The Business

The Business

The Business is a weekly podcast featuring lively banter about entertainment industry news and in-depth interviews with directors, producers, writers and actors. The show is hosted by award-winning journalist Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter and produced by KCRW. Past guests include Norman Lear, Ava DuVernay, Matt Damon and Ice Cube. 

If you subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO NOW--and maybe a couple others--you may feel like your TV streaming plate is pretty full.

A deep dive on an industry in upheaval with analyst Rich Greenfield

If you subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO NOW--and maybe a couple others--you may feel like your TV streaming plate is pretty full.

In Ronan Farrow’s new book, he alleges that NBC News never aired his Harvey Weinstein reporting because the network was being held hostage by Weinstein and his allies, who claimed to…

Hollywood news banter: Explosive allegations against NBC News in Ronan Farrow’s new book

In Ronan Farrow’s new book, he alleges that NBC News never aired his Harvey Weinstein reporting because the network was being held hostage by Weinstein and his allies, who claimed to…

‘Joker’ looks like it’ll go wild at the box office , but there are real concerns that the dark and violent film could risk inspiring actual violence.  What’s next for Endeavor…

Hollywood news banter: ‘Joker’ brings box office rewards, also concerns

‘Joker’ looks like it’ll go wild at the box office , but there are real concerns that the dark and violent film could risk inspiring actual violence.  What’s next for Endeavor…

We sat down recently with filmmaker Kevin Smith in his home studio to talk about his new movie ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’--and a lot of other stuff.  Last week we covered…

Reporter Gary Baum on Stan Lee’s difficult final year and claims of elder abuse

We sat down recently with filmmaker Kevin Smith in his home studio to talk about his new movie ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot’--and a lot of other stuff.  Last week we covered…

This week, filmmaker Kevin Smith is telling us about his role in the attempted rescue of Stan Lee.

Kevin Smith remembers Stan Lee and how he tried to save his hero

This week, filmmaker Kevin Smith is telling us about his role in the attempted rescue of Stan Lee.

In Kevin Smith’s new movie ‘ Jay and Silent Bob Reboot ’ the title characters naturally find themselves with pot problems right off the bat, after authorities storm their makeshift…

Kevin Smith reflects on a changing industry, and takes his new movie on the road

In Kevin Smith’s new movie ‘ Jay and Silent Bob Reboot ’ the title characters naturally find themselves with pot problems right off the bat, after authorities storm their makeshift…

Kevin Feige, the man who built the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is going to visit a galaxy far, far away.

Hollywood news banter: A Star Wars surprise

Kevin Feige, the man who built the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is going to visit a galaxy far, far away.

The new Netflix series ‘ Unbelievable ,’ based on a true story, begins in 2008 with 18-year-old Marie--a young woman struggling to overcome a difficult childhood of abuse and multiple…

Susannah Grant on adapting the real-life story of ‘Unbelievable’ for Netflix

The new Netflix series ‘ Unbelievable ,’ based on a true story, begins in 2008 with 18-year-old Marie--a young woman struggling to overcome a difficult childhood of abuse and multiple…

Another week, another streaming service. This time, NBCUniversal announces the forthcoming Peacock .

Hollywood news banter: Peacock struts into a crowded field

Another week, another streaming service. This time, NBCUniversal announces the forthcoming Peacock .

In the new movie ‘ Hustlers ,’ Constance Wu plays a struggling stripper named Destiny.

For filmmaker Lorene Scafaria, making ‘Hustlers’ was far from easy

In the new movie ‘ Hustlers ,’ Constance Wu plays a struggling stripper named Destiny.

After many months of waiting, Apple’s streaming TV service is almost here.

Hollywood news banter: Apple TV+ is coming soon, and it’s cheap!

After many months of waiting, Apple’s streaming TV service is almost here.

In April, thousands of Writers Guild members were ordered to fire their agents, in large part because agencies refused to do away with packaging fees.

As the WGA standoff with agencies continues, two views on the Guild election

In April, thousands of Writers Guild members were ordered to fire their agents, in large part because agencies refused to do away with packaging fees.

WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey’s job title got even longer . He’s now AT&T President and COO.

Hollywood news banter: A big new job title for the man who runs WarnerMedia

WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey’s job title got even longer . He’s now AT&T President and COO.

In the Netflix comedy series ‘ Special ,’ Ryan O’Connell plays a version of himself. Ryan Hayes is a gay man beset by millennial angst, who also has cerebral palsy.

Ryan O’Connell on his now Emmy-nominated Netflix comedy series ‘Special’

In the Netflix comedy series ‘ Special ,’ Ryan O’Connell plays a version of himself. Ryan Hayes is a gay man beset by millennial angst, who also has cerebral palsy.

Paramount said no to Martin Scorsese’s new film ‘The Irishman,’ which cost upwards of $160 million to make. Netflix said yes, but the trade-off?

Hollywood news banter: Why ‘The Irishman’ may not be coming to a theater near you

Paramount said no to Martin Scorsese’s new film ‘The Irishman,’ which cost upwards of $160 million to make. Netflix said yes, but the trade-off?

"Magic and docs are at odds, you know?" Ben Berman found that out the hard way while making his new film ‘ The Amazing Johnathan Documentary ,’ which is now available on Hulu.

Ben Berman on the real-life twists of making 'The Amazing Jonathan Documentary'

"Magic and docs are at odds, you know?" Ben Berman found that out the hard way while making his new film ‘ The Amazing Johnathan Documentary ,’ which is now available on Hulu.

For the past couple of years, Sony and Disney’s Marvel Studios had a unique arrangement that let them share custody of Spider-Man--that’s why the webslinger appeared in the most recent…

Hollywood news banter: The Spider-Man split

For the past couple of years, Sony and Disney’s Marvel Studios had a unique arrangement that let them share custody of Spider-Man--that’s why the webslinger appeared in the most recent…

Oscar-winner Julianne Moore and writer-director Bart Freundlich make movies together--and they’re also a married couple.

Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich on their careers and new film, ‘After the Wedding’

Oscar-winner Julianne Moore and writer-director Bart Freundlich make movies together--and they’re also a married couple.

CBS and Viacom have officially recombined , but not without a major struggle. It took Shari Redstone years to bring the two parts of her father’s media empire back together.

Hollywood news banter: The triumph of Shari Redstone

CBS and Viacom have officially recombined , but not without a major struggle. It took Shari Redstone years to bring the two parts of her father’s media empire back together.

In the new coming-of-age movie ‘Blinded by the Light,’ newcomer Viveik Kalra plays Javed, a lonely and repressed teenager dealing with tough financial times and anti-Muslim sentiment…

Making ‘Blinded by the Light,’ following a red carpet run-in with Springsteen

In the new coming-of-age movie ‘Blinded by the Light,’ newcomer Viveik Kalra plays Javed, a lonely and repressed teenager dealing with tough financial times and anti-Muslim sentiment…