An awful lot of deals have been happening in media of late as the toll of streaming wars and the fractionalization of an overwhelmed, economically challenged consumer base is making every third quarter report being released one that inevitably shows decline, revised estimates and, sadly, dour reactions from pundits who lament everything from overly optimistic … Read more
When CBS announced their fall schedule this past spring, eyebrows were raised when, for the first time in its history, no new situation comedies were ordered to air. As part of the deflection, it was noted that there was a sort-of comedic tone to THE REAL LOVE BOAT, a reality series inspired by the light … Read more
As regular readers know, I am absolutely driven by the concept of face-to-face interaction, COVID variants be damned. There is absolutely no valid excuse at this point in time for anyone, anywhere, unless they are actively infected to avoid the chance for connection, especially in a business sector that is evolving (some might say devolving, … Read more
Yes, that’s the first question I asked Google this morning, and I’ll try to explain why in a bit. The short answer is “yes”. Like many of you, I couldn’t avoid the news of Elon Musk officially taking over Twitter this week, either in my news alerts or on the accounts of many of my … Read more
One of my favorite shows to sell was WKRP IN CINCINNATI, a “sleeper cell” sitcom of the late 1970s that was moved around CBS’ prime time lineup several times during its history with middling ratings before its four seasons of reruns were sold and, along with THREE’S COMPANY, became surprisingly successful hits in reruns. WKRP … Read more
A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (well, it was Oswego, New York, so it was damn near Tatooine), I knew a guy who was usually genial and was really smart when sober, but being that it was Oswego, and given his history, sobriety wasn’t always within his reach. Amidst some lukewarm kegs … Read more
One of the few concessions I’ll make to my age bracket is my decades-old appetite for a little daily dose of THE PRICE IS RIGHT. It’s a video coffee break for me these days, and I do like the connection to simpler, happier times it provides. One of my favorite on-stage games is one called … Read more
Occasionally, I see analyses of studies by other really smart folks that bowl me over and inspire me to dig a little deeper. One such study hit my inbox yesterday courtesy of Next TV’s Daniel Frankel. Dan’s a veteran media journalist who actually understands nuances like what an actual rating is, and I’ve had some … Read more
I’ll freely admit, I fall into the camp of those who lost interest in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON as its premiere season unfolded. Like many of those who got caught up in the summer furor leading to its much-awaited launch, a full ten days ahead of its arch-rival RINGS OF POWER, my initial eagerness was … Read more
When I was faced with the uncomfortable prospect of extended unemployment after my FX journey ended well-meaning friends suggested I familiarize myself with everything that was up and coming elsewhere, making myself as knowledgable as possible in case an opportunity might arise. With a newer model Tivo freshly purchased, I had both the time and … Read more