New York, New York with Lin-Manuel Miranda

Blank Check hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims welcome Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Broadway legend and newly minted Disney Legend, to discuss Martin Scorsese's 1977 film "New York, New York." The episode explores what the hosts frame as possibly Scorsese's biggest creative misstep—a musical drama centered on cocaine use, unchecked ambition, and the troubled production that included a misguided attempt to get Liza Minnelli to improvise. The conversation celebrates Robert De Niro's commitment to the role, including learning saxophone for the part. Given Miranda's Broadway credentials, the episode leans heavily into musical theater discussion, with particular emphasis on composer John Kander's contributions to the film's score. The show notes reference multiple supplementary materials including Scorsese's response to John Mulaney's comedy bit about the film, a documentary about Kander and Fred Ebb's songwriting partnership, and Miranda's book "Gmorning, Gnight!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You." The episode appears designed to leverage Miranda's expertise in musical theater to reexamine a Scorsese film that sits awkwardly in his filmography—neither a critical nor commercial success, yet featuring significant craft achievements. The hosts promise "lots of Broadway talk" and give "props to the 'Homie John Kander," suggesting the conversation will balance film criticism with musical theater history and appreciation. At just over two hours, the episode has room for deep-dive discussion of the film's production, its place in Scorsese's career, and broader themes about artistic ambition and failure. The episode capitalizes on Miranda's unique position as someone who understands both Scorsese's cinematic ambitions and the Broadway musical tradition that influenced "New York, New York."

Verdict: A well-matched guest and focused subject matter promise engaging film criticism with genuine musical theater insight, though the episode's actual depth and entertainment value remain unverifiable from show notes alone.

TV & Film rubric

• Critical insight 3/5 20%

  Show notes promise analysis of Scorsese's 'bounce' and the film's troubled production, suggesting substantive criticism beyond plot recap, though depth cannot be verified from notes alone.

• Behind-the-scenes knowledge 4/5 20%

  Lin-Manuel Miranda's Broadway expertise and insider status as a Disney Legend provides genuine access to musical theater craft; references to production details (De Niro learning saxophone, Minnelli improv attempts) suggest behind-the-scene

• Entertainment 3/5 15%

  The pairing of Miranda with Blank Check's established hosts and the film's notorious reputation suggests entertaining conversation, though the show notes don't provide specific evidence of humor or liveliness.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Two-hour runtime with a focused guest and specific film allows for substantial content; references to supplementary materials (documentaries, books) suggest layered discussion, but show notes don't detail the actual depth of conversation.

• Delivers on its title 5/5 15%

  Episode title and description directly promise discussion of 'New York, New York' with Lin-Manuel Miranda, and all show notes content centers on this film and guest.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  Two-hour episode with a compelling guest and focused subject matter should justify its length, though pacing cannot be assessed from notes alone.

How we score TV & Film

Worth it if you're a Blank Check regular, interested in Scorsese's misfires, or curious about how Broadway expertise illuminates film history.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.