Entertainment expert Tanya Rad has been seen on ‘On Air With Ryan Seacrest’ and on the award-winning ‘Scrubbing In’ podcast. Spotlight sat down with Rad to hear all about the movies and TV shows she’s loving this fall!
We have seen you on ‘On Air With Ryan Seacrest’ and the ‘Scrubbing In’ podcast. Where did your love for entertainment begin?
I have very vivid memories of listening to 102.7 KIISFM, recording my favorite songs on my
tape, and calling in to win concert tickets. The fact that I’m working at this very place I used to
fangirl over as a teenager feels very meta.
I remember getting home from middle school, making myself a grilled cheese sandwich,
and plopping myself in front of the TV to watch Total Request Live (TRL for those
that remember). I would never miss a day. I lived for that show!
When I look back on my journey to get to where I am today, I definitely did not take the straight
and narrow. My path had hills, and bumps, and potholes, long detours. But at the
end of the day, I truly believe I ended up where I belong and I’m grateful none of it was handed
to me.
How were you able to turn your passion for entertainment into your full-time career?
I got my Journalism degree from The University of Arizona and wasn’t sure where it would
take me. I always thought I would be a writer or reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine—turns out
my purpose was just slightly adjacent to that.
What advice would you give to others looking to get their start in the entertainment industry?
Use social media to your advantage! I used to have to figure out people’s names, positions, and addresses to send in my resumes. I did something pretty interesting when I was first starting out in the industry.
I bought a ton of baby shoes from Payless and covered them with words/adjectives that described the type of employee I would be—driven, hard-working, proactive, innovative, accountable—and I wrapped it with a bow and attached my business card. I sent these baby shoes all over Los Angeles just trying to “get my foot in the door” as I wrote on the cards! Being creative will set you apart from the rest, and now with social media you have so much at your fingertips, use it!
What was your most anticipated movie or TV launch of 2024? Tell us why.
Wicked has to be the most anticipated movie of 2024. The movie adaptation was originally announced in 2016, so it’s been a long time coming! Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have really been putting in the work to promote this movie. Wicked is such a beloved story and prequel to The Wizard of Oz that tells a story about an unlikely friendship I believe the themes of acceptance and friendship are very much needed
right now.
John M. Chu is directing that is reason enough right there! Let’s also not forget all the scuttle when Ethan Slater joined the Wicked cast and became Ariana Grande’s new boyfriend. Those two left the pop culture world with so many questions!
What shows are you binging right now?
I just finished Love Is Blind UK and talk about a great season. I was invested; there was tons of drama,
but at the same time, there is something about the UK versions of TV shows I find so heartwarming.
At the reunion, there was a lot of tension and drama to unpack, but it felt like the women didn’t come after each other (for the most part). They rise above that narrative of two women fighting over a man. If you love dating reality shows definitely give Love Is Blind UK a watch.
I also just started season four of Only Murderers in the Building and I’m already obsessed! But, my ultimate binge for the past year (or so) has been Survivor! I know I’m super late to this party but the amount of seasons of Survivor I have been able to binge over the last year and a half is truly remarkable! I absolutely love this show. The new season (season 47) is starting on Sept 18th and I have the date marked in my calendar!
The most recent season of Love Island USA became a pop-culture phenomenon. Why do you think this particular season got the reaction it did?
I was a Love Island USA hater for as long as I can remember. I was strictly a Love Island UK girly and vowed I would never watch the USA version—until this season! I think it was a combination of two things at play. First, this season of Love Island UK was extremely boring. I found myself getting bored just after the first few episodes (when I’m normally hooked).
People kept telling me to watch USA and so I caved—and boy, was I glad I did! The cast for this season of Love Island USA was unparalleled. It was a perfect combination of love, drama, friendship, and scandal.
I have to say, the recoupling episode after Casa Amor was one of the best TV episodes I have ever seen in my lifetime!
What are your go-to fall movies?
I have 3 movies on heavy rotation every single fall.
1) Hocus Pocus: It’s not officially fall until that movie has been watched in my
household at least 5 times! It’s both nostalgic and modern—I just love it so much.
2) The Nightmare Before Christmas: This is a very polarizing movie. Some people love
it and some hate it, but I personally can’t get enough! I watch it during both Halloween and
Christmastime.
3) Beetlejuice: It’s an absolute Halloween staple!
Lastly, this movie is back in rotation for me thanks to Sabrina Carpenter. It is from 1992 “Death Becomes Her.” Sabrina Carpenter paid homage to this 1992 movie in her new music video for “Taste” and it made me remember how much I absolutely loved this Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn classic! If you haven’t seen it, it’s on Amazon Prime Video or you can rent it for $3.99 on Apple TV.
