A little fun to kick us off today: On Wednesday, Janice Min and Katey Rich will honor Women Shaping Television at a lively and intimate Ankler luncheon at Spago in Beverly Hills celebrating Emmy nominees Shailene Woodley, Janelle James, Kate O’Flynn, Sarah Pidgeon and so many more. Follow along @TheAnkler on Instagram, on YouTube and Prestige Junkie podcast for coverage, and thank you to presenting sponsor Morgan Stanley, along with SharkNinja and Lifetime.
Now, to the week in Hollywood — where the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery saga somehow found yet another gear.
David Ellison took to The New York Times to defend the deal, prompting Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey to unpack what he was really signaling on Ankler Agenda:
Then writer-producer J. Holtham offered a more radical solution to the whole mess — George Clooney should front the private money to buy Warner Bros. His fun, bold case:
On our Instagram, an old Clooney pal from their days on the Warner Bros. TV hit ER weighed in:
Meanwhile, dealmaking isn’t waiting for Paramount-WB to sort itself out. Ashley Cullins identified the 14 private equity firms with billions in dry powder, what they want and why they have a growing appetite for entertainment:
Now, ICYMI, the rest of our best of the week:
Series Business
↑ Cindy Holland’s Paramount Strategy Takes Shape — Deal or No Deal With or without HBO, execs, agents, writers and industry vets tell Lesley Goldberg about her “high-end taste” as an emerging slate reveals her plans.
Netflix’s $1B Live Bet Worked — Producers Want In Manori Ravindran chats with Plimsoll, Done+Dusted and Balich Wonder Studio execs about the race to win streaming’s next AI-proof gold rush.
TV in 3: Why Apple Torched Bonfire; Netflix’s Yankees Scripted Swing Plus, Lesley talks to Sterling Point creator Megan Park about making “elevated” YA “not just about love triangles.”
Aging in Hollywood
↑ ‘Down and Dirty’: Age-Proofing Your Career in Hollywood’s Hiring Hell In part one of our series this week about keeping your career vital in a youth-obsessed industry, Elaine hears from career pros on what to cut from your résumé — and how to prove you’re not a nostalgia act.
Hollywood’s Over-40 Style Rules — and Which Execs Get It Right Look current, not desperate as top stylists tell Lindzi Scharf their tips — and rate David Zaslav’s denim to Ted Sarandos as… James Bond?!
‘I’m Not Successful Enough to Get Away With Being Old’ As careers stall, Hollywood professionals confess to Elaine and Degen Pener how they’ve ended up on a costly hamster wheel of treatments to stall their faces, too.
Richard Rushfield
↑ The Ellisons Aren’t Going Anywhere — and Neither Is This Deal “Enough about the ticking fee,” writes Richard, who argues that Larry and David won’t be deterred by losing a few more billions in pursuit of their Paramount-WBD merger.
Prestige Junkie
↑ Hiro Murai on Widow’s Bay and Its Ouija Board Magic The Atlanta and Barry director tells Katey how he set the tone for Apple TV’s seaside horror hit .
On the pod, Katey chats with director Jane Schoenbrun about their new film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and with Nick Offerman about the roles behind his double Emmy nominations:
Could Robert Pattinson Really Get Four Oscar Nominations? Also: Richard Jenkins reflects on returning to Emmy contention with DTF St. Louis, and Pure Nonfiction’s Thom Powers lays out the TIFF docs to know.
PLUS: In a special Art & Crafts series, Christopher Rosen speaks with some of the Emmy-nominated pros behind this season’s top shows — including casting, cinematography, music, editing and production design.
Shooting Zendaya’s Euphoria Death Scene — and Spider-Noir Twice
The Office DNA in Widow’s Bay; The Diplomat Cast Gets Its Due
How Hacks Turned a 21-Second Song Into an Emmy Nomination
A Starry Wedding on The Bear; Rue’s Heartbreaking Euphoria Reunion
The Final ’80s Trip of Stranger Things; Only Murders’ Casino Gamble
The Wakeup
As Paramount, Disney, WBD and more unveil their spreadsheets, Sean guides you through a hit-and-miss earnings season:
Friday → ☀️ Linear TV Winners & Losers Q2
Thursday → ☀️ WBD Movie Carnage, NBA Upside, Streaming Wins in Q2
Wednesday → ☀️ How PAR’s Finding More TV, Film💰When Revenue’s Flat
Tuesday → ☀️ Ellison’s New CNN Hot Take; NETFLIX, Theatrical Rule Streaming
Sunday → ☀️ Spidey Trounces Predictions: New Records, Comps & More
Shows
Monday Morning QBs
Sean and Chris break down why not all capes are created equal as Sony’s smash tops Avengers for the biggest opening ever:
Rushfield Lunch
In conversation with Richard, Survivor’s host and EP reflects on the unlikely path that led him to the show, why he still loves making it 50 seasons in and how he manages an 800-person crew:
Like & Subscribe
New from Natalie Jarvey’s creator economy newsletter:
↑ LinkedIn’s Big Creator Boom Has Just One Rule: Please Keep Your Day Job
The Optionist
Andy Lewis’ latest IP picks:
