This week, Rebecca and John are joined by VF Senior Editor Hillary Busis to answer a slew of mailbag questions. They highlight some of the more interesting below-the-line races, including cinematography and editing. They also debate if having a popular TV show can help an Oscar contender's chances, and whether "KPop Demon Hunters" has a shot at a Best Picture nod. Finally, they make their December movie picks for films that are worth catching in theaters this month.

John and Rebecca take stock of a series of star-studded Oscar contenders that are having trouble at the box office. They debate why so many indie adult dramas can't find an audience in today's marketplace, and what that might mean for their awards chances. Then, they break down the best actor race, one of the most competitive we've seen in years. And speaking of leading men, Rebecca and John are also joined by Vanity Fair's Global Editorial Director Mark Guiducci, who shares how the newly unveiled Hollywood Issue of Vanity Fair came together.

Rebecca and John go down a road less traveled on this week's Little Gold Men and discuss the Grammy Awards with Vanity Fair associate editor Daniela Tijerina and staff writer Erin Vanderhoof. They break down this year's surprisingly good nominations, the Grammy's bumpy relationship with the music industry, and the idiosyncrasies of the Recording Academy before weighing in on their hopes for performances and wins on "music's biggest night."

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Rebecca and John are joined by their VF colleague Hillary Busis to discuss the overtly political movies of the season, including One Battle After Another, A House of Dynamite, and Bugonia. Plus, they look back at how the political climate has previously affected the awards race. Finally, they discuss how stars and directors navigate the tricky task of promoting their movies when politics are front and center.

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Rebecca and John are joined by their VF colleague Chris Murphy to talk about the season’s first nominations, The Gotham Awards. They debate which awards ahead of the Oscars actually indicate true frontrunners. Plus, they pick their favorite new movies hitting theaters in November.

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Meet Wally Amos. He founded the ubiquitous Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies in 1975, turning the brand into an overnight sensation and himself into a pop-culture fixture in the 1970s and 1980s.

But there’s a darker side to Wally’s seemingly sweet story. One filled with five marriages to six women and a string of bad business decisions that led him to lose the empire he had created.

When he passed away in 2024, host Sarah Amos set out to untangle her father’s complicated past and finally face the life and legacy she had been avoiding.

New episodes every Wednesday: swap.fm/l/vf-toughcookie-feed

Rebecca and John discuss Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, which hits theaters Friday. Along with debating its awards chances, they are joined by music journalist Alan Light, who reveals why there’s been such an uptick in music biopics. Finally, John and Rebecca break down the best director race, which could be full of directors who have been long overdue for their first nominations.

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Rebecca and John recap the two biggest premieres of the New York Film Festival, Bradley Cooper's 'Is This Thing On?' and the surprise debut of Josh Safdie's 'Marty Supreme'. They also discuss Timothée Chalamet's already eccentric promotional stunts for the latter. Finally, they take a deep dive into the best actress race, which may have one clear frontrunner, but lots of spots up for grabs.

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