grooming that moves into escalation. Too many times writes we've heard victims tell us that their abuser would say, oh, this is normal, babe. Do you think Oprah says that to Gail ever? You know, they call each other babe, don't you want to make me happy and I promise I'll stop if you tell me to. Hollywood should not be portraying this type of behavior as consensual and normal because in the majority of cases I have encountered in real life, it is not. It is abuse, plain and simple. Timothy will never have to sit in a room. This is just what writing with a mother and father who will never see their daughter again because she was either coerced or pressured into engaging in this activity with a partner who did not stop Two more emails. These are so good. Hello again, Maureen. I will keep your name confidential as asked Troublemaker I lived both in New York and on the Cape and have had direct experience with the untrained, unruly and sad, sadly neglected Kennedy dogs. Regarding Ryan Murphy and the Kennedy series, you mentioned JFK Junior's dogs, Roses and Edward Kennedy's. Oh, sorry, Edward Kennedy's. Excuse me, Portuguese water dogs. I have friends that who live in Centerville, which is next to Hyannis. I know that. I know that well. One of the surviving family members of a victim who I wrote about in Ask not they lived. She she and her husband live in Centerville. I spent time up there. My friends would regularly comment they're right next to each other. My friends would regularly comment about the Kennedy dogs, mainly labs and golden retrievers who would run around like savages, shitting all over the place on the beach and scaring the crap out of people because they were so untrained and never watched by their owners. And that, troublemakers, as all of us who love dogs know, is abuse and neglect. It is abuse and neglect not to train your dog properly. This, this troublemaker writes, has gone on for years. Contrast this with the extremely stringent leash laws in all Cape Towns, in addition to beach access restrictions for dogs in most places, dogs are forbidden to be on any Cape beaches from Memorial Day through either Labor Day or October 1st. You would think that the Kennedys would keep their dogs on the private beaches of the compound in Hyansport, but no, I wouldn't think that. Of course they're not going to do that. Rules are for us, not them. Instead, they regularly bring their dogs to public beaches where they make a mess and run wild. Rules for the not for me. I am pretty dog savvy. To screw up a lab or a Golden takes a lot. This is true. They are naturally friendly and goofy breeds. But the Kennedy dogs, this troublemaker says, downright aggressive. Now this troublemaker continues with another, more personal experience with a Kennedy dog. I'm going to leave the name of this Kennedy out of it. But I will say that this troublemaker writes of one of Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy's children. And as discussed, Ethel Kennedy was a shit mother. Her kids are feral.

[C]

Feral.

[A]

Maybe not all, but most of them. When I lived in the East Village, this troublemaker says I used to walk ex Kennedy's English mastiff. My mom had an English mastiff. Extremely sweet dog. Extremely sweet dogs. These breeds, oh my God, they will break your heart. They're so sweet. So this troublemaker would walk Kennedy X's dog not long after the plane crash. You know, the one that John in which killed himself, his wife and his sister in law. The dog was a sweet girl, weighing in at 130. I am 5:2. But she, she was taller and weighed more than me. They're big dogs and they don't even know their own strength often because they're just so like shaggy and like, they just want affection and you know, my mom's used to jump on me and all he wanted was hugs and kisses, but he was so heavy that he would press into my, into my chest to the point where I couldn't breathe. That was the body weight on me. But I would be laughing so hard because this dog didn't know it was about to like suffocate me. That's what you're dealing with when you're dealing with an English mastiff. Anyway, this troublemaker continues. This dog would routinely try to pull me down, jump counters, put her face in the fridge and try to eat anything she could get into. One time she ate an industrial sized bar of Ivory soap and I had to induce vomiting. Then I took her to the vet in a cab. I recall the vet saying, what did she do this time? Despite loving the dog, she was totally neglected by the family. This dog craved attention and walks. I could barely get her outside before she immediately relieved herself as if she hadn't been walked for hours. These are the real Kennedys, New Yorkers and members of the mainstream media currently propping up Jack Schlossberg. Educate yourselves. Hi Maureen. Our final email. I've been watching as many Oscar movies as I can stomach before Sunday. Don't even worry about it. The Nerves livestream is going to fill you in on what you need to know. We're going to see spare you the pain. That's what I'm here for. I'll take it for you guys. Don't worry. Now this troublemaker continues. I absolutely loved Blue Moon. We all know how we feel. The nerve about Blue Moon and Ethan Hawke's performance. He should be winning that Oscar for Best Actor. This Troublemaker Grace continues. Ethan Hawke deserves the Oscar for his ability to make Loren's heart pathetic, witty, delusional and brilliant simultaneously. Yes, it was a movie that was so much more than a character study and it was also a movie that wasn't plot driven. I was moved to tears by the end compared to Timmy's unlikable and narcissistic Marty Supreme. There shouldn't be any question on on who should be the recipient of the Little Gold Man. Agreed. We will see you all, we hope, on Sunday at 6:30pm Eastern for our very special Oscars live stream. Keep your feedback coming not to sound like Oprah. Email [e-mail] if you haven't already. Go and subscribe to the Nerve Substack. That is our weekly email. Go to thenerveshow.com our website. You will see a prompt. Would you like to get our weekly email every Friday after the last full Nerve of the Week airs? Sure you would go do it. It's tons of fun. Remember to join us Here again Sunday, March 15th at 6:30pm Eastern for our Bonkers Unhinged Oscars livestream. Timothy Shyamalan Ding Dong will not be here, but his top level shit will. Full details are on the Nerves Instagram page at the Nerve show or on my Instagram page at Maureen callahanriter. Up next, we have an Oscars movie chat with a very special guest who I have been really wanting to book for a very long time. He is a very good friend of mine and probably my favorite person to talk movies streaming and pop culture in general. In general with I think you're really gonna love him. We will see you in a minute. The adage you are what you eat feels truer as we age. So if you're searching for an on the go protein snack that truly satisfies, try Mosh Bars. Founded by Maria Shriver and her son Patrick Schwarzenegger, MASH was created to spark conversation around brain health. After Maria's father battled Alzheimer's, they partnered with top scientists to create bars made with brain supporting ingredients like Ashwagandha, Lion's Mane, Collagen, Omega 3s and Cognizant. There are nine flavors including plant based options and all taste amazing. Plus Mash donates proceeds to women's Alzheimer's research. If you'd like to find ways to give back to others and fuel your body and your brain, Mosh Bars are the perfect choice for you. Head to moshlife.com nerve to save 20% off plus free shipping on the Bestsellers Trial Pack or the new Plant based trial pack. That's 20% off plus free shipping on either the Bestsellers Trial Pack or or the Plant based trial pack at M-O-S-H-L-I-F E.com nerve and thank you Mosh for sponsoring this episode.

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Joining us now is a film expert as CNIAST. We are calling James from Corporate Now. James is one of my longtime friends and we love nothing more than talking about film, film and television together. James is one of the smartest people I know. He's very, very, very well versed and has very interesting takes on things that you may not see coming. And one of the reasons I love talking to him and thought, I thought it would be so great to bring him to all of you guys is we often disagree and it makes my consideration of any given film or television show that much more interesting because James is so smart I have to consider it from his point of view. So we are thrilled to welcome James from Corporate who we cannot see. It's almost like he's in the Witness Protection program. But we have this lovely avatar of James from Corporate made for all of us and we are going to talk in the run up to the Oscars, it's two days away about some of these Oscar nominated films, performances and what both of us think in general about the state of movies, moviemaking and Hollywood. Welcome to the Nerve James.

[C]

Oh my gosh Maureen, I'm so happy to be here. It's such an honor. I love talking movies with you Feel like a martini in hand. Us disagreeing about Oppenheimer, Something like that. It was just a real memories for me. So I'm very.

[A]

Yes to be. It's the only thing we're missing. Talking about. I remember talking to you too about Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. And you were like, well, have you read Tarantino's book? What was his book called? I have it.

[C]

The companion book to the movie.

[A]

No, no, no. He wrote a book about cinema.

[C]

Oh, yes, yes.

[A]

I forget the title and I have the book on my pile, but I haven't read it yet. So anyway. Okay, we will get into it. Now. I want to begin with Marty supreme because I know you are a big fan of the Safdie brothers. Did you get a chance to see the film?

[C]

I did, I did.

[A]

Okay, we're going to start with this scene in Marty Supreme. This scene, I talked about it on an earlier nerve. It stopped me in my tracks. It is a sex scene between Timothy Shyamalama Ding dong and the 20 something year older, years older, Gwyneth Paltrow. And he's got. He's, he's. He's having sex with her from behind and he's got his hand around her throat. Here we go. Sorry, Ms. Stone wanted to let you know that she'd love to have lunch with you.

[B]

Miss Stone?

[A]

Yes, Miss Stone is Gwyneth Smash. Cut to this. It's so. Okay, that's it. That's all I want to see of that. Because I hate it. I hate it. Now granted, James, this is just a moment out of a film, but I find this part of my larger problem with movies being made by men of a certain generation right now, which is their sex scenes are all too often derived from porn. And I think this is incredibly dangerous messaging. What do you think?

[C]

I think that's totally fair. I think the movie is about a juvenile. Right? It's someone who has a. You know, his relationships with women are suspect. The way he treats women are clearly it's inappropriate. It's wrong. His relationship with his mother, his. His girlfriend who's pregnant with his child's

[A]

boy and married to another man.

[C]

Married to another man. You know, it's a depiction. I mean the trope of like a bad men trope is overused. But this is a clear example of it. Totally understand. I mean, you know, Gwyneth, her interest in doing it, the reason why this actress is pursuing this person, that's sort of interesting for me.

[A]

Okay, but let's separate that out a little Bit it's. Or rather separate that. So Gwyneth as an actress taking this part versus Gwyneth. She's playing an actress who has aged out.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And find some sort of validation in the attentions of this young man who has lit up the world. Let's just talk about the premise for a moment as the emerging king of the high stakes world of underground ping pong in New York City.

[C]

Maureen. I kind of love it though. Like, why do we care about half of the Winter Olympics? Like these folks that are great in very obscure sports. Or it's like.

[A]

But they're death defying. James Fair. That's a. I mean like the Safdie brothers are treating underground ping pong like they're. It's Fast Eddie Felson in the Color of Money or the Hustler. But what like, like ping pong? You're a native New Yorker, James.

[C]

And it's a murderer's row of New Yorkers. Marianne from Brooklyn, Right? Did you see Marianne?

[A]

I didn't know Marianne from Brooklyn, a stalwart of the Howard Stern show. I did not know she was in there. I mean, I do feel that the Safdie brothers casting of non actors is very kind of gimmicky. It's like, oh, Crazy Eddie's in here. It's like they'll grab anybod. You know, I. I know it's Josh Safdie. It's not the two of them. I'm sorry.

[C]

Which I think is fascinating. They're like commercial divorce. They're very public divorce of one another. I think is really interesting. And I think it was interesting who was going to make the more interesting movie. 11 very much seemed like Oscar bait with that movie with the rock in it.

[A]

Smashing Machine, which was Benny's. Yeah.

[C]

And this one that sort of carries on very much the same energy of their previous movies. Which to me reads as Josh is really the talented one. I know it's sort of separate subject, but I do think it's interesting and I do totally understand your issues with the depiction of masculinity and sex through the male lens there. That's who this film was about. And I think it's like Gwyneth's character being interested in him. Certainly. Would you say it's her trying to get back to sort of youthful romance where you're not really treated well? I'm curious your perspective on why an actress like that would entertain a relationship with a man like that.

[A]

An actress, meaning the actress Gwyneth is playing in the film. Why she Would this to me is fundamentally where the movie's way, way off and where the, where Josh Safdie is way, way off. I mean the, the split between the Safdie brothers goes to a young teenage actress, a scientist, 17 year old on the set of one of their films, almost getting raped by a homeless drug addict who had a rap sheet like a mile long. So that's a problem right there. And you know, the trope of sort of the, the bad boy with like the heart of gold or the bad boy who's like indiscretions you can forgive because they're in pursuit of something greater. You know, their, their, their ambition outstrips most of what most of us could ever accomplish. I don't think the story is told through that lens at all. And I think there's been a laxity with that ever since Tony Soprano really. And this idea of like the difficult man, Timmy looks like he's 12 years old, you know. And Julia Roberts reportedly turned that, that role down after multiple offers where they were like, here's 20 million, just do it. And she was like, I'm gonna look like I'm molesting a child. And she was right. And I just. The movie, to me, the problem with it, there were many problems, but one is it was always at 11, like it never took a breath, it never gave you a breath. And yet it felt every minute of its like nearly three hour long running length and the character is eminently unlikable. There is not a single redeeming feature. And this is a big ask, I think, a big ask. And it neglects the female half of the moviegoing audience who's going to be completely turned off by this.

[C]

I think that's totally fair. But it is consistent with, with Josh Saf's other films like Good Time with Robert Pattinson or Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler. Both irredeemable characters and like thrill ride, anxiety inducing, never lets up. That is what Josh is interested in. And I have to, I don't think you give him credit for this, but I do give Shamalama Ding dong I love you credit for interesting choices. He could make any movie he wants to make. Adam Sandler can make any movie he wants to make. They want to work with this person. And I think it's an interesting choice and I do think, you know, I have major issues with three hour movies. I think I still don't want to see Frankenstein, Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein because that's, I don't know, is it a six part miniseries it's really long. This movie held my attention the whole time. And I definitely agree that there are faults. It's not. It's not a movie I'd actually want to watch again, but I'm happy to have seen it.

[A]

Interesting. Okay, moving on. I want to talk about one battle after another. Director Paul Thomas Anderson probably considered right after Quentin Tarantino. I don't think Christopher Nolan would be considered Gen X. I could be wrong. He reads as a boomer to me, but I feel as though Paul Thomas Anderson is often sort of grouped in with the likes of Quentin Tarantino as a Gen X visionary. And one battle after another, I could not get through it. I found it aggressively off putting. I found it aggressively to be a polemic in no way subtle. And I will say, though, my favorite. This might be my favorite scene of the year. And we're gonna watch it together, James. And then I'm gonna narrate it for the listening audience and then we will talk about it. I am very interested in your thoughts. Here we go. This is a love scene involving Tiana Taylor Teller. He's a black radical activist pushing a naked Sean Penn up against a wall, and she is anally violating him with his firearm. And he is loving it. James.

[C]

Yes. So my whole take with this movie starts with the miscast of Teyana Taylor.

[A]

Thank you.

[C]

A lot of people have an issue with this movie because the prologue doesn't work. And it's a little bit about the

[A]

prologue and why it doesn't work.

[C]

Well, first of all, just her casting alone, really just like it's. And this is trying to find a better way to say this, but I find that her. What I. Appears to me like her plastic surgery is very distracting. She has sort of like that cat face that almost think of like a Lauren Sanchez. It just doesn't read to me at all as being authentic of a revolutionary as someone like of that world.

[D]

It's just.

[C]

I think that alone was.

[A]

That's a great point. That's a great point. And she's. She's partnered in the film. She. Her. Her lover is Leonardo DiCaprio, and they are aggressively depicted as having no money.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, and so. Yeah. Where is she getting the money for this to look? Plastic surgery almost. Kardashian eyes. The beginning of the film was a huge problem for me because to me, that's telling me Paul Thomas Anderson's thesis. She's wanting to F. Leo DiCaprio in the aftermath of them or as they watch something blow up a bomb that

[C]

they set yeah, yeah, yeah. That casting. She's sort of anointed as someone new and important. I'm not sure who is behind that and who's backing her, but that she really took me out of the movie. It took like another. Took a full hour for me to sort of settle in. And I really like the young actress, the daughter, I think Regina Chase Infinity. Yeah, Chase Infinity.

[D]

She.

[C]

She worked for me. I think Regina hall, who was like her guardian leader in the movie, would have been perfect as the. As the Tana Taylor character whose name

[A]

in the film is Perfidia Beverly Hills. And again, this kind of non subtlety drives me crazy. It's like, okay, I get your point. If I didn't get your point. Watching this woman try to convince Leonardo DiCaprio to have sex as they watch some film federal property blow up, you know, then I get it when you name her Perfidia Perfidious Beverly Hills.

[C]

I see this movie as Paul Thomas Anderson's Jackie Brown. It's like him doing blaxploitation. I think Leo's great in it. I think he just for his career. It's almost like when Martin Score says he won the Oscar for the Departed when that was not his best movie by.

[A]

Did he, did he win director for the Departed?

[C]

I think he won best picture for the Departed.

[A]

I will say I think the Departed is a superlative film. You know, it may be a little bit too pop culturally, like in the middle, like middle brow. I think front to back, it's a perfect movie.

[C]

It's great movie. But like it's not goodfellas or Casino or Taxi Driver. So all those, you know, that There Will Be Bloods, the Boogie Nights, the movies that sort of led up to this. Ultimately this will be what I think should be a retrospective award for Paul Thomas Anderson, but not his best work. And I think it really comes down to that casting of Tyyana Taylor.

[A]

I think the films again, way too long storytelling way too sloppy. I think Paul Thomas Anderson needed a really good editor. Not just in that editing suite, but on the page. I think he's gotten to that point in your career where it's when you act. Directors and writers who. And even visual artists who reach a certain point in their career all too often they determine that they know best. And that's where things get really messy. It's just their art gets sloppy and it gets very self indulgent. I think to my mind, the best Paul Thomas Anderson movie is Magnolia. I think that's his best work, if not overstuffed.

[C]

Though, Maureen, that's like three and a half hours long.

[A]

True that. Yes. That is a very.

[C]

It is a very long check he had on that one.

[A]

Yeah. Again, it does. Nothing needs to be that long. It doesn't need to be that long. Okay, I want to talk to you about Weapons, Please, which was the film of the summer. And people I know whose opinions I really respect loved it. The reviews were glowing. The trailer was enticing. I could not get through the movie. Halfway through, I bailed. I really tried to stick with it and I have really, you know, I was. I went to Catholic school. I was raised as a completist. You open a book, you finish a book. I can't do this to myself. This is the problem to me with so many of these Oscar nominated films. Not only were they enough to get me into a movie theater, which is one of my favorite places when it comes time to stream them, I don't want to finish the movie. I'm bored. And Weapons for me was one of those. What was it like for you?

[C]

I loved it. It's my favorite movie of the year. I think Zach Kreger, the director and writer who's I think going on now to do a big budget movie, he's leaving these sort of horror indie roots and now doing I think Resident Evil, which is a video game. Yep. Amy Madigan is the only person I really care the Oscars. Was I interested in the Oscars five years ago? Potentially not now. I really couldn't care less about the interesting ceremony. Although I do love film. Amy Madigan is the only one I care about. I will tune in to see if she wins or not because I thought she did such a wonderful job as I agree.

[A]

But I do think with Amy Madigan, with that performance, half of that Oscar belongs to hair, makeup and wardrobe.

[C]

Fair. 100% hair makeup without that visual.

[A]

When we first see her and you're. It takes your breath away. And we've never seen a character like this on screen before, which is a difficult thing to do. Admittedly, my problem with Weapons a the storytelling where I realized they were telling the same day just through the lenses of different people. And I thought that the writer director wasn't quite sure really where he wanted to go with it. And spoiler alert for anybody who hasn't seen it. But I think my problem with it was that it didn't lean into what it really is. An allegory for Weapons is an allegory for school shootings.

[C]

Yeah, I think that's totally fair. I think he's talked about that. He also talked. So have you ever read the book, Maureen? Visit from a Goon Squad.

[A]

Oh, Jennifer Egan's Visit from A Visit from the Goon Squat. Yes, I've read it twice. I love that book. It's a masterpiece.

[C]

When I was watching the movie, I actually said to my wife, it reminds me of Visit from a Goon Squad. He has also talked about that. I think there's a lot of things that play there. I think, yes. Did he not fully lean into the themes that he was trying to present? Ultimately, it is a genre film. It's a horror genre film. And I do think he. Now, he. He brought something new, unlike the other horror film we're going to talk about, to that genre in its depiction of the supernatural witch element. I thought that was extremely entertaining in terms of the shooting allegory. That is a. Has any movie really done that well? I feel like that's such a tough subject to cover and do it successfully.

[A]

I mean, it's an independent film and it was nominated for Oscars. I don't know if it won any, but we need to talk about Kevin. Which was. Which was what? It was an adaptation of the Lionel Shriver novel. It didn't pretend to be a horror film or an allegory of any kind, but there's that scene in the police department where I believe Josh Brolin walks in and he's like, hey, like, where are you in this investigation? And you see the faces of the missing children and you go, this is so clearly an allegory for school shootings in America and this plague and it. That, to me is the true horror story. Right. Like, you don't. I just feel like you don't. Like, I just felt there was a resistance, whether it was on the part of the filmmaker or the part of the studio to truly go there. You know, when you find out that there the kids are in the basement, Amy Madigan's basement, you're like, it feels like Stephen King light to me. You know? Okay, moving on to Sinners. Now tell me your. From 1 to 10, what is your level of fandom when it comes to the writer, director Ryan Coogler?

[C]

Very middle the road. I would, you know, in talking. It's the most nominated film of the year. Right.

[A]

Sinners is.

[C]

Sinners is the most nominated film in Oscars history. I talk about not. Is it. It is officially.

[A]

Stop it.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Stop it. Okay. This is where DEI comes. In my opinion, this is not a masterpiece. This is a vampire movie. That's it. Go on, James.

[C]

Sorry. It's a vampire movie that doesn't really do anything interesting with vampires. I totally agree, but I, you know, going back, I feel like you have to start with the movie that really made his name and made him a household name, Black Panther. I felt the same thing with that movie where I saw that opening weekend after all the wonderful reviews, thinking it was going to be like a genre defining superhero film. It was okay. It was okay at best. It gets.

[A]

I felt the same way. Like the culture had conspired to get everybody into that movie theater. It was a cultural moment. If you didn't see that movie, you were not part of the conversation. And I remember watching it thinking the production values were for shit like, like the green screens. Oh my God, everything. They put no money into that movie.

[C]

CGI orgy, third act problems. That sort of typical superhero had nothing really. I don't think it had much interesting to say on the superhero genre. And I would also say too, like, Michael B. Jordan seemingly was in a different movie. I remember thinking like, this guy isn't quite fitting this movie. He sort of, he was acting in a totally different movie than everybody else in that. Which leads me to Sinners. Michael B. Jordan playing twins. I couldn't tell you one thing from the next in terms of the twins he's playing. And you would think as like an actor playing twins is such a great opportunity to show range.

[A]

To show, oh yeah.

[C]

And it's the same person. The only thing I can differentiate is like the women that they're dating, but there's really nothing else. So I, I find Michael B. Jordan to be certainly a leading man, but a man with no range. Like, he's really not a compelling screen actor.

[A]

He's not. I think he's. I think he's good in the right kind of genre film. Like I found him very appealing in

[C]

Creed, which he's playing himself. I had that same thought. I feel like he was great in the Wire. Wonderful as a kid in the Wire. Creed, he's totally compelling, but it's kind of like a version of himself, a rich celebrity, this movie. I don't know. He really didn't work for me. He wasn't interesting. I thought that vampires. The Irish actor, I think John Josh Colony, that the best.

[A]

Not familiar.

[C]

The, the vampire character, he was really interesting. I thought the dance sequences were interesting. Visually.

[A]

Felt like filler to me though. It felt like filler. I was like, I'm. I'm trying to watch this film and there's so much space between the dialogue and there's, there's so much of a, of a focus on the cinematography for cinematography's sake and not in say like a way that like a Terrence Malick.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Approaches filmmaking. It felt like filler. It felt like we're trying to fill time until we get to the orgiastic explosion slash reveal that this is a vampire movie and there's just blood going everywhere. And it just felt, I felt like those were two different movies I was watching. I thought I was watching some sort of very important again, historical allegory about slavery or the Jim Crow South. And it's, it's a cheapening of that stuff to use it in that way to try to elevate what is just a vampire movie.

[C]

100. I think, you know, you talk about the dying effect of like movie stars and I think part of it is they're really trying to anoint him as someone important. And you know, his award is already that he got all the money. Like his movie made a ton of money. He's gonna make whatever he wants to make next. It is in my opinion, not deserving of any Oscars. It's. It may be for special effects or any of those like below the line awards, but they're trying to anoint him as a Christopher Nolan esque person whose movies, when they come to theaters, are events in themselves.

[A]

Coogler, you mean Coogler. Yeah, I agree.

[C]

Because that is like their only real strategy to get people in theaters. It's no longer like you want to see Tom Holland in a movie or Zendaya, you want to see Christopher Nolan do the Odyssey and that's like that. So in my view that's. And they've been trying to do it with him for a while, but it's. He's not quite there. And his. He's a genre filmmaker who makes commercial movies. That should be enough. He's a J.J. abrams. He's not a Steven Spielberg.

[A]

Yes, he is a J.J. abrams. He is not a Steven Spielberg and he's not going to be a Christopher Nolan. And this is the problem with Hollywood when you, you try to dupe a paying audience like to go to the movies post Covid. It's such a pain in the neck and it's so expensive. And now that every movie is a three hour long running time, it's like taking up your entire day. And you get there and you're like, I've been sold a false bill of goods. Like where's just a decent movie? And it completely repel like before Talking to you, I was. I was thinking about this, like, there are a million things I cannot catch up on in terms of new stuff that's on streaming versus films that I feel like I'm doing my homework with in order to talk about them at the Oscars. And I'm going to go to our last regrettably entrant, which I feel, which I loved. It's an outlier for me. I feel very passionate about it. I feel if there's anybody who has been robbed of Oscars, it's Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke and Ethan Hawke in Richard Linklater's Blue Moon in a film that is set on one night in one location. And these are very tricky to pull off because they can feel like plays. They can feel very static and one dimensional. And this movie has heart and passion and it's got grammatical, specificity. And we're going to show this one clip where I practically leapt out of my skin. And then you and I are going to talk about Blue Moon. James. Here we go. Oklahoma. With an exclamation point, no less. Fact.

[C]

Any title that feels the need for

[B]

an exclamation point you want to steer

[A]

clear of, that's Ethan Hawke as the very real composer, slash lyricist, or lyricist, rather, Lorenz Hart, on one of the last nights of his life. Or if not the last night of his life. Talk to me, James, about your thoughts about not only Blue Moon, but the Linklater Hawk collaboration and why it is Ethan Hawke is so criminally neglected by the Academy because I also think he was extremely strong, an extremely strong contender for best supporting actor in Training Day, which is a classic. It's a genre film, but it is a masterstroke of filmmaking. Go ahead.

[C]

Yeah, I agree. Blue Moon was one of my favorites. You know, I hope I don't offend you here, but it's a perfect movie to see on an airplane. I did see it on an airplane, James.

[A]

Oh, no offense at all taken.

[C]

I love watching movies like Settle in at this bar, enjoy to me very much a stage play, but just moves at a pace where it felt leisurely to watch. It was like a wonderful movie to see on Plan. So I recommend anybody tuning in to do that. I really, I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was phenomenal. I thought. Link later. Yes, you're right. Link later and Hawk have a long storied history. Anyone that's seen the before After Sunrise movies know the trilogy. This is a really talented and special partnership that they have. Similarly to, I feel as Paul Thomas Anchor to Paul Thomas Anderson should be celebrated for his career. These two should be celebrated for their

[A]

partnership 100%, I don't think since. And theirs is a very different tone and tenor than say Scorsese and De Niro, but it's. It's a very similar way in which they feed off of each other. And to my money, one of the most so, so Blue Moon, by the way, is just, it's. It's Lorenz Hart and he is losing everything to alcoholic and self pity and his partner has just done Oklahoma and is clearly going on to bigger and better things without him. And it's about art, it's about unrequited love. It's about a kind of artist who is just determined to do themselves in and never be successful. Ethan Hawke makes this guy somebody you want to listen to all night long. But to my mind, one of the. I thought this film should have just won every Oscar. There was Boyhood, the Linklater Hawk film, which they filmed over the span of, I want to say 8 to 10 years once a year. And it's the story of a young boy coming of age and Ethan Hawke is the father, Patricia Arquette is the mother. And they kept that project a secret, much as they keep the before after movies a secret. And it was just ignored, it was neglected. And I simply think it's because Linklater and Hawk don't really play the game. Richard Linklater lives and works out of Austin, Texas. He has no use for Hollywood or any of the machinery. But I'm taking up too much time. Tell me your thoughts.

[C]

I. Boyhood to me was an interesting like film idea than it was a movie to me.

[A]

I mean interesting.

[C]

You know, it worked for me, but it was obviously a smaller movie. I used to live in the same neighborhood as Ethan Hawke and I would see him regularly out in Cobble Hill area. He was always like the warmest person. Feel like I would.

[A]

That's so nice to hear.

[C]

Like again, I never really had interactions with him, I never talked to him, but it was just, it wasn't like you were bothering him if you noticed him. It was just like a nice exchange you had. You would move on with your day. So I'll always be an Ethan Hawk fan just for that. Just for those like eye contact moments we had. I totally agree. I think they should celebrate him with the best actor. I think that would in essence commemorate their partnership together. You shared the scene of Oklahoma, exclamation mark. I wanted to ask, are you going to see the bride? Exclamation mark this weekend? No.

[A]

And you know why? Okay. Maggie Gyllenhaal. I am not a fan. I interviewed her once and she was doing a play at bam. This was years and years and years ago, way before she was like, really famous. And she was really offended that I dared to ask her about, like an independent, like, female owned designer from New York that she tended to wear. It was an article for the New York Post and it was like, I'm an actor. I'm like, I'm, you know, whatever. But. So that's another movie. It's starring Jessie Buckley, who is high on her own supply. And this is one of those things where again, the Hollywood machinery, aided and abetted by critics who are all too malleable, are saying, this is a must see film. And the reviews coming out of these advanced screenings are. It's terrible.

[C]

As a fan, can you please hate watch this movie? We need, like, we need you to hate watch this. Give us your review. Similar as you did to the Sex and the City spin off series. Like, we need a detailed breakdown from Maureen on how the Bride, exclamation mark, did for you in theaters.

[A]

Okay, I will, I will take that on. By the way, James, if you're not, if you're not watching, I know you're very busy in corporate, but love story, JFK Jr. And Carolyn Bessette, we're breaking that down every week, which is super fun. I will do it. Number one. Okay, that little scene we played from Oklahoma, there's a longer exchange. I think it's E.B. white who Lorenz Hart starts talking to in that bar. And Ethan Hawke's character is perseverating. Excuse me. On the use of the exclamation point in the title of Oklahoma. And then he goes on to all his other grammatical like, hang ups. And it just like it speaks to the inner grammarian in me. I've never seen it represented on film before. But secondly, yes. And you know, my other problem with the Bride, which is going to be treated as though by the critics and the industry, as though it is visually groundbreaking. She just ripped off Heath Ledger as the joker for that makeup of Jessie Buckley as the Bride. That's it.

[C]

Yeah, it's getting compared to the Joker movies not starring Heath Ledger, the ones with Joaquin Phoenix, in terms of them being a mess and just nihilistic. I again have no interest in seeing it, but I would love to hear you see it.

[A]

Why are you not going to see it? I mean, you, you're interested. You're like me are interested in films that go wrong as much as films that go very right. Like I am very interested in art that goes wrong because you can learn a lot about what never to do right in of terms terms of storytelling.

[C]

Book the Snake Ate its Tail. I'm gonna see it when it comes out on streaming and judge it from there and and start and stop it when I need to because it's gonna be painful to watch.

[A]

Same. And my last question to you because I started this movie the other night and I will finish it though I'm finding it tougher going than I would have suspected. Sentimental Value with Stellan Skarsgard, Elle Fanning and the young actress who I believe I didn't have a chance to look it up, but I think she's the same actress who starred in the that great independent film the Worst Person in the World, which I loved and anybody who hasn't seen it watch that film. The Worst Person in the World.

[C]

Fame, writer, director. Sentimental.

[A]

Oh, is it okay, now I have a. This is helping sort of reframe my feelings about sentimental value. Have you seen it?

[C]

I have not. It's a blind spot. I do love the Worst Person in the World so it's number one on my list before the Oscars.

[A]

Okay. You and I will discuss at a later date. Yes, thank you James from corporate for joining to discuss all the Oscar films before. We will talk to you again soon, we hope.

[C]

Wonderful, Maureen, you have a great day.

[A]

You too, James. That does it. That does it for our Friday edition of the Nerve. But troublemakers, there is an Easter egg in today's Nerve for tomorrow's Mini. You are not going to want to miss it. It is a celebration. Come back. See us tomorrow for our Mini Nerve. It drops on YouTube at 10am Eastern. If you haven't already, check out our [e-mail] Be sure to subscribe. Plus nerve merch. Grab something for yourself or a fellow troublemaker@shop thenerve.com we will see you tomorrow for the Mini and then again next week on Sunday between the Mini and next week Sunday Oscars livestream right here at the Nerve where you will never guess what we're about to say next. Sick of scrolling the same old apps. Have some fun with your downtime on champacasino.com play over 100 free online social casino games for your chance to redeem some serious prizes. No purchase necessary. BGW Group void where prohibited by law. 21 plus terms and conditions apply.

[C]

Why have I asked my electrician? I found on Angie.com to bury my pet hamster. I was so moved by how carefully

[A]

he buried my electrical wires, I knew I could trust him to bury my sweet nibbles after his untimely end.

[B]

This is very strange, Angie. The one you trust to find the ones you trust. Find pros for all your home [e-mail].