About this episode

The episode discusses the film EDtv and features guest Will Weldon sharing insights and critiques.

EDtv opened in third place on March 26th right behind our last movie, Analyze This in 2nd and Forces of Nature in 1st, going on to gross $35 million worldwide on a budget of $80 million. Directed by Ron Howard, it is a remake of the 1994 Quebecois film Louis 19, King of the Airwaves, with a script adapted by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, it stars Matthew McConaughey, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Sally Kirkland, a frankly Oscar-worthy Martin Landau, Rob Reiner, Dennis Hopper, Elizabeth Hurley, Harry Shearer, Ian Gomez, Rupaul, Michael Moore, Jay Leno, George Plimpton, and Bill Maher. EDtv tells the story of a regular guy whose life becomes a 24-hour reality show. It did modestly well with critics, but it was drowned out by 1998's similarly-premised (but in no way similar) The Truman Show. Anyway, since it's the only 1999 movie to feature Bill Maher, we invited the host of the I Hate Bill Maher Podcast, comedian Will Weldon, to talk about this incredibly confused, frustrating movie, which remains notable for being the start of the McConaughey-Harrelson (possibly literal) Bromance! Will's on Bluesky and other social media @oldmanweldon

People in this episode

Hosts: John Brooks, Julia Sirmons

Guest: Will Weldon

Topics covered

• film analysis
• 1999 movies
• reality shows
• comedy
• celebrity culture

Keywords

• EDtv
• Will Weldon
• Matthew McConaughey
• reality show
• film critique
• 1999 movies
• comedy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: I Hate Bill Maher Podcast

Books & works: EDtv, Analyze This, Forces of Nature, The Truman Show, Louis 19, King of the Airwaves

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• MAGNOLIA (Revisited) - with Holly Brown · May 12, 2026 · 1h 28m

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