Can't Stop Watching

"Foretold" is the newest podcast from the L.A. Times, and we're sharing a preview of the first episode with you here today. In the fall of 2019, reporter Faith E. Pinho received a tip from a woman named Paulina Stevens. Paulina claimed she had grown up in an insular Romani community in California, where she was raised to be a wife, mother and fortuneteller — until she decided to break away. That first call unraveled a story spanning multiple continents, hundreds of years, and complex metaphysical realities. Follow "Foretold" to hear new episodes every Tuesday.

Border City is a new L.A. Times Presents podcast from the San Diego Union-Tribune. From Sandra Dibble, a journalist who spent more than 25 years covering the border, comes a story about beauty, violence and belonging in Tijuana, one of the world’s most dangerous cities. Enjoy this sneak peek, and be sure to listen and follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

In Season 1 of “Binge Sesh,” co-hosts Matt Brennan and Kareem Maddox pull back the curtain on HBO’s “Winning Time” series about the L.A. Lakers of the 1980s, one of the sports’ most unforgettable dynasties. Every week, we bring you stories from the locker room, the soundstage, and the L.A. Times archives as we explore how “Showtime” transformed the NBA — and American culture. Enjoy this sneak peek, and be sure to listen and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more at latimes.com/bingesesh.

Today, we can’t stop watching Paul Mescal, who plays the popular high school sports star Connell Waldron on “Normal People.” Mescal’s role earned him an Emmy nomination for lead actor in a limited series. He talks about what it was like to shoot his first sex scene on the show, why he left Gaelic football for the stage and his experience starring in a music video for the Rolling Stones during lockdown.

Today, we can’t stop watching actor, writer and comedian Ramy Youssef. He’s received an Emmy nomination for lead actor in a comedy series for his role as Ramy Hassan on Hulu’s “Ramy.” Youssef co-created the series, which is making history this award season as the first Muslim American sitcom to receive an Emmy nomination. He opens up about his own identity, the making of Season 2 and how Mahershala Ali changed the course of the series.

Today, we can’t stop watching Martin Short. You might know him from his comedic roles on “Saturday Night Live” and "Father of the Bride." This year, he’s nominated for an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on “The Morning Show,” playing disgraced film director Dick Lundy. Short talks about the role, and how he and longtime pals such as Steve Martin have been connecting during the pandemic. Plus, he takes us down memory lane and reminisces about some of the characters he portrayed early in his acting career.

Today, we can’t stop watching Samira Wiley, who plays Moira Strand on "The Handmaid’s Tale." Her performance has earned her an Emmy nomination for supporting actress in a drama. Wiley talks about what she learned from portraying both Moira and her previous character, Poussey on "Orange Is the New Black." Plus, she reveals the British reality TV show that she can’t get enough of these days.

Today, we can’t stop watching Rachel Brosnahan, who got an Emmy nomination for lead actress in a comedy series for playing Midge, a 1950s housewife-turned-stand-up comic, in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” Brosnahan tells us which family member reminded her about the Emmy nominations this year and where she thinks Midge is headed after the shake-up in the season finale. And yes, if you’re wondering: We do talk about the episode "The Golden Arm" from Quibi's "50 States of Fright."

Today, we can’t stop watching Tracee Ellis Ross. She has earned an Emmy nomination for lead actress in a comedy series for her performance as Rainbow Johnson on ABC’s “Blackish.” Ross tells us how she spent her Emmy nomination day and why she speaks up for her character on set. Plus, she opens up about the emotional moment she debuted her singing voice for her mother — none other than the legendary Diana Ross.

From “Succession’s” Brian Cox to “Mrs. America’s” Uzo Aduba, listen to all your favorite TV stars ask and respond to each other’s questions in our celebrity guest Q&A roundup.

Today, we can’t stop watching legendary actor Michael Douglas, who plays acting coach Sandy Kominsky in the Netflix comedy “The Kominsky Method.” Douglas tells us how the film business has changed in the 50-plus years he’s been in it, what he learned from being mentored by Karl Malden early in his career, and what he’s still learning today from his “Kominsky Method” costar Alan Arkin.

Today, we can’t stop watching Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays aspiring artist Cherise in “High Fidelity” on Hulu. Randolph tells us what drew her to the role, why she pivoted from opera singing to a career in acting, and what it was like to work with Eddie Murphy in “Dolemite Is My Name.”

Today, we can’t stop watching James Corden, the host of “The Late Late Show” on CBS. Corden discusses turning his garage into a makeshift studio set, how the pandemic might help people be more honest about how they’re feeling, and the future of "Carpool Karaoke," a recurring segment on his show.

Today, we can’t stop watching Penn Badgley, who plays Joe Goldberg, the obsessive and murderous main character in the Netflix thriller “You.” Badgley talks about how he gets into the right mindset to play a cold-blooded killer. He also shares his response to allegations of sexual improprieties leveled by several women at Chris D’Elia, who played Henderson on “You.”

Today, we can’t stop watching J.B. Smoove, who plays Leon Black on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He talks about comedy in the age of coronavirus and what it’s like working alongside Larry David. Smoove also shares thoughtful and personal insights into race in America right now.

Today, we can’t stop watching Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Tom Wambsgans, the awkward yet sympathetic husband of Shiv Roy, on HBO’s “Succession.” Macfadyen takes us behind the scenes of shooting the congressional hearing meltdown and stealing chicken from Logan Roy’s plate on the show. Plus, we hear about Macfadyen’s role on “Quiz,” the AMC mini-series about a couple who attempted to cheat on the British version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.”

Today, we can’t stop watching Jason Segel, who plays Peter in “Dispatches From Elsewhere” on AMC. Segal gives us the backstory behind his new show’s unique season finale, how he got his start on the 1999 series “Freaks and Geeks,” and what he took for granted in "How I Met Your Mother."

Today, we can’t stop watching Jim Parsons, who plays the closeted talent agent Henry Willson on the Netflix drama “Hollywood.” Parsons talks to us about what drew him to the role of Willson after wrapping up work on “The Big Bang Theory,” the shows he’s been enjoying in quarantine, and what he learned from watching TV growing up in Houston.

Today, we can’t stop watching Nick Braun, who plays Greg Hirsch, a.k.a. “Cousin Greg,” on HBO’s “Succession.” Braun fills us in on how the show changed his life, which popular nickname from “Succession” he gets called the most, and why he thinks his character stands by the unlikable Roy family. Plus, Braun gives us a live performance of the punk rock antibody song he made up during quarantine.

Today, we can’t stop watching Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who plays Hannah Shoenfeld on the Apple TV Plus series, “The Morning Show.” Mbatha-Raw discusses what it was like to shoot those emotional scenes from the tragic finale, working with an intimacy coordinator and portraying sexual assault onscreen.