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. 

At a recent conference, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings spoke out about some topics , and not everyone in Hollywood will like what he had to say.

Hollywood news banter: Netflix’s Reed Hastings speaks his truth

At a recent conference, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings spoke out about some topics , and not everyone in Hollywood will like what he had to say.

In the trailer of the Universal movie ‘The Hunt,’ produced by horror kingpin Jason Blum, a character explains, “Every year a bunch of elites kidnap normal folk like us...and hunt us…

Writer Damon Lindelof on what happened with ‘The Hunt’

In the trailer of the Universal movie ‘The Hunt,’ produced by horror kingpin Jason Blum, a character explains, “Every year a bunch of elites kidnap normal folk like us...and hunt us…

The new HBO series ‘ Watchmen ’ is a sort-of sequel to the dark 1980s DC comic book series of the same name.

Damon Lindelof on dealing with curses to make an updated take on ‘Watchmen’

The new HBO series ‘ Watchmen ’ is a sort-of sequel to the dark 1980s DC comic book series of the same name.

‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss were supposed to do three new ‘Star Wars’ movies.

Hollywood news banter: ‘Star Wars’ wars

‘Game of Thrones’ showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss were supposed to do three new ‘Star Wars’ movies.

Rose McGowan is suing Weinstein , his lawyers, and the intelligence agency Black Cube for racketeering, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more.  Do you have…

Hollywood news banter: Rose McGowan sues Harvey Weinstein, Lisa Bloom and others

Rose McGowan is suing Weinstein , his lawyers, and the intelligence agency Black Cube for racketeering, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and more.  Do you have…

The new Hulu series ‘ Looking for Alaska ’ follows the coming of age of Miles, a morose teenager who convinces his parents to send him to Culver Creek, a boarding school that looks a…

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage on their Hulu series ‘Looking for Alaska’

The new Hulu series ‘ Looking for Alaska ’ follows the coming of age of Miles, a morose teenager who convinces his parents to send him to Culver Creek, a boarding school that looks a…

The new documentary ‘ The Cave ’ follows Syrian doctor Amani Ballour--a 30-year-old pediatrician and the country’s only female hospital manager.

In 'The Cave,' Feras Fayyad profiles a brave Syrian doctor working underground

The new documentary ‘ The Cave ’ follows Syrian doctor Amani Ballour--a 30-year-old pediatrician and the country’s only female hospital manager.

For years, the big studios have been self-censoring in an effort to get their films to play in China. Now, ‘South Park’ is confronting the issue of Hollywood and China head-on.

Hollywood news banter: ‘South Park’ pulls the dragon’s tail

For years, the big studios have been self-censoring in an effort to get their films to play in China. Now, ‘South Park’ is confronting the issue of Hollywood and China head-on.

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.