"RE-RELEASE: Paul Thomas Anderson"
Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson joins the hosts to talk about his upbringing as the son of a legendary ABC promo voice, his early obsession with movies, and how he learned to write and direct by making a short mockumentary about Dirk Diggler that later evolved into Boogie Nights. He discusses his collaborative process with production designer Jack Fisk and composer Jonny Greenwood, his views on theatrical exhibition versus streaming, and his work in film preservation alongside Martin Scorsese. The conversation also covers his love of comedy, how he met Maya Rudolph at Saturday Night Live, what he saw in Adam Sandler, and how he balances a demanding career with being a father of four.
"Kirsten Dunst"
Kirsten Dunst joins the SmartLess hosts for a wide-ranging conversation about her life as a former child actor, her evolving relationship to auditions and awards, and her current slate of films including "Roofman" and Ruben Östlund's "The Entertainment System is Down." She talks about balancing a dual-actor household with parenting two young sons, her preference for a low-key life in the Valley, and an acting process that includes "dream work" to deepen characters. The group also digresses into food, TV habits, SNL memories, and why she now craves doing a big, fun comedy next.
Saudi Comedy Festival Controversy, Threads' Major Milestone, and Trump's Movie Tariff
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Donald Trump's proposed 100% tariff on movies made outside the U.S., arguing it would damage Netflix, Hollywood, and global content arbitrage, and then pivot to the Saudi state-backed Riyadh Comedy Festival, criticizing free-speech-branded comedians who accepted contracts barring criticism of the kingdom and religion. They examine consumer backlash that forced Sinclair and Nexstar to restore Jimmy Kimmel, Threads surpassing X in daily active users and changing media consumption habits, Trump's pressure-driven TikTok divestment plan that advantages major donors, his retribution-focused indictment of James Comey, the economic stupidity of tariffs and farm bailouts, and close with wins and fails plus a brief call for tighter limits on AI products for children.
Kimmel & ABC, Nvidia's OpenAI Investment, and Tylenol's Trump Problem
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss Jimmy Kimmel's emotional late-night return after his Trump clash, what it reveals about masculinity, and why late-night TV is structurally in decline despite strong individual performances. They analyze Nvidia's $100 billion investment in OpenAI as a potentially late-stage bubble, related-party style deal that concentrates AI power and raises antitrust concerns, then examine Trump's unsupported claim that Tylenol causes autism, what Kenview should do in response, and the classic Johnson & Johnson Tylenol tampering case as a crisis-management model. The hosts also cover YouTube's decision to reinstate previously banned misinformation accounts under political pressure, a Florida investigation into Office Depot over a refused Charlie Kirk poster, their expectations of cronyism and giant, likely disastrous M&A deals, and end with a strong plea for adopting rescue dogs amid rising pet surrenders.
A Tribute To The Far Side
Hosts Josh and Chuck pay tribute to Gary Larson's single-panel comic The Far Side, tracing its origins from Larson's quirky family and love of biology through his break into syndication and eventual global success. They analyze what makes the humor work, walk through several iconic panels, and explore Larson's perfectionism, his choice to end the strip before it declined, and his deep connection with the scientific community and conservation. The episode closes with a listener correction about the relationship between dolphins, orcas, and whales.
Tdhtdhtdhtdhtdh: Sound Effects!
The hosts explore how sound effects are created for films and TV, focusing on the craft of Foley artists and the history of sound design from silent movies to modern blockbusters. They discuss Jack Foley's pioneering work, the tools and techniques used on Foley stages, iconic examples from films like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Titanic, and Fight Club, and the heavy use of constructed audio in nature documentaries. The episode also touches on how sound departments are undervalued relative to their impact and ends with a correction about Teen Vogue's reputation for serious journalism.
#611 - Louis C.K.
Theo Von talks with Louis C.K. about performing edgy stand-up in different kinds of venues, parenting, childhood neglect, race and taboo language, and the creative process behind Louis's novel "Ingram". They explore the American literary voice, the evolution of language, and broader cultural issues like polarization, social media addiction, and technology's physical footprint. A large part of the conversation centers on Louis's public downfall, his struggles with sex and pornography addiction, 12‑step recovery, and how confronting his own failures has reshaped his life, work, and friendship with Theo.