Sean McNulty (00:00):
This episode of The Ankler Podcast is brought to you by Universal Pictures’ Oppenheimer, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The New York Times calls it “staggering” and The Washington Post declares, “Oppenheimer is a masterpiece, brilliantly acted and thoroughly engrossing.”
(00:14):
Cillian Murphy gives “a performance that imprints on the imagination” and the LA Times says, “Robert Downey Jr. is outstanding and Emily Blunt brings a startling force to the role.” It’s “one of the best movies of the century.” Oppenheimer, for your consideration in all categories, including Best Picture, now nominated for eight Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture Drama.
(00:40):
Welcome to The Ankler Podcast. This is Sean McNulty from The Wakeup newsletter here at The Ankler on the afternoon of Thursday, January 4th here in New York City. I’m joined by Richard Rushfield in Los Angeles. A happy 2024 to you, Richard. Richard is, of course, wearing his trademark black Happy 2024 sash. Very thematic, Richard. We appreciate that.
Richard Rushfield (01:00):
I’m feeling festive. It’s going to be rocking New Year’s Eve all year long for me here.
Sean McNulty (01:05):
Sponsored by the Penske Media Corporation, no doubt.
Richard Rushfield (01:07):
Exactly.
Sean McNulty (01:08):
Exactly. We’re going to get into your resolutions, the new year, some really thoughtful ideas from you this week in your column that I want to dive into. Later on, we’ll be joined by Claire Atkinson who has a piece fresh out of The Ankler oven looking at Hollywood’s Saudi whisperers, which we’ll get into in a little bit.
(01:25):
But first, let’s bring in Peter Kiefer who, Richard, I don’t want to start off with the beef here, but I think Peter is now The Ankler’s official Golden Globes correspondent since you’re not going.
Richard Rushfield (01:33):
Wow!
Sean McNulty (01:34):
Am I getting this correct? Listen, I don’t want to start anything here. It’s the start of the pod. Fresh new year, new podcast, Richard. Are you all right? What’s going on?
Richard Rushfield (01:43):
I’m going to miss my time there with the esteemed members of the Foreign Press and now with all Jay Penske‘s best friends squeezed in there, but if it’s time to pass the torch, so must it be.
Sean McNulty (01:58):
I see. So Peter, do we add this to your CV? How are your buffet reporting capabilities? What’s the story?
Peter Kiefer (02:05):
This has been a 20-year campaign of mine to dethrone Richard Rushfield from the Golden Globes throne. So thank you for finally providing me with this, a major milestone in my career. No, I’m not going, but I got some…
Sean McNulty (02:23):
You got some good intel this week, Peter.
Peter Kiefer (02:25):
I’m trying to weasel my way into a couple parties this weekend, so if that makes me the official correspondent, so be it.
Sean McNulty (02:32):
You had some controversy around the globes here, Peter. I know we’re all a little stunned this week, but you had a really good piece looking at some things that, frankly, we’ll still see what happens. We’re recording here on Thursday. This show is on Sunday, maybe especially on the red carpet, but what’s afoot at the Golden Globes this year, Peter?
Peter Kiefer (02:47):
Well, I’ll start with the story that we published yesterday and the Globes have always been a much looser affair. Alcohol is famously served and that, I think in part, allows for people to speak off the cuff. Often politics becomes front and center at the Globes, whether it’s in acceptance speeches or on the red carpet.
(03:08):
Obviously, the huge geopolitical issue of the moment is the war between Israel and Hamas. And yesterday, we were reported that it was very, very likely that extremely divisive and explosive topic was going to make its way into this year’s production. We reported that there is a campaign underway, industry-wide, to try and encourage individuals to wear a yellow ribbon, which would be in an effort to remind people of the hostages who were captured on October 7th and who remain in captivity. This is not the first time that a ribbon campaign-
Sean McNulty (03:47):
No. Over the years, there’s been several, right?