Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.
Where don’t worry, AI is totally gonna create more jobs!
Er, just not at BARCLAYS, which is laying off 5,000 people because of AI.
Roughly 60% of the cuts are from lower-value human capital folks in support functions . . . and yes, this is to bring down internal expenses at the U.K. bank so other folks can still comfortably make several million dollars a year.
Well, they did say AI would give us all more time to go to mid-week concerts and sports games — but they didn’t say how some folks would afford to do that.
AND: SUNDANCE is moving its new festival headquarters out of the Hotel Boulderado after a union dispute, and will now be based at The Rink on 14th Street.
OH: Move over millennial Christmas movies, and make room for NETFLIX’s latest YOUTUBE deal — Elf on a Shelf! It set a non-exclusive deal with IP owner LUMISTELLA for episodes of Scout Elf Squad starting Nov. 4 (those episodes will also still be available on the Elf On A Shelf YOUTUBE channel).
PLUS: Ryan Gosling is dipping back into his dulcet tones to release new spooky music via his Dead Man’s Bones duo with Zach Shields on Oct. 27.
AH: Here is your NIELSEN Gauge for August, where apparently everyone was watching YOUTUBE at the beach house on vacation (YT viewership from the 50+ set was +9% YoY) . . . with YT hitting a new high (by far) at a 15.8% share — 2x that of NETFLIX at #2.
ROKU also was batting above average at 2.9%, and PAR+ got a nice showing with a Lioness assist.
THEN: If you go see Whalefall this weekend, the folks at THEATER EARS did a director’s commentary with Brian Duffield if you’d like to listen along while you watch.
PLUS: Your next SNL hosts.
REST IN PEACE: Goes out to a big presence on the big screen in my younger life, Tom Skerritt, who died at the age of 93.
AS ALWAYS:
Connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like, or email me anytime at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com.
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FINALLY: Tickets are now on sale for the Infinity Festival on Nov. 12 – 15 at the Audrey Irmas Pavilion in L.A., which counts The Ankler as a media partner, and has featured speakers including Seth Rogen and fellow creative forces behind the new animated pic Tangles, director Brad Bird, LAIKA President and CEO Travis Knight and more. Tix & info here.
🤝 The Deal Memo
Elon joins SKYDANCE party in latest distraction from the reality ahead
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