Transcript: Netflix's Search for the Most Powerful Job in Film

The pros and cons of the role — and the candidates in contention

Sean McNulty (00:00):

Welcome to The Ankler Podcast. This is Sean McNulty from The Wakeup newsletter here at The Ankler on the afternoon of Thursday, February 1st here in New York City where the last day we saw the sun and blue sky here was the last day I shaved. So Elaine, how am I looking right now?

Elaine Low (00:34):

Quite scruffy, Sean.

Sean McNulty (00:37):

That's some indication of what's happening in our fine city. We have another two days before we see the sun. Richard, I feel like it's going to be like the end of Total Recall where we come out in celebration and we see blue sky outside.

Richard Rushfield (00:48):

Yes. We're raining here in LA today, which is a great occasion. You guys should try just living with sun all the time because then it makes rain really-

Sean McNulty (00:58):

We're doing it all wrong here, apparently. All right. We're doing winter all wrong.

Richard Rushfield (01:01):

Being cold and gray all the time, you got it backwards.

Sean McNulty (01:05):

I'll put a note in there. That of course is Richard Rushfield and Elaine Low in Los Angeles, and Peter Kiefer is joining today for the conversation. Peter, good to see you. Is my unintended beard Kiefer-approved? You're the outdoorsman here of the group, I feel like.

Peter Kiefer (01:17):

You're looking adequately rugged right now, so I approve. I approve.

Sean McNulty (01:20):

I have a good Shining look going on. It's very good. Exactly.

Elaine Low (01:24):

He's going to send you some flannel right after we're done recording.

Sean McNulty (01:27):

Exactly. Needs more flannel.

Peter Kiefer (01:30):

And a fishing pole. Yes, it's on its way.

Sean McNulty (01:32):

Fantastic. Richard, it's now February. Does that mean the layoffs stop? You know the local customs better than I do, so is that what signals this on February 1st here? Are we done?

Richard Rushfield (01:41):

The beatings will continue until morale improves-

Sean McNulty (01:43):

Oh, my.

Richard Rushfield (01:43):

... I think is the motto here. But no, there's no reason to think that we're done with layoffs and that we've reached the bottom here. It might be a pause or a clearing of the throat, but the pain will continue until someone figures out how to stop it.

Sean McNulty (01:59):

Exactly. Elaine, I started a new section in The Wakeup today in job cuts, which I would just-

Elaine Low (02:04):

Brutal.

Sean McNulty (02:05):

There's enough material. I was like, eh, usually I'll throw something in the bin as things come up, but I'm like, it was every day and it was like three items. I'm like, I need to start putting a section in here just for this news because it's just like-

Elaine Low (02:16):

That's so rough. Although I will say in my upcoming Series Business Newsletter, we will be going over where the pockets of growth are, unlike all the bleakness.

Sean McNulty (02:24):

I like it. The new February, we're into it. All right. Elaine's got the spirit. I love it. Before we dive into this week's topics, though, The Ankler itself was a bit of news this week. A new partnership is afoot with LA's number one NPR station. That would be 89.3 LAist.

Elaine Low (02:39):

I think still formerly and forever KPCC, but also known as LAist now.

Sean McNulty (02:43):

Exactly, the number one NPR station in Los Angeles. Anyway, they're Southern California public Radio's flagship radio station and digital news site, and together we'll be reaching a combined audience of about 10 million folks. Elaine, get ready for that. We start at 7:00 today, actually. Elaine, I think you were involved in this called “Entertainment Thursday,” so the Ankler team will be on air for entertainment segments every Thursday during the following shows. That's Morning Edition from 5:00 to 9:00 AM, Air Talk from 9:00 to 11:00, and All Things Considered from 1:00 to 2:00 and between 4:00 and 6:30, that's all Pacific time of course. In addition, the Ankler team will also cover breaking entertainment news as it happens. LAist will feature The Ankler's entertainment coverage on its homepage in its morning newsletter, and of course across its social channels. Elaine, you kicked us off this morning. Was that the gist here that I heard?