James Poniewozik, watches TV all day and gets paid for it. Dream job, right? James is the chief TV critic at the New York Times. He’s also the author of “Audience of One: Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America.” On this episode, he explains how Rupert Murdoch brought a tabloid sensibility to cable news. Then we talk “Succession.” The Murdoch family ... Show More
Aug 24
Listen Now: Audible True Crime
Introducing Audible True Crime, a dedicated podcast feed where we bring you the best podcasts in true crime, with episodes dropping every single week. Find your next bingeable series about unsolved murders, cold cases, scams and mysteries. This is the cream of the crop of Audible ... Show More
6m 3s
Aug 2025
Robin Williams: Humor and Heart | 292
Robin Williams is the definition of a powerhouse. An all-star comedian, stand-up, and actor, Robin hits it big with his breakout role on TV’s “Mork & Mindy.” After that, he becomes one of Hollywood’s most successful - and most beloved - stars. With performances in movies like “Go ... Show More
51m 1s
May 2023
Meet the media insider who makes Succession feel real
Succession — the HBO drama about a Murdoch-ish family of media moguls — feels authentic thanks, in part, to consultant Merissa Marr. Marr covered the Murdochs and other media titans for years at The Wall Street Journal, and she’s worked with the creative team behind Succession si ... Show More
32m 8s
Sep 2025
The Future of Late Night TV, Jimmy Kimmel, and The First Amendment
When’s the last time you stayed up to watch a late night TV monologue? Months? Years? Decades? I’m not sure, either. But I stayed up Tuesday night to watch Jimmy Kimmel’s return. James Poniewozik, who covers TV for the New York Times, just caught up with it the next day on YouTub ... Show More
26m 53s
Jun 2023
What Was 'Succession' Really About? And Is 'Ted Lasso' Over or Not?
This week, Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram keeps our host chair warm while Sam is away. He's joined by Vulture TV critic Kathryn VanArendonk to figure out what kind of show Succession really was, whom it was for, and what to watch to fill the Succession-size hole in your ... Show More
34m 12s