ICYMI: Scripted TV's Vanishing; YouTube Stars Snub Showbiz; Rushfield's Hope
ICYMI: Scripted TV's Vanishing; YouTube Stars Snub Showbiz; Rushfield's Hope
Catch up on our recent best
What even is “TV” anymore? Does it matter that there’s no easy answer to that question? That was my takeaway from our amazing coverage this past week during the studios and streamers’ upfronts presentation to advertisers. As Elaine Low wrote in her trenchant recap, “To try to separate what counts as ‘TV’ this week from all the other projects on display increasingly feels like an antiquated exercise.” (Of course, Richard Rushfield cast his gimlet eye on Hollywood’s new sports-as-savior obsession on display.)
I attended the YouTube upfront on Wednesday. Is YouTube now “TV”? It’s being consumed to the tune of 1 billion hours a day in the living room, with increasingly sophisticated programming, so I’d say yes. I hope you read Ashley Cullins’ revelatory immersion into YouTube stars sticking with the platform — and the Hollywood agents and lawyers benefiting from all the money to be made in merch, touring, podcasts and other spinoffs. Even if they don’t get a percentage on the whopping $70 billion YouTube has paid out to creators in just the last three years, there’s a stunning amount of money to be had tapping into a direct-to-consumer relationship between a star of any wattage and their fans. Now we’re seeing traditional celebs such as Jon Stewart and Jennifer Garner wanting in.
This is the next wave of disruption as the traditional platforms here morph, and The Ankler will be your guide to understanding it.
Meanwhile . . .
Ankler Events are a huge hit. While Elaine, Sean McNulty and I did New York, and Gregg Kilday and Claire Atkinson hit Cannes, Katey Rich interviewed Lulu Wang and Sarayu Blue for our Expats event in L.A.; the next day, the politically obsessed came out for our “The President & the Podium” event with Jen Psaki and Dee Dee Myers, who dove in to Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump, polling, messaging and Israel/Gaza with Janice:
Now I’m giving ICYMI readers first crack to come on June 10 for Katey’s interview in L.A. with the great David Oyelowo, to watch and discuss his Paramount+ miniseries Lawmen: Bass Reeves. RSVP here:
Now, check out the rest of our best of the week, ICYMI:
Rushfield: Despair and Hope; Sports Fumble?
The production contraction, theatrical’s waking nightmare and no one having “fun” are cause for dread, but Richard writes, there are just as many reasons to not lose faith. That said, sports is not the magic elixir:
TV’s 2024 Tea Leaves: What the Upfronts Told Us
Elaine’s comprehensive look at scripted TV’s future as sports and stunts took center stage is a must-read, as she also tackled what “Sports Hulu” — now Venu — might look like, and how Netflix and Amazon fared:
YouTube > Hollywood?
Ashley breaks down why many big YouTubers have opted against the Hollywood path, how agents and lawyers — surprise — are getting their piece of the growing pie and why traditional stars are diving in:
Prestige Junkie: Sci-Fi to the Shores of Cannes
Katey Rich probes sci-fi’s chances to crash the prestige drama race with Amazon’s Fallout and Netflix’s 3 Body Problem; then chats with Neon CEO Tom Quinn from Cannes, and surveys possible Oscar contenders at the fest:
Ankler x Screen International Cannes Dailies
From Furiosa to Megalopolis: Gregg and Claire are on the ground in France, working out of Screen International’s newsroom at The Majestic during the Cannes Film Festival for our joint daily newsletter:
In Other News . . .
MrBeast vs. Super Bowl, Millie Bobby Brown vs. Taylor: How entertainment comparisons collapse under pressure, from Entertainment Strategy Guy:
Go inside industry events with Todd Williamson’s Todd on the Town:
Chimp change budgets and no attachment to stars: Darren Franich on how Apes has outlasted other franchises:
☀️THE WAKEUP
During a busy week across the industry, Sean McNulty had all the analysis on the numbers behind Netflix’s ad tier and don’t miss his count of just how few scripted shows are left on the broadcast networks:
🎧 PODCASTS
THE ANKLER
Scripted TV SOS! Small-screen sizzle all but disappeared amid sports, stunts and live at the Upfronts:
MARTINI SHOT
Gaslit in TV Land Mostly, nobody knows anything. But sometimes, they know something you don't:
Oscars showrunner Raj Kapoor and choreographer Mandy Moore tell Debbie Allen about 'I’m Just Ken' and other iconic moments:
👓 THE OPTIONIST
FINAL HOUSEKEEPING!
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