Dirtcast

Continuing our conversation with reality TV greats Mark Cronin and Lisa Lopez (of The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love, and Rock of Love), we delve into the darker side of reality television, discussing the 2009 murder of Jasmine Fiore by Megan Wants a Millionaire contestant Ryan Alexander Jenkins, the following fallout with VH1, and how they’ve evolved their casting process.

On the next two episodes, we sit down with the father and mother of celeb-reality television, real life couple Mark Cronin and Lisa Lopez, whose shows The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, and all their spin-offs dominated VH1 from 2003-2009. Now working on their latest creation, Bravo’s Below Deck, the pair indulge us in looking back and dishing dirt on casting and corralling volatile people, being friends with New York, and all the tawdry delights that they’ve given us throughout the years. 

A chat with Caroline Heldman from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media about how best to handle and report sexual assault and harassment on film sets and what resources should be made available for women.

This is a recast of the episode where Bobby and Madeleine take an in-depth look at the criminal accusations surrounding actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson and the cover-ups that happen within the favorite religion of the rich and the famous. Episode features interviews with Tony Ortega, journalist and renowned critic of Scientology, and former Scientologist Chris Shelton. 

This spooooky pre Halloween week, we’re joined by Karina Longworth, host and creator of the excellent podcast You Must Remember This, to talk about three celebrity (or celebrity adjacent) deaths of the 20th century, starting with suspect carbon monoxide poisoning of Thelma Todd in the ‘30s and ending with the horrific murder of actress/model Dorothy Stratten in 1980. During our discussion, we also delve into the macabre cultural fascination with famous, young dead women and why everything used to be blamed on the mob.

The Harvey Weinstein scandal has brought new focus to an old concept that never fully went away: the casting couch, the sexist and harmful trope of female actors having sex with producers for movie roles. Joining us in the studio is Jezebel staff writer and resident historian Kelly Faircloth to talk about the history of the casting couch--and the association of actresses and sex work--that dates as far back as the restoration.

We sit down with Jezebel’s own Clover Hope to talk about Iggy Azalea and how the music industry banded around one blonde girl from Australia to make--and then unmake--a star. And, special guest from Jezebel's sister podcast Big Time Dicks, Joanna Rothkopf joins for a special Big Time Dicks: Hollywood edition of the Dirtiest Dirt, featuring Harvey Weinstein and the multiple allegations against him.

Pamela Des Barres is known to many as the world's most famous groupie, having slept with Mick Jagger, babysat for Frank Zappa, and more. She is also a highly talented memoirist, musician and rock historian whose debut memoir, _I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie_, turns 30 this year. This week on DirtCast, Pamela joins us from Los Angeles to tell some of her best stories, touch on controversial topics like the "baby groupies" and explain what it takes to put your life on paper.

On this week’s episode, we talk to E! News anchor and veteran entertainment reporter Ken Baker about his new book The Ken Commandments: My Search for God in Hollywood, in which he embarks on a spiritual journey in what some consider the most godless place on earth, Los Angeles, CA. 

We break down the Emmys with Vulture staff writer E. Alex Jung and talk about the start of award season, Sean Spicer's cameo, diversity in the tv industry, and, of course, Scientology.

Talking about the successes --and failures-- when celebrities stop being celebrities and start making contour kits, lip kits, and baby products to sell to the masses. On this week’s episode of DirtCast, we’re joined by Jezebel senior writer Clover Hope to discuss Fenty Beauty by Rihanna and other celebrity beauty lines.

It’s been an improbable 20 year since the untimely and tragic passing of Princess Diana, a woman who changed the face of modern celebrity’s relationship with the paparazzi forever. In honor of her life, we’re talking with Jezebel’s very own royals expert, staff writer Kelly Faircloth about Diana’s legacy and the cult of celebrity that surrounded her in the hectic year leading up to her death.

Splinter’s Dodai Stewart joins Madeleine and Megan to talk about two of their favorite subjects, celebrities and plastic surgery! From the early facelift that left silent movie actress Mary Pickford unable to smile to the not-so-secret nose jobs of the Mickey Mouse Club, we’re exploring the trends in and ramifications of the elective cosmetic surgeries and dermatological procedures of the rich and the famous.

This week, we’re talking about our favorite (or at least the most memorable) celebrity feuds--from Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to Ryan Adams and The Strokes--with help from our friend Allie Jones, Senior Writer at  New York Magazine’s The Cut. Also discussed: Joss Whedon’s alleged misdoings and why you should never trust an overly outspoken male feminist.

On the occasion of Taylor Swift winning her court case and taking a stand against sexual assault, this week’s DirtCast is about celebrities on trial. Joining us in the studio to talk about everything from the Bling Ring to Winona Ryder’s shoplifting escapades is Jezebel’s very own Bobby Finger.

"How could you do this to me. Question mark." Inspired by the recent separation of Real Housewives of New York's Luann De Lesseps and her new husband Tom D'Agostino, this week's DirtCast is a discussion of divorce and reality TV, an increasingly frequent consequence as more and more people put their lives in front of the camera. Joining us in studio is Here for Drama's Alex Bedder and Jezebel's own Ellie Shechet.

Since marrying Aaliyah when she was 15 years old, R. Kelly has been dogged with accusations and rumors about sexual coercion and misconduct toward much younger women, many of them under the legal age of consent. In spite of this, Kelly still boasts a legion of loyal fans and journalists--in music and beyond--have largely ignored his supposed crimes. This week on DirtCast, Special Projects Desk reporter Anna Merlan joins us to discuss our culture’s blind spot regarding allegations against famous men and what it takes to get journalists to report on them.

With rape scenes more prevalent in TV and movies than ever before, it’s become all the more important for directors to insure a safe set in which all performers (whether they’re portraying the victim or the rapist) feel safe and supported. LA Weekly film critic April Wolfe joins us on this week’s episode to discuss the dangerous history of rape in film and how sets are evolving to correct the violations committed by actors and directors of the past.

Jezebel legend/Viceland Executive Editor Tracie Egan Morrissey joins us to discuss revenge porn, Blac Chyna, and the screwed up dynamics of the Family Kardashian.

To her chagrin, Irene McGee is best known for getting slapped in the face 20 years ago on The Real World: Seattle. This week on DirtCast, Irene joins us to discuss the aftershocks of being on one of the most iconic reality TV shows of our time and how she eventually accepted and found humor in her less-than-ideal path to notoriety.