Talking Pictures

From Bridesmaids to Spy to The Heat, Paul Feig has become Hollywood's go-to guy for raunchy, big-budget comedies about women. But his directing career only took off after his acting career crashed and burned. This week, Paul tells Ben Mankiewicz how getting fired from a beloved sitcom forced him out of his comfort zone and into a new role behind the camera. And during the Super 8, Paul reveals how his mother's taste in movies led to his love of double-breasted suits. Films Mentioned: Bridesmaids The Heat Spy A Simple Favor Animal House Life Sold Separately Honey, I Shrunk the Kids The Blues Brothers Thelma & Louise Animal Crackers What's Up, Doc? Jackpot! Ghostbusters The Purge It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Raiders of the Lost Ark An American Werewolf in London Polite Society Napoleon Dynamite Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope His Girl Friday Cabaret It's a Wonderful Life Poltergeist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host Ben Mankiewicz begins the new year by talking to the nicest man in Hollywood, actor Henry Winkler. Winkler admits it was almost impossible to find work after his 10-year run as the Fonz on Happy Days. He reminisces about his friendships with Sylvester Stallone and Ron Howard and shares his struggles with dyslexia. And we get the inspiring story of how he got the second role of a lifetime on HBO’s Barry. Winkler is an enthusiastic movie watcher, so his Super 8 is full of gems.  Films Mentioned:  The Waterboy  Little Nicky  Barry*  The Lords of Flatbush  Rocky  Heroes  The One and Only  Night Shift  Scream*  Rebel Without a Cause*  City of God  The Alamo  Nobody  Casablanca*  Love Actually  Notting Hill  Four Weddings and a Funeral*  Les Compères  The Out-of-Towners *Available on Max as of 1/7 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emmy-winner Jane Lynch is known for bringing her razor-sharp comic edge to movies like Best in Show and TV shows like Glee. But her biggest break came in a famous commercial for… Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes! She talks to host Ben Mankiewicz about breaking down a scene with Harrison Ford, the difference between masculine and feminine improv, and the film that made her sob all the way home from the theater. Films Mentioned: Best in Show The 40-Year Old Virgin Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Ninotchka Camille Anna Christie The Wizard of Oz* Gone with the Wind* Sophie's Choice The Devil Wears Prada* Hang 'Em High Three Days of the Condor Husbands and Wives Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid The Sting The Fugitive A Mighty Wind For Your Consideration Mascots Legally Blonde American Pie The White Lotus* Waiting for Guffman This Is Spinal Tap Private Benjamin Funny Girl The Bridge on the River Kwai The Big Sleep White Christmas Terms of Endearment *Available on Max as of 12/17 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, writer/director Jason Reitman (Saturday Night, Juno, Up in the Air) joins host Ben Mankiewicz to talk about growing up on a movie set, his brief stint writing for Saturday Night Live, and the joys of directing George Clooney. Reitman also reveals what his father, the late director Ivan Reitman, taught him about storytelling and making movies. During the Super 8, Jason surprises Ben with the movie props in his enviable collection.  Films Mentioned: Meatballs Stripes Ghostbusters Dave Thank You For Smoking Juno Inglourious Basterds Animal House Up in the Air* Saturday Night The Front Runner Ghostbusters: Afterlife The Fabelmans Westworld Jurassic Park* Twins E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Back to the Future Jaws The Godfather Election Dr. Strangelove Harold and Maude Shampoo Carnal Knowledge The Graduate Taxi Driver The Conversation Run Lola Run The Blair Witch Project Sexy Beast American Psycho Wet Hot American Summer Pulp Fiction Dazed and Confused Slacker* Bad News Bears Boyhood A Scanner Darkly Before Sunrise Before Sunset Field of Dreams Stand by Me Breaking Away Little Miss Sunshine 24 Hour Party People Casablanca* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Magnolia Boogie Nights Pee-wee's Big Adventure Singin' in the Rain* *Available on Max as of 12/10 (Availability of titles subject to change) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices