
The Treatment
The Treatment is a podcast from KCRW that features in-depth conversations with influential creators in entertainment, fashion, sports, and the arts. Host Elvis Mitchell talks to tastemakers about the sources of their creative inspiration and their impact on popular culture. The show offers compelling insights into the minds of artists and innovators.
Episodes

Kent Jones keeps the beat
Kent Jones has worn many hats in the film world. He has written film criticism, collaborated with Martin Scorsese on several of his documentaries, and he served as director of the New York Film Festival. As a director, his work includes the documentary 'Hitchcock/Truffault' and his feature film debut 'Diane.'
His latest film is 'Late Fame,' starring Willem Dafoe an

The Treat: Julia Fox
Actress and author Julia Fox hasn’t shied away from addressing the painful parts of her life. Her 2023 memoir Down the Drain is an unflinching look at her struggles with drugs and mental illness. For her treat, she recommends another raw memoir from a friend who also dealt with addiction, which inspired her to be open about her own experience.

Tim Robbins doesn’t want to be an expert
Oscar-winning actor Tim Robbins is always doing something new. He has appeared in acclaimed movies, including 'The Shawshank Redemption' and 'Mystic River,' for which he received the Academy Award. He has directed the films 'Cradle Will Rock,' 'Bob Roberts,' and 'Dead Man Walking,' which garnered him an Oscar nod for Best Director. He is the founder of the nonprofit theater tr

Rhea Seehorn on playing the silences in ‘Pluribus’
This episode of 'The Treatment' is sponsored by Apple TV.
Actress Rhea Seehorn’s dramatic range has been on display for years.
Her breakout role on 'Better Call Saul,' created by Vince Gilligan, earned her two Emmy nominations for her role as attorney Kim Wexler. Seehorn teamed up with Gilligan again for the Apple TV sci-fi series 'Pluribus.' Her perfor

The Treat: Jerrod Carmichael
Jerrod Carmichael’s confessional comedic work stands apart. In the last five years, he has created two ground-breaking works: the intimate and revealing 'Rothaniel' and the HBO documentary series 'Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show,' which was not without controversy. For his treat, he recommends an acclaimed HBO series that he considers to be its own documentary.

Mary Beth Barone on her ‘Galaxy Brain’
Mary Beth Barone has been carving out her comedic persona for more than a decade. A seasoned stand up, she also co-hosts the comedy podcast Ride with Benito Skinner, and is featured in the Prime Video comedy Overcompensating, which Skinner created and stars in. Her newest comedy triumph is the Netflix special Galaxy Brain. Barone tells The Treatment why she enjoys bringing the

The Treat: Mario Van Peebles
Writer, director, and actor Mario Van Peebles is perhaps best known for his 1991 breakthrough film 'New Jack City,' which he directed and starred in. Since then he has frequently been on both sides of the camera, which has taken him all over the world. For his treat, he explains why travel has been life changing for him and what it has taught him about humanity.

Richard Pryor’s daughter grapples with the complexities of a notorious word
For historian and professor Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, wrestling with language is part of her job. However, she admits she was left speechless the day a student in one of her classes used the N-word. That moment was the impetus for her new book 'Something We Said: Richard Pryor, a Notorious Word, and Me.'
Stordeur Pryor is the daughter of the late comedian, who oft

The Treat: Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele’s films tackle uncomfortable truths about race in this country through humor, horror and many homages to classic films. Peele won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 2017 for his hit directorial debut, 'Get Out.' For his treat, he talks about the film whose technical wizardry and problematic take on race inspired his 2022 film 'Nope.'

Actress Mariska Hargitay gets personal in ‘My Mom Jayne’
Actress Mariska Hargitay has played Captain Olivia Benson on 'Law & Order: SVU' for more than two decades keeping audiences rapt with her ability to balance her character’s vulnerability and strength through wrenching situations.
Her latest project, 'My Mom Jayne,' put her in the director’s chair for the first time as she delved into the complicated and t

The Treat: Richard Gadd
Emmy-winning actor and writer Richard Gadd purposely puts his characters under great tension. He wrote and starred in the 2024 Netflix series 'Baby Reindeer,' which won three Emmys, and most recently created and starred in the HBO series 'Half Man.' He’s up for another Emmy in September for his performance. For his treat, Gadd celebrates an iconic duo, who also often fou

Mario Van Peebles on using action to reveal character
For actor and director Mario Van Peebles, talent runs in the family. Mario, the son of the late director Melvin Van Peebles, is perhaps best known for his groundbreaking 1991 film 'New Jack City,' which he directed and starred in. He also wrote, directed and starred in the 2003 film 'Baadasssss!' playing his father during the making of his breakthrough film 'Sweet Sweetback&rs

The Treat: Chelsea Peretti
Chelsea Peretti’s work as a comedian and as an actress on shows such as 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' demonstrates how her gift for deadpan can highlight the humor in the material. In 2023, she directed her first film aptly titled 'First Time Female Director.' For her treat, she cites a 1957 absurdist play that got plenty of laughs in spite of its bleak story.

How Wes Anderson uses music to bring his films to life
Writer-director Wes Anderson has been talking film on The Treatment since his directorial debut, 1996’s 'Bottle Rocket.' Since then he has spoken with Elvis about making 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' 'Asteroid City,' and his most recent project, 'The Phoenician Scheme.' His films are beloved for their visual aesthetics, but fans know the scores and soundtracks are just as

The Treat: Wes Anderson
Among other things, director Wes Anderson is famous for his particular aesthetic taste, which runs through his films such as 'The Royal Tenenbaums,' 'The Darjeeling Limited,' and 'The Grand Budapest Hotel.' He is also known for the distinctive music scores and soundtracks that set the tone. That music will be celebrated in a three-concert event at the Hollywood Bowl on July 10

How Martin Scorsese Stays Curious
At 83-years-old, Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese’s excitement for creating moving images is as palpable as ever. This quality shines throughout actor/filmmaker Rebecca Miller’s new Apple TV+ documentary 'Mr. Scorsese' and she’s here to tell us all about her process, including the key to getting her subject to open up on camera.
Note: This episode aire

The Treat: Spike Feresten
Comedy writer Spike Feresten has written for some of the most influential shows of the ‘80s and ‘90s: 'SNL,' 'The Simpsons,' and 'Seinfeld.' His latest writing project was another collaboration with Jerry Seinfeld — the screenplay for the 2024 film 'Unfrosted.' For his treat, he cites a late night maverick who showed him that a career in the kind of comedy he

Edward Norton on the best date movie of the summer
Actor Edward Norton has been a favorite guest on The Treatment since his breakout performance in the 1996 thriller 'Primal Fear.' Since then he has steadily surprised audiences in films including 'American History X,' 'The Incredible Hulk,' and 'Fight Club.' He has four Oscar nominations, a Golden Globe win for 'Primal Fear,' and has also directed the films 'Keeping the Faith'

The Treat: David Siegel
Writer-director David Siegel has collaborated on films with Scott McGehee for more than three decades. Their most recent feature is 2025’s 'The Friend,' starring Naomi Watts with a very large and well behaved co-star. But for The Treat, Siegel goes solo. He celebrates a polarizing style of architecture recently featured in an epic film directed by a friend.

Richard Gadd on the duality in his work
Emmy-winning writer and actor Richard Gadd knows he puts his characters under great tension in his work. Gadd wrote and starred in the 2024 Netflix series 'Baby Reindeer,' which was inspired by experiences Gadd had as a stand up comic dealing with a stalker. That series garnered six Emmys, including for Gadd’s performance, and for Outstanding Limited Series. Gadd has fol

The Treat: Simon Helberg
Actor Simon Helberg is likely best known for his 12 seasons as the brilliant but awkward engineer on the CBS sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory.' But he’s made quite the impression with his newest role as a tech genius who can’t connect with his family on the AMC dramedy 'The Audacity.' For Helberg’s treat, he cites a deceptively simple 1938 Pulitzer prize winning p

Geoff Bennett on 'The Golden Age' of Black TV
You may know journalist Geoff Bennett as co-anchor of the 'PBS Newshour,' or as a contributor to NPR and NBC. He is also the author of the new book 'Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to ‘90s Sitcoms.' Bennett tells The Treatment why the '90s was a ‘golden age’ for Black TV, how the 'Cosby Show' spinoff 'A Different Worl

The Treat: Pete Ohs and Jeremy O. Harris
The new film Erupcja, which stars pop star Charli XCX and takes place in Poland, marks the third collaboration between director Pete Ohs and playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris. Their latest collaboration is another international venture. It’s a joint treat about a surprisingly moving Korean reality show and a stark and shocking piece of auto-fiction from a Japanese No

The 'Club Kid' is alright
Jordan Firstman’s directorial debut 'Club Kid' was one of the breakout hits of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The film, which follows an aging party promoter as his life takes an unexpected turn, was snapped up for $17 million by A24 after a bidding war. Firstman stars in the film along with Diego Calva and Cara Delevingne. The trio spoke to Elvis last month at Cannes ab

The Treat: Tadashi Nakamura
Filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura’s newest film 'Third Act' follows his father, lauded director Robert A. Nakamura, as he looks back over his life and career while dealing with a recent diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. For his treat, SoCal native Tadashi celebrates a documentary that looked at the birth of a local culture and did it with style.

RZA on the three things films should do
RZA may be the ultimate multi-hyphenate. He’s a founding member of the groundbreaking hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan and is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers ever. He’s also a versatile actor, having appeared in films including 'Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai,' 'Coffee and Cigarettes,' and 'Minions: The Rise of Gru.' And he is a director of films incl

The Treat: Thierry Frémaux
The Cannes Film Festival recently wrapped up its 79th year celebrating films from around the world. Prior to the festival, its director Thierry Frémaux premiered his own film, 'Lumière le Cinéma!,' a look at the birth of cinema through the Lumière Brothers and their invention of the cinematograph. It’s now streaming on the Criterion Channel. F

How ‘Project Hail Mary’ captured the spectacle of space
Directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller got their start in animated TV as co-creators of the series 'Clone High.' Their partnership continued on the big screen with 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' 'The Lego Movie,' and '21 Jump Street.' Their latest is the adaptation of the Andy Weir sci-fi novel 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling. Lord and Miller talk about why

The Treat: Cynthia Erivo
Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winning actress and singer Cynthia Erivo continues to conquer stage and screen. She stepped back into Elphaba’s shoes (and cape and hat) in the blockbuster musical 'Wicked: For Good' last year. Now, she’s finishing up a run in a one-woman adaptation of 'Dracula' in London’s West End. For her treat, she celebrates Nina Simone’s ico

Jeremy O. Harris and Pete Ohs on casting Charli XCX in 'Erupcja'
Tony nominated playwright Jeremy O. Harris and director Pete Ohs are frequent collaborators. Ohs worked on a documentary about Harris’ acclaimed and controversial 'Slave Play' and Harris starred in Ohs’ film 'The True Beauty of Being Bitten by a Tick.'
Their latest collaboration is the film 'Erupcja,' starring pop star Charli XCX in a role far removed from her on s

The Treat: India Donaldson
Director India Donaldson’s 2024 feature film debut 'Good One' is deceptively simple: a teenager, her father, and her father’s friend go camping in upstate New York. But the film goes into an unexpected direction, telling its story with tension and subtlety. For her treat, she cites a 2003 sculpture by the visual artist Shimabuku, whose simplicity evokes unabashed j

Simon Helberg on the absurdity of ‘The Audacity’
Actor Simon Helberg is no stranger to playing highly intelligent characters with a few social shortcomings. He’s best known for his comedic turn as the brilliant, but awkward engineer Howard Wolowitz on the CBS sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory,' which ran for 12 seasons. He’s also appeared in films including 'Old School,' 'A Serious Man,' and 'Florence Foster Jenkins,'

The Treat: BenDavid Grabinski
Writer-director BenDavid Grabinski’s newest film, the crime caper 'Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,' is in part an homage to the independent films of the ‘70s. For his treat, he pays tribute to a recent Broadway revival starring two performers known for going back in time and having a most excellent adventure.

Cannes Chief Thierry Frémaux on the origins of filmmaking in ‘Lumière, le Cinema!’
More than 125 years ago, brothers Louis and Auguste Lumière invented the cinematograph, a precursor to the movie camera. Their contributions to modern filmmaking are enshrined at the Institute Lumière in France.
As a scholar of film, Thierry Frémaux, director of the Institute Lumière and Cannes Film Festival, was drawn to telling the Lumi&egra

The Treat: Jeff Daniels
Actor Jeff Daniels has had a storied career in TV, film, and Broadway. He’s the winner of two Emmys for his roles in 'The Newsroom' and 'Godless,' has appeared in films as varied as 'Terms of Endearment,' 'Dumb and Dumber,' and 'The Martian,' and earned three Tony Award nominations for his work in the plays 'God of Carnage,' 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and 'Blackbird.' To t

Rob Reiner on the legacy of ‘Spinal Tap’
The late and acclaimed director Rob Reiner created some of the most beloved films of the past four decades including 'Stand By Me,' 'When Harry Met Sally' and, of course, 'This is Spinal Tap.'
In the fall of 2025, Reiner joined The Treatment for an extensive conversation ahead of the release of what would be his final film: 'Spinal Tap II: The End Continues.'
'This

The Treat: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s collaboration has lasted decades, spawning projects including 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' 'The Lego Movie,' and their latest, the sci-fi dramedy 'Project Hail Mary.' The friendship that led to their creative partnership started in college, and their treat is the film that cemented that bond: an edgy 1971 Hal Ashby flick that brought

How Coppola, Lucas, and Spielberg shaped Hollywood
Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg are the most influential directors of their generation with iconic films including The Godfather, Star Wars: A New Hope, and Jaws. Their catalog runs deep.
Author Paul Fischer’s new book The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema te

The Treat: Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino
Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino are behind shows whose dialogue shares rhythms of both borscht belt humor and pop music. Those series include the beloved 'Gilmore Girls,' 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' and their most recent, the ballet dramedy 'Étoile.' For their treat, the Palladinos shout out an LA record store and a classic comedy sketch they return to again an

David Oyelowo on the dark reality of solitary confinement in ‘Newborn’
Actor David Oyelowo doesn’t shy away from taking on complex, groundbreaking characters, but the timing has to be right. He portrayed Martin Luther King, Jr. in 'Selma,' the first Black U.S. marshal in the series 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves,' and took on the role of Othello almost a decade ago on stage. His latest role is in the film 'Newborn,' which is about a man struggling to

The Treat: Guy Trebay
Style writer Guy Trebay has spent decades documenting the trends of culture, art and fashion for The New York Times. His 2024 memoir, Do Something: Coming of Age Amid the Glitter and Doom of ‘70s New York, tells of his early years in a troubled family and how he found refuge in the gritty beauty of New York City. For his treat, he explains why walking in a city (includin

Director BenDavid Grabinski on the retro sensibility of ‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’
The title of writer-director BenDavid Grabinski’s comedy caper Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a mouthful, but it’s no accident. The film stars Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, and Eiza González as a trio trying to survive the most dangerous night of their lives. Grabinski says he wanted aspects of his movie to harken back to films such as 1976’s

The Treat: Kenneth Turan
In his decades as a film critic for the LA Times, Kenneth Turan’s reviews demonstrated his vast knowledge of cinema while never shying away from strong opinions. Turan’s latest book, 'Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg: The Whole Equation', details a partnership that was instrumental in creating the modern film industry. For his treat, Turan cites a 20th cent

Director Joseph Kosinski on the sound of ‘F1’
Director Joseph Kosinski has helmed two of the biggest blockbusters of the past five years — 2022’s 'Top Gun: Maverick' and last summer’s racing movie 'F1.' The latter stars Brad Pitt as a driver who comes out of retirement to team up with a younger driver (played by Damson Idris). At this year’s Academy Awards, 'F1' took home the Oscar for Best Sound D

The Treat: Maria Bamford
There’s a good chance that Maria Bamford is your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian. Her one-of-a-kind comedy has lent itself to sold out tours, the tv series Lady Dynamite, and a best-selling memoir Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult. For her treat, she celebrates a book that espouses attaining corporate success while doing good by your employees.

‘Project Hail Mary’ directors on making outer space feel like home
Directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller got their start in animated tv as co-creators of the series 'Clone High.' Their partnership continued on the big screen with 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' 'The Lego Movie,' and '21 Jump Street.' Their latest is the adaptation of the Andy Weir sci-fi novel 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling. Lord and Miller talk about why

The Treat: Ken Leung
In the HBO series 'Industry,' actor Ken Leung plays a deeply flawed boss at a high powered London investment bank. For his Treat, he celebrates A.A. Milne’s 1928 book The House at Pooh Corner. He says its moving final chapter speaks to the importance of not knowing what comes next but embracing the uncertainty with others.

Actress Erika Alexander on flexing her comedic muscles in ‘Reggie Dinkins’
Actress Erika Alexander became a household name when she starred as Maxine Shaw in the groundbreaking '90s sitcom 'Living Single.' After the show’s run ended, she continued to work in TV and film with roles in 'Get Out' and the 2023 Oscar-winning film 'American Fiction.' Now, she’s starring in the new NBC sitcom 'The Rise and Fall of Reggie Dinkins' with co-stars T

The Treat: Matt Wolf
Filmmaker Matt Wolf’s recent HBO documentary 'Pee-wee as Himself' is a deep look at the late Paul Reubens, the man behind the character Pee-wee Herman. For his treat, Wolf celebrates the book 'Edie' by Jean Stein about the late 1960s icon Edie Sedgwick, who became the face of artist Andy Warhol’s Factory studio.

Director’s Cut: Guillermo del Toro on running toward the fear
Guillermo del Toro won his first Oscar for directing the 2017 film 'The Shape of Water.' His latest film, 'Frankenstein,' received nine total Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Elvis chatted with Del Toro for an extended interview taped live at KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio. Del Toro discusses how experiences from his childhood h

The Treat: Wunmi Mosaku
Actress Wunmi Mosaku’s performances are often quiet and contemplative. Her role as the spiritual healer Annie in Sinners landed her a first-ever Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. For her treat, Wunmi reflects on the Alua Arthur book Briefly, Perfectly, Human: Making an Authentic Life by Getting Real About the End. She says the book about death has hel

Cynthia Erivo on conquering roles from Elphaba to Dracula
Elvis speaks with Emmy, Tony, and Grammy-winning actress Cynthia Erivo. She recently reprised her role as Elphaba in 'Wicked: For Good,' for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. Erivo can now be seen on stage in London in the one-woman adaptation of 'Dracula.' She talks about playing characters with duality, how Elphaba grows in 'For Good' and the exciting challenge o

The Treat: Joel Edgerton
Actor and director Joel Edgerton often plays characters who question traditional notions of masculinity. His most recent role was as a soft-spoken logger at the turn of the 20th century in the film Train Dreams. The film is nominated for four Oscars, including Best Picture. For his treat, Edgerton celebrates the Welsh musician Ren, who talks openly about his mental health stru

Wunmi Mosaku on how self-acceptance brought her to 'Sinners'
Actress Wunmi Mosaku’s performances often say so much in the pauses in dialogue from her work in Lovecraft Country to Loki, and the 2010 film I Am Slave. Mosaku’s latest role is Annie, a Hoodoo healer and the estranged wife of Smoke in Sinners. Her performance garnered her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, one of 16 nods for the film. Mosa

The Treat: Josh Safdie
Josh Safdie’s films often show the claustrophobic chaos of family life. His kinetic film Marty Supreme received nine Oscar nominations including Best Director and Best Picture. For his treat, he talks about a 1979 Oscar-winning film he used to navigate the chaos he was experiencing as a child.

Chloé Zhao on showing all the seasons of life in her work
In 2021, Chloé Zhao made history as the first woman of color to win the Best Director Oscar for her film Nomadland. Now, her latest film Hamnet is up for eight Oscar nominations including her second nod for Best Director. The film, an adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel of the same name, stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley as William Shakespeare and his

The Treat: Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro’s films often show the beauty even in their, at times, gothic horror. His latest is the Oscar nominated adaptation of Frankenstein, which is up for nine awards next month, including Best Picture. For del Toro’s treat, he celebrates the late director Ken Russell. Russell’s work often stoked controversy and was even censored, but as del Toro

Yorgos Lanthimos on not giving all the answers in 'Bugonia'
The films of Yorgos Lanthimos cannot be neatly summed up and often take the viewer in surprising and unexpected directions. He’s the mind behind The Lobster, Poor Things, The Favourite and his latest, Bugonia. The film, starring Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, is up for four Oscars including Best Actress and Best Picture. Lanthimos tells Elvis why he enjoys working with no

The Treat: Joseph Kosinski
Director Joseph Kosinski’s films don’t exactly scream quiet solitude. He’s helmed the action packed Tron, Top Gun: Maverick and most recently, the Oscar nominated F1, starring Brad Pitt. However, his films’ protagonists often have to do battle with themselves in the end. For his treat, Kosinski goes back to a painting he discovered as a young man

Director Ryan Coogler on the meaning of home in his films
Sinners is now the most Oscar nominated film ever with 16 nods including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. In 2025, Ryan Coogler sat down with Elvis for an extended conversation about the film. Elvis and Coogler delve into the musical spark behind Sinners, why his characters often have a complicated relationship with home, and why he sees films as

Director Jafar Panahi on hope in his films
Elvis welcomes Iranian director Jafar Panahi, whose film It Was Just an Accident received two Oscar nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay. The film earned critical acclaim when it won the Palme d'Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. He talks about the obligations of a socially engaged filmmaker, letting the audience be the judge of his fi

The Treat: Darren Aronofsky
Oscar nominated director Darren Aronofsky doesn’t shy away from gritty realism. From the ugliness of drug addiction in 'Requiem for a Dream' to the frightening discipline of a ballerina in 'Black Swan' to his latest thriller, 'Caught Stealing' starring Austin Butler. The film takes place in the pre-gentrified New York City of the 1990s. For his treat, Aronofsky pays trib

Josh Safdie on the ambition of ‘Marty Supreme’
Elvis welcomes director Josh Safdie whose latest project is the ambitious Marty Supreme. The film stars newly minted Golden Globe winner Timothée Chalamet as the hustling, talented table tennis player Marty Mauser. Safdie talks about why he used ‘80s music in a film set in the ‘50s, Chalamet’s crazy year of playing Bob Dylan and the fictional — b

The Treat: Emily Blunt
Actress Emily Blunt’s career has taken her from working with iconic actors, including Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise to playing iconic characters, such as Mary Poppins. Her latest role has her going toe to toe against one of the biggest stars of the screen. She plays real life Dawn Staples in The Smashing Machine opposite Dwayne Johnson and was nominated for a Golden Globe

Cynthia Erivo on Elphaba’s growth in ‘Wicked: For Good’
This week on The Treatment, Elvis welcomes back Emmy, Tony, and Grammy-winning actress Cynthia Erivo. She’s hoping to add Golden Globe winner to that list this weekend as she’s up for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role as Elphaba in Wicked: For Good. Erivo discusses playing characters with duality, how Elphaba matures in the Wicked sequel, and the qui

The Treat: Actor Dwayne Johnson
Actor Dwayne Johnson is crushing expectations with his latest role as an MMA fighter in 2025’s The Smashing Machine. He’s up for a Golden Globe for his raw portrayal of the real life Mark Kerr. For his treat, Johnson celebrates those closest to him and this new, exciting chapter in his career.

Joel Edgerton on the silences in Train Dreams
This week on The Treatment, Elvis welcomes back actor and director Joel Edgerton. He recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in Netflix’s Train Dreams. He's also appearing in the psychological thriller The Plague, now in theaters. Edgerton discusses his character's physicality in Train Dreams, the strong female characters in the film, and why he is drawn t

Emily Blunt on looking for the struggle in her characters
This week on The Treatment, Elvis talks with Golden Globe nominee Emily Blunt. She recently got a nod for her supporting role as Dawn Staples opposite Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. Blunt talks about her joy working with Johnson on the film, the challenges of playing a real person, and the impact of working through her childhood stutter.

The Treat: Jason Isaacs
Actor Jason Isaacs has had a long, pigeon-hole proof career with meaty roles from the villainous Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films to Colonel Tavington in The Patriot. Isaacs’ role as a tormented father in season three of the HBO series The White Lotus earned him a Golden Globe nomination and a primetime Emmy nomination earlier this year. However, it’s an ear

Final reflections from Rob Reiner on his father's legacy
The late director Rob Reiner’s prolific talents spanned medium and genre. Reiner started out as an actor on Norman Lear’s classic sitcom All In the Family. He then made the transition to behind the camera with ease, directing comedic gems including This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, and The Princess Bride. He proved equally adept at drama with Stand by Me an

Kate Winslet says hello to directing with Goodbye June
Kate Winslet’s directorial debut Goodbye June was written by her son, Joe Anders. The film centers on a multigenerational family as they say goodbye to the matriarch, June, who is dying of cancer. Elvis talks with Winslet about bringing her son's script to the screen, her cinematic inspirations, and the personal experiences that made their way into the film.

Oscar winner Paul Tazewell on telling story through costume
Elvis talks with Oscar, Emmy, and Tony-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell whose latest work is on full display in Wicked: For Good. Tazewell talks about working with Cynthia Erivo in the Wicked films; the story behind Bernardo's suit in the Stephen Spielberg directed remake of West Side Story, and he talks about bringing the personal into his designs.

Guillermo del Toro on building the world of Frankenstein
This week on The Treatment, Elvis speaks with Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro about his film adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Del Toro talks about filming Oscar Isaac like he was a rock star, how Jacob Elordi stepped in quickly to take on the role of the monster, and why he sees the story as "catholic" in many ways.

The Treat: Actor Greg Kinnear
Actor Greg Kinnear has starred in dozens of roles on film and TV from his breakout role in 1995’s Sabrina, to his Oscar nominated role in As Good as It Gets alongside Jack Nicholson, but he actually got his start in broadcasting. Kinnear hosted E!’s Talk Soup and the late-night talk show Later with Greg Kinnear. For his Treat, Kinnear pays tribute to the people who

Dwayne Johnson defies expectations with The Smashing Machine
This week on The Treatment, Elvis speaks with actor, producer and all-around Hollywood powerhouse Dwayne Johnson aka "The Rock.” Johnson stars in the new Benny Safdie film The Smashing Machine alongside Emily Blunt where he portrays real life MMA fighter Mark Kerr. Johnson talks about going deep for the role, performing the role of "The Rock," and what he wants to tackle

The Treat: The Mortician director Joshua Rofé
Director Joshua Rofé’s unforgettable HBO documentary series The Mortician, about an unethical family-run funeral home, left its mark on audiences. For his treat, Rofé pays tribute to the underrated 1977 William Friedkin film, Sorcerer. Rofé recalls his first time watching it in a theater and breaks down why it’s possibly the best thriller of al

The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman has The Treat
Director Matt Shakman helmed one of the summer’s biggest hits — Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. But his earliest film inspiration was the 1949 Carol Reed noir The Third Man, starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. Shakman cites the film’s post-war setting, storytelling, and great performances as having had a lasting impact on him. Plus,

Fred Armisen’s 100 Sound Effects album is an endless treasure
Elvis chats with actor, comedian, and musician Fred Armisen about his fun new album 100 Sound Effects.
From fake applause to champagne glass breaking, this album is stacked. Elvis and Fred talk about the absurd specificity of each track, which sound was surprisingly hard to capture, the evolution of sound effect albums, and their shared love of drumming.

The Running Man is just a regular guy
This week on The Treatment, Elvis speaks with writer-director Edgar Wright. His newest project is an adaptation of the 1982 Stephen King novel The Running Man, starring Glen Powell. They discuss the thrill of collaborating with King on the project, the prescience of the novel, and why it was important to make the protagonist an ordinary guy.

The Knife director Nnamdi Asomugha has The Treat
Although he’s been retired from the NFL for more than a decade, director and actor Nnamdi Asomugha still gets inspired by a team coming together under difficult circumstances. For his treat, he credits the 2001 miniseries Band of Brothers about paratroopers in World War II with keeping him going while recuperating from a football injury.
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