Should Jimmy Kimmel Walk Away Now?

[Music]. Hello and welcome to this episode of The. Rest is Entertainment with me, Marina. Hyde, >> and me, Richard Osman. Now, people. watching on YouTube will know this. already. People listening might have. picked it up, but we're not together. >> We're apart, Richard, and it's all my. fault because I had the Corona virus. >> Yeah. Is that your fault? >> Yeah. Well, it's not. No, it's not. technically my fault. It has forced us. apart and I am at home and I can. apologize for any interruptions from my.

many many many deliveries. >> Also, for anyone watching on YouTube, Marina is sitting in front of her famous. bookshelves as well. So, they are all. the way through. They're not looking at. you. They're literally looking behind. you and seeing the absurd higgledy piggy. nature of your. >> Oh my god. Don't say that where Kieran. can hear it because he's actually. downstairs. And I mean, this is. meticulously organized. I mean, if we. panned out, you would see it's going all. the way around and it is in a system. which some of it's rational and some of. it is quite idiosyncratic. I'm going to.

say. >> like the world which brings us on to. what we're talking about this week, does. it not? >> It does. We are talking about inevitably. we are talking about some I've seen some. odd words used for this. The preempting. the the the temp the suspension. temporary or otherwise of Jimmy Kimmel. the fact that he's been taken off the. air in direct response to um a sort of. something said by a Trump minion and. we're going to talk about that. >> Also going to talk on a lighter note. going to talk about Taylor Swift and the.

possibility that she may be about to. star in a bodyguard remake. That is our. that is our pudding. >> But should we get should we get stuck. into our main course? >> Let's get stuck into this serious main. Richard. So not to sort of overly rehash. the story because I know our listeners. will be familiar of it with it. What. what happened is that last week in one. of his opening monologues, Jimmy Kimmel. made comments about the Charlie Kirk. murder suspect. He said that Trump. supporters had tried to characterize.

this kid as anything other than one of. them. It does make a bit more sense in. context what he's what he was saying. My view and I think the view of pretty. much everyone is that there was enough. ambiguity and lack of clarity in it in a. very sensitive situation that the. monologue should have been re-recorded. They're all pre-recorded the monologues. at the top of these shows. A lot of. people will have seen that and I'm I'm. quite surprised it wasn't. However, >> worse has been said many times every.

week for years and years and years. >> He's talking about, you know, the murder. suspect and a whole movement. I think it. began to be clipped pretty quickly. Remember Trump has said following um the. cancellation of Steven Colbear show, which is still on the air, but it it's. going to end. Jimmy Kimmel was the one. that Trump singled out most frequently. um saying he, you know, he's terrible, he's awful, he should be off air. So he. he's someone who's he's certainly. focused on um but there are so many.

>> which which which by the way to put in. context is like if every day K star is. sending tweets about Michael McIntyre's. The Big Show saying this is run out of. steam. Come on BBC we got to replace. this. That's where we are with that. That's what's happening. The the leader. of the country is commenting on a very. mainstream television program. >> Well I think it's more sinister than. that though because say what you like. about Big Show. doesn't open up on that. and that's probably why it does so well. on a Saturday night in its particular.

time slot. It doesn't open up with a. monologue about um recent um political. tragedies and hot button issues. If when. there's such a sort of direct link, it's. very difficult. Now, I think there are. so many telling details about this. The. FCC, which is the Federal Communications. Commission, is run by a guy called. Brendan Carr, who is a complete sort of. Trump minion. Basically, they didn't. issue a statement. What Brendan Carr did. is that he went on a right-wing podcast, Benny the Benny Johnson podcast, and he.

said he quite literally said, "We can do. things the easy way or the hard way.". Effectively told the companies to pull. it. Now, when I say the companies, I'm. talking about the affiliates. So, we. might need a little quick explanation on. what the affiliates are. >> Yeah. So if if you have ABC which is. what Kimmel is on which is essentially. owned by Disney in every territory in. America because we know how America is. put together historically it's come to. pass that different commercial companies.

carry the different networks into their. territory. So ABC NBC and what have you. come via a local affiliate into say. Kansas or Kentucky or a part of. California and there are three or four. very big companies. One is called. Nextstar, one is called Sinclair. And. over the years they built up a whole. series of these affiliates in different. areas of the country. So they are not. ABC, but Nextstar for example carries. probably 30% of ABC goes through. Nextstar and Sinclair. So if if Nextstar. who are not ABC say we want Kimmel off.

the air or we're not going to show. Kimmel in our territory, suddenly you're. losing a third of your audience. overnight. And that's what happened. here. Nextar came out and said we are no. longer going to show Jimmy Kimmel and. that forces the hand of ABC. >> Forces the hand of ABC which is um. obviously owned by the Disney um. company. Now the affiliates have always. traditionally in American broadcasting. always been more conservative in in. general than where these places are HQed.

which tend to be sort of coastal and. it's either New York or LA. And so you. often find that that over throughout the. course of TV history there have been. people saying oh we don't like this. we're not going to carry this we think. it's outrageous we think whatever it is. So there is a sort of precedent to that. and all of them now most of them now. have deals that all of the companies. that we're talking about have deals that. they want to get across the line. >> Well Nextar Nextstar for example are are. in talks to buy the third biggest. company who who essentially have.

affiliates. So they're they're about to. buy this third biggest company and they. need to have that signed off um not by. the FCC finally off but by the. Department of Justice. So they need it. signed off by the government. That's one. of the big things. And you know even uh. Disney they have a big ESPN deal. They're trying to get over the line. >> They're trying to buy into the NFL. actually trying to literally buy into. the N and they will need FCC approval. >> And so all of these companies in the. next 3 to 6 months have an awful lot of. money on the line which is going to be. dependent on government approval. So.

that's the kind of that's the. environment in which all these decisions. are being made. >> And Bob Iger who runs Disney and Dana. Walden who runs the TV side of Disney. and is maybe in pole position to take. over after I there's a sort of. succession battle between about four of. them and she's widely thought probably. to be in the lead of that. Jimmy Kimmel. is a huge thing for ABC. He not only. does he do Jimmy Kimmel um live, he does. the Oscars, he's does Celebrity. Millionaire, he does lots of specials.

for them. He always presents the. upfronts when they present their news. slates to the advertisers. He's a sort. of mega good servant to the company and. they all like. >> this this this funny enough is why I. mentioned Michael McIntyre because that. that is sort of who he is in that. ecosystem. You know, every single ABC. and Disney program, their stars come. through the Jimmy Kimmel show. Jimmy. Kimmel has always gone above and beyond. to be a cheerleader for the company and. to be incredibly useful to that company. So he is a big big big part of that ABC.

ecosystem and that's what you know he's. not some maverick on a tiny channel. He. is Michael McIntyre over there. He's a. huge big mainstream presence right at. the heart of America and right at the. heart of ABC. What happened was that. Dana Walden and Bob Iger decided he. obviously refused to apologize and said. no I want to do another monologue. I'll. contextualize further what I was saying. and they thought that would make matters. worse. And so before he could do that. they have pulled him off the air. They're continuing to pay everyone. I.

personally now believe they have to get. it back on the air. >> and we'll come to that in a minute. um. they have to find a way back but it is. very very difficult to find a way back. because Sinclair was saying we're gonna. air a Charlie Kirk special. >> So Sinclair by the way are the other and. Sinclair so they're they're they're the. people who run the affiliates. >> one of the Yeah. and they said, "Oh, we. want to wear a Charlie Cut special in. the in the Jimmy Kimmel slot." In the. end, I think they've been talked out of. that and they aired another like. everybody keeps airing these old. editions of Family Feud um in in this.

slot. But now they're still saying the. only way he could go back on air is if. he personally gives money, Jimmy Kimmel. personally gives money to Turning Point. USA. A a a really extreme sort of ask. And of course, it's all a bargaining. position and maybe they'll they sort of. have to find a way back now. I this is. this is just a theory and this is my. speculation. I think loads of people in. Hollywood voted for Trump in 2016 and I. certainly think they did in 2024 and.

I'll tell you why and it's because all. of them are in various forms of crisis. and they knew that various forms of. consolidation were needed and they voted. on the M&A basis on the fact that they. need to be mergers and acquisitions to. kind of keep Hollywood to kind of save. the ecosystem. So the high-ups in. Hollywood, the executives and people. like that were voting out of. self-interest. >> Well, here we are. It does make you. think that it is all about money. What. can happen? Okay, there are different. forms of pressure. There's an the. audience pressure subscriptions. People.

are cancelling their Disney Hulu. subscriptions. Um, we're not going to. know to what extent they have been. cancelled because coincident actually. genuinely coincidentally in their very. last earnings call Disney said they were. no longer going to report on subscriber. numbers in earnings calls. So when it. >> So that is genuinely handy. >> Yeah. How handy, Richard. How very. handy. So they said it was left less. meaningful to evaluating the performance. of our businesses. >> What would really affect Disney's. earning calls though is is is not so.

much the subs. It's more if people start. cancelling their cruises and visits to. Disneyland and Disney World and you know. that that's where the money is and. that's that's I think the thing if that. starts becoming attacked then Disney are. in a very difficult position and and and. would have to fight back. >> that they do have to talk about in. earnings calls. Clearly everybody is. talking about it and thinks it's bad. Not that many have put their heads up. above the parapit. Um Damon Lindelof who. did Lost for ABC um said, "Oh, I won't. make a show with them while they while.

they do something like this." Probably. the most significant that I've seen in. in some ways because it's such a. detailed thing to say is Michael Eisner. coming out. Michael Eisner, who is of. course the legendary kind of '9s 2000s. Disney executive who Bob Iger replaced. I mean, sort of came out of nowhere to. say, "Where has all the leadership. gone?" You know, talking about the. aggressive yet hollow threatening of the. Disney company. Yet an example of. another of out of control intimidation. Jimmy Kimmel is very talented and very.

funny. That that's quite significant. that side of he's he's a significant. voice in it all. Can I give an angle I. haven't quite seen written recently, but. a lot of this relies on, as you say, an. awful lot of this is to do with legacy. media companies who are consolidating. with other legacy media companies. because being a legacy media company is. very difficult these days. And the. generation of Jimmy Kimmels and Jimmy. Fallons and Steven Cobear grew up in. that environment. Legacy media as my. generation grew up over here. Legacy.

media. If you're Jimmy Kimmel now and. it's like, "Oh, ABC, I've got to try and. get him back. We got to try and get him. back on Late Night and do this, that, or. the other." If I'm him, I'm finally. going to take a look in the mirror and. go, "Why have I stuck around here for so. long? Why have I stuck around on legacy. media where I am constrained an awful. lot in what I can do? Why have I done. that for such a long time? We had so. many years where the right worked out. that they weren't really on legacy media. as much as they would like to be, the.

big networks. And so they were forced. online and actually that's how they got. a jump on the progressives in American. politics and in UK politics in that they. developed this online ecosystem where. they could say anything they wanted, do. anything they wanted without constraint, without offcom, without FCC in the. states, all of that. Whereas the. progressive side of things still had. that legacy media. So Co Bear and John. Oliver and Kim Adam were still. absolutely able to have these big. mouthpiece late night TV shows for years.

and years and years. Now we know that. the ratings for those are going down and. this that or the other. The ecosystem of. online and of YouTube and podcast and. things like that is so enormous now that. a Jimmy Fallon could immediately make. what he's making from ABC outside of. that system. He can make exactly what. he's making in terms of his money. He. would have far fewer constraints on him. He would be his own brand rather than an. ABC company man, which is what he. absolutely is. In some ways, it's going. to force this generation of progressive. talent to go where the rights went 10.

years ago, which is online and. untrabled, the intimacy of being, you. know, directly in people's homes, uh, and through people's headphones. So, it. might be one of those things where the. beast now becomes unleashed. If you got. Co Bear and John Oliver and Jimmy Kimmel. unable to work on mainstream television, then they'll just go to the other. ecosystem and talk directly to people, which actually is where culture is now. And it's certainly where political. culture is. I mean, look at Conan. O'Brien. He left legacy media and his.

podcast is now getting a 100 million. downloads a year. His profile hasn't. dropped in any way whatsoever. He hasn't. become less famous. He hasn't become. less rich. But what he has become is. someone who's got more freedom to do the. things that he wants, who can wake up in. the morning and be a little bit happier. You know, Trump is is is also saying, "Cancel Jimmy Fallon, cancel Seth Meers. They've got no ratings and they're. hopeless." You think, "Well, I I mean, we can find if people uh are. commercially viable. We can find if. people are funny because they just go.

out there by themselves and find an. audience." And I I suspect those are. people that could. So it it might be one. of those things that enables a. free-for-all and enables this whole new. media culture to get started. I think in. the end is very bad news for legacy. media and they're being complicit, I. think, in in their own downfall and and. not for the first time as we've. discussed before. But perhaps now's the. time. And perhaps we see that this group. of people can be much more effective and. much more useful and get their message. across and their personality across far.

more by being themselves than by being. themselves within that old legacy media. system. >> Okay, I really think that is a very good. point and I think that might occur but. and I definitely think that could. happen. Having said that, I do think. that late night has had a problem. Late. night has become something that is. entirely perceived to be for one side in. this entire in the whole of American. politics. It is there is no suggestion. that people who don't agree with the. point of view with the liberal point of. view with the sort of anti-Trump view. point of view even watch those shows.

anymore. You know, I've said this. before, but if you look back to the. those golden days and the big late night. wars really and there was, you know, Jay. Leno Letterman, the whole of America. watched those shows as in people on both. sides of the divide watch the shows. They weren't perceived to be so. completely and of course you had jokes. about the president. You have jokes and. I to some extent I sympathize with these. guys because people are saying, "Oh, all. you do is you know joke about the. president." It's like, "Yeah, because. he's the president.". >> Yeah. When I used to sort of write about.

the tries, whether the tries are in. power, people would say, "You don't. write very much about Labor." It's like, "Yeah, because they're not doing. anything." I mean, you know, sometimes I. will write about them, but you've you've. really got to mostly write about the. people who are in power. I don't really. write anything about the tries now cuz. they're not doing anything. >> Exactly. There's nothing to do. It's. like, have I got news for you? It would. always be, oh, another you're bashing. Boris again or bashing the government. think. Yeah. They've been in power for. 14 years. That's sort of. >> Yeah. He's the prime minister. I'm so. sorry. >> Honestly, give us another prime minister. and we'll we'll have a you know, we'll. have a go at them. >> We we'll have fun with that. That's what. you do. If those are the people in. power, that's the job is you do you do.

jokes about them. >> And so there is a little bit of that. But I do think Richard that there is a. perceived problem which is that these. shows are quite obviously design for one. side so completely and maybe that's. because American culture has flat. fractured so completely and it's so. siloed and it's sort of so polarized. that that's all they can be. But there. has been a perceived problem. So the. idea of slightly saying like oh wow you. could go to YouTube and find your voice. You've had your voice. They've all had. their voice. They've had the run of. network television.

>> But but but but because the rights have. been unconstrained because they've been. in this environment which has not been. controlled, the Overton window of what. is acceptable and what is mainstream has. shifted because of the enormous amount. of of commentary from the right that. that we've had in the last 10 years in. arenas where at the beginning we people. were thinking this doesn't matter quite. so much. This is quite niche. But you. look back on that last 10 years ago, no, that's where everything was happening. That's where our culture was. We still.

thought our culture was these, you know, late night television programs that made. people feel safe and comfortable, but it. wasn't. It was elsewhere. And so the the. window has shifted entirely. So the. politics of those late night shows have. not shifted at all, but they've been. seen to be increasingly progressive and. increasingly leftwing, which is the. situation we find ourselves in. I agree. with your basic point which is they do. come from a political a particular. political standpoint but that political. standpoint has been seen as far more.

extreme over the years without actually. moving anywhere. >> I would say that the political pressure. is building and it's coming from quite. interesting places. Did you see Ted Cruz. saying oh this is right out the good. fellas? Um, I mean Jimmy Kimmel once. called called Ted Ted Cruz a moist. gelatinous tubeworm whose elastic band. pants are filled with an inky discharge. every time he speaks. So maybe maybe. that happened when Ted Cruz spoke out in. his defense. But um he he is actually.

quite significant in this because he's. chair of the Senate Senate committee. that has oversight over the FCC. >> And this is this this is a huge test of. the right and free speech and the first. amendment which is. >> Yeah, I'm getting very tired of the woke. right, Richard. I'm getting very very. tired of the woke right and the cancel. culture. >> But it absolutely is the woke right and. there's no pointing out this hypocrisy. because they know it is. They do it. It's not that's that's that's the that's. the playbook and it always has been. There's no point ever crying hypocrisy. But there are some people on the right. who do actually very strongly and. fervently believe in free speech rather.

than just as something to say to own the. libs. They actually do believe in it and. they have been energized by this. I. think I think there's probably a feeling. abroad in Hollywood that if you don't. stand up now, when do you stand up? Because this is such a clear um example. of political interference. Co bear you. can maybe sort of think, oh look, it was. failing anyway and I I get it was time. and they they I mean I don't think it's. quite right, but I can see whatever has. happened. This we can all see what's.

happened and everyone on the right and. left absolutely understands what's. happened and. >> but also wake up. It's appeasement. It. doesn't work. You've seen what happens. with this guy. It never works. You've. seen what happens with Trump. You know, no sooner has he has this happened than. he's saying, well, maybe other people's. licenses should be taken away. Oh, also, I don't like the view. It's like, wow, you've gone for big show. Now you're. going to do Loose Women. You know, I. mean, it's obviously ridiculous. It's so. pathetic. Anybody who thinks that he. won't keep going, anybody.

>> He is like us. He is of a generation. where he still thinks that these big. networks are important and he still. thinks that that the view and and late. night TV that's that's what he grew grew. up with. That's what that's what he. understands. So that's what he goes for. and attacks. The second you're out. outside of that ecosystem, his power is. gone. His power completely goes all he. can do is control you. If you're on one. of these big legacy media companies, that's that's that's the only leverage. >> I feel like he controls quite a few of. the podcasters, too. >> You know, he can't take them off air. There's no button that can be pressed.

that takes him off air. >> When this story first broke and for the. first couple of days, I thought, well, I. can't see the way back, but they're. going to now have they are going to have. to find a way to put him back on air. I. totally agree with you that he may say, you know what, I don't even want to. It's hard to set yourself up immediately. and it will take a while. >> in a different format and he might. decide to go to YouTube or something. like that, but he it's hard to do that. immediately. You don't want to look like. you've been run out of town by Donald. Trump. Well, I think you could say if.

you immediately launch with something. massive and there'll be plenty of money. out there for Kimmel and Colbear and all. of those writers, you know, there'll be. money out there to create something in. this new ecosystem that we live in and. there'll be plenty of venture capitalist. money out there. You know, there's cash. out there and there are there are. audiences out there. If he was a young. comedian now, Jimmy Kimmel, and someone. said to him, "Would you like to host. Jimmy Kimmel Live, a late night TV. show?" he would say no I would not like. to do that I can build my own brand I.

can build my own thing that's what he. would be doing maybe this is the end. >> of the old ways and the start of new. ways for that side of the political. argument which as you say has had access. to legacy media in a way that the other. side has not on the political side the. other side has definitely had access to. uh traditional legacy media news and. what have you but on the entertainment. side less so and I Maybe now everything. becomes everything becomes the same. Everything's up for grabs and nobody.

wants to be constrained. No one wants to. sit in that ecosystem anymore. There's. no there's there's no fun there and and. people like Jimmy Kimmel want to have. fun. >> What Trump is doing just in so. increasingly I I've always felt that. Putin did everything before him and it. this reminds me so much of that um did. you ever read that great book by Peter. Pomeranf um Nothing is True and. Everything is Possible. It's absolutely. brilliant. you'd really like it because. Pomeranis was young. His parents were. sort of Russian dissident, but he went.

back to Moscow um and he worked as a. reality TV producer in the 2000s and. it's so fascinating and you know how. Russian media just became completely. subsumed and how the TV stations that. disagreed were silenced. Um, you know, it's very, you know, he always says he. there's a good line in it where he says, "The regime can feel like an oligarchy. in the morning, democracy in the. afternoon, monarchy for dinner, and a. total totalitarian state by bedtime.". There is that sense of complete kind of. discombobulation at the moment with what.

Trump is trying to to do. And I would, you know, it's impossible now not to say. that he is moving towards trying to. silence anything that disagrees. >> Now, talking of creative freedom, shall. we go to some adverts? Yes, please, Richard. >> And afterwards, we can talk about Taylor. Swift and the bodyguard. >> Your pudding's coming, everyone. [Music]. >> This episode is brought to you by Sky, where you can watch unmissable shows, including the final farewell of the.

award-winning Sky original comedy, Brassic. >> Seven series later, the gang from Hol. are bowing out, still chasing schemes. with full conviction. Brassic charges. through its biggest challenge yet. Like. a group that never learned the meaning. of Last Orders. >> It's chaos with a curtain call. Joe. Gilggan, Michelle Keegan, Dominic West, big names you might expect, on three. entirely different billboards, yet all. improbably colliding in a northern town. with more calamities than bus routes. >> This time, it's old enemies resurfacing, long-lost family reappearing, and. trouble following them at every turn.

But rather than an ending, it feels like. a sendoff true to for messy riotus and. impossible mistake by anyone else. They're leaving the stage the way icons. should with a proper bang, a finale. stitched together with mischief, misfits, and just enough mayhem to feel. like Holly to the end. Watch the final. farewell of Brassic from the 25th of. September on Sky with new episodes. weekly requires relevant Sky TV. subscription. >> Welcome back everybody. Now, Taylor.

Swift has unleashed I mean it must be a. Monday if Taylor Swift has unleashed. another surprise upon the world. We know. her new album's coming out, Life of a. Showgirl. Um, and she announced this. weekend that the the official release. party of a showgirl is happening, which. is a cinematic experience, a movie. experience that she is once again. selling direct to movie theaters. Do you. remember just as she did with the eras. tour? Remember that's the highest. grossing concert film all time. It made. like 260 $270 million or something.

>> It's almost like legacy media doesn't. work anymore. It's it's almost as if. >> people can take their own careers into. their own hands. >> Shockingly, she has bypassed studios. such as Disney and is selling this. direct to AMC theaters who will manage. to distribute it via other places as. well. Um, and it's going to be a one. weekend play and it's the 3rd to the 5th. of October. As soon as it was announced. in 24 hours, it had already sold $15. million of pre-sale tickets. Uh, and.

it'll probably make, I would thought, well over $50 million in the I've seen. lower estimates, but I think it will. make a huge amount in that opening. weekend. Um, >> this is like the Thursday Murder Club at. the Upfield Picture House all over. again. >> Yeah, I mean, didn't want to say it, but. yes, Richard, I do. >> Reminds us, right? Reminds us a lot of. it. >> As for what it is, what we know about it. is is that it's essentially an I mean, I. want to say it nicely, an advert for the. album. >> Sorry. Can I just say I I I understand. all the context, but I just want to. reassure people we are going to start.

talking about the bodyguard at some. point. >> Oh, yeah. Oh, great. >> Well, but it's we're leading in. We're. leading in. >> Just making sure. >> But anyway, she's going to have all this. behind the scenes footage. She's going. to it's going to have the new video, the. fa the fate of Ailia and interview. stuff. I tell you who though. >> The fate of Ailia. >> The fate of Aphilia is probably the lead. single on this forthcoming album, The. Life of. >> Fate of Ailia. >> Yeah. Oh, I've got a I'm going to do a. song called the feet of a failure. >> Not such great visuals, but um it's.

Anyhow, >> it's Yes, it's set in the Coropus. office. Bear with sorry. Go, please go. on. >> No, no. I cuz you know who's not going. to be absolutely ruddy thrilled about. this. Richard, have you heard of The. Rock? >> The Rock? >> I don't know if you know, but he's got a. little movie out called the uh the. smashing machine. >> Oh, the Oscar guy. >> You know the Oscar guy? >> Yeah. It's the opening weekend of the. smashing machine. Yeah. Can you imagine. how angry he is about this now? >> Um, so as I said to you, this this the. Rog Oscar campaign is going to have many.

twists and turns. Here's the first one. which even I didn't predict. Um, so I. guess they could try and get a Bob and. vibe going and call it something like. show show machine or um smash life, something like that. Once you've seen um. the Taylor Swift life of a showgirl, why. not go and see The Rock get beaten up uh. straight off. I don't know if that's. going to work, but. >> the ven diagram looks very thin. >> Yes. Now, let's land this plane. Is this. the only cinematic outing for Taylor.

Swift in coming times? Because last week. we talked about Mike Duca and Pam Abdi. who the Warner's executives who everyone. thought should be fired and in fact have. suddenly done very well. Um, and as we. said, they've taken risks on quite a few. originals. They are also sort of mining the um, IP. and doing various remakes. So, you've. got a new Matrix remake coming, Practical Magic, Gremlins, Goonies, all. of these things going to be rebooted. And one of the things that they've said. they're going to reboot is The.

Bodyguard, the 1992, maybe not Critical Darling, but. certainly mega grossing movie, uh, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin. Cosner. Now, who has been announced as. the director of this the reboot of The. Bodyguard, but a guy called Sam Wrench, who's a British guy, and if you're. thinking, who's he? Well, let me tell. you, >> Sam Wrench, he was uh he can absolutely. go in with Chuckade suppliers and MC. Hammer. It's great in there. There's if. I if I'm if I work on Only Connect, I'm.

I'm I'm seeing a wall. >> in the toolbox of celebrity names. He. Yeah, he he he glitters. Um but he also. is the director of the Taylor Swift era. tour, which as we've just said was the. highest grossing concert movie of all. time. He's done other things. He did. That Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina. Carpenter. has done concert films for. BTS, Billy Irish, who various things. like that. But surely the most. significant aspect of this is that. they've announced that he is going to be. the director of the new bodyguard. Now,

>> what does that lead us to believe? >> Huh? Well, I mean, I surely Taylor Swift. has to be the Whitney Houston character. I mean, I'm actually shocked, Richard, because you told me you have not seen. The Bodyguard. >> No, no, never seen it. Never will see. it. >> Okay. Well, what about if you will see. it if Taylor Swift's in it? I will. personally frog much you down. >> I just don't know why I would why why I. would have done I get it and I've seen. lots and lots and lots of clips from it. I mean, I feel like it's like one of.

those movies I feel like I've seen. >> I mean, it actually had it was written. by Lawrence Kazdan bizarrely because. it's it it isn't very good in lots of. different ways. But Lawrence Kasdan's. obviously amazing. wrote Rage of the. Lost Dark, Empire Strikes Back, and it. was a huge thing with Whitney Whitney. Houston and Kevin Carson though, and I. think it was maybe the second highest. grossing film of that year, but it sort. of cemented Whitney Houston as kind of. Queen of All Sheade. >> and it's one of those films that as the. tide of culture goes out has remained.

like it's got bigger and bigger and. bigger and become more and more. mountainous over the years. Just one of. those films that people absolutely love. and one of those films that people. fetishize. Well, in some ways, we've. never had bigger female artists, have. we? Right. So, I mean, even if Taylor. Swift doesn't do it, maybe Sabrina. Carpenter would like to do it. Maybe, you know, the sort of premise is the. person who the bodyguard has to look. after, who's a sort of former. presidential bodyguard, you know, is a. diva, is a wants wants their own. independence, uh, is moving into acting.

in the original. Now, listen to me. I. mean, surely, why would Taylor Swift not. do Can you imagine what this would be. like if Taylor Swift was in an actual. fictional movie? Get the rating of it. right. It's obviously going to have to. be a 12. >> You if you can you imagine what I think. that would do unbelievable theatrical. business. Maybe this is what you do. before you have a baby with Travis. Kelce. Maybe this is just like I can do. literally anything. I'm the queen of. everything and I can do this. And if so,

can we just cast some of the rest of the. movie, please? >> Oh, by the way, the the thing that. cemented The Bodyguard as that. incredibly famous film is the song is I. will always love you, which is Whitney. doing Dolly Parton and made a huge. amount of money. So Taylor understands. that if she does this film, not only. does it introduce her to the world as an. actor, but also there are absolutely. enormous spin-offs here in terms, >> but also there were two other singles. It was like I have run to you, I have. nothing. They're all in, you know, so. she you can get a big you can get a lot.

out of it. You could I mean Taylor Swift. can certainly get an album out of it. >> So yeah, let listen. Let's cast it. Bear. in mind, I have never seen this film. So. all I know is that Kevin Cosner is in it. and Whitney Houston is in it and I've. already cast Taylor Swift as Whitney. Houston is my my casting job here is. fairly limited. >> Well, there's one role that is relevant, I suppose, other than the obvious. There's a treacherous sister. Could it. be Blake Lively? Um, there is. Okay. But.

who for the Cosnerable? >> Is there romance in it as well? >> Yes. Yeah, that's the whole point. Yeah, he's very, very professional. Except. he's not that professional cuz they. sleep together. >> Where's his gun while they're doing. that? >> Probably like on the nightstand, I. imagine. Why am I saying nightstand like. I'm American? A bed on the bedside. table. >> On the bedside table. >> On the bedside table. >> Next to his Pepto-Bismol. >> Yeah. Who for the co roll? Like I said. to you, Richard, I know someone who. could do it. Glenn Pal could do it. >> Your friend could do it. >> Glenal could do. But. >> do you think he would?

>> Uh, yeah. I think he would, but I'm not. sure that they would go for him. actually. Um, I think that she would. want someone sort of a particular type, you know, because I don't think she, you. know, she wants someone who can sort of. deal with her as it were. >> Yeah. >> So, for me, there are three. >> Okay. I'll give you my view. This is a. meeting. This is a pitch meeting. Now, >> Michael B. Jordan. Michael B. Jordan. could do that role. He would be very. very good in that. I have to say I think. Michael B. Jordan is definitely.

>> And your other two options are Michael. A. Jordan and Michael C. Jordan. >> All the Michael Jordans. >> Um, no. Austin Butler. >> Why not? You okay? Not with a quiff. Give him a buzz cut and a scar. He's 34. He could do this. Okay, he's I can. believe him. >> Get him to change his name from Austin. Butler to Austin bodyguard. >> But my number one choice, come on. Mascal. Poor Mascal. Paul Mascow could. look after you. >> Yeah, >> Paul Mascow could love you too much that. he couldn't protect you. >> I suppose he could. Yeah. Okay. Paul.

Mascal, I can see that cuz I read. someone Tyra Banks was saying it should. be Idris Elbert and you think he's like. about 30 years older than her. >> Yeah. And I understand that like you. know Jenzed have a number of views on. that level of age gap and I'm I can rest. you rest absolutely assured that someone. much much older will not be in the role. of the bodyguard. >> Paul Mgal. Oh, come on. It sounds. perfect for it. >> Well, sort of. Although, I'm trying to. think of him in Gladiator 2 where he's.

sort of beefed up. >> Well, that's what you want. >> Yeah, but I'm not sure Taylor would like. that version of him. >> Well, she would if she's a diva who's. under threat from a stalker who's trying. to kill her. She doesn't want Timothy. Shalomé doing it for her, does she? If. that's the case. If that's the plot. I'm. just saying Shalamé is not going to. protect you in that situation. By the. way, I love him, >> but let's be honest on the screen. persona. Yeah, >> Mascal could do it for you. >> I love him, but not as a bodyguard. >> No. Who's your bodyguard? Timothy. Shalom. Okay. >> But when when you see a bodyguard who is. uh short and slim, you know they're.

incredibly hard. >> Have you got a suggestion then? >> Well, Timothy Shalomé. Um, who would I. who would I tell I' haven't given it an. awful lot of thought. Who was your first. one? Michael B. Jordan. That seems best. to me. >> Michael B. Jordan be very good. >> Oh, I know who I'd have. I love David. Johnson. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. >> He's my new favorite actor, but he's he. might be a bit too quirky. >> I I think he might be too quirky. >> And I I do probably think he could be 6.

in shorter than her in real life. I. mean, you know, she's going to have to. have the high heel boots on. So, I. guess, you know, they can just do what. Hollywood's all always done and put. someone on a box. >> Is Paul Mezcow not tied up in the. Beatles movie for the next four years? Yes, he's one of the four actors that. will be unable to play any other roles. because they're tied up in in in in in. four films that lead into each other and. film all around each other. I'm joking, of course. But yeah, it's quite a. project and I I think that lots of. people do feel that people are less.

available who they might want to put in. their films as a result of it is. >> you know what I would do if I was. Taylor? I'm not Taylor for lots of. reasons, but I would I would do an open. casting. I would tick tock it. Imagine. that. Imagine tick- tocking being uh. >> You need some bodyguards for that, wouldn't you? You need some bodyguards. for the open casting. I Yeah, I I'm not. sure she can do open castings. >> also cuz she hasn't acted particularly. She probably will want a Michael B. Jordan, someone there who absolutely is.

solid as a rock and she can work around. >> Are you saying that Paul Mascar can't. act and Austin Butler can't act? Because. >> Austin Butler I do you know what? I. don't really I mean I know he did Elvis. and I saw him in that motorbike gang. movie but other than that he he he. hasn't left a big impression on me. >> but uh so Mecal 100% I think he's great. but the trouble is you you led with. Michael B Jordan. >> Yeah. >> who is so perfect. >> Yeah he is perfect. I I I personally. would love to watch it but I really want. this movie to happen and I don't believe.

it's beyond the realms otherwise. No. offense to Sam Wrench who I think is. what he's done with concert films is. beyond and it's amazing. It's amazing. So, I'd love to see him do a feature. Um, but as I say, you know, you could. always put Sabrina Carpenter in it. You. can put you could put somebody else in. it, but I do think you need to do a it's. much it's great if you use a real life. star. And we live in an era as we've how. obvious we talked about it so often is. when women individual women artists. completely dominate the charts and and. sales and streaming and everything. So,

there is actually quite a good choice of. people who it could be if they if they. want to dip their toe into acting. What. are the odds that this is going to. happen with Taylor Swift? >> God, I don't I don't know what the. actual odds are. You You'd have to tell. me that. But I I really want it to. happen, >> but it seems likely. People seem to be. saying this is actually going to happen. >> Well, it's not definitively not. happening yet, is it? Cuz they haven't. cast anybody else. And it would for me. make perfect sense. Like what a sort of. great It's a risk, but it's a huge thing.

that she could do. I I think it would be. unbelievable the box office for it. Remember, it's not an expensive movie. I've got my choice for the bodyguard. I. finally found someone better than. Michael B. Jordan. See, it took me a. while because it's such a good. suggestion, but I think I have a better. You just look at the poster now. Taylor. Swift, Ross Kemp. >> You don't think that's an age gap? >> Yeah, but Ross Kemp, he he can, you. know, that's he sort of the years melt. away. >> Well, I think that I'm sure obviously if. offered the chance to work with Kemp,

she might just say, "I don't want to. even hear these. I forget it." Oh, well. that's fun. I genuinely that feels like. something that would land in the middle. of culture with a with a just a joyful. splash and the music from it would be. incredible. You would hope that maybe. she would find uh an old Dolly Parton. Bside to do a Taylor cover version of, you know, just to pay homage to the. original movie. >> that um you know, in a in a in a in a. tricky week that would bring us all such. joy. It would it would be such an event.

and I it's not as I say it's not not. happening yet. >> Joey our producer just said in my ear. this is a great suggestion. This might. be I'm not saying it is. It might be. better than Ross Kemp. Alan Richson. Reacher. >> It could it could be great. And in lots. of ways he's got like elements of Travis. Kelce to him because he's you know such. a kind of big all-American guy. I have. to Yeah. Does it matter she's a pop. star? He is a TV star. He's not a movie. star. But I mean, you don't need anyone. if Taylor Swift's opening the movie.

>> Exactly. Whoever you put in that. instantly becomes a movie star. >> You're right. Okay. Reacher is a great. suggestion. Alan Richson is a great. suggestion. I I'd take my hat off to it. >> Jack Reacher looking after Taylor Swift. >> Oh my god. It's too much. >> Yes. Yes, please. >> You're right. That is brilliant. All. right. I mean, we've got, you know, we've done we've done a number of pieces. of good work there. Lots of that is. something that we should make follow-on. calls. >> If any listens have a better. combination, do please send them in. We'll read some of those out next week. >> Very good. Any recommendations, Richard?

>> Um, I wanted to recommend a really, really simple thing that uh a sort of. friend of mine sent me the other day who. is a Brighton fan and Brighton Halbian. teamed up with the Samaritans. They've. done a little twominute video about uh. mental health. We'll put that link in. the episode notes and also in the the. Friday email which you can sign up to at. the wrestlers entertainment.com. And it. is so beautifully done. so brilliantly. done about men going to the football and. not talking to each other which is a. narrative we've heard before but they.

absolutely. nail it is two 3 minutes long is really. beautiful really really important uh so. it's that's my recommendation this week. is you can watch within 3 minutes that. which might be a first how about you. >> I would like to do recommend a. documentary that um I thought I knew the. whole story of um but the way it's put. together is is really quite jaw-dropping. and it's on ITV. Um, and it's called the. COVID contracts, follow the money. If. you thought you knew everything about.

what actually seems to be like one of. the most enormous financial scandals in. government ever, it it's just so well. done and I I really thought thought it. was brilliant and an amazing focus on a. story that you sort of can't quite. believe we've moved on from when you see. the scale of it. >> God, I haven't even heard of it. Remind. us what it's called. >> It's called the COVID contracts. Follow. the money and it's on ITV. >> Marina, thank you ever so much. >> Thank you so much. I'm so sorry we're. parted. >> I love the fact that you've recommended. something about the CO contracts when.

you've got COVID. You're such a. professional. >> Uh yeah, I I hadn't actually thought. that thought of that, but um I will. continue trying not to give you CO ahead. of your book launch on Thursday. >> In the business, we call that a button. >> You tie you've absolutely sewn a button. on the end of this whole thing. Yeah. book launch on Thursday, Impossible. Fortune. Um, people would be very. welcome to buy it. We have to see if we. can outsell Dan Brown in a in a victory. for Britain. >> Oh, come on, everybody. Okay, Richard.

We will see all of our listeners for a. Q&A on Thursday. And we also have a fun. bonus this week on the whole business of. script doctoring. What is it? Some. amazing sort of historical examples of. it. Um, and just a sort of deep dive. into that which is a really interesting. part of the business. that that thing of. famous writers who without you knowing. have written some large parts of some. fairly extraordinary films that you. wouldn't expect them to be writing. It's. a it's it's a hell of an industry. Um so.

we'll see everyone on Thursday. >> See you on Thursday. [Applause].