Ted Lasso has returned to the pitch. Coach Beard is still by Ted's side, but the show no longer has co-creator and co-showrunner Bill Lawrence. Lawrence tells Lesley Goldberg why he's riding the bench in a fascinating and funny interview - mrf.lu/21t8r

Have you seen the 'Widow's Bay' memes? The ones of Patricia dancing to “The Rhythm of the Night”? You can thank the show's music supervisor Toko Nagata for those. The Emmy nominee breaks down the inspired choice - mrf.lu/21T64

A semi-modest proposal: Let Hollywood save Hollywood

George Clooney Should Buy Warner Bros. - The Ankler

Op-ed: The actor couldn’t afford the studio alone. Then again, neither can the Ellisons

theankler.com

Did Paramount announce a 'Clueless' revival to change the subject from its stalled merger? As if! Lesley Goldberg explores how Paramount's TV business might change now that its WB teamup has been delayed - mrf.lu/212M9

Right now, 'Survivor' superfan Richard Rushfield is talking with Jeff Probst, and they're "living dangerously" with a live video feed. Tune in for the live conversation now

The Rushfield Lunch With Jeff Probst

YouTube video by The Ankler

youtube.com

Have you seen the new "Seems like AI slop" button on LinkedIn? The platform is entering its creator era, with high-value audiences turning it into something more like X or Instagram. Natalie Jarvey maps LinkedIn's new creator economy - mrf.lu/2ZlZz

The Paramount-WB merger has had more legal twists and turns than George Clooney's 'Michael Clayton.' Speaking of George Clooney, J. Holtham thinks he should buy Warner Bros. Let him explain, in an op-ed - mrf.lu/2ZK_R

Casting 'Widow's Bay' started with Matthew Rhys. But the cast really locked into place with Kate O’Flynn. The casting directors behind Emmy nominees 'Widow's Bay' and 'The Diplomat' reveal all - mrf.lu/2Z-MR

LinkedIn is cracking down on AI-generated posts, and you know what that means: the platform has entered its creator era. As LinkedIn catches up to the likes of YouTube or Instagram, creators with expertise and credibility can make up to $500,000 a year on brand deals via the platform

LinkedIn’s Big Creator Boom Has Just One Rule: Please Keep Your Day Job

An actual career is the advantage on the platform, where expertise and credibility can now add up to as much as $500,000 a year in brand deals

likeandsubscribenews.substack.com

Paramount’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery just hit another major setback. A judge rejected Paramount’s request for a November antitrust trial, instead scheduling for March 2027, which could cost Paramount roughly $1.3 billion.

Private equity already has a grip on Hollywood. Ashley Cullins maps the 14 firms with billions in "dry powder" and explains why sports and live events are at the center of their strategy - mrf.lu/2ZY1j

"You know that feeling where it's like, this is already the past as you're living it?" 'Camp Miasma' director Jane Schoenbrun tells Katey Rich about the piece of advice from Hannah Einbinder that helped them stay present during one of the biggest weeks of their career - mrf.lu/2ZVPx

If you're in your 50s (or even your 40s), staying competitive in age-obsessed Hollywood can get tricky. Elaine Low talked with experts and industry vets for their practical advice on playing to your strengths

'Down and Dirty': Age-Proofing Your Career in Hollywood's Hiring Hell - The Ankler

Career pros reveal the words and dates to cut from your résumé — and how to prove you’re not a nostalgia act

theankler.com

A Netflix movie leads the list of top 20 most popular films in the U.S. across all platforms. If you want the real numbers, Sean McNulty does the math so that longer movies shouldn’t get more credit for just being long

☀️ Ellison's New CNN Hot Take; NETFLIX, Theatrical Rule Streaming - The Ankler

NETFLIX sets deal with top AMAZON star / WB adds to summer 2027 / DISH’s ongoing #cordcutting losses

theankler.com

Making 'Widow's Bay' is like playing with a Ouji board, director Hiro Murai tells Katey Rich: "You know what it eventually wants to spell out, but you kind of have to let go a little bit too, because that’s where the magic happens"

Hiro Murai on ‘Widow’s Bay’ and Its Ouija Board Magic - The Ankler

Plus: 'Spider-Man' director Destin Daniel Cretton's bittersweet weekend

theankler.com

Holding onto your job — or finding a new one — has never been tougher. It's competitive. Many in their 40s and up worry about how their age might impact their ability to land a gig. Worried? Rewriting your résumé can help - mrf.lu/2ZHp5

Showtimes sold out in seconds. People are flying to see it "as Nolan intended" in IMAX. So why can't 'The Odyssey' stay in IMAX forever? Sean McNulty explains - mrf.lu/2Z0GY

Hiro Murai helped redefine TV with 'Atlanta.' Now, the director and EP is back with 'Widow's Bay,' and he's pushing the boundaries again. He tells Katey Rich about the show's tone and one of the most talked-about scenes - mrf.lu/2ZdRS

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' proves superheroes aren't dead, but there’s a top tier — Spider-Man, Batman, Deadpool and presumably the Avengers — and then there’s the rest, as Sean McNulty explains.

‘Spider-Man’ Proves Superheroes Have an A-List (Sorry, Aquaman) - The Ankler

Not all capes & costumes are created equal as Sony’s movie tops ‘Avengers’ for the biggest opening ever

theankler.com

Did you see Spider-Man's gargantuan opening weekend coming? Everybody knew 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' was going to open big, but who predicted the biggest debut of all time? Sean McNulty breaks down the staggering numbers - mrf.lu/2ZmRz

"One of my young teams asked me to stop saying ‘you guys,'" one 50-something media exec tells Elaine Low. Are you worried about seeming too old to thrive in age-obsessed Hollywood? Updating your vocabulary is a must - mrf.lu/2ZzRJ

Based on Spider-Man's supermassive opening, it looks like superheroes have now found a new footing with moviegoers after their 2010s boom. There’s an A-List, and then there’s everyone else, and as Sean McNulty points out, the falloff is steep

☀️ ‘Spidey’ Trounces Predictions: New Records, Comps & More - The Ankler

DISNEY sets new X-Men member / WB's looming 'Barbie' deadline / PAR's new spec buy

theankler.com

You might've missed every angle on the merger last week, from the prosecutor determined to stop to it to the start of WB talent poaching. Elsewhere, 'The Odyssey' might be setting an IMAX trap, and SpaceX's "rocket money" millionaires are taking L.A. real estate by storm

Paramount Doubts Mount; L.A. Housing Meets SpaceX Millionaires - The Ankler

Plus: Theaters' IMAX ‘Odyssey’ trap

theankler.com

How's this for an origin story? Tessa Coates went from studying primatology and performing sketch comedy to creating Amazon's No. 1 U.S. series, 'Ride or Die.' She tells Lesley Goldberg what Hollywood can learn from the action comedy - mrf.lu/25Vtc

Disney has joined the linear network spinoff game. The House of Mouse will sell its 50 percent share in A+E to Hearst, which now owns the entire company, for north of $1B. Which cable networks could be next? Lesley Goldberg reports - mrf.lu/25HJK

Alexandria Stapleton had a powerful tool in making 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning.' The truth. The Emmy-nominated director and producer tells Katey Rich how 'The Reckoning' created a truthful and damning portrait of Diddy - mrf.lu/25glj

Be honest: what percent chance do you think the Paramount-WBD merger has after receiving a temporary restraining order and changing up their lead litigator? Sean McNulty and Elaine Low consider the odds - mrf.lu/25hGp

"If it works with your eyes closed, it’s a podcast.” After a year of work, that's the definition a group of podcast industry heavyweights decided on, and Natalie Jarvey chronicles how they got there

Podcast Rivals Went on a Luxury Retreat to Fix Their $1B Metrics Problem - The Ankler

Plus: Creators crash Hollywood awards, I scoop Henry Smith’s CAA signing, and reps’ scramble for ‘Love Island’ stars

theankler.com

The tribe has spoken: noted 'Survivor' fan Richard Rushfield sits down with the legendary host and EP Jeff Probst following a landmark 50th season. Join them live on YouTube on August 5th at 11a PT: mrf.lu/25jMG

Why can't the undeniable breakout star of the year's most unexpected breakout hit win an Oscar? Inde Navarrette might sound like a long shot for her 'Obsession' performance, but Katey Rich isn't counting her out - mrf.lu/25Dbm