Magnificent Jerk
4.9/5
Critic Rating
On the last day of her grandmother’s life, journalist Maya Lin Sugarman finds a box of forgotten screenplays that sets her on a journey to uncover the truth about their author: her late uncle, Galen. She discovers that he was a leader of a Chinese gang, that he went to jail, and, in a final twist, that he poured his life story into a screenplay that was turned into a ’90s Hollywood action movie…starring Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, and Ice-T.Magnificent Jerk is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Pineapple Street Studios. Listen and follow on Apple Podcasts.apple...
Critic Reviews
Score: 4.5
Giacomo Bagni • Orecchiabile Newsletter • Nov 3, 2023
"Per come ve lo ho raccontato fin qui, Magnificent Jerk sembra uno dei tanti podcast che prendono una storia interessante e, invece di condensarla in una quarantina di minuti, la stirano su sei o sette puntate senza particolari invenzioni narrative o sonore che ne giustifichino la durata. Ed in effetti è così. Nell’ultimo episodio però succede una di quelle cose per cui qui si ama l’audio. /// Magnificent Jerk seems like one of the many podcasts that take an interesting story and, instead of condensing it into about forty minutes, stretch it out over six or seven episodes without any particular narrative or sound inventions that justify its duration . And in fact it is so. In the last episode, however, one of those things happens that makes us love the audio here."
Score: 5
The Crime Writers Squad • Crime Writers On • Oct 25, 2023
"While the stakes aren't that high, the panel generally enjoyed the podcast. Maya's exploration into Galen's gangland past was surprising, but not explosive. And the reasons for the movie's whitewash were both predictable and pedestrian. "Magnificent Jerk" left food for thought about identity, creativity, family, and objective truths."
Score: 5
PR Staff • PodcastReview.org • Oct 4, 2023
"...a compelling, personal twist. Magnificent Jerk proves that most never make it without compromise. …"
Score: 5
Sarah Larson • New Yorker • Sep 29, 2023
"...singularly amazing premise...it’s become a moving rumination on why we keep family secrets, and what we choose to hide."
Score: 5
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian • Sep 15, 2023
"...turns out to be surprisingly moving..."
