Entertainment Is Broken

Entertainment Is Broken

by Brittlestar

Entertainment News TV & Film

Why Canada’s Biggest Stars Keep Skipping the Junos

The Junos came and went… but where were Canada’s biggest stars? In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon dig into the growing debate around Canadian identity in entertainment… and whether artists like Justin Bieber, Drake, and Tate McRae are still “Canadian” when it counts. Is it about where you’re born… or where your career is built? They break down: Why so many major artists skipped the Juno Awards Whether success in the U.S. changes an artist’s identity The idea of being “Canadian when convenient” Why artists like Joni Mitchell and Rush still feel deeply connected to Canada And whether Canada needs to rethink how it supports its own talent It’s a funny, sharp, and surprisingly real conversation about culture, success, and what we actually mean when we say “Canadian.” If you’ve ever wondered why Canada’s biggest stars don’t always come home… this one’s for you.

Buffy Got Cancelled… So Why Is Hollywood Obsessed With the 90s?

Buffy is cancelled… again. After years of development, a filmed pilot, and serious creative talent behind it, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot is suddenly dead — and the timing couldn’t be worse. So what happened? This week, we start with Buffy… and zoom out to the bigger question: why does Hollywood keep going back? From The X-Files to a growing list of revivals, reboots and “reimaginings,” the industry seems stuck in a loop — mining the past instead of building something new. Is it nostalgia? Is it fear? Or is it just good business?

Red Carpet Controversy

Remember when red carpets were about journalism… and not vertical video, viral moments, and whether someone got free cake? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, hosts Richard Crouse and Sarah dive into the growing clash between influencers and traditional entertainment journalism — and ask the uncomfortable question: who actually belongs on the red carpet anymore? From the Oscars red carpet controversy to the backlash surrounding TikTok influencer Jake Shane at the Vanity Fair party, we break down what happens when viral culture meets legacy media… and whether the result is evolution or erosion. Along the way, we explore: How red carpet interviews have changed from journalism to content creation The rise of TikTok influencers in Hollywood spaces Whether viral moments are replacing meaningful conversations Behind-the-scenes stories from TIFF, press junkets, and old-school Hollywood access Why authenticity still matters — whether you have millions of followers or none Plus: BTS Army shows up in a big way, Richard shares wild junket stories (including Rome and the Vatican…), and Sarah defends the idea that maybe disruption isn’t the enemy — maybe it’s the point. Are influencers ruining the red carpet… or just revealing what it’s become?

The End of Touring (Unless You’re BTS)

BTS is back from military service — and their comeback show in Seoul is expected to draw 260,000 fans. Yes. A quarter of a million. Meanwhile, most bands can’t afford gas for the tour van. In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon dive into the bizarre economics of live music: Why mega-concerts are getting bigger than ever Why the middle of the music industry is disappearing Why touring now costs so much artists sometimes lose money on the road And whether the future of music is stadium spectacles… or livestreams from someone’s living room The music industry isn’t dead. But it might be… broken.

Jim Carrey or a Clone - Whose Body Is It?

Did Jim Carrey really appear at the César Awards… or did the internet just decide he didn’t look like himself anymore? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon dig into the bizarre online conspiracy about Jim Carrey’s face — and why fans feel personally betrayed when celebrities age, change their look, or get a little work done. From Jennifer Grey’s infamous nose job to Hollywood’s impossible beauty standards, they explore why the public thinks it owns celebrity appearances… and why people would rather believe in clones and prosthetic masks than accept that famous people are just human. Plus: Richard shares stories from his early encounters with Jim Carrey and why the new indie film Sweetness is worth seeing. Because in the age of the internet, apparently even your own face isn’t yours anymore.

I’m Coming to the Cottage - You Can Finally Sleep in Your Favourite Show

Why do we travel just to stand where a movie scene was filmed? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon explore the booming world of film and TV tourism — from Twin Peaks and Ghostbusters to Hollywood landmarks and Ontario’s suddenly famous Heated Rivalry cottage. They unpack the nostalgia, escapism, and surprising economics behind visiting fictional worlds in real life… and ask whether renting a famous filming location is pure fan magic or brilliant marketing. Because sometimes the real destination isn’t the place — it’s the story.

Elbows Up… But Not at the Movies?

Canadians are proudly buying local, waving the maple leaf, and rallying behind homegrown culture — so why are Canadian movie theaters suddenly empty? This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah unpack the surprising 40% drop in Canadian film attendance and ask a big question: if we love Canadian creators, why aren’t we showing up for Canadian movies? From Mike Myers’ cultural rallying cry to the legacy of comedy icons like John Candy, plus a heartfelt tribute to the late Robert Duvall, the conversation dives into movie-going habits, streaming culture, national identity, and whether Canadian storytelling needs a reinvention… or just a bigger audience. Are Canadian films overlooked, misunderstood, or simply waiting for their moment? Grab your popcorn — this one gets personal.

From Picasso to Bad Bunny: Art as Resistance

This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon hold up the “art is a mirror” cliché…then immediately use it to start a small, tasteful blaze. We’re talking art as resistance...from Picasso’s Guernica energy to pop culture moments that make the internet reveal its whole personality in public. We also take a beat to acknowledge the death of Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek at 48, and why his openness about colorectal cancer matters...plus Richard’s blunt reminder that early screening can save your life (yes, even if you have “literally anything else” you’d rather do). Then it’s into the beautiful chaos: Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show as storytelling, culture, and a giant empathy machine...complete with NYC water data that proves half of New York held it together out of respect for the performance (and then absolutely did not). From there, we connect dots between protest music and icon moments...Sinead O’Connor, Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Public Enemy, punk rock, Spike Lee, and what happens when resistance goes mainstream without getting sanded down into “brand-safe inspiration.” We also detour through Toronto’s disappearing music landmarks, including the news that Steve’s Music on Queen West is closing...and what that says about culture, community, and the slow gentrified vanishing of the places where scenes are born.

Melania and the Death of the Documentary

This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah try to make sense of a glossy new Melania Trump “documentary” that feels less like filmmaking and more like the soft launch of a lifestyle brand. From its eye-watering budget to its suspicious lack of actual substance, the conversation quickly turns to what this project really is…and where it’s likely headed next (hint: streaming platform, branded candles, possibly an apron).

Traitors, Canada Shore & the Truth About Reality TV

Is reality TV trash…or is it secretly one of the most powerful storytelling tools we have? In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, film critic Richard Crouse and reality-TV scholar and Big Brother Canada winner Sarah Hanlon dive deep into the past, present, and future of reality television — just as Canada Shore lands in Kelowna, BC and The Traitors Canada proves the genre is having a full-blown renaissance. We unpack where reality TV really began (hint: it wasn’t Jersey Shore), why shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Traitors, Canada’s Drag Race, Love Island, and The Great British Bake Off keep pulling us in, and whether reality television is cultural junk food…or a machine for empathy.

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