The Town with Matthew Belloni

'Severance’: When a Hit Show Goes Over Budget, Who Pays? Feb 20, 2025

Matt is joined by Chris Rice, cofounder and co-CEO of Fifth Season, and producer of Apple+’s ‘Severance,' to discuss what happens when a TV show goes over budget and how to manage, who ends up footing the bill, reasons for overages, setting the budget for seasons of TV, and the current state of financing and producing independent television (02:55). Matt finishes the episode with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘The Monkey’ (28:02).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Chris Rice

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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SNL’s Fate After Lorne, and Streaming’s Most Overpriced Platforms Feb 18, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap ‘SNL50’ and look ahead to the future of ‘SNL’ in a post–Lorne Michaels world, and wonder whether NBC will continue to finance such a costly and labor intensive show. Then they debate which streamers are under or overpriced based on a new streaming report that compares each streamer’s value based on hours viewed vs. subscription price (02:53). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon’ franchise (25:56).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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What’s Next at Netflix With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 2 Feb 14, 2025

Matt is once again joined by Netflix’s Bela Bajaria for part two of their conversation. They get into their content spend breakdown for 2025 and beyond, their foray into like programming and whether more NFL or new sports like UFC or F1 is on the way, their calculus on data transparency, and the perception of quality vs. quantity (01:13). Matt finishes the show by running through a lightning round of questions with Bela on a variety of hot-button Netflix-related questions (23:41).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bela Bajaria

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix vs. Everyone With Content Chief Bela Bajaria, Part 1 Feb 14, 2025

Matt is joined by Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, to discuss all things Netflix, including the ‘Emilia Perez’ scandal, vetting talent, their IMAX deal with Greta Gerwig’s upcoming 'Narnia' movie, struggling to make franchise IP, and why Netflix is misunderstood (03:12). Matt finishes the show with a ratings prediction for the 'SNL50' anniversary show (32:40).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bela Bajaria

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Can the ‘Emilia Pérez’ Oscars Implosion Be Salvaged? Feb 13, 2025

Matt is joined by award-winning entertainment marketing executive Terry Press to discuss the social media whirlwind surrounding best picture nominated film ‘Emilia Pérez’ after tweets from its star and Best Actress nominee Karla Sofía Gascón have derailed its Oscar campaign. Terry offers her expertise and runs through the awards campaign playbook to outline how Netflix and ‘Emilia Pérez’ can salvage this implosion (02:39). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (29:31).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Terry Press

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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New Trouble for the Paramount Sale Feb 10, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the complicated holdup in the sale of Paramount Global to David Ellison and his company, Skydance Media. They break down the situation—which involves Donald Trump's lawsuit over Kamala Harris's '60 Minutes' interview on CBS—and consider the options for Paramount Global head Shari Redstone to get this deal done. They also look ahead at the implications this may have for future mergers in Hollywood (03:32). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the Academy Awards' Best Picture race (24:47).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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NFL and Streaming: A Super Bowl Data Dive Feb 06, 2025

Matt is joined by Antenna CEO Jonathan Carson to look at the NFL in the digital age and provide insight on how streamers are leveraging NFL rights as a massive subscriber event. They talk about some moves the league has made to target different fans, how much of an impact live NFL games have had on Netflix, and if the splintering of NFL rights could lead to diminishing returns (02:32). Matt finishes the show with a Super Bowl ratings prediction (25:27).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Jonathan Carson

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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What Worries Directors: AI, Peaked TV, and Baldoni-Gate Feb 05, 2025

Matt is joined by Lesli Linka Glatter and Russell Hollander, the president and director, respectively, of the Directors Guild of America, to talk about some of the most important topics for directors in the entertainment industry. They discuss how the DGA manages its relationship with SAG and the WGA; how the AI landscape has changed since its last CBA, including AI's use in the film ‘The Brutalist’; why the TV market is hurting directors; and what the DGA's role is in the Justin Baldoni–Blake Lively lawsuit (02:34). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about Super Bowl commercials (24:10).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lesli Linka Glatter and Russell Hollander

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Inside the 2025 Grammys: Beyoncé's Win, Chappell’s Speech, and Kendrick’s Sweep Feb 04, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap an exciting and star-studded 2025 Grammy Awards, break down what it was like to be there in person, and nominate their biggest winners and losers from music’s biggest night. They also talk about Chappell Roan's acceptance speech pleading for record labels to treat their artists better, Kendrick's dominant night, and Will Smith’s return to the awards show stage (00:00). The guys finish the show with an update to the 2025 Box Office Draft (00:00).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Secrets to Success in Producing, With Marc Platt of ‘Wicked’ Feb 01, 2025

Matt is joined by ‘Wicked’ producer Marc Platt to discuss how the smash hit musical adaptation got made and why it took so long despite the stage play's successful multi-decade run. They also discuss why 'Wicked' is the only Best Picture–nominated film with only one credited producer, Platt. They also talk about why the ‘Wicked’ marketing campaign was such a success, tough choices he has had to make in his career, and the secret to a great pitch (02:09). Later, Matt makes a prediction about the recent social media controversy surrounding ‘Emilia Pérez’ star Karla Sofía Gascón (27:39).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Marc Platt

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Irving Azoff on His A-List L.A. FireAid Concert, and Six Decades in the Music Business Jan 29, 2025

Matt is joined by legendary music industry executive Irving Azoff to discuss FireAid, the massive benefit concert on January 30 to help L.A. fire victims. As the Los Angeles area continues its recovery from devastating wildfires, the benefit concert will raise millions for relief efforts. Irving explains how this concert came together so quickly, including the unprecedented streaming effort that will allow millions to watch for free, as well as how many of the major acts got involved like Billie Eilish, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anderson .Paak, and more. They also discuss the state of the music business, why many prominent voices in the music business are English, how streaming is affecting the business, and more (02:25). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the benefit concert proceeds (31:52).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Irving Azoff

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is There a Netflix Bubble? Jan 27, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to break down Netflix’s quarterly earnings report that saw the streamer add nearly 19 million subscribers and its stock price push to $1,000 a share (02:51). As one of the most valuable media companies, where else does Netflix have room to grow? Next, Matt and Lucas make a correction to the 2025 Box Office Draft from last week (25:43).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Narratives Surrounding the Oscar Nominations Jan 24, 2025

Matt is joined by Steven Zeitchik, senior editor at The Hollywood Reporter, to break down some industry angles from the 2025 Oscar nominations, including Netflix's 13 nominations for 'Emilia Pérez' and the movie's chances to win Best Picture in this year's wide-open race, the constituencies among the voters, the growing globalization of the Academy, studio politics, and who they think will win Best Picture (01:59).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Steven Zeitchik

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Changes to the 2025 Grammys and the Complicated State of Music Jan 23, 2025

Matt is joined by Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares, to discuss how the Grammys plan to address and support the people affected by wildfires in Los Angeles, how the week leading up to music's biggest night is changing this year, why the Grammys are moving from CBS to ABC, TikTok’s place in the music industry, and more (02:20). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the upcoming Mark Wahlberg action film ‘Flight Risk’ (26:06).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Harvey Mason Jr.

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2025 Box Office Draft Jan 22, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to conduct the third annual box office draft on ‘The Town.’ Matt and Lucas each draft seven blockbuster movies set to be released in 2025 with the goal of making the most money possible against the production budget. Plus, an added twist that allows each person to saddle the other's 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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Is Hollywood Assistant Life Still Insane? Jan 16, 2025

Matt is joined by Warner Bailey to talk about one of the most underdiscussed yet crucial pieces of the Hollywood ecosystem: the assistant. Warner surveyed tens of thousands of currently employed assistants in the entertainment business to answer questions about their current salary, how the job has changed over the years, whether they’d want to be their boss one day, if they’ve ever been asked to do something against their morals, and who the most frightening agent in Hollywood is (02:57). Matt wraps up the show with box-office predictions for the opening weekend of Wolf Man and One of Them Days (28:28).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Warner Bailey

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Why Broadcast Television Won’t Die Jan 15, 2025

Matt is joined by Amy Reisenbach, the president of CBS Entertainment, to talk about how broadcast networks continue to succeed despite living in a world of streaming and social media. She discusses why these linear networks are still surviving, how a hybrid broadcast-streaming model can be beneficial for legacy networks, and the challenge of programming shows for audiences of different age ranges on linear vs. streaming (02:55). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about a new sports bundle from DirecTV (25:31).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Amy Reisenbach

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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How Hollywood (and Awards Season) Can Help Rebuild Los Angeles Jan 13, 2025

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the fallout from the devastating fires in L.A. that are still ongoing. So much of Los Angeles is made up of the entertainment industry—from movie stars, directors, and agents to camera operators, teamsters, caterers, and production assistants—thousands of whom have been seriously affected by the fires. Matt and Lucas take a look at how Hollywood can help rebuild the city of L.A., and how it can leverage events like the Oscars and Grammys to actually benefit those in need. They also look at the long-term impact of the fires on Los Angeles as the entertainment capital of the world, and wonder if this will exacerbate the continued struggle to keep movie and TV production in L.A., or if this could be the beginning of a triumphant rebuild.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Magical (and Profitable) World of Disney Cruises Jan 10, 2025

Matt is joined by Robbie Whelan from the Wall Street Journal to discuss Disney’s most popular non-theme park experience, the cruise line, and its increasing value to Disney. Matt walks us through his own personal experience on a Disney cruise over the holiday break, and they get into the business of how and why this business is so profitable and important for Disney, and if any other company has the IP to leverage something at this scale (03:04). Matt finishes the show with an opening-weekend box office prediction for ‘Den of Thieves 2: Pantera’ (27:55).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Robbie Whelan

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Golden Globes Takeaways and the Biggest Questions for 2025 Jan 06, 2025

Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw react to the Golden Globes and Lucas gives his takeaways from inside the room Sunday night. Then they look ahead to the new year and pose their biggest industry questions of 2025 (01:48). Finally, Matt looks back at his year in predictions on The Call Sheet and Craig reveals whether this was Matt’s best or worst year of prognosticating (24:31).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Townies, Part 2: Who Won the Year in Hollywood? Jan 01, 2025

In Part 2 of the exclusive Townie Awards, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw decide who won the year, including executives and talent, and give out some additional awards, including: Biggest Flex; Executive Fail of the Year; Movie Marketing Miss of the Year; Suck It Haters, I Was Right; 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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The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2024 Dec 30, 2024

It’s podcasting’s most exclusive event of the year: the third annual Townie Awards! Join Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw as they go through the biggest moves, deals, and fails from 2024, while also awarding the Most Annoying Media Narrative, Sneaky Successes, Publicist Fails, Larry David Spite Store of the Year, and much more in Part 1 of this year's Townies.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Turning Music Rights Into a Bob Dylan Biopic Dec 25, 2024

Matt is joined by producer Peter Jaysen to discuss his latest film, ‘A Complete Unknown,’ and how he managed to get a movie about Bob Dylan made. He details how he secured the rights to Dylan’s musical archive and life, how they chose Timothée Chalamet, how much Dylan was involved, and secrets to finding and developing top-tier IP (02:45). Matt finishes the show with a Christmas Day box office prediction for ‘A Complete Unknown’ and ‘Nosferatu’ (29:49).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Peter Jaysen

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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A Holiday Grab Bag: Blake Vs. Baldoni, NFL on Netflix, Disney’s Next CEO, and UFC's Next Home Dec 23, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to run through a slew of topics tied to a recent survey conducted by Shaw that polls hundreds of Hollywood insiders on some of the hottest questions around town. They also touch on the latest news in the complicated 'It Ends With Us' feud (02:02). Matt finishes the show with a ratings prediction about Netflix's NFL Christmas debut (25:47).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Multi-Billion-Dollar Plan to Improve Going to the Movies Dec 20, 2024

Matt is joined by Michael O’Leary, CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) to discuss their pledge to spend $2.2 billion to modernize and upgrade theaters, what that actually means, and what these new “entertainment centers” will actually look like. They also talk about the biggest successes of the year in moviegoing, how theaters can improve for the modern audience, how theaters and studios are getting along these days, and more (03:13). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the upcoming Netflix film ‘Electric State,’ starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt (29:29).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael O’Leary

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Making Millions on Dead Celebrities in the AI Age Dec 18, 2024

Matt is joined by Mark Roesler, founder and chairman of CMG Worldwide, to discuss how AI has added a new twist to how the rights of dead famous people are being exploited. They discuss how incredibly valuable these rights are and how new technology is changing the way name, image, and likeness are being enabled to resurrect dead stars. They highlight a few recent examples, including James Earl Jones in the new ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ film, as well as Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. in a commercial for a new brand of gin. Mark explains how these deceased celebrities are protected in the age of AI and who is making the decision to exploit these rights (02:33). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ and ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ (26:20).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Mark Roesler

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Fate of Warner Bros in 2025, and Iger’s Trump Capitulation Dec 16, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss why Warner Bros. Discovery is planning to separate its TV networks unit from movies and streaming and what this could signal for the company moving forward. Later they discuss ABC News’ decision to settle Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit for $15 million and whether Disney will operate any differently under the Trump administration (02:55). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the sports bundle Venu (26:24).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Which Movies Actually Popped (and Flopped) on Streaming in 2024? Dec 13, 2024

Matt is joined by the Entertainment Strategy Guy to help find out which TV shows were the most important to their streaming service in 2024 before revealing which movies actually performed well on streaming and which largely disappointed. He runs through the biggest movie releases of the year on streaming and reveals just how successful or disappointing they were (01:26). Matt and Craig finish the show by tasting the famous Tom Cruise coconut bundt cake (26:56).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Entertainment Strategy Guy

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Which Streaming Shows Hit and Bombed in 2024? Dec 13, 2024

Matt is joined by the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a former streaming exec, to sort through the mirky waters of streaming data and find out which streaming tv shows were actually hits, which were major flops, which were underrated successes, and which were bigger bombs than anyone thought (02:57) Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Kraven the Hunter’ (29:10).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Entertainment Strategy Guy

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Winners and Losers of 2024 in Streaming Dec 09, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap the year in streaming and nominate their clear winners and losers as well as some under-the-radar services that deserve more love or criticism (01:59). Matt finishes the show by recapping the Best Picture nominations for the 2025 Golden Globes and predicting who he thinks will take home the top award for Best Motion Picture–Drama and Best Motion Picture–Musical or Comedy (26:16).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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ESPN on Disney+, Cable’s Spinoff Moment, and Who Would Buy CNN? Dec 07, 2024

Matt is joined by LightShed Media analyst Rich Greenfield to talk about SpinCo, Comcast’s new spinoff company of cable and digital networks, and look at potential ramifications of the spinoff. They also discuss the implications this has on other media companies like Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Disney, then get into the coming game of musical chairs in the TV network business (02:26). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the second annual NBA Cup tournament (27:16).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Rich Greenfield

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Equal Pay, Equal Stake: A Filmmaking Experiment Dec 06, 2024

Matt is joined by filmmakers Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar to talk about their unique payment model behind their latest film, ‘Sing Sing.' They discuss how they managed to pay everyone on set, from lead actor to production assistant, the exact same amount of money while offering everyone who worked on the film equity in the film and still make everyone happy (02:17). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the potential for a Best Picture nomination for a particular film. Matt also reveals that he has finally got his hands on the famous Tom Cruise coconut cake (24:55).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Does Disney Have Its Movie Mojo Back? Dec 02, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap a busy month at the box office, including a record-setting Thanksgiving weekend for ‘Moana 2’ after strong showings for ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator II.’ They dig into Disney's dominant year at the box office and look ahead to its 2025 slate to see if its hot streak can continue.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘Dune’ Director Denis Villeneuve on Plans for Part 3, ‘Star Wars’ Interest, and Art Vs. Commerce Nov 27, 2024

Live from Los Angeles, Matt is joined by director Denis Villeneuve to discuss how he learns from past films, what he learned from his latest film ('Dune: Part Two'), and whether he will return to direct the third part. Denis also talks about his love for the original 'Star Wars' and whether he would ever consider directing one of his own, his thoughts on the current state of the industry, and how he balances art vs. commerce in moviemaking (01:41). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Moana 2’ (31:28).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Denis Villeneuve

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Young Movie Star Draft Nov 25, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to conduct The Town’s first ever Young Movie Star Draft. Matt and Lucas must each draft three actors and three actresses under the age of 35 who they think have the best shot at becoming the next big theatrical movie star. For an added twist, they can only select two people in each of the three age brackets of 20-25, 26-30, and 31-35.

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Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘Anora’ Actress Mikey Madison. Plus, ‘Wicked’ Vs. ‘Gladiator II’! Nov 22, 2024

Live from Los Angeles, Matt is joined by actress Mikey Madison to talk about her new movie ‘Anora’, working for director Sean Baker, how she was cast in Quentin Tarantino’s film ‘Once Upon a Time In … Hollywood,’ why she wants a Hollywood mentor, and more (01:56). Matt then finishes the show with an opening box office prediction for ‘Wicked: Part One’ and ‘Gladiator II’ (18:40).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Mikey Madison

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Secrets of the NBA-TNT Divorce Settlement With Bill Simmons Nov 20, 2024

Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons to talk about the painful split between the NBA and Turner after a 30-year partnership. They discuss why the relationship blew up, details and questions surrounding the move of the popular studio talk show ‘Inside the NBA’ to ESPN, and whether there is a chance that this will work out for Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav in the long run.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bill Simmons

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Disney’s Streaming Turnaround and Netflix’s Boxing Debut Nov 19, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about Disney reaching profitability in streaming, how Bob Iger managed to turn the company around in his two years since returning as CEO, and whether this is the beginning of a larger turnaround for Disney. Later, they discuss Netflix’s Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing event, the glitchy live broadcast, what this means for Netflix in general, and its upcoming NFL games on Christmas (03:03). Matt finishes the show by predicting how recently announced Oscars host Conan O’Brien will affect the ratings of the 2025 Academy Awards (24:12).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Digital TV Giants: Amazon, Google, and … Roku? Nov 15, 2024

Matt is joined by Charlie Collier, the president of Roku Media, to talk about the most under-discussed streaming player in Hollywood, how it differentiates itself from other companies, and how they compete with tech giants Amazon and Google. He also discusses what he learned running AMC and Fox’s broadcast network and how the industry has changed, then makes the case for the return of ad-supported television on streaming (02:53). Matt finishes the show by commenting on John Krasinski as People’s Sexiest Man Alive and explains how ‘People Magazine’ chooses its winners (26:17).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Charlie Collier

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Martha Stewart and When a Celeb Disavows Their Doc—With the Director! Nov 13, 2024

Matt is joined by R.J. Cutler, director of the Netflix documentary ‘Martha,’ as well as the upcoming film ‘Elton John: Never Too Late,’ to talk about Martha Stewart’s disapproval of the film, directors maintaining creative control over their projects, and the inherent and necessary struggle of collaborating with a major celebrity on a documentary (02:17). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for the new Christmas movie ‘Red One’ (25:57).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: R.J. Cutler

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix’s Greta Gerwig Situation, a Buried Clint Eastwood Movie, and Streaming’s Good Week Nov 11, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the latest Warner Bros. Discovery earnings and if streaming has finally turned a corner in becoming a viable business (02:53). Then they dig into Netflix recently granting Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Narnia movie IMAX theaters and if this marks the beginning of a new trend for Netflix (13:22). Finally, they get into why a seemingly great Clint Eastwood movie, 'Juror #2' has been buried by its studio, Warner Bros. Discovery (20:19). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the future of the ‘Mission Impossible’ franchise (26:21).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Winners and Losers of Hollywood Under Trump 2.0 Nov 08, 2024

Matt is joined by Axios media reporter Sara Fischer to discuss the Hollywood business implications of the second Trump presidency. They get into the possibility for more M&A, specifically Warner Bros. Discovery and LIV-PGA, whether Trump will go after big tech, the future of TikTok in the United States, and the future of content moderation (02:31). Matt finishes the show with a prediction related to the latest announcement that a new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy is in the works (26:57).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Sara Fischer

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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How Much Money a Hit TV Show Can Make (and How It’s Changed) Nov 06, 2024

Matt is joined by John Mass, president of Content Partners, to talk about how making money in TV has changed in the last 10 to 15 years. John walks us through how a TV show is financed, how the market has changed because of the streaming model, and how it has upended the way participants make money. They also talk about the bygone days of producers owning shows, the heyday of the syndication era, and if a correction is coming (02:29). Matt finishes the episode with a prediction about the upcoming battle between ‘Wicked: Part One’ and ‘Gladiator 2’ (34:38).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: John Mass

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Existential Crisis of the Cable Juggernauts Nov 04, 2024

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Comcast's exploration of spinning off its cable assets into a separate company, which could potentially mark the wider restructuring of its NBCUniversal division. They talk about how legacy media companies are struggling with how to handle their linear television business, what a division of assets might look like for Comcast, and whether a streaming partner makes sense for NBC and Peacock (02:43). Matt finishes the show with a ratings prediction for the 2024 presidential election (26:05).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is There a Right Way to Use AI to Make Movies? Oct 31, 2024

Matt is joined by Tobias Queisser, the CEO of Cinelytic, to make the case for AI as a tool and not the enemy in Hollywood. He explains how AI can help studios green-light the right movies and help financiers invest in the right projects. He explains how his predictive models work and why AI should not be seen as a villain when it is used on the business side and not for creative (02:27). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for Robert Zemeckis’s newest film, ‘Here,’ starring Tom Hanks and Robin Wright (24:44).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Tobias Queisser

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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FX’s John Landgraf on Resisting the Algorithm, Green-lighting ‘Shogun’, and ‘The Bear’ S3 Oct 29, 2024

Live from NeueHouse in L.A. Matt is joined by Lucas Shaw and FX CEO John Landgraf for the second half of their conversation about the state of television. They discuss his curation process at FX, how Disney has changed FX, how ‘Shogun’ came together, and what happened with Season 3 of ‘The Bear.’ They also talk about HBO's recent struggles, the importance of process and the problem with the decentralized power at streaming services (01:34).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Lucas Shaw and John Landgraf

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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FX Chief John Landgraf on Silicon Valley’s Effect on Hollywood Oct 28, 2024

Live from NeueHouse in L.A., Matt is first joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to revisit their movie studio power rankings and update their list of which studios and streamers are the preferred homes for movie projects in 2024 (02:55). Then, Matt and Lucas are joined by FX chairman John Landgraf for Part 1 of their conversation about the state of television. They talk about the reason for the oversaturated television market, how the streaming model has affected the quality of shows being made, and what Silicon Valley is doing to the entertainment industry at large (17:48).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw and John Landgraf

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Post-Pandemic Life of a Hustling Screenwriter Oct 25, 2024

Matt is joined by writer Bruce Eric Kaplan ('Girls', 'Seinfeld', 'Six Feet Under') to discuss the life of a TV writer and how it has changed over the years, particularly coming out of the pandemic. Bruce talks about his new book chronicling his time during the pandemic as a struggling screenwriter, joining Season 2 of the hit Netflix show ‘Nobody Wants This’, the bursting of the peak TV bubble, the psychology of the working writer, and if there is room for optimism moving forward (02:31). Matt finishes the show with opening weekend box office predictions for ‘Venom 3: The Last Dance’ and ‘Conclave’. (21:30).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bruce Eric Kaplan

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix: Unstoppable or Overvalued? Oct 21, 2024

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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The New Era of ‘SNL,’ 50th Plans, and ‘Saturday Night’ Oct 17, 2024

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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The Secret Recipe For an Indie Horror Hit Oct 15, 2024

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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The Hollywood Stock Market: Travis Kelce, J.Lo, DC Studios, Prime Video, Todd Phillips, and More! Oct 11, 2024

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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Is Hollywood Screwing Up Male Characters? Oct 09, 2024

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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The 'Joker 2' Mega Flop and a New CEO at Sony Pictures Oct 07, 2024

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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Burning Questions for the Most Uncertain Oscar Race in Years Oct 04, 2024

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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The End of the $20M TV Host Era Oct 02, 2024

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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How Should Movie and TV Stars Be Paid? Sep 30, 2024

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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Lionsgate, Meta, and a Wild Week in AI Sep 27, 2024

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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How to Make Your Own TV Show (and Get Netflix to Buy It) Sep 25, 2024

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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Biggest Takeaways From Netflix’s New Data Dump Sep 23, 2024

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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The War Over the Secret Nine-Hour Prince Documentary Sep 20, 2024

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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The Screenwriter Struggle and How to Break Through Sep 18, 2024

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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The Real Winners and Losers of the Emmys With the ‘Hacks’ Creators! Sep 16, 2024

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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The Dire State of Movie Development Sep 12, 2024

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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Seth Meyers on Late Night’s Future, 'SNL' 50, and Lorne’s Successor Sep 11, 2024

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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Five Burning Hollywood Questions for the Rest of 2024 Sep 09, 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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How to Choose the Right Festival to Premiere Your Movie Sep 06, 2024

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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Who's to Blame for the ESPN Blackout? Sep 03, 2024

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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Should Someone Step In to Save Warner Bros. Discovery? Aug 29, 2024

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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Summer Box Office Winners, Losers, and Head-Scratchers Aug 27, 2024

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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The Billionaire Battle for Paramount and the Return of 'Ted Lasso' Aug 26, 2024

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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Are Expensive Showrunner Deals Worth It? Aug 23, 2024

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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The Arms Race Behind Where Movies Shoot Aug 21, 2024

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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A New Setback in Hollywood's Cable Crisis Aug 19, 2024

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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The Legacy of the Infamous Sony Hack, 10 Years Later Aug 15, 2024

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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Kamala’s Hollywood Connections: Do They Help or Hurt? Aug 14, 2024

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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Why Can’t Apple Figure Out Movies? Aug 12, 2024

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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The Biggest Losers of Hollywood’s Cable-pocalypse Aug 09, 2024

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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Disney’s Streaming Profits and Parks Problem Aug 07, 2024

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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Has the Music Industry Peaked? Aug 05, 2024

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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The 2024 Intellectual Property Draft Jul 31, 2024

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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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and Marketing Disney’s First R-Rated Marvel Movie Jul 29, 2024

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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WBD’s Billion-Dollar War on the NBA Jul 26, 2024

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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The High Stakes of Broadcasting the Olympics Jul 24, 2024

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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Is Netflix or YouTube the King in Streaming? Jul 22, 2024

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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Warner's M&A Options and an NBA Rights Scoop Jul 19, 2024

Matt is joined by Jessica 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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The 'Star Wars' Ratings Problem and What To Do Next Jul 17, 2024

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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Does Hollywood Need Deregulation? Jul 15, 2024

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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Betting on Theaters, Embracing Tech, and ‘Wicked’ With Director Jon M. Chu Jul 11, 2024

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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Burning Questions About the Future of Paramount Jul 09, 2024

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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Skydance’s David Ellison on His Plans for Paramount Jul 08, 2024

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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The NFL's $15B Sunday Ticket Problem Jul 03, 2024

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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The Biggest Over- and Underreactions of the First Half of 2024 Jul 01, 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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Will the Debate Debacle Revive TV News? Jun 28, 2024

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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How Much Kevin Costner Stands to Win or Lose on ‘Horizon’ Jun 26, 2024

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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Is Hollywood Really That Effed Up? Jun 24, 2024

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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Hollywood’s Big Big Tech Problem Jun 20, 2024

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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Sony Bought a Movie Theatre Chain. Plus, Pixar’s Big Comeback Jun 18, 2024

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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Jon Stewart on AI Fears, Election Plans, and ‘Daily Show’ End Date Jun 14, 2024

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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Jon Stewart Talks Apple Split, Corporate Constraints, and Media’s Regression Jun 13, 2024

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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Paramount-Skydance Is Dead. What Now? Jun 12, 2024

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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Will Smith’s Comeback and the Butts-in-Seats Star Ranking Jun 11, 2024

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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The Science of Green-Lighting Movies Jun 07, 2024

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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Is Netflix Fumbling Ads? Jun 05, 2024

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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The 2024 Summer Concert Tour Draft Jun 03, 2024

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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TV Viewers Are Getting Old. Do Advertisers Care? May 31, 2024

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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The Memorial Day Box Office Meltdown May 28, 2024

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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Everyone Hates Ticketmaster, but Is It a Monopoly? May 24, 2024

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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Scarlett Johansson Vs. OpenAI: Does She Have a Case? May 22, 2024

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 (26:01).

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Aaron Moss

Producer: Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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A War Is Coming Over Hollywood Pay May 20, 2024

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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NFL on Netflix, and Big Tech’s TV Upfronts Takeover May 16, 2024

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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Latinos See More Movies Than Anyone. Why Is Hollywood Ignoring Them? May 15, 2024

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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Disney+ and Max Have Bundled, Who’s Next? May 13, 2024

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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Are Producers in Hollywood Nearing Extinction? May 09, 2024

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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The Year of Peacock? May 08, 2024

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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‘The Fall Guy’ Swung and Missed … Should We Panic? May 06, 2024

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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The 2024 Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale May 03, 2024

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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The Fight for the Last NBA Rights With Bill Simmons May 01, 2024

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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A CEO Firing, and the Chaos at Paramount Apr 30, 2024

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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The Rise of Tubi and If “Free” Is Really the Future of Entertainment Apr 29, 2024

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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Aaron Sorkin, Live From D.C. Apr 26, 2024

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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Which Bidder Is Best for Paramount? Apr 24, 2024

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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Netflix’s Backtrack on Transparency Apr 22, 2024

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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Taylor Swift’s Questionable Return to TikTok Apr 18, 2024

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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Hollywood’s Struggle to Reinvent Itself Apr 17, 2024

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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The Best and Worst Media Mergers of the 21st Century Apr 15, 2024

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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Can IMAX Save Movie Theaters? Apr 11, 2024

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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Hollywood vs. Big Tech in the Age of Consolidation Apr 10, 2024

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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Early Winners and Losers of 2024 Apr 08, 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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Why Documentaries Are Better and Worse Than Ever With Sheila Nevins Apr 04, 2024

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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A WWE Business Smackdown With Nick Khan Apr 03, 2024

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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The Disney Proxy War: Does Peltz Have a Shot Against Iger? Apr 01, 2024

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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Inside TMZ’s Cozy Relationship With Hollywood Mar 29, 2024

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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The Battle for Attention: Streaming Vs. Social Mar 25, 2024

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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How AI Is Already Transforming Moviemaking Mar 21, 2024

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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Lemon, Tucker, and the Cable News Star Turned Influencer Mar 20, 2024

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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The Juice List: The Most Powerful People in Hollywood Mar 18, 2024

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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‘The Holdovers’ Plagiarism Claim and How to Protect Your Script Mar 15, 2024

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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Inside Netflix’s Calculated Sports Strategy Mar 14, 2024

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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Oscar Winners and Losers and the Updated Movie Studio Power Rankings Mar 12, 2024

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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Insider Tips to Predict the Oscar Winners Mar 07, 2024

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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The Money and Power Behind the Oscars’ Red Carpet Mar 06, 2024

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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New Film Heads and a New Direction for Netflix and Disney Mar 04, 2024

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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The Awards Season Awards: Which Oscars Campaigns Worked (and Didn’t) Mar 01, 2024

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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Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael Schulman

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Will AI Video Replace Hollywood? Feb 28, 2024

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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Panic Time for Max and Warner Bros. Discovery? Feb 26, 2024

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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The Harsh Data Behind ‘Barbie’ and Taylor Swift’s Success Feb 22, 2024

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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Peacock-Paramount+ Merger Rumors, Questions, and What-Ifs Feb 20, 2024

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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How to Win Best Picture on a Budget, With Neon’s Tom Quinn Feb 17, 2024

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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Hopeful or Hopeless? Takeaways From 2024's Bleak Box Office Beginning Feb 15, 2024

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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Live From Las Vegas: Oscars Pressure, Late-Night TV, and the Vegas Sports Boom With Jimmy Kimmel Feb 12, 2024

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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Did Disney Get Its Magic Back? Feb 09, 2024

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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Will the New All-in-One Sports App Finally Kill Cable? Feb 08, 2024

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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Five Major Music Business Questions After the Grammy's Feb 05, 2024

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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TikTok vs. Universal Music: Why Taylor, Drake and Others Were Yanked Feb 02, 2024

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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The Politics of Studios and Movie Stars Feb 01, 2024

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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A Wild Week at Netflix: Stuber’s Out, WWE Is In, and Subs Are Up Jan 29, 2024

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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A Top Dealmaker’s Media M&A Predictions Jan 25, 2024

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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Can Sundance Save Indie Film? With CEO Joana Vicente Jan 24, 2024

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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The 2024 Box Office Draft Jan 22, 2024

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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The 'SNL' Succession Sweepstakes Jan 19, 2024

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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Peacock’s NFL Debut and the Viability of Streaming-Only Sports Jan 16, 2024

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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The Billionaire Blueprint to Buy Paramount Jan 12, 2024

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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The McAfee Hail Mary and ESPN's Search for Answers Jan 10, 2024

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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Four Burning Hollywood Questions to Kick Off 2024 Jan 09, 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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Are the Golden Globes Unkillable? Jan 04, 2024

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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The Young Movie Star Power Rankings Jan 03, 2024

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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The Townies, Part 2: Who Won the Year in Hollywood? Dec 28, 2023

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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The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2023 Dec 28, 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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Warner Bros. and Paramount Are Talking. Should They Merge? Dec 21, 2023

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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The Biggest Debacles of 2023: Studio Screwups, Executive Misfires, and Underrated Disasters Dec 18, 2023

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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The Animation Arms Race With Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri Dec 14, 2023

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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Ted Sarandos on Netflix’s New Era of Data Transparency Dec 13, 2023

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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Are Streamers Helping or Hurting the Movie Business? Dec 08, 2023

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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The Companies Most Likely to Be Bought or Sold in 2024 Dec 07, 2023

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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The Murky Metrics of Podcast Success Dec 05, 2023

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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The Biggest Streaming Power Moves of 2023 Dec 01, 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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Hollywood’s Star-making Problem, with a Top Casting Director Dec 01, 2023

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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Who Will Buy Paramount? Nov 28, 2023

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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Does Big Tech Belong in Hollywood? Nov 22, 2023

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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Unexpected Winners and Losers of the Hollywood Labor Strikes Nov 20, 2023

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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Potential Backfires in the Actors AI Deal Nov 17, 2023

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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Rupert’s Retirement and Fox’s Place in Hollywood Nov 14, 2023

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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Bob Iger’s Year One: Highs, Lows, and Marvel Woes Nov 13, 2023

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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The End of the Actors Strike With Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Nov 09, 2023

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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How the Strike Derailed Oscar Season Nov 08, 2023

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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Why Batman and Everything Else Is Coming to Netflix Nov 07, 2023

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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Should Reality Stars Have a Union? With Bethenny Frankel Nov 02, 2023

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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The Reboot Era and TV’s IP Obsession Nov 01, 2023

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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How Screwed Is the 2024 Movie Calendar? Oct 30, 2023

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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Town Hall: Hasan Minhaj, a SAG Stalemate, and Apple’s Scorsese Bet Oct 27, 2023

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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Marvel’s Post-‘Avengers’ Mismanagement Oct 25, 2023

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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There Is Netflix, and There Is Everyone Else Oct 23, 2023

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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NBA TV Rights and Players Owning Teams With Rich Paul Oct 20, 2023

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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How Long Can the Live Concert Boom Last? Oct 18, 2023

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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The Hollywood Stock Market: Travis Kelce’s Media Career, Netflix With Ads, Mega Music Docs, and More! Oct 16, 2023

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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Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and the Fights Over Song Credits Oct 12, 2023

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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Price Hikes and the Streaming Class System Oct 10, 2023

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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Live Sports on Max, and the Inevitable All-In-One App Oct 05, 2023

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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Influencers Don’t Need Hollywood Anymore Oct 04, 2023

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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The Post-Strike State of TV and Movie Writing Oct 02, 2023

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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Lessons From the ‘Must-See TV’ Era, with Warren Littlefield Sep 29, 2023

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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What the Writers Guild Won, With a Negotiator Sep 27, 2023

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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The Writers Strike Is Over. Can We All Be Friends Again? Sep 25, 2023

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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Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Empire Sep 21, 2023

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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From Sports to Hollywood With Casey Wasserman Sep 20, 2023

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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The Strike’s Permanent Damage: Who Will Suffer the Most? Sep 19, 2023

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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Why Can’t Bob Iger Find a Successor? Sep 14, 2023

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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A WWE and UFC Tag Team, With Endeavor’s Mark Shapiro Sep 12, 2023

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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CAA’s New Billionaire Owner and the (Over)Value of Talent Agencies Sep 11, 2023

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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Fall Festival Buzz and the Beginning of Oscar Season With the Head of TIFF Sep 07, 2023

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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Disney’s ESPN Fight and Taylor’s Movie Takeover Sep 06, 2023

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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Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Summer Box Office Awards Show Aug 31, 2023

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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The Growing Power of IMAX, With Its CEO Aug 30, 2023

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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The Three Biggest Hold-ups in the Writers Strike Aug 28, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is Apple’s Sports Experiment Working? Aug 25, 2023

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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Justin, Ariana, and the Scooter Braun Mess Aug 24, 2023

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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Predicting Hollywood’s September Surprises Aug 21, 2023

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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How Much Money Does a Hit Movie Really Make (and a Flop Really Lose)? Aug 17, 2023

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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Disney’s ESPN Dilemma: to Sell or Not to Sell? Aug 14, 2023

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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The Doomsday AI Scenario In Hollywood Aug 10, 2023

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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Everyone Running Hollywood Is Old. Does That Matter? Aug 09, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Rick Nicita

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Will Anyone Budge on Data Transparency in Hollywood? Aug 07, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Checking in on Warner Bros. Discovery and the Max Platform Aug 04, 2023

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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The Barbie Effect on Female Filmmakers Aug 03, 2023

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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Villains, Saviors, and Developments Three Months Into Hollywood’s Shutdown Jul 31, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Selling ‘Barbie’: Inside the Marketing Phenomenon Jul 26, 2023

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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How 'Sound of Freedom' Outperformed 'Mission: Impossible' Jul 24, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Has Netflix Officially Won the Streaming War? Jul 20, 2023

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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‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer's’ Epic Weekend Face-Off Jul 19, 2023

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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Bob Iger’s Fire Sale: The Fate of ESPN, ABC, and Hulu Jul 17, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Inside the Actors Strike With Its Top Negotiator Jul 14, 2023

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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BREAKING: Actors Go on Strike Jul 14, 2023

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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The State of R-Rated Comedies, With Evan Goldberg Jul 12, 2023

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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Amazon’s Spending Spree Under Scrutiny Jul 10, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Town Hall: Bob Iger’s Legacy, Summer Flops, and Streamer Mega-Mergers Jul 05, 2023

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.'

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is David Zaslav Misunderstood? Jul 03, 2023

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?

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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What Will Bring Gen Z to Theaters? Jun 30, 2023

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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How Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is Becoming the Most Successful in History Jun 29, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Nathan Hubbard

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2023 Executive Draft Jun 26, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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It’s Time to Break Up Hollywood Jun 22, 2023

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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Is the Superhero Era Finally Ending? Jun 20, 2023

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?

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Has Pixar Lost its Magic Touch? Jun 16, 2023

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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'The Flash' and Marketing a Movie With a Controversial Star Jun 14, 2023

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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Netflix Top 10 Lists and the Era of Streamer Manipulation Jun 12, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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What the Writers Really Fear About AI in Hollywood Jun 08, 2023

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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CNN’s Messy Chris Licht Era Is Over, Now What? Jun 07, 2023

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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Hollywood’s Stealth Winners and Losers of the First Half of 2023 Jun 05, 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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here.

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Who Is on the Studios' Side in the Writers Strike? Jun 01, 2023

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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Cannes Winners, Losers, Scandals, and Big Takeaways May 30, 2023

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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Disney’s Prickly Theme Parks Problem May 25, 2023

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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How to Pull Off a Real-Life Mockumentary May 24, 2023

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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Netflix Crashes TV’s Ad Party May 22, 2023

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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The NBA Team Blowing Up Sports TV May 19, 2023

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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Hollywood’s China Problem May 17, 2023

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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Bob Iger’s Six-Month Report Card at Disney May 15, 2023

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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Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Struggle of the Modern TV Writer With Mike Schur May 11, 2023

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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The Weird State of Media and Hollywood’s Role in It May 10, 2023

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.

For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘What I’m Hearing ...,’ click here

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Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Smith

Producers: Craig Horlbeck and Jessie Lopez

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 5 Biggest Narratives After Week 1 of the Writers Strike May 08, 2023

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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The 2023 Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale May 04, 2023

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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Inside the Writers Strike With a WGA Negotiator May 02, 2023

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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The Writers' Strike Deadline Is Here. What Will Happen? May 01, 2023

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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60 Is the New 30: The Revealing Ranking of Biggest Movie Stars Apr 28, 2023

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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Ben Winston Refuses to Declare Late-Night TV Dead Apr 26, 2023

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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Another Executive Sex Scandal? How NBCU Can Pick Up the Pieces Apr 24, 2023

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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One Year After the Crash: Is the New Netflix Working? Apr 20, 2023

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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Inside Fox’s $787M Settlement With Dominion and the Future of Fox News Apr 19, 2023

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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Is ‘Air’ a Hit? Why That's Harder Than Ever to Answer Apr 17, 2023

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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Inside Rupert Murdoch’s Succession Drama Apr 14, 2023

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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How the Fox News Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Will Unfold Apr 12, 2023

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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One Year After the Merger: Is Warner Bros. Discovery Actually Working? Apr 10, 2023

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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Disney vs. DeSantis: Who Will Win Apr 06, 2023

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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From Viral Videos to Hit TV With Dave Burd Apr 05, 2023

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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WWE Sells, Netflix Pulls Back, and the Oscars' Bold Bid on Theaters Apr 03, 2023

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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Has Hollywood Finally Figured Out Video Games? Mar 30, 2023

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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Marvel’s Bad CGI and the Firing of a “Kingmaker” Mar 30, 2023

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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Apple’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Movie Theaters Mar 27, 2023

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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Lionsgate Film Chief Joe Drake on ‘John Wick’ and the Modern Independent Studio Mar 24, 2023

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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BET and the Future of Small Streamers Mar 23, 2023

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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Is the Franchise Model Starting to Fatigue in Hollywood? Mar 20, 2023

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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Matt’s Year One Prediction Report Card Mar 16, 2023

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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Michael B. Jordan and How to Build a Modern Movie Star Career Mar 15, 2023

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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The Oscar Bump: Which Young Stars Won Awards Season? Mar 13, 2023

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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Academy CEO Bill Kramer on the New and Improved (?) Oscars Mar 09, 2023

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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Tips, Trends, and Storylines to Help You Bet on the Oscars Mar 08, 2023

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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The End of Peak TV Is Finally Here Mar 06, 2023

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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The Ploys and Tactics Behind Oscar Campaigning Mar 03, 2023

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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How F--ked Is Fox News? Mar 03, 2023

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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The Perfect Storm for a Writers Strike Feb 28, 2023

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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Watching Your Favorite Team Is About to Get Harder Feb 23, 2023

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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The 2023 Box Office Draft Feb 21, 2023

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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The Companies Most Likely to Be Sold or Acquired in 2023 Feb 16, 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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The Soap Opera Fight Over Paramount and CBS Feb 14, 2023

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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Will Bob Iger Sell Hulu or ESPN? Feb 13, 2023

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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How to Write a Hit Rom-Com Feb 09, 2023

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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True Crime Is Murdering Documentaries Feb 08, 2023

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.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Reeves Wiedeman

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Death and “Rebirth” of Showtime Feb 06, 2023

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.'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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DC Is Going Big, but Can It Catch Marvel? Feb 02, 2023

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.

Click here for a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, 'What I’m Hearing ...'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Borys Kit

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Future of Live Events and Late Night TV With Grammys EP Ben Winston Feb 01, 2023

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.

Click here for a 20% discount to Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter 'What I’m Hearing.'

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Winston

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Peacock’s Promising Start to 2023 Might Not Be a Fluke Jan 31, 2023

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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How an Indie Film Becomes an Oscar Winner Jan 27, 2023

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.

Click here for 20% off Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter ‘What I’m Hearing’.

Email us your thoughts! thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael Barker

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is the Sundance Dream Still Alive? Jan 26, 2023

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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How the Shocking Andrea Riseborough Oscar Nomination Happened Jan 25, 2023

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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Inside the Netflix Executive Shake-up Jan 23, 2023

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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Making Movie Stars Younger With AI Jan 19, 2023

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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Should Disney Be Afraid of Nelson Peltz? Jan 17, 2023

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 thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Devon Manze

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Around the World With Netflix’s Head of TV Jan 13, 2023

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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‘M3GAN,' and How to Market a Movie to Young People Jan 11, 2023

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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Vince McMahon’s Return and the WWE’s Most Intriguing Suitors Jan 09, 2023

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The New Black List and the Original Screenwriting Recession Jan 05, 2023

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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Why Audiences Have Given Up on Awards Movies Jan 03, 2023

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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The Townies Part 2: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2022 Dec 28, 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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The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2022 Dec 27, 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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Why YouTube Landed NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ Dec 23, 2022

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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2022 Debacles Part 2: The 2023 Hot Seat and Hollywood’s Biggest Loser Dec 20, 2022

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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2022 Debacles Part 1: Movie Bombs, Executive Misfires, and Secret Disasters Dec 19, 2022

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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The Stranglehold of Streaming, With United Talent Agency CEO Jeremy Zimmer Dec 16, 2022

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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‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ With Producer Jon Landau Dec 15, 2022

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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The Biggest Flexes of the Year in Hollywood Dec 12, 2022

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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John Skipper on the Rise of the Sports Documentary and Bob Iger’s Big Plans Dec 08, 2022

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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Rob McElhenney on Merging Soccer, Celebrity, and a TV Empire Dec 07, 2022

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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Smoke or Fire? The Most Troubled Hollywood Companies Dec 05, 2022

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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The Streaming Year-End Review: Biggest Hits, Misses, and Questions Dec 02, 2022

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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The Big Business of Christmas Movies Nov 30, 2022

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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Disney’s Five Biggest Dilemmas in the New Bob Iger Era Nov 28, 2022

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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The Taylor Swift Ticketmaster Debacle, Explained Nov 23, 2022

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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A Major Disney Shake-up: Former CEO Bob Iger Is Back Nov 21, 2022

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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Oscars Watch Begins: Front-Runners, Story Lines, and the ‘Top Gun’ Debate Nov 18, 2022

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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The Secrets of Marvel’s Magic Nov 16, 2022

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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The 2022 Directors Draft Nov 14, 2022

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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Town Hall: Apple Buying Disney? 'SNL's Host Problem, and a Ryan Murphy Apology Nov 10, 2022

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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Predicting the Opening Weekend for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Nov 09, 2022

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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What a Wall Street Meltdown Means for the Consumer Nov 07, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix vs. HBO: The TV Rivalry of the Century Nov 03, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Felix Gillette and John Koblin

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Why Are Movies Longer Than Ever? Nov 02, 2022

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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TikTok Killed the Pop Star Oct 31, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Ad-Supported Television Was the Past, and It Might Be the Future Oct 27, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Tom Ryan

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Can James Gunn Deliver as New Head of the DC Universe? Oct 26, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Boris Kit

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Riskiest Hollywood Bets for the Rest of 2022 Oct 24, 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 thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix Is Back, Baby! Oct 19, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Rich Greenfield

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Looming NBA Rights Bonanza Oct 18, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Andrew Wallenstein

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Best and Worst Deals of the Past 10 Years in Entertainment Oct 17, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Endeavor President Mark Shapiro Oct 14, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Mark Shapiro

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Unfunny Decline of Comedy Central Oct 11, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Tom Cruise and an Explosive Scientology Book Oct 06, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Mike Rinder

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt Goes Nuclear Oct 05, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Eriq Gardner

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘House of the Dragon’ vs. ‘The Rings of Power,’ Who Is Winning? Oct 03, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Julia Alexander

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Can ‘SNL’ Get Back to Making Stars? Sep 30, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bill Simmons

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Hollywood’s (Still) Embarrassing Gender Gap Sep 29, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Julia Boorstin

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Millions Are Watching the NFL on Amazon Prime. Is This the Future? Sep 26, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: John Ourand

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Town Hall: Star Wars Missteps, Top Gun’s Oscar Potential, and Where Is James Bond? Sep 22, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and How Controversy Impacts the Box Office Sep 21, 2022

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 thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: David Herrin

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Craig Horlbeck

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Did a $200M Direct-to-Streaming Movie Ever Make Sense? Sep 19, 2022

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.

Sign up for Matt’s Hollywood newsletter at 20% off HERE

Email us comments, questions, or ideas at thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is TV Saving or Killing College Football? Sep 16, 2022

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.

Sign up for Matt’s Hollywood newsletter at 20% off HERE

Email us comments, questions, or ideas at thetown@spotify.com.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bryan Curtis

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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HBO’s Reassertion, Quinta Brunson’s Breakout, and More Emmy Takeaways Sep 13, 2022

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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A Status Check on Disney and CEO Bob Chapek Sep 12, 2022

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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The Summer Box Office Reckoning Sep 08, 2022

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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The Biggest Threat to YouTube’s World Domination Sep 06, 2022

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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Florence Pugh or Pete Davidson? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30, Part 2 Sep 02, 2022

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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Chalamet or Holland? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30 Sep 01, 2022

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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The Troubled Coexistence of Movie Theaters and Streaming Aug 31, 2022

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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Winners and Losers of NBC Axing an Hour of Prime-Time TV Aug 29, 2022

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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MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes On Reinventing Moviegoing (Again) Aug 26, 2022

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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David Zaslav Doesn’t Care About Your Favorite HBO Shows Aug 24, 2022

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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The 2022 Showrunner Draft Aug 22, 2022

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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The Wackiest CEO in Entertainment Aug 18, 2022

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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The Lawsuit Striking Fear Into Fox News (Plus 'LOTR' Predictions) Aug 17, 2022

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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Should Disney Sell ESPN? Aug 16, 2022

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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Disney+ and the Streaming Price Hike Aug 11, 2022

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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TikTok’s Dominance and Hollywood’s Place in the Creator Economy Aug 10, 2022

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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Springsteen and the Scourge of Concert Ticket Pricing Aug 08, 2022

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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The Great TV Purge Is Coming Aug 05, 2022

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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Why Warner Bros. Just Made the $90M ‘Batgirl’ Movie Disappear Aug 03, 2022

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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Will Smith's Apology and Apple’s Predicament Aug 01, 2022

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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Town Hall: Writers vs. Hollywood, an 'E.T.' Legacy Sequel, and Apple’s Animation Bet Jul 27, 2022

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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The 2022 Intellectual Property Draft Jul 25, 2022

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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How the Metaverse Could Transform the Entertainment Industry Jul 21, 2022

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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Release the Snyder Article Jul 20, 2022

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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Is the Netflix Movie Model Broken? Jul 18, 2022

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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The Uncertain Futures of Netflix, Hulu, and Apple Jul 15, 2022

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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Snubs, Surprises, and Industry Takeaways From the 2022 Emmy Nominations Jul 12, 2022

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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A New Look at Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood’s Enablers Jul 11, 2022

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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The 10 Nicest Stars in Hollywood Jul 07, 2022

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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Predictions for Sun Valley’s Summer Camp for Billionaires Jul 05, 2022

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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CAA and the New Reality of Talent Agencies Jul 01, 2022

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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Producer Jason Blum on Money vs. Creativity Jun 29, 2022

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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The 2022 Half-Year Hollywood Awards Jun 27, 2022

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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You Will Pay More for Disney Parks and You Will Like It Jun 23, 2022

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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How the Pandemic Changed the Way You Consume Entertainment Jun 21, 2022

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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Who Survives at the New CNN? Jun 16, 2022

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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The ‘Stranger Things’ vs. ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Value War Jun 13, 2022

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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What the Heck Is Going On at Disney? Jun 09, 2022

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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NBA Finals Ratings and ESPN's Future in Sports Television Jun 08, 2022

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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‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and A24’s Mystique Jun 07, 2022

Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Rebecca Keegan to discuss the indie hit ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and why it resonated with audiences. Later, they talk about A24’s unique cachet in Hollywood, its innovation in marketing and brand awareness, and whether it will eventually be acquired.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Rebecca Keegan

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Town Hall: Tom Cruise’s Pay Day, ‘LOTR’ Buzz, and HBO’s Secrets Jun 03, 2022

In our first ever Town Hall, Matt and Craig field questions from the audience, covering topics about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ movie struggles, Amazon’s expensive bet on its ‘Lord of the Rings’ series, the process behind green-lighting and renewing shows and why HBO is so good at it, Tom Cruise’s potential nine-figure payday from ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ and the business behind how actors and writers get paid.

Host: Matt Belloni

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Johnny Depp Wins: Inside the Verdict and the Fallout Jun 01, 2022

Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to react to the verdict in the Amber Heard–Johnny Depp defamation trial, as well as what's next for Depp and Heard and the significance of this trial going forward.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Eriq Gardner

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘Top Gun: Maverick’: Fluke or Future of the Summer Box Office? May 31, 2022

‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster, set the record for biggest opening over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss if this is a sign of older audiences finally returning to theaters or if this is just a flash in the pan. Then they ponder if Tom Cruise is Hollywood's last remaining movie star.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale May 26, 2022

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means it is officially summer blockbuster season. Matt is joined by Forbes’ Scott Mendelson to run through each of the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer and assign their confidence in the movie exceeding expectations at the box office.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Scott Mendelson

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Can Lorne Michaels Reinvent ‘SNL’ One Last Time? May 25, 2022

In the Season 47 finale, ‘Saturday Night Live’ said goodbye to cast members Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, and Kyle Mooney. Matt is joined by journalist, author, and longtime ‘SNL’ expert James Andrew Miller to talk about what’s next for the show, cast members working on outside projects, the diversity of the cast and writers room, Lorne’s successor, and the looming 50-year anniversary.

Host : Matt Belloni

Guest: James Andrew Miller

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Hollywood Stock Market: Netflix, Star Wars, Harry Styles, Pete Davidson, and More! May 23, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss which Hollywood-focused trends are theoretical buys or sells in the stock market of Hollywood.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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What Happened to Comedy in Hollywood? May 19, 2022

Matt is joined by Funny or Die CEO Mike Farah and chief creative officer Joe Farrell to talk about the state of comedy in Hollywood, why there are less and less hit comedy movies in theaters, social media’s impact, making comedy in today's culture, and a movie studio’s incentive to take risks on a comedy without a star.

Host Matt Belloni

Guest: Mike Farah and Joe Farrell

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Amber Heard Testifies: How Did It Go? May 18, 2022

Matt is joined by Puck national correspondent Eriq Gardner to react to the conclusion of Amber Heard’s testimony in the Johnny Depp defamation trial.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Eriq Gardner

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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You May Not Be Watching, but Broadcast TV Still Makes Billions May 17, 2022

This week, Matt is in New York for the network upfronts, a gathering of the major players in television to present their programming plans for the upcoming TV season to the advertising community. Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss whether advertisers will continue to pay top dollar to these major broadcast networks in a media landscape that is shifting to digital.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Disney vs. Netflix: The Deathmatch of Streaming May 12, 2022

When it comes to streaming, is Disney the new Netflix? Matt is joined by analyst Michael Nathanson to discuss Disney’s recently released quarterly earnings report, its growing number of subscribers, and whether the cost to potentially beat out Netflix in the streaming wars has been worth it.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Michael Nathanson

Producer: Devon Manze

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Does Marvel Have a Quality Problem? May 11, 2022

Are the quality of Marvel movies and television shows in decline? Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey to discuss Marvel's recent dip in quality, the future of its content, and if the biggest issues are creative, financial, or both.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Sean Fennessey

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2022 Streaming Service Draft May 09, 2022

Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw conduct the first streaming service draft! They draft their way through each of the top streaming services (Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu), and pitch why they believe their roster will succeed the most over the next 10 years.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme song: Devon Renaldo

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A Scientology Star in the Spotlight May 05, 2022

Matt is joined by Seth Abramovitch of The Hollywood Reporter to discuss the recent New Yorker profile on Elisabeth Moss, including its reference to Seth’s article from a few years back and Moss’s involvement with Scientology.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Seth Abramovitch

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Did Johnny Depp Really Lose ‘Pirates’ Because of Amber’s Op-Ed? May 04, 2022

Matt is joined by divorce attorney Brett Ward to discuss whether Johnny Depp has a case that he lost tens of millions of dollars of potential career earnings because of Amber Heard’s op-ed in The Washington Post.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Brett Ward

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Have We Finally Reached the End of Peak TV? May 02, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about the beginning of the end for peak TV. With 559 original scripted shows on television and streaming, will the overall volume of content finally decrease? They discuss oversaturation, the problem with doom-scrolling, and the conundrum of curation on streaming platforms.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Does Jerry West Have a Case Against HBO’s ‘Winning Time’? Apr 28, 2022

Matt is joined by Puck News contributor Eriq Gardner to discuss former Lakers star Jerry West’s demand of a retraction over HBO’s ‘Winning Time’. They also discuss Olivia Wilde getting served legal documents by Jason Sudekis in Las Vegas.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Eriq Gardner

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Legal Loophole That Could Strip Marvel of Its Superheroes Apr 27, 2022

Matt is joined by lawyer Aaron Moss to discuss a legal loophole that is suddenly a big deal to legacy film and TV studios called “termination rights,” a quirk of copyright law that allows certain creators to recapture their work. If you’re a studio like Marvel, that loophole could lead to a large headache.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Aaron Moss

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The New Netflix (With Ads!) and How to Get People Back In Theaters Apr 25, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what an ad-supported tier on Netflix would look like, as well as what the company would need to change about its business and data-gathering practices to do so. Then they are joined by the head of research at Fanthropology, Kris Longfield, to talk about a new study on the growing divide in the public's interest in returning to movie theaters.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Lucas Shaw and Kris Longfield

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Why the Late Night Talk Show Is Dead, and ‘SNL’ After Lorne Apr 21, 2022

Matt is joined by longtime media reporter Bill Carter to talk about Jon Stewart’s struggling talk show on Apple+, why the modern late night talk show isn’t working, and what these shows mean to their respective networks. Later they predict when Lorne Michaels will step down from 'SNL,' who will replace him, and what the cast will look like next year.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Bill Carter

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix’s Crash and the Company's Future in Streaming Apr 20, 2022

Matt is joined by media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss Netflix’s subscriber loss and subsequent stock plunge, the company's inability to make long-lasting hits, its claim that it will crack down on password sharing, its potential addition of a cheaper, ad-supported service, and whether its run of streaming dominance is finally over.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Rich Greenfield

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Coachella’s Dominance, and Why You Are Paying More Than Ever for Concert Tickets Apr 18, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss why concert ticket prices have never been higher, as well as a historic stretch for live music sales across the globe. Later, they discuss Coachella’s gradual transition into a more pop-focused festival, including predictions for 2023 and how it chooses its artists.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Is Rupert Murdoch the Most Dangerous Man in the World? Apr 14, 2022

Matt is joined by New York Times writer at large Jim Rutenberg to discuss CNN+’s ‘The Murdochs: Empire of Influence,' including Rupert Murdoch’s prominence in media, his relationship to Donald Trump, the inter-dynamics of the Murdoch family, their relation to HBOs 'Succession,' and more.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Jim Rutenberg

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Film Producer Neal Moritz on Video Games as Movies, the 'Fast & Furious' Franchise, and Theaters vs. Streaming Apr 13, 2022

Matt is joined by long-time film producer Neal Moritz ('Fast and Furious', '21 Jump Street', 'I Am Legend') to talk about the success of his newest film, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’, why most video game adaptations flop, what will bring people back to theaters, the evolution of the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, and the secret to his longevity as a producer.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Neal Moritz

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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‘Ambulance’ and the Death of Original Action Movies, Plus Apple TV+’s MLB Debut Apr 11, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap the weekend box office, including the promising success of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ and the collapse of Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance’, followed by a discussion about the current state of original action movies in Hollywood. Later, they break down Apple TV+’s glitchy 'Friday Night Baseball' debut as well as the complex predicament of baseball and streaming.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Why Was Bruce Willis Still Working? Apr 07, 2022

Matt is joined by Amy Kaufman from the LA Times to talk about her article that highlights Bruce Willis’s surge in movie appearances in recent years despite his declining health as he battles with aphasia. They discuss the responsibilities those around an actor may or may not have to their well-being, and how informed those involved with Bruce’s projects were.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Amy Kaufman

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar on HBO Max, What’s Next for Streaming, and His Resignation Apr 06, 2022

Matt is joined by Jason Kilar, who has recently announced his resignation as CEO of WarnerMedia. He discusses the choice to drop Warner’s 2021 slate of movies directly on HBO Max on their premiere dates, the vision for CNN+, his decision to resign ahead of Discovery’s merger with WarnerMedia, the future of advertising on streaming services, and where Jason is headed next.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Jason Kilar

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Winners and Losers of the 2022 Grammys Apr 04, 2022

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about his experience at the Grammy Awards, including Trevor Noah’s performance, who stole the show, who didn’t, the Oscars vs. the Grammys, Vegas as a venue, and more. Matt wraps up the show by giving a take on the 2023 Oscars.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Will Smith Resigns From the Academy Apr 02, 2022

Matt reacts to Will Smith’s resignation from the Academy and explains the details of the decision.

Host: Matt Belloni

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The 2022 Grammy Awards and the State of the Music Industry Mar 31, 2022

Matt is joined by Variety executive editor Shirley Halperin to look ahead to Sunday’s 2022 Grammy Awards. They forecast what we will see out of Kanye, whether this will be Olivia Rodrigo’s night, whether a Grammy win still matters to an artist's success, how Vegas as a venue will affect the show, and how streaming saved the music industry.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Shirley Halperin

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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WWE President Nick Khan Mar 30, 2022

Matt is joined by WWE president Nick Khan to chat about the WWE as a media entity, including its deal with Peacock and whether a potential acquisition is looming. Nick talks about how the WWE wants to develop new wrestlers, changing the narrative of the sport, The Rock’s career, 'Wrestlemania,' and more.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Nick Khan

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The Oscars Aftermath Mar 28, 2022

It’s the morning after, and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins Matt to give a report on the 2022 Academy Awards. They discuss the fallout after the Will Smith–Chris Rock slap, the viewership spike after an all-time low in 2021, and if the modified show format was a success. Later, Matt and Craig review Matt’s past month of predictions.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Live From Inside the Oscars: The Will Smith-Chris Rock Slap Mar 28, 2022

Live from inside the Dolby Theater at the Academy Awards, Matt and The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg react to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in the face onstage during the show.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Scott Feinberg

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme song: Devon Ronaldo

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How to Gamble on the Oscars Mar 25, 2022

Oscar math expert Ben Zauzmer joins the show to outline his Oscars prediction model and to forecast who his model believes are mathematically the most likely winners in each category. Later, Matt gives a prediction of his own on the 2022 Oscars.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Zauzmer

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Do the Oscars Need to Be Saved? Mar 24, 2022

Matt is joined by author Mark Harris to discuss the Academy’s decision to cut eight categories from the live Oscars broadcast, and to debate whether or not the ceremony needs to be changed—and if so, how much? Later, Vulture’s Joe Adalian comes on to talk about Amazon hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards and whether awards shows can survive on streaming services.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guests: Mark Harris and Joe Adalian

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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The NFL Sunday Ticket Bidding War and How Peyton and LeBron Went Hollywood Mar 23, 2022

Matt is joined by co-head and partner at WME Sports Josh Pyatt to discuss why broadcasters are seeing huge paydays, which streaming service needs NFL Sunday Ticket the most, what effect the Manning-cast will have on future broadcasts, why some athletes succeed in building an entertainment business while others fail, and more. Matt finishes the show with a take on NFL announcers.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Josh Pyatt

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Do Stars Still Need Agents? Plus, Iger vs. Chapek, and Oscar Drama Begins! Mar 21, 2022

Are the middlemen who have dominated Hollywood for decades in trouble? Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the future for Hollywood intermediaries, the ongoing turmoil at Disney, and Rachel Zegler of 'West Side Story’ not receiving an invitation to the Oscars.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Lucas Shaw

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Amazon Closes Deal to Acquire MGM. Now What? Mar 17, 2022

Matt is joined by chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform Andy Wallenstein to discuss Amazon’s $6.5 billion purchase of MGM Studios and what this means for Amazon's future in the movie and television industry, how this will affect Amazon prime members, and how this will play out in Hollywood.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Andy Wallenstein

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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Netflix’s Password Crackdown and Their Struggle to Make Movies People Care About Mar 16, 2022

Matt leads off with the bizarre news of movie theater chain AMC buying stock in a gold mine, as well as Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s 2021 pay package totaling over $240 million. Then, senior strategy analyst Julia Alexander joins the show to discuss Netflix beginning to curtail the ability to share a password with multiple users, and whether or not a streaming service like Netflix can produce a lasting movie franchise.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Julia Alexander

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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'The Batman' Ticket Upcharge and the Future of Moviegoing Mar 14, 2022

In our first episode, Matt Belloni is joined by Puck colleague Ben Landy to run through the latest industry news from the weekend, including HBO Max and Discovery+ merging into one app and the ongoing fallout after Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s handling of the new Florida “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. Then, media analyst Jeff Bock joins the show to discuss the increase in ticket price for ‘The Batman’ as well as what we can expect the 2022 moviegoing experience to look like.

Host: Matt Belloni

Guest: Ben Landy, Jeff Bock

Producer: Craig Horlbeck

Theme Song: Devon Renaldo

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