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This episode of the Hot Seat dives into The Ankler’s Anxiety Week. What is eating this business? As the Streaming Wars rage, money is flowing like never before, but a sense of unease among its workers has been the subject of several of our stories that clearly are touching a nerve. Hosts Richard Rushfield and Tatiana Siegel touch on why (Janice Min sat this one out), but also:

• Disney and the fallout over Florida. Bob II has gotten himself in another fine mess over Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. We look at what drove him into such hot water, how Disney gets out of it, and wonder why no one else is getting the same scrutiny. (NOTE: This episode was recorded before Bob Chapek’s Friday apology for his earlier stand on the issue.)

• The Batman takes the box office. Another Batman scored another hit last weekend for Warners, showing another sign of life in the theatrical business. But with many caveats? Is it all going to be just like it was before?

• The return of Scott Rudin. A year after being sidelined for decades of fabulously awful conduct Tatiana exposed, the combative producer is inching his way back into the mainstream with a new project.

• The Oscars are coming! The field is wide open. At least five films have a plausible shot at the prize. Who will win? We give our picks. And will anyone be watching?

All that and more on this week's Hot Seat!

If you are already a subscriber, thank you. If not, come aboard today and join the community of some of the most powerful insiders in entertainment.

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Also on The Ankler:

It’s Anxiety Week! An unemployed TV writer shares her years of agony. Slouching Towards Pavilions.
The Entertainment Strategy Guy takes a hard look at the numbers behind our collective feeling of instability and stares straight into The Content Bubble’s Sum of All Fears.
Then go deeper into our exclusive Anxiety Week coverage. For an understanding of why so many of us feel this way, start with The Pit in Your Stomach is Real, and continue on to “It Feels Like the Last Days of Rome” from new contributing editor Nicole LaPorte.
On the departure of Netflix’s flamboyant marketing chief, Bozoma Saint John, and her clap back.
CAMERA ROLL IS UP! Great photos of who was where this week in Hollywood.

Check out our new awards season pop-up, The Glossy. It’s Vincent Boucher’s take in the ramp-up to the Oscars on the nexus of fashion and entertainment, who’s making money now and how, and the most inventive costume work in film and TV.

Zelensky Memo Reveals 'Your Business Smells Russian' Campaign: Sean Penn's co-director/producer shares the leader's call to action, revealed on The Ankler Hot Seat podcast.

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On The Optionist:

Q&A: What A.I. Tells Us About Debut Authors
A highly curated list of 10 current and backlist books, new journalism, and podcasts ready for option. This week: divorcees, a detective and Ukrainian ghosts.
Subscribe during the free beta period here (it’s almost over!).

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The Ankler’s Got People Talking!

Nina Metz @Nina_Metz

“Last year, Hollywood made more TV shows than ever before. And not by a little bit. The town added 349 series since 2009! A 166 percent increase!” It’s wiiiiild. @EntStrategyGuy wonders if this bubble — aka the Drunken Sailor Era — is soon to burst.

theankler.comContent’s Bubble and The Sum of All FearsESG’s worst-case scenario: “Folks don’t realize they’re in a bubble until after it bursts”

David Poland @DavidPoland

Nicole LaPorte’s Fear & Loathing In Hollywood A must read. Speaks directly to the myopia of the entitled, even when BIPOC. Here’s the answer: The Good Old Days will be back… they just won’t be about you anymore “It Feels Like the Last Days of Rome"

theankler.com“It Feels Like the Last Days of Rome”FOMO, weed, mergers, smaller paychecks: it’s all part of the industry’s blur of anxiety

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Pod: Bob II, The Batman and Rudin