From KCRW, I'm Kim Masters, and this is the business.

Today we talk to two iconic talents, Rob Reiner and Albert Brooks.

Reiner's latest film, the HBO documentary, Albert Brooks, Defending My Life, celebrates the brilliant career of his longtime friend.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Brooks acknowledges that the business has changed a lot over the years in ways that might have stopped him before he got started.

Thinking of my early movies, I would never pass the algorithm.

It had to be one person who looked me in the eye and said, damn it, you're funny, go do it. And you know,

that was the end of it. Between them, Reiner and Brooks have about 100 years of experience in many

facets of Hollywood. We talked about their early years in the industry, and then what happened.

But first we banter. Stick around. It's the business from KCRW.

I am joined by my associate and banter. Matt Bellany. Hello, Matt.

Hi there.

So I cannot believe this, but we are going to talk about Paramount some more.

As of Sunday night, I think Jeff Shell, who is part of the group associated with the Skydance bid for Paramount,

was telling people that the deal was done.

It was finished.

And that last...

They had a press release.

They were ready to roll.

And then Shari Redstone said, I don't think so.

And this deal, I will note, I'm going to do my little victory dance. Maybe I will have to undo it at some point. But months ago, you will remember that I

expressed skepticism that this deal would ever close. And it looks like that was a really decent bet.

It was an informed guess. Let's put it that way.

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