Reality Recap: Pod Save America’s Jon Lovett on Being Voted Off First on ‘Survivor’

It’s never fun to be the first one voted off a reality show, but that’s exactly what just happened to Pod Save America’s Jon Lovett on ‘Survivor.’ Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott recaps this wild week in reality TV (Anna Delvey on Dancing with the Stars was interesting) and chats with Jon about being the first one voted off. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bestselling author Rumaan Alam is happy to come out of hiding to promote his new novel Entitlement (September 17). “I spend all of my time here in this room hunched over this very computer, it's nice to have an opportunity to exist outside of that.” After the massive success of his last book, Leave the World Behind, Alam is once again focusing on class, but this time honing in on money. “We valorized the rich in this society, and by the same token, one must logically admit that we disregard the poor.” Entitlement follows Brooke as she navigates the sometimes-disturbing world of the megarich and the concerning impact it can have on regular people (whatever regular means anymore). “You can't help engaging or understanding yourself and your accomplishments in American life via money.” Set in the not-too-distant past, the novel says a lot about where we are now and how we got here. “[Michael] Bloomberg as mayor was a fascinating cultural turn. It was the point at which we accepted if you are rich, maybe you know how to do something better. Which is obviously, on the face of it, ridiculous...the end result of that is Donald Trump. Somebody who is not gifted at anything, but feels like he presents himself like he is by virtue of his wealth.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fresh off his Tony nomination for Mother Play, Jim Parsons is back on Broadway in Our Town. So, does he not like taking a break? "Until [Big Bang Theory] wrapped in 2019, I did not really know what it was to take a break that was not only extended, but also uncertain." The reason for back-to-back shows—besides theater being "more alive for me now as it...ever has been"—is that "within days of agreeing to one, another came," and, "I felt very strongly that I wanted to do both." Parsons plays the stage manager in Our Town, guiding the audience through "one of the better-known plays in the entire canon of theater, and with a cast of 28." "I said it to Kenny [Leon], the director, in rehearsal the other day, 'This is the first time in a long time that I've worked on something and I thought I could see not really getting tired of [it].'" Parsons knows many will always see Big Bang Theory's Sheldon in his performances, and he's fine with that, because the sitcom "undoubtedly offered me more opportunities as an actor and as a human than without it, there's just no doubt about it."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Taylor Swift has officially declared herself THE childless cat lady after endorsing Kamala Harris. What impact will it have on the election? Also, we now have a trailer and release date for the Donald Trump biopic ‘The Apprentice,’ and we also know why he doesn’t want you to see it. Finally, who will win at the Emmys this year? To help make sense of it all and predict the big winners, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by entertainment reporter Cameron Scheetz.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When you think of Mormons, you don’t usually think of soft-swinging. But for a group of social media influencers, it was not only a fact, but also the perfect opportunity for a reality show. (Because it’s 2024 and that’s what we do now.) Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows Taylor Frankie Paul, the leader of a group of women known as MomTok online, after she caused a storm revealing the group of popular Mormon social media influencers were soft-swinging. The Hulu reality series follows Taylor and the group in the aftermath of the scandal. It also shows Mormons in a whole new light. Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott chats with Taylor and fellow co-star Jessi Ngatikaura about the new series, the scandal, and how it will impact the image of Mormons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Terry Crews, there are no rules. “There used to be so many rules. They used to say, ‘you can’t do TV, you must only do movies, you can’t do commercials.’” But Crews has proven you can do all of those things and more. He just joined pal Dave Bautista in The Killer’s Game (September 13). Crews loves that it’s funny, saying “to make people laugh is probably the hardest job in entertainment, because no one can agree on what’s funny.” He also loves that “it wasn’t three hours. I’ve had it with the three-hour movies.” Whether it’s acting or hosting America’s Got Talent, Crews says he polished his comedy skills in an unexpected place while in the NFL. “I honed my skills trying to make other athletes laugh in the locker room.” He’ll be putting that skill to use in the upcoming animated reboot of Everybody Hates Chris. “I have been floored by the acceptance of things I’ve done in the past that have all of a sudden become bigger.” Crews is aware how rare he has it. “I’m an old football player, so everything I’m doing is already past what anyone ever expected.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We just experienced what is likely to be the only debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, and it was raining cats and dogs. (More on that in a bit.) The big question is, who won? Did Kamala Harris define herself?  And was Donald Trump able to stay on message? H. Alan Scott was joined by Newsweek’s Jesse Edwards to break it all down.  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.

Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney is just as much of a ‘Sopranos’ fan as you and I are. That’s why he’s turning his attention to ‘Sopranos’ creator David Chase in his new two-part HBO documentary ‘Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos.’ The doc looks at the origins of what inspired the Emmy-winning series and how it pulls from Chase’s own life. Gibney joins Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott to talk about ‘The Sopranos,’ what surprised him about his chats with Chase, and yes, we talked about that iconic last episode too. (Because how can we not?)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Kamala Harris bunkers down in debate prep, Donald Trump is preparing by doing a lot of nothing. “Not a lot to do,” he told a New Hampshire radio station. Meanwhile, Republicans like John McCain’s son Jimmy and former Rep. Liz Cheney have said they’re voting for Harris. As all this is going on, RNC co-chair, Lara Trump, has decided to dabble in music. (Yes, music.) To help make sense of it all, Newsweek’s H. Alan Scott is joined by writer and comedian Will Weldon (host of the podcast ‘I Hate Bill Maher’). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carrie Coon is having such a moment right now, even though you may not recognize her. (And she’s fine with that.) “I rarely am recognized. It may be the age I am, partly, but it's also I don't present in the world like any kind of film star.” The Emmy-nominated star of The Gilded Age will next be seen in Netflix’s His Three Daughters (September 20). “The relationships feel real, the dynamics feel believable, and yet it's still an Azazel Jacobs movie.” While Coon was taken by the story of three daughters caring for their ill father, it was working alongside Natasha Lyonne and Elizabeth Olsen that sealed the deal. “I immediately signed on when I heard their names.” While her family thinks of her as “lighthearted,” she admits she often plays, “high strung, anxious people.” “I'm not afraid of robust language. I'm not afraid of theatricality on camera. I love a big, bold, truthful performance. I don't feel like you always have to be small for camera. And sometimes, frankly, I think it's really boring.” While she’s “grateful no one ever recognizes me,” that could change soon with her appearance in the third season of The White Lotus. Until then, Coon says right now things are as they should be. “I wouldn't have it any other way.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.