☀️ ‘Weapons’ Blows Away Tracking, ‘Freakier’ Hits Its Mark
NETFLIX enlists Hart & Cena for buddy pic / SONY Q2 sees boost / UNI sets rom-com leads
Evenin! 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 SUNDAY, August 10, 2025.
Where before the ubiquity of “smart glasses” kills the vibe on speaking freely in public and “just between us” in casual conversation in true 1984 style . . . AI is already harshing the buzz in the ZOOM world.
As more people use AI to summarize video meetings, know that AI is listening the entire time as soon as you log in or show up — so any comments you think are “preliminary” or offhand could very well be included in AI reports afterward.
Especially key for any folks who work in sales where AI-generated reports may be sent directly to clients afterward — or perhaps sent to your boss who didn’t join the meeting due to a tee time personal conflict . . . without anyone editing out your totally killer joke about the accounting group.
I’m sure that’ll make work life just that much more enjoyable going forward.
AND: Fran Drescher is officially not running for re-election as Prez of SAG. Sean Astin and Chuck Slavin, a member of the local board in New England, will be the 2 nominees.
GOOD NEWS: If your dog is really good at basketball, the Air Bud reboot is casting. Time to go to work, Rufus — that Farmer’s Dog stuff doesn’t pay for itself.
ALSO: As Q2 earnings season wraps up in other sectors outside of Hollywood — our fast food and quick service dining friends from APPLEBEE’S to SWEETGREEN to WENDY’S are continuing to sound the warning bell around consumers continually going out to eat less in 2025, according to the FT.
While MCDONALD’S overall earnings did return to some growth in Q2, it also noted that visits from low-income customers fell by “double-digits” between April and June this year.
Fast food visit traffic overall was -2.3% in Q2, according to an industry tracking firm, and many of those who come out are ordering the cheaper menu items.
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Kudos to the 19% dreamers! My fellow 34% optimists salute you, as Weapons indeed caught fire this weekend.
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I’m going to bid you adieu for most of this week. 🫡
I’ll likely check in on Wednesday with an edition since I’ll be doing my own NETFLIX Films chart data analysis anyway (hey, you have your hobbies, I have mine) — but that’ll likely be it, unless LIONSGATE sells or Zaz decides to also leave the media business to run a weight loss drug company.
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