Episode Details

John and Craig look at three tales of lies, betrayal and deceit and ask, How Would This be a Movie? Stories include a flamboyant show-business grifter, a sibling rivalry between two LA billboard queens, and American students tricked into attending a fake Oxford college.

We also follow up on audio dramas, last looks, and answer listener questions on a suspicious AI story and what do do with producers that are too keen.

In our bonus segment for premium members, how do you watch TV when you're away from home, particularly overseas? We share the joys and frustrations of tuning in while you're on the road.

Links:

• Preorder a signed copy of the Scriptnotes book!
• The Many Faces Of "Sir" Marco Robinson, The Man Who Grifted Aspiring Filmmakers With Claims About Being A "#2 Netflix" Producer by Jake Kanter for Deadline
• Trailer for Marco Robinson's TV show Get a House for Free
• Meet the Sisters Battling to Become L.A.'s New Billboard Queen by Mickey Rapkin for The Hollywood Reporter
• Dynasty (1981)
• Rica Famosa Latina on YouTube
• Fake Oxford by Josh Levin for Slate
• Fawlty Towers and Father Ted
• 'Run It Through GPT-5': The Phrase Changing Hollywood Overnight by Erik Barmack for The Ankler
• Sydney, Australia
• Ghost of Yōtei
• Preorder the Scriptnotes Book!
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Become a Scriptnotes Premium member, or gift a subscription (now with fewer emails!)
• Subscribe to Scriptnotes on YouTube
• Scriptnotes on Instagram
• John August on Bluesky and Instagram
• Outro by Jeff Ross (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Drew Marquardt and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.