This week on Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon break down the freshly announced Oscar nominations, from surprise snubs to horror films finally getting some long-overdue Academy love.

The conversation kicks off with a brutal (and oddly fascinating) hate watch of Mercy, a new sci-fi thriller built around an AI judge, a ticking clock, and a future where justice takes 90 minutes or less. Is it anti-AI? Pro-AI? Or just… inert? Richard explains why this might be the ultimate “seatbelt movie.”

From there, they dig into this year’s major Best Picture contenders, including Sinners, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another. The conversation covers Oscar predictions, blockbuster fatigue, genre bias, and what actually makes a great film.

In this engaging episode, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon dive into the evolving landscape of celebrity culture, particularly focusing on the implications of Kevin Hart's recent deal with Authentic Brands Group. This unprecedented move allows Hart to sell his intellectual property while still alive, raising ethical questions about the commodification of celebrity and the transition from performer to brand. The conversation explores the potential consequences of such deals, including the risk of reducing artists to mere assets, and the impact of AI on the future of entertainment. Crouse and Hanlon also reflect on the nature of live performances versus digital recreations, emphasizing the importance of human connection in art and the unique experiences that live performances offer.

In this engaging conversation, Sarah Hanlon and Richard Crouse explore the potential for Canadian television to create hit shows, particularly focusing on the success of 'Heated Rivalry.' They discuss personal experiences, the unique aspects of Canadian culture, and the importance of risk-taking in storytelling. The dialogue also touches on the impact of location and authenticity in Canadian productions, as well as the evolving landscape of media and representation in the industry.

This episode of Entertainment Is Broken begins with loss… personal, unexpected, and grounding.

Richard Crouse shares an update on recovering from Bell’s palsy and how suddenly losing something you take for granted can shift your perspective on everything that follows. From there, Richard and Sarah Hanlon expand the conversation to legacy, creativity, and what survives when the platforms beneath our culture start to move.

They reflect on the lasting power of film and television, the artists who live on through their work, and why legacy still matters even as entertainment fragments and reinvents itself in real time. The discussion moves into the bigger disruption reshaping the industry… the Oscars heading to YouTube, streaming absorbing podcasting, social platforms migrating to TV, and the slow unraveling of what we used to call “old media.”

Along the way, they explore aging artists, the physical and emotional toll of touring, the rise of concert films, and whether the future of live entertainment might be more intimate, accessible, and human.

Thoughtful, funny, and occasionally heavy, this episode is about change… and what remains when everything else is in flux.

In this episode of 'Entertainment is Broken', Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon delve into the complexities of award season, discussing the Golden Globe nominations, notable snubs, and the evolving role of hosts. They explore the significance of the Golden Globes in the current entertainment landscape, the impact of streaming on theatrical releases, and the emotional weight of personal stories in music. The conversation also touches on Quentin Tarantino's controversial remarks about actors and the irreplaceable experience of watching films in theatres. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of shared experiences in cinema and the ongoing dialogue about entertainment.

How much would you actually pay to see your favourite artist… and how much is too much?

In this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard and Sarah start with a simple question about concert tickets and end up wandering through Bell’s Palsy pirate chic, David Bowie devotion, reality TV divorce drama, and whether Die Hard is officially a Christmas movie now that the Willis family says so (Spoiler: it is).

In this week’s episode of Entertainment Is Broken, Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon head back to Oz to poke at Hollywood’s favourite security blanket... the sequel. Are follow-ups actually good for storytelling, or just very good for spreadsheets?

Along the way, Richard also shares something a lot more personal than box office numbers: a major health scare that hit in the middle of recording last week’s episode. From there, Sarah and Richard talk pivots from billion-dollar franchises to the simple fact that none of this matters much if your health falls apart.

This inaugural episode delivers a full run through the entertainment landscape as entertainment insiders Richard Crouse and Sarah Hanlon break down the latest headlines, rule on cultural controversies in Pop Culture Courtroom, and highlight the movies, shows, music, books, and games you shouldn’t miss. Insightful, entertaining, and very them.