The Ankler Podcast

Original movies in theaters? It’s true! Sean McNulty dials in from CinemaCon to tell Elaine Low about his reaction to Amazon’s bold film slate kickstarting a new era of studio leadership. Meanwhile, in L.A., Lesley Goldberg dishes with Elaine and Natalie Jarvey about the mess left in the wake of Jen Salke’s exit from Prime Video, and what agents and showrunners expect from TV head Vernon Sanders.For more entertainment news, subscribe to The Ankler or apply to The Ladder, a members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lesley Goldberg, a television industry expert, shares insights from her latest survey of top writers on improving TV development. Topics include the surprising resurgence of mini-rooms, with writers advocating for their return, and how Zoom pitching has altered the landscape, creating new opportunities. She discusses the need for better training for showrunners and highlights Amazon's growing role in film distribution. The conversation ultimately reveals the urgent need for fair compensation and creative control in today’s evolving industry.

Natalie Jarvey, author of the insightful Like and Subscribe newsletter, shares her expertise on the creator economy and Hollywood's evolving landscape. The conversation dives into the rising popularity of giants like MrBeast and Ms. Rachel, exploring their streaming successes and questions surrounding the Paul brothers' future. Jarvey discusses the challenges of transitioning digital creators to traditional media, the staggering losses of Apple TV+, and innovative collaborations between YouTube stars and platforms like Netflix.

Is Jeff Bezos the right fit for James Bond? The hosts debate the future of iconic franchises like Bond, Marvel, and DC amid industry shake-ups. They consider whether James Gunn can save DC and discuss the potential for a Harry Potter series on TV. The conversation extends to the revitalization of Star Wars, noting its successes with new series like The Mandalorian. Plus, there's talk of reviving classics like Ocean's Eleven and the challenges of adapting beloved stories for modern audiences.

With the debut of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan, longtime royal observer Tina Brown and Ankler Media CEO Janice Min joined forces for a rollicking Substack Live conversation over at Brown’s Fresh Hell. Brown and Min appraise the Duchess of Sussex’s new career act (“always brilliantly behind the curve,” says Brown), debrief on the Academy Awards and Demi Moore, and analyze Conan O’Brien’s onstage nod to film craft that gave Hollywood “a real shot in the arm,” Min says. Plus: Why NYC’s 10 percenters are still all in on Trump and Elon Musk. “They love what he’s doing,” says Brown. “When billionaires get together, all they talk about is how many people they want to fire.”For more entertainment news, subscribe to The Ankler or apply to The Ladder, a members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hollywood execs want more “aggression” out of their young proteges, but Gen Z — raised in remote work and new rules — came to age without traditional role models. The Ankler team shares advice from their interviews with Greg Berlanti and Ted Hope for young creatives to stand out, something even more essential as the state of showbiz is begging for a new round of visionary leaders.If you’re a Gen Zer in Hollywood yourself, apply to The Ladder, our members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcast TV may be what “your uncle and your mom watches,” but it’s a bright spot for the studios. Series Business’ Lesley Goldberg joins Elaine Low to discuss her interview with CBS President Amy Reisenbach, why all those spinoffs and reboots give producers an “edge” and how year-round development helps “get the creative right.” Plus: Elaine, Sean McNulty and Richard Rushfield discuss what the earnings of CBS parent Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery portend — no need for more sports, says Zaz! — and final Oscar thoughts before the big show.For more entertainment news, subscribe to The Ankler or apply to The Ladder, a members-only hub for early career entertainment professionals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The New York Times gave author Michael Wolff’s new book a glowing review, but President Donald Trump disagrees, calling it a “total FAKE JOB, just like the other JUNK he wrote.” As with Wolff’s three earlier books about the president, All or None is filled with juicy tidbits with fly-on-the-wall accounts from the chaos inside Trump’s orbit. In unsparing words, he talks to Janice Min about woeful Democrats, Elon Musk, Melania, media’s current panic and the threatening phone call he received from Trumpworld.Read the interview in an abridged Q&A format here. Subscribe to The Ankler for more entertainment and media news here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Budgets for studio theatrical slates and TV lineups are disappearing as fast as federal agencies these days. But there’s hope! Dealmakers’ Ashley Cullins joins to break down the new rules for landing a greenlight for an original film today, while Elaine Low reveals ways to navigate new small screen realities, from acing that Zoom pitch to turning that blinking yellow light green. And despite the industry’s collective surrender, Sean McNulty explains why more data could flip the narrative of an industry perceived to be in decline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As President Trump seeks to banish diversity, equity and inclusion, Disney buried its initiative this week, and Amazon continues to “evolve” its own. Sean McNulty, Elaine Low, Richard Rushfield and contributor Nicole LaPorte dive into whether Hollywood was ever committed to the cause — as Nicole says, “the erosion of DEI here has been going on for a quite a while” — and how to tell a real pronouncement from a fake one. Plus: How the L.A. wildfires have fueled a real estate frenzy while TV workers debate whether to flee the city altogether. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices