The Parting Shot with H. Alan Scott

If you ask Bette Midler how she got her part in the new film ‘The Fabulous Four,’ it wouldn’t have anything to do with her legendary status as an Oscar-nominated actor. “I think they needed a ham, a big ole ham.” Midler plays Marilyn, a widow getting remarried who rekindles a friendship with three college girlfriends (Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally). “No actor doesn’t like to chew the scenery, even if they don’t admit it. So, to have the permission to pull out all the stops is always great.” Also great was working with her costars. “Working with these women was really an eye-opener because everybody’s process is different.” Midler’s performance is so fun partly because it gives fans another taste of her Divine Miss M stage persona, albeit as Marilyn. “[People] expect me to be her, and I’m not. I’ve got her, and then I’ve got me. Since I’ve taken a step back from that truly active life of touring, I find myself getting quieter. I know people want her to come back. I do love her. In a way, she’s still tweeting, but in real life, you can’t be on 24/7. You’ll die. You’ll just die.” Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The last day of the Republican National Convention proved to be memorable (and very, very weird). It involved Kid Rock (I know), Hulk Hogan (I KNOW) and a lot of awkward dancing to music you know those people at the convention center have never heard before. But it all culminated in Donald Trump’s highly anticipated speech as he accepted his party’s nomination for president. (And he accepted that nomination in a 90 minute plus speech. Yes, 90 minutes!) Newsweek’s Jenni Fink joins H. Alan Scott to break it all down. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Lisa Kudrow was approached to star in a serialized adaptation of the 1981 film ‘Time Bandits’ for TV (July 24th on Apple TV+), she jumped at the chance to work with creators Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement and Iain Morris. “I love the way they tell stories and their sense of humor.” In this version, Kudrow plays Penelope, the leader of a group of thieves on a time-traveling mission to save the world. Kudrow’s part was originally written for a man, “so it took a long time before the scripts stopped having male pronouns.” One thing Kudrow responded to was Penelope’s false sense of confidence. “I just love that kind of fake thing. That’s the confidence that’s fun to play. I like to inhabit confidence.” Despite her character “facing danger every episode,” Penelope still finds a way to be a blunt and possibly mean leader­—in a funny way—to her group, which includes an 11-year-old boy. “There were talks about, ‘Should I, just in case, do a take where I’m not so mean?’” But that behavior only exists in her character. “I don’t act like that. I don’t have as much to prove as Penelope does.” Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day three of the Republican National Convention featured the crowning of JD Vance as Trump’s VP pick, the return of Donald Trump Jr., and somehow Matt Gaetz’s face went viral.  Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the third night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink.  All week H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the GOP Convention. Visit newsweek.com for more coverage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day two of the Republican National Convention played out like a reality show, with just as any reality TV show stars in attendance. It was a night of unity, a lot of kissing the ring of Donald Trump, and a lot of humanizing Trump. Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the second night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink. (The two also talk about merch and how Nikki Haley is like Lisa Rinna from ‘The Real Housewives.’) All week H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the GOP Convention. Visit newsweek.com for more coverage.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day one of the Republican National Convention was both inspiring and weird. Listen as Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps the first night of the convention with Newsweek’s Jenni Fink. From Donald Trump’s first appearance after the assassination attempt, the announcement of JD Vance as Trump’s V.P. pick, and, oh yeah, Amber Rose spoke, we’re talking about it all. (Why?!!?) All week H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the GOP Convention. Visit newsweek.com for more coverage. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All week long, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott will be reacting to the Republican National Convention, the biggest event on TV this week. The attempted assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump will certainly change the tone of the convention, but what impact will it have on the campaign? Newsweek’s Jenni Fink and Alex Backus join to talk all about it. Follow along all week.  Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A little under 10 years ago, Disney introduced the Descendants franchise, giving new life to their iconic animated characters in a modern live-action TV movie. The premise worked. “It is just truly such a killer concept,” says Kylie Cantrall, who stars as Red, the daughter of Alice in Wonderland’s Queen of Hearts (played by Rita Ora), in their latest installment Descendants: The Rise of Red. In the film, Red and Chloe (Malia Baker), the daughter of Cinderella, team up to save their fantasy world from extinction. Brandy Norwood reprises her role as Cinderella, which she first played in the now-classic 1997 TV movie Cinderella, reuniting with Paolo Montalban as Prince Charming. “They still have such a soft spot for each other. They just have the best chemistry.” For Cantrall, who rose to fame playing the lead in Disney Channel series Gabby Duran & the Unsittables, getting this part “has felt so pinch me and so surreal.” From here, Cantrall hopes to keep growing into her career. “I’m maturing, my art is maturing as well, and it’s cool to see that reflected in the art I’m making.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s H. Alan Scott’s birthday, and in honor of his birthday he invited a celebrity on who also just happens to be one of his closest friends, KimChi from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race.’ The two talk about what KimChi has planned for RuPaul’s DragCon in July, KimChi Chic Beauty and KimChi’s podcast ‘1 For the Table.’ RuPaul’s DragCon LA 2024 is presented by World of Wonder, and will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday July 19th and Saturday July 20th. To purchase tickets to DragCon LA, please visit rupaulsdragcon.com  and use code ‘HALANSCOTT’ for a discount.  Follow KimChi: https://kimchithequeen.com/ Check out KimChi Chic Beauty: https://kimchichicbeauty.com/ Listen to KimChi’s podcast ‘1 For the Table’: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-for-the-table/id1671553844 Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Hollywood to Washington, there’s one question everyone is asking: What is Joe Biden going to do? After Biden’s disastrous debate performance, prominent donors in Hollywood now want him to drop out of the race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris or other prominent Democrats like Gavin Newsom or Gretchen Whitmer. Considering the amount of money Hollywood pumps into Democratic campaigns, it's a big deal if those power players are making these kinds of threats. Newsweek’s Jenni Fink, senior national news editor, joins H. Alan Scott to talk about the state of the race and what they think Biden is going to say in that big interview he’s doing with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. Visit Newsweek.com to learn more about the podcasts we offer and to catch up on the latest news. While you’re there, subscribe to Newsweek’s ‘For the Culture newsletter. Follow H. Alan Scott on everything at @HAlanScott. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.