AirTalk Episode Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Today on AirTalk, LAist reporters breakdown LA primary election results. Also on the show, listeners share how they feel about California’s jungle primary; bad movies that you can’t help but love; and more.

• It’s The Day After Primary Elections, What Do The Early Results Look Like In Los Angeles? (00:17)

• It’s A Jungle Primary Out There. How Do Californians Feel About The Open Primary System? (34:06)
• Second Update On The Day After Primary Elections And What The Early Results Look Like In Los Angeles (50:49)
• Trainwrecks, Campfests & Head-Scratchers – What Are The Bad Movies You Can’t Help But Love? (1:17:42)

Today on AirTalk, Panera Bread wage scandal. Also on the show, listeners share how they vote on Super Tuesday; Hollywood-Burbank Airport gets a facelift ; Larry interviews LA Mayor Karen Bass; and more.

• Everything You Need To Know About ‘Paneragate’ (00:17)

• Mail-In Or March To The Polling Center; How Are You Voting These Days? (16:01)

• UCLA Basketball’s Bumpy Road To College Hoops Immortality Mapped Out In Scott Howard-Cooper’s New Book ‘Kingdom on Fire’ (36:51)

• The Hollywood Burbank Airport Is Getting A Glow Up Whether You Like It Or Not. Frequent Fliers Weigh In (51:15)
• Mayor Karen Bass: Housing And Homelessness, Olympics Prep, City Budget And More (1:11:47)

Today on AirTalk, Breaking down Tuesday’s local primary elections. Also on the show, a new bill targets legacy admissions in higher education; the future of sports journalism; Larry Interviews Nisha Pahuja on her new documentary ‘To Kill A Tiger’; and more.

• Previewing Tuesday’s Local Primary Elections Across Southern California (00:17)
• A New Bill Is Targeting Legacy Admissions In California (18:34)

• Sports Journalism Is Being Gutted. What Does The Future Hold? (34:43)

• Previewing The Statewide And National Landscape Ahead Of Election Day  (51:31)

• ‘To Kill A Tiger’ Director Nisha Pahuja Talks Oscar Nod And Her Most Challenging Project Yet (1:07:18)

• ‘Rapper’s Deluxe’ Chronicles Hip Hop’s Rich History (1:23:13)

Today on AirTalk, The latest on Covid-19. Also on the show, everything you need to know about hearing aids; FilmWeek: ‘Dune: Part Two,’ “The Reverend,’ ‘Megamind vs The Doom Syndicate’; and more.

• COVID Update: Confusing Guidelines, New Studies, And CDC Recommendations (00:17)
• Apple Lets Go Of EV Manufacturing Dreams— What’s The Next Innovation The Tech Giant Is Planning? (16:59)
• A Deep Dive On Hearing Aids (34:25)
• FilmWeek: ‘Dune: Part Two,’ “The Reverend,’ ‘Megamind vs The Doom Syndicate’ And More (51:28) 
• FilmWeek Feature: Larry Mantle And The FilmWeek Critics Discuss The Best International Feature Category Ahead Of The 96th Academy Awards Ceremony (1:22:30)

COVID Update: Confusing Guidelines, New Studies, and CDC recommendations

Winter is here, inflicting its usual array of symptoms — coughs, nasal congestion, fatigue and fever — and, this year, a new COVID-19 variant is dominating the scoreboard. COVID-19 is leading hospital admissions among the respiratory viruses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, 25 U.S. states had high or very high levels for respiratory illnesses with fever, cough and other symptoms. That’s down from 37 states the week before, the CDC said. Still, the CDC says that Americans 65 and older should get another dose of the updated vaccine that became available in September — if at least four months has passed since their last shot. In making the recommendation, the agency endorsed guidance proposed by an expert advisory panel earlier in the day.

We talk to:

• Dr. Kimberly Shriner, director of Infectious Disease and Prevention at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena.

How To LA is kicking off a new 10-part series we’re calling Revival House.  We are going to take you inside these spaces — the vintage spots and some newer ones — to explore their past and their present…and help you connect with some indie theaters in YOUR neighborhoods.

Independent movie theaters are having a moment. Many just turned — or are turning —  100 years old and several have reopened after extensive remodels.

This matters because movie history is LOS ANGELES history. Some of these older venues can tell us a lot about the early days of Hollywood and this city. But what’s cool is that they continue to create spaces for community, to come together and watch a film on the big screen.

So today we’re kicking off a new 10-part series we’re calling Revival House.  We are going to take you inside these spaces — the vintage spots and some newer ones — to explore their past and their present…and help you connect with some indie theaters in YOUR neighborhoods.

Our guide is How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro. our Los Feliz girly who loves to explore entertainment and the arts in LA. 

In this episode, she talks about she wants to put the spotlight on all these places, from The Vista to The Nuart to Braindead Studios, housed in The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax 

Read her love letter to LA's indie theaters: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/revival-house-movies-hollywood-essay

Guests: How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro with tape from film theater historian Ross Melnick and programmer for The New Beverly Cinema, Jules McLean, plus moviegoers from all over L.A. 

Today on AirTalk, The latest news from the entertainment industry. Also on the show, Larry interviews Director Denis Villeneuve about Dune; the future of AI Porn; TV Talk: 8 shows to watch this week; and more.

• Entertainment Thursday Roundup: Is Disney Bailing On Big IP Reboots? Plus, The Future Of Netflix’s Film Division And Takeaways From Paramount’s Earnings Call (00:17)
• Revival House: LA’s Vintage Theaters And Independent Movie Theaters (15:55)
• Denis Villeneuve Talks Filming Dune: Part Two (30:23)
• Will Artificial Intelligence Turn The Porn Industry Upside-Down? (51:24)
• TV-Talk 8 Shows To Watch Including ‘Shogun,’ ‘Extraordinary,’ & More (1:23:00)

Have you felt completely overwhelmed when deciding what new show to watch these days? Us too. There’s just so much content out there between network TV and numerous streaming platforms. Each week, we will try to break through the noise with TV watchers who can point us to the must-sees and steer us clear of the shows that maybe don’t live up to the hype. This week, listeners will get the latest scoop on what’s worth watching with Danette Chavez, editor-in-chief at Primetimer, and Melanie McFarland, TV critic for Salon.

This week’s shows/topics include:

• News Item: Richard Lewis passes away at 76
• News Item: Controversy surrounding Lifetime documentary “Where Is Wendy Williams?”
• Shogun (Hulu & FX)
• Extraordinary [Season 2] (Hulu)
• Avatar The Last Airbender (Netflix)
• The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy (Amazon Prime Video)
• The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC & AMC+)
• The Tourist [Season 2] (Netflix)
• Sense and Sensibility (Hallmark & Hallmark Movies Now)

Today on AirTalk, Macy’s to close 150 stores. Also on the show, Listeners weigh in on accompanying minors in Torrance mall; everything you need to know about measure HLA; late in life therapy; and more.

• Macy’s Downsize To Include 150 Stores, Including Its City Block-Wide Store In San Francisco (00:17)
• Minors Will Have To Be Accompanied By An Adult At Torrance Mall – What Do You Think? (18:50)
• Leading Impeachment Scholar Tours History of American Presidential Impeachments In New Book (33:02)
• Measure HLA Would Require The City Of LA To Redesign Streets To Be Safer But Not Everyone Is Onboard (51:28)
• AirTalk Webpage At KPCC.org To Merge With LAist.com. We Explain The Change (1:10:54)
• Late-In Life Therapy: How Does Ageism Stop Us From Seeking Change & Geriatric Therapy? (1:17:38)

Today on AirTalk, The FTC suit against Kroger and Albertsons merger explained. Also on the show, who is Paramount’s next owner; dating apps are more addictive than you think; Mstyslav Chernov discusses ‘20 Days In Mariupol’; and more.

• What’s Behind The FTC’s Suit To Block The Kroger And Albertsons Merger (00:17)
• Falling Behind In The Streaming Wars, Paramount Looks For A Buyer (18:49)
• Should Americans Have The Right To Vote? A New Book Makes The Case For Amending The Constitution To Affirm It (33:15)
• What Job Cuts And Reduced Production Forecast At Rivian Say About EV Market At Large (51:29)
• What About Dating Apps Make Them Worth Paying For & How Do They Impact Our Social Behavior? (1:08:40)
• ‘20 Days In Mariupol’ Director Mstyslav Chernov Discusses His Oscar Nomination And His Struggle To Document The Atrocities Of War (1:22:39)