An extra special podcast this week, on Idols and Heroes

First, the great Kris Allen, champion of American Idol Season 8, stops by to talk about his new album, Thank You Camellia, the road up from Idol, the music of America's megachurches and what it has been like accepting celebrity since his stunning victory three years ago.

Then summer movie season is upon us.  We convene our roundtable of entertainment intellectuals to talk about the super-duper-sizing of Superheroes and whether the caped invasion has finally run its course.  No holds barred discussion with Jim Gibson, author Kathy Charles, and Hitfix's Geoff Berkshire.  

Plus - more thoughts on the great Hype/Backlash continuum! 

Two veteran journalists who have made careers writing about the stories others don't dare go near join us for this episode.

Mark Ebner, author of Hollywood Interrupted, chats about his years on the Scientology beat, his recent work bringing in from the cold a member of the infamous Bling Ring, and how he has managed to make a life chasing down wild stories and turned that into a career.

Next, Susannah Breslin, one of the internet's great voices visits and tells about her years covering porn valley and how she has made a career of internet writing, contributing to over 100 websites in her day.

Plus - thoughts on the LA Riots at 20!  And interstitial music!  

Two very important women from the forefront of two very important movements join the podcast today.

First up we chat with Patty Schemel, drummer for the iconic Grunge band Hole and subject of a new documentary Hit So Hard which looks at her rise to music stardom, tragic flameout and downfall that followed which led to her living on the streets trying to score drugs and the heroic road back.

Then we visit with Molly McAleer aka Molls, internet icon, writer for Two Broke Girls and co-founder of the internet sensastion Hello Giggles. We speak of the hype/backlash paradigm and Molls' long road to build something lasting out of internet fame. 

And as ever thoughts on the downfall of civilization on this the podcast devoted to the decline and the fall of our culture. 

From pets to hype on this week's podcast.

First we chat with Anna David, relationship and sex advisor and author of a new Amazon single, Animal Attraction on a single lady's relationship with the cats in her life.

Then we convene our panel of entertainment intellectuals to discuss the latest in a high flying TV season, for good and ill.  TV Guide.com's Denise Martin, Esquire columnist Stacey Grenrock Woods and entertainment genius Jim Gibson, discuss Girls - the raves, the hypes, the backlash and the counterbacklash, Mad Men, Suburgatory, The New Girl, Community and everything the world's abuzz about on the airwaves. 

An omnibus mega-episode featuring three guests from across the spectrum of the fall of civilization.

First author Neal Pollack joins to discuss his new novel Jewball, a 1930's hard boiled thriller set in the razor-sharp elbows world of depression era Jewish basketball leagues.

Gawker writer Hamilton Nolan pops in to chat about his visit to a national rally of the Ku Klux Klan

And then we are joined by one of the stars of the Bravo show Shahs of Sunset, Mercedes "MJ" Javid talks about embracing life as a reality star and national role model.

Plus deep thoughts, interstitial music and hating on Titanic!

An interview with Duncan Roy, an independent film director whose life was plunged into a nightmare out of Kafka when a bureaucratic glitch led him to be imprisoned for three months in LA County's Men central jail, with no explanation of why he was being held or to whom he could appeal.

On the streets again now, he shares his horrific tale.

It's mid-century a go go here on the podcast of the decline of civilization as we talk of Mad Men and of James Brown.

First we talk with RJ Smith, author of The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, the new critically celebrated definitive biography of the Godfather of soul music.  We speak of his journey putting together the life of James Brown and how Brown

Then we speak with the bravest panel ever assembled on the internet: two entertainment experts who do not like Mad Men. Author Kathy Charles, and blogger Emily Yoshida discuss how the hype on the most beloved show by media in history leaves them nothing but cold.

And reflections on the nature of truth amidst the collapse of civilization.  

We talk of entertainment disasters and the foodie Tower of Babble with our guests this week.

First, our roundtable of entertainment intellectuals look at why, with all the money and expertise in Hollywood, do things so often come out so bad. We hash out the case study of Smash with our guests Rushfield Babylon stalwart Jim Gibson and TVguide.com's Executive Editor Denise Martin.

Then we take a visit into the farthest reaches of foodie culture with the co-inventor of the McNuggetini Alie Ward, co-host of the Cooking Network's Unique Sweets show, and expert in food exotic.  We discuss her journey as a viral food sensation, the annoyingness of Foodies and whether carrot cake is a dessert.

And as, ever, big thoughts about the collapse of civilization from your host, Richard Rushfield, editor of RushfieldBabylon.com.

This week we look at the secret world of American Idol and the importance of singing competitions in the fabric of our society.  Our guests from across the vast spectrum of Idoldom:

• Jim Cantiello: Veteran Idol chronicler for MTV and backstage correspondent of the XFactor.

• Ashley Ferl: American Idol's famed Crying Girl, now a grown up Crying Woman. 

• Leesa Bellesi: The stunning tale of the founder of AI Ministries, which has served the needs of a scores of Idol contestants and their families.

Plus: profound thoughts and interstitial music!

We discuss the woes and joys of Oscar night with a distinguised panel of experts, featuring Emily Yoshida, Jon Bronson and veteran observer Jim Gibson.

We debate the merits of Cirque, the stupendous journey of Angelina Jolie's leg, the perils of Billy Crystal and whether anything can be done to save this darn show.  Join us for this very extra-special episode.