Happy Oscar Sunday! I’ve filled out my Oscar pool, placed my first-ever Kalshi bet (on the best actor race) and am excited to watch the big show alongside Prestige Junkie’s Katey Rich and Ankler deputy editor Christopher Rosen — join them live at 3 p.m. PT on YouTube, where they’ll start with the red carpet and stay on through the telecast and beyond, taking your questions and sharing all their insights. (P.S. You can check out their final Oscar predictions here and here — some big races are still too close to call!) And be sure to follow us on Instagram @theankler for all the night’s major moments and big winners.
Meanwhile, Team Ankler brought our best-in-class analysis to the Oscar conversation and more this week:
Katey got into what it really takes to win an Oscar (the campaigning, the cash) on Thursday’s Apple News: In Conversation. She also guested on Ankler Agenda to break down the races and controversies (Chalamet ballet, anyone?):
Elaine Low joined The Female Quotient’s Broadlines pod to talk dismal representation of female directors at the Oscars (yet again), and she joined CBS Mornings for a look at the latest output from AI “actress” Tilly Norwood:
Matthew Frank spoke with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis about the glamorous history and lost opportunity of L.A.’s grand movie palaces:
And Ankler CEO Janice Min joined Bob Safian’s Rapid Response to dig into the best picture race, the Academy Awards’ future on YouTube, AI, Paramount-Warners and more:
One thing you probably won’t see on ABC tonight? The protest outside the Dolby Theatre, complete with a mobile billboard skewering David Ellison for Paramount Skydance’s deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Richard Rushfield scooped the plan and spoke to Free Press, the organizing watchdog group:
Now, ICYMI, the rest of our best of the week:
Series Business
Lesley Goldberg reveals the backstory behind Seth MacFarlane’s new deals with Fox and Disney after an underwhelming Peacock run:
Plus, Lesley chats with Bill Lawrence about Paramount-Warners and his mid-50s career renaissance (now: Apple TV’s Shrinking, HBO’s Rooster, ABC’s Scrubs; next: more Ted Lasso) fueled by his optimism era:
Longtime biz affairs exec Ken Basin, author of The Business of Television, tells Elaine about the impact of Paramount-Warner on deals:
Rushfield: Zaslav and the M&A Report Card
Bronfman to Bewkes, Richard rates Hollywood’s long lineage of corporate moguls on their deals and departures — with lame duck David Zaslav’s final marks still TBD (but Richard would love to hear yours):
Kicking the Katzenberg Ghost
After 2024’s bitter losses drove a retreat, Hollywood’s top political donors are back — Matthew reports on the candidate stars they’re backing, who’s giving what and names in play to take Jeffrey Katzenberg’s tarnished mantle: “They just hope they never hear from [him] again”:
Reel AI: The Affleck AI Question
Ben Affleck told Joe Rogan that the idea of AI replacing filmmakers was “bullshit.” Meanwhile, he was building an AI company himself. Erik Barmack dissects the persistent tension around the tech:
Prestige Junkie: The Oscars
Katey Rich interviews Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor before the big night:
The Wakeup: Uni’s Window Promise
Universal, the studio that popularized a 17-day theatrical window, has now committed to five weekends in cinemas for its releases. Sean McNulty analyzes what it means for the business:
ESG: See You Later, Not Goodbye
As Entertainment Strategy Guy transitions to occasional contributor for The Ankler, he reflects on what he got right and wrong — and what data says about Hollywood’s future:
📹 Ankler Shows
Monday Morning QBs: Sean and Chris dig into WB’s $90M swing on the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed The Bride!:
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FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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