Latest news with #WTFWith
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Penguin' stars Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell discuss Batman 'all the time': 'An opera about hurt people'
Cristin Milioti and Colin Farrell may play criminals in the Batman universe, but Milioti said they are big fans of the crime-fighting Dark Knight. Milioti, who plays crime ring heiress Sofia Falcone on The Penguin, shared why she's drawn to the comic book universe on the latest episode of WTF With Marc Maron. "I've been such a massive Batman fan my whole life, in particular, because it's so theatrical," she said. "Because no one has a superpower. It's gothic. Colin and I would talk about it all the time. It felt like an opera because everything is so heightened and it's like an opera about hurt people." Milioti and Maron then discussed what they believe is the best Batman iteration: Tim Burton's Batman films. The iconic pair of movies stars Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader. "It's that line between high camp but also you're devastated for them," Milioti Maron praised Danny DeVito's portrayal of Penguin in Burton's Batman Returns, Milioti is partial to Farrell's version of the villain on their show. "It's a great performance," Milioti agreed about DeVito's take on the character, "but I'm partial to my guy." Milioti has received praise for her portrayal of Falcone on The Penguin, which focuses less on Bruce Wayne and more on the power struggle between two crime bosses: Farrell's Penguin and Milioti's Falcone. While Batman isn't present in the actual series, The Penguin's finale sets up the next installment of Matt Reeves' The Batman franchise. Listen to the entire episode of WTF With Marc Maron featuring Milioti below. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marc Maron Explains Why He's Shuttering ‘WTF' After 16 Years: ‘The World Is Ending'
Marc Maron has a very Maron answer for why he's ending his podcast 'WTF' after 16 years and over 1,600 interviews. 'Basically, me and Brendan [McDonald], my producer, were like, 'Look. The world is ending. We might as well enjoy some free time for the few months we're going to have,'' the comedian told Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night's episode of 'The Tonight Show.' 'That's very positive,' Fallon said, to which Maron shot back, 'I like to stay positive, Jimmy.' Earlier this month, the podcaster announced he would be ending 'WTF With Marc Maron' this fall. When Maron made the announcement during his episode with John Mulaney, the host said he and his team were 'tired' of the grind the podcast required, but that they were 'utterly satisfied with the work we've done.' Maron and McDonald launched 'WTF' in 2009 in the early days of podcasting. The show was ahead of its time, sparking the now incredibly popular trend of celebrity podcasts. 'It's funny, when I started — because a lot of people in our business, no one knew what a podcast was, right? — so when I told people, 'We're going to start a podcast. We're just going to record it in my garage,' people were like, 'Sad about Maron. I don't know. He's just doing something in his garage now. But at least he's busy,'' the comedian and groundbreaking host said. Maron also reflected on what it's been like to share so much of himself on 'WTF.' What has always differentiated 'WTF' from other podcasts is Maron's vulnerability when it comes to discussing his personal life with his very famous guests. More often than not, that openness has led to his guests sharing more than they typically would in a regular interview. 'If you really listen to the podcast, the first 100 episodes were just me having celebrities over to talk about my problems,' Maron joked. 'I think that's how the style evolved. But I think the primary component and the constant of the podcast is me and what I'm going through in my life. That's the most important thing.' Maron also touched on the parasocial relationships his fans have developed with him over the years, in part due to his own vulnerability. 'I do feel the weight of that. Because after 16 years of people listening, we were only an audio podcast. I think that when it's audio, the intimacy of it and the relationship people have with you is very personal and it's very real,' Maron said. 'I know there were a lot of people depending on me to keep their sanity, and now they're just going to be nuts.' Watch the full interview above. The post Marc Maron Explains Why He's Shuttering 'WTF' After 16 Years: 'The World Is Ending' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Express Tribune
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
All good things must come to an end: Marc Maron announces WTF podcast conclusion after 16 years
Marc Maron's podcast, WTF With Marc Maron, considered to be a trailblazer and one of the early shows to popularize the format, is set to end this fall after more than 15 years and nearly 2,000 episodes since its 2009 debut. The podcast, which has been a major influence in the audio series boom, announced its conclusion in a recent episode. Since launching on September 1, 2009, WTF has amassed around 1.1 billion downloads, listens, and impressions. The show has produced 1,645 main episodes alongside over 300 bonus episodes for premium subscribers. Maron reflected on the decision during the latest episode, stating, 'Sixteen years we've been doing this, and we've decided that we had a great run. Now, basically, it's time, folks. It's time.' The podcast is renowned for its candid conversations with comedy legends, A-list actors, and political figures, including an iconic 2015 interview with President Barack Obama. That particular episode, recorded in Maron's garage in Highland Park, California, shattered Libsyn's 24-hour download record by more than double, featuring discussions on race relations, gun violence, and political humor. Other memorable episodes include comedian Todd Glass's 2012 coming out and a 2010 interview with Robin Williams, which was preserved by the Library of Congress in 2022. Maron's guest list reads like a who's who of entertainment, featuring names such as Sir Paul McCartney, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and SNL creator Lorne Michaels. Maron and his producer Brendan McDonald received the inaugural Governors Award for Excellence in Audio from the Podcast Academy at The Ambies in 2021. Maron cited exhaustion after nearly two decades of biweekly episodes as a key reason for ending the podcast. 'We're tired. We're burnt out. And we are utterly satisfied with the work we've done,' he said. He emphasized that ending WTF on their own terms is important, acknowledging the support of partners like Acast over the past three years. Looking ahead, Maron plans to feature new guests before the final episodes air in the fall. He also has several projects underway, including a new HBO stand-up special this summer, roles in upcoming films such as In Memoriam and Deliver Me From Nowhere, and a starring part in Apple's golf comedy series Stick. Maron thanked his listeners and guests, reflecting on the podcast's profound impact on his life and career. 'It's been an incredible time... There's probably going to be some ups and downs over the next few months... but this is a full-hearted decision. It's the right decision,' he concluded. Maron is represented by Independent Artists Group, Avalon, and Brecheen Feldman Breimer. The final episodes of WTF are expected this fall. Full details and the latest episode are available at
Sky News
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Snow White: Little people feel 'erased' by Disney's use of CGI instead of real actors
Disney's use of CGI to create the seven miners at the heart of the live-action remake of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves has left little people feeling "disregarded" and "erased," according to a disability activist. Comedian, model and content creator Fats Timbo, who has spoken about being bullied as a child, told Sky News she believes Disney has missed a golden opportunity to educate children in what is likely to be their first encounter with someone with dwarfism. Timbo, who has dedicated her activism to raising the profile of people of short stature, has achondroplasia, a genetic condition that inhibits growth and affects around one in 27,500 people. Award-winning actor Peter Dinklage, who has the same condition, previously criticised the film, telling the WTF With Marc Maron podcast: "It makes no sense to me. You're progressive in one way, but then you're still making that f***ing backward story about seven dwarves living in a cave together?" Following the remarks, Disney said it consulted with members of the dwarfism community to "avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film". It was the 1937 classic that established Disney's name as an industry leader. But the remake has been beset by controversy. Early on it was labelled "woke" due to its casting of Latina actress Rachel Zegler, who is of Colombian-Polish descent, in the lead role. Zegler also faced backlash after suggesting the early version of the film had content that was unsuitable for the 21st century - namely the fact the prince "literally stalks" Snow White. There was then speculation as to whether Zegler and Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who plays the evil queen, got on as they have previously expressed very different views over the Gaza war. Not dwarves but 'animated magical creatures' Now the erasing of the dwarves - first from the title, then from the film, at least in human form - is proving highly divisive. Disney used computer-generated images (CGI) to create what they called "animated magical creatures" rather than using little people in the roles. Timbo tells Sky News: "Our representation is already small as it is - no pun intended. It's already limited. To erase that and use CGI, like we're mythical creatures or people that could be made on computers, it's disregarding us in general." She goes on: "Let's say kids have never seen somebody that has my condition and they've seen a CGI version of me. It's going to be a bit baffling to children. It could have been a real educational piece to have actors that have the condition and give them the role they deserve." Timbo says lack of visibility for small people has real-world consequences. "I used to get made fun of all the time. [Kids would be] saying 'You're one of the dwarves from Snow White,' that kind of thing. I think now when somebody sees a little person, they're not going to believe it's real. They're going to see that CGI version on Snow White instead of seeing a real little person that has real character with real depth." 'Snow White And The Little People' Timbo says other children's films were also used to taunt her, including Charlie And The Chocolate Factory: "The Oompa Loompas - I got called that all the time." In the Snow White remake, Martin Klebba voices CGI Grumpy, while George Appleby has a physical character, playing one of a band of seven robbers - both actors are little people. But the decision not to use people of small stature to play all seven dwarves on-screen has left many scratching their heads. And it's not the first time small people have been edited out of movies. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory's 2023 re-make, Wonka, used special effects to shrink down Hugh Grant to play an Oompa Loompa, while 2012 film Snow White And The Huntsman replaced its dwarves with able-bodied actors Ian McShane, Ray Winstone and Nick Frost. Not a fan of the term dwarfism, Timbo says she thinks Disney would also have done well to tackle the title differently, too: "If they had put a different spin on it where it was Snow White And The Little People, that would have sounded great." She says that in an attempt to avoid controversy, Disney chose "the safe option" of simply cutting the physical roles completely, and letting CGI fill the void. It's a decision Timbo calls "upsetting," due to the fact it "reaffirms the negative stereotypes of little people not being actual people". Disney's poisoned apple Timbo's 2023 book Main Character Energy, about living fearlessly in the face of adversity, seems like it could be a good read for the bosses of Disney right now, as they face growing criticism over the decision. With a muted release (no Leicester Square premiere, and a limited LA debut) it's been a less-than-fairytale opening for a movie which had been intended to rival the success of 2017 remake Beauty And The Beast. Many might say it has turned into something of a poisoned apple. Proving controversial and polarising, the response couldn't be more removed from Disney's brand proposition if it tried. Early reviews are so far mixed. Timbo says she will give the movie a shot: "I want to see if it lives up to the hype or the bad press." Box office figures and audience ratings will soon deliver a verdict, and Timbo remains generous despite reservations: "I want it to surprise me, I want to enjoy it… I hope it does do well. But obviously, I think Disney could have done things a bit differently."
See - Sada Elbalad
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- See - Sada Elbalad
Disney Scales Back "Snow White" Hollywood Premiere
Yara Sameh Disney is hosting a Hollywood premiere of 'Snow White' on March 15, but won't be rolling out a robust red carpet like it usually does. The afternoon festivities will include a pre-party and screening at the El Capitan Theatre with titular star Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, who plays the Evil Queen, expected to attend. However, the red carpet will not include the dozens of media outlets usually invited by Disney to interview the cast and creatives at its premieres. Instead, the coverage will be limited to photographers and a house crew. While the studio did not comment for this story, the scaled back plans come amid controversies surrounding the Marc Webb-directed movie, which hits theaters March 21. Some toxic Disney fans questioned Snow White being played by Zegler when her casting was announced because she is a Latina actress. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes star also faced backlash when she called the 1937 original 'dated' because the prince 'literally stalks Snow White.' In an interview with Variety at D23 two years ago, Zegler said, 'She's not going to be saved by the prince. She's not going to be dreaming about true love. She's dreaming about becoming the leader she knows she can be.' Peter Dinklage spoke out about the movie's portrayal of little people for perpetuating negative stereotypes. 'Literally no offense to anything, but I was sort of taken aback,' he said on the 'WTF With Mark Maron' podcast in January 2024. 'They were very proud to cast a Latino actress as Snow White, but you're still telling the story of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' Take a step back and look at what you're doing there.' Shortly following Dinklage's remarks, Disney said in a statement to 'Good Morning America,' 'To avoid reinforcing stereotypes from the original animated film, we are taking a different approach with these seven characters and have been consulting with members of the dwarfism community.' Zegler reasons that the backlash to the movie is due to the 'passion' for the original movie. 'I interpret people's sentiments towards this film as passion,' she said in an interview in the March issue of Vogue Mexico. 'What an honor to be a part of something that people feel so passionately about. We're not always going to agree with everyone who surrounds us and all we can do is our best.' World politics have also come into play. Zegler has promoted 'free Palestine' on social media. At the same time, Gadot, who is Israeli, has become an outspoken supporter of Israel on social media. Gadot has stayed away from politics in the past but has said she felt she needed to speak up after the October 7 Israel-Hamas war. MAGA supporters also blasted Zegler for her reaction to Donald Trump's reelection when she posted on Instagram, in part, 'May Trump supporters and Trump voters and Trump himself never know peace.' She apologized for her remarks two days later. 'Snow White' publicity plans have already included Gadot and Zegler presenting together at the Oscars Zegler is also set to make a promotional appearance in Tokyo as well as travel with Webb to Spain for the movie. The "West Side Story" star will also host a screening in New York City for the Broadway community.
