Brooks Barnes

Brooks Barnes, a Hollywood reporter for The New York Times, and Mekado Murphy, an assistant film editor and unofficial roller-coaster correspondent, dive into the fascinating world of amusement parks. They share childhood memories of carnival life and discuss how it shaped their love for theme parks. The duo explores the competitive landscape between Disney and Universal, highlighting innovations like Epic Universe and safety concerns stemming from ride tragedies. They also reveal their favorite parks, emphasizing the emotional connections these attractions foster among families.

Brooks Barnes, a NYT staff reporter covering Hollywood, joins to discuss Paramount's new direction under David Ellison. They dive into strategic shifts in theater windows and content spend, touching on potential sales of cable assets like MTV. The duo also tackles the impact of transparency in leadership and ongoing changes in media ownership. As a fun wrap-up, they predict how Taylor Swift's appearance on a popular podcast will affect listener engagement and viewership, showcasing her powerful influence in today's media landscape.

Brooks Barnes, a New York Times staff reporter specializing in entertainment, joins to unpack Disney's recent financial struggles. They dive into the reasons behind declining park attendance and rising customer dissatisfaction due to price hikes. The conversation explores streaming profitability, expected price increases for Disney+ and Hulu, and Bob Iger's reputation among fans. They also tease the exciting developments anticipated at the upcoming D23 conference, alongside a discussion on the box office prospects for 'Borderlands' and 'It Ends With Us'.