Leila
@leilajordan.bsky.social
writer (ancient cuneiform) sentences at the la times, indiewire, av club, paste, fox, the wrap, gold derby. "a propagandist, a tremendous hater, and a tiresome nag"
I've been having a lot of feelings about the changes at Paste Magazine the past few days. So, in true Leila fashion, I wrote 2.5k words about it. You can read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/leilajor...
open.substack.com/pub/leilajor...
"I love this idea, go for it:" an ode to the Paste Magazine I knew
With the announcement that Paste Media is pivoting away from most its verticals except Music for its flagship magazine, I'm paying tribute to the website that gave me a career
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I've been having a lot of feelings about the changes at Paste Magazine the past few days. So, in true Leila fashion, I wrote 2.5k words about it. You can read it here:
open.substack.com/pub/leilajor...
open.substack.com/pub/leilajor...
feeling a lot of sad feelings about this. I started my journalism career as a tv intern at paste. over the last 4 years I’ve worked with such great editors who let me write articles about tv film and comedy that wouldn’t be published anywhere else. I wouldn’t have a career if not for those bylines.
Today, Paste Magazine shuttered all its non-music verticals, a choice I am both professionally and personally heartbroken about. Sadly, I am once again looking for a place that wants to let me write about Books and TV on the regular, so hit me up if that’s you or anyone you know.
November 17, 2025 at 7:43 PM
feeling a lot of sad feelings about this. I started my journalism career as a tv intern at paste. over the last 4 years I’ve worked with such great editors who let me write articles about tv film and comedy that wouldn’t be published anywhere else. I wouldn’t have a career if not for those bylines.
did death by lightning get half its money stolen. why is so much of the story missing
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 AM
did death by lightning get half its money stolen. why is so much of the story missing
also crazy thing I got nominated for two national arts & entertainment journalism awards!! thank you to my amazing editors @jacoboller.bsky.social and Ryan Lattanzio and everyone who reads my work it actually means the world to me :)
November 7, 2025 at 9:45 PM
also crazy thing I got nominated for two national arts & entertainment journalism awards!! thank you to my amazing editors @jacoboller.bsky.social and Ryan Lattanzio and everyone who reads my work it actually means the world to me :)
forgot to post this but I made my ankler debut interviewing junior paramount employees about their experiences as the boots on the ground workers in the wake of a mega merger and massive layoffs. theankler.com/p/the-paramo...
The Paramount–Skydance Merger, Through the Eyes of the Lowest Rung
A former page interviews others about Oracle VIP tours, layoff trauma and the pressure of an $8 billion deal while making $100 a day
theankler.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
forgot to post this but I made my ankler debut interviewing junior paramount employees about their experiences as the boots on the ground workers in the wake of a mega merger and massive layoffs. theankler.com/p/the-paramo...
I too have seen one battle after another and while it is not the next great american epic or on the same level of other pta films like some have been saying, it’s a very good movie with a fascinating message about contemporary politics and what we lose in our pursuit of revolution. also funny!
September 17, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I too have seen one battle after another and while it is not the next great american epic or on the same level of other pta films like some have been saying, it’s a very good movie with a fascinating message about contemporary politics and what we lose in our pursuit of revolution. also funny!
the world’s #1 Emmy’s enjoyer has logged on. and I’m back at paste for the fifth(!) year recounting hollywood’s biggest night. read my recap of last night’s mixed bag show here: www.pastemagazine.com/tv/emmys/emm...
2025 Emmy Awards Roundup: The Good, the Bad, and the Why?
The 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards delivered some well-deserved wins, shocking upsets, and thoughts on the future of the industry.
www.pastemagazine.com
September 15, 2025 at 9:05 PM
the world’s #1 Emmy’s enjoyer has logged on. and I’m back at paste for the fifth(!) year recounting hollywood’s biggest night. read my recap of last night’s mixed bag show here: www.pastemagazine.com/tv/emmys/emm...
yesterday larry ellison became the richest man in the world and today it comes out his son’s new media conglomerate is trying to buy warner bros. capitalism is so predictable
September 12, 2025 at 4:48 AM
yesterday larry ellison became the richest man in the world and today it comes out his son’s new media conglomerate is trying to buy warner bros. capitalism is so predictable
max richter oscar nom finally happening this year for hamnet I’m putting all my chips in right now
September 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
max richter oscar nom finally happening this year for hamnet I’m putting all my chips in right now
I spoke to the filmmakers behind Gore, one of the highest profile films never released, to learn the story behind the cancelled Netflix film. This is an article three years in the making for me, read it here: www.indiewire.com/features/int...
Netflix Canceled the Release of a Gore Vidal Biopic Eight Years Ago — for the Filmmakers, the Story Isn’t Over
An oral history of what went on behind the scenes of a canceled Gore Vidal biopic at Netflix, one that starred Kevin Spacey.
www.indiewire.com
June 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I spoke to the filmmakers behind Gore, one of the highest profile films never released, to learn the story behind the cancelled Netflix film. This is an article three years in the making for me, read it here: www.indiewire.com/features/int...
I ranked alex garland’s films which had the easiest pick for number 1 www.pastemagazine.com/movies/alex-...
Alex Garland’s Films as a Writer, Ranked
Whether reinventing zombie fiction or disturbing sci-fi, Alex Garland has produced some of the most memorable stories of the last 20 years.
www.pastemagazine.com
June 17, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I ranked alex garland’s films which had the easiest pick for number 1 www.pastemagazine.com/movies/alex-...
I have an article I started working on almost 3 years ago coming out later this week and I start a job at my dream organization to work for next week !!! life is going crazy time !!!
June 17, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I have an article I started working on almost 3 years ago coming out later this week and I start a job at my dream organization to work for next week !!! life is going crazy time !!!
just received the most insane pr email subject line of my life
May 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
just received the most insane pr email subject line of my life
predicting now the nominees for best podcast at the golden globes will be: celebrity vanity project, film history pod, important journalism, comedy pod that has 2 and half controversial episodes, and joe rogan
May 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
predicting now the nominees for best podcast at the golden globes will be: celebrity vanity project, film history pod, important journalism, comedy pod that has 2 and half controversial episodes, and joe rogan
I interviewed brett goldstein for the LA Times and talked puppets, the LA comedy scene, and his eventual retirement gig www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Inspired by 'Sesame Street,' Brett Goldstein combines puppets and stand-up in HBO special 'Second Best Night of Your Life'
The comedian, who starred in "Ted Lasso" and co-created "Shrinking," explains how “The Second Best Night of Your Life” came to be a puppet-filled ode to American stand-up specials.
www.latimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I interviewed brett goldstein for the LA Times and talked puppets, the LA comedy scene, and his eventual retirement gig www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
I'm back in the LA times, this time talking to comedian morgan jay. you can read it here ! www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Morgan Jay is giving his audience the musical sex comedy they want (and an auto-tuned microphone)
Jay rose to popularity for his use of an auto-tuned microphone in his performances and audience-participation segments that went viral on TikTok. Now he’s in the middle of a U.S. and international tou...
www.latimes.com
April 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I'm back in the LA times, this time talking to comedian morgan jay. you can read it here ! www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
making cinema con the week of april fool’s day was a very funny and evil move. I had to withhold my excitement about now you see me 4 so I wouldn’t feel duped
April 1, 2025 at 7:19 PM
making cinema con the week of april fool’s day was a very funny and evil move. I had to withhold my excitement about now you see me 4 so I wouldn’t feel duped
jennifer salke stepping down + getting full control of james bond is revealing some really facinating inner workings at amazon mgm. especially with legacy titles like the boys and bosch ending, they're seemingly phasing into their third content startegy since its inception
March 27, 2025 at 9:37 PM
jennifer salke stepping down + getting full control of james bond is revealing some really facinating inner workings at amazon mgm. especially with legacy titles like the boys and bosch ending, they're seemingly phasing into their third content startegy since its inception
the big issue I have with severence and a lot of other streaming shows (esp marvel shows) is they have no ability to maintain a b- or c-plot. last few episodes really confirmed this. think about how much happens on a procedural vs. the last two severence eps. everything is a-plot loaded
March 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
the big issue I have with severence and a lot of other streaming shows (esp marvel shows) is they have no ability to maintain a b- or c-plot. last few episodes really confirmed this. think about how much happens on a procedural vs. the last two severence eps. everything is a-plot loaded
I used to work at niantic and while they let me do pretty advanced stuff for being a random 19 yr old it also uhh made me never want to work in video games again. after laying off their entire LA office a few years ago, this is just another blow
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
‘Pokémon Go’ Studio Niantic Sold in $3.5B Deal to Mobile Gaming Giant Scopely
Niantic will sell its gaming business to Scopely, including 'Pokémon Go' and 'Pikmin Bloom,' in a deal that transforms the mobile gaming landscape.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
March 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
I used to work at niantic and while they let me do pretty advanced stuff for being a random 19 yr old it also uhh made me never want to work in video games again. after laying off their entire LA office a few years ago, this is just another blow
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/dig...
adrien brody talking forever overshadowed the fact that with his oscar win, for the first time in history peaky blinders actors have won best actor in a row
March 4, 2025 at 7:53 PM
adrien brody talking forever overshadowed the fact that with his oscar win, for the first time in history peaky blinders actors have won best actor in a row
ahead of it winning the oscar tomorrow I'm gonna say that the score for the brutalist is an absolute masterwork. it carries the weight of making the film feel like an epic and is an exemplary depiction of how to combine classic composure and experimental sounds with a simple and timeless motif
March 2, 2025 at 6:50 AM
ahead of it winning the oscar tomorrow I'm gonna say that the score for the brutalist is an absolute masterwork. it carries the weight of making the film feel like an epic and is an exemplary depiction of how to combine classic composure and experimental sounds with a simple and timeless motif
Reposted by Leila
very nice piece from @leilajordan.bsky.social, with quotes from @gustavoarellano.bsky.social, unpacking the whole Emilia Pérez x Academy of it all.
Ft. the Mexican parody musical "Johanne Sacreblu"
Ft. the Mexican parody musical "Johanne Sacreblu"
The messy Oscar race reveals what actually matters to voters.
The awards story of Emilia Pérez illuminates Hollywood’s fragile politics
Emilia Pérez and its awards race is a transparent case study of the way Hollywood's politics collide with the politics of audiences.
www.avclub.com
February 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
very nice piece from @leilajordan.bsky.social, with quotes from @gustavoarellano.bsky.social, unpacking the whole Emilia Pérez x Academy of it all.
Ft. the Mexican parody musical "Johanne Sacreblu"
Ft. the Mexican parody musical "Johanne Sacreblu"
I profiled ben schwartz for the LA Times and had a great time chatting about improv, voice acting, jack lemmon (which sadly didn't make the final cut), and everything inbetween. you can read it here: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Ben Schwartz is one of the busiest men in comedy. But he doesn't let it show
From a starring voiceover role in 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3' to his new improv show at Largo, Schwartz's work shows the importance of making up his own idea of success as he goes along.
www.latimes.com
December 29, 2024 at 1:18 AM
I profiled ben schwartz for the LA Times and had a great time chatting about improv, voice acting, jack lemmon (which sadly didn't make the final cut), and everything inbetween. you can read it here: www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
in very crazy news I made my la times debut the other day talking about amazon's pilot season program and the alternate history of streaming:
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
Commentary: 10 years ago, Amazon tried to reinvent TV pilots. Its failure foretold our streaming fut...
The rise and fall of Amazon Prime Video's Pilot Season initiative, launched in 2013, is a useful microcosm for understanding the evolution of streaming.
www.latimes.com
January 1, 2024 at 12:49 AM
in very crazy news I made my la times debut the other day talking about amazon's pilot season program and the alternate history of streaming:
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
www.latimes.com/entertainmen...