Meryl Streep as the only choice for Miranda; Rachel McAdams turning down Andy; Juliet Lewis and Claire Danes auditioning for Andy; Thomas Lennon turning down Nigel

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 00:42:45Read transcript

Meryl Streep was the only person they went to for Miranda; they needed her or it was maybe not worth doing.
A Variety quote has Streep calling the offer not reflective of her actual value to the project; it was doubled, to a reported $4 million.
The panel thinks she was worth far more, noting 'Cruz' (as transcribed) would have gotten 20 in 2006.
Rachel McAdams turned down the lead despite being approached multiple times.
Juliet Lewis (as transcribed) and Claire Danes auditioned for Andy and are called not right.
Hathaway went aggressive for the role, dressing like the character and writing 'hire me' in a casting person's Zen sand garden, which is why she fit and Rachel McAdams did not.
Thomas Lennon turned down Nigel because of scheduling conflicts with Reno 911.
Newer movies have few casting what-ifs because at only 12 years old there is only the actual info.

Anna Wintour's reaction; Designer cameo warning; Tucci marrying Felicity Blunt; Costume budget; Clint Eastwood-inspired whisper; 'Everybody wants to be us' line change; Deleted thank-you scene; John Krasinski's 75 viewings

In the discussion (15)

Approx. transcript time · 00:49:26Read transcript

Anna Wintour (transcribed 'Anna Wintor') reportedly liked the movie despite initial skepticism and enjoyed Streep for her decisive nature.
Tabloid talk about her divorce is attributed to the New York Post; the movie is said to have rehabilitated her and corrected the book's portrayal, so she probably likes it.
She reportedly warned designers invited to cameo that they would be banished from the magazine; nobody knows whether that is true, but Vogue and other magazines avoided mentioning the book.
Streep was not on the cover of Vogue for a very long time after the movie, though she was recently.
Six years after filming, Stanley Tucci married Felicity Blunt, Emily Blunt's sister; the transcript also has a belief that he broke up with 'E. Falco' for her.
The first bag Miranda carries is a Prada bag.
Giselle agreed to be in the movie only if she did not have to play a model.
Costuming cost over a million dollars despite designer loans, under Patricia Field of Sex and the City, who got an Oscar nomination; the panel thinks that is low.
Hathaway went from a size six to a size four during filming.
Streep told Variety in 2006 she took Miranda's soft speaking style from Clint Eastwood, who never raises his voice so everyone leans in; the whisper is called what makes the performance.
Bosses who stay insanely calm are said to destabilize the people around them.
Miranda's line about everybody wanting to be 'us' originally said 'me'; Streep changed it as too self-involved.
A double standard is argued: men respected as difficult method actors versus Streep and Hathaway labeled problem children, though Streep is called an anomaly nobody can overrule.
A deleted scene where Andy saves Miranda and Miranda thanks her was cut for making her seem likable; it surfaced online two years ago, and one panelist refuses to watch it, likening it to the Almost Famous extended cut.
In one more piece of research, John Krasinski has reportedly watched the film 75 times, which ties one panelist.

Picking Nits

Andy sleeping with the hotshot reporter; Enforceability of the list that saves her job

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:13Read transcript

Everything else was covered earlier; the remaining question is whether Andy had to sleep with the hotshot reporter rather than just make out, conceded as plot movement since she has to be in his room to find the mock-up.
Would the list work in real life? At the end, a list of editors, photographers, models and writers who would follow her is presented to save her job; the answer is no, likened to leaving ESPN and not everyone following.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Was Stanley Tucci's character gay?; Who should have played Adrian Grenier's role?; Was this Meryl Streep's greatest role?; Who else could have played Miranda?

In the discussion (7)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:18Read transcript

Was Stanley Tucci's character gay? Called unanswerable even after googling; one online claim that he looks at male models an extra second is dismissed.
One panelist cannot remember that character in the book.
Adrian Grenier's role: they should not have gone white male in 2006; John Cho or young Dave Chang are suggested, making a Korean dish instead of mac and cheese.
Was this Streep's greatest role? One says yes; another says Sophie's Choice, and Julia Child is also mentioned.
Nobody else would have made the panel even 70% as happy as Streep; in the spirit of the podcast Candice Bergen is offered, but she was too old in 2006.
Julia Roberts with aged hair is where it could have gone most wrong; Sandra Bullock could do it now or later, with doubts about whether she is mean enough.
Kate Blanchett (as transcribed) and, now, Kate Winslet are also suggested.