The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Latest Episodes:

Box Office Surprises, “KPop Demon Hunters” Rise, and Muppets on Broadway (Ep. 321) Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill is solo this week and breaks down the end of the 2025 summer movie season and why traditional blockbusters are struggling at the box office. From shocking second-weekend drop-offs to Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking the No. 1 spot in theaters, Jim covers the hits and misses of the season.

How films like Fantastic Four: First Steps and 28 Years Later stumbled in their second weekends
Why streaming habits continue to disrupt box office expectations
“KPop Demon Hunters” theater debut and record-breaking soundtrack buzz
The English-dubbed release of Ne Zha 2 and its global box office dominance
“The Bad Guys 2” performance compared to the original
Broadway news: Muppets joining Rob Lake’s magic show, Disney’s Broadway Week deals, and more
New York attractions for animation fans, from Nightmare Before Christmas light trails to Black Cauldron’s 40th anniversary screening

Plus, Jim shares updates on upcoming animation books, CTNX 2025, Pixar’s Elio, and what fans can expect from Futurama Season 13.

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The Vanishing Act: David Copperfield’s Lost Disney-MGM Studios Attraction (with Chris Cox) (Ep. 546) Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill welcome award-winning mind reader and performer Chris Cox (BBC and Broadway) for a deep dive into one of Disney’s most fascinating “what could have been” stories.

The ambitious plans for David Copperfield’s Magic Underground restaurant
How the New York flagship nearly opened before money troubles pulled the plug
Michael Eisner’s enthusiasm for magic and themed dining in the 1990s
Why Disney-MGM Studios was slated to host Copperfield’s magical dining experience
How timing, costs, and the decline of themed restaurants caused the project to vanish

From collapsing billboards in Times Square to a restaurant where your table might levitate, this is the story of the Disney dining experience that almost was — and why it disappeared.

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Vegas Goes Scary: Universal Horror Unleashed and Jaws the Revenge (Ep. 65) Aug 22, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with another packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast. This week, they cover everything from nostalgic movie anniversaries to Universal’s latest projects, before diving deep into the troubled history of Jaws: The Revenge.

Universal’s fall movie lineup, including The Breakfast Club’s 40th anniversary and Casper’s big-screen return
The abandoned “Casper” haunted ride concept with interactive bed vehicles
A first look at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas and early guest reactions
Farewell to Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and what could be replacing it
Team Members now able to use comp tickets for Epic Universe admission
The full behind-the-scenes story of Jaws: The Revenge – from rushed production to its infamous reception

From shark sequels to theme park closures, Jim and Eric connect Universal history, news, and wild industry trivia in their signature style.

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Disney’s First Witches and Why They Still Cast a Spell (Ep. 61) Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey are back with a Halloween-packed episode of I Want That Too, diving into the latest spooky Disney merch and a century of witchy stories from the Mouse House.

Haunted Mansion peel-and-stick wallpaper and Guillermo del Toro’s obsession
The viral Cutie Ghost collection and why the Minnie Mouse ghost lamp is selling out fast
A massive Nightmare Before Christmas collection, including a $160 countdown coffin and an epic Jack Skellington water bottle set
Disney’s evolving portrayal of witches, from Snow White’s “old crone” to Witch Hazel and beyond
How other studios — and even cereals — are cashing in on the witch trend

From Halloween merch mania to deep Disney history, this episode delivers treats, trivia, and plenty of mischief.

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The Voice of Your Childhood: Jim Cummings Joins Fine Tooning (Ep. 320) Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, highlighted by an interview with legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. From Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career that shaped generations of animation fans.

The shifting release date of Shrek 5 and what it means for DreamWorks
Why Disney pulled back marketing on The Rocketeer opening weekend
This week’s box office projections — and why Jim calls them “wild guesses”
Streaming success of KPop Demon Hunters and Disney’s King of the Hill revival
Pixar’s Elio box office performance and upcoming digital release
Jim Cummings’ Disney origins with Dumbo’s Circus and Goof Troop
Voicing legacy characters like Pooh, Tigger, and Pete — plus his work on Star Wars
His hidden singing credits in Hollywood films and dream of a country album

From industry news to animation nostalgia, this episode blends updates, history, and an in-depth conversation with one of the most recognizable voices in Disney history.

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What Disney’s Firework Ratings Reveal About the Future (Ep. 545) Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Len Testa dig into how fans really rate Disney’s nighttime spectaculars — and why those scores decide which shows stay and which ones fade away. Along the way, they cover the latest park news and wrap up the story of how Jack Sparrow sailed into Pirates of the Caribbean.

TouringPlans survey data reveals the winners and losers among Disney’s fireworks and nighttime shows
Why “average” ratings are the kiss of death for spectaculars like Enchantment
New menus and a $65 all-you-can-eat croissant buffet at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival
Destination D23 schedule updates, including hints of a Villains Land presentation
Construction progress on Disneyland’s new Marvel e-ticket attraction
Universal’s permit filing that could mean another Epic Universe hotel
How Johnny Depp, Captain Barbossa, and Davy Jones made their way into the Pirates of the Caribbean rides

From fan-favorite fireworks to the behind-the-scenes drama of Pirates overlays, this episode blends data, history, and Disney news you won’t hear anywhere else.

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The Orlando Theme Park That Made Jaws 3D Possible (Ep. 64) Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, starting with a surprising WWE–Disney streaming deal and ending with a behind-the-scenes look at the wild production of Jaws 3D. From scare zones to SeaWorld, this week’s show has it all.

WWE’s $1.625 billion ESPN+ deal and what it means for fans and streaming
Newly announced scare zones for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood, including murderous clowns, giant crows, and Latin American witch legends
First look at the Five Nights at Freddy’s haunted house and why Jim thinks the animatronics could be terrifying
Changes to Universal Orlando’s Stay and Scream early entry for HHN
Details on Volcano Bay Nights after-hours events in September and October
The 3D movie craze of the early 1980s and how it led to Jaws 3D
The SeaWorld connection – and how Universal almost owned it years before opening in Orlando

From horror nights hype to theme park “what ifs,” Jim and Eric share history, rumors, and personal takes in their signature mix of trivia and banter.

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Jim Hill’s Big Break and his Untold Origin Story (Ep. 60) Aug 14, 2025

Show notes

Jim and Lauren serve up a feast of Disney news, collectibles, and one unforgettable personal tale.

Recap of Disney’s quarterly earnings call, including streaming’s first profitable quarter
Details on Hulu’s full integration into Disney+ by 2026 and the shift away from subscriber count reporting
Hidden perks for Disney+ subscribers, including a free D23 Gold membership and exclusive sweepstakes
A first look at “Single Riders” – a dating app for Disney and theme park fans
Disney’s latest collectible craze from Japan: Rupoka-chan
Jim shares his career origin story, starting with a phone call about Donald Duck that led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a 40-year career covering the Disney Company

From industry insights to adorable merch and a behind-the-scenes career journey, this episode is packed with stories you won’t want to miss.

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From Dog Stars to “Fixed” and What’s Next for The Bad Guys (Ep. 319) Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with another jam-packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering everything from Sirius the Dog Star to the latest in animated film and TV news. This week’s stories span box office winners, Netflix premieres, and the challenges of recasting beloved characters.

• The history of the “Dog Days of Summer” and why Sirius is more than just a bright spot in the sky
• Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed - the long road to Netflix for this R-rated animated comedy
• Box office breakdown - how Weapons, Freakier Friday, and The Bad Guys 2 are performing worldwide
• Why The Bad Guys franchise may or may not be headed for a third installment
• The $2.2 billion success of Ne Zha 2 and what’s ahead for Ne Zha 3
• King of the Hill revival on Hulu - navigating the absence of key characters
• KPop Demon Hunters’ Netflix success and upcoming sing-along screenings
• New and upcoming animation releases - The Twits, Zootopia 2, Spider-Punk, and Dr. Seuss projects including Cat in the Hat

From nostalgic callbacks to forward-looking animation news, Jim and Drew bring their trademark mix of history, humor, and industry insight.

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Disney’s Big Earnings Surprises and the Pirate Makeover of Magic Kingdom (Ep. 544) Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Disney’s latest earnings call, including park attendance trends, hotel occupancy shifts, and how Epic Universe may be quietly impacting Orlando tourism. They also review a fascinating new Disney Cruise Line survey that tests potential discounts and onboard perks — plus what those offers could mean for future sailings.

Listener questions cover everything from the Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow projection tech to Walt Disney World’s mysterious white bus lane lights, and Jim continues his multi-part history of how Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa found their way into the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions. Along the way, they explore the behind-the-scenes stories of the Pirate Tutorial, the Pirates League, and Disney’s new Beak and Barrel lounge at Magic Kingdom.

Disney’s domestic attendance and hotel occupancy results

How Epic Universe is influencing local tourism

What a Disney Cruise Line survey reveals about future promotions

Why Captain Jack’s meet-and-greets were tightly controlled

The evolution of pirate-themed experiences in the parks

Time Stamps

Intro (00:18:18)
Break 1 (00:29:24)
Break 2 (00:42:05)

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