What a Creep Season 23, Episode 5: When method acting goes too far

If an actor wants to go deep on their character work for a movie, TV show, or play, and they’re not hurting anyone, knock yourself out. However, method acting isn’t an excuse to humiliate or assault people or create a hostile work environment.
We talk about some actors and directors that go too far in the name of “art.”
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Trigger warning: Sexual assault, rape, and a lot of “ugh, get over yourself.”

What a Creep Season 23, Episode 4: J.D. Salinger

In 1972, a teenager named Joyce Maynard wrote a New York Times magazine piece titled “An 18-Year-Old Looks Back at Life.” The daughter of artistic, brilliant parents who had many issues and tended to treat her as an adult–she was precocious and a veteran of magazine writing by the time she graduated from high school.

Written during her first year at Yale, one of her fan letters was from 53-year-old J.D. Salinger–one of the most famous “genius” reclusives living in New Hampshire. The two had a correspondence, which led to a relationship where she moved in with him and gradually shrunk herself away from the world. Until he carelessly dumped her.
Turns out she is NOT the only young person who falls under his romantic spell. Also, she has some other messiness going on in her life. There is SO much to discuss here!

Trigger warning: Grooming and eating disorders

What a Creep (REPLAY): Mel Gibson

Sonia is out sick, so we are replaying one of our first season faves–Mel Gibson. Merry Creepmas to all who celebrate!

Mel Gibson is a huge movie star. He has starred in massive blockbuster movies and won Academy Awards. At one time, he was one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood. Hell, he was even People Magazine’s first-ever Sexiest Man Alive.

Mel Gibson is also a racist, anti-semitic homophobe who somehow continues to work in Hollywood. Why? Sonia talks about it with a bit of help from our friends at:

What a Creep Season 23, Episode 3: The history of ‘ugly laws’ in America (1860-1970) & NON-Creep Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Laws are supposed to protect us, but from the 1860s to the 1970s, many cities nationwide had so-called “ugly laws.” The name makes it sound like the police were walking around and deciding if people were attractive enough to be in public, but ugly laws were a way to criminalize being poor or homeless and/or having disabilities and disfigurements. And played a part in the racial segregation of public facilities, immigration bans for the “unfit,” and the eugenics movement.

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What a Creep Season 23, Episode 2: The 1986 Attack on Model Marla Hanson

On Thursday, June 5, 1986, in New York City, 24-year-old Marla Hanson was lashed across her face with razors at the behest of her landlord (Steven Roth), who was fascinated with the rising model and upset she wanted to leave his apartment building. The case made her famous across the country for her moxie and vitality. It was also yet another reminder of how violent New York was in the 1980s.

The eventual trials against Roth and later the two men he hired for the mission, Steven Bowman and Darren Norman, tried to paint Marla as a man-eater who thrived on attention. Their defense attorney, Alton H. Maddox, said at the beginning of the trial: “I will tell you about a woman named Marla Hanson, who was after every man in this city, a woman who preyed on men and their relationships with women.”

They were all found guilty, but Marla still lives with the emotional scars of being a victim, not just of the slashing but of the sometimes brutal justice system, which made her feel as if she were the one who should have been on trial. Today, we discuss this case, its repercussions on Marla, and how she fights to protect victims.

Sources for this episode:

Plastic surgery nonprofits

Trigger warning: Sexual assault and violence

What a CreepSeason 23, Episode 1: The Motion Pictures Association (MPA) Film Ratings System

We will discuss the Motion Picture Association (MPA) film ratings system, previously known as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
Why? Because although it doesn’t always seem like movie ratings matter, they do. Movie ratings decide how big of an audience a movie gets. Anyone can see a PG-13, while an NC-17 movie can’t even run ads for their film; most theaters won’t show it.
We talk about the double standards when it comes to straight sex vs. queer sex, male nudity vs. female nudity, and sex and violence.

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Trigger warning: Foul language and sexual situations

What a Creep Season 22, Episode 10: The Kidnapping of J. Paul Getty III

In 1973, at the age of 16, John Paul Getty III was kidnapped in Italy. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of $17 million, but J. Paul Getty, the boy’s grandfather and one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time, initially refused to pay. The kidnappers then sent a lock of the young Getty’s hair and his severed right ear to a newspaper to pressure the family.

Eventually, J. Paul Getty agreed to pay a reduced ransom amount, and his grandson was released after being a captive for several months. This story inspired a feature film by Ridley Scott and a ten-part series featuring our favorite Hollywood comeback story–Brendan Fraser. This story has it all–miserable rich people, hippies, Italian mafiosos, and strained family relationships.

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Trigger warning: Addiction and kidnapping

 

What a Creep Season 22, Episode 9: Keith Raniere/NXIVM (Replay) & Russell Brand updates

Happy day after Thanksgiving to everyone in the US! Since Sonia has now watched both seasons of “The Vow,” we thought it would be a good time to replay our episode on Nxivm/Keith Raniere. Additionally, we have some Russell Brand news to share, which is quite creepy. We hope you all have a relaxing holiday weekend!

Sources for this episode:
Russell Brand news: “A man in his 40s attended a police station in South London on Thursday 16 November 2023,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement, declining to confirm whether it was Brand.” (Reuters)

What a Creep Season 22, Episode 8: Crisis Pregnancy Centers

What started as a bunch of small, locally-run crisis pregnancy centers to discourage women from getting abortions has grown into an anti-abortion movement with political clout and government funding. These centers and the organizations that run them have only grown more powerful since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year and removed abortion rights protections.

If you’re against abortion and want to encourage women to carry their pregnancies to term, you’re within your right to open a clinic that encourages that. But these crisis pregnancy centers spread lies and practice delay tactics to trick women into having babies. Creeps!

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What a Creep Season 22, Episode 7: Mark Schwahn, ‘One Tree Hill’ showrunner

“One Tree Hill “was a popular CW show with all the ingredients for success – attractive actors, dramatic storylines, a complex timeline, and was filmed in North Carolina. However, the show was marred by the inappropriate behavior of its showrunner, Mark Schwahn. His harassment and mistreatment of the cast and crew were brought to light by writer Audrey Wauchope in a series of tweets in 2017, during the height of the “Me Too” movement. This followed the investigation of another CW showrunner, Andrew Kreisberg, who was accused of sexual harassment and creating an unsafe work environment on The Flash. Kreisberg was paid $10 million to leave.

Today, we are discussing the impact of a toxic boss on a workplace and the bravery of the women who spoke out against this behavior. Their actions have set a new standard for a safer and more respectful work environment, particularly after the recent strikes in the United States.

Sources for this episode:

· Buzz Feed· Buzz Feed 2· Buzz Feed 3· Drama Queens Podcast· Drama Queens Podcast (Apple)· Variety· Variety 2· Screen Rant· Screen Rant 2· EW· EW 2· EW 3· Decider· Insider· Hollywood Reporter· Best Life online· Deadline· Deadline 2· The Wrap· Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum podcast· AV Club· Burn it Down: Power, Complicity, and a Call for Change in Hollywood by Maureen Ryan

Trigger warnings: Sexual harassment, sexual assault, and workplace abuse