Hollywood Con Man

Crime Scene

Sony Music

True Crime

3.9 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 11 June 2026

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

He had the trailers. He had the real law-enforcement locations. He had photos of himself grinning beside power players in Washington. The one thing Joseph Medawar didn't have was the show — a patriotic prestige drama about the Department of Homeland Security that he raised millions to produce, and that never aired a single frame. This week, Jonathan and Cooper trace how a B-movie producer in Los Angeles turned a TV series that didn't exist into the most convincing performance of his career — and how long it took the people writing the checks to realize the only thing in production was the con itself. Subscribe to The Binge today to get this episode ad-free and unlock 60+ true crime series. Subscribe directly at GetTheBinge.com — or if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, tap "Subscribe" at the top of the show page. Follow Crime Scene on socials! Instagram: @thebingecrimescene | @thebingetruecrime TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebingecrimescene Crime Scene is hosted by Jonathan Hirsch and Cooper Moll. Instagram: @thisisjonathanhirsch | @bycoopermoll Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is all about truth, honesty and learning from life setbacks.
0:05.1	Every week I speak with inspiring guests from around the world.
0:08.6	But before those big conversations, I sometimes need help feeling calm, fresh and confident.
0:14.5	That's why I love dove, whole body deodorant.
0:17.6	It gives all day odour protection and can be used beyond underarms on your chest,
0:23.2	back, thighs, and feet. Available in spray, stick and cream with fragrances like sea mist and peony,
0:29.8	my personal favorite. Feel fresh everywhere with dove, whole-body deodorant, available at major
0:36.3	retailers in store and online.
0:38.7	A post-9-11 action drama about the Department of Homeland Security, filmed at real government agencies with real political backings, supported by some of the most powerful people in Washington.
0:53.0	The credits transitioned to a montage of flashy images and moody music,
0:58.0	the Pentagon swimming in grainy blue light.
1:01.2	The words, how do we know we're truly safe?
1:04.5	Flash on the screen.
1:06.2	Then a high-speed chase, the floor of the stock market,
1:10.1	Osama bin Laden. It looked real. Sounded real.
1:14.0	And when investors were invited to get on the ground floor, they said yes. Dozens of them.
1:19.9	The only problem was none of it was true. Welcome to crime scene, the show where we tell the
1:26.2	stories behind the world's most unforgettable crimes.
1:29.4	This week on the show, the story of Joseph Medawar, the B-movie producer who turned a classic Hollywood hustle into the blockbuster grift of a lifetime.
1:40.3	From Sony Podcasts and The Binge, this is the story of the Hollywood con man.
1:52.6	Hey, y'all, welcome to crime scene. My name is Jonathan Hirsch. And each week over three acts,
1:59.0	we will dive into the most shocking and complex true crime stories of our era. And each week over three acts, we will dive into the most shocking and complex true crime stories of our era.
	...

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