January 30, 2026 - Week in Review: Catherine O'Hara, music protests, and the Melania documentary
About The Episode
On this edition of The Culture Show, Jared Bowen, Lisa Simmons, and Edgar B. Herwick III go over the week’s top arts and culture headlines.
First up, Catherine O’Hara, the Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress who starred in films including Home Alone, Beetlejuice and numerous collaborations with Christopher Guest, has passed at age 71.
Then, protest music and cultural backlash. Bruce Springsteen released a new protest track taking aim at immigration raids, while the Dropkick Murphys reworked their 2005 song “Citizen CIA” into “Citizen ICE” for their upcoming album “New England Forever”. Neil Young also made a geopolitical gesture, offering free access to his music in Greenland amid rising political tensions.
The reaction to the killing of Alex Pretti has rippled across culture and sports. At Sundance, filmmakers and actors spoke out against ICE, and the NBA postponed a Minnesota Timberwolves game as players grappled with the moment—underscoring how quickly politics and culture are colliding.
Also in the headlines: the documentary “Melania” has struggled to find an audience despite a reported $75 million price tag, with some screenings selling zero tickets and one London show drawing just a single attendee.
Plus, The Museum of Fine Arts is laying off dozens of employees amid financial strain, raising questions about sustainability even at major institutions. Meanwhile, three Bob Ross paintings
Finally, it’s a week in preview, with the hosts offering their suggestions for arts and culture happenings to take in. Jared suggests “Some Like it Hot,” now onstage through February 8; Lisa Simmons is suggesting a screening of the documentary “Harm in the Water,” on February 5, and Edgar B. Herwick III offers a Kubrick film festival at the Harvard FIlm Archives.
