# 231. Elaine in May - Ishtar (1987 with Elizabeth Alsop)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ticklish-business-454908/231-elaine-in-may-ishtar-1987-with-elizabeth-alsop
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ticklish-business-454908/231-elaine-in-may-ishtar-1987-with-elizabeth-alsop.md
Podcast: [Ticklish Business](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ticklish-business-454908)
Published: 2026-05-27T16:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/495/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/SBP4970247327.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/mgln.ai/e/495/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/SBP4970247327.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ticklish-business-454908/episodes/231-elaine-in-may-ishtar-1987-with-elizabeth-alsop
Duration seconds: 3375

## Resource

Our tribute to beleaguered director Elaine May closes with a look at the movie that ruined her career, 1987's Ishtar. Is it the worst film ever made? May biographer Elizabeth Alsop joins Kristen to break down the infamous flop and what went wrong. The pair discuss Warren Beatty as the Patient Zero for everything, debunking established stories, and if telling the truth really is a dangerous business. Works Cited: The Road to Ishtar by David Blum Editor William Reynolds (American CinemaEditor Magazine) Elaine May in Conversation With Mike Nichols Madness in Morocco: The Road to Ishtar by Peter Biskind Buy Elizabeth's book Elaine May (Contemporary Directors) at this link. I have a new book dropping on July 28th! ⁠Preorder But Have You Read the Book: Romance Edition here.⁠⁠ You can ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠now watch episodes of Ticklish Business over on our YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Be sure to like and subscribe to stay in the know on our latest videos. Be sure to follow us via social media at @ticklish_biz on X and @ticklishbiz everywhere else. Also like and subscribe to us on all podcast apps and, if you love us, leave us a review. Find Kristen books wherever you buy books. Kristen's latest, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Popcorn Disabilities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, is available to buy now! ⁠⁠⁠ • Love T shirts, pins, and other merch? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch shop is live⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! • ICMYI, the best way to support Ticklish Biz is to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patron⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kristen's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode was created thanks to our Patrons: Ali Moore Danny David Floyd Gates mcf Shawn Goodreau Richard Silver A Button Called Smalls Chris McKay J…

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