Death on the Lot is as much a history podcast as a true crime show. It focuses on a turbulent time in American history, right after World War II. In those years, the US was experiencing a period of transition. The county was feeling the high from the recent victory, which led to the rise in right-wing politics. At the same time, the left started to push on with the fight for civil rights. The late 1940s and the 1950s saw a mixture of racial reckoning, the space race, and the suburban dream. There was murder and bigotry alongside atomic bombs and secret societies.

All that wasn't only happening on the streets of America. It also manifested in the entertainment industry. The union fights were taking place outside Warner Bros. Studios. Inside the buildings, brilliant actors got sidelined due to crippling racism. Directors took note of the changing times and studied new political ideas in their films. It was one of the most fascinating times to be alive—or dead. That is the focus of the podcast.

In Death on the Lot, host Adam McKay explores the deaths of eight prominent Hollywood figures. In each episode of the podcast series, he focuses on one actor. He uses the demise of superstars such as James Dean and John Garfield to examine the times in which they lived. McKay analyzes how current events led to the deaths of trailblazers like Hattie McDaniel, the first Black Oscar winner. More than that, he investigates the cultural changes that occurred after those tragedies.

As an award-winning director himself, McKay believes that Hollywood is the only thing that matters. He also has a theory that this industry can explain everything that has ever happened. In Death on the Lot, McKay seeks to test out that theory, at least when it comes to the 1950s. With the help of colleagues such as Ron Howard, Lee Grant, and more, he sets out to learn more about Tinseltown. It's a journey into the inner workings of the US' most glamorous industry at a time when it shined the brightest.