Kimmel Is Back, But Disney vs. Trump Is Just Beginning

Kimmel Is Back, But Disney vs. Trump Is Just Beginning

Author: The Ringer September 25, 2025 Duration: 32:25
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to discuss the return of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and unpack what could happen next. They talk about why Brendan Carr and the FCC may not be as powerful as they might seem, whether affiliate stations can preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ indefinitely, and whether Disney could leverage its power by withholding its most valuable content—like the NFL and college football—from these affiliate networks (02:47). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the postponement of the Apple TV+ show ‘The Savant’ (25:43). For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Email us your thoughts! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thetown@spotify.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Host: Matt Belloni Guest: Eriq Gardner Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez Theme Song: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder what Hollywood executives are really arguing about in their private meetings, or how the fate of a billion-dollar franchise gets decided over a tense lunch? That’s the kind of access you get with The Town with Matthew Belloni. Hosted by Puck founding partner Matt Belloni, this isn't just industry gossip-it's a direct line to the mechanics of entertainment, powered by exclusive reporting and decades of insight. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the stories behind the stories, whether it's the strategy of the latest streaming war or the creative battles inside a Marvel movie. Several times a week, Belloni sits down with the major players themselves: the dealmakers, studio heads, and journalists who are shaping what we watch. Their conversations cut straight to the core of what’s getting made and why, pinpointing who’s winning and who’s losing in real time. Listening to this podcast feels like having a front-row seat to the most important conversations in show business, the ones that happen after the cameras stop rolling. For anyone fascinated by the intersection of power, money, and creativity in culture, The Town delivers the unfiltered context that turns headlines into understanding.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Town with Matthew Belloni
Podcast Episodes
Where the Money Is Spent in Hollywood and How It's Changing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:27
Matt is joined by Scott Purdy, a media strategy leader at KPMG, to discuss their illuminating new study outlining how much the major networks are spending on content and, more importantly, where. They discuss why these c…
Kimmel’s Return, Disney’s Decision, and Iger’s Legacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the announcement that Jimmy Kimmel will be returning to ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ this Tuesday night, and the various ramifications that could follow. They talk about how Di…
Jimmy Kimmel vs. the FCC: Can Disney Escape This Mess? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:28
Matt is joined by journalist Bill Carter to discuss the suspension of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after portions of Kimmel’s monologue on Monday night sparked outrage among several ABC affiliate groups as well as FCC chairman B…
Is the Rotten Tomatoes Formula Fresh or Rotten? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
Matt is joined by Rotten Tomatoes awards editor Jacqueline Coley to reveal how the Rotten Tomatoes rating system works, the reasoning behind its binary grading system, whether the system favors certain movies, why the To…
The Emmys vs. the Audience: Which Shows People Actually Watch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Matt is joined by Puck’s Julia Alexander to preview the 2025 Emmy Awards and look at which shows should already be considered winners from a business perspective. They discuss how many people are actually watching the no…
The Murdoch Succession War is Over, and Fox Crowns its Next Leader [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:08
Matt is joined by the New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg to discuss the bombshell news that the Murdochs have settled their ongoing family trust succession dispute, which will now keep Lachlan Murdoch on top, with the other s…
Why Gen Alpha Prefers the Big Screen Over Their Phones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:28
Matt is joined by Fergus Navaratnam-Blair of National Research Group to discuss his surprising study revealing Generation Alpha’s love for and interest in the theatrical movie experience. They look at the most interestin…

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