Objection! You're Fiction

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction!, Lee Bergstein and Jamie Kleidman are joined by Kivonshe Williams, founder and editor of So There's That, a film and television criticism podcast and publication, to break down Episodes 3 and 4 of HBO's War.

As Morgan and Carla's increasingly contentious divorce moves toward the courtroom, the lines between right and wrong become harder to distinguish. With a £110 million settlement offer withheld from a client, questionable legal strategies, and the personal ambitions of both law firms threatening to overshadow their clients' interests, Lee, Jamie, and Kivonshe examine what happens when winning b...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction!, Lee Bergstein and Jamie Kleidman are joined by attorney John Spagna, a partner at Clayman Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder LLP, for the second installment of their HBO War recap series, breaking down Episode 2, "No More Nasty Surprises."

As Morgan and Carla's high-stakes divorce heads into mediation, a potential settlement begins to unravel amid questionable legal tactics, hidden information, and a disastrous attempt to secure a nondisclosure agreement. Drawing on John's experience handling complex family law matters, the trio examines how divorce mediation actually works, the role of financial disclosures, and...

On this episode of Objection! You’re Fiction, Lee is joined by his wife and colleague, Jamie Kleidman, for the first installment in a new series breaking down HBO’s War, a drama centered on a high-profile divorce, a contested prenup, and two law firms racing to control the narrative.

Lee and Jamie recap the pilot episode and unpack the legal issues at the heart of the show, including whether a staged affair photo could actually matter in a divorce, how infidelity might affect a prenuptial agreement, and why the court of public opinion can be just...

On this episode of Objection! You’re Fiction, we’re joined by Stacy Spikes, co-founder and CEO of MoviePass, to explore the evolution of the movie industry—from the rise and revival of MoviePass to the future of entertainment. We break down Ryan Coogler’s headline-making Sinners deal, unpacking what creative control and ownership really look like in Hollywood, and discuss how shifting power dynamics, subscription models, and new concepts like speculative entertainment are reshaping the business of film. 

If you’re fascinated by how blockbuster deals are made, the future of Hollywood power dynamics, and the rise of pla...

On this episode of Objection! You’re Fiction, Lee Bergstein is joined by Dr. Christina Bruno, Associate Director at Fordham University’s Center for Medieval Studies. The two explore how medieval law shaped the world of Game of Thrones, and its spinoff series A Knight of Seven Kingdoms, unpacking the realities behind trial by combat, ordeals, and the powerful role of reputation in determining justice. The conversation reveals how these complex legal systems continue to echo in today’s understanding of law, power, and public perception.

If you love fantasy or are a history buff, then this p...

On this special holiday episode of Objection! You're Fiction! Lee and Brad are joined by William Booth, Managing Attorney for the Children’s Law Center of New York. Together, the trio examine the legalities of Home Alone. William breaks down what would happen to Kevin McAllister's parents for leaving him home alone (twice) and what others should have done when they ran into Kevin.

Would the authorities step in and take Kevin away? Would Kevin's neighbors be considered negligent? If you love Home Alone, then this is the podcast for you!

To find out mo...

On this episode of Objection! You’re Fiction, Michael Flynn, and Zachary Hanby are joined by nationally recognized aviation attorney and Fox Rothschild LLP partner Mark Dombroff.

In this conversation, Mark breaks down the classic holiday film Planes, Trains, and Automobiles to explore the inherent stress of airline travel, especially when traveling with children. He unpacks the many factors that amplify this stress, from arriving early and navigating security to managing delays, all layered on top of the everyday pressures people already carry.

This thoughtful look at a holiday classic—and at surviving the...

On this episode of Objection! You’re Fiction, Lee and Raquel are joined by Jason Roche, documentary filmmaker and associate professor of communication studies at the University of Detroit Mercy. Lee, Raquel, and Jason discuss the Netflix documentary ‘Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,’ which explores the themes of cyberbullying and the impact of social media on youth.

Lee, Raquel, and Jason examine the documentary’s storytelling choices, the central twist, and the characters’ motives, with particular attention to the mother’s role. The discussion also considers law enforcement’s response and the community’s involvement, closing with ref...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Lee is joined by NYC restaurant lawyer Jasmine Moy to talk about FX and Hulu's hit tv show The Bear. Like Lee, Jasmine is a massive fan of the series, and Jasmine's experience in restaurants makes her uniquely able to discuss how The Bear and all the legalities around a restaurant like The Beef/The Bear.

Lee and Jasmine discuss the partnership agreement offered to Sydney and how it would actually work when opening a restaurant, as well as the legal risks of Camry taking over the business from...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Lee and Raquel sat down with Teddy Coluca, who plays Lester the Doorman in the hit Hulu show Only Murders In The Building. Teddy talked about how he got the role of Lester, how Lester interacted with the main Only Murders crew and how next season will shake out for Teddy. Teddy even teased a few exciting tidbits for season 5! We also discussed some fun stories from Teddy's acting career, "No one has played more New York cabbies than me."

If you're an Only Murders In The Building fan...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, we talk with Stephen Barth, The Hospitality Lawyer, about the wild world of The White Lotus! Stephen has had years of hospitality risk management, legal compliance and training professionals on the hospitality industry.

“Everyone is normal until they go to a hotel.” Stephen, Lee and Brad break down the law surrounding the hospitality industry, and how Stephen might improve on the lax management and security of The White Lotus.

This is a deep dive into how competent hotels and resorts are managed, framed in the context of Th...

On today’s episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Lee takes a detour from the standard dystopia of contracts and closings to the exciting dystopia of Lumon and Kier, with entertainment attorney Scott Hervey of Weintraub Tobin. Scott’s one of the legal minds working with Apple TV+ , publishers of the hit Severance. Together, they dive deep into the many legal and ethical questions the show raises.

From employment contracts that would make any HR department sweat to IP ownership issues (what happens when your innie invents something brilliant?), Lee and Scott explore what Severance might look like...

On this week's episode we talk with Meredith Scott Lynn, who has been playing lawyers on TV and movies for over 20 years. You may recognize her from her role as Enid Wexler in Legally Blonde, and her portrayal of Leslie Abramson in Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills. We learn all about how an actor gets prepared for the roles of both fresh and seasoned attorneys, and even pitch a Legally Blonde reboot!

We also got a chance to dive into her work as the founder of WRITE BRAIN BOOKS, a creative literacy program helping kids...

On today's exciting episode of Objection! You're Fiction we try to get inside the mind of the man who molded the president through the eyes of his assistant. We got a chance to speak with "The Apprentice" actor Ben Sullivan, who played Roy Cohn's assistant and lover Russell Eldridge, about his experience working on the controversial biopic of Donald Trump and Roy Cohn.

This is a movie that is one part drama, one part biography, and 3 parts character study. We get to hear from Ben about how each of these characters, and the real men they're...

BFKP Law Office is excited to present a crossover episode with our other show, "Closed! NYC's Real Estate Podcast" our interview with the cast of Owning Manhattan, the hit peek behind the curtain into the fast paced world of Serhant Real Estate. Come check out our intersection between legal TV and real estate experience just in time for the announcement of Season 2 on Netflix!

Lee and Mike headed down to the Serhant office in Soho for a roundtable conversation with Jordan March, Tricia Lee, Jade Shenker, Jeffrey St. Arromand, and Genesis Suero. In our wide-ranging discussion...

On this week's episode of Objection! You're Fiction, we talk to Adam Pollock of Pollock Cohen LLP about the Oscar nominated 2007 legal thriller Michael Clayton.

Adam is an experienced litigator in criminal and civil law, and he lends his expertise on the profession to shed light on the moral and professional dilemmas facing Clooney's lead character. How much is realistic and how much is Hollywood drama?

You can learn more about Adam and his work at Pollock Cohen LLP at www.pollockcohen.com

And to learn more about all things...

On today's episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Lee and Brad sit down with lawyer turned actor Paul Blumenthal to discuss his role as Robert Durst in The Jinx Part 2, following the aftermath of Durst's notorious murder confession in 2015's hit documentary The Jinx.

We chat about Paul's journey from solo practitioner to the screen, and the difficulties of embodying the persona and manner of The Jinx's unusual subject without saying a word. We also get the unique perspective of an accomplished lawyer on the intricacies of the real-life murder trial and appeal of Robert Durst, gaining...

On today's episode of Objection! You're Fiction we interview the improv mastermind behind fan-favorite character Todd of Jury Duty.

Jury Duty took the world by storm last year on FreeVee, and David Brown delighted fans and participants alike with his portrayal of the socially awkward, bio-modification obsessed Todd.

We get insight into the cast (jury?) selection process, the preparation everyone went through to walk the tightrope of realism and comedy, and just how tricky it is to remain in-character through days of simulated tedium.

So pull up some chair-pants, and...

On this exciting episode of "Objection! You're Fiction" Lee and Mike sit down to chat with our good friend David Slarskey to take a look behind the curtain at the Mel Brooks masterpiece "The Producers" (1967).

This sidesplitting comedy is the oldest film we've looked at so far, and deserves to be remembered as ahead of its (spring)time. David is both a playwright and fellow lawyer who helps us break down the many defrauded investors and arson attempts as bumbling buffoons Bialystock and Bloom break laws and moral codes in search of the elusive greatest flop...

March Madness BFKP style! The official OYF Selection committee discusses the intensive research and sophisticated process of determining seeds for its Best Legal Film and TV bracket. Which #1 seed is overrated? Which films get court right? Will we see any major upsets?

And just one more thing... Have you seen the greatest legal film of all time?

Download a copy of our bracket here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sEcAdg1mT5VQ012clwWomk98w0WSh0ia?usp=sharing

Submit your filled out brackets to: https://docs.google.com/forms...

In this episode of "Objection! You're Fiction," Brad and Lee switch up the format for a chat with the actor behind Pete Campbell, Vincent Kartheiser!

We'll hear about the thought Vincent put into his character's motivation, the benefits of working with a professional creative team, and the way things might work differently for the "heroes" of Sterling Cooper in the modern day. We'll also touch on some inflection points for Pete Campbell, his career, and his relationship with Don Draper. From contention and blackmail to mutual respect, one never knows how loyalty is born.

...

On this holiday edition of Objection! Your Fiction, BFKP team members Lee, Brad, and Emily talk about the 1994 film The Santa Clause. Like any good children’s movie, it opens with the accidental death of Santa Claus and a coat-based contract. But how enforceable is this “Santa Clause?” Are milk and cookies fair compensation? Does your homeowner’s policy cover sleigh damage? Find out if the team would take on Scott Calvin's case by listening to our most festive episode yet!

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hos...

On this episode of Objection! Your Fiction, Lee and Cooper chat with Rubin, Fiorella & Friedman LLP partner—and 90210 superfan—Michael Tomsky about the potential liability issues in Season 2 Episode 14 “The Next Fifty Years.” The group breaks down the scene of Scott accidentally shooting himself in the stomach to ask the following questions—was this a gun issue or a user issue? Does the “zone of danger” apply to David as a witness? Is there a potential for a suit against the parents? Find out the answers to these and more in our fascinating conversation about a 90s classic. Let us know what yo...

On this episode of Objection! Your Fiction, Lee and Cooper chat with Thomas Brennan about liability issues in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Like the totally normal businessman he is, Mr. Wonka thought ahead and had the attendees sign a waiver the size of a room before embarking on their tour. But can this unreadable contract signed by children protect Willy and his factory/amusement park/deathtrap? Thomas, Lee, and Cooper ponder Liability in Loompaland and decide which of the children’s cases would be most likely to prevail in court. It’s a fascinating conversation revisiting a chil...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Cooper and Lee chat with intellectual property attorney Andres Munoz about the1988 film Coming to America staring Eddie Murphy. The conversation focuses on the trademark issues posed by "McDowell’s" the obvious McDonald’s knockoff that Murphy's character works at in the film. Andres addresses the strengths and weaknesses of McDonald’s hypothetical trademark infringement suit, the likelihood of McDonald's obtaining a TRO, and how the registration of a mark would impact the trademark analysis. It's another fun conversation that we hope you enjoy!

Andres Munoz is a partner at Rom...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Lee and Mike sit down with Daniel Gershburg, Esq. to discuss the housing and real estate issues that our favorite 90s sitcom characters would have likely encountered. The conversation starts with Seinfeld, where they chat about how Jerry, Kramer, and Newman would have handled a co-op interview and whether Kramer's antics would have led to him being removed from the building. They then move onto Friends, where they discuss how Monica ended up living illegally in a rent stabilized West Village apartment, and the potential consequences if discovered. Finally they close with a...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Brad and Lee chat with labor and employment attorney Jeff Douglas about the 2009 film Up in the Air staring George Clooney. The conversation focuses on the employment issues at the center of the film's plot and the strategic considerations that go into drafting severance agreements. They also get into questions like how long an employer must give an employee to review a severance agreement and provide some in-depth analysis of Clooney's termination script. It's a fun conversation and we hope you give it a listen!

Jeff Douglas is a...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction, Cooper and Lee chat with Timothy McNutt, Esq., the Director of Cornell ILR’s Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative, about The Shawshank Redemption. It's a wide ranging conversation about the film, but the main focus is on the main character's hypothetical post-incarceration employment prospects. As part of this analysis Tim explains the Green Factors, and uses the characters in the film to dole out advice for anyone with a criminal record who is seeking employment.

Timothy McNutt, Esq., as Director of Cornell ILR’s Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative, uses...

On this episode of the Objection You're Fiction, Cooper and Lee chat with Jared Rosenblatt, Special Professor of Law at Hofstra Law School, about Joe Pesci's classic film My Cousin Vinny. The conversation focuses on Vinny's trial advocacy skills, which are often lauded as an example for young lawyers to learn from. They also break down a few of Vinny's cross examination techniques, his opening statement, and analyze his overall preparation and strategy for the case. It's a fun conversation and we hope you give it a listen!

Produced by Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina, "Objection! You're F...

On this episode of Objection! You're Fiction Lee and Brad chat with Louisa DeRose, a partner at Rower LLC who specializes in matrimonial and family law issues, about Adam Sandler's classic 1999 film, Big Daddy. The conversation focuses on how New York City Court's would actually evaluate the case of Julian and whether Sonny would have any chance of getting visitation or custody based on the movie's facts. They also chat more generally about the child custody and adoption issues at the center of the film.

Produced by Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina, "Objection! You're Fiction" provides an...

In the pilot episode of Objection! You're Fiction Lee and Cooper chat with Seth J. Zuckerman, a criminal defense attorney with ChaudhryLaw PLLC about the final season of Succession. The conversation focuses on what criminal issues await the Roy family after the credits roll, including possible manslaughter and securities fraud charges against Kendall and obstruction of justice charges against Tom and Greg.

Produced by Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina, "Objection! You're Fiction" provides an engaging and offbeat exploration of the legal quandaries facing our favorite characters in television and movies. Every episode invites listeners into the proverbial p...