What Happens When a “Succession” Writer Takes on Silicon Valley
In this episode, host Stephanie Wu talks with Jonathan Glatzer, the creator of the new AMC series The Audacity, about how a writer known for Succession approached a Silicon Valley‑centric drama. Glatzer explains that the show uses the tech world as a backdrop to explore the lives, ambitions, and moral compromises of a diverse cast—including a wannabe tech titan, a psychiatrist serving billionaire clients, and veterans affairs officials—rather than focusing on the technology itself. He shares how real‑world events like AI therapy bots, VA layoffs, and even a personal wildfire influenced the script, and he offers a sharp critique of tech’s promised societal benefits versus its actual impact. The conversation highlights the show’s blend of satire and human drama, reflecting Glatzer’s perspective that tech is a cultural lens, not the story’s core.
Does the Surprise Writers Guild Deal Mean Labor Peace in Hollywood?
In this episode of The Town, host Matt Bellany and labor lawyer Jonathan Handel break down the surprise four‑year Writers Guild of America (WGA) agreement that was reached ahead of schedule. The deal secures a health‑plan bailout, wage hikes, better...
Final Four Ratings Preview, March Madness Announcer Reviews, MLB-Netflix, WNBA, Tiger and More
The episode dissects the surprising UConn upset over Duke and its impact on the Final Four ratings, highlighting how teams like Michigan, Arizona, and Illinois boost viewership despite UConn’s historically low draw. Hosts John Lewis and Armand Brody debate the...
Netflix’s Price Hike and Opening Day Debut. Plus, HBO's ‘Harry Potter’ and the Millennial Nostalgia Era.
The episode breaks down Netflix’s recent price hikes across its ad‑free and ad‑supported tiers, examining how the moves fit into a broader strategy to push users toward the cheaper, ad‑supported plan and boost ad revenue. Hosts discuss the competitive streaming...
Tubi Teams Up with Tiktok, Feat. Rich Bloom & The Verdicts Changing Social Media Forever
In this episode of Creator Upload, Tubi’s GM of Creator Programs, Rich Bloom, explains the new partnership with TikTok to develop long‑form series starring TikTok creators. The deal leverages TikTok’s Spotlight and marketing tools to promote the shows while Tubi...
Can D.C. Save Hollywood? Senator Adam Schiff on Bringing Production Home.
In this episode, Senator Adam Schiff discusses a proposed federal tax credit aimed at halting the exodus of film and TV production from Los Angeles. He explains that a 15% baseline credit, stacked on top of state incentives, would make...
Sora Is Dead: What Does That Mean for Disney? Plus, ‘The Bachelorette’ Scandal.
The episode examines the abrupt shutdown of OpenAI's video‑generation app Sora and its fallout for Disney, which had invested $1 billion and secured rights to 200 of its characters. Host Matt Bellany and tech reporter Alex Heath discuss why OpenAI reprioritized...
Gosling, MBJ, Timmy, and the Biggest Movie Stars Under 50 Power Ranking
In this episode of The Town, hosts Matt Bellany and Lucas Shaw dissect the current hierarchy of Hollywood’s biggest movie stars under 50, using box‑office draw as the sole metric. They debate the merits of Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Gosling, Timothée Chalamet,...
Will Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Do What Iger and Chapek Would Not?
The episode examines the strategic challenges facing Disney as new CEO Josh D'Amaro steps in, proposing three bold moves to revive the company's stagnant stock: exiting linear TV, taking greater creative risks, and pursuing a transformative acquisition in interactive entertainment....
How to De-Age the Oscars with Amelia Dimoldenberg
In this bonus episode of The Town, host Matt Bellany talks with Amelia Dimoldenberg, the official social‑media ambassador and red‑carpet correspondent for the Oscars, about how the Academy is trying to make the ceremony relevant to Gen Z and younger...
The New Creator Video Play: Moving From Shorts to CTV | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition of the Behind the Numbers podcast, eMarketer analyst Emmy Liederman moderates a panel with Nicole Marcus of Dick's Sporting Goods and Alison O'Keefe of Best Buy about the evolving creator video landscape and its migration from...
Game of Streams: David Ellison’s Plan to Compete with Netflix Called Paramount+HBO
The episode dissects David Ellison’s strategy to transform Paramount into a daily‑use streaming powerhouse capable of challenging Netflix, focusing on the upcoming merger with Warner Bros. Discovery and the creation of a unified Paramount+HBO platform. It outlines a three‑step plan:...
Matt Belloni on the Oscars, the Ellisons, and Hollywood’s Next Chapter
In this episode of Channels with Peter Kafka, Puck journalist Matt Belloni breaks down the 2026 Oscars, highlighting Warner Bros.’s final big‑budget campaign with films like “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” and the shifting power dynamics after the studio’s...
The Retro Innovation of ‘The Pitt,’ With Lead Producer John Wells
In this episode of The Town, host Matt Bellany talks with veteran TV producer John Wells about the unconventional production model behind HBO Max’s procedural drama “The Pit.” Wells explains how the show revives the classic broadcast‑style format—15 episodes per...
Janice Min on Hollywood’s Crisis; Reed Duchscher on the Creator Boom
Janice Min, publisher of The Ankler, paints a bleak picture of Hollywood, likening Los Angeles to a "Detroit vibe" as media consolidation squeezes the advertising pool. In contrast, Reed Duchscher, founder of Night, announced a $70 million raise to expand his agency...
