The Treatment

In the past decade, comedian Aziz Ansari has proven himself to be a true multi-hyphenate. After finishing up his run as Tom Haverford on the comedy series 'Parks and Recreation,' Ansari created and starred in the Netflix series 'Master of None,' for which he won two Emmys and a Golden Globe. He directed his first feature, 2025’s 'Good Fortune,' starring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogan. And he has continued touring, putting out comedy specials, including 'Aziz Ansari: Right Now' and 'Buried Alive.' He continues to hone his standup chops on his latest 'Hypothetical Tour,' which will be filmed for a Netflix special on October 29 in New Brunswick, New Jersey at the State Theater.

Ansari shares why he’s talking more about his aging parents in his comedy; how it felt to direct his first feature film, and how the television industry has changed since 'Master of None' premiered.

Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s summer blockbuster, 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day,' takes on the Marvel Universe through the lens of family, lost and perhaps found. For his treat, Cretton recommends a book that connected him to a close relative just before he passed away.

Longtime creative collaborators John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein like to play with audience expectations around what their films’ actors will bring to the table. Their partnership began with co-writing the screenplay for the audacious comedy 'Horrible Bosses' and progressed to co-directing the 2018 action comedy 'Game Night' and 2023’s 'Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.' Their latest project is the Apple TV film 'Mayday,' starring Ryan Reynolds as a stranded US Navy pilot in Russian territory and Kenneth Branagh as an ex-KGB agent who discovers him.

Daley and Goldstein discuss their collaborative writing process, why they like when actors known primarily for drama try their hand at comedy, and how the film has gotten positive reactions from audiences on both sides of the political aisle.

After multiple Emmy nominations for her portrayal of attorney Kim Wexler on the drama 'Better Call Saul,' actress Rhea Seehorn finally took home the statue last month for her starring role in the Apple TV sci-fi series 'Pluribus.' For her treat, recorded in front of a live audience, Seehorn gives a shout out to something that has been a steadfast companion for decades.

Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg are the most influential directors of their generation with iconic films including 'The Godfather,' 'Star Wars: A New Hope,' and 'Jaws.' Their catalog runs deep.

Author Paul Fischer’s book 'The Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema' tells the story of how the directors became giants in filmmaking. In the book, Fischer describes each man’s brilliance and shortcomings, presenting a human story behind their abundant talent and prolific output. Fischer tells Elvis the story behind how 'Apocalypse Now' came to Coppola, how a nearly fatal accident set Lucas on a path toward becoming a filmmaker, and how the idea of family informed each director’s approach to filmmaking.

Note: This episode originally aired on April 17, 2026