Old Hollywood / The Originals: Volume 2

The legend Newsweek once dubbed “Superflack,” Bobby Zarem (1936–2021) knew all of Hollywood’s secrets and was not afraid to share them all. Even if you don’t believe all his dish, you’ll never look at the movie business the same.

In light of Peter Bogdanovich’s 2022 death, The Originals releases a never-before-heard 2019 interview in which the Oscar-nominated director narrates his own story. Candid, shocking, and often hilarious, Bogdanovich shares tales of the mistakes that bedeviled his career.

Legend and icon Sherry Lansing reminds us exactly what it took to become the first woman to be head of production of a studio, as she was at 20th Century Fox, and the first to become overall boss of a studio when she landed atop Paramount in 1992.

Agree with Observer critic Rex Reed that 2022 was “the worst year in history for Oscars”? If so, have we got an eyebrow-singeing hour for you. Reed reignites feuds with both the living and the dead. Our episode guarantee: no listener will emerge unoffended.

Minds will be blown by this episode with Toni Basil, a true show business Zelig. Sure, we all remember Basil’s 1981 hit “Mickey.” But it turns out this might be the least interesting part of her long career as a dancer, singer, and choreographer.

Joe Eszterhas details his run as the most famous and lavishly paid screenwriter in the world. He hit with Flashdance, broke records with Basic Instinct, and ran aground with Showgirls. Eszterhas has amazing dish about Robert Evans, Steven Spielberg, and Marlon Brando.

You may or may not recognize his name, but you definitely know the pictures by, as he liked to call himself, “Paparazzo Extraordinaire” Ron Galella (1931–2022). He was however best known for his decades-long pursuit of Jackie O, which resulted in his most famous photo, shot in 1971, “Windblown Jackie.”