Culture Gabfest: Rings of Power, Wads of Cash
This week, the panel begins by assessing the most expensive television show to date: Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Then, the panel breaks down Breaking, the John Boyega-led hostage crisis film that also includes one of the last performances of late actor Michael K. Williams. Finally, the panel discusses the pros and cons of child acting, a topic choice that was influenced by HBO\u2019s The Rehearsal and Jennette McCurdy\u2019s recent memoir.\nIn Slate Plus, the panel talks with Ultimate Major Super-Human Friend of the Program (and also author and contributing writer for the New York Times) Jody Rosen about his recent piece in NYT Mag about Willie Nelson, titled \u201cWillie Nelson\u2019s Long Encore.\u201d And as a good example of Nelson\u2019s magic: his performance of \u201cFunny How Time Slips Away\u201d at the \u201879 Austin City Limits music festival.\xa0\nEmail us at culturefest@slate.com.\nEndorsements\nDana: Some Texas music: the most recent album from San Antonio indie band Buttercup, titled Specks, an Autobiographical Record by Buttercup.\nJulia: Even more Strut afterglow: \u201cOui ou Non\u201d by Ang\xe8le\nSteve: In memory of Barbara Ehrenreich: reading her excellent work.\xa0\nPodcast production by Anna Rubanova. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe.\nOutro music is "The Brew" by Chris Shards\nSlate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now\xa0at slate.com/cultureplus.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices