Strictly Business

Latest Episodes:

Daily Variety -- ‘Survivor’ at 50: What Makes CBS’ Reality Franchise So Durable? May 13, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, we put the spotlight on “Survivor” as the reality stalwart hits Season 50. As detailed by Variety’s Emily Longeretta and Selome Hailu, CBS’ innovative and enduring unscripted juggernaut has set the standard for the reality-competition genre for 26 years and counting.

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Daily Variety – Tech Talk, Streaming, Sports and Reboots Dominate Upfronts; NBCUniversal’s Liz Jenkins on Risk-Taking Amid Disruption May 12, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Variety’s Brian Steinberg reports on the triple-header kickoff of Upfronts week after attending Monday’s NBCUniversal, Fox and Amazon Prime Video presentations. He parses each platform's pitch to Madison Avenue. And we’ll hear from NBCUniversal Entertainment chief business officer Liz Jenkins on risk-taking in the time of disruption, in remarks delivered this month at SeriesFest in Denver. "We've found our cruising altitude again," she says.

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Daily Variety – Upfronts 2026: Disney’s Rita Ferro Details the Mouse House’s Cross-Platform Push, Embracing Live and Connecting Grammys, Super Bowl and the Oscars for the Biggest Brands May 11, 2026

Show notes

On today’s special Upfronts-themed episode, Rita Ferro, Disney’s president of global advertising, offers a preview of the Mouse House’s May 12 presentation to advertisers in New York. Ferro details Disney’s plan to link the live spectacle of the Grammys, the Super Bowl and the Oscars for big brands. She gives her perspective on the state of the scatter market, the mood of the upfront compared to last year, and how Disney is embracing the creator economy.

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Inside the Unprecedented Growth of Hasbro's Magic: The Gathering and Trading Card Game's High-Stakes Pro Competition May 09, 2026

Show notes

On today's episode, Variety's Jennifer Maas takes a deep dive on the rabid fandom around Hasbro's Magic: The Gathering collectible trading card game. Maas collected insights and perspectives from die-hard fans who attended the MagicCon fan convention held May 1-3 in Las Vegas.

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Daily Variety -- Kate del Castillo Brings 'La Reina del Sur' Back to Telemundo for Season 4: 'Teresa Mendoza Will be Touching Hell,' She Promises May 07, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, global star Kate del Castillo details the return of “La Reina del Sur” for a fourth season on Telemundo next year. Her widow-turned-crime boss character Teresa Mendoza will “be touching hell,” del Castillo promises. She also touches on the state of the content marketplace and how the Trump administration’s brutal crackdown on undocumented immigrants has changed life for Latinos in the U.S.

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Daily Variety – Cover Story: How Javier Bardem Tackles Cannes – and Hollywood -- on His Own Terms May 06, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Cover Story segment, Variety’s Daniel D’Addario details his sit-down in Madrid with Javier Bardem, the incredibly busy Spaniard actor who brings the family drama “The Beloved” to the Cannes Film Festival this year. Bardem opens up to D’Addario about the arc of his career, his advocacy for Palestinians and the depth of his love for his wife, Oscar-winner Penélope Cruz, and the family life they share far outside Hollywood.

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Daily Variety -- How Gen Z and Gen Alpha are Saving Moviegoing; 10 Questions With Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds May 05, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we hear from top movie marketers who discuss the uptick in Gen Z and Gen Alpha moviegoing that is helping to drive the spring’s strong box office. And Variety’s Michael Schneider brings us a bonkers "10 Questions With" Colin Hanks and Ryan Reynolds, who collaborated on the documentary “John Candy: I Like Me.”

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Daily Variety – Box Office: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Steps Lively and Repeats May 04, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, in our Box Office segment, Variety’s Jack Dunn breaks down the eye-popping opening weekend for 20th Century’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2” and a strong week 2 hold for last week’s surprise hit, “Michael.” The triumphant return of Miranda Priestly and Co. adds momentum and diversity to what has been a surprisingly strong spring at the multiplexes.

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Why Hollywood is Increasingly Leaning on Gaming Platforms to Promote Movies May 01, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, Luminate’s Kaare Eriksen goes deep on how and why Hollywood is leveraging gaming platforms to promote movies. Nic Hill, co-founder and chief innovation officer at Sawhorse Productions, explains how studios are tapping into 360-degree marketing strategies to stoke fandom for key franchises, particularly PG-13 and family-friendly titles.

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Daily Variety – Happy Anniversary, Television! Looking Ahead to Variety’s TV Week Events and Looking Back at the Medium's Launch at the 1939 New York World’s Fair Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we look ahead at plans for Variety’s TV Week celebration with Variety’s Emily Longeretta. And we take a Vintage Variety look back at the momentous launch of television in the U.S. on the opening day of the New York World’s Fair in 1939, 87 years ago today.

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