Puck founding partner Matthew Belloni takes you inside Hollywood, using exclusive reporting and insight to explain the backstories on everything from Marvel movies to 'The Bachelor.' Multiple times each week, Matt will touch on what is getting made and why, who is winning and losing, and what people in show business are actually talking about.
Netflix: Unstoppable or Overvalued?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to first talk about Disney’s report that it would name a new chief executive in “early 2026.” Then they offer their takeaways from Netflix’s latest earning report by looking at the streamer’s five pressure points: advertising, the threat of bundling, theaters, compensation, and growth (02:46). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about World Series ratings (29:06).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/21/2024 • 37 minutes, 54 seconds
The New Era of ‘SNL,’ 50th Plans, and ‘Saturday Night’
Matt is joined by ‘SNL’ expert, author, and journalist James Andrew Miller to assess the state of ‘SNL’ and go through some lightning-round questions about the current season, the 50th anniversary show, upcoming ‘SNL’ documentaries, and the movie ‘Saturday Night’ (02:25). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Smile 2’ (30:26).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: James Andrew Miller
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/17/2024 • 37 minutes, 16 seconds
The Secret Recipe For an Indie Horror Hit
Matt is joined by Cineverse CEO Chris McGurk to talk about the rise of independently financed horror movies and how to turn a low-budget film into a bona fide hit. They talk about the indie horror marketing playbook and whether the recent boom in low-budget horror is a fluke or a trend (02:28). Later, Matt makes a prediction about the future of Legendary Pictures (23:08).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Chris McGurk
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/15/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
The Hollywood Stock Market: Travis Kelce, J.Lo, DC Studios, Prime Video, Todd Phillips, and More!
Live from Bloomberg’s Screentime event in Los Angeles, Matt and Lucas Shaw make their case for buying the dip or selling high on some of the biggest entities across Hollywood. Topics include Travis Kelce’s media career, Amazon Prime Video, Todd Phillips, K-pop, Jennifer Lopez’s movie career, sports docs, Lionsgate, and much more!
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/11/2024 • 35 minutes, 37 seconds
Is Hollywood Screwing Up Male Characters?
Matt is joined by Fergus Navaratnam-Blair from National Research Group to discuss the evolution of male characters on-screen in Hollywood and what the next generation wants to see from male archetypes. Fergus explains who young men currently look up to the most in 2024 and how these role models have shifted over the years. They discuss the more fictionalized characters and superheroes in popular culture, how Hollywood sells masculinity to young men, and whether there is a market opportunity for storytellers to make new male characters that resonate with the next generation (02:40). Matt finishes the show with a trifecta of opening weekend box office predictions for ‘Terrifier 3,’ ‘Saturday Night,’ and ‘The Apprentice’ (25:14).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Fergus Navaratnam-Blair
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/9/2024 • 33 minutes, 27 seconds
The 'Joker 2' Mega Flop and a New CEO at Sony Pictures
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ flop and its ramifications for Warner Bros. Discovery and the DC Universe before getting into the latest shakeup at Sony Pictures, where CEO Tony Vinciquerra has stepped down and is being replaced by COO Ravi Ahuja. They talk about the state of Sony Pictures, why it never entered the Streaming Wars and instead opted to sell its content to other companies, how its balance sheet looks compared to other studios, its lack of major franchises, and how it’s positioned moving forward (03:01). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ director Todd Phillips’s next movie (25:16).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/7/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Burning Questions for the Most Uncertain Oscar Race in Years
Matt is joined by New York Times awards season reporter Kyle Buchanan to preview the 2024-25 Oscar race now that the table is mostly set. Kyle sets the table for a fascinating Oscar season—one without a clear front-runner like ‘Oppenheimer’ was last year—and highlights the biggest narratives that have emerged, including the movies with the strongest momentum, early 2024 films that could make a last-second surge, and other burning questions (02:09). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the MLB playoffs (28:28).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Kyle Buchanan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/4/2024 • 35 minutes, 36 seconds
The End of the $20M TV Host Era
Matt is joined by Puck’s Dylan Byers to discuss the economic realignment that is coming to television and the beginning of the end of the on-air star system in television. They talk about Hoda Kotb’s exit from ‘The Today Show,’ the outsized contracts for news TV hosts, how much these hosts still move the needle for the business of TV news, how the on-air business of sports differs from TV news, and whether news can successfully transition to streaming (02:33). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ (25:49).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dylan Byers
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/2/2024 • 33 minutes, 25 seconds
How Should Movie and TV Stars Be Paid?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the way that actors make money in Hollywood is changing, pivoting from up-front buyouts to a more traditional model of back-end-contingent profit participation. They discuss which model makes the most sense in 2024 and beyond and how this might differ for talent and talent representation (03:47). Lucas sticks around to announce the results of the 2024 Concert Tour Draft from 'The Town' (26:03).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/30/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Lionsgate, Meta, and a Wild Week in AI
Matt is joined by Justine Bateman—writer, director, producer, and SAG-AFTRA negotiation committee consultant on the use of AI— to check in on the latest developments on AI in entertainment. They discuss Lionsgate’s new deal with AI company Runway to make movies and shows more efficiently, Meta’s new deal with celebrities to voice a new AI chatbot, and whether other studios will follow suit (02:24). Matt finishes the show with two opening weekend box office predictions for 'Megalopolis' and the animated film ‘The Wild Robot’ (26:03).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justine Bateman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/27/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
How to Make Your Own TV Show (and Get Netflix to Buy It)
Matt is joined by actor, writer, producer, and director Mark Duplass to discuss the process of independently financing your own television show, as he did with his new show ‘Penelope’ on Netflix, and he makes the case for why more people should be doing this. Additionally, they talk about the biggest differences between the television and film business models, why indie film is so much more popular right now, and how the indie TV model could be lucrative for A-listers (02:19). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the season premiere of 'Saturday Night Live' (25:47).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Duplass
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/25/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Biggest Takeaways From Netflix’s New Data Dump
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s latest “data dump” revealing their most-viewed shows and movies over the first half of 2024. They parse the numbers and give their biggest takeaways from the data release, as well as look at the broader state of streamer transparency (02:49).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/23/2024 • 32 minutes, 33 seconds
The War Over the Secret Nine-Hour Prince Documentary
Matt is joined by Sasha Weiss, deputy editor at New York Times, to talk about the battle over the nine-hour multipart Prince documentary helmed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman (‘O.J.: Made in America’) that is at risk of never releasing. They dive into Sasha’s latest reporting, which revealed how this project was stranded after a surprising objection from the late music icon’s dueling estates that the film is too long. They talk about Netflix’s role in this battle, what the doc reveals about Prince, and whether there is more to this story (2:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the viewership numbers for the next six months on Netflix (26:53).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Sasha Weiss
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/20/2024 • 36 minutes, 19 seconds
The Screenwriter Struggle and How to Break Through
Matt is joined by The Black List founder Franklin Leonard to dig into the state of screenwriting in Hollywood and how the landscape has changed over the past five years and since the strike. They discuss the decline in research and development on the studio level, how this has affected aspiring writers, if there is room for optimism, and if it's still possible to break through (2:25). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the movie ‘Transformers One’ (26:03).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Franklin Leonard
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/18/2024 • 33 minutes, 25 seconds
The Real Winners and Losers of the Emmys With the ‘Hacks’ Creators!
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap last night’s Emmys and nominate the under-discussed winners and losers from TV’s biggest night (02:21). Later, ‘Hacks’ creators Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs call in to talk about their big win for Outstanding Comedy Series, how they pitched the show to HBO, and the state of the comedy genre (15:58).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw, Jen Statsky, Lucia Aniello, and Paul W. Downs
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/16/2024 • 33 minutes
The Dire State of Movie Development
LIVE SHOW: LOS ANGELES, OCTOBER 24. Click here for tickets!
Matt is joined by producer David Beaubaire to discuss the troubled state of movie development at the studio level and address why this is a major problem for the movie business. He outlines how the development process has dramatically changed over the years and why this crisis needs to be solved (03:43). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming Emmy Awards (29:28).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: David Beaubaire
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/12/2024 • 36 minutes, 28 seconds
Seth Meyers on Late Night’s Future, 'SNL' 50, and Lorne’s Successor
Matt is joined by Seth Meyers to discuss the evolving state of late-night television, making content that will work on digital, and the growing trend of the online celebrity interview show. Seth also gives his thoughts on the upcoming 50th anniversary extravaganza for 'SNL,' who should take over 'SNL' after Lorne Michaels, and Jason Reitman’s new movie, ‘Saturday Night’ (02:12). Matt finishes the show with a recap of his time at TIFF and predicts which films are in the running for the coveted People’s Choice Award (28:36).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Seth Meyers
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/11/2024 • 39 minutes, 25 seconds
Five Burning Hollywood Questions for the Rest of 2024
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to pose their five biggest questions about the entertainment industry for the remainder of 2024. They discuss Disney and Bob Iger’s succession plan, whether the election will fundamentally change Hollywood, whether we could lose a streaming service in the next four months, and how this award season stacks up to those from past years (02:00).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/9/2024 • 32 minutes, 13 seconds
How to Choose the Right Festival to Premiere Your Movie
It’s fall festival season! Matt is joined by Peter Kujawski, the chairman of Focus Features, to discuss the science of premiering a movie at a film festival. Peter provides his expertise on why you bring a certain movie to a certain festival, the risk involved, and which specific festivals are best suited for certain types of films. They also discuss the politics of these festivals jockeying to attain the world premieres of splashy titles, and which festival award is the most coveted (02:51). Matt ends the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ (26:10).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Peter Kujawski
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/6/2024 • 33 minutes, 16 seconds
Who's to Blame for the ESPN Blackout?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the contentious TV carriage dispute between Disney and DirecTV, leaving millions of customers unable to watch the U.S. Open, college football, and potentially 'Monday Night Football' starting next week. They unpack the details of this battle, debate who has more leverage, and predict who will win (03:20). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of the Donald Trump origin story movie, ‘The Apprentice’ (25:31).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/3/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Should Someone Step In to Save Warner Bros. Discovery?
Matt is joined by media analyst Steven Cahall to talk about Warner Bros. Discovery, which continues to struggle despite its slew of amazing assets, and why a change in leadership or strategy has not been demanded by activist investors. They discuss WBD’s reliance on linear television, how it lost its NBA rights, and what it should be doing to turn things around (03:00). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the Golden Globes after it was announced that comedian Nikki Glaser will host the event (27:12).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Steven Cahall
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/29/2024 • 33 minutes, 17 seconds
Summer Box Office Winners, Losers, and Head-Scratchers
Matt welcomes back Puck’s Scott Mendelson to judge their early May box office predictions for this summer's most anticipated blockbusters, including ‘The Fall Guy,’ ‘Inside Out 2,’ ‘Twisters,’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ They also declare the official winners and losers of the summer and look ahead to the most anticipated movie of the fall, ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ (02:19).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Mendelson
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/27/2024 • 42 minutes, 58 seconds
The Billionaire Battle for Paramount and the Return of 'Ted Lasso'
Matt is joined by Puck’s William D. Cohan to discuss the never-ending battle for control of Paramount, which has been further complicated by an 11th-hour offer for Paramount from billionaire Edgar Bronfman Jr. Matt and Bill explain who Bronfman is, simplify the complicated details of his pitch, and decide whether Bronfman's or David Ellison’s deal is better (03:33). Matt finishes the show by breaking some news about the return of the hit Apple TV+ show ‘Ted Lasso’ and making a prediction about its lead character in Season 4 (23:49).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: William D. Cohan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/26/2024 • 33 minutes, 24 seconds
Are Expensive Showrunner Deals Worth It?
Matt is joined by Lesley Goldberg, former TV editor of The Hollywood Reporter, to look at the most costly showrunner deals of the peak TV era and determine which were the best and worst deals for the respective studios. They discuss the nine-figure deals that led to zero new shows, and the biggest underperformers of Hollywood’s hyperinflated peak TV era (02:44).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lesley Goldberg
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/23/2024 • 36 minutes, 50 seconds
The Arms Race Behind Where Movies Shoot
Matt is joined by Joe Chianese, SVP of Incentives at Entertainment Partners, to talk about where movies are being shot these days, how tax incentives play a role, what a city or country offers to a production, and why California is no longer the filming mecca it once was (02:36). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Travis Kelce’s potential movie career (27:00).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joe Chianese
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/21/2024 • 36 minutes, 21 seconds
A New Setback in Hollywood's Cable Crisis
Matt is joined by CNBC media and sports reporter Alex Sherman to talk about the delayed launch of Venu, the planned sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery, after a federal judge granted FuboTV's motion for a preliminary injunction. They discuss why this happened, whether this is bad for consumers, and offer up their winners and losers of this ruling (03:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the ratings of the Democratic National Convention (26:43).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Alex Sherman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/19/2024 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
The Legacy of the Infamous Sony Hack, 10 Years Later
Matt is joined by podcaster and journalist Brian Raftery to talk about the 10-year anniversary of the infamous Sony hack, how it changed the perception of Hollywood, how it affected the way villains are portrayed in movies, if North Korea was really to blame, and if this could this happen again (03:08). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for ‘Alien: Romulus’ (27:31).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Brian Raftery
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/15/2024 • 34 minutes, 26 seconds
Kamala’s Hollywood Connections: Do They Help or Hurt?
Matt is joined by Puck senior political correspondent Tara Palmeri to discuss Hollywood’s place in the 2024 election now that Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee. They talk about Kamala’s close Hollywood ties, including her close friendship with Disney’s head of TV, Dana Walden; the upcoming debate on ABC; and the current state of the Hollywood fundraising apparatus (02:44).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tara Palmeri
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/14/2024 • 33 minutes, 6 seconds
Why Can’t Apple Figure Out Movies?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Apple’s puzzling film strategy after the company's latest announcement that ‘Wolfs,' an action comedy starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, will no longer get a wide theatrical release. Matt and Lucas wonder how interested Apple is in putting movies in theaters, how new pressure to cut spending is affecting its film strategy, and how much creators like working with the tech giant (02:57). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Peacock’s subscriber growth after the Olympics (26:15).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/12/2024 • 33 minutes, 21 seconds
The Biggest Losers of Hollywood’s Cable-pocalypse
Matt is joined by LightShed media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss the newest and most dire stage of the linear TV meltdown, with multi-billion-dollar write-offs at Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount. They get into why these companies are only now acknowledging their TV assets are such a problem, debate whether or not anyone should be paying billions of dollars for NBA rights in 2025, and whether David Zaslav is on the hot seat (03:10). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Apple Studios (27:17).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/9/2024 • 37 minutes, 44 seconds
Disney’s Streaming Profits and Parks Problem
Matt is joined by NYT staff reporter Brooks Barnes to discuss the latest Disney earnings report, which resulted in a drop in stock price after Disney reported a slowdown in Disney parks attendance. They talk about the state of the parks, including customer dissatisfaction with price hikes, Universal parks vs. Disney parks, and the upcoming D23 conference. They also discuss Disney's ability to reach profitability in streaming, incoming price hikes for Disney+ and Hulu, whether a looming recession could affect the next few quarters, and Bob Iger's perception among Disney fans (02:57). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on this weekend’s box office for ‘Borderlands' and 'It Ends with Us’ (26:04).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Brooks Barnes
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/7/2024 • 33 minutes, 27 seconds
Has the Music Industry Peaked?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss whether it's time to panic for the music industry after shares of Universal Music Group tanked due to a deceleration in streaming subscription revenue growth. Matt and Lucas wonder whether this is a crisis or just a blip and offer up ways music streamers should differentiate themselves to make more money and get back on the path of accelerated growth (03:10). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the ratings for the 2024 Olympics (24:32).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/5/2024 • 33 minutes, 24 seconds
The 2024 Intellectual Property Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for the second ever IP Draft! They first revisit their last IP Draft, then draft a whole new team of intellectual properties that they believe will be the future stalwarts in Hollywood.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/31/2024 • 35 minutes, 21 seconds
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and Marketing Disney’s First R-Rated Marvel Movie
Matt is joined by Disney’s chief brand officer and president of marketing, Asad Ayaz, to talk about releasing Disney’s first R-rated Marvel film in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ how that changes the calculus for Disney from a marketing side, and how the third installment of 'Deadpool' made more money than its two predecessors. They also discuss broader topics, including how early you should start marketing a film, deciding what spoilers to leak in the lead-up to a movie, how to approach the MCU’s recent struggles as a film franchise from a marketing standpoint, and much more (02:49). Matt finishes the show with an opening box office prediction for M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’ (28:02).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Asad Ayaz
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/29/2024 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
WBD’s Billion-Dollar War on the NBA
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Warner Bros. Discovery’s lawsuit against the NBA after the NBA rejected WBD’s matching offer for a package of broadcasting rights. They look at the argument for both sides, and determine who has the best case.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/26/2024 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
The High Stakes of Broadcasting the Olympics
Matt is joined by Mark Lazarus, NBCUniversal Media Group chairman, to discuss the business behind broadcasting the Olympics, how these Games will feel different than the 2020 Olympics, what they learned from streaming an NFL playoff game on Peacock, Al Michaels’s AI broadcasting debut, and NBA rights (2:56). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ (28:22).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Lazarus
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/24/2024 • 36 minutes, 41 seconds
Is Netflix or YouTube the King in Streaming?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s strong second-quarter earnings, and how the company’s strong numbers might weaken in the next few years partially because of their underwhelming advertising revenue. They then ask a larger question: Is the race for streaming now down to two finalists—Netflix and YouTube (2:43)? Matt finishes the show with a prediction for which city will win hosting duties of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival (25:30).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/22/2024 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
Warner's M&A Options and an NBA Rights Scoop
Matt is joined by Jessie Reif Ehrlich, a senior media and entertainment analyst at BofA Securities, to discuss the floundering Warner Bros. Discovery and propose several drastic changes she believes are necessary to save the company (02:35). Then, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons joins the show with a new angle on the looming NBA rights deal involving Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery (22:14). Finally, Matt makes an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Twisters’ (32:15).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: Jessica Reif Ehrlich and Bill Simmons
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/19/2024 • 39 minutes, 27 seconds
The 'Star Wars' Ratings Problem and What To Do Next
Matt is joined by Luminate’s director of business development, Jimmy Doyle, to discuss the state of the 'Star Wars' franchise, its lack of theatrical movies, and what the troubling TV ratings signal for the brand. They talk about the 'Star Wars' properties that are working, the upcoming Mandalorian movie, and whether Disney should ultimately license its content to Netflix (02:43). In light of the recent Emmy nominations, Matt finishes the show with his prediction for Best Drama Series, Best Comedy Series, and Best Limited Series (23:13).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jimmy Doyle
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/17/2024 • 33 minutes, 1 second
Does Hollywood Need Deregulation?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s latest comments from the Sun Valley conference, during which he advocated for less regulation in Hollywood. They unpack his statement and speculate how the election results might affect the regulatory environment for media companies, which companies would benefit the most from M&A possibilities, and why a company like Netflix might not mind consolidation (03:07). We finish the show with a mid-year check-in of the 2024 Box Office Draft (23:16).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/15/2024 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Betting on Theaters, Embracing Tech, and ‘Wicked’ With Director Jon M. Chu
Matt is joined by director Jon M. Chu to discuss how he made it in Hollywood, his career-altering move to pass on Netflix and bet on movie theaters with ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ balancing art and commerce, making films with AI, his upcoming film ‘Wicked,' and much more from his new book, ‘Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen’ (02:34). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum film, ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ (25:24).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jon. M Chu
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/11/2024 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Burning Questions About the Future of Paramount
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look at what the future holds for Paramount now that David Ellison has purchased the legacy media company from Shari Redstone. They discuss what will happen to Paramount's assets, including CBS, Pluto, Paramount+, as well as their movie strategy, and ultimately if a new, young, tech-focused CEO can not only keep Paramount alive, but help it flourish (02:22). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming criminal trial of Alec Baldwin in the ‘Rust’ case (25:57).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/9/2024 • 32 minutes, 24 seconds
Skydance’s David Ellison on His Plans for Paramount
Matt is joined by Skydance CEO David Ellison and RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale to discuss Ellison’s acquisition of Shari Redstone’s family company and the merger of Paramount Global with Skydance Media. David and Gerry outline what the future holds for Paramount as a media company, including what they intend to do with Paramount+, their thoughts on the theatrical business, and how tech will help shape the future of storytelling (03:11). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2024 Summer Olympics (32:40).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: David Ellison and Gerry Cardinale
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/8/2024 • 39 minutes, 24 seconds
The NFL's $15B Sunday Ticket Problem
Matt is joined by Puck’s John Ourand to break down the multibillion-dollar NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ lawsuit when a jury in the U.S. District Court ordered the NFL to pay more than $4.7 billion in damages after the league violated antitrust laws in distributing out-of-market Sunday afternoon games on a premium subscription service, DIRECTV. John explains how this bill could actually balloon to nearly $15 billion under antitrust law, how this will impact Sunday Ticket’s new distributor, YouTube, and whether this could impact the greater sports media rights landscape (03:30). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Despicable Me 4’ (24:26).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Ourand
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/3/2024 • 31 minutes, 24 seconds
The Biggest Over- and Underreactions of the First Half of 2024
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back on the first half of 2024 and highlight the stories they believe were most over- and undercovered, including the horror movie genre, new Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery bundle Venu, the ScarJo OpenAI fight, Pat McAfee and Norby Williamson, UMG vs. TikTok, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/1/2024 • 37 minutes, 25 seconds
Will the Debate Debacle Revive TV News?
Matt is joined by journalist, podcast host, and cofounder of Semafor, Ben Smith, to discuss how last night's dispiriting debate will affect CNN and the TV news landscape as we move towards the 2024 election. Will the debate revive CNN and give it the story it's been looking for? They also take a look at the broader state of TV news as we exit the cable news era and wonder how many of these waning news networks can survive in the streaming era (03:12). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ (26:00).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Smith
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/28/2024 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
How Much Kevin Costner Stands to Win or Lose on ‘Horizon’
Matt is joined by longtime producer Mark Gill to break down the finances of Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1.’ He explains how indie films of this scope and scale are financed, how much the movie needs to make for everyone to survive, and who has the most to lose. They also discuss another ambitious self-financed project, Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ (02:35). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1’ (25:50).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Gill
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/26/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Is Hollywood Really That Effed Up?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss if Hollywood is struggling as much as the media says it is. They run through a slew of issues, including traditional Hollywood’s battle with YouTube and TikTok, whether young people should abandon careers in TV and film and instead focus on social media, why Hollywood guilds and studios aren't going after AI together while major music labels are suing AI companies, the efficacy of the strikes, and the current state of Disney (02:40). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Stephen A. Smith’s future employment (24:54).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/24/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Hollywood’s Big Tech Problem
Matt is joined by Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business, author, and podcast host, to look back on the fallout and consequences of the writers strike and discuss how the studios and guilds should be handling the AI infiltration in the entertainment industry. They also discuss the state of the theatrical business, Hollywood’s aging executives, and how the government is handling big tech (01:51). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the upcoming film ‘The Bikeriders’ (30:25).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Galloway
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/20/2024 • 36 minutes, 26 seconds
Sony Bought a Movie Theatre Chain. Plus, Pixar’s Big Comeback.
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Sony Pictures' acquisition of the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain, what this move says about Sony’s interest in theatrical moviegoing, whether this experiment was ultimately a smart move, and whether any other studios or streamers should be in the theater-buying business (02:54). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of casting animated movies (24:33).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/18/2024 • 32 minutes, 8 seconds
Jon Stewart on AI Fears, Election Plans, and ‘Daily Show’ End Date
Matt is back with the second half of his conversation with Jon Stewart to discuss how Hollywood should handle the AI issue, how Viacom let John Oliver go to HBO, whom Stewart consulted before agreeing to come back to the show, whether Stewart might stay beyond his planned exit from ‘The Daily Show’ in November, and the media he is consuming these days (01:22).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jon Stewart
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/14/2024 • 28 minutes, 57 seconds
Jon Stewart Talks Apple Split, Corporate Constraints, and Media’s Regression
Matt is joined by Jon Stewart to discuss his return to ‘The Daily Show,’ why he and Apple were not a great fit, and how the media, political, and comedy landscape has changed in the nine years since he left ‘The Daily Show’ (02:38). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the newest Pixar film, ‘Inside Out 2’ (26:44).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jon Stewart
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/13/2024 • 34 minutes, 24 seconds
Paramount-Skydance Is Dead. What Now?
Matt and Lightshed media analyst Rich Greenfield react to Shari Redstone calling off the Paramount-Skydance deal at the eleventh hour after a sale seemed imminent. They discuss why Shari killed the deal, how one man is potentially responsible for convincing Shari to back out, what’s next for Paramount Global, and much more (03:08). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the newest Pixar film, ‘Inside Out 2’ (30:44).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/12/2024 • 36 minutes, 39 seconds
Will Smith’s Comeback and the Butts-in-Seats Star Ranking
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Will Smith’s return to box office stardom after the success of ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ and if this marks the official return for Will Smith as one of Hollywood's most dependable theatrical movie stars. They then discuss which movie stars can reliably open an original movie in theaters, and whether directors are more bankable than actors (03:01). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the NBA Finals ratings (25:18).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/11/2024 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
The Science of Green-Lighting Movies
Matt is joined by Joshua Lynn, the president of Piedmont Media Research, to discuss the research studios use to determine what people want out of their movies and how to give it to him. Before the movie is green-lit, studios use research to know if people want a new tornado movie, or a biopic about Robert Oppenheimer, or how Denzel Washington will elevate a project's box office potential (02:43). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Netflix’s stock price (25:32).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joshua Lynn
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/7/2024 • 32 minutes, 17 seconds
Is Netflix Fumbling Ads?
Matt is joined by ad industry insider Michael Kassan to discuss the newest frontier in streaming: advertising! Michael and Matt take a look specifically at Netflix and give their report card on the streamer's initial push into the ad space. They also look more broadly at the streaming ad ecosystem and wonder whether the influx of live events as well as the Great Rebundling of services will help kick-start the ad market (03:04). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for the fourth installment in the 'Bad Boys' franchise, 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die' (26:00).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Kassan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/5/2024 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
The 2024 Summer Concert Tour Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for the first summer concert tour draft (02:34). They each draft four musical acts that will be touring this summer, which will be judged based on the gross totals for the tours. Similar to the box office draft, Matt and Lucas will each give the other an opposing tour as well. To finish off the show, Matt welcomes back producer Craig from his trip and makes a prediction on which bid will win over Shari Redstone for Paramount (23:50).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/3/2024 • 33 minutes, 7 seconds
TV Viewers Are Getting Old. Do Advertisers Care?
Matt is joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Isabella Simonetti to discuss an article she wrote that focuses on the older ages of television viewers and how it has affected advertisers (03:35). They go through how the pitches to ad buyers have shifted, the age gap between people who consume traditional linear TV and streaming, whether age demographics are still used, the growing acceptance of older casts on TV, and whether linear TV is beginning to age out. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the distribution of 'The Apprentice,' which highlights Donald Trump’s rise during his business career (19:50).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Isabella Simonetti
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/31/2024 • 29 minutes, 1 second
The Memorial Day Box Office Meltdown
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the terrible Memorial Day box office weekend (02:36). They discuss the potential fallout from the disastrous weekend and the repercussions of May’s disappointing box office results, as well as debate whether studios will look to release fewer movies. Then, Matt finishes off the show with a prediction about Warner Bros. Discovery's NBA broadcasting rights (25:24).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/28/2024 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Everyone Hates Ticketmaster, but Is It a Monopoly?
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to discuss the U.S. government's monopoly lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation (02:58). They briefly go through the history of the Ticketmaster–Live Nation merger, what lead to the eventual lawsuit, why concert prices won’t go down even if the two companies split, whether this lawsuit is just a PR attack against Ticketmaster, what impact this could have on the secondary markets, what a broken up Ticketmaster–Live Nation would look like, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction for this weekend’s holiday box office (27:00).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Eriq Gardner
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/24/2024 • 32 minutes, 24 seconds
Scarlett Johansson Vs. OpenAI: Does She Have a Case?
Matt is joined by Greenberg Glusker partner and entertainment litigator Aaron Moss to discuss the situation between Scarlett Johansson and OpenAI (03:38). They discuss what rights were possibly implicated, talk about the different routes she can take if she decides to file a lawsuit, and compare previous similar cases to determine if she could win. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction on the future of the CW Network (26:14).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Aaron Moss
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/22/2024 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
A War Is Coming Over Hollywood Pay
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss why Netflix, Apple, and other streaming platforms are looking to change how they pay actors (03:25). After years of paying big up-front checks with no back end, streamers are looking to balance out their ballooning budgets by better aligning pay with performance. They debate why this change is happening now, how advertisements on these platforms could bring about more transparency, and whether this new model could actually work. Matt finishes the show with predictions on Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ and Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ (24:36).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/20/2024 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
NFL on Netflix, and Big Tech’s TV Upfronts Takeover
Matt is joined by media analyst Rich Greenfield to give out their biggest takeaways from the TV up-fronts, including Netlifx’s three-year deal with the NFL, YouTube’s impressive viewership data, Amazon’s slew of splashy announcements, and why this year might mark a turning point in media (02:20). Matt finishes the show with a discussion of the newest ‘Wicked’ trailer and the future of two-part movies (24:55).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/16/2024 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Latinos See More Movies Than Anyone. Why Is Hollywood Ignoring Them?
Matt is joined by Camilo Becdach, a partner at McKinsey, to discuss how improving on-and off-screen representation of Latinos could generate billions of dollars in new revenue for the film industry. Latinos are the most avid filmgoers per capita in the United States, and Camilo argues that Hollywood is leaving $12-18 billion on the table every year by underrepresenting Latinos on and behind the screen. He also outlines the barriers at the executive level confronting Latinos in entertainment, and what the industry can do to fix this (02:39). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction on the John Krasinski–directed animated film ‘IF,’ starring Ryan Reynolds (22:42).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Camilo Becdach
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/15/2024 • 29 minutes, 8 seconds
Disney+ and Max Have Bundled, Who’s Next?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the new bundle starting this summer that will combine Disney+, Hulu, and Max. They pick winners and losers of the deal, and wonder who might be the next to join in on the Great Re-Bundling (02:50). Matt finishes with a prediction about Netflix’s potential involvement with the NFL (25:01).
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/13/2024 • 32 minutes, 1 second
Are Producers in Hollywood Nearing Extinction?
Matt is joined by longtime producers Cathy Schulman and Lorenzo di Bonaventura to discuss the devaluation of producers in Hollywood, and their push for better rights under their new collective, Producers United. They outline why producers don’t have it as good as most might think, what a producer actually does, how they're getting squeezed financially, whether they will still be around in the future, and how what a producer does impacts the television and movies we all watch and enjoy. Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for the new film ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Cathy Schulman and Lorenzo di Bonaventura
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/9/2024 • 36 minutes, 25 seconds
The Year of Peacock?
Matt is joined by the president of Peacock, Kelly Campbell, to discuss Peacock’s unique place in the streaming universe, how live sports supercharged its growth, and how it plans to improve its coverage of the Olympics as their exclusive digital home. They also discuss how gaining NBA rights could affect Peacock’s content output and whether a joint venture with Paramount Plus or Max could ever work. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about ESPN’s over-the-top service after Disney’s latest earnings call.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Kelly Campbell
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/8/2024 • 30 minutes, 52 seconds
‘The Fall Guy’ Swung and Missed … Should We Panic?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to investigate the disappointing opening weekend for ‘The Fall Guy’ to figure out why this movie underperformed, and what lessons Hollywood can take from it. Questions explored: Should the movie be considered a flop? Was it marketed correctly? Is Ryan Gosling a bankable movie star? Does the disappointment of this original-ish movie mark a major setback for the summer box office and the movie industry at large? Later, Matt finishes the show with a prediction about how the Tom Brady roast will fare on Netflix.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/6/2024 • 31 minutes, 57 seconds
The 2024 Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale
It’s May, which means it is officially summer blockbuster season. Matt welcomes back Puck’s Scott Mendelson to run through each of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer, then assign their confidence levels for each movie’s likelihood of exceeding expectations at the box office.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Mendelson
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/3/2024 • 41 minutes, 12 seconds
The Fight for the Last NBA Rights With Bill Simmons
Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons to discuss the ongoing battle for the next round of NBA media rights. The latest reports outline a potential deal in place with ESPN/ABC and Amazon for the next decade, leaving open a coveted third spot for the highest bidder. Matt and Bill discuss who they believe will nab the third package and outline what the NBA could look like on streaming and broadcast in the future.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bill Simmons
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/1/2024 • 34 minutes, 34 seconds
A CEO Firing, and the Chaos at Paramount
Matt is joined by Lucas Shaw to discuss the ousting of Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish, why it happened now, and whether it affects a potential deal moving forward. They then update their predictions in the Skydance, vs. Apollo deal, and wonder what would happen to Paramount Global and its new three-headed CEO triumvirate if there is no deal. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the upcoming action movie ‘Fall Guy.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/30/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Rise of Tubi and If “Free” Is Really the Future of Entertainment
Matt is joined by Tubi CEO Anjali Sud to discuss the rapid growth of free, ad-supported content, competing with YouTube and social media, how young people want to consume content, whether Tubi can outlast the free ad-supported arms of major steamers, and whether this business is actually sustainable. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the future of TNT's 'Inside the NBA.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Anjali Sud
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/29/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Aaron Sorkin, Live From D.C.
In a special live episode, Matt and Puck colleague Peter Hamby are joined by screenwriter, playwright, and film director Aaron Sorkin to discuss the current state of Hollywood, the impact of AI on writers, politics, why he fired his agents, and much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Aaron Sorkin and Peter Hamby
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/26/2024 • 29 minutes, 46 seconds
Which Bidder Is Best for Paramount?
Matt is joined by author and Puck writer Bill Cohan to break down the latest in the Paramount bidding war. They discuss Sony’s interest in joining Apollo Global Management’s bid for Paramount and how it differs from David Ellison's Skydance Media bid. They also explore how each bid would affect Paramount’s stockholders, which bid Shari Redstone prefers, and more. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Challengers.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bill Cohan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/24/2024 • 31 minutes, 58 seconds
Netflix’s Backtrack on Transparency
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s pivot away from reporting subscriber growth and average revenue per user every quarter. The two question why Netflix is doing this and how this step back from transparency will affect other streaming services and the greater streaming landscape. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about primetime television.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/22/2024 • 32 minutes, 8 seconds
Taylor Swift’s Questionable Return to TikTok
Matt is joined by Nathan Hubbard—former CEO of Ticketmaster, current CEO of Firebird Music and Ringer podcaster—to discuss the return of Taylor Swift’s music to TikTok despite distributing partner Universal Music Group's boycott of the platform. They debate whether or not Taylor Swift should allow her music to reap the benefits of TikTok while other artists suffer. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction on the upcoming horror film ‘Abigail.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Nathan Hubbard
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/18/2024 • 31 minutes, 50 seconds
Hollywood’s Struggle to Reinvent Itself
Matt is joined by John Peters, Accenture’s global lead for media and entertainment, to look at which Hollywood studios are struggling to keep up with the wants of consumers and which are adapting to the times. John outlines why studios that make radical decisions are best positioned to succeed, and whether social media is the entertainment industry's biggest competitor. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Netlfix’s Q1 earnings
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Peters
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/17/2024 • 31 minutes, 40 seconds
The Best and Worst Media Mergers of the 21st Century
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back at the 21st century's biggest media and entertainment mergers and acquisitions, discuss how many of them actually worked, and anoint their best and worst deals of the century. They then look ahead to the potential deal between Paramount Global and David Ellison’s Skydance Media. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of Jason and Travis Kelce’s podcast, ‘New Heights.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/15/2024 • 38 minutes, 27 seconds
Can IMAX Save Movie Theaters?
Matt is joined by IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond to discuss the complicated state of movie theaters, and the growing importance of premium large-format screens like IMAX. Rich reveals just how much certain movies have benefitted from IMAX sales, which movies are getting the most IMAX screens this spring and summer, and what to do about the glut of empty multiplexes across the country. Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for Alex Garland’s newest film, ‘Civil War.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Gelfond
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/11/2024 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Hollywood vs. Big Tech in the Age of Consolidation
Matt Belloni is joined by Matt Stoller, research director for the American Economic Liberties Project and writer of the monopoly-focused newsletter 'Big,' to discuss the growing trend of consolidation in Hollywood and how big tech changed the way the entertainment industry operates. They talk through the downsides of consolidation in media, the difference between Netflix and other tech companies like Apple and Amazon, a potential Warner Bros. Discovery merger, and the government's role in all of this.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matt Stoller
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/10/2024 • 36 minutes, 22 seconds
Early Winners and Losers of 2024
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap Hollywood’s slow start to the year and reveal their under-the-radar winners and losers of 2024 so far. Matt finishes the show by revealing the championship matchup in the Hollywood Power Bracket and predicting who will take home the trophy.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/8/2024 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Why Documentaries Are Better and Worse Than Ever With Sheila Nevins
Matt is joined by Sheila Nevins, producer and former president of HBO Documentary Films, to discuss why she isn't bothered by the complicated state of documentaries. Thanks to streaming, documentaries are more popular than ever, reaching more households and finding consistent relevance in pop culture like never before. Sheila gives her take on the perception that quality filmmaking has ceded its path to quantity in the streaming age, our cultural obsession with murder and crime, and whether we need to change the way we think about documentary films. Matt finishes the show with a box office opening weekend prediction for ‘The First Omen’ and ‘Monkey Man’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Sheila Nevins
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/4/2024 • 32 minutes, 16 seconds
A WWE Business Smackdown With Nick Khan
Matt is joined by WWE president Nick Khan to discuss the WWE’s $5 billion deal with Netflix, making the streaming giant the exclusive new home to WWE’s 'Raw' starting in January 2025. Nick talks about how the deal came together, the creative vision in a post–Vince McMahon world, the Rock’s return to the ring, what this deal means for the future of sports media, where he expects the brand to be in three to five years, the looming NBA rights deal, and much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Nick Khan
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/3/2024 • 46 minutes, 32 seconds
The Disney Proxy War: Does Peltz Have a Shot Against Iger?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what’s at stake in Disney’s proxy battle with billionaire corporate raider Nelson Peltz. With the annual shareholder meeting coming up this week, they dive into the war Peltz has waged against Disney and CEO Bob Iger, whether his case has any merit, and whether he could actually win. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about how the box office will fare in Q2.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/1/2024 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Inside TMZ’s Cozy Relationship With Hollywood
Matt is joined by Van Lathan to discuss the complicated and nuanced relationship between TMZ and Hollywood. As a former TMZ employee, Van walks us through how the sausage is made at TMZ and outlines its aggressive reporting style, how it pays its sources, and how, despite its often negative perception, the mainstream media has become more like TMZ, not the other way around.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Van Lathan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/29/2024 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
The Battle for Attention: Streaming Vs. Social
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the battle for time in the attention economy of streaming and social media. They parse through the latest data on how people spend their time and wonder whether streaming services are in danger of losing relevance with young millennials and Gen Z. They talk about whether legacy studios and streamers are worried about apps like TikTok and how they are working to compete with them. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Season 3 of 'Euphoria.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/25/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
How AI Is Already Transforming Moviemaking
Matt is joined by Matt Panousis, the COO and cofounder of VFX and AI technology company MARZ, to discuss how AI is currently being implemented in Hollywood. Matt outlines the recent innovations and their impacts on VFX, dubbing, postproduction, digital makeup, and much more. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction about the opening weekend of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matt Panousis
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/21/2024 • 32 minutes, 8 seconds
Lemon, Tucker, and the Cable News Star Turned Influencer
Matt is joined by Puck’s Dylan Byers to check in on the world of television news and anchors like Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson exiting their perches and starting new careers on social media platforms like Twitter/X. They discuss whether these cable TV stars can retain their cachet and relevance, whether they can make as much money (or more), and whether the life after TV business model is sustainable. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about men vs. women's March Madness ratings.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dylan Byers
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/20/2024 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
The Juice List: The Most Powerful People in Hollywood
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to craft The Town’s first ever Hollywood Power List: their definitive (and subjective!) ranking of who has the most “juice” a.k.a. the most influential figures in the entertainment business. Matt and Lucas debate who deserves to be in the top 10, who doesn’t, whether an actor will break the top 10, and who currently deserves the coveted top spot.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/18/2024 • 31 minutes, 41 seconds
‘The Holdovers’ Plagiarism Claim and How to Protect Your Script
Matt is joined by Jeremiah Reynolds, partner at Eisner LLP and copyright law expert, to untangle the recent plagiarism accusation by screenwriter Simon Stephenson over Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers,’ then outline whether or not this case has merit. Matt and Jeremiah discuss famous past examples of copyright infringement, whether the WGA can help with plagiarism, and what a writer can do if they feel their idea is being stolen. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the films that will premiere at South by Southwest.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jeremiah Reynolds
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/15/2024 • 31 minutes, 12 seconds
Inside Netflix’s Calculated Sports Strategy
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Puck and Parrot Analytics to discuss what is and isn’t working in Netflix’s foray into live sports and sports-adjacent programming, and they outline how Netflix is experimenting to make a potential bid on live rights for a major sport. She reveals some data around Netflix viewership, explains why the sports documentary market is oversaturated, and outlines the importance of live sports for Netflix’s bottom line. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the opening weekend box office for the new Mark Wahlberg film ‘Arthur the King.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/14/2024 • 32 minutes, 14 seconds
Oscar Winners and Losers and the Updated Movie Studio Power Rankings
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the various winners and losers from the Academy Awards, including Universal Studios, film chief Donna Langley, Christopher Nolan, and Disney's Searchlight Pictures as winners and Apple and Netflix as losers. Now, with awards season officially in the books, Matt and Lucas create their new movie studio power rankings.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/12/2024 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
Insider Tips to Predict the Oscar Winners
Matt is joined by Mosaic talent manager and Oscar enthusiast Michael Lasker to parse through the awards season chatter to find a gambling edge on the Academy Awards. Matt and Michael discuss whether anyone has a shot at defeating 'Oppenheimer,' Emma Stone vs. Lily Gladstone, the tight screenplay races, and whether history still plays a role in who wins. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend box office numbers for 'Kung Fu Panda 4.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Lasker
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/7/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Money and Power Behind the Oscars’ Red Carpet
Matt is joined by Puck’s longtime fashion journalist, Lauren Sherman, to discuss the business of the red carpet, the amount of money celebrities can make from high-end luxury brands, and the state of the Oscars as a fashion and brand platform. Lauren tells us which stars have the biggest brand deals, who has broken out this year, and how a stylist can take them to the next level. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about another possible strike in Hollywood, then delivers some gossip about a certain A-list celebrity's attendance at the Oscars.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lauren Sherman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/6/2024 • 35 minutes, 45 seconds
New Film Heads and a New Direction for Netflix and Disney
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the big changes on the film side of Netflix and Disney, and what these moves signal for each studio. Netflix hired producer Dan Lin as their new head of film, and Disney promoted David Greenbaum as their new head of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios. Dramatically fewer movies at Netflix, Disney goes for more original hits, big changes at Netflix and Disney and maybe the kinds of movies that get made. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming release of the ‘Taylor Swift: The Era’s Tour’ movie on Disney+.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/4/2024 • 31 minutes, 28 seconds
The Awards Season Awards: Which Oscars Campaigns Worked (and Didn’t)
Matt is joined by The New Yorker’s Michael Schulman to parse through the endless campaigns from the 2024 Oscar season and give out their own awards for the best, worst, and everything in between. Some of the awards include Best Campaign Narrative, Biggest Campaign Misfire, Best Stunt, Best Overall Campaign, and Who Won Awards Season.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Schulman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/1/2024 • 36 minutes, 13 seconds
Will AI Video Replace Hollywood?
Matt is joined by Ben Thompson, the founder of Stratechery, to discuss Open AI’s new text-to-video model Sora and the ensuing Hollywood freakout. Ben explains how Sora works and what effect it could have in the short and long term in the entertainment industry. They discuss which departments will be disrupted the most, how Sora and text-to-video models can be used as a productivity tool, and how the major studios should deal with this new era in technology. Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for 'Dune: Part Two.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Thompson
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/28/2024 • 38 minutes, 10 seconds
Panic Time for Max and Warner Bros. Discovery?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to check in on Warner Bros. Discovery and CEO David Zazlav after a rocky earnings call last week. They discuss the disappointing movie quarter, their murky path to streaming profitability, the state of the MAX brand, whether they will keep their NBA rights, and if it's officially time to pivot on WBD’s business model. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the Best Actor and Best Actress categories of the Academy Awards.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/26/2024 • 32 minutes, 21 seconds
The Harsh Data Behind ‘Barbie’ and Taylor Swift’s Success
Matt is joined by Dr. Stacy Smith—the founder of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative—to discuss the state of female representation in Hollywood and how “The Year of the Woman” after major box office hits from ‘Barbie’, Taylor Swift’s ‘The Eras Tour’ and Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance' might not be accurate. They also discuss the state of casting older men and women in Hollywood, the DEI initiatives of major studios, new inclusion standards for the Oscars, and the responsibility of the Academy to bring about change in Hollywood. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the new Apple sports app.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dr. Stacy Smith
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/22/2024 • 32 minutes, 9 seconds
Peacock-Paramount+ Merger Rumors, Questions, and What-Ifs
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Peacock’s strong start to 2024 and the prospect of a possible joint venture or “commercial partnership” with Paramount+, as reported by The Wall Street Journal late last week. They run through the logistics of a merger, the curious timing of the Journal’s story, the critical role live sports rights play, Warren Buffett's sale of a third of his stake in Paramount Global, and who is most to blame for Paramount's struggles. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about John Oliver’s HBO show, ‘Last Week Tonight.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/20/2024 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
How to Win Best Picture on a Budget, With Neon’s Tom Quinn
Matt is joined by Neon founder and CEO Tom Quinn to talk about the thesis for launching Neon, the difficulty of starting a theatrical distribution company centered around adult-oriented movies in 2017, how they are able to compete financially with other major studios’ Oscar campaigns, the business model behind a movie like ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ what they learned from ‘Parasite,’ what he deems a success in independent film, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of the ‘True Detective’ franchise.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tom Quinn
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/17/2024 • 31 minutes, 47 seconds
Hopeful or Hopeless? Takeaways From 2024's Bleak Box Office Beginning
Matt is joined by box office columnist and Puck contributor Scott Mendelson to discuss the historically bleak start to the year at the box office, filled with few tentpole releases and bombs from movies like ‘Argylle.’ They preview the rest of the year’s movie slate, discuss whether movies like 'Dune: Part Two' can outperform the limitations of their genre, offer up some potential wild-card hits, and wonder whether the lack of major franchise releases in 2024 will boost original and original-ish movies like Ryan Gosling's ‘The Fall Guy.’ Matt finishes the show by giving a box office prediction for the upcoming film ‘Madame Web.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Mendelson
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/15/2024 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Live From Las Vegas: Oscars Pressure, Late-Night TV, and the Vegas Sports Boom With Jimmy Kimmel
Live from Las Vegas, Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw and special guest Jimmy Kimmel to discuss the state of sports television, the NFL's dominance in an otherwise struggling television landscape, Las Vegas as a Super Bowl venue, the potential move of the Oakland A's to Vegas, the hardest part about hosting the Oscars, the future of late-night television, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: Lucas Shaw and Jimmy Kimmel
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/12/2024 • 40 minutes, 50 seconds
Did Disney Get Its Magic Back?
Matt is joined by media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss Disney’s latest quarterly earnings report, as well as a slew of new announcements from CEO Bob Iger. Matt and Rich run through each announcement, including their new $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, a stand-alone ESPN streaming service, their bundled sports streaming service with Fox and WBD, Moana 2, Taylor Swift's concert movie coming to Disney+, and the Nelson Peltz proxy battle. Later, the pair determine whether they can prove to the creative community that they are officially back. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the Gina Carano–Disney lawsuit.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/9/2024 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Will the New All-in-One Sports App Finally Kill Cable?
Matt is joined by sports business journalist and Puck contributor John Ourand to discuss ESPN, Fox, and Warner Bros. Discovery teaming up to create a new over-the-top sports streaming platform that will air live sports from ESPN, TNT, FS1, and more. They discuss the dynamics of this deal, why this is happening, how it will affect the future of linear cable, potential drawbacks, and more. Matt finishes the show with a Super Bowl ratings prediction.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Ourand
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/8/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Five Major Music Business Questions After the Grammy's
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the highlights, lowlights, and most pressing music industry questions after the 2024 Grammy Awards. Matt and Lucas check in on the music business, including the ongoing feud between Universal Music Group and TikTok, Taylor Swift's new album announcement, the Grammy's problem with hip-hop, the future of the Las Vegas Sphere, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/5/2024 • 32 minutes, 21 seconds
TikTok vs. Universal Music: Why Taylor, Drake and Others Were Yanked
Matt is joined by Rolling Stone’s Ethan Millman to discuss the ongoing battle between Universal Music Group and TikTok, why Taylor Swift, Drake, and other artists’ music is no longer on the app, if TikTok deserves to pay less in royalties because of its cultural prominence and inherent marketing advantage, and ultimately who needs who more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the final season of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ethan Millman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/2/2024 • 32 minutes, 14 seconds
The Politics of Studios and Movie Stars
Matt is joined by filmmaker Ed Zwick ('Glory,' 'Blood Diamond,' 'The Last Samurai') to discuss the art of studio and movie star politics in a constantly evolving industry. Ed talks about the era of high-end dramas in Hollywood, how to manage studios, the exploitation of test screenings, how to handle a difficult movie star, and much more. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction about the upcoming movie ‘Argylle.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ed Zwick
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/1/2024 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
A Wild Week at Netflix: Stuber’s Out, WWE Is In, and Subs Are Up
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss film chief Scott Stuber’s exit from Netflix and what it means for the streamer's movie arm, Netflix’s foray into live programming with a $5 billion deal for WWE's 'Raw,' and its latest earnings report, which saw a big boost in subscriber growth. Matt, Lucas, and producer Craig finish the show by adding a new wrinkle to the 2024 box office draft.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/29/2024 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
A Top Dealmaker’s Media M&A Predictions
Matt is joined by Joe Ravitch, the founder and partner at The Raine Group, to discuss the secret to a successful media merger, the dealmaking landscape in 2024, whether looming consolidation could hurt creatives in the industry, the appetite for tech companies to buy content companies, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about John Stewart’s return to ‘The Daily Show.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joe Ravitch
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/25/2024 • 34 minutes, 55 seconds
Can Sundance Save Indie Film? With CEO Joana Vicente
Live from Park City, Utah, at the Sundance Film Festival, Matt is joined by Joana Vicente, a former producer and the current CEO of the Sundance Institute. Matt and Joana discuss the state of independent film, the perils of the indie film to streaming pipeline, the possibility of the festival leaving Park City in the near future, Scott Stuber's exit from Netflix, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2024 Academy Awards.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joana Vicente
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/24/2024 • 37 minutes, 19 seconds
The 2024 Box Office Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to conduct the second annual box office draft on ‘The Town.’ Matt and Lucas each draft five blockbusters set to be released in 2024 with the goal of making the most money possible against the production budget. Plus, an added twist that allows each person to saddle the others team with a movie they believe will bomb.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/22/2024 • 31 minutes, 34 seconds
The 'SNL' Succession Sweepstakes
Matt is joined by journalist, author, and 'SNL' expert James Andrew Miller to discuss whether Lorne Michaels will actually step down after the 50th anniversary of 'Saturday Night Live' in 2025 and, if so, who is best suited to replace him. They also discuss the state of the show, its struggle with political humor, and its lack of star power.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: James Andrew Miller
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/19/2024 • 36 minutes, 29 seconds
Peacock’s NFL Debut and the Viability of Streaming-Only Sports
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the NFL’s first streaming exclusive playoff game, which featured the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs on Peacock. They break down why this should largely be considered a success for Peacock, how to retain the influx of new subscribers, and if the streaming exclusive sporting event is the right path forward. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the next host of the Oscars.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/16/2024 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
The Billionaire Blueprint to Buy Paramount
Matt is joined by Puck’s Bill Cohan to discuss the latest reports about Paramount Global’s potential sale, specifically looking at David Ellison’s pitch to acquire the media empire by purchasing National Amusement, Paramount’s parent company. Matt and Bill discuss Shari Redstone’s willingness to now engage, the financial problems as well as complications and high risk involved with the potential deal, what Ellison could do with the assets he doesn't want, and what the future holds for Paramount Global if no deal is made. Matt finishes the show with a prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Mean Girls’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bill Cohan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/12/2024 • 31 minutes, 38 seconds
The McAfee Hail Mary and ESPN's Search for Answers
Matt is joined by journalist Ethan Strauss of the ‘House of Strauss’ Substack to discuss the messy Pat McAfee saga and what it says about the state of ESPN. They unpack ESPN's decision to license 'The Pat McAfee Show,' whether the attempt to draw younger audiences to ESPN's linear channel is working, and whether the YouTube-ification of ESPN is a sustainable model. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about who will host the next Academy Awards.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ethan Strauss
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/10/2024 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
Four Burning Hollywood Questions to Kick Off 2024
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the most pressing questions as we begin a new year in Hollywood, including the drama around Disney’s proxy battle, Bob Iger’s continued search for a successor, the looming NBA rights deal and the fate of local sports, and Oppenheimer’s dominance at the Golden Globes and what the rest of awards season will hold.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/9/2024 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
Are the Golden Globes Unkillable?
Matt is joined by Brooks Barnes from The New York Times to discuss the long and messy path of the Golden Globes as we gear up for the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday. Matt and Brooks discuss why this show can’t seem to die even though it's been mired in controversy, how it has been reformed under new ownership, whether people even want to celebrate Hollywood anymore, and why the Globes will probably still exist 30 years from now. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the ratings for the Golden Globes.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Brooks Barnes
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/4/2024 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Young Movie Star Power Rankings
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll to discuss the young movie stars on the rise and fall after a chaotic movie year in Hollywood. They highlight the movies that catapulted young actors into stardom, as well as some of the more puzzling casting decisions that potentially hurt someone's career. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2024 box office in January and February.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justin Kroll
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/3/2024 • 35 minutes, 52 seconds
The Townies, Part 2: Who Won the Year in Hollywood?
In Part 2 of the exclusive Townie Awards, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw select their Winner of the Year in Hollywood, and give out a number of additional awards, including Executive Fail of the Year, Low-Key Flex, Movie Marketing Miss of the Year, The “Did I Say That Out Loud” Award for Worst Quote, the Mea Culpa I Was Wrong Award, as well as the Suck It Haters I Was Right Award, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/28/2023 • 38 minutes, 13 seconds
The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2023
It’s podcasting's most exclusive event of the year: The second annual Townie Awards! This is a show made up of awards created by us, based on our own interpretations of the craziest year in Hollywood, maybe ever? In Part 1, Matt is joined by Lucas Shaw, the Amy Poehler to his Tina Fey, to give out the first round of awards, including Most Destructive Behind-the-Scenes Drama, Publicist Fail of the Year, Most Annoying Media Narrative, Deal of the Year, Larry David Spite Store of the Year, Sneaky Success of the Year, and much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/28/2023 • 44 minutes, 53 seconds
Warner Bros. and Paramount Are Talking. Should They Merge?
Matt is joined by LightShed Partners media analyst Rich Greenfield to break down the latest reports of a meeting between Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish in New York City to discuss a possible merger. Matt and Rich discuss what a deal would look like between these two legacy companies, how this would affect the streaming and cable networks for both of these companies, and whether or not major mergers in modern Hollywood ever work. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the weekend box office.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/21/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
The Biggest Debacles of 2023: Studio Screwups, Executive Misfires, and Underrated Disasters
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the biggest disasters of 2023 after a chaotic and frustrating year in Hollywood. With the labor shutdowns being the clear answer for the biggest debacle, Matt and Lucas look beyond the strikes to nominate what they believe have been the most calamitous misfires in the industry this year.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/18/2023 • 36 minutes, 59 seconds
The Animation Arms Race With Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri
Matt is joined by film producer and founder/CEO of Illumination, Chris Meledandri, to discuss a very weird year for theatrical animation, which featured a billion-dollar hit in ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and big misses with originals like ‘Wish’ and ‘Strange World’. Chris helps explain the business of feature animation, why original animated movies have been struggling, and how Illumination differs from the other major players in animation like Pixar and Disney Animation, DreamWorks, and more. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for the upcoming film ‘Wonka’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Chris Meledandri
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/14/2023 • 36 minutes, 55 seconds
Ted Sarandos on Netflix’s New Era of Data Transparency
Matt is joined by Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix's newest expansion into data transparency, called “What We Watched: A Netflix Engagement Report,” a biannual report covering six months of streaming habits on the platform across more the 18,000 shows and movies between January-June 2023. Matt and Lucas dive into the data and ask Ted about Netflix’s shift in strategy, the downstream effect on the rest of the streamers, and how this will alter the deal-making market for creators. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the fate of Paramount Global.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ted Sarandos
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/13/2023 • 40 minutes, 59 seconds
Are Streamers Helping or Hurting the Movie Business?
Matt is joined by Ted Hope, a producer and former cohead of movies at Amazon Studios, to discuss streaming's negative impact on the movie business. Ted provides his perspective to explain how global streaming platforms have damaged the independent film business, how predatory pricing has corrupted the market, how the incentives of streamers have changed, and what should be done to fix this. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for Hayao Miyazaki's newest film, ‘The Boy and the Heron.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ted Hope
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/8/2023 • 33 minutes, 11 seconds
The Companies Most Likely to Be Bought or Sold in 2024
Matt is joined by Axios senior correspondent Sara Fischer to dissect the biggest deals of 2023, and what we can expect in 2024. They discuss why private equity may dominate the deal market next year, the possibility of a major merger, and predict what 2024 will hold for Paramount Global, Warner Bros. Discovery, Comcast, theater chains, NBA rights, and more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction on a potential IATSE strike in the spring.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Sara Fischer
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/7/2023 • 33 minutes, 18 seconds
The Murky Metrics of Podcast Success
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman to discuss the state of the podcast industry and its struggle to reach profitability despite its growth. They talk about the murky metrics for success, the era of companies going “all in” on celebrity podcasts, the comedy podcaster boom, Spotify vs. Apple vs. YouTube, and the rise of the video podcast. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of streamer bundling.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ashley Carman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/5/2023 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
The Biggest Streaming Power Moves of 2023
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander—the director of strategy at Parrot Analytics and a streaming wars expert—to discuss the year's most strategic and powerful moves made by streamers to try to gain an advantage over their rivals, and which worked the best. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 2024 Oscars.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/1/2023 • 32 minutes, 18 seconds
Hollywood’s Star-making Problem, with a Top Casting Director
Matt is joined by longtime casting director Denise Chamian to provide her perspective on some of the industry’s most pressing topics, including Hollywood’s lack of young movie stars, AI replacing actors, the effectiveness of the SAG-AFTRA strike, as well as misconceptions about the casting process and how it has changed. She also reveals a few secrets about the casting for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and ‘Elvis’, and highlights a few actors she believes are stars in the making. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction for the opening weekend of 'Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Denise Chamian
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/1/2023 • 32 minutes, 5 seconds
Who Will Buy Paramount?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Paramount Global’s struggle to survive in the age of streaming, whether owner Shari Redstone will be forced to sell the family business, and, if so, whom she will sell it to. Matt finishes the show by giving an update on the 2023 box office draft between him and Lucas.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/28/2023 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Does Big Tech Belong in Hollywood?
Matt is joined by Vox senior correspondent and 'Recode Media' host Peter Kafka to discuss the new era of tech and Hollywood, including the long-term place of Apple and Amazon in the entertainment industry, the rise of advertising in streaming, YouTube's and TikTok’s power, the complicated relationship between big tech and sports, big tech’s foray into the media ecosystem, how it will affect the traditional broadcast industry, Elon Musk's impact on Twitter and social media, and the upcoming Elon Musk movie. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for Disney’s ‘Wish’ and Apple’s ‘Napoleon.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Peter Kafka
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/22/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Unexpected Winners and Losers of the Hollywood Labor Strikes
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss some of the unexpected winners and losers in the wake of the strikes, highlighting those who suffered from collateral damage or perhaps benefited from fortuitous timing during Hollywood's extended shutdown.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/20/2023 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
Potential Backfires in the Actors AI Deal
Matt is joined by Justine Bateman—writer, director, producer, former actress, and SAG-AFTRA negotiation committee consultant on the use of AI—to discuss the protections established against the use of AI in the new SAG-AFTRA deal. She voices criticisms of the AI portion of the contract, and highlights potential loopholes that could significantly affect working actors and permanently alter the future of filmmaking. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming release of ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justine Bateman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/17/2023 • 37 minutes, 47 seconds
Rupert’s Retirement and Fox’s Place in Hollywood
Matt is joined by journalist and former chief media correspondent for CNN Brian Stelter to discuss the unique business behind Fox and its relationship with Hollywood moving forward in post-Rupert era, including how it continues to generate billions in profits every year, their lucrative deal with the NFL, and their ad-supported TV service, Tubi. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on Tom Brady’s media career.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Brian Stelter
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/14/2023 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
Bob Iger’s Year One: Highs, Lows, and Marvel Woes
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss one year of Bob Iger 2.0 and his latest comments surrounding the company's fourth quarter earnings report, including more aggressive cost-cutting measures, quantity vs. quality criticism of the film and TV division, and their promising streaming subscriber gains. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery’s unreleased movie, ‘Coyote vs. Acme.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/13/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
The End of the Actors Strike With Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
On Wednesday night, SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP reached a tentative deal on a three-year contract valued at over $1 billion, ending the longest strike in the union’s history at 118 days. Matt is joined by the national executive director and chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, to give more details on what the actors won in their new deal. They discuss the provisions for consent and compensation with AI, the new streaming and viewership-based program for residuals, why he was thrilled when George Clooney offered a proposal, Fran Drescher’s presence in the negotiating room, potential lessons learned, and so much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/9/2023 • 37 minutes, 5 seconds
How the Strike Derailed Oscar Season
Matt is joined by New York Times’ Kyle Buchanan to discuss the upended awards season in the wake of the actors strike, how it has stripped actors of participating in all of the usual promotional activities, and how much disruption on the campaign trail actually matters this Oscars season. They talk about who is suffering the most, who has been given a boost, and how things will shake after the strike ends.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Kyle Buchanan
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/8/2023 • 31 minutes, 34 seconds
Why Batman and Everything Else Is Coming to Netflix
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the non-Netflix streaming services can survive in a Netflix-dominated world. They discuss Warner Bros. Discovery's licensing of a large collection of DC films to Netflix and whether sending A-list content to Netflix is sustainable for the other streamers. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on where Jon Stewart will land a new show.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/7/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Should Reality Stars Have a Union? With Bethenny Frankel
Matt is joined by entrepreneur, media personality, and former Bravo star Bethenny Frankel to discuss the abusive and oppressive working conditions on reality shows, the mistreatment of their participants, and why she is pushing for the unionization of reality TV. She discusses why a union is the best way to protect reality TV stars, the forces preventing this from happening, and how she sees her role in this process. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Disney’s buyout of Hulu.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bethenny Frankel
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/2/2023 • 39 minutes, 12 seconds
The Reboot Era and TV’s IP Obsession
Matt is joined by former NBC and Fox executive Preston Beckman to discuss if the TV revival is a viable option for TV networks nowadays. Do networks see pre-branded properties like 'Frasier' as more important than ever, or are they a vestige of a past era on its last leg? They also discuss the art of pilot recastings, if 'Friends' will ever be revived, the state of the binge model, and if TV scheduling is more or less important than ever. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the World Series.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Preston Beckman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/1/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
How Screwed Is the 2024 Movie Calendar?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the strikes have affected the 2024 movie calendar after several studios have pushed the releases of several blockbuster films, including Disney’s ‘Snow White’ remake and the next ‘Mission: Impossible,’ both now pushed to 2025. They discuss whether these moves can be seen as strategic or simply responses to production delays caused by the strikes. They discuss the similarities that 2024 might have to the pandemic box office, nominate some potential benefactors, and guess who might suffer the most. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the possibility of a union for reality stars.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/30/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Town Hall: Hasan Minhaj, a SAG Stalemate, and Apple’s Scorsese Bet
Welcome back to Town Hall! Matt and Craig answer a slew of listener questions about why Hasan Minhaj lost the 'Daily Show' job, stories from inside the strike negotiation rooms, whether Hollywood would ramp up during the holidays if SAG-AFTRA reaches a deal in the next few weeks, consolidation in the entertainment industry, Taylor Swift’s ‘Argylle’ rumor, and give a prediction for ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/27/2023 • 32 minutes, 3 seconds
Marvel’s Post-‘Avengers’ Mismanagement
Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Joanna Robinson to talk about the reasons behind Marvel’s decline and whether the superhero era in general has reached its natural end or whether a resurgence is possible. They discuss Marvel’s brand oversaturation, its messy foray into television, its visual effects issues, what it will do about Jonathan Majors, whether the original stars need to come back, and Marvel president Kevin Feige’s future with the company.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joanna Robinson
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/25/2023 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
There Is Netflix, and There Is Everyone Else
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix’s reign of dominance in 2023 and how it managed to return to form after the Great Netflix Correction. They discuss how Netflix managed to succeed over the past year with moves like cracking down on password sharing and licensing shows from other streamers, and why its competition seems to be the weakest it's ever been. They also discuss Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos’s latest comments about the actors strike.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/23/2023 • 32 minutes, 18 seconds
NBA TV Rights and Players Owning Teams With Rich Paul
Matt is joined by Rich Paul, the founder and CEO of Klutch Sports Group, as well as co-head of UTA Sports, to discuss why Klutch made a deal with UTA, the upcoming NBA media rights deal, Lionel Messi’s unique deal with MLS, LeBron James’s business interests and players becoming team owners, financial literacy with athletes, his relationship with Adele, and much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Paul
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/20/2023 • 32 minutes, 21 seconds
How Long Can the Live Concert Boom Last?
Matt is joined by Andrew Wallenstein, Variety Intelligence’s chief media analyst, to discuss live concerts' hot streak and the post-pandemic rise of the experience economy, as well as historic ticket prices, the lengths fans are going to to see their favorite artists, what this means for the future of live music, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about stand-up comedy on streaming.
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To sample the study mentioned in today's interview, visit Variety.com/livemusic.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Andrew Wallenstein
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/18/2023 • 31 minutes, 20 seconds
The Hollywood Stock Market: Travis Kelce’s Media Career, Netflix With Ads, Mega Music Docs, and More!
Live from Bloomberg’s Screentime event in Los Angeles, Matt and Lucas Shaw buy and sell a slew of Hollywood-related topics, including Travis Kelce’s eventual post-NFL career, Netflix’s ad tier, megastar music documentaries, Sam Levinson, the state of talent agencies, Paramount Global, and more. They also discuss the latest update in the ongoing actors strike.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/16/2023 • 42 minutes, 56 seconds
Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and the Fights Over Song Credits
Matt is joined by Howard King, a music industry expert and trial lawyer who has represented Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and many major artists in the music industry, to shed light on the complicated world of copyright infringement in the music industry songwriting credits, and why Olivia Rodrigo had to give writing credits to Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff for her songs “Deja Vu” and “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back.” Matt finishes with a review of the Taylor Swift Eras tour movie after attending the premiere and updates his prediction on the box office performance for the film’s opening weekend.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Howard King
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/12/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Price Hikes and the Streaming Class System
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss yet another round of price hikes for ad-free streaming services like Disney+ and Netflix, how the business is evolving to push people into the ad-supported tiers, the disappearance of the streaming middle class, how much these subscription prices could be, and more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the Sphere.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/10/2023 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Live Sports on Max, and the Inevitable All-In-One App
Matt is joined by JB Perrette, president and CEO of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, to discuss WBD's simulcasting live sports option on its streaming platform, Max; why they're doing this; growing direct to consumer without turning their back on linear channels; where the future of live sports is; maintaining a relationship with cable carriers; how this will affect Warner Bros. Discovery's bid for NBA rights; and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction for the opening weekend of 'The Exorcist: Believer.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: JB Perrette
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/5/2023 • 34 minutes, 28 seconds
Influencers Don’t Need Hollywood Anymore
Matt is joined by journalist and author Taylor Lorenz to discuss how influencers and the creator economy have both benefited and suffered from the strike, the relationship between Hollywood and digital creators, the goal of the modern influencer, the best platforms for monetization, and much more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction on ‘Naked Attraction,’ the newest reality show added to the Max streaming service.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Taylor Lorenz
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/4/2023 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
The Post-Strike State of TV and Movie Writing
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the business of screenwriting in the wake of the end of the writers strike. Most would agree that “peak TV” is over, and most streamers are cutting back on the amount of television shows they produce each year. Matt and Lucas discuss how this retrenchment will affect the bottom line for writers, and if the slowdown in overall deals will push writers back toward movies. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s upcoming concert films.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/2/2023 • 31 minutes, 57 seconds
Lessons From the ‘Must-See TV’ Era, with Warren Littlefield
Matt is joined by producer and former NBC executive Warren Littlefield to discuss the state of broadcast television and how the industry has changed from the heyday of the must-see TV era of the ’90s. Warren talks about what it was like to run a TV network in the ’90s—and when shows would generate ratings that seem unthinkable today—and how the fall TV slate has declined in the streaming era. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction about a slate of movies being released this weekend.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Warren Littlefield
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/29/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
What the Writers Guild Won, With a Negotiator
Matt is joined by writer, TV host, and WGA negotiation committee member Adam Conover to break down the details of the deal and outline what exactly the writers won, including the groundbreaking success-based streaming residual, official language on AI restrictions, minimum staffing for writers rooms, and much more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction on NFL ratings in the wake of the Taylor Swift–Travis Kelce frenzy.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Adam Conover
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/27/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
The Writers Strike Is Over. Can We All Be Friends Again?
On Sunday night, the WGA and the AMPTP reached a tentative deal on a new three-year contract, paving the way for the end of the strike after 146 days, the second longest ever. Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what happens now, including what needs to happen for this deal to be finalized; where they landed on key issues like minimum staffing protections against AI, performance-based residuals, and pay increases; what this means for the SAG-AFTRA strike; and whether everyone can be friends again now that a deal has been made.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/25/2023 • 33 minutes, 42 seconds
The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Empire
Matt is joined by journalist Michael Wolff, author of ‘The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty,’ to talk about the state of play in the Murdoch family, what a post-Murdoch Fox News looks like, Murdoch’s distaste for Donald Trump, similarities between the 2020 and 2024 elections, what the future holds for the powerful media empire, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Wolff
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 27 seconds
From Sports to Hollywood With Casey Wasserman
Matt is joined by Casey Wasserman, chairman and CEO of Wasserman and chairperson of the LA2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They discuss Casey’s jump into the traditional entertainment business after purchasing Brillstein Entertainment Partners and what it means for the future of Wasserman, if we will continue to see consolidation in the management field, his thoughts on the ongoing strikes, as well as his vision for the L.A. Olympics in 2028.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Casey Wasserman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/20/2023 • 32 minutes, 5 seconds
The Strike’s Permanent Damage: Who Will Suffer the Most?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the long-term impact of the strike and who or what will suffer the most after it’s over. They talk about how peak TV, late-night talk shows, Bob Iger, Drew Barrymore, streaming content, and overall deals will fare in the aftermath of the strike. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about ‘Yellowstone’ re-airing on CBS.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/19/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Why Can’t Bob Iger Find a Successor?
Matt is joined by CNBC’s Alex Sherman to discuss Disney’s dysfunction over the past few years, including the unceremonious end to the Bob Chapek era, Bob Iger’s inability to find a successor, why he came back to Disney, how long he will stay, and whether Iger is the right person to run Disney right now. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about this weekend's box office.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Alex Sherman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/14/2023 • 35 minutes, 53 seconds
A WWE and UFC Tag Team, With Endeavor’s Mark Shapiro
Matt is joined by Mark Shapiro, the president of Endeavor and now TKO, the newly formed sports and entertainment company merging WWE and UFC. They discuss the details behind the deal, what this means for Dana White and Vince McMahon, who gains the most from this merger, the upcoming rights deals for both sports, and how people will be able to watch in the future. Mark also gives his take on the recent CAA sale, as well as on how his agency, WME, is faring during the strike. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the return of Drew Barrymore’s talk show.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Shapiro
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/12/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
CAA’s New Billionaire Owner and the (Over)Value of Talent Agencies
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the world of talent representation’s transformation over the past few years and particularly during the strikes. They discuss majority owner TPG selling its stake in CAA to French billionaire François-Henri Pinault for $7 billion, why he made this deal, what it means for CAA, and the talent representation industry at large. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Charter’s new deal with ESPN.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/11/2023 • 32 minutes, 21 seconds
Fall Festival Buzz and the Beginning of Oscar Season With the Head of TIFF
It’s festival season, so Matt is joined by Cameron Bailey, the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), to discuss the trickle-down effect of the strikes on film festivals, why TIFF is so successful in predicting Oscar nominations, and how to handle a festival without stars. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav's end-of-year bonus.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Cameron Bailey
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/7/2023 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
Disney’s ESPN Fight and Taylor’s Movie Takeover
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the ongoing dispute between Charter and Disney and why this one might be different because it might not be just about the money. They wonder whether this has the possibility to blow up the cable model, who has the leverage, and whether an end is in sight. Then they pivot to Taylor Swift’s disruptive deal with AMC Theatres and the choice to bypass a studio distributor and take her concert film directly to theaters. They talk about why she and her family opted to do this, what the economics look like for Taylor, whether other artists will follow in her footsteps, and whether it will land on streaming.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/6/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
The Summer Box Office Awards Show
Matt is joined by Jeff Bock from Exhibitor Relations to look back on a bizarre summer at the box office and hand out awards for the highs and lows of the 2023 summer movie season. They give out awards like Franchise Flex, Biggest Flop, Winner and Loser of the Summer, Biggest Comedy Fail, I Guess We Gotta Make Another, and more. Matt finishes the show by predicting the box office opening weekend for 'The Equalizer 3.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jeff Bock
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/31/2023 • 38 minutes, 29 seconds
The Growing Power of IMAX, With Its CEO
Matt is joined by the CEO of IMAX, Rich Gelfond, to discuss the impressive success of ‘Oppenheimer’ in IMAX theaters, its opening in China this week, the decision to give ‘Oppenheimer’ IMAX exclusivity over ‘Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One,’ whether moviegoing will continue to skew more toward premium experiences like IMAX, and whether Apple should buy IMAX.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Gelfond
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/30/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Three Biggest Hold-ups in the Writers Strike
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the state of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, including the AMPTP’s decision to publicize its latest offer to the WGA, whether any ground is being made, whether Netflix is best suited to initiate an agreement, and whether the fall is still a reasonable time for all of this to end.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/28/2023 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
Is Apple’s Sports Experiment Working?
Matt is joined by Parrot Analytics director of strategy and Puck contributor Julia Alexander to talk about Apple TV+ and its current standing with consumers, as well as the company's big bet on Major League Soccer and whether it’s working, how Lionel Messi is juicing its numbers, what its long-term play is in sports, and whether a streamer’s money is better spent on live sports or creating new original scripted content.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/25/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Justin, Ariana, and the Scooter Braun Mess
Matt is joined by Shirley Halperin, the Los Angeles magazine editor in chief, to discuss the latest in the Scooter Braun–Justin Bieber–Ariana Grande situation. They talk about Scooter’s meteoric rise in the music industry, discuss how he has cultivated his image, and ultimately debate why so many major artists are reportedly trying to cut ties with Braun as their manager right now.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Shirley Halperin
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/24/2023 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Predicting Hollywood’s September Surprises
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to predict what surprises could be in store for Hollywood as we start shifting to the fall season. They debate if one of the strikes could finally end, who will fill Donna Langley’s role at Universal, which studio executive will be the next to go, and so much more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/21/2023 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
How Much Money Does a Hit Movie Really Make (and a Flop Really Lose)?
Matt is joined by John Mass, president of Content Partners, to discuss how a movie really reaches profitability, address the common misconceptions of how a movie makes money, and explain how a movie that seems like a hit might still be unprofitable—as well as how a movie that sputters in theaters can still be extremely valuable to a studio.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Mass
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/17/2023 • 39 minutes, 54 seconds
Disney’s ESPN Dilemma: to Sell or Not to Sell?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss ESPN's foray into gambling after it struck a deal with PENN Entertainment to create ESPN Bet, why Bob Iger and Disney decided to make this move now, and how this affects ESPN's value proposition in the wake of Bob Iger’s comments that he is interested in a strategic partner with the worldwide leader. Matt and Lucas discuss whether selling ESPN outright is still on the table for Disney, as well as potential buyers, partners, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/14/2023 • 32 minutes, 17 seconds
The Doomsday AI Scenario In Hollywood
Matt is joined by Justine Bateman—writer, director, producer, former actress, and SAG-AFTRA negotiation committee consultant on the use of AI—to discuss if we are underestimating AI's overall impact and how it impacts the strike itself. They talk about whether the guilds are taking the right position on AI, what the future of content will look like if studios fully embrace AI, and if anything positive can come out of this. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of the Disney+ bundle after their latest price hikes.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justine Bateman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/10/2023 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Everyone Running Hollywood Is Old. Does That Matter?
Matt is joined by former CAA co-chairman and agent of 40 years Rick Nicita to talk about why the most important executives in Hollywood are so old, and how that affects the way the industry is run today. They discuss the difference between Hollywood in the ’70s and ’80s—when it was commonplace for studio heads to be in their 30s—and 2023, when most of the major executives are the very same people from back in the day. They talk about whether there is a direct line between the aging Hollywood and the diminished box office, and how creativity is more obstructed than ever by financial responsibilities.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rick Nicita
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/9/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Will Anyone Budge on Data Transparency in Hollywood?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss one of Hollywood’s most hotly debated topics: data transparency among streamers. As the writers and actors strike drags on, data transparency continues to be a nonnegotiable for studios and a necessary inclusion for the guilds. Matt and Lucas discuss why the sides are so far apart, why streamers don’t want to release data, how data obscurity affects financials, and whether any of this could or should change. Matt finishes the show by recapping his Taylor Swift concert experience and making a prediction about how much money her tour will make.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/7/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Checking in on Warner Bros. Discovery and the Max Platform
Matt is joined once again by LightShed Partners media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss the state of Warner Bros. Discovery following the results of the second quarter earnings, as well as Rich’s thoughts on Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer returning to Disney to help Bob Igor with their linear TV platforms. They debate if placing content on a small platform with limited reach hurts the value of the content, the need for better personalization for the Max app, what news could look like on Max, and more. Also, Matt shares his prediction on this weekend’s box office by looking at ‘Teenage Mutant Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ and ‘The Meg 2: The Trench.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/4/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Barbie Effect on Female Filmmakers
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s senior film editor, Rebecca Keegan, to discuss how the success of Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ will influence female filmmakers and the industry at large. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the upcoming negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rebecca Keegan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/3/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Villains, Saviors, and Developments Three Months Into Hollywood’s Shutdown
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the most interesting developments that have shaped Hollywood’s shutdown over the past three months and determine which strategies and tactics from both the WGA and SAG, as well as the AMPTP, have worked and which haven’t. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future potential of ‘Barbie’s’ success.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/31/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Selling ‘Barbie’: Inside the Marketing Phenomenon
Matt is joined by Warner Bros. president of worldwide marketing Josh Goldstine to discuss the strategy behind one of the great marketing campaigns of all time in ‘Barbie.' They break down the bold and subversive marketing choices that suggested this was not your typical ‘Barbie’ movie; how they were able to pull this off with the owner of Barbie IP, Mattel; and how the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon took effect. Later, Matt makes a prediction about ‘Barbie’s' chances at an Oscar nomination.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Josh Goldstine
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/26/2023 • 32 minutes, 17 seconds
How 'Sound of Freedom' Outperformed 'Mission: Impossible'
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the independent thriller ‘Sound of Freedom’ came out of nowhere and made $100 million in its first two weeks. They talk about the unique crowdfunding “pay-it-forward” model that helped market and finance the film and wonder if this is just a fluke or if there are any lessons to learn.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/24/2023 • 31 minutes, 55 seconds
Has Netflix Officially Won the Streaming War?
Matt is joined by research analyst Michael Pachter to unpack Netflix’s strong earnings report this week that included the company adding 5.9 million subscribers in Q2. They discuss what Netflix is doing right and how other streamers can learn from them, why the stock went down this week, whether the password crackdown is working, how Netflix should differentiate themselves during the writers and actors strike, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend for ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Pachter
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/20/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer's’ Epic Weekend Face-Off
Matt is joined by The Quorum founder David Herrin to discuss the meteoric rise in popularity of ‘Barbie,' the unprecedented data around its tracking, how the marketing has eventized the film, and why this movie has taken the world by storm. They also discuss the "Barbenheimer" movement and how the simultaneous release of ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’—along with the newest Mission Impossible film and the unexpected hit ‘The Sound of Freedom’— makes this one of the most interesting weekends in film that David has ever seen.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: David Herrin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/19/2023 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
Bob Iger’s Fire Sale: The Fate of ESPN, ABC, and Hulu
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Bob Iger’s latest comments on the possibility of selling off Disney’s linear TV assets, including the ABC television network and its station affiliates, FX, and ESPN. They break down Iger’s strategy or lack thereof, the suitors for ABC and ESPN, and whether a deal with Comcast for Hulu is possible.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/17/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Inside the Actors Strike With Its Top Negotiator
Matt is joined by National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator of SAG-AFTRA Duncan Crabtree-Ireland to gain more insight from the union’s side of the strike. They break down all the issues that the actors have with A.I., digital replicas, and more. Duncan also shares the proposals that were given during the negotiations that were all eventually turned down, as well as the rules for union members during the strike and how long they are prepared to stand their ground.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/14/2023 • 30 minutes, 26 seconds
BREAKING: Actors Go on Strike
Matt is joined by Puck’s Jonathan Handel as they discuss the failed negotiations between the studios and SAG-AFTRA, who are now ready to go on strike. They discuss where the talks break down, what is realistically going to happen from here, and more. And, after yesterday’s Emmy nominations, Matt finished the show by giving his prediction for Best Comedy Series.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jonathan Handel
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/14/2023 • 32 minutes, 3 seconds
The State of R-Rated Comedies, With Evan Goldberg
Matt is joined by Point Grey cofounder Evan Goldberg to discuss his latest release, ‘Joy Ride,’ and how comedies can become theatrical successes once again. They discuss how theatrical releases rely on eventizing the film, what the studios are looking for when it comes to comedies, and if it is possible for someone to create comedies with the same strategy that Blumhouse uses to create horror movies. Also, they talk about the censorship of comedies, if it is still possible for comedies to produce stars, and why Point Grey is hesitant to work with Marvel and DC. Matt finishes off the show by making a prediction on ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Evan Goldberg
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/12/2023 • 31 minutes, 23 seconds
Amazon’s Spending Spree Under Scrutiny
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss his latest piece about Amazon CEO Andy Jassy asking his studio executives for detailed budget analyses of some of their biggest shows. They debate whether Amazon’s issue is more related to its content strategy, what happened during the production of ‘Citadel,' the overall goal at Amazon with Prime Video, Jen Salke’s job security, and more. Also, Matt makes a prediction after attending the 'Barbie' premiere.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/10/2023 • 31 minutes, 42 seconds
Town Hall: Bob Iger’s Legacy, Summer Flops, and Streamer Mega-Mergers
Welcome back to Town Hall! Matt and Craig answer a slew of listener questions about Bob Iger’s legacy, an overpacked summer of blockbusters, how the AMPTP really works, inflated movie budgets, the future of Hollywood mega-mergers, the sustainability of premium video on demand, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend for 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/5/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Is David Zaslav Misunderstood?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s publicly disgraced decisions to cut costs at the company and determine whether or not they were justified. It’s rare a media CEO becomes a central piece of the discourse, but after several PR mishaps and controversial content decisions, he has become the poster child for the troubled state of the industry. Is Zaslav deserving of such public disapproval? Or is he simply accomplishing his goal to reduce debt at the company by any means necessary?
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/3/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
What Will Bring Gen Z to Theaters?
Matt is joined by Matthew Liebmann, the Chief Innovation and Data Officer at Vista Group, to discuss Gen Z’s relationship with going to the movies. Matthew talks about how much Gen Z is going to movie theaters these days, their favorite franchises and genres, the effect of marketing on moviegoing habits, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about NBC’s streaming service Peacock.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matthew Liebmann
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/30/2023 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
How Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is Becoming the Most Successful in History
Matt is joined by Nathan Hubbard—former CEO of Ticketmaster, current CEO of Firebird Music and Ringer podcaster—to discuss Taylor Swift’s world dominating Eras Tour and her path to achieving the first billion-dollar tour. They discuss how much money Taylor actually makes on this tour, why she isn’t releasing her weekly grosses, and whether or not she will reach that billion milestone and beyond.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Nathan Hubbard
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/29/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The 2023 Executive Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to compete in the very first executive draft. Matt and Lucas will each select who they believe is the best in the business in each of these four categories: CEO, Studio Chief, Rising Star, and Specialist.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/26/2023 • 27 minutes, 31 seconds
It’s Time to Break Up Hollywood
Matt is joined by Matt Stoller, the research director for the American Economic Liberties Project and the writer of the monopoly-focused newsletter 'Big,' to discuss the evolution of Hollywood’s markets, how vertical integration has poisoned the industry, and why we need to de-consolidate the studio streamers to rescue the entertainment business. Matt finishes the show by giving a box office opening weekend prediction for the upcoming comedy ‘No Hard Feelings,’ starring Jennifer Lawrence.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matt Stoller
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/22/2023 • 37 minutes, 51 seconds
Is the Superhero Era Finally Ending?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss whether the recent stretch of superhero flops is a sign of things to come or simply a blip on the radar. Four of the last six Marvel films have underperformed, DC’s ‘The Flash’ just bombed, and Marvel has pushed back the release date of its next line of Avengers films. So is it officially time to hit the panic button on the superhero genre?
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/20/2023 • 31 minutes, 38 seconds
Has Pixar Lost its Magic Touch?
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Rebecca Keegan to discuss Pixar’s recent cold streak, who’s to blame, and if it can be rectified. They talk about whether their pandemic misfires has caused permanent damage, why their movies cost so much more than every other animation studio, and how leadership and the creative process has changed over the years. Matt finishes the show with two predictions about the opening weekends for ‘The Flash’ and Pixar’s ‘Elemental’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rebecca Keegan
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/16/2023 • 31 minutes, 55 seconds
'The Flash' and Marketing a Movie With a Controversial Star
Matt is joined by veteran film marketing executive Terry Press to discuss the upcoming movie ‘The Flash’ and how studios promote and release a movie with a controversial star attached. They discuss how Warner Bros. has handled the Ezra Miller situation in the lead-up to opening weekend, the decision to have them attend the premiere, and if any of this could affect box office numbers. They also talk about past movies with stars embroiled in controversy and how this has evolved over the years in Hollywood. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the latest Disney movie release date announcement.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Terry Press
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/14/2023 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Netflix Top 10 Lists and the Era of Streamer Manipulation
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the growing issue of data transparency in the streaming era, whether streaming rankings— like the Netflix top 10 lists—are manipulated in the absence of credible data, and whether we will ever see how many people are actually watching these shows.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/12/2023 • 32 minutes, 9 seconds
What the Writers Really Fear About AI in Hollywood
Matt is joined by John Lopez, a writer, producer, and member of the AI working group in the WGA, to explain what the guild actually thinks about AI, misperceptions about AI’s ability to write scripts, and why this will be one of the key issues in Hollywood for years to come. Matt finishes the show with a box office prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Lopez
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/8/2023 • 32 minutes, 25 seconds
CNN’s Messy Chris Licht Era Is Over, Now What?
Matt is joined by Puck’s Dylan Byers to discuss the details behind Chris Licht’s fallout with CNN, why this happened now, how this reflects on Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zazlov, and what needs to be done to save CNN.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dylan Byers
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/7/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Hollywood’s Stealth Winners and Losers of the First Half of 2023
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to parse through the first half of an eventful 2023 and highlight the under-discussed winners and losers across the industry so far. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the future of CNN CEO Chris Licht.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/5/2023 • 37 minutes, 25 seconds
Who Is on the Studios' Side in the Writers Strike?
Matt is joined by film producer and television executive Gail Berman ('Elvis,' 'Wednesday') to discuss the writers strike from the studios' perspective, using her experience as a former film studio and television network head to touch on what the studios might be thinking about this labor dispute. Matt finishes the show with a prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Gail Berman
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/1/2023 • 31 minutes, 56 seconds
Cannes Winners, Losers, Scandals, and Big Takeaways
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw, who attended the Cannes Film Festival in France, to discuss the significance of the festival within the industry, the indie film market, if streaming services are still interested in premiering their projects at Cannes, the optics of David Zaslav’s party, and more. Lucas and Matt also give an update on their box office draft.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/30/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Disney’s Prickly Theme Parks Problem
Matt is joined by theme park journalist Scott Gustin as they discuss all the latest news surrounding the Disney parks, as well as Universal Studios. They dive into the changes made by former CEO Bob Chapek when the parks reopened during the pandemic, why the immersive Galactic Star Cruiser (a.k.a. the 'Star Wars' hotel and experience) is shutting down, how the international Disney parks are doing, the success Universal has had with the Super Mario IP, and more. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction on holiday box office numbers for ‘The Little Mermaid.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Gustin
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/25/2023 • 31 minutes, 46 seconds
How to Pull Off a Real-Life Mockumentary
Matt is joined by Ronald Gladden, the star of Amazon Freevee’s new hit series ‘Jury Duty,’ as well as the director of the show, Jake Szymanski. They go through the process of creating the show, how Jake managed to direct the actors on set without breaking the illusion, Ronald’s thoughts after learning it was all a show, whether this type of show could be replicated, and more. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction about the newly rebranded streaming service, ‘Max.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ronald Gladden & Jake Szymanski
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/24/2023 • 31 minutes, 22 seconds
Netflix Crashes TV’s Ad Party
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to analyze this year’s TV upfront presentations. They discuss Netflix’s upfront debut and its advertisement strategy, how it felt watching the presentations in the middle of a writers strike, the Disney+ purge, and more. Lucas finishes the show by making a prediction on Peyton Manning’s company, Omaha Productions.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/22/2023 • 32 minutes, 20 seconds
The NBA Team Blowing Up Sports TV
Matt is joined by Endeavor executive vice presidents Hillary Mandel and Karen Brodkin to discuss the potentially groundbreaking TV deal they brokered for the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury: Moving forward, their games will be broadcast for free on over-the-air channels while also available to stream online on a direct-to-consumer service. They discuss how this deal affects the viewer and why it makes sense in the new age of sports media, what ESPN will look like as a streaming channel, and the reasoning behind the latest Big 10 and Big 12 media rights deals.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Hillary Mandel and Karen Brodkin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/19/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Hollywood’s China Problem
Matt is joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Erich Schwartzel to discuss the current state of Hollywood’s relationship with China and how the Chinese government feels about Hollywood releases. Erich breaks down how China’s movie infrastructure has changed over the years, how the Chinese box office affects which movies get made in America, the precarious projections of ‘Fast X’ in China, TikTok’s success, Shanghai Disneyland, and more.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Erich Schwartzel
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/17/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Bob Iger’s Six-Month Report Card at Disney
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to check in on Bob Iger six months after his return to Disney, to see what’s working and what isn’t. They discuss Disney’s decrease in subscriber numbers and subsequent stock decline, bringing Hulu into Disney+, his lack of a succession plan, and the still uncertain future of the streaming model.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/15/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
The Struggle of the Modern TV Writer With Mike Schur
Matt is joined by writer, producer, and showrunner Mike Schur ('Parks and Recreation,' 'The Good Place,' 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'), to discuss the life of the modern TV writer and how it has changed over the years. Mike brings his perspective on the ongoing writers strike and discusses how his experience as a writer was very different from that of an up-and-coming writer in 2023. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming movie ‘Book Club 2.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mike Schur
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/11/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
The Weird State of Media and Hollywood’s Role in It
Matt is joined by journalist and cofounder of Semafor, Ben Smith, to talk about his new book ‘Traffic’ and the rise and fall of the biggest digital media companies of the past 15 years. Matt and Ben discuss their careers in digital media, look back on the media's transition to digital, the role of Hollywood in the evolution of media coverage, the role of Facebook and other social media platforms, and what’s next. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the current writers strike.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Smith
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/10/2023 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
The 5 Biggest Narratives After Week 1 of the Writers Strike
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the most popular narratives that emerged after week 1 of the writers strike, including who is winning the social media war and if it matters, huge paydays for media CEOs despite layoffs and and cost cutting across the industry, the stalemate over AI, the messy situation for writer-producers, and more. Matt finishes the show with a prediction on Kevin Costner’s fate on the final season of ‘Yellowstone’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/8/2023 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
The 2023 Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale
It’s May, which means it is officially summer blockbuster season. Matt welcomes back The Wrap’s Scott Mendelson to run through each of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer and assign their confidence level in each movie’s likelihood of exceeding expectations at the box office.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Mendelson
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/4/2023 • 39 minutes, 28 seconds
Inside the Writers Strike With a WGA Negotiator
Matt is joined by writer, TV host, and WGA negotiation committee member Adam Conover to break down what it has been like in the negotiation room from the WGA perspective over the last few months leading up to the strike. They discuss how far apart both sides sit, the most hotly contested issues—including data transparency, mini rooms, and AI—and the broad spectrum of consequences that could accompany a prolonged strike.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Adam Conover
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/2/2023 • 31 minutes, 22 seconds
The Writers' Strike Deadline Is Here. What Will Happen?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the looming WGA strike on the day of its negotiation deadline, and how a likely strike will affect the industry. They break down what the writers are fighting for, why this is a terrible time for most studios to negotiate a deal, which studios are best suited to endure a prolonged strike, and whether a strike could actually benefit the industry long term. They close the show by making a prediction on the length of the strike.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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5/1/2023 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
60 Is the New 30: The Revealing Ranking of Biggest Movie Stars
Matt is joined by Ray Subers, the senior vice president of theatrical strategy at National Research Group, to discuss an eye-opening study making the rounds among industry executives that highlights a troubling reality for Hollywood: The supply of new movie stars is declining alongside the box office. They talk about the importance of casting, which stars are most likely to get someone to see a movie in theaters, and why that list is only getting older. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction on what will be one of the biggest movies of 2024.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ray Subers
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/28/2023 • 32 minutes, 14 seconds
Ben Winston Refuses to Declare Late-Night TV Dead
Matt is joined by Ben Winston, executive producer of 'The Late Late Show With James Corden' and the 2023 Grammys, to talk about the end of Corden’s show—which concludes its eight-year run this week—and Winston makes his case for why the late show format should still exist as we transition into the digital age of television. They discuss misperceptions about how his show makes money for Paramount Global, why these shows need to air on broadcast TV rather than online, whether or not a new late show can be successful, and much more. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction for the upcoming movie ‘Barbie’ after attending CinemaCon.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Winston
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/26/2023 • 32 minutes, 15 seconds
Another Executive Sex Scandal? How NBCU Can Pick Up the Pieces
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell stepping down after an investigation into a complaint that he had an inappropriate relationship with a woman at the company. They discuss why this comes at a crucial time for Comcast and NBCUniversal and whether this impacts the ultimate fate of the company, the possibility for a merger, candidates for the next CEO, and more. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about Tucker Carlson’s future after Fox News.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/24/2023 • 32 minutes, 29 seconds
One Year After the Crash: Is the New Netflix Working?
Matt is joined by LightShed Partners media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss the state of Netflix one year after the Great Netflix Correction plummeted the streaming giant's stock and thrust the streaming world into chaos. They break down the changes Netflix has undergone since its stock crash, including clamping down on password sharing, introducing an advertising tier, reducing its yearly output of movies, and whether any of these changes will be a difference-maker for Netflix. Matt finishes the show by making a prediction for the opening weekend of ‘Evil Dead Rise’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/20/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Inside Fox’s $787M Settlement With Dominion and the Future of Fox News
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner, who is on the ground in Wilmington, Delaware, to discuss Fox’s $787 million settlement agreement with Dominion Voting Systems, which is the largest defamation settlement in U.S. history. They discuss the precedent set by this case, why the settlement happened when it did, Fox’s lack of public apology, and how this will affect Fox’s coverage of the 2024 election, if at all. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about MLB ratings in the new pitch clock era.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Eriq Gardner
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/19/2023 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
Is ‘Air’ a Hit? Why That's Harder Than Ever to Answer
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what constitutes a hit nowadays in Hollywood. Is Ben Affleck’s ‘Air’ a hit despite its disappointing box office performance? Amazon would argue yes. If a movie’s destiny is to have a short theatrical window before moving to streaming, how are we able to determine if it was successful? With streamers putting more and more movies in theaters before moving them to their respective streaming platforms, declaring something a hit is becoming increasingly difficult due to each company's constantly shifting metrics for success.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/17/2023 • 32 minutes, 9 seconds
Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama
Matt is joined by Vanity Fair special correspondent Gabriel Sherman to discuss his latest story on Rupert Murdoch, where this empire stands now, and how this 'Succession'-like story will end. The past year has been tumultuous within Fox News and the family of the 92-year-old conservative media mogul. Matt and Gabriel discuss the complicated succession plan, the family’s obsession with ‘Succession’, Rupert’s recent divorce from Jerry Hall, a broken engagement to Ann Lesley Smith, and the state of Rupert’s health. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend for Universal’s ‘Renfield’.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Gabriel Sherman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/14/2023 • 31 minutes, 34 seconds
How the Fox News Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Will Unfold
Matt is joined by First Amendment litigator Doug Mirell to discuss the $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit between Fox and Dominion and the massive implications of the upcoming trial. They talk about why the Murdochs have not settled the case, what to expect in the upcoming trial, what Rupert Murdoch should be asked on the stand, whether the damages have a shot of nearing $1.6 billion, and how this trial will play out. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the subscription price of the newly announced Max streaming service.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Doug Mirell
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/12/2023 • 31 minutes, 35 seconds
One Year After the Merger: Is Warner Bros. Discovery Actually Working?
This past weekend marked the one-year anniversary of the $43 billion transaction that brought together Warner Media and Discovery to create Warner Bros. Discovery. So today Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to assess how the company has performed in its first year under new CEO David Zaslav. They discuss the company’s shift to emphasize theater releases, its upcoming rebranding of HBO Max, the new CNN under Chris Licht, and its future in sports.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/10/2023 • 32 minutes, 28 seconds
Disney vs. DeSantis: Who Will Win
Matt is joined by Puck senior political correspondent Tara Palmeri to discuss the ongoing battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding an investigation into Disney’s circumvention of Florida’s plans to takeover Reedy Creek—a special district that was created by Disney and is responsible for governing the area surrounding Walt Disney World. They discuss Bob Iger calling DeSantis’s actions “anti-business” and “anti-Florida,” the downsides of Disney getting political, how much this could damage DeSantis politically, and ultimately who will come out on top. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the opening weekend for Ben Affleck’s new sports drama, ‘Air.’
Read Tara's latest piece here
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tara Palmeri
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/6/2023 • 29 minutes, 13 seconds
From Viral Videos to Hit TV With Dave Burd
Matt is joined by rapper, comedian, writer, and actor Dave Burd—better known by his stage name, Lil Dicky—to discuss how his show ‘Dave’ became the most watched comedy in the history of FX networks, his approach to the show, his unique path to stardom, and his long term goals in comedy. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the opening weekend of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dave Burd
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/5/2023 • 32 minutes, 13 seconds
WWE Sells, Netflix Pulls Back, and the Oscars' Bold Bid on Theaters
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Endeavor merging with the WWE, Netflix restructuring and retracting its movie division with the intention to make fewer projects and fewer lower-budget films, and the Oscars' plans to require theatrical releases in 15-20 major markets to earn eligibility for a best picture nomination. Matt finishes the show by giving a prediction about the 2023 box office.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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4/3/2023 • 32 minutes, 9 seconds
Has Hollywood Finally Figured Out Video Games?
Matt is joined by author and media investor Matthew Ball to discuss the recent boom in successful video game adaptations in Hollywood, whether this is the beginning of a new trend, which studios are best suited to capitalize on this movement, and how this affects the metaverse. Matt finishes the show by giving a box office prediction about the opening weekend for ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matthew Ball
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/30/2023 • 34 minutes, 21 seconds
Marvel’s Bad CGI and the Firing of a “Kingmaker”
Matt is joined by Chris Lee, a senior reporter at Vulture and New York magazine, to discuss why the quality of visual effects in comic book movies, particularly Marvel movies, seems to be declining. They discuss Marvel’s questionable employment practices, how it outsources portions of its VFX for cheap, the possibility of a VFX union, and how Marvel chooses and oversees its directors. Then they read the tea leaves on Disney’s firing of Victoria Alonso, the president of physical, postproduction, VFX, and animation at Marvel Studios.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Chris Lee
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/30/2023 • 32 minutes, 26 seconds
Apple’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Movie Theaters
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss his report about Apple planning to get into the theatrical business in a big way, with the company planning to spend $1 billion to make and release movies in theaters. They break down Apple’s rationale, partnering with traditional studios for distribution help, its commitment to making movies with top-level talent, and whether or not this will help build the Apple TV+ brand.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/27/2023 • 31 minutes, 28 seconds
Lionsgate Film Chief Joe Drake on ‘John Wick’ and the Modern Independent Studio
Matt is joined by the chair of the motion picture group at Lionsgate, Joe Drake, to talk about how the 'John Wick' series came to be and the future of the franchise, how hard is it for a non-major studio to compete with other studios in the theatrical business, making originals vs. franchises, and how an independent movie studio survives in 2023. They also discuss a potential sale of Lionsgate and what is next for the company. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the final season of ‘Succession.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Joe Drake
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/24/2023 • 33 minutes, 24 seconds
BET and the Future of Small Streamers
Matt is joined by Puck contributor and analyst at Parrot Analytics Julia Alexander to talk about Paramount selling the BET, a rare instance in which a media conglomerate sells an entire network and streaming service. They discuss why Paramount is selling BET, rumored potential suitors like Tyler Perry and Diddy, and the argument for small streamers to be in the hands of independent owners instead of major media conglomerates. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’
Read Julia's article on Puck here!
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/23/2023 • 30 minutes, 50 seconds
Is the Franchise Model Starting to Fatigue in Hollywood?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss whether we are starting to see signs of decline in the franchise entertainment model. After the poor box-office showing of 'Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' and a slow start to Season 3 of 'The Mandalorian,' they speculate about whether the bankable franchise model of spinoffs, sequels, prequels, and universes is still as safe a bet as it once was. Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Hulu’s future and the upcoming film ‘Flamin’ Hot.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/20/2023 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Matt’s Year One Prediction Report Card
Matt and Craig celebrate The Town’s one-year anniversary by looking back at Matt’s predictions and highlighting his best and worst takes after a wild year in Hollywood. They break down his strongest box-office hits and largest misses, as well as his takes from 2022 that aged the best and worst, including Netflix’s future after the Great Netflix Correction, 'SNL' cutbacks, Bob Iger potentially buying the Phoenix Suns, HBO Max’s new name, and more. They finish the show by making a box office prediction for ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/16/2023 • 28 minutes, 25 seconds
Michael B. Jordan and How to Build a Modern Movie Star Career
Matt is joined by co-founder, president, and managing partner of M88 Phil Sun to talk about how to build a movie star career, how to evaluate projects for your client, the decision for his client Michael B. Jordan to direct 'Creed III', what is next for his career and the Creed universe, why he decided to leave WME and start his own managing film, and the growing influence of diverse audiences in entertainment.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Phil Sun
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/15/2023 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
The Oscar Bump: Which Young Stars Won Awards Season?
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll to discuss which young actors benefited the most from awards season buzz and saw the biggest career “bumps” from Oscar nominations. Justin specializes in breaking casting news around town, and he helps Matt look ahead at the upcoming projects of each Oscar nominee and determine who is set up for the most success.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justin Kroll
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/13/2023 • 33 minutes, 14 seconds
Academy CEO Bill Kramer on the New and Improved (?) Oscars
Matt is joined by the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bill Kramer, to talk about his first year as CEO, the changes we will see on this year's broadcast, what they have learned from the Slap, how to bring more young people to the show, and convoluted Oscar campaign rules in light of the Andrea Riseborough nomination. Matt and Craig finish the show with a prediction about the opening weekend for ‘Scream VI' and new dinosaur action film ‘65.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bill Kramer
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/9/2023 • 35 minutes, 45 seconds
Tips, Trends, and Storylines to Help You Bet on the Oscars
Matt is joined by Mosaic talent manager and Oscars enthusiast Michael Lasker to help parse through the chatter in Hollywood to find a gambling edge on the Oscars. Matt and Michael reveal why ‘Top Gun’ still has a shot at stealing Best Picture, who has the edge in a tight Best Actress race, historical trends for certain categories, and how a changing Academy could affect who wins and loses.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Lasker
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/8/2023 • 32 minutes, 40 seconds
The End of Peak TV Is Finally Here
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the recent dearth of hit TV shows and whether the current state of the streaming landscape marks the end of peak TV. Will we finally see a pullback in the number of TV shows produced each year? They discuss which streamers are likely to reduce their output and which will continue to push ahead, and they predict how far we could drop from last year's record 599 scripted U.S. television shows. Matt and Craig finish the show with a prediction about Paramount Global’s potential sale of BET.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/6/2023 • 32 minutes, 46 seconds
The Ploys and Tactics Behind Oscar Campaigning
Matt is joined by New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman to discuss his new book ‘Oscar Wars’ and the ploys and tactics behind Oscar campaigning. They highlight the most devious campaigns in Oscar history and break down this year’s most interesting campaigns, including the gamesmanship involved in Andrea Riseborough’s surprise nomination for Actress in a Leading Role and how these tactics have both changed and stayed the same since the beginning of the Academy Awards. Matt and Craig finish the show with a prediction about Chris Rock’s live comedy special on Netflix.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Schulman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/3/2023 • 33 minutes, 26 seconds
How F--ked Is Fox News?
Matt is joined by Puck’s Dylan Byers to talk about Rupert Murdoch’s surprisingly candid testimony regarding Fox News’ relationship with the Trump election conspiracy and what this means for the future of Fox News. Later, Matt and Craig make a prediction about the opening weekend of the upcoming film ‘Creed III.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dylan Byers
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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3/3/2023 • 34 minutes, 50 seconds
The Perfect Storm for a Writers Strike
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what a potential writers strike would look like for Hollywood, how the economics of streaming have hurt writers, what they want, whether or not the studios would want a strike, and how this would affect your favorite television shows and movies. Matt and Craig finish the show with a prediction about the future of ‘Yellowstone.’
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/28/2023 • 33 minutes, 7 seconds
Watching Your Favorite Team Is About to Get Harder
Matt is joined by Brandon Ross, partner at Lightshed Partners, to discuss the shifting balance of power for regional sports networks, where you can watch your favorite local teams when their games are not airing nationally. The current media landscape is shifting under the RSNs; consolidation and competition from streaming services are threatening the economic viability of their business. Can the local sports networks for the NBA, MLB, and other sports leagues survive this monumental shift in sports viewership? Then, Matt and Craig finish with a prediction about the upcoming comedy ‘Cocaine Bear.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: Brandon Ross
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/23/2023 • 33 minutes, 21 seconds
The 2023 Box Office Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to conduct the first box office draft on The Town. Matt and Lucas each draft five blockbusters set to be released in 2023 with the goal of making the most money possible against the production budget. We add a twist to the draft by allowing each person the chance to sink the other team by giving them a movie they believe will flop.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/21/2023 • 31 minutes, 50 seconds
The Companies Most Likely to Be Sold or Acquired in 2023
Matt is joined by Axios senior media reporter and CNN media analyst Sara Fischer to discuss the current state of the deal market for entertainment companies and who she is watching for possible acquisitions or sales. Sara predicts what could happen to digital media companies like Vice, Disney’s acquisition possibilities, potential buyers for the WWE, Lionsgate spinning off Starz, YouTube’s valuable IP, NBCU, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount’s likelihood of consolidation, and the state of the struggling podcast industry.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: Sara Fischer
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/16/2023 • 32 minutes, 59 seconds
The Soap Opera Fight Over Paramount and CBS
Matt is joined by James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams of The New York Times to discuss their new book, ‘Unscripted: The Epic Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy.’ They discuss the inside machinations that put Sumner Redstone’s daughter, Shari, on top at Paramount, how she took on Les Moonves, and how the Redstone empire fell behind Netflix and the other digital-focused entertainment companies.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guests: James B. Stewart and Rachel Abrams
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/14/2023 • 35 minutes, 18 seconds
Will Bob Iger Sell Hulu or ESPN?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Bob Iger’s first earnings report as new CEO of Disney, including a first look at his strategy to turn the company around. They talk about his decision to split the company into three silos (entertainment, parks, and ESPN) and his openness to off-loading Hulu. They predict whether or not Disney will sell Hulu and ESPN and, if so, to whom.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/13/2023 • 32 minutes, 35 seconds
How to Write a Hit Rom-Com
Matt is joined by writer director Aline Brosh McKenna, writer of hits like ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘27 Dresses,’ to talk about why the comedy/rom-com genre is in a weird place right now, why movies of this genre are not in theaters anymore, whether a rom-com can still break new movie stars, the state of the business for writers in Hollywood, and her new Netflix movie ‘Your Place or Mine’ with Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Aline Brosh McKenna
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/9/2023 • 32 minutes, 32 seconds
True Crime Is Murdering Documentaries
Matt is joined by New York Magazine features writer Reeves Wiedeman to discuss his latest piece, about the complicated state of documentaries right now. Reeves talks about how the true crime genre and the celebrity-produced documentary space have dominated the market for buyers, leaving little room for more traditional works of art and journalism to poke through. They discuss the ease with which these glorified reality TV or public-relations exercises can be made, why streamers continue to spend more and more on acquiring these projects, and whether or not this bubble will burst.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Reeves Wiedeman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/8/2023 • 33 minutes, 25 seconds
The Death and “Rebirth” of Showtime
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the latest casualty of the streaming wars, Showtime, which was effectively killed last week when its owner, Paramount Global, rebranded the network to Paramount+ with Showtime. The network is drastically changing its linear strategy and has announced a slate of 'Yellowstone'-like spin-off shows of its biggest Showtime hits, like 'Billions' and 'Dexter.' Matt and Lucas dissect if this is a smart business move, if this is actually a sign of a new beginning for Showtime, and who might be next on the streaming-wars chopping block.
Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing.'
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/6/2023 • 33 minutes, 4 seconds
DC Is Going Big, but Can It Catch Marvel?
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Borys Kit to discuss DC’s latest press event revealing what the future of the DC universe will look like. They discuss James Gunn’s bold new vision, how this changes the trajectory for DC and Warner Bros. Discovery, James Gunn’s trashing of the previous DC regime, the biggest winners and losers of the announcement, and whether or not DC can catch Marvel.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Borys Kit
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/2/2023 • 32 minutes, 37 seconds
The Future of Live Events and Late Night TV With Grammys EP Ben Winston
Matt is joined by Ben Winston, executive producer of the 2023 Grammy Awards, to talk about why the Grammys are the most difficult awards show to produce, the messy transition from cable to streaming for live events, the end of 'The Late Late Show with James Corden,' and if it’s possible for a nightly late-night talk show to succeed on streaming.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Winston
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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2/1/2023 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Peacock’s Promising Start to 2023 Might Not Be a Fluke
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss NBC’s typically struggling streaming service, Peacock, and its strong start to 2023. With shows like 'Yellowstone' and movies like ‘Nope,’ Peacock saw a 40 percent increase in subscribers in Q4 of 2022. Matt and Lucas discuss why Peacock may be long for the streaming world, what Comcast should do with its stake in Hulu, and how long Peacock can lose money before pulling the plug.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/31/2023 • 33 minutes
How an Indie Film Becomes an Oscar Winner
Live from Sundance, Matt is joined by Michael Barker, the copresident and cofounder of Sony Pictures Classics, to discuss Sony’s ability to discover Oscar-level movies at film festivals and whether the business of making money off of small movies is doomed to extinction. Michael details how Sony Classics has pivoted to survive, his pitch to filmmakers these days, and how to take a Sundance film all the way to the Oscars.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Barker
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/27/2023 • 28 minutes, 58 seconds
Is the Sundance Dream Still Alive?
Live from Sundance, Matt is joined by entertainment dealmaker, lawyer, and media advisor John Sloss. John and his company, Cinetic Media, have been involved in some of the biggest sales in the festival's history. He and Matt discuss Sundance’s return to in-person programming for the first time in three years and how the market has changed over the years, as well as John’s concerns about the independent scripted drama, the future of arthouse movies, and how the age of streaming affects the world of independent cinema.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Sloss
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/26/2023 • 31 minutes, 32 seconds
How the Shocking Andrea Riseborough Oscar Nomination Happened
Matt is joined by Dani Weinstein, a veteran communications executive and marketer, to break down the savvy marketing campaign behind Andrea Riseborough’s surprise Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in the movie ‘To Leslie.’ Dani has been in the trenches of Oscar campaigns for years and helps detail how Riseborough’s unique campaign contributed to a nomination. They discuss how social media has changed the modern Oscar campaign and speculate if Riseborough’s nomination playbook has forever changed the strategy of the Oscar campaign.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dani Weinstein
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/25/2023 • 33 minutes, 24 seconds
Inside the Netflix Executive Shake-up
Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to go inside Netflix’s announcement that cofounder and co-CEO Reed Hastings will be stepping down, with COO Greg Peters joining Ted Sarandos as co-CEOs moving forward. They discuss why Reed chose to leave right now, other C-suite restructuring within the company, and what this means for the future of Netflix.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/23/2023 • 33 minutes, 54 seconds
Making Movie Stars Younger With AI
Matt is joined by VFX executive Matt Panousis to discuss Hollywood’s open secret of de-aging actors, a new tool called Vanity AI, and when we’ll see dead stars resurrected convincingly on our screens.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matt Panousis
Producer: Devon Manze
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/19/2023 • 34 minutes, 30 seconds
Should Disney Be Afraid of Nelson Peltz?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Disney’s proxy battle against activist shareholder Nelson Peltz, his plan (or lack thereof) to “restore the magic” at the company, and where other shareholders might fall between Peltz, Marvel’s Ike Perlmutter, and CEO Bob Iger.
Email us your thoughts at [email protected].
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Devon Manze
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/17/2023 • 36 minutes, 22 seconds
Around the World With Netflix’s Head of TV
Matt is joined by Rachel Syme to talk about her latest ‘New Yorker’ profile on Bela Bejaria, the global head of television at Netflix. Rachel talks about her months spent with Bela traveling to Netflix offices all over the world. She talks about Netflix’s evolved identity as a tastemaker, how quantity seems to be prioritized over quality, their strategy to globalize content, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rachel Syme
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/13/2023 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
‘M3GAN,' and How to Market a Movie to Young People
Matt is joined by Michael Moses, the chief marketing officer at Universal Pictures, to discuss their latest hit, the horror film ‘M3GAN,’ and why it brought so many young people to the theater. Matt and Michael discuss how the viral marketing campaign led to nearly half of the movie's audience coming from people under 25 years old, why Universal’s batting average is so high with horror films, and how marketing can completely change the success of a film.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Michael Moses
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/11/2023 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
Vince McMahon’s Return and the WWE’s Most Intriguing Suitors
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Vince McMahon’s unceremonious return to the WWE, his plan to help facilitate a sale before agreeing to a new TV rights deal, and the front-runners most likely to make a bid to acquire the live wrestling juggernaut.
Email us your thoughts at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/9/2023 • 33 minutes, 16 seconds
The New Black List and the Original Screenwriting Recession
Matt is joined by Franklin Leonard, a film executive and the founder of the Black List, a yearly publication featuring Hollywood's most popular unproduced screenplays, to discuss the market for original screenwriting, the value a good script still holds in Hollywood, why comedies have disappeared, how the Black List helps anoint the next generation of writers, the potential writers strike this spring, and how AI could affect the careers of screenwriters.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Franklin Leonard
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/5/2023 • 33 minutes, 13 seconds
Why Audiences Have Given Up on Awards Movies
Awards season is in full swing, and besides 'Avatar,' the critically acclaimed movies are more or less tanking. Today Matt is joined by Kevin Goetz—founder and CEO of Screen Engine/ASI, a leader in content research in the entertainment industry—to discuss the holiday box office slump, the disappearance of the adult drama target audience, and what the data says about the
ongoing moviegoing crisis.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Kevin Goetz
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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1/3/2023 • 29 minutes, 39 seconds
The Townies Part 2: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2022
It’s Part 2 of podcasting’s most exclusive event of the year, the first-annual Townie Awards. In Part 2, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw give out the Mea Culpa Award, the Suck Haters I Was Right Award, the Most Annoying Media Narrative Award, the Best and Worst Actor Career Move Awards, and the Winner of the Year.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
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12/28/2022 • 36 minutes, 27 seconds
The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2022
It’s podcasting’s most exclusive event of the year, the first annual Townie Awards. This is a show made up of awards created by us, based on our own interpretations of the weirdest year in Hollywood. In Part 1, Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to give out the Most Baffling Success Award, the Publicist Fail of the Year Award, the Jeff “Albanian Army” Bewkes Award for Quote I’ll Probably Regret, and much more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
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12/27/2022 • 35 minutes, 52 seconds
Why YouTube Landed NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’
This week YouTube closed on a multi-billion dollar deal to take over NFL ‘Sunday Ticket,’ marking the next major sign of sports television's inevitable transition to streaming. Matt is joined by Ben Mullin from 'The New York Times' to discuss why YouTube made this deal, why Apple failed, and what this means for the future of streaming sports.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ben Mullin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/23/2022 • 33 minutes, 28 seconds
2022 Debacles Part 2: The 2023 Hot Seat and Hollywood’s Biggest Loser
In Part 2 of our biggest debacles of the year conversation, Matt welcomes back Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to nominate the executive on the hot seat in 2023 and make the case for the biggest debacle of the year.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/20/2022 • 31 minutes, 51 seconds
2022 Debacles Part 1: Movie Bombs, Executive Misfires, and Secret Disasters
This entire year was arguably a debacle for most in Hollywood, the content bubble has seemingly burst, the streaming model may be broken, and companies are frantically trying to create a business model that works for everyone. To discuss those who have struggled most in 2022, Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for Part 1 of a two-part conversation covering the biggest debacles in Hollywood, including the movie bomb of the year, the most maligned executive decisions, and the most underdiscussed disasters.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/19/2022 • 31 minutes, 19 seconds
The Stranglehold of Streaming, With United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer
Matt is joined by the CEO of United Talent Agency (UTA) Jeremy Zimmer to discuss how the financial downturn of the streaming model has trickled down to talent agencies, why pivoting for back-end profit participation in streaming makes sense, the looming possibility of a writers' strike, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jeremy Zimmer
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/16/2022 • 33 minutes, 18 seconds
‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ With Producer Jon Landau
Matt is joined by film producer Jon Landau to talk about his latest project ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and creating the most successful movie of all time with ‘Avatar.’ He talks about managing the sky-high expectations of the sequel, his dynamic with director James Cameron, the biggest challenge they faced during production, as well as the movie-going industry at large and what it should be doing to help the theatrical experience thrive.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jon Landau
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/15/2022 • 34 minutes, 28 seconds
The Biggest Flexes of the Year in Hollywood
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the most successful power moves of the year in Hollywood. In what was widely considered a difficult year across the board in entertainment, who took the biggest swing and came out on top?
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/12/2022 • 32 minutes, 21 seconds
John Skipper on the Rise of the Sports Documentary and Bob Iger’s Big Plans
Matt is joined by former president of ESPN John Skipper to talk about his thoughts on Bob Iger’s return, Disney’s next big move, whether it should spin off ESPN, the state of live event sports content, athlete-produced documentaries, and his plans in sports originals and beyond at his new content company, Meadowlark.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Skipper
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/8/2022 • 35 minutes, 19 seconds
Rob McElhenney on Merging Soccer, Celebrity, and a TV Empire
Matt is joined by actor, producer, writer, and co-owner of Wrexham AFC Rob McElhenney to talk about the back story and business model of his documentary series ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’ Rob talks about how he pitched the show to the head of FX, how he bought the team with Ryan Reynolds, and the unique relationship between the business of the show and the business of the team.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rob McElhenney
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/7/2022 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
Smoke or Fire? The Most Troubled Hollywood Companies
2022 has been a rough year for Hollywood—theater chains have struggled, mass layoffs are taking place, and stocks have plummeted. Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the companies that have struggled the most this year and determine which still should have room for optimism and which are permanently headed in the wrong direction.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/5/2022 • 32 minutes, 17 seconds
The Streaming Year-End Review: Biggest Hits, Misses, and Questions
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Parrot Analytics to assess how each streamer performed in 2022. Did ‘Andor’ move the needle for Disney+? Why is Wall Street still down on Netflix despite a record-setting year for the company? Who officially won the ‘House of the Dragon’ vs. ‘The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power’ battle? Do Paramount+ and Peacock have reason for optimism?
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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12/2/2022 • 32 minutes, 16 seconds
The Big Business of Christmas Movies
Matt is joined by Amy Winter, the head of programming at Lifetime, to discuss the explosion of holiday movies over the past decade, why Christmas movies specifically are more popular than ever, and the keys to making a successful Christmas movie.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Amy Winter
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/30/2022 • 29 minutes, 55 seconds
Disney’s Five Biggest Dilemmas in the New Bob Iger Era
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the biggest problems on Disney’s plate in the Bob Iger Era, Part 2, including the recent box office slump, particularly in the animation department, the stalling subscriber growth at Disney+, the future of Hulu, whether or not fans are experiencing Marvel and 'Star Wars' fatigue, the conundrum of live sports on the internet, and Disney parks increasing their prices over the past few years.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/28/2022 • 35 minutes, 25 seconds
The Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle, Explained
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to dive deep into the chaos of trying to buy tickets to Taylor Swift’s newly announced Era’s Tour. They discuss who is to blame for the Ticketmaster meltdown, detail the process of setting ticket prices for concerts, and speculate on how Taylor Swift could shake up the live-concert ticket system.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/23/2022 • 28 minutes, 35 seconds
A Major Disney Shake-up: Former CEO Bob Iger Is Back
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to break down the return of Bob Iger as CEO of Disney once again. They talk about whether Disney needed to make this move or whether this was a knee-jerk reaction after a disappointing earnings report, how this is a risky move for Iger and his legacy, the new succession plan, and what the next few years of Disney will look like.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/21/2022 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Oscars Watch Begins: Front-Runners, Story Lines, and the ‘Top Gun’ Debate
With awards season ramping up, Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg to discuss his forecast for the upcoming Oscars, including front-runners for best picture, best actor, and best actress, as well as which movies and actors could sneak their way into a nomination. They also talk about the world of Oscar voting, what typically influences votes, and if popular movies should be included more at the Oscars.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Feinberg
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/18/2022 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Secrets of Marvel’s Magic
Matt is joined by Marvel’s executive of production and development and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ producer Nate Moore to discuss what makes Marvel so special. Nate talks about the development process when making a Marvel film, the level of familiarity with the IP required to produce and direct a Marvel movie, how they decide between making a TV show or a movie, the unconventional filmmaker hiring process, and what makes Kevin Feige so successful.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Nate Moore
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/16/2022 • 36 minutes, 14 seconds
The 2022 Directors Draft
Imagine you are the head of a new film studio with an unlimited budget. Who are the movie directors you would pay the most money to sign for the next 20 years? Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw put on their studio-head hats to each draft a team of directors for the next two decades in Hollywood. The goal is commercial success—who will make the most money?
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme song: Devon Renaldo
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11/14/2022 • 32 minutes, 22 seconds
Town Hall: Apple Buying Disney? 'SNL's Host Problem, and a Ryan Murphy Apology
Welcome back to Town Hall! Matt and Craig answer listener questions about CNN’s lackluster election-night ratings, the host problem with 'SNL,’ Disney’s stock price and Apple’s position to potentially make an offer, the Hallmark movie appeal to major streamers, the Hollywood-China situation, Ryan Murphy’s latest success at Netflix and whether another big deal is in his future, and which streaming services are most likely to merge in the next few years.
Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/10/2022 • 31 minutes, 23 seconds
Predicting the Opening Weekend for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Matt is joined by Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian to discuss the pseudoscience of movie tracking and how box office projections are made before anyone has seen a movie. They discuss the tracking around movies like 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' and 'Avatar: The Way of Water.'
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Paul Dergarabedian
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/9/2022 • 32 minutes, 13 seconds
What a Wall Street Meltdown Means for the Consumer
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the price increases across multiple streaming platforms, the addition of ad-supported tiers, waning stock prices, and how layoffs and budget cuts in media might affect what you see on screen.
Email us your questions, thoughts, and ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/7/2022 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Netflix vs. HBO: The TV Rivalry of the Century
Since its launch nearly 50 years ago, HBO has revolutionized and disrupted the television ecosystem, but for the past 15 years it has been challenged by a new disruptor, Netflix. Matt is joined by Felix Gillette from Bloomberg News and John Koblin from The New York Times to discuss their new book, ‘It's Not TV: The Spectacular Rise, Revolution and Future of HBO,’ and the ongoing battle between Netflix and HBO for the future of television.
Email us your questions, comments, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Felix Gillette and John Koblin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/3/2022 • 33 minutes, 25 seconds
Why Are Movies Longer Than Ever?
In 2010, the 10 movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars ran on average 1:52. By 2019, that average bloated to 2:20. And it’s not just the prestige movies. In 2021, the top 10 performers at the box office averaged 2:11. Matt is joined by film producer David Friendly to break down this issue, why it’s happening, and whether this is the new normal.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: David Friendly
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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11/2/2022 • 32 minutes, 19 seconds
TikTok Killed the Pop Star
Taylor Swift’s new album is taking the pop music world by storm—what’s new? But each year fewer and fewer new pop stars are cracking the top 10 according to Billboard. Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the fracturing of the pop music landscape, TikTok’s influence of music discovery, the role of the music label, and the dilution of monoculture in music.
Email us your questions, comments, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/31/2022 • 29 minutes, 32 seconds
Ad-Supported Television Was the Past, and It Might Be the Future
Matt is joined by president and CEO of streaming at Paramount Global and cofounder of Pluto TV Tom Ryan to talk about the free, ad-supported streaming television market. They discuss people’s tolerance for ads these days, the growing competition in the ad-supported streaming space, whether Pluto will merge into Paramount+, how the ad model changes the content offering, and where the world of SVOD is headed in the next 5-10 years.
Email us your questions, thoughts, and ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tom Ryan
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/27/2022 • 32 minutes, 23 seconds
Can James Gunn Deliver as New Head of the DC Universe?
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Boris Kit to discuss Warner Bros. naming director James Gunn and Peter Safran as the new leaders of the DC cinematic universe.
Email us questions, comments, and ideas to [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Boris Kit
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/26/2022 • 26 minutes, 34 seconds
The Riskiest Hollywood Bets for the Rest of 2022
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to preview the biggest bets in media and entertainment coming in the remainder of 2022 and rank which project carries the most risk to each company.
Email us your questions, thoughts, and ideas at [email protected].
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/24/2022 • 31 minutes, 58 seconds
Netflix Is Back, Baby!
Matt is joined by LightShed partner Rich Greenfield to discuss Netflix’s Q3 earnings report, in which the company announced it added 2.4 million net subscribers, which is more than was forecasted. With the stock on the rise, Matt and Rich discuss whether this is the beginning of Netflix’s comeback, how subscriber growth vs. revenue is interpreted on Wall Street, and whether the incoming ad tier and password crackdown will help or hurt the streamer.
Email us your questions, thoughts, or ideas at [email protected].
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/19/2022 • 32 minutes, 27 seconds
The Looming NBA Rights Bonanza
Matt is joined by chief media analyst at Variety Intelligence Platform Andrew Wallenstein to discuss the upcoming expiration of Disney and WarnerMedia’s NBA media rights deal. They predict whether Disney-Warner can hold on to their NBA rights or whether the deep pockets of big tech and streaming will outbid the rest of the market. They also discuss the future of the regional sports network, and what ratings say about current interest in the NBA as a national product.
Email us your questions, thoughts, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Andrew Wallenstein
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/18/2022 • 30 minutes, 17 seconds
The Best and Worst Deals of the Past 10 Years in Entertainment
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back and make a case for the best and worst deals in entertainment over the past decade. They also look at the worst deal that almost was and the biggest deal that should have happened.
Email us your questions, thoughts, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/17/2022 • 33 minutes, 38 seconds
Endeavor President Mark Shapiro
Matt is joined by president of Endeavor Mark Shapiro to discuss the future of streaming, the evolving relationship between talent and representation in the creator economy, Endeavor’s interest in sports, gambling, and the college NIL market, as well as Monday Night Football’s future at ESPN. They discuss how agencies are making money nowadays and what they will look like in the next five to 10 years.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Shapiro
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/14/2022 • 39 minutes, 15 seconds
The Unfunny Decline of Comedy Central
In light of Trevor Noah’s recent announcement that he will be exiting 'The Daily Show,' Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw discuss what has happened to Comedy Central and why the once-beloved comedy hub has been reduced to a channel for reruns. They also discuss the value the network brings to Paramount and what the future looks like for 'The Daily Show' and other late-night television shows.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/11/2022 • 31 minutes, 58 seconds
Tom Cruise and an Explosive Scientology Book
Matt is joined by Mike Rinder, former senior executive of the Church of Scientology. They discuss the moment he decided to leave Scientology, Tom Cruise ’s current standing in the church, the impact of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' the internet’s damning influence on the future of Scientology, and more—all detailed in his new book 'A Billion Years: My Escape From a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology.'
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mike Rinder
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/6/2022 • 33 minutes, 42 seconds
Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt Goes Nuclear
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to discuss Angelina Jolie’s countersuit against Brad Pitt, which includes claims that Pitt was abusive to Angelina and their children during a 2016 plane ride. Matt and Eriq focus on the business and legal implications of the lawsuit—which centers on a French winery Pitt and Jolie bought when they were married—and what this could mean for their careers moving forward.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Eriq Gardner
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/5/2022 • 21 minutes, 44 seconds
‘House of the Dragon’ vs. ‘The Rings of Power,’ Who Is Winning?
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Parrot Analytics to break down who is winning the biggest TV matchup in years, HBO’s ‘The House of the Dragon’ vs. Amazon’s 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.’ Matt and Julia dive into Nielsen's newly released ratings and determine which show is benefiting its host platform the most.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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10/3/2022 • 31 minutes, 39 seconds
Can ‘SNL’ Get Back to Making Stars?
Matt is joined by Bill Simmons to discuss the current state of 'SNL' ahead of the Season 48 premiere this Saturday night. Lorne Michaels recently described this season as a “year of reinvention” for 'SNL,' and Matt and Bill preview how this year will look different, why the show has struggled creating stars lately, what it can learn from past seasons, and Lorne’s future with the show.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bill Simmons
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/30/2022 • 50 minutes, 50 seconds
Hollywood’s (Still) Embarrassing Gender Gap
Hollywood has a reputation for being a fairly progressive industry, but when it comes to gender equality, there is still plenty of work to do. Matt is joined by CNBC's senior media & tech correspondent Julia Boorstin to talk about her new book, ‘When Women Lead,’ and discuss the lingering gender gap in Hollywood and lack of female CEOs in entertainment and media industries, why women are particularly adept to lead companies, and what has changed since the #MeToo movement.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Boorstin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/29/2022 • 32 minutes, 24 seconds
Millions Are Watching the NFL on Amazon Prime. Is This the Future?
Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before the ratings of the most recent ‘Thursday Night Football’ game on Amazon Prime between The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns were released.
Matt is joined by Sports Business Journal's John Ourand to discuss Amazon’s impressive start as an exclusive NFL streamer for ‘Thursday Night Football.’ Amazon’s Week 2 debut between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers drew ratings similar to broadcast television, raising the eyebrows of viewers, advertisers, and television network executives alike. Is this the future?
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected]
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Ourand
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/26/2022 • 26 minutes, 53 seconds
Town Hall: Star Wars Missteps, Top Gun’s Oscar Potential, and Where Is James Bond?
Welcome to Town Hall! Matt and Craig answer listener questions on Disney’s handling of the 'Star Wars' franchise, the biggest movie set disasters, 'Top Gun' and Tom Cruise’s Oscar buzz, Paramount’s stellar summer and who is responsible, Hollywood’s biggest bets in 2023, the future of the live award show, Apple TV+’s ambitions, and more.
Sign up for Matt’s Hollywood newsletter at 20% off HERE.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected].
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/22/2022 • 28 minutes, 29 seconds
‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and How Controversy Impacts the Box Office
Matt is joined by David Herrin, founder of film research firm The Quorum, to discuss Olivia Wilde’s upcoming film, ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ and whether the media frenzy and off-screen controversy will affect its performance at the box office. They also look back on past films wrapped up in controversy and determine whether publicity leads to success or failure.
Sign up for Matt’s Hollywood newsletter at 20% off HERE.
Email us comments, questions, or ideas at [email protected].
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: David Herrin
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Craig Horlbeck
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9/21/2022 • 30 minutes, 33 seconds
Did a $200M Direct-to-Streaming Movie Ever Make Sense?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how much money streaming services should spend on movies that skip a theatrical release and go directly to their streaming platform. They speculate over a streaming service’s return on investment for for a $200 million movie and question whether that business model is sustainable.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/19/2022 • 31 minutes, 46 seconds
Is TV Saving or Killing College Football?
Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis to discuss the recent conference realignment in college football—where television ratings reign supreme and storied traditions are rapidly disappearing—and whether this new normal is sustainable in a consolidating college football television universe.
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Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Bryan Curtis
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/16/2022 • 27 minutes, 25 seconds
HBO’s Reassertion, Quinta Brunson’s Breakout, and More Emmy Takeaways
Matt and Craig recap the 2022 Emmy Awards as well as Matt’s experience from inside the event and the after-parties. They give out their own awards for the winner of the night, the biggest snub, and the best and worst moment of the night, discuss who has the brightest future after Monday night's results, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
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9/13/2022 • 29 minutes, 3 seconds
A Status Check on Disney and CEO Bob Chapek
Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss the current standing of Bob Chapek after the latest D23 Expo, which featured several announcements including new movie trailers, released footage, theme park updates, and new projects on the horizon at Disney.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/12/2022 • 31 minutes, 15 seconds
The Summer Box Office Reckoning
Matt is joined by Forbes’ Scott Mendelson to judge their box office predictions for the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer. They discuss the surprise hits, flops, and everything in between, and provide takeaways for each franchise.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Scott Mendelson
Produce: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/8/2022 • 31 minutes, 29 seconds
The Biggest Threat to YouTube’s World Domination
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Mark Bergen to discuss his newest book on YouTube’s path to domination over the past 20 years. They discuss whether Tiktok or any other digital platform can dethrone YouTube, the company's long and winding path to paying its creators, and its relationship with traditional Hollywood.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Mark Bergen
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/6/2022 • 34 minutes, 13 seconds
Florence Pugh or Pete Davidson? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30, Part 2
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll for Part 2 of the Young Hollywood Stock Exchange, where they buy or sell on the biggest stars under 30 in Hollywood.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justin Kroll
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/2/2022 • 26 minutes, 46 seconds
Chalamet or Holland? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll to decide whether they are buying or selling the movie-star potential of the biggest actors under 30 years old in Hollywood.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Justin Kroll
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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9/1/2022 • 31 minutes, 17 seconds
The Troubled Coexistence of Movie Theaters and Streaming
Matt is joined by John Fithian, the CEO and president of the National Association of Theater Owners, to discuss the current state of the theater business, its messy relationship with movie studios, and what the next year looks like for moviegoing.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Fithian
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/31/2022 • 30 minutes, 9 seconds
Winners and Losers of NBC Axing an Hour of Prime-Time TV
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss NBC considering eliminating their 10 p.m. programming slot and giving it back to the affiliates. Linear broadcast TV networks are in decline, but they still make a lot of money. However, most are owned by companies with streaming services that soak up all of the resources. So, what should happen to these broadcast networks?
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/29/2022 • 23 minutes, 42 seconds
MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes On Reinventing Moviegoing (Again)
Matt is joined by CEO and co-founder of MoviePass Stacy Spikes to talk about the upcoming relaunch of MoviePass—the disruptive movie subscription service phenomenon that swept the nation in the late 2010s.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Stacy Spikes
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/26/2022 • 40 minutes, 1 second
David Zaslav Doesn’t Care About Your Favorite HBO Shows
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Parrot Analytics and Puck to discuss the vanishing of television shows on the HBO Max platform. They discuss Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s quest to save and make as much money as possible, what we can expect from HBO moving forward, and the expectation consumers hold for the content on their favorite streaming services.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/24/2022 • 28 minutes, 35 seconds
The 2022 Showrunner Draft
In movies, the director is king. But in television, it's the showrunner. In the past 15 years we’ve seen the rise of the showrunner as perhaps the most important job in the industry. Today Matt and Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw participate in the very first showrunner draft. Each will draft five showrunners and a sleeper pick to dominate the industry over the next 15 years.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/22/2022 • 37 minutes, 28 seconds
The Wackiest CEO in Entertainment
Matt is joined by Bloomberg ’s Felix Gillette to discuss his latest piece on the antics of Hollywood’s most interesting CEO, Adam Aron. Aron is the CEO of AMC Entertainment and has turned his company into a meme-stock, investing in a literal goldmine, and will seemingly do whatever it takes to keep his theater business standing in a post-pandemic world.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Felix Gillette
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/18/2022 • 32 minutes, 40 seconds
The Lawsuit Striking Fear Into Fox News (Plus 'LOTR' Predictions)
Matt is joined by Puck’s legal expert, Eriq Gardner, to discuss Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit against Fox news, which states that Fox aired false, far-fetched, and exaggerated claims about Dominion and its supposed role in helping steal votes from Donald Trump. Matt and Eriq discuss whether Fox is protected by claiming it only repeated false claims from the president, how much Dominion was harmed, and a new era in libel cases. Later, Matt gives a prediction after seeing the first two episodes of Amazon’s new show ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.’
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Eriq Garnder
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/17/2022 • 31 minutes, 29 seconds
Should Disney Sell ESPN?
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss ESPN’s value to Disney and whether Disney should explore shopping the worldwide leader in sports. Cord cutting and the shift to streaming threaten the financial value of ESPN for Disney—the subscriber base is going down and costs are going up. So should Disney sell ESPN?
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/16/2022 • 29 minutes, 7 seconds
Disney+ and the Streaming Price Hike
Matt is joined by Jessica Reif Ehrlich, an analyst at B of A Securities, to break down the state of the streaming world after Disney's announcement that it will be raising the Disney+ subscription fee by 38 percent. They discuss whether streaming is becoming more like television, how viewers will tolerate an advertising tier, why Warner Bros. Discovery may be set up for success in the long term, Hulu as a potential secret weapon for Disney, what Microsoft could actually bring to Netflix, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jessica Reif Ehrlich
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/11/2022 • 31 minutes, 29 seconds
TikTok’s Dominance and Hollywood’s Place in the Creator Economy
Matt is joined by Taylor Lorenz from The Washington Post to talk all things creator economy, including how influencers make money, Triller’s attempt to rival TikTok, what Hollywood can learn from the creator economy, whether influencers can cross over into movie stardom, what the representation business should look for an influencer, and what the next 10 years of the creator ecosystem will look like.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Taylor Lorenz
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/10/2022 • 27 minutes, 2 seconds
Springsteen and the Scourge of Concert Ticket Pricing
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the demand-driven dynamic pricing system that recently set prices as high as $5,000 for Bruce Springsteen tickets. They get into the surge in concert ticket prices, the monopolistic control Live Nation has over the market, and how much responsibility the artist carries.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/8/2022 • 25 minutes, 11 seconds
The Great TV Purge Is Coming
Matt is joined by longtime media executive Tom Rogers to discuss the state of the streaming world, the future of the cable television ecosystem, who will create the ultimate bundle, which companies are here for the long haul, and where live sports fits in the equation.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tom Rogers
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/5/2022 • 30 minutes, 15 seconds
Why Warner Bros. Just Made the $90M ‘Batgirl’ Movie Disappear
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit to find an explanation for Warner Bros. Discovery's confounding decision to completely kill the release of the upcoming DC film ‘Batgirl’ and discuss the potential repercussions.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Borys Kit
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/3/2022 • 30 minutes, 55 seconds
Will Smith's Apology and Apple’s Predicament
Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw and The Ringer’s Juliet Litman to discuss Will Smith’s latest apology, which came in the form of a five-minute Q&A on YouTube. They talk about the sincerity of the apology, the handling of the aftermath of the Slap, and Apple’s looming decision about whether to release or delay Will Smith’s newest film, ‘Emancipation,’ which is set to come out later this year.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw and Juliet Litman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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8/1/2022 • 31 minutes, 28 seconds
Town Hall: Writers vs. Hollywood, an 'E.T.' Legacy Sequel, and Apple’s Animation Bet
Welcome to the second Town Hall! Matt and Craig field listener questions covering topics such as the likelihood of Steven Spielberg greenlighting legacy sequels, the future of the WWE after Vince McMahon, a potential WGA strike and the value of writers in Hollywood, how AMC A-List makes money, Apple TV+’s future, Ezra Miller and ‘The Flash’, Apple’s first animated film ‘Luck’, and more!
Host: Matt Belloni
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/27/2022 • 27 minutes, 4 seconds
The 2022 Intellectual Property Draft
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for the first “IP draft.” Intellectual property rules Hollywood, so Matt and Lucas draft their way through what they believe is the most highly coveted IP in entertainment.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/25/2022 • 35 minutes, 41 seconds
How the Metaverse Could Transform the Entertainment Industry
Matt is joined by author Matthew Ball to discuss his new book on the Metaverse and how it will alter the future of the content and entertainment industry.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Matthew Ball
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/21/2022 • 35 minutes, 49 seconds
Release the Snyder Article
Matt is joined by Rolling Stone’s Tatiana Siegel to discuss her latest article, which outlines the bizarre story of online bots fueling the Zack Synder rerelease of ‘Justice League’ and the turmoil it caused within Warner Bros.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Tatiana Siegel
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/20/2022 • 28 minutes, 31 seconds
Is the Netflix Movie Model Broken?
With the release of Netflix's $200 million action movie ‘The Gray Man’ this past weekend, Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix's movie strategy, the perception that it makes mock blockbusters, its marketing choices, and what it needs to do to be competitive.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/18/2022 • 27 minutes, 28 seconds
The Uncertain Futures of Netflix, Hulu, and Apple
Matt is joined by LightShed’s Rich Greenfield to discuss the misperceptions of Netflix, Apple, and Hulu in the streaming ecosystem. They discuss the Netflix password crackdown, Netflix choosing Microsoft as its partner for its advertising tier, Hulu’s future with Disney, and Apple’s chances of joining the streaming elites.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Rich Greenfield
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/15/2022 • 37 minutes, 28 seconds
Snubs, Surprises, and Industry Takeaways From the 2022 Emmy Nominations
Matt is joined by television critic Inkoo Kang from the Washington Post to break down this year's Emmy nominations, including the most notable shows and actors left off the ballot, surprising nominees, biggest question marks, predictions for Emmy night, and what this says about the current state of the television industry.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Inkoo Kang
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/12/2022 • 29 minutes, 10 seconds
A New Look at Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood’s Enablers
Matt is joined by New Yorker writer Ken Auletta to discuss his new book, ‘Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence,’ a biography detailing Weinstein’s rise to dominance in the film industry, his web of collusion, and his scramble to protect himself. Ken details the long and difficult process of writing and covering this story over the past two decades.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Ken Auletta
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/11/2022 • 35 minutes, 48 seconds
The 10 Nicest Stars in Hollywood
There are many rumors about who celebrities really are when the cameras are off. Tabloids, manicured interviews, and public appearances often shape the perception of our favorite stars. But we don’t always know who they really are in real life. Is Matt Damon really that nice? What about Tom Hanks? Today, Matt and his former colleague at The Hollywood Reporter Lacey Rose draw from past interactions, connections, and word of mouth to put together their definitive list of the 10 nicest stars in Hollywood.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lacey Rose
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/7/2022 • 36 minutes, 54 seconds
Predictions for Sun Valley’s Summer Camp for Billionaires
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the annual Sun Valley conference, dubbed a “summer camp for billionaires,” where chief executives and board chairmen gather for private conversations that often lead to major deals across the tech and media landscape. Matt and Lucas discuss their experience attending Sun Valley conference in the past and prognosticate over which conversations could and should take place.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/5/2022 • 25 minutes, 36 seconds
CAA and the New Reality of Talent Agencies
Matt is joined by author and journalist James Andrew Miller to discuss the ramifications of CAA's acquisition of ICM, including the consolidation of top-level talent agencies, why ICM decided to sell, how this will affect the future of content, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: James Andrew Miller
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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7/1/2022 • 29 minutes, 17 seconds
Producer Jason Blum on Money vs. Creativity
Matt is joined by producer, founder, and chief executive of Blumhouse Productions, Jason Blum, to discuss the evolution of economics in the entertainment industry in the age of streaming. Later, Matt runs Jason through a lightning round of questions about various topics in Hollywood.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Jason Blum
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/29/2022 • 38 minutes, 26 seconds
The 2022 Half-Year Hollywood Awards
As we near the halfway point of 2022, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw host the first-ever Half-Year Hollywood Awards. They give out awards for the winner and loser of the past six months, Biggest Publicist Fail, Head-scratcher Deal, Most Annoying Trend, predict who will win the next six months, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/27/2022 • 38 minutes, 21 seconds
You Will Pay More for Disney Parks and You Will Like It
Matt is joined by theme park journalist and podcast host Carlye Wisel to talk about the Disney Parks ecosystem, what's new post-pandemic, how they are making all this money, and the future of this important part of the entertainment industry. Then, Matt gives a prediction about the upcoming movie ‘Elvis.’
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Carlye Wisel
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/23/2022 • 31 minutes, 7 seconds
How the Pandemic Changed the Way You Consume Entertainment
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the pandemic has affected movies, live TV, streaming, and music. They break down the disappointing opening weekend for Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ and how it may foretell the future of moviegoing, a dip in TV viewership across the country, the future of showrunner megadeals, and the music boom of the 2020s.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Lucas Shaw
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/21/2022 • 30 minutes, 48 seconds
Who Survives at the New CNN?
CNN is facing a major makeover at the hands of its new leaders David Zaslav and Chris Licht, but it could mean trouble for old correspondents. Matt brings on Puck writer and CNN expert Dylan Byers to break down Licht’s new strategy and its potential for success.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Dylan Byers
Producer: Devon Manze
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/16/2022 • 37 minutes, 44 seconds
The ‘Stranger Things’ vs. ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Value War
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander of Parrot Analytics to discuss the record-breaking opening week for ‘Stranger Things,' the series' competition with 'Obi-Wan Kenobi,' and the most valuable properties in streaming.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Julia Alexander
Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Devon Manze
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/13/2022 • 28 minutes, 17 seconds
What the Heck Is Going On at Disney?
Matt is joined by CNBC’s Alex Sherman to discuss the surprising firing of Disney entertainment executive Peter Rice. They discuss what Disney is saying about it, what does this say about the future of Disney, and much more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: Alex Sherman
Producer: Craig Horlbeck
Associate Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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6/9/2022 • 28 minutes, 19 seconds
NBA Finals Ratings and ESPN's Future in Sports Television
Matt is joined by John Ourand from Sports Business Journal to discuss the unexpectedly low ratings after the first two games of the NBA Finals as well as the future of sports in streaming, including Disney’s commitment to ESPN, a potential buyer for the network, and more.
Host: Matt Belloni
Guest: John Ourand
Host: Craig Horlbeck
Theme Song: Devon Renaldo
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