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Characters: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Cloud10
Diving deeper on the characters we love to consume! Laura Diez hosts guest conversations and shares stories exploring the portrayals of real people on reality tv, fictionalized women that stay in our memories, and pop culture legends.
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- 3 weeks ago15 min
Does Reality TV Demand Trauma?
I've been noticing lately reality casts being prompted to "open up" - from Ladies of London to the most recent episodes of Real Housewives of Rhode Island. We're talking about these "forced trauma bonding" activities - what they do to actually bring casts together, and what they do to humanize the "characters" to the audience. We'll also reference Real Housewives of Atlanta and Beyond the Villa as we question: how much performance is necessary on shows today? How much "opening up" really must happen on television today? Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Intro to "trauma prompts" 02:10 Ladies of London - Misse 04:35 RHORI - Liz's unmasking dinner (ep 6) 08:41 RHORI - Alicia and Jo-Ellen's walk (ep 7) 09:30 Audience impact 11:35 RHOA - Pinky Cole 11:57 Preforming for TV - Beyond the Villa 12:28 Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 3 weeks ago19 min
Living with Lions: The Story Behind the Most Dangerous Film Ever Made
Tippi Hedren infamously had a full grown, 400-pound male lion named Neil living in her home for years in the 1970s. As she and her then-husband Noel Marshall set out to make Roar, a film that would hopefully support big cat conservation, they began acquiring big cats themselves (and living with one). Photos in Life Magazine of Neil the Lion sleeping in bed with her daughter Melanie Griffith still live in our imaginations. Roar went on to be what is today referred to as the most dangerous film ever produced - with over 70 cast and crew members injured by the 40+ exotic animals on set. We'll discuss today the film, the chaos, and Tippi Hedren's big cats today at Shambala Preserve. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:26 Tippi Hedren 02:23 Tippi and Noel Marshall go to Mozambique 03:37 Roar concept 04:48 Life magazine photos 07:13 Roar production 09:52 Roar release 11:11 Shambala Preserve 14:00 Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- 4 weeks ago17 min
Running Point, The Real Isla Gordon
I'm loving Netflix's Running Point , which just aired its second season. Kate Hudson stars as Isla Gordon, the president of her family's professional basketball team. We're talking today about the real woman who inspired the character of Isla - Jeannie Buss, former president of her family's organization, the Los Angeles Lakers. We're overviewing the parts of Jeannie's life that loosely inspire the show, and what she has said about serving as Executive Producer on this Netflix show. We're also getting into what I think makes this show so great - the humor, the family dynamic, and the representation of an unapologetic woman in charge. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:21 Jeannie Buss, re: Isla Gordon 05:13 Isla Gordon, flawed characters 06:52 Sibling dynamic 08:41 Relationship with media 09:01 Engagement storyline 10:29 Humor 11:26 Friendship with Ali Lee (Brenda Song) 12:16 We need more Islas 13:09 Favorite characters - Links mention: ESPN, 2017: How did the Lakers get here? The inside story of the Buss drama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 5, 202620 min
Ladies of London: What Made for a Superstar Reboot
The first season of Ladies of London: The New Reign has just wrapped with glowing reviews! We're digging into what made this reboot so well-received: the strong ties among the group, friendships arcs, and the value of cast connections over wealth. We're also discussing the origin of the "light" conflict (the spiraled, into Margo vs Mark) and the resolution of Kimi and Misse's dispute. This show feels oddly nostalgic because everyone seems to be having fun! Would love to hear your thoughts on what made the first season of this reboot so great. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:59 Drivers of Success 02:48 Emma 04:02 Martha 05:47 Cast trip to Longleat 09:04 Is Margo performing for cameras? 09:40 Conflict, the need for a "common villain" 12:11 Friendship arc: Margo and Martha 13:45 Friendship arc: Kimi and Misse 16:43 Conclusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- May 1, 202619 min
Cerulean Sweaters: Impact + Cultural Shifts of The Devil Wears Prada
In celebration of The Devil Wears Prada 2's release this weekend, a sequel twenty year after the original release, we're revisiting Miranda Priestly's "cerulean blue sweater" monologue. The scene serves as our lens to understand the themes of the original film: ambition, identity, and conformity, during the height of the girl boss era. We're discussing how our reception of these themes and the characters have changed in twenty years - when did the "real villain" become Andy's boyfriend, and the tyrannical boss become an icon simply of a competent woman working hard? How much of ourselves must we truly give up to get ahead in the workplace? Plus, I am sharing my thoughts after seeing the sequel! The decline of print media, callbacks to the original film, and what the film says today about how much "choice" we truly have. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Miranda Priestly's Cerulean Sweater monologue linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDTRuCOs9g Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:41 Your input requested! Help me improve the platforms 04:52 Miranda's Cerulean Sweater Monologue 07:08 The Devil Wears Prada as a time capsule 09:08 Audience reception in the girl boss era 10:36 What the film said about culture 12:08 The Devil Wears Prada 2 review + thoughts 15:34 What is the sequel asking about culture? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 28, 202618 min
The Tragedy of Beyond The Villa
From hidden cameras in Fiji to the "performance" of a reality show... Beyond the Villa is a social anthropological document of the impacts of a rabid fanbase on the regular people who were cast on the insane global stage that is Love Island. We're asking ourselves: have the new fans "ruined" Love Island USA? Or is some level of social media infamy just part of the risk one takes when joining a dating competition show? We're talking about how Beyond the Villa actively breaks the fourth wall in a perhaps progressive take on the concept of a show about the impacts of another show. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 24, 202620 min
The Future of Reality TV
Hulu announced new concepts and updates to their unscripted television this week at their "Get Real" live event - and I have *so many thoughts*. We are overviewing the highlights and I am giving my takes on the most interesting new concepts, the more confusing announcements, smart crossovers in the Hulu universe... and more. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 01:39 Hulu Get Real event overview + announcements 03:03 Dancing With The Stars 04:06 DWTS x Project Runway 04:42 Khloe Kardashian's "The Girls" (and "the fall" of the Kardashians) 08:52 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway (vs Victoria's Secret Fashion Show) 11:39 Get Real Podcast 16:08 Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County Hulu press release linked here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Apr 21, 202618 min
"The Morally Corrupt Faye Resnick" + Nicole Brown Simpson
When Camille Grammer called Faye Resnick "morally corrupt" during season one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, she was not commenting on Faye's Playboy "spread." Rather, she was calling back to Faye's very specific betrayal of Nicole Brown Simpson, ex-wife and murder victim of OJ Simpson. We're talking through who Faye Resnick is, her friendship with Nicole Brown Simpson (and Kris Jenner), and the wild, salacious book about Nicole published just as the murder trial was set to begin. We'll discuss public response, impact on the trial, and how all the relationships evolved post-verdict. Find me everywhere: linktr.ee/literallylaurad Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 00:56 Who is Faye Resnick 02:59 Nicole Brown Simpson's Murder 03:33 Book Publication 08:41 Impact on Trial, Public Response 10:59 Celebrity, Playboy Cover 12:21 Camille Grammer, RHOBH 14:00 Kris Jenner Friendship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About Characters
Diving deeper on the characters we love to consume! Laura Diez hosts guest conversations and shares stories exploring the portrayals of real people on reality tv, fictionalized women that stay in our memories, and pop culture legends.
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