THIS WEEK’S BANTER

In a shocking turn of events, the New York State Appeals Court has overturned Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction. What led to this ruling? What does this mean for the current state of the #MeToo movement? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni investigate. 

What’s going on? Similar to the overturning of Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction, The New York State Court of Appeals ruled that a new Weinstein trial must take place, citing that “allegations of prior bad acts may not be admitted against them for the sole purpose of establishing their propensity for criminality.” 

“That is very interesting because we've seen these judges in a post-#MeToo environment allow more women to come forward and tell their stories, and essentially, in perhaps the two highest-profile criminal cases of the #MeToo era, those have now been overturned because of this willingness to let women testify,” Belloni explains. 

What about Weinstein’s LA trial? With the overturning of the New York conviction, eyes are on the California Supreme Court’s decision following a Los Angeles trial that led to Weinstein being found guilty of rape. “The state court judges do not have lifetime appointments, so you could make the argument that they have been swayed over the past seven to eight years by public opinion on the #MeToo issue and have been more lenient in allowing witnesses because of the culture and what's going on in the world,” Belloni says. 

Where does #MeToo go from here? The event leaves questions about the progress of the #MeToo movement. “Does this ruling set back society's reaction? Do we see people now saying, ‘Well, you know, I got #MeToo’d, but you know, this whole thing has been so unfair and overdone.’ I don't know the answer to that question. I certainly hope we don't go backward like that,” Masters says.

WATCH: Kim Masters speaks with CNN's Jake Tapper

But wait, there’s more! Get the full scoop on this week’s audio edition of The Banter.

John Lithgow goes back to school to learn the arts from students

In PBS’ Art Happens Here, actor John Lithgow goes back to high school to explore the power of arts education — dance, ceramics, silk-screen printing, and vocal jazz ensemble. Each episode focuses on a different city or region, delving into its unique cultural landscape and the artists who shape it. Lithgow stops by Press Play to discuss his travels to various locations, where he interviews local artists, curators, and community members to showcase the vibrant arts scene and its impact on the community. 

Elisabeth Moss (Un)Veiled

Elisabeth Moss enjoys playing characters who have a secret. This duality is present in many of her most well-known roles: Mad Men’s Peggy Olson, The Handmaid’s Tale’s June Osborne (aka Offred), and Top of The Lake’s Robin Griffin. Moss won her first Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in The Handmaid’s Tale, and a second as producer when it won for Outstanding Drama Series — both were for the show’s debut season in 2017. 

Her latest multifaceted role (both as actor and producer) is for FX’s new spy thriller The Veil. Moss tells The Treatment why she keeps coming back to play complex parts, how her ballet training informs her work, and why she prefers adhering to the script over improvising.

More: Margaret Atwood and Bruce Miller on The Handmaid's Tale (The Business, 2017)

Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes on his spicy Zendaya tennis drama

Playwright Justin Kuritzkes knows how lucky he is to be enjoying the rollout of his first effort at writing a movie, Luca Guadagnino’s spicy tennis romp, Challengers. 

Kuritzkes talks about how Challengers, starring Zendaya, was inspired by a particular US Open match that turned him into a tennis obsessive. He also shares how he and his wife Celine Song, known for her Oscar-nominated Past Lives, manage to keep their work separate from their relationship. And he dives into some of his quirkier creative efforts over the years.

Weekend film reviews: Challengers, Uncropped, Egoist

On deck at this cinema this weekend: Challengers, Uncropped, Egoist, and Alien (re-release). Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, serves up an intense love triangle on and off the tennis court. Uncropped follows the career of photojournalist James Hamilton, chronicling New York City over five decades. Egoist delves into a Tokyo romance complicated by societal issues, based on Makoto Takayama's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. And 45 years after its debut, Alien, the sci-fi classic by Ridley Scott is being re-released. Film critics Alsondo Duralde and Dave White weigh in.