Long Road to Hoe

So, in case you didn't already know this, I really liked Entertainment Strategy Guy's Four Part series on the American Viewer. I wrote about it last week. We discussed it on the podcast as well. I did this because an in-depth analysis is long overdue in our industry, and I want to draw as much attention to it as possible. After I wrote last week's newsletter, ESG came out with Part 5, a summary of recommendations based on his research. Again, I highly recommend you look over the entire series and consider how to act on his advice. 

I was cautiously optimistic that the series could start some soul searching in this town, and it still might but reading Matthew Belloni's What I'm Hearing from last Sunday gave me a true sense of how long we have to go until some significant change is made. It's paywalled, so I'll give you a breakdown. Essentially, the piece was about how the Oscars need to do a complete reset (D'uh), and the new leadership team finally appears to be making moves to that effect. All great so far. What was shocking to me was this:

It's gotten to the point where, when I reached out to see what members thought of yesterday's big presentation by new Academy C.E.O. Bill Kramer and president Janet Yang, most hadn't even bothered to check out the rare all-member meeting. "You must have mistaken me for someone who cares," one responded to my email. "Not for me, wish them well," said a producer via text. "On a Saturday morning? Lecturing is for church," said an exec. "Kids soccer!" 

Here we have the most vaulted organization in Hollywood: Built to celebrate and sustain the industry for years to come, and most members can't be bothered. Herein lies the problem. They don't even think anything effectively needs to change. They want the status quo to continue because it has kept them in their jobs for so long, and as we discussed, you'll have to tear that tiller from their cold dead hands. They simply don't want to help save an organization that is meant to celebrate and SUSTAIN the business once they're long gone. 

But then it got worse. In the same newsletter, Matt has a section called "Feedback," in which he posts comments he gets from readers. In the previous issue, Matt was discussing AppleTV+, and he mentioned that if Apple were to kill Apple TV+, no one would be shocked. Well, one reader took exception and responded:

"Why would you suggest that Apple kill their streamer?? [Which as I noted above he did not say] This company has been a patron of Hollywood for five years now, pumping billions of dollars into the creative economy. Who cares if anyone watches? They made my show and it's great."

Who cares if anyone watches? They made my show, and it's great. Just let the line sink in. Let me translate: Who cares if anyone is entertained? I got paid, and my name got on the screen. Listen, I'm under no delusion that Hollywood is full of massive egos where statements such as this appear as much as avocado toast on the breakfast table, but herein lies the mega-problem with the current state of the industry. No one thinks about the audience; this statement is the perfect example of that attitude. 

Thus, my cautious optimism on the adoption of some of ESG's suggestions. It's not entirely gone, but much will need to change, including personnel and attitude towards the audience, before we start seeing worthwhile and meaningful industry changes. I don’t plan on stopping, and none of you should be discouraged. We must all realize that it will take some time and effort, but in the end, we must do it, if only to ensure this wacky business' survival. 

Reboot on Reboots

Hulu has a new show, Reboot, which as the title suggests, is a reboot of a famous early 2000 sitcom. I watched the first episode, and it has potential. You can check out the trailer here. There is a scene in the pilot where the writer is pitching Hulu on remaking the show. At one point, the executive asks if anyone is still doing reboots, to which his underlings respond with this lovely list:

Fuller House

Saved by the Bell

iCarly

Gilmore Girls

Gossip Girl

Party of Five

Party Down

One Day at a Time

Boy Meets World

How I Met Your Father

The Wonder Years

Battlestar Galactica

Doogie Howser

The Odd Couple

Perry Mason 

Hawaii Five-O

It keeps going, but I won't bore you with the entire list. Anyway, I think you get the point. There are loads of reboots floating around out there, and again, this goes to ESG's research. There is an opportunity to make new and fresh ideas. Some underserved audiences and stories haven't been told, but it will take some bold leadership to get us there. ESG has given us a roadmap as a start. Who will take up the mantle? It remains to be seen. 

Pages from the Commonplace Book

This week is a slight departure from previous issues. Today, I'm going to introduce you to a gentleman who recently passed, Frederick Buechner. Buechner was an ordained Presbyterian minister and a prolific writer. He has written more than thirty works of fiction and nonfiction. I discovered him after a great newsletter I read (Slack Tide By Matt Labash) quoted him in one of his newsletters. I started reading the book referenced: Secrets in the Dark, a collection of sermons. Regardless if you are religious or not even Christian, there is a wealth of knowledge and insight in this work. Witness below:

"What are we going to be when we grow up? Not what are we going to do, what profession are we going to follow or keep on following, what niche are we going to occupy in the order of the things. But what are we going to be - inside ourselves and among ourselves?"

Given that he is a minister, you can imagine where he thinks the answer can be found. Regardless, it is a compelling question. We ask children what you want to do when they grow up, but maybe it should be: What do you want to be? It encourages more thoughtful soul searching than merely deciding who's going to sign your paychecks when you're older; not unimportant, obviously, but perhaps not the end all be all of a person's identity. 

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