☀️ The Biggest Comedy Draws on NETFLIX
Emerald Fennell sets leads for next pic / PAR layoffs part 2 begin / CHARTER gets merger offer
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LinkedIn here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on TUESDAY, September 24, 2024.
Where apparently we’re now powering up old nuclear reactors that almost killed us, to support the power needs of AI, that . . . well, let’s just say the jury is out on the ideas it has for humanity.
But when AI servers require a 16 oz. bottle’s worth of water to keep cool enough to “write” just one 100-word email according to a new Washington Post story — man, I can only think of all of the hilarious jokes AI is going to write about us one day. 😂
OH: But don’t worry, Sam Altman — i.e. the guy profiting the most from all of this — says, “The energy use of AI, I think relative to the value it’s creating, is quite tiny today.” All good, folks — fire off those AI-generated emails as ya like! Although Sam did have a more sober follow-up: “I don’t want to minimize it too much, because it’s going to go up.”
HUH: NVIDIA got 46% of its $30B Q2 revenue from just . . . 4 (undisclosed) companies. So yeah, CEO Jensen Huang definitely didn’t pick up the check at that Elon / Ellison dinner.
SO: Your new META celebrity AI voice options will be Judi Dench, Kristen Bell, John Cena, Keegan Michael-Key and Awkwafina, according to Reuters. The official announcement should come tomorrow.
AND: Gotta love the advertisers who are now super vigilant about only working with apolitical influencers in the name of “brand safety,” but who also clearly either . . . DGAF, or just 🤷♂️ when it comes to “brand safety” and their YT ad buy 💰 appearing next to pet-eating conspiracy content.
OH: The Tonys will be Sunday, June 8, and back at Radio City this year.
YEAH: NBCU wasn’t the only one benefitting from Olympics viewing demand in August . . . enjoy that record-high share as well, YT!
PLUS: PARAMOUNT is indeed initiating its next round of layoffs today, with streaming and marketing likely taking the biggest hits. After today, 90% of the planned roughly 2,000 U.S. job cuts will be complete, with the rest to take place by year’s end.
AH: Arguments in the Murdoch vs. Murdoch Children case are over, as they now await a ruling in Nevada.
HMM 🤔: Which one of these NBA stars in the new Starting 5 NETFLIX docuseries totally forgot that the premiere was last night 🤦♂️? Thanks for dressing up, Anthony (also kinda fun to see a fellow 6’4” guy look short).
HUH: NFL underdogs which were given at least 5.5 points in games this season are now 13-2 against the spread, according to Yahoo Sports (this doesn’t include last night’s WASHINGTON win over CINCY).
Gotta think that’s making things fun for FANDUEL and DRAFTKINGS in Q3. And uh, ESPN BET of course.
BTW: That MNF game last night was the first without a punt or a turnover since 1940 — and WASHINGTON has now played 2 straight games without doing either. 🤯
THEN: The CHICAGO WHITE SOX ⚾️ are goin’ for it tonight! “It” being the record for the, uh, worst record in MLB history if they lose to the ANGELS. 😩
As to why — this Athletic read on 88-year-old owner Jerry Reinsdorf (a name known to any fans of the Jordan docuseries The Last Dance) is pretty great.
This quote from a former employee certainly opens a window here that . . . may resonate in Hollywood:
“You got a baseball fan owner who thinks he knows everything, and maybe he did in 1992 — but the amount of info has skyrocketed in the last 30 years and he’s put his middle finger up at that.”
PLUS: It’s #GetAJobTuesdays! A lotta new job openings, ranging from nice gigs at AMC and HELLO SUNSHINE to great assistant and coordinator jobs at CAA, WME and DISNEY and much more.
FINALLY:
If you’re a talent rep headed to NETFLIX today for its presentation on new pay models 🧐 — dive into all of the NETFLIX comedy special data you need to know from 2023 and the first half of 2024.
(Or, if you’re just a comedian who wants to know how your special ranked against your contemporaries)
Spoiler: Good news if you’re a dude!
Plus:
How Tom Brady stacked up against other NETFLIX live events
The notable disparity arising in sports docuseries viewership in 2024 so far vs. 2023 👀
The results for the Girls5Eva endeavor
🎥 THE SILVER SCREEN
