Ankler on the Air

Ankler On the Air will be a weekly, sharp-elbowed, gimlet-eyed view of the foibles and follies of the entertainment industry. Each week a panel of Show biz experts will convene to pick over the latest news from the entertainment capital and hash out: who messed up Hollywood the most this week? Deciphering these tumultuous times for the industry, topics will range from Me Too fallout, to the encroachment of the tech world into entertainment, the picking apart that week's awards show or box office results. Guests will range from upstart reporters covering the industry to writers, executives and artists who toil in it, with an emphasis on people willing to fearlessly cut to the heart of what's happening under the surface.

Ankler on the Air #17

Viacom-dios: A History of the World’s Most Screwed Up Company

August 16, 2019

Hosted by Jim Gibson, Richard Rushfield

To celebrate the reunion of Viacom and CBS, we are joined by Ankler Editor-at-Large Jim Gibson to take a look back at the twists and turns of the most screwed up, ego-maniacal company on earth. We look at how a succession of leaders nearly destroyed two separate media giants to satisfy their own egos and greed. And the surprising heroine who bested the big boys and came out on top.

Intro music: Train Wreck by Kasey Chambers
Outtro Music: Second Time Around sung by Frank Sinatra

Ankler on the Air #16

Netflix Or Netflopz?

August 8, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Jim Gibson

Back from summer vacation, Ankler on the Air is joined by Editor at Large Jim Gibson to discuss the unfolding story of the summer: the potential unravelling of the Netflix plot to take over the world. What is happening and where might it take us? Also: we look at trouble for the indie film world with the bankruptcy talks around indie kingpin Annapurna Films. And how the Outrage Mobs fizzled in the face of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Ankler on the Air #15

The Lobbyists

July 18, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Jim Gibson

On this week’s episode of The Ankler, Richard Rushfield is joined by the Ankler’s Editor at Large Jim Gibson to pick over the week’s news from the entertainment capital. First they look at the mid-summer box office, and talk about why is this Spider-Man different from all other Spider-Men, and what really does make a flop these days. And then they discuss lobby politics. Everyone is buzzing about the New York Times’ account of the lavish Netflix lobby, but what does the piece really say about the company, its culture and its future prospects.

Intro music: Train Wreck by Kasey Chambers
Outtro: The Ankler Theme Song by Jim Gibson

Ankler on the Air #14

Spider House Rules

July 11, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

The Ankler is joined by film critic Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) and The Ankler’s own Editor-at-Large Jim Gibson to talk about how the latest Spider-Man overcame sequelitis to conquer the world. We also look at the fate of mid-range films like Midsommar and account for its success, and how box office reporting became wound up in a world of larger narratives and causes to the point where it lost all meaning. ALSO! Friends is leaving Netflix! Is this the one that changes everything? Listen in.

Intro Music: Train Wreck by Kasey Chambers
Outro: Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe sung by Judy Garland

Ankler on the Air #13

Sequelitis: There Is a Cure

June 19, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Emily Yoshida

On this week’s episode, Ankler Editor Richard Rushfield and Critic Emily Yoshida talk about the outbreak of sequelitis bringing low mighty film series and reboots across Hollywood/ Are people just burned out on the same old thing? Or do they just want the same old thing to be better? We also talk about the failure to launch of Late Night, another example of Hollywood botching festival darling women-helmed indie comedies, following on the heels of Booksmart.

Ankler on the Air #12

Godzilla King of the Misses

June 5, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Emily Yoshida

The Ankler is joined again by Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) to talk through the weekend’s crazy box office pictures which included a disappointing monster and a over-performing Rocketman. Is counter-programming back? And then we talk about the WGA action against the agencies. What do writers today want anyway?

Ankler on the Air #11

What Happened to Booksmart?

May 30, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

Ankler Editor Richard Rushfield and co-host Emily Yoshida talk about the tragedy or non-tragedy of the coming-of-age movie Booksmart. Corners of social media are in shock that the indie comedy fell behind the Disney spectacle Aladdin. Is there injustice at work or did the hidden hand of Twitter secretly sabotage its own cause celebre? And then we chat about Hollywood’s growing Georgia boycott. Is Hollywood taking a big stand here or looking for a moment to grandstand?

Intro Music: Train Wreck by Kasey Chambers

Ankler on the Air #10

The Wrath Of Cannes

May 20, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Emily Yoshida

On this week’s episode, Ankler Editor Richard Rushfield and film maven Emily Yoshida discuss the just debuting Cannes Film Festival. Who is it for? How much fun is it to visit on someone else’s dime? Would the tens of millions spent by studios catering to this media gala be better off being set on fire? And then we talk the GoT conclusion. Where does it’s exit leave HBO and what does this decade long, slow moving series say about what’s still possible in our ADD culture?

Ankler on the Air #9

Talking Endgame and GoT with Drew McWeeny

May 8, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Drew McWeeney

Is the destiny of entertainment nothing but capes and dragons as far as the eye can see? And how did nerd culture capture the imagination of the world so completely. We talk with one who was there from the inception, critic and Hollywood notable Drew McWeeny, author of a brilliant new piece about the history of the MCU about the coming of the Marvel age, what choices and dumb luck made it happen and how it all might come crashing down one day. We also look at the Game of Thrones which seems to be ending its run on an opposite trajectory from the MCU Volume 1. What does the complete dominance of these two epics say about the state of our culture? Find out!

Ankler on the Air #8

Masters of Journalism

March 14, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Kim Masters

In this week’s thrilling episode of Ankler on the Air, we are joined by the Doyenne of entertainment journalism, the great Kim Masters. Kim drops by to talk about her big new story on the efforts made to secure a role for a previously unknown actress, reporting on the big guns in Hollywood and how the beat has changed since the Me Too moment. Join us and leave a review on iTunes!

Ankler on the Air #7

Raiders Of The Lost App Explicit

March 7, 2019

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Jim Gibson

Ankler on the Air returns! We’re joined this week by the Ankler’s own Editor at Large Jim Gibson to talk about the raging battle shaking Hollywood: Spielberg v. Netflix? What is a movie? Who gets to say? Is this a fight really about the old guard desperately clinging to power? And a quick review of Captain Marvel, out this week. And so much more!

Ankler on the Air #6

Banned by Sundance

December 11, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Jeffrey Wells

Richard Rushfield is joined by the most dangerous man in movie blogging, Hollywood Elsewhere’s veteran man about the industry Jeffrey Wells. We talk about the recent decision of the Sundance film festival to withdraw his credentials, the rise of the PC culture in movie blogging as well as a deep look into this year’s Oscar race, including what could be the firestorm to come over Clint Eastwood’s new shock humor heavy film The Mule. Presented by the delicious people at Mrs. Fields.

Ankler on the Air #5

These YouTube Kids Today with Seth Abramovitch

November 28, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Seth Abramovitch

Ankler On the Air is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s fearless feature writer Seth Abramovitch. We talk about his rise up from the early internet snark-space of Gawker’s infamous Defamer blog to becoming a pillar of the entertainment establishment as a reporter for THR. We look at what its like covering Hollywood then and now, and discuss the strange world of YouTube by way of Seth’s recent profile of internet enfant terrible Logan Paul. All brought to you by the delicious people at Mrs. Fields!

Ankler on the Air #4

Drew McWeeny On The Time Of Stan The Man

November 15, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guest Drew McWeeney

On this week’s Ankler On the Air, we are joined for a special conversation with the original film blogger/critic and thorn in the side of many a studio, Drew McWeeny. We take a look together at his long career covering Big Hollywood movies as they progressed towards the superhero age. We look back on his career at aintitcoolnews, the original film blog, where under the moniker Moriarty, he was the bane of traditional studio PR for much of the 90’s, and how he grew out of that into a traditional film critic and man of the cinema, even as the studio machinery adapted itself to the age of the fanboys and co-opted much of what they did. Including – extra bonus – the original tale of The Ankler, and Stan Lee memories. Sponsored by Away Travel.

Ankler on the Air #3

The Seven Circles of Awards Season Hell Explicit

October 30, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guests Emily Yoshida & Jim Gibson

Awards Season madness is kicking up dust. This week, Ankler on the Air wades through the smoke with two fearless industry observers: New York Magazine film critic Emily Yoshida and the Ankler’s own Editor-at-Large Jim Gibson. We talk about the madness of the Oscar race, how these decisions go down and what surprises lie ahead on the Oscar trail. Then we look at AT&T’s sudden, shocking decision to pull the plug on Filmstruck, the classic film streaming service beloved of cineophiles. And finally we look at horror producer Jason Blum’s statement and apology about the lack of female horror directors. All brought to you this week by our good friends at calm.com.

Ankler on the Air #2

And Then There’s Saud

October 16, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guests Katey Rich & Seth Abramovitch

This week Ankler on the Air chews over Tinseltown’s latest foibles and follies with special guest panelists Katey Rich of Vanity Fair and Seth Abramovitch of The Hollywood Reporter. In the crosshairs this week: after genuflecting before the Saudi Royal family and the new Crown Prince in particular, Hollywood’s recipients of his largesse suddenly find themselves receiving unwanted attention as the regime struggles with charges of murder. Next up, we talk about Weinsteingate at one. Is everything different now? Or is it just the drapes that have been freshened up. Finally, with the splashdown of First Man we look at the status of the Best Picture race – with just five months to go until Oscartime!

Ankler on the Air #1

Climbing Power Mountain

October 2, 2018

Hosted by Richard Rushfield

With guests Chris Lee & Kate Erbland

On the very first episode of Ankler On The Air we scale the heights of showbiz power breaking down this year’s THR power 100. Joined by panelists Kate Erbland of Indiewire and Vulture’s Chris Lee we also look at what’s next for James Bond and the new memor by fallen super-agent Michael Ovitz

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