The B.E.E. Podcast - 5/31/18 - Jeff Shakoor - SILVER
Added 2018-05-31 14:13:58 +0000 UTCTelevision writer Jeff Shakoor and Bret Easton Ellis discuss the fading popularity of the novel, A Quiet Place, I'm Dying Up Here and Hollywood's diversity obsession.
Comments
Wasn't this posted previously?
Antonio Primavera
2021-08-14 01:02:35 +0000 UTCMy god! tell Jeff to back of that mic, yeesh lol
Kevin Doonan
2018-08-30 06:56:22 +0000 UTCHey, did Jeff do coke at a point in his life? thought i heard him mentioning it
Gonzalo
2018-07-12 03:09:02 +0000 UTCI love when you discuss the singular and profound pleasures of reading. I've been thinking about going back to Wharton to fill in my many gaps with her for a couple years now, especially since reading Kate Bolick's excellent Spinster; this nudges me closer. Would be curious to hear your takes on Scorcese's Age of Innocence as an adaptation. I laughed in recognition of that moment of absolute refusal when someone is telling you that you have to spend several hours on mediocre or bad television to get to the supposedly good parts that will make it all worth it—I've had that moment so many times. Great take on A Quiet Place. I have been reading some fiction from decades past concurrently with contemporary works. There's some great stuff happening right now. At the same time, there's a level of self-awareness and performativeness as a consequence of social media and living on the internet that I find very offputting in a lot of work. Reading work like Peter Straub's output from the seventies and early eighties, I feel like there's a depth of literary craft and sophistication, as well as a trust that you can handle numerous characters, ambiguities, subplots, and timelines, across a five-hundred page novel that is just not present right now. A lot of people are reading and are passionate about it, but brevity is preferred, and so novels in the 200-300 page range are doing well and the short story collection is becoming more commercially viable while attracting significant critical attention. American literature has its roots in great short stories, so I like this trend. This episode may mark the first time you've mentioned Infinite Jest in at all a positive or warm tone. Has there been a shift? Have you finally finished it? Great to have you back.
Kevin Larkin Angioli
2018-07-10 14:34:40 +0000 UTCThe House of Mirth. Ahhhh...
Michael MacGowan
2018-06-10 19:53:52 +0000 UTCI wish Bret would just go back to talking by himself. I would rather hear his opinions and what he has to say more than a guest I have never heard of. But it's not like the guest wasn't interesting, Bret's opinions are far more interesting than the guest viewers are. The only three from the last podcast show I enjoy endlessly are Walter Hill, Paul Schraeder, and his intro on the Sam Outlaw, which I think described perfectly the toxic environment that the election had on us as a people. But overall, I wish people listened to Bret. He has a calming voice when everyone is just screaming at the top of their lungs about Trump. Literally, it's the reason why me and my father and sister don't talk that much anymore.
Louis Bruno
2018-06-08 20:24:25 +0000 UTCUnrivalled mood and atmosphere in today's podcast scene. This time really nice dip into books and growing up with literature.
T
2018-06-07 20:02:58 +0000 UTCThanks again, Bret! How about Rick Alverson as a guest? "The Comedy", what a movie, "The Entertainment", such a great work of art. Mr. Alverson is one of the original voices in the movie "business" right now, would be great to hear you guys talk!
Sami Majala
2018-06-06 09:55:44 +0000 UTCHaha, loved that take on a Quiet Place - traditional values silenced by maniacal SJWs. Funny.
Harman Virdee
2018-06-04 19:49:42 +0000 UTCThe Chateau ain't as swingin' as it used to be but you should definitely check it out! -Adam
The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast
2018-06-04 15:35:00 +0000 UTCLove to hear more takes about the literary fiction world. Get Lethem on the pod! Love your work.
Callan Wilks
2018-06-04 07:27:58 +0000 UTCI love it when Bret talks to writers on the podcast. They might not have the "relevance" of some of his other guests, but at least they have stuff to say.
David Kordahl
2018-06-04 02:44:29 +0000 UTCOnce again, Bret, your guests aren't worthy of you. New drinking game: a shot every time Jeff says "you know." Forget the guests (unless they're on a par with you intellectually) and just do it solo.
Stephen O'Flynn
2018-06-03 20:21:30 +0000 UTCOff topic question- is the Chateau Marmont still a chic hotel with a hot scene? Traveling to LA for the War on Drugs show at the Hollywood Bowl.
Laura Woods
2018-06-03 16:34:33 +0000 UTCThe novel monologue has made me incredibly sad (while being extremely eloquent and well-put). I am 27 and sometimes I wonder if had it not been for my very well-read and bookish parents, would I still have such a strong spot in my heart in my heart for novels above all else (film. music, etc)? Listening to your descriptions of past times, I found myself nostalgic for a time I never even experienced. Also, I finished Kushner's novel a few weeks ago (which I highly anticipated all year) and ended up being very, very disappointed by it. I'm currenly reading "The Pisces" by Melissa Broder and it is terrific, IMO. I wish it'd never end.
Shira Lev
2018-06-03 14:10:57 +0000 UTCTerrific podcast on any number of levels, but I found the discussion of the novel's modern downward trajectory of social and cultural relevance particularly poignant and insightful. A contemporary of BEE (ie, early 50s Gen X elder), I wanted only to accomplish one feat in life, to make my own attempt at the GAN, and which I've only recently completed to my satisfaction and will indie publish. Will it matter to anyone else? Not likely. But I managed to pull off my longstanding "white whale" art project, the satisfaction of which is considerable. My point here is that I think would-be novelists and writers of short fiction looking to indulge a fascinating and rewarding artistic pursuit should still write and publish, no doubt. But indeed, it seems literature's day as a mover and teacher of society at large is well into its cultural twilight.
James D. McCallister
2018-06-02 21:28:45 +0000 UTCI know. -Adam
The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast
2018-06-02 17:36:41 +0000 UTCIn this episode we all learned that Jeff has quite an audible respiratory system... Won't typically be the case with future guests. Thanks Tony! -Adam
The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast
2018-06-02 17:36:15 +0000 UTCJust a technical comment, but Jeff Shakoor was at times breathing into the microphone very heavily, even when Bret was talking for over a minute without interruption. Could you guys do something about that? It's terribly distracting.
TVtony
2018-06-02 15:39:33 +0000 UTC"You know."
Nick O'Mahoney
2018-06-02 10:14:35 +0000 UTC<a href="https://youtu.be/rt43AcKbHZE" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/rt43AcKbHZE</a> this isn’t a shameless plug bret i just want an honest critique the only thing i didn’t do was the edit
Jonathan White
2018-06-02 08:48:20 +0000 UTCThis guy gives me the willies.
MidRangeG
2018-06-02 02:44:49 +0000 UTCI thought that’s what he said but couldn’t quite hear. So funny
Chuck
2018-06-01 20:55:39 +0000 UTCIKR?! - B.A.
The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast
2018-06-01 17:34:21 +0000 UTCso casual: "and it was around the time when they were having crazy threesomes and stuff, so you know--" 🤣🤣🤣
Senseless
2018-06-01 17:08:06 +0000 UTCReally enjoyed the guest and of course Brets take and overview of movies tv and novels. I do feel that books tend to stick with me much longer than a tv series. I enjoy this podcast because as Bret describes often it is difficult to navigate the vast sea of content when only limited time to indulge is available. I’ve started Atlanta enjoyed it a lot so far. Unfortunately I have to work a day job so I’ll continue to let Bret see the bad movies and let me know. I also appreciate the vocabulary Bret uses, feels like I’m surrounded constantly by internet slang.
Chuck
2018-06-01 13:50:31 +0000 UTCBret, really enjoying your podcast. Thanks and when will I see my sequel to American Psycho on the book shelves?
Ben
2018-06-01 11:30:55 +0000 UTCprob a deviated septum
Brent L. Smith
2018-06-01 03:51:55 +0000 UTCBret, you've got such a hot and mellifluous voice. You should speak more on the deep imaginative intimacies between writer and reader. The mind's eye has a much more powerful aspect than devised visual arts. Keep these coming!
j
2018-06-01 03:22:06 +0000 UTCThank you for you doing this podcast. It is so necessary and a breath of fresh air right now. There is nothing like it. Please publish your non fiction book ASAP! I am gasping for it.
Jessica Matlin
2018-06-01 02:11:46 +0000 UTCExcellent as always. Thanks Brett.
Mark Russ
2018-05-31 20:22:03 +0000 UTCwhat's bret's boyfriends name? is it Josh? josh is like a little recurring character that pops up once in awhile and everyone wants to hear more. he is the bobba fett of the the podcast
Per AKA Narwhal
2018-05-31 20:06:25 +0000 UTClivin hard makes you breath super loud apparently. good podcast tho
Per AKA Narwhal
2018-05-31 19:51:15 +0000 UTCAmazing talk as usual. Bret, really loved your thoughts on Edith Wharton, was almost transfixed just hearing you talk about classic works. I hope you relate thoughts on older works more often in upcoming podcasts, but I'm probably part of the minority bibliophile audience section... Small note Breathing from 1 HR 3min onwards sounds like someone is sleeping and snoring loudly LOL
LeRoi
2018-05-31 17:52:41 +0000 UTCPlease go back to the non-guest format.
Joseph H.
2018-05-31 17:03:25 +0000 UTC
