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Entertainment Is Broken

Entertainment Is Broken

by Brittlestar

Entertainment News TV & Film

Canada’s Star System, Big Brother Secrets & The Nicest Celebrities

This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon open the mailbag and get into the big questions... and, because this is us, also several deeply specific side quests. Is Canada finally building a real star system? Sarah makes the case that something is shifting, with shows like North of North, Heated Rivalry, and a new wave of Canadian storytelling helping audiences get over the old “good... for a Canadian thing” problem. Richard talks about Canadian film, Last Night, Don McKellar, celebrity interviews, and why the biggest stars are often the ones who arrive with the smallest entourage. And Sarah answers the question everyone secretly wants answered: what was the weirdest thing about Big Brother Canada that didn’t make it to air? The answer involves microphones, production secrecy, two bathrooms, laundry chaos, and men who apparently believed the shower was a suggestion box. It’s a fun, loose mailbag episode about Canadian entertainment, reality TV, celebrity culture, and the strange machinery behind the things we watch.

Theatres Are Back, Baby

Are movie theatres finally back? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon look at the return of audiences to cinemas, the rise of younger moviegoers, and why Canadian films may be benefiting from a renewed love of the big-screen experience. From indie theatres as community hubs to Canadian success stories like Little Lorraine, Blue Heron, Nirvanna: The Band, The Show, The Movie, and Undertone, Richard and Sarah explore why shared moviegoing still matters in the streaming era. They also talk about Canadian horror, Ginger Snaps, Black Christmas, post-lockdown theatre experiences, and the strange magic that happens when strangers sit together in the dark and watch something weird, funny, scary, or unforgettable. Theatres are back, baby.

LISTENER QUESTIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT INSIDER SECRETS

Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon open the Entertainment Is Broken mailbag to answer listener questions about the strange machinery behind show business. Richard shares what celebrity junkets are really like, from exhausted movie stars answering the same question 40 times in a day to memorable encounters with Meryl Streep, Madonna, and Bill Murray. Sarah breaks down the reality TV machine from her own experience on Big Brother Canada, explaining what feels real, what gets shaped, and why pressure can create drama without producers needing to fake it. Then they tackle the big one: if they could fix one thing about Hollywood or media, what would it be? The answer involves risk, weird movies, smaller budgets, and letting audiences miss things before the next franchise installment arrives.

Is Late Night TV Dying? Colbert, Letterman & Canada’s Talk Show Problem

Is late night television dying, or has it just been chopped up into clips, podcasts, TikToks, and celebrity interviews designed for the algorithm? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon look at the past, present, and uncertain future of late night TV. Sparked by conversation around Stephen Colbert, they trace the format from Johnny Carson to David Letterman, Conan, Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert, and Canada’s own attempts to build a proper talk-show tradition. Richard reflects on hosting Pop Life, his bar-set talk show on CTV, and why there is still value in long-form, relaxed, curious conversation on television. Sarah makes the case that Canada needs more talk and variety shows ... not just for entertainment, but as part of a real star-making system. They also discuss Obsessed, Indie Navarette’s standout performance, Keke Palmer, Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters, and why smaller, stranger movies may be finding their way back into theatres.

When Roasts Stop Being Funny

Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon take on comedy as an art form… and why it so often gets treated like drama’s unserious cousin. They discuss the craft behind great comedy, from timing and rhythm to improv, physical performance, writing, surprise, and the invisible work that makes a joke land. They also dig into the Kevin Hart roast, modern roast culture, the difference between shock and surprise, and whether some comedy has become more about cruelty, grievance, and identity than actual jokes. Along the way: Kinky Boots, Mr. Dressup, Jim Carrey, Gary Shandling, the Comedy Cellar, the Joe Rogan comedy universe, and underrated comedy favourites including After Hours and I Love You to Death. Because if drama makes you cry, it’s art. But if comedy makes you laugh, somehow it still has to prove itself.

The Beatles or The Rolling Stones Forever

Mick Jagger is 82. Paul McCartney is 83. Ringo Starr is still making music. So are we witnessing a creative renaissance... or rock’s most determined refusal to retire? Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon discuss legacy artists, nostalgia, concert ticket prices, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Wings, Billy Preston, and why some performers become heritage acts while others keep creating. Plus, squirrels, Paul Rudd, and the strange magic of artists who never quite leave the stage.

Huge Star Tiny Room

What if the best concert you’ll ever see… only has 50 people in the room? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah explore the phenomenon of massive artists going small — from secret shows and fake band names to surprise appearances in tiny venues. Inspired by stories like The Rolling Stones at the El Mocambo and recent pop-up gigs from Olivia Rodrigo, they unpack why these intimate performances often feel more powerful than arena spectacles. Along the way, they share personal experiences, unforgettable moments with artists like Dr. John, and discuss what these small shows reveal about creativity, connection, and the true nature of performance. Because sometimes… stripping it all back is what makes it unforgettable.

Michael Jackson - Fact or Fiction

A new Michael Jackson biopic raises a familiar question… do audiences actually want the truth, or just a great show? This week, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon unpack the new film Michael and the growing trend of biopics that trade accuracy for spectacle. When a story as complex as Michael Jackson’s gets streamlined into a crowd-pleasing concert experience, what gets lost… and does it even matter? They explore the art vs. artist debate, the power of nostalgia, and why some cultural icons remain untouchable—no matter how complicated their legacy becomes. It’s a conversation about storytelling, memory, and the uncomfortable space where fact and entertainment collide.

SNL Secrets, Paul McCartney & The Death of Live TV

This week, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon explore the thrill—and fragility—of live performance. From Broadway productions like Rocky Horror and Chicago to the high-wire act of Saturday Night Live, they ask: what makes live entertainment feel so different… and why does it matter now more than ever? Richard shares a surreal night inside SNL during its 90s heyday—featuring Paul McCartney, Chris Farley, and an after-party encounter with Allen Ginsberg—while the hosts unpack the legacy of Lorne Michaels, the Canadian roots of SNL, and the challenge of staying relevant across generations. They also debate the rise of SNL UK, the evolution of sketch comedy, and why audiences are often hardest on the shows that take the biggest risks. A conversation about comedy, culture, and the irreplaceable magic of being there when anything can happen.

Angine de Poitrine - Secrets Revealed

What is Angine de Poitrine… and why is everyone suddenly talking about them? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, we break down the viral Quebec band turning heads by doing the exact opposite of what modern fame demands: staying anonymous. With triangle masks, a made-up language, and music that feels intentionally raw and unpredictable, Angine de Poitrine has become an online obsession—racking up millions of views and sparking debates about the future of music. So what’s really going on here? Is this: A rebellion against AI-generated perfection? A return to messy, human creativity? Or just the smartest branding move in years? We connect Angine de Poitrine to a bigger trend: From David Bowie to KISS to modern masked artists… why audiences are drawn to mystery, imperfection, and identity that isn’t fully revealed. Because in a world where everything is visible… maybe the most powerful move is to hide.

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