'Extra Hot Great': Feeling Mixed on 'Furious,' Debating 'Soldier of Illusion'

I always have such fun on the Extra Hot Great podcast. And we had a lot to talk about. First up, we review the acclaimed new Hulu limited series Furious, which I had some reservations about. Then, I put in a plug for the delightful Lonely Island 2019 "visual poem" The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience. Finally, we discussed whether or not to add the Documentary Now! episode "Soldier of Illusion' into the Canon. Tara, Sarah and Dave are the best: You can hear our conversation down below.

My Interview With Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Star of 'Wonder Man'

It's nice to know, after all this time, that you can still experience a first in your work.

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the star of Marvel's superb series Wonder Man. Abdul Mateen had been nominated for an Emmy, and the show was getting close to ramping up for its second season. So there was plenty to discuss. I really enjoyed our chat.

Then, after I sent the story to my editor and it was set to be published, Disney dropped a bombshell: Despite already being renewed for a second season, Wonder Man was canceled without explanation. And with that, my article wasn't the same as it had once been.

You can read my profile here. We chatted about turning 40, starring in a David Fincher movie, and what it's like to play a guy who's a struggling actor. 

My Review of the 2026 Academy Awards

It was a night billed as One Battle After Another versus Sinners. The show itself reflected those films' visionary qualities. Here's my review of last evening's Oscars. 

Catherine O'Hara, 1954-2026

What a shock: Catherine O'Hara is gone. For Rolling Stone, Jon Blistein and I pay tribute to a very funny woman. 

My Interview With Odessa A'zion, Star of 'Marty Supreme'

I hung out at Paper or Plastik a few weeks ago with Odessa A'zion, who's about to have a moment. She's one of the stars of the buzzy HBO series I Love LA. And she's soon to appear in Josh Safdie's much-anticipated Marty Supreme. A'zion is a delight, as well as an enthusiastic hugger. You can read my profile over at the Los Angeles Times. 

(Photo by Christina House.) 

Martin Scorsese, Actor

This year, for the first time, Martin Scorsese received a major nomination for acting. In honor of his guest stint on the Emmy favorite The Studio, I looked at the great director's finest performances, exploring how persona and performance intertwine. Hope you enjoy.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Evil Foster Moms and Tech Bros, and 'Pi'

Two reviews of new movies in this episode. We got creeped out, in different ways, from watching Bring Her Back and Mountainhead. Then, in our Reboot segment, we revisit Darren Aronofsky's 1998 debut. Check it all out down below.

My Interview With the Cast of 'Severance'

This was fun. For the Los Angeles Times, I chatted with seven members of the Severance ensemble. (From left to right, that's Zach Cherry, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Adam Scott, Dichen Lachman, Tramell Tillman and Patricia Arquette.) The interesting wrinkle? I talked to them all separately and at different times over the span of a few weeks. What this created was a fascinating experiment in seeing how each of them, on their own, reacted to the challenges of living up to the show's first season. I found them to be candid, even confessional, about the anxieties and issues they faced while filming Season Two. The result is this very satisfying piece, which I hope you enjoy.

(Photos by Jason Armond.)

'Mountainhead' Review

Jesse Armstrong, the man behind Succession, has a new HBO movie about four billionaire tech bros hanging out at one of the dude's swanky Utah pad for a guys' weekend. It's a satire that works best when it's angry, not funny. My review is here.

My Interview With Pam Brady

You may not know her name, but you know her credits: Pam Brady has been a writer on everything from South Park to Hot Rod. For Cracked, I talked to the Emmy winner about her animated series she co-created, #1 Happy Family USA, but we also discussed filthy jokes, her upcoming Smurfs movie and why she thinks real life is overrated. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With George Wallace

He's been doing stand-up for nearly 50 years. His best friend is Jerry Seinfeld. (Back in the day, they used to be roommates.) And now he has a Prime Video show with Laverne Cox called Clean Slate. For Cracked, I had a long conversation with the legend about everything: comedy, Donald Trump, Johnny Carson, Twitter, Sanford and Son, growing up in the church, my bookcases, you name it. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Tom Green

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Tom Green was on pop culture's cutting edge thanks to The Tom Green Show and Freddy Got Fingered. Since then, he's been doing stand-up, and after the pandemic he decided to leave Los Angeles to move back to Canada. He now operates a farm on 150 acres in Ontario when he isn't touring the world. In light of his new stand-up special, documentary and reality series, all devoted to his new life as a farmer, I had a long talk with the veteran comic. We talked about everything, including David Letterman, Canada, being a trailblazer, and Freddy's legacy. Hope you enjoy.

Angelo Badalamenti - "Twin Peaks Theme"

What else would I have picked? Rest in peace, David Lynch (and Angelo Badalamenti).

 

My Interview With Roy Wood Jr.

It's now been a couple years since Roy Wood Jr. left The Daily Show. And on Friday, he unveils his latest stand-up special, Lonely Flowers, which is all about our dwindling ability to connect with one another. For Cracked, I talked to the comic about isolation, masculinity, fantasy football, being vulnerable on stage, and why he still hasn't watched his set from the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Hope you enjoy.

'Extra Hot Great': I Survived Watching 'The Brady Bunch in the White House'

Did you know that there was a 2002 TV movie with Shelley Long and Gary Cole reprising their roles as the big-screen Carol and Mike Brady? Well, there was, and my pals at Extra Hot Great invited me on to talk about it. We also discussed Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Criterion Closet videos. This was recorded the morning of the Election. How young we were back then. Check it out below.

My Interview With Carol Burnett

An honor and a thrill: For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke to Carol Burnett about Palm Royale, Better Caul Saul, her long career, and why she's not slowing down yet. Hope you enjoy. 

(Photo by Linus Johnson.)

My Interview With John Wilson

How I miss How to With John Wilson. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke to John himself about his show's legacy and why it's so hard for him to describe his brilliant series. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Taylor Tomlinson

I've been a big fan of Taylor Tomlinson since I saw her first special, Quarter-Life Crisis, back in 2020. So it was a pleasure to speak with her for the Los Angeles Times. We talked about turning 30, hosting After Midnight, her new girlfriend and her thoughts on the state of late night. And, of course, I had to ask her about stand-up and her most recent special, Have It All. Hope you enjoy.

Cary Elwes Breaks Down His Best Comedic Roles

Cary Elwes costars in The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. I used that opportunity to ask him about his funniest characters. This was very fun.

The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: Let's Talk About the Oscars (and 'Love Lies Bleeding' and 'Ricky Stanicky')

How was your Oscars? We review the show on this week's episode. Then we dig into the latest from Kristen Stewart and Peter Farrelly. (There are many comments about John Cena as well.) Check it all out down below.