The Right and Wrong Lessons From ‘Backrooms’ and ‘Obsession’
Matt Belloni and Bloomberg analyst Lucas Shaw dissected a surprising box‑office weekend driven by the low‑budget horror hit "Backrooms" and the thriller "Obsession," noting their strong domestic earnings despite modest spend. They debated whether Hollywood is entering a 1970s‑style boom‑bust cycle, especially as streaming flagship "The Mandalorian" faces audience fatigue. The conversation also touched on the broader implications for studio release strategies and concluded with Shaw’s forecast that the 2026 NBA Finals will see a notable ratings rise.
Peter Chernin on ‘Backrooms’ and Where the Smart Money Is Going in Hollywood
The Town episode spotlights Peter Chernin, the veteran media mogul behind Fox’s golden era and now the head of the Chernin Group, as he discusses the surprise box‑office hit “Backrooms,” a low‑budget horror film directed by a 20‑year‑old YouTuber that...
IMAX Suitors and Why Netflix Put Fincher in Theaters
The episode examines IMAX’s unexpected decision to explore a sale while Netflix experiments with a theatrical release of David Fincher’s sequel to "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in IMAX venues. The discussion frames the move as a response to...
Hollywood’s Inevitable Pivot to Vertical Video Is Here
The Town episode spotlights Hollywood’s rapid shift toward vertical video, a format designed for phone‑first consumption. Over the past month, Netflix, Disney, Paramount, Meta, Google, Amazon, TikTok and NBCU have all announced or rolled out vertical‑only products, signaling a coordinated...
Who Won (and Lost) TV’s Annual Billion-Dollar Cash Grab
This week’s TV upfronts revealed a fundamental shift: networks and streaming giants are no longer pitching isolated seasonal line‑ups but selling advertisers year‑long, cross‑platform inventory. The event, once dominated by broadcast schedules, has become a corporate showcase where Disney, Amazon,...
What Makes Good TV Writers (and Execs), With David E. Kelley
The Town episode features a candid conversation with David E. Kelley, the prolific creator behind L.A. Law, The Practice, Big Little Lies and more. He reflects on a five‑decade career that spans network sitcoms, dramas, and streaming limited series, and explains...
Netflix Has Committed to Its First Global Theatrical Release for Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’
Netflix announced its first ever worldwide theatrical window for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “The Chronicles of Narnia,” moving the film from an exclusive IMAX rollout to a full‑scale release in cinemas around the globe. The deal grants the movie a 49‑day...
Will Steven Spielberg’s DISCLOSURE DAY Be a Blockbuster?
The video examines whether Steven Spielberg’s upcoming UFO‑themed picture, tentatively titled “Disclosure Day,” can live up to the director’s reputation as a summer blockbuster maker. Analysts note that in the past decade Spielberg has delivered only one global hit above $200 million—Ready...
Lionsgate Film Chair Adam Fogelson Joins The Town to Talk ‘Michael’
In a recent interview, Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson discussed the upcoming biopic “Michael,” which chronicles the life of the late pop icon and confronts the sexual‑abuse allegations that have shadowed his legacy. Fogelson said the original screenplay deliberately addressed those...
Semafor’s Liz Hoffman Joins The Town to Talk About Wall Street’s View of WarnerMount
The discussion centers on WarnerMount’s pending transaction with Netflix, specifically the $2.42 billion breakup fee that would flow to Netflix if the deal collapses. Analysts argue that this fee, along with an estimated $2.8 billion of additional shareholder value, should be reflected...
Does It Matter that WBD Shareholders Rejected David Zazlav’s Big Payday From the Paramount Merger?
The video discusses recent shareholder votes at Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) concerning the completed merger with Paramount and the separate advisory vote on CEO David Zaslav’s compensation package. While the merger received overwhelming approval, the advisory vote rejected Zaslav’s proposed $887 million...
Why Didn’t Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas Sign the Petition Opposing the WarnerMount Merger?
The video captures a candid conversation about why two heavyweight producers, Jerry Bruckheimer and Emma Thomas, have not added their names to a petition aimed at blocking the WarnerMount merger. Both acknowledge they were never approached for the petition and argue the...
The Insane and Perhaps Necessary Late Night Schedule for ‘SNL’
The video explains why Saturday Night Live runs on a late‑night timetable that mirrors creator Lorne Michaels’ personal rhythm. Rather than adhering to conventional broadcast hours, the show avoids any meetings or recordings before 4:30 p.m., allowing the production team to...
Just How Wasteful Is SNL as a Production? And Why That’s the Way Lorne Likes It!
The video centers on Lorne Michaels’ candid discussion about Saturday Night Live’s notoriously wasteful production model, highlighting how the show’s excesses are a deliberate choice rather than an oversight. Michaels explains that the extravagance serves a strategic purpose, shielding the...
Netflix’s Price Hike and Opening Day Debut. HBO's ‘Harry Potter’ and the Millennial Nostalgia Era.
The episode of The Town focuses on Netflix’s latest price increase and its foray into live sports, notably the MLB opening‑day broadcast, while also touching on broader streaming‑industry pricing trends. Netflix lifted its ad‑free standard plan from $18 to $20...