June 10, 2025 • 23 mins
On the show today, Hollywood stars invaded the Tony Awards this weekend (Broadway’s version of the Oscars), and now we need to talk about the most scandalous and heartwarming moments from the event.
And in sad news for the Australian TV industry, The Project has been cancelled after more than 16 years on air, and now we need to talk about what led to this decision and what it means for our entertainment industry.
Plus, Justin Baldoni’s countersuit against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds has been dismissed by the judge, but despite what you may have read in the headline,s this very messy legal battle is far from over.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
So much.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
You're listening to a Muma Mia podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and borders
that this podcast is recorded on from MoMA Mia. Welcome
to this spill your daily pop culture fixed. I'm Laura
Brodney and I'm Kissanulokitch and Happy Tuesday, Happy long weekend. Yes,
(00:35):
And because we didn't record for a few days, the
news cycle has been bubbling, things have built up, so
in our planning me this morning we were both almost
like yelling at each other around all this stuff we
wanted to cover today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
There's so much going on, so we're going to try
and like cover as much as possible and try not
to go like an hour.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, yes, I mean at our podcast today is my
dream and something I feel like we're building up to.
I've been told no, but you know, you never know.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
He's just a.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Subtle, very subtle, very subtle.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I've taken my campaign public.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
So coming up on the show today, the Tony Awards
took place in New York over the weekend. We're going
to talk about that because it was infiltrated by so
many Hollywood stars who caused a little bit of drama
and a little bit of tears if you're me watching
at home. Plus, we have a huge development in the
Blake Lively and justin bell Dony case. We're going to
explain exactly what that means, because I hear people today
celebrating it's over. It is so not over. In fact,
(01:30):
he's going to come back.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
No, definitely more going on. But first, Laura, it's this
really sad day for Ozzie TV.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
It is. It is really sad. So yesterday was snee
at my desk because I was working trying not to
break them on mere website and an email came through
and the subject line was a statement from Channel ten
and Roving Enterprises. And before I even opened the email,
I knew exactly what it was going to say, because
this news has been bubbling away for a few days
that the project, which has been on Network ten for
(01:59):
nearly sixteen years now was coming to an end. Because
so many outlets had been reporting it for so long,
almost as fact and saying that it was about to close.
It was going to end. The staff had been told,
but Network ten itself and anyone involved in the project
hadn't said anything until this email came through. So in
the email it just said as a result of all
these program changes they're making, the project will air for
(02:22):
the last time on June twenty seven, And then they
went on to talk about a lot of accolades from
the show, including the fact it had won eleven Logi
Awards and one Walkley Award, and just talked about the
various hosts that had been on the show and how
to change news in Australia over the years. And what
I also thought was interesting was that Craig Campbell, who
is the creative director of Roving Enterprises and one of
(02:43):
the creators of the project, was talking about the fact
of how devastated the team would be, and also that
it had been such a show piece in the entertainment
industry and one of the destinations for actors and musicians
when they're doing press in Australia to go the project.
Which I'm sure you've had that email before in your
entertainment career where you think you've got an interview locked
(03:03):
in with a big celebrity because they're doing Australian press,
only to get an email back and say sorry, they're
only doing one cross and you're like, it's the project,
So that's fine.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So I mean, look, I think the sad thing about
this is that the whole premise of the project was
news done differently, right, you know, sixteen years ago when
it started with Carrie bit Moore, and there's been amazing
hosts over the years. You know, while it ali really
like changed, you know, the face of Australian.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Media, Peter Hellier, it's always had that great.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Comedic backing behind it, but then also doing news, yes,
done differently. It is really sad to see it go
and it really kind of is a sign of the
times and the sign of where media is going, as
we kind of all know here and Mama Maya. But
I think something that is really really sad. You know,
(03:55):
four and a half thousand episodes. It's not just the
people talent on screen. This is also affecting a lot
of people who work behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah exactly. A show like this has such a huge
team and there's so many jobs that will be I
guess lost or moved around in the shakeup. And I
think a lot of people tuned into the project last
night because they wanted to see how the cast would
address it, and they kind of didn't a funny way
They started off with like, has there been news today?
What's happened? And then they gave some kind of really
heartfelt speeches saying goodbye to the show.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
After sixteen years and what nearly four and a half
thousand episodes, the project will very soon be no more.
It's a huge for everybody. You know, it's the people
who make a show, and the project isn't just the
people on this desk, it's the cast and crew behind
the scenes.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
They are the real stars and talking.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You know, the producers, the editors, the cameramen and women,
the comedy writers, the floor crew, the people in the
control room, the director of the hair and makeup team,
all of them who work their guts out every single night,
six nights a week to get us there.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I actually really appreciate that they acknowledge cast and crew,
because often in the this kind of environment, it is
the people who work behind the scenes that often get forgotten.
I mean, you're thinking about like the fact that they're
turning this stuff around. You got your editors, live crosses, dps,
you've got sound o's, You've got like it is a huge.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Cast and crew. If you do is look at the
credits on a show like that.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
So, I mean, I think that's probably the bit that
makes me the saddest about.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
The loss of the show.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, I mean, I know it is being replaced with
more an investigative current affairs news show that's going to
come over and take over that timeslot, but it's like
when any publication closes down to Australia, a show gets canceled.
It kind of is just taking all these pieces off
the chessboard of all these different media outlets, And I
think it's interesting of how hard everyone at the moment
(05:55):
is trying to chase like that youth audience and trying
to get people back into watching traditional TV when so
much now is like short form on TikTok. But I
think the reason that a lot of these shows kind
of falter on that area is that not as many
people are watching Freda TV unless it is a reality show.
But then clips from the project would always go viral
(06:15):
on TikTok, like I would see them all the time,
So what's trying to find that balance? Obviously they haven't
said anything in their statement about like viewership numbers or
anything like that, but it is always interesting when something
like that gets taken away from the Australian media landscape.
And the interesting thing is like we don't have those
late night shows here for when big artists want to
come and do. I guess podcasts is kind of taking
that over to an extent, But we don't have those
(06:37):
late night shows and those talk shows. We don't have
those like fun news programs for guests. That's like the
project was that for us?
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah? I'm like, where are they going to go?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Are they even gonna be coming here or doing cross? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I mean, I guess there's the morning shows and things
are there's something about TV like a nighttime TV show yeah,
has that kind of different energy to a morning shows.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
It's more kind of relaxed. There's probably a slightly more
comedic lens to it. Yeah, that morning show exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And I know there are other nighttime programs in that space,
but I just when you think of like other markets,
like the American market or of the UK market, how
they have all of these big nightly programs with that
kind of tread the line between entertainment and news, and
it kind of makes me sad that that's going away
from Australia a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, maybe there'll be something to replace it that fits
a new Demographics shot nine sixteen rather Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Well, I've still got a few more weeks of the projects,
yeah yet, so it'll definitely be tuning in for their
last episode.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And to something a little bit lighter now, the Tony Awards. Now,
I am a serious Broadway lover like anything musical theater.
Like you will hear me busting this out. So I
love the Tony Awards. It's always a lot of fun.
It often doesn't get as much airtime as some of
the other big awards shows like the Oscars and Grammys
(07:57):
and stuff like that, because generally these Broadway stars are
not as well known as you know, your A listers. However,
this year we had a lot of big celebrities in
the front row and a lot of celebrity winners.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The first one that I really want to.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Shout out is Sarah Snook, our very own Aussie Sarah
Snook actually won for the Picture of Dorian Gray and
she won Best Leading Actress in a Play, and that
is incredible. So shout out to Sarah Snook.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And her Broadway debut. Like obviously she's done other plays
and things, and she's been on Succession and other TV shows,
for years, But that's her Broadway debut to win Tony,
which is the equivalent of an Oscar in that space.
It's pretty huge.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
It is incredible, and you know, Sarah Snook has done
very well on succession. That's probably where most people would
know her. But you know, she's been part of the
aussy film and TV industry for a long time. Incredibly talented,
so really really excited for her. Another really exciting Winny
is George Clooney winning.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Oh, I'm so glad someone's finally given George Clooney a chance.
I know, working away for ages and no one's seen
his talent.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now, did you know that he's only won award away
from an egot?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, what is it left to win? Is it a Grammy? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So if you don't know what an egot is, it's Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
So it's the people who have won all for get
an egot.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Probably one of the best known Egot winners is Whoopie Goldberg.
So a lot of the winners are usually like composers
because that kind of crosses over into quite a few
of those those were alms.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
But yeah, so who knows, maybe George clin.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I feel like George Cloney, we want, you know how,
like some people get really close to an egot and
then they have to sort of sidestep and do something
because you can get one for like producing a Broadway
play if you win a Tony. So sometimes an actor
who wants to win an egot and they can't be
on stage because that's not their area, they'll produce something
to try and win it. Or they'll do like a
spoken word album or an audiobook or something to win
(09:55):
a Grammys, a loopholes Like I.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Don't know if George Tony really cares that much.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I did see an interview with him on the Car,
but he's like, no, I'm not going for a Grammy.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Well his his name will end up on the producer
credits of some album, like someone in his team will
make that happen. I think he's just been getting so
much shit for his hair because it's been died dark
and he does look a bit ridiculous, but it was
for his Broadway show. Maybe it's like, you know how,
like some actresses win an Oscar because they wear prosthetics
and make themselve ugly. Maybe he won just because he
died just dyed his hair men have won for less.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And one of the controversial things that did happen is
Oprah having a little bit of a dig at Patty Lapone.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yes, I mean this has been consuming my mind for
so long, this Broadway feud, which has spilled over in
to other areas.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I feel like we need to give a bit of backstory.
So everybody's going to be across who Paddylopone is. Oh
shame on you if you don't know who.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So much like you, I'm a huge Broadway fan. It's
all I listened to, It's all I think about. So
this has been consuming me. So the two big Tony
areas that people were really invested in were Best Actress
in a Play, which Sarah stook one, but also Best
Actress in a Musical and Nicole Scherzinger film formerly from
the Pussycat Dolls, won that award for the revival of
Sunset Boulevard, which I haven't seen but i've hear is
(11:14):
just incredible to really stripped back version, very different from
the recent like Australian production that was at the Sydney
Opera House. But Audre McDonald, who is one of the
most famous and acclaimed Broadway stars of all time. She's
also a TV actress. She's in the Gray's Anatomy universe.
She was on Private Practice as the lead for many years.
If that's your in for her, So she was nominated
(11:35):
and just a few weeks ago Patti Lapone, who again
one of the greatest Broadway stars of all time. Maybe
you saw her recently in Agatha All Along, if that
was your introduction to her, I feel like people would
know who Patty lave.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I think you should know who Patty, like you would
know her face. But she's like iconic, like it's kind
of one of the greatest performers of all time. Yeah,
one hundred percent and no one. Also for being like
wildly outspoken, very eccentric, says whatever she wants. Is why
people always love doing interviews with her. And usually the
interviews are like really funny. So when she was filming
(12:08):
Agatha All Along, her and Aubrey Plaza lived together, like
she brought Aubrey into her house and I would do
like these wild interviews and stuff. So usually people love her,
But leading up into the Tony season, she gave an
interview to The New Yorker and she said some awful
things about Audra McDonald and Keisha Lewis, who has another
Broadway start, and she said, have some horrible things about them.
And I felt bad for Audre because she's in the
(12:29):
revival of Gypsy and she was doing the press circuit
and she was asking a lot of interviews, like Patti
Laprone says, your enemies basically, and Audra McDonald's so classy,
was like, I consider Patti a friend. I haven't seen
her many years. You'll have to ask her. I have
no idea what this is about. So this blew up,
and then all of these actors, hundreds of actors from
the Broadway community ended up sending out this open letter
(12:50):
saying that Patti Lapne's words were very like offensive, very
racially charged because the's a woman of color in the industry,
and basically telling her to apologize and she didn't. Yes,
But the thing, Patti Laprone has never apologized on her
entire life, Like that is her thing. She says whatever
she wants, and she's like, I say what I want,
I say what I think, I'll do what I want
and I'll never a pologize. So then Payla Pone puts
(13:12):
up a statement on her Instagram after this open letter
has gone out saying I have always said I would
never apologize that changes today I was wrong. I'm so
sorry for my words, and basically pulled it all back.
So everyone's coming into the Tony Awards with this like
long standing drama that's been in the air. Patti La
Pone didn't show up, and then Oprah Winfrey, who's up
on stage because Cynthia Revo was hosting. There was so
(13:34):
much happening.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Here I was, and they did the holding space and
Oprah held her finger, and I was like, I do
think that moment has passed from the wicked press to it.
But I was also like, oh my god, it's Oprah
and Cynthia. You girls do whatever you want. It's fine.
I don't care if you do a call back to
an old joke. And then as she was announcing Best
Actress in a Musical, Oprah made a dig about not
(13:56):
a dig. It's hard to say. She was talking about
order and being like, people have a lot to say,
people have a lot to say about her and this industry,
and the camera pan out to the audience and people
were like laughing or look shocked because they knew what
was going on that she was talking about Paddi La
Ponne's and Patti la Pome wasn't there.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, I think she probably didn't show up on the averse.
She said, I regret my flippant and emotional responses during
the interview, which were inappropriate, and I'm devastated that my
behavior has offended others and has run counter to what
we hold dear to in this community. So she's been
like given a real kick up.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I never thought i'd see the day that Patti la
pom would apologize, but I guess that's like the power
of Audren McDonald. Everyone was like, this is the one
thing we won't take. So overall, like a very eventful
Tony's just a quick shout out to Jonathan Groff doing
a lap dance on Keanu Reeves. That was my favorite moment,
and also Cola Scola, who won Best Actor at a play,
getting up on stage and thanking their mother, and I
(14:51):
think t Bow from Grinder was there other shout out.
So a beautiful, heartfelt speech. Just overall, actually one of
the best award shows we've had in a while, because,
like the Oscars, was emotional and like the Golden Globes,
and Emmys were like everything was just kind of fine,
but they weren't all these standout moments. I feel like
the Tonys came in and like wor the award show
of the last couple of times.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Skip out on the Tony guys, even if you're not
a huge fan, I mean, like I love watching you know,
Hugh Jack Mandancer or like, you know, I love the
opening numbers, the opening.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Do you know that if I'm ever having a really
bad day, there's only one thing that which want to
fix me up, It's Neil Patrick. Har My god, guys,
just go and watch it on YouTube.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
We're gonna have to stop because we're going to start
thinking this is.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
This is not a Broadway podcast podcast anyway, Go back
and watch the Tonys. There's so many clips the Hamilton
cast reunited after ten years, so much don't it's okay,
It's okay, guys, go watch it.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Don't keep happening on the Tony's, guys, it is actually
worth it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Well, just when we thought we had to wait until
March next year to get a full update on the
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively legal case, a huge update today.
And that is the fact that the judge in the
case has dismissed Justin Baldonie's four hundred million defamation claim
against both Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. And this is
because the judge said that they found Blake Lively's accusations
(16:13):
of sexual harassment against Baldoni were legally protected and therefore
immune from the lawsuit. We've talked so much about this case,
but the entire lawsuit from Justin Baldoni coming off the
back of it ends with us the movie. There was
a huge kind of backlash against Blake Lively from that.
After the press circuit was over, she came out with
(16:33):
this huge New York Times expose on Justin's behavior. After
that she filed a lawsuit against him. He countersued. Also,
I should say that the defamation case that Justin Baldoni
filed against The New York Times for reporting all of
the claims has also been thrown out, and that is
because that all of Blake Lively's claims against Justin Baldoni
(16:55):
were actually made through the court case, and so they
weren't found to be defaming him, which I think is
a really important note. And also the fact that it
would have to be proven that all of her claims
were false. So the judge has thrown that out.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
This is one hundred percent not over.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I've heard a lot of discourse about like people be like, well,
there we go, it's all over down again. No no, no, no, no, no,
that is not how this stuff works. Baldoni's team can
amend the lawsuit and refile. Baldoni's team had till June
twenty third to amend the lawsuit to take that out,
so they can kind of reframe it and still have
(17:32):
another lawsuit. So there's that, and there's also like, there's
a lot more underneath this exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So it was just that one part of the lawsuit,
which was the main part of it around the defamation
that's been thrown out. But he can refile the allegations
regarding interference with contracts, which is outside of the defamation
laws and is just a different thing to prove there's
still that there. But it is a huge and kind
of unexpected because a lot of people expected this part
of his allegations to go to court. And obviously the
(18:03):
amount of information he's been putting out has been so
intense around the information that he says he has on
Blake Lively's not forget. This is the man who was
published an entire website that at the time of recording
is still alive with every accusation that he has against
Blake Lively. Ryan Reynolds, their publicity team. He's subpoena Taylor
Swift that's being dropped, but all that information is still
(18:25):
out there. But he could still refile and say that
she interfered with the contracts for the movie.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
But I do think in the court of public opinion,
I don't even know if it's about the money. And
I think I said this like right at the very start,
it's almost like this is a way to air out
the laundry and get it to put and in a
way it has kind of work.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
People are really against Blake.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I didn't a r ever going to go away. Now.
I think that whether it was a campaign or the
truth or anything like, we don't know until this all
goes to court. But the way that people turned against
her is something I feel like even if it came
out that she was found to be completely innocent of
all these charges and she didn't do anything, I think
would be hard to turn that around. Now, even just
this week, there's allegations out there that she's been rude
(19:08):
to people in public and rude to her teams was
exposa also coming off the back of we previously spoke
about her past lifestyle company Preserve people coming out with
accusations around that, and it's just like anytime something happens,
people jump on it. So like that hatred against her,
I just don't think is gonna go away.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
So we do have Blake Lively's statement here, so I'm
going to read this. This is via her attorneys, says
today's ruling represents a complete triumph and a full exoneration
for Blake Lively as well as for those unjustly implicated
and Baldoni's retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and
The New York Times from the outset were you maintained
(19:46):
this four hundred million dollar lawsuit was baseless and the
court recognized that. They further stated that they would pursue
legal fees and punitive down images against Baldoni and his
production company.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So this is far from over.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yes, So as far as we know, the overall court
case is still going ahead in mant Well. One of
the biggest things that Blake Lively is suing for is
the sexual harassment ali gations, which she and her team
say there's a lot of evidence there that is going
to come out in court. Like they haven't made a website,
so there's a lot of stuff there that we don't know.
I also thought it was interesting like during this part
(20:21):
of the proceedings where they've been information gathering. That's why
Justin's team has been setting out the penis and everyone's
legal team is like getting all their information together before
they go to court. And I think it was interesting
that Blake, Clavelyne, Ryan Reynolds and their legal team went
to the judge and basically got like a motion to
stop Justin Baldoni continuously like releasing all this information and
(20:42):
continuously I guess, trying to like win in the court
of public opinion, which I think has been enacted, but
will be interesting to sort of see how that goes
going forward at the time of recording. Also, Justin hasn't
released a statement around it, or and his legal team haven't,
but I'm sure that's coming as well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Apparently Blake dropped a portion of her lawsuit because Justin's
Baldonie's team requested her mental health records.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Yes, so she dropped a portion of her so she
didn't have to release that.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I actually thought was quite interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
To be frank though, I don't think I would want
anybody to say no.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And that's something about psychologists, and that's the thing. And
again we're just just talking in generals now because we
don't want to sort of get into the bones of
this lawsuit until it goes to court. But that's the
thing about these kind of court cases. Once people start digging,
especially if you're really famous, even if the information that
is unearthed, it could have nothing to do with the case,
but it could still be made public. So if you're
getting into like mental health records, medical records, contract negotiations.
(21:40):
This is why people like Taylor's so who get subpoened
for things like this, there's such a pattern on their side,
and their legal teams come down really hard because if
they were able to go through her phone and her
laptop and her messages and her emails, they might not
find the evidence they're looking for for this particular case,
but there's a lot of other stuff that could become
very publicly available. And if you're a private person at
(22:01):
that level of fame. That would be quite horrifying. Like,
imagine Blake Clively having her medical records made public.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Can you imagine having your psychologist record maybe, Like I
find that actually quite terrifying. Yeah, Like there's a reason
why there's that confidentiality in there. She's allowed to have
that space where she feels safe. So, if anything, despite
the fact that we have some thoughts about Blake Lively,
but yeah, I can respect it. She Yeah, sort of
(22:28):
pulled that away from the absolutely.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I feel like there'd be some celebration in their house
today that this part of the lawsuit's been thrown away. Well,
thank you so much for listening to the show today.
And look, if you'd like us to do a Broadway
spin off podcast, let us know. We're ready in waiting.
No one here will say yes to that.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah, we're gonna just keep pushing it until somebody says yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Till someone picks it up and says yes. And also
make sure that you're following The Spill on TikTok and
Instagram so you see all of our extra videos and
behind the scenes moments. And The Spill is produced by
Minitia is Iswaren, with sound production by Scott Stronik and
Mama MIAs Studios are star with surnature from Fenton and Fenton.
Visit Fenton and Fenton dot com dot au and we'll
(23:06):
see you back here on your podcast feed at three
pm tomorrow. Bye byell it Yeah
So much.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
You're listening to a Muma Mia podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and borders
that this podcast is recorded on from MoMA Mia. Welcome
to this spill your daily pop culture fixed. I'm Laura
Brodney and I'm Kissanulokitch and Happy Tuesday, Happy long weekend. Yes,
(00:35):
And because we didn't record for a few days, the
news cycle has been bubbling, things have built up, so
in our planning me this morning we were both almost
like yelling at each other around all this stuff we
wanted to cover today.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
There's so much going on, so we're going to try
and like cover as much as possible and try not
to go like an hour.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
Yes, yes, I mean at our podcast today is my
dream and something I feel like we're building up to.
I've been told no, but you know, you never know.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
He's just a.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Subtle, very subtle, very subtle.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I've taken my campaign public.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
Love it.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
So coming up on the show today, the Tony Awards
took place in New York over the weekend. We're going
to talk about that because it was infiltrated by so
many Hollywood stars who caused a little bit of drama
and a little bit of tears if you're me watching
at home. Plus, we have a huge development in the
Blake Lively and justin bell Dony case. We're going to
explain exactly what that means, because I hear people today
celebrating it's over. It is so not over. In fact,
(01:30):
he's going to come back.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
No, definitely more going on. But first, Laura, it's this
really sad day for Ozzie TV.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
It is. It is really sad. So yesterday was snee
at my desk because I was working trying not to
break them on mere website and an email came through
and the subject line was a statement from Channel ten
and Roving Enterprises. And before I even opened the email,
I knew exactly what it was going to say, because
this news has been bubbling away for a few days
that the project, which has been on Network ten for
(01:59):
nearly sixteen years now was coming to an end. Because
so many outlets had been reporting it for so long,
almost as fact and saying that it was about to close.
It was going to end. The staff had been told,
but Network ten itself and anyone involved in the project
hadn't said anything until this email came through. So in
the email it just said as a result of all
these program changes they're making, the project will air for
(02:22):
the last time on June twenty seven, And then they
went on to talk about a lot of accolades from
the show, including the fact it had won eleven Logi
Awards and one Walkley Award, and just talked about the
various hosts that had been on the show and how
to change news in Australia over the years. And what
I also thought was interesting was that Craig Campbell, who
is the creative director of Roving Enterprises and one of
(02:43):
the creators of the project, was talking about the fact
of how devastated the team would be, and also that
it had been such a show piece in the entertainment
industry and one of the destinations for actors and musicians
when they're doing press in Australia to go the project.
Which I'm sure you've had that email before in your
entertainment career where you think you've got an interview locked
(03:03):
in with a big celebrity because they're doing Australian press,
only to get an email back and say sorry, they're
only doing one cross and you're like, it's the project,
So that's fine.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
So I mean, look, I think the sad thing about
this is that the whole premise of the project was
news done differently, right, you know, sixteen years ago when
it started with Carrie bit Moore, and there's been amazing
hosts over the years. You know, while it ali really
like changed, you know, the face of Australian.
Speaker 4 (03:29):
Media, Peter Hellier, it's always had that great.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Comedic backing behind it, but then also doing news, yes,
done differently. It is really sad to see it go
and it really kind of is a sign of the
times and the sign of where media is going, as
we kind of all know here and Mama Maya. But
I think something that is really really sad. You know,
(03:55):
four and a half thousand episodes. It's not just the
people talent on screen. This is also affecting a lot
of people who work behind the scenes.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah exactly. A show like this has such a huge
team and there's so many jobs that will be I
guess lost or moved around in the shakeup. And I
think a lot of people tuned into the project last
night because they wanted to see how the cast would
address it, and they kind of didn't a funny way
They started off with like, has there been news today?
What's happened? And then they gave some kind of really
heartfelt speeches saying goodbye to the show.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
After sixteen years and what nearly four and a half
thousand episodes, the project will very soon be no more.
It's a huge for everybody. You know, it's the people
who make a show, and the project isn't just the
people on this desk, it's the cast and crew behind
the scenes.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
They are the real stars and talking.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
You know, the producers, the editors, the cameramen and women,
the comedy writers, the floor crew, the people in the
control room, the director of the hair and makeup team,
all of them who work their guts out every single night,
six nights a week to get us there.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
I actually really appreciate that they acknowledge cast and crew,
because often in the this kind of environment, it is
the people who work behind the scenes that often get forgotten.
I mean, you're thinking about like the fact that they're
turning this stuff around. You got your editors, live crosses, dps,
you've got sound o's, You've got like it is a huge.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
Cast and crew. If you do is look at the
credits on a show like that.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
So, I mean, I think that's probably the bit that
makes me the saddest about.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
The loss of the show.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Yeah, I mean, I know it is being replaced with
more an investigative current affairs news show that's going to
come over and take over that timeslot, but it's like
when any publication closes down to Australia, a show gets canceled.
It kind of is just taking all these pieces off
the chessboard of all these different media outlets, And I
think it's interesting of how hard everyone at the moment
(05:55):
is trying to chase like that youth audience and trying
to get people back into watching traditional TV when so
much now is like short form on TikTok. But I
think the reason that a lot of these shows kind
of falter on that area is that not as many
people are watching Freda TV unless it is a reality show.
But then clips from the project would always go viral
(06:15):
on TikTok, like I would see them all the time,
So what's trying to find that balance? Obviously they haven't
said anything in their statement about like viewership numbers or
anything like that, but it is always interesting when something
like that gets taken away from the Australian media landscape.
And the interesting thing is like we don't have those
late night shows here for when big artists want to
come and do. I guess podcasts is kind of taking
that over to an extent, But we don't have those
(06:37):
late night shows and those talk shows. We don't have
those like fun news programs for guests. That's like the
project was that for us?
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah? I'm like, where are they going to go?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Now?
Speaker 4 (06:45):
Are they even gonna be coming here or doing cross? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:49):
I mean, I guess there's the morning shows and things
are there's something about TV like a nighttime TV show yeah,
has that kind of different energy to a morning shows.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
It's more kind of relaxed. There's probably a slightly more
comedic lens to it. Yeah, that morning show exactly.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And I know there are other nighttime programs in that space,
but I just when you think of like other markets,
like the American market or of the UK market, how
they have all of these big nightly programs with that
kind of tread the line between entertainment and news, and
it kind of makes me sad that that's going away
from Australia a little bit.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Well, maybe there'll be something to replace it that fits
a new Demographics shot nine sixteen rather Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Well, I've still got a few more weeks of the projects,
yeah yet, so it'll definitely be tuning in for their
last episode.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And to something a little bit lighter now, the Tony Awards. Now,
I am a serious Broadway lover like anything musical theater.
Like you will hear me busting this out. So I
love the Tony Awards. It's always a lot of fun.
It often doesn't get as much airtime as some of
the other big awards shows like the Oscars and Grammys
(07:57):
and stuff like that, because generally these Broadway stars are
not as well known as you know, your A listers. However,
this year we had a lot of big celebrities in
the front row and a lot of celebrity winners.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
The first one that I really want to.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Shout out is Sarah Snook, our very own Aussie Sarah
Snook actually won for the Picture of Dorian Gray and
she won Best Leading Actress in a Play, and that
is incredible. So shout out to Sarah Snook.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
And her Broadway debut. Like obviously she's done other plays
and things, and she's been on Succession and other TV shows,
for years, But that's her Broadway debut to win Tony,
which is the equivalent of an Oscar in that space.
It's pretty huge.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
It is incredible, and you know, Sarah Snook has done
very well on succession. That's probably where most people would
know her. But you know, she's been part of the
aussy film and TV industry for a long time. Incredibly talented,
so really really excited for her. Another really exciting Winny
is George Clooney winning.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Oh, I'm so glad someone's finally given George Clooney a chance.
I know, working away for ages and no one's seen
his talent.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Now, did you know that he's only won award away
from an egot?
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Yeah, what is it left to win? Is it a Grammy? Yeah?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
So if you don't know what an egot is, it's Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
So it's the people who have won all for get
an egot.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Probably one of the best known Egot winners is Whoopie Goldberg.
So a lot of the winners are usually like composers
because that kind of crosses over into quite a few
of those those were alms.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
But yeah, so who knows, maybe George clin.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
I feel like George Cloney, we want, you know how,
like some people get really close to an egot and
then they have to sort of sidestep and do something
because you can get one for like producing a Broadway
play if you win a Tony. So sometimes an actor
who wants to win an egot and they can't be
on stage because that's not their area, they'll produce something
to try and win it. Or they'll do like a
spoken word album or an audiobook or something to win
(09:55):
a Grammys, a loopholes Like I.
Speaker 4 (09:57):
Don't know if George Tony really cares that much.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
I did see an interview with him on the Car,
but he's like, no, I'm not going for a Grammy.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Well his his name will end up on the producer
credits of some album, like someone in his team will
make that happen. I think he's just been getting so
much shit for his hair because it's been died dark
and he does look a bit ridiculous, but it was
for his Broadway show. Maybe it's like, you know how,
like some actresses win an Oscar because they wear prosthetics
and make themselve ugly. Maybe he won just because he
died just dyed his hair men have won for less.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
And one of the controversial things that did happen is
Oprah having a little bit of a dig at Patty Lapone.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Yes, I mean this has been consuming my mind for
so long, this Broadway feud, which has spilled over in
to other areas.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
I feel like we need to give a bit of backstory.
So everybody's going to be across who Paddylopone is. Oh
shame on you if you don't know who.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So much like you, I'm a huge Broadway fan. It's
all I listened to, It's all I think about. So
this has been consuming me. So the two big Tony
areas that people were really invested in were Best Actress
in a Play, which Sarah stook one, but also Best
Actress in a Musical and Nicole Scherzinger film formerly from
the Pussycat Dolls, won that award for the revival of
Sunset Boulevard, which I haven't seen but i've hear is
(11:14):
just incredible to really stripped back version, very different from
the recent like Australian production that was at the Sydney
Opera House. But Audre McDonald, who is one of the
most famous and acclaimed Broadway stars of all time. She's
also a TV actress. She's in the Gray's Anatomy universe.
She was on Private Practice as the lead for many years.
If that's your in for her, So she was nominated
(11:35):
and just a few weeks ago Patti Lapone, who again
one of the greatest Broadway stars of all time. Maybe
you saw her recently in Agatha All Along, if that
was your introduction to her, I feel like people would
know who Patty lave.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
I think you should know who Patty, like you would
know her face. But she's like iconic, like it's kind
of one of the greatest performers of all time. Yeah,
one hundred percent and no one. Also for being like
wildly outspoken, very eccentric, says whatever she wants. Is why
people always love doing interviews with her. And usually the
interviews are like really funny. So when she was filming
(12:08):
Agatha All Along, her and Aubrey Plaza lived together, like
she brought Aubrey into her house and I would do
like these wild interviews and stuff. So usually people love her,
But leading up into the Tony season, she gave an
interview to The New Yorker and she said some awful
things about Audra McDonald and Keisha Lewis, who has another
Broadway start, and she said, have some horrible things about them.
And I felt bad for Audre because she's in the
(12:29):
revival of Gypsy and she was doing the press circuit
and she was asking a lot of interviews, like Patti
Laprone says, your enemies basically, and Audra McDonald's so classy,
was like, I consider Patti a friend. I haven't seen
her many years. You'll have to ask her. I have
no idea what this is about. So this blew up,
and then all of these actors, hundreds of actors from
the Broadway community ended up sending out this open letter
(12:50):
saying that Patti Lapne's words were very like offensive, very
racially charged because the's a woman of color in the industry,
and basically telling her to apologize and she didn't. Yes,
But the thing, Patti Laprone has never apologized on her
entire life, Like that is her thing. She says whatever
she wants, and she's like, I say what I want,
I say what I think, I'll do what I want
and I'll never a pologize. So then Payla Pone puts
(13:12):
up a statement on her Instagram after this open letter
has gone out saying I have always said I would
never apologize that changes today I was wrong. I'm so
sorry for my words, and basically pulled it all back.
So everyone's coming into the Tony Awards with this like
long standing drama that's been in the air. Patti La
Pone didn't show up, and then Oprah Winfrey, who's up
on stage because Cynthia Revo was hosting. There was so
(13:34):
much happening.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Here I was, and they did the holding space and
Oprah held her finger, and I was like, I do
think that moment has passed from the wicked press to it.
But I was also like, oh my god, it's Oprah
and Cynthia. You girls do whatever you want. It's fine.
I don't care if you do a call back to
an old joke. And then as she was announcing Best
Actress in a Musical, Oprah made a dig about not
(13:56):
a dig. It's hard to say. She was talking about
order and being like, people have a lot to say,
people have a lot to say about her and this industry,
and the camera pan out to the audience and people
were like laughing or look shocked because they knew what
was going on that she was talking about Paddi La
Ponne's and Patti la Pome wasn't there.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Yeah, I think she probably didn't show up on the averse.
She said, I regret my flippant and emotional responses during
the interview, which were inappropriate, and I'm devastated that my
behavior has offended others and has run counter to what
we hold dear to in this community. So she's been
like given a real kick up.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
I never thought i'd see the day that Patti la
pom would apologize, but I guess that's like the power
of Audren McDonald. Everyone was like, this is the one
thing we won't take. So overall, like a very eventful
Tony's just a quick shout out to Jonathan Groff doing
a lap dance on Keanu Reeves. That was my favorite moment,
and also Cola Scola, who won Best Actor at a play,
getting up on stage and thanking their mother, and I
(14:51):
think t Bow from Grinder was there other shout out.
So a beautiful, heartfelt speech. Just overall, actually one of
the best award shows we've had in a while, because,
like the Oscars, was emotional and like the Golden Globes,
and Emmys were like everything was just kind of fine,
but they weren't all these standout moments. I feel like
the Tonys came in and like wor the award show
of the last couple of times.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Skip out on the Tony guys, even if you're not
a huge fan, I mean, like I love watching you know,
Hugh Jack Mandancer or like, you know, I love the
opening numbers, the opening.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Do you know that if I'm ever having a really
bad day, there's only one thing that which want to
fix me up, It's Neil Patrick. Har My god, guys,
just go and watch it on YouTube.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
We're gonna have to stop because we're going to start
thinking this is.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
This is not a Broadway podcast podcast anyway, Go back
and watch the Tonys. There's so many clips the Hamilton
cast reunited after ten years, so much don't it's okay,
It's okay, guys, go watch it.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Don't keep happening on the Tony's, guys, it is actually
worth it.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Well, just when we thought we had to wait until
March next year to get a full update on the
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively legal case, a huge update today.
And that is the fact that the judge in the
case has dismissed Justin Baldonie's four hundred million defamation claim
against both Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. And this is
because the judge said that they found Blake Lively's accusations
(16:13):
of sexual harassment against Baldoni were legally protected and therefore
immune from the lawsuit. We've talked so much about this case,
but the entire lawsuit from Justin Baldoni coming off the
back of it ends with us the movie. There was
a huge kind of backlash against Blake Lively from that.
After the press circuit was over, she came out with
(16:33):
this huge New York Times expose on Justin's behavior. After
that she filed a lawsuit against him. He countersued. Also,
I should say that the defamation case that Justin Baldoni
filed against The New York Times for reporting all of
the claims has also been thrown out, and that is
because that all of Blake Lively's claims against Justin Baldoni
(16:55):
were actually made through the court case, and so they
weren't found to be defaming him, which I think is
a really important note. And also the fact that it
would have to be proven that all of her claims
were false. So the judge has thrown that out.
Speaker 4 (17:10):
This is one hundred percent not over.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I've heard a lot of discourse about like people be like, well,
there we go, it's all over down again. No no, no, no, no, no,
that is not how this stuff works. Baldoni's team can
amend the lawsuit and refile. Baldoni's team had till June
twenty third to amend the lawsuit to take that out,
so they can kind of reframe it and still have
(17:32):
another lawsuit. So there's that, and there's also like, there's
a lot more underneath this exactly.
Speaker 1 (17:40):
So it was just that one part of the lawsuit,
which was the main part of it around the defamation
that's been thrown out. But he can refile the allegations
regarding interference with contracts, which is outside of the defamation
laws and is just a different thing to prove there's
still that there. But it is a huge and kind
of unexpected because a lot of people expected this part
of his allegations to go to court. And obviously the
(18:03):
amount of information he's been putting out has been so
intense around the information that he says he has on
Blake Lively's not forget. This is the man who was
published an entire website that at the time of recording
is still alive with every accusation that he has against
Blake Lively. Ryan Reynolds, their publicity team. He's subpoena Taylor
Swift that's being dropped, but all that information is still
(18:25):
out there. But he could still refile and say that
she interfered with the contracts for the movie.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
But I do think in the court of public opinion,
I don't even know if it's about the money. And
I think I said this like right at the very start,
it's almost like this is a way to air out
the laundry and get it to put and in a
way it has kind of work.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
People are really against Blake.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
I didn't a r ever going to go away. Now.
I think that whether it was a campaign or the
truth or anything like, we don't know until this all
goes to court. But the way that people turned against
her is something I feel like even if it came
out that she was found to be completely innocent of
all these charges and she didn't do anything, I think
would be hard to turn that around. Now, even just
this week, there's allegations out there that she's been rude
(19:08):
to people in public and rude to her teams was
exposa also coming off the back of we previously spoke
about her past lifestyle company Preserve people coming out with
accusations around that, and it's just like anytime something happens,
people jump on it. So like that hatred against her,
I just don't think is gonna go away.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
So we do have Blake Lively's statement here, so I'm
going to read this. This is via her attorneys, says
today's ruling represents a complete triumph and a full exoneration
for Blake Lively as well as for those unjustly implicated
and Baldoni's retaliatory lawsuit, including Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Sloane and
The New York Times from the outset were you maintained
(19:46):
this four hundred million dollar lawsuit was baseless and the
court recognized that. They further stated that they would pursue
legal fees and punitive down images against Baldoni and his
production company.
Speaker 4 (19:58):
So this is far from over.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yes, So as far as we know, the overall court
case is still going ahead in mant Well. One of
the biggest things that Blake Lively is suing for is
the sexual harassment ali gations, which she and her team
say there's a lot of evidence there that is going
to come out in court. Like they haven't made a website,
so there's a lot of stuff there that we don't know.
I also thought it was interesting like during this part
(20:21):
of the proceedings where they've been information gathering. That's why
Justin's team has been setting out the penis and everyone's
legal team is like getting all their information together before
they go to court. And I think it was interesting
that Blake, Clavelyne, Ryan Reynolds and their legal team went
to the judge and basically got like a motion to
stop Justin Baldoni continuously like releasing all this information and
(20:42):
continuously I guess, trying to like win in the court
of public opinion, which I think has been enacted, but
will be interesting to sort of see how that goes
going forward at the time of recording. Also, Justin hasn't
released a statement around it, or and his legal team haven't,
but I'm sure that's coming as well.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
Apparently Blake dropped a portion of her lawsuit because Justin's
Baldonie's team requested her mental health records.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Yes, so she dropped a portion of her so she
didn't have to release that.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
I actually thought was quite interesting.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
To be frank though, I don't think I would want
anybody to say no.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
And that's something about psychologists, and that's the thing. And
again we're just just talking in generals now because we
don't want to sort of get into the bones of
this lawsuit until it goes to court. But that's the
thing about these kind of court cases. Once people start digging,
especially if you're really famous, even if the information that
is unearthed, it could have nothing to do with the case,
but it could still be made public. So if you're
getting into like mental health records, medical records, contract negotiations.
(21:40):
This is why people like Taylor's so who get subpoened
for things like this, there's such a pattern on their side,
and their legal teams come down really hard because if
they were able to go through her phone and her
laptop and her messages and her emails, they might not
find the evidence they're looking for for this particular case,
but there's a lot of other stuff that could become
very publicly available. And if you're a private person at
(22:01):
that level of fame. That would be quite horrifying. Like,
imagine Blake Clively having her medical records made public.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Can you imagine having your psychologist record maybe, Like I
find that actually quite terrifying. Yeah, Like there's a reason
why there's that confidentiality in there. She's allowed to have
that space where she feels safe. So, if anything, despite
the fact that we have some thoughts about Blake Lively,
but yeah, I can respect it. She Yeah, sort of
(22:28):
pulled that away from the absolutely.
Speaker 4 (22:30):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
I feel like there'd be some celebration in their house
today that this part of the lawsuit's been thrown away. Well,
thank you so much for listening to the show today.
And look, if you'd like us to do a Broadway
spin off podcast, let us know. We're ready in waiting.
No one here will say yes to that.
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah, we're gonna just keep pushing it until somebody says yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Till someone picks it up and says yes. And also
make sure that you're following The Spill on TikTok and
Instagram so you see all of our extra videos and
behind the scenes moments. And The Spill is produced by
Minitia is Iswaren, with sound production by Scott Stronik and
Mama MIAs Studios are star with surnature from Fenton and Fenton.
Visit Fenton and Fenton dot com dot au and we'll
(23:06):
see you back here on your podcast feed at three
pm tomorrow. Bye byell it Yeah
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.