Sean McNulty
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I don't read articles with headlines ending in ?. I do THE WAKEUP daily AM #Hollywood + #MediaBiz newsletter at @TheAnkler theankler.com
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Articles by Sean McNulty
☀️ SKYDANCE Asks Staff to Leave Nicely — For Now
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. Where yes, the great media “one giant video food court” merge continues, as INSTAGRAM is the next platform to line up to attract podcasters to use the platform with content already available for free elsewhere — way to go on being the cool kids again, podcasters! Hmm, you know what’s now not on every platform known to man, dear advertisers?
☀️ WB’s ‘Clayface’ Scores, ‘Klara’ Bombs, ‘Ali G’ Is MIA
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Oct. 25, 2026. Where what would the NYC football market be without a brewing GIANTS QB battle? Get ready for a potential 2027 version of the late ’80s Montana vs. Young competition next year . . . without, uh, ya know, all of the Super Bowl rings. But, another W for the G-men today in thrilling fashion to round out October, so no complaints here! PLUS: AMC THEATRES announced that its Kips Bay NYC location will close on Jan.
☀️ Musk’s $1 Billion Won’t Change SKYDANCE’s Challenges
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Where don’t worry, AI is totally gonna create more jobs! Er, just not at BARCLAYS, which is laying off 5,000 people because of AI. Roughly 60% of the cuts are from lower-value human capital folks in support functions . . . and yes, this is to bring down internal expenses at the U.K. bank so other folks can still comfortably make several million dollars a year.
☀️ COMCAST Q3: Cable Layoffs, Peacock Struts
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. Where November is your month if your only complaint about Heated Rivalry is that it wasn’t easy enough to watch with strangers. Season 1 will be in about 675 movie theaters in November starting on Nov. 6 — so go live your best life! Just maybe don’t make this face when looking at your fellow patrons? Via Giphy WELL: I’m not sure if Peter Rice is moving this fast at NETFLIX . . .
☀️ NETFLIX Can’t Sell Wall Street On Growth Plan
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Where it’s nice to see the “If you build it, they will come” prophecy extend beyond baseball to the WNBA! The ATLANTA DREAM have sold out the 17k seats at the State Farm Arena for Game 3 of the WNBA Finals tonight vs. the GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES — the team plays regular season games at the Gateway Center, which only has 3,500 seats (and yes, is the smallest venue in the league by a margin).
☀️ Rice’s NETFLIX Film Options As Wall Street Places Bets
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty, and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Where I hate to scoop the Prestige Junkie column here at The Ankler, but I’m sorry to report that we may be losing one of the world’s most prestigious awards! Yes, the future of the FIFA Peace Prize is in jeopardy after . . . one year.
☀️ A24’s Holmes Home Run, DISNEY’s ‘Whalefall’ Fail
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Oct. 18, 2026. Where I gotta say — it’s actually an exciting change this year to watch the NY GIANTS play even just 1 quarter of football! Unfortunately, they forgot to play the other 3 today . . . but at least the 4th quarter had more excitement than this typical level 👇 in the stands in recent years. KUDOS: To Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley, who are getting married.
☀️ NETFLIX’s Peter Rice Priorities
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. Where, sorry about the sweep, L.A. — but congrats to the MILWAUKEE BREWERS for making their first World Series since 1982, especially after trailing in all 4 NLCS games. As you may recall, former CBS exec Kelly Kahl was behind a good 2024 doc about that 1982 BREWERS team called Just a Bit Outside, reliving a time with far more colorful athlete personalities — you can stream it here on TUBI.
☀️ SKYDANCE Stock Plummet; A24 + Zendaya Again
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Where after seemingly decades of debate in NYC, horse-drawn carriages in Central Park look to finally be a wrap come 2028. So if the smell of 💩 in the park doesn’t go away, we have bigger problems. The park’s chief investigator.
☀️ NETFLIX Layoffs Hit; Hello Sunshine’s Bargain Bin Sale
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Where I’m not really sure how to feel about Miami Vice ’85 recreating the seedy world of the ’80s Miami drug scene in . . . Wayne, New Jersey. On the one hand, I mean, #YeahJersey💪, and nice to see plenty of NJ folks in the industry working! On the other . . .
☀️ Biggest Streaming Movies Q3 Shock: PEACOCK Tops
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. Where who had the NY JETS and LA RAMS with the same record at the 5-week mark of the NFL season? Tough loss last night, West Coast, although I think your 7-year-old’s soccer game had more defense than the RAMS and BILLS combined in the 2nd half. But know that at least FOX is likely also pulling for a DODGERS comeback from being down 2-0 in the NLCS — gonna guess a MILWAUKEE vs.
☀️ SONY’s Sorkin ‘Social’ Fail, UNI’s ‘Mommy’ Win
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Oct. 11, 2026. Where you can soon finally fulfill your lifelong dream of owning the axe from The Shining! #NoJudgements Although, let’s hope you also had other, uh, more lucrative dreams so you can afford the roughly $50k it’ll cost you at the Stanley Kubrick Collection auction at BONHAMS in February.
☀️ HBO’s First Series Order in SKYDANCE Era
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Where on many days, people still derisively scoff at me for not having VENMO and keeping a handwritten bank account ledger (for some reason, my bank continues to think I have $2,000 more than I think I have, and I’m 100% fine with that). But on days like this, I channel my inner Johnny Drama.
☀️ SKYDANCE’s Stock Price Swoon; Q4 Streaming, Movies Outlook
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2026. Where, as my mom always tells me, it never hurts to have an extra $165M lying around when your company just issued $52B of debt — something Larry Ellison apparently agrees with, too. Yes, he’s putting his North Palm Beach, Florida, waterfront estate on the market for that low, low $165M price . . . a notable bump from the $80M he paid for it 5 years ago.
☀️ SKYDANCE Day 2: Time For C-Suite Raises!
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Where who says YOUTUBE is just for the kids? Apparently, the 96-year-old Warren Buffett is a major contributor to that dominant YOUTUBE share in the NEILSEN Gauge report each month, spending hours on the platform in the evenings while relaxing in his recliner.
☀️ SKYDANCE Tightrope: Debt Tied to AI Economy
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Where starting your corporate farewell video to employees with what sounds like music from a funeral dirge over footage of your company’s logo on its iconic water tower as it’s subsumed into another entity — while doing said exit video on a barren soundstage — is certainly a curious creative choice. But at least the note was taken to avoid mention of your roughly $800M payday . . .
☀️ WB’s ‘Digger’ Disaster, AMAZON’s ‘Verity’ Delivers
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Oct. 4, 2026. Where after a week out west, it’s great to be back in New York (and not in 100-degree October weather) as the GIANTS, somehow, are now 3-1 and leading the NFC East. Given the situation is likely to be, uh, a bit different as we enter November — a good reminder to live in the now. OTHERWISE: A pretty quiet weekend (thankfully), but a couple of great SNL pieces last night.
☀️ Contagion: Studio Job Axings Spread
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Where, WARNAMOUNT, it’s been real — David Ellison revealed that SKYDANCE is indeed the name winning out in the corporate brand wars (even though I’m thinking WARNAMOUNT may stick around for a bit). The PSKY ticker will be dropped, so meet SKYD! Which, yes, I’m sure will be called “skid” in some corners. WARNER BROS. and PARAMOUNT will still exist as brands, but they’ll now essentially be SKYDANCE CORP.
☀️ PSKY New Co-CEO’s Track Record
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. Where I have some choice “PSKY Ticking Fee” merch available, really cheap. Inquire within. My CANVA AI did great work on the designs; it would be a shame to waste it. Hmm, does anyone have a contact for the Globes this year? Via Giphy OH: The Tribeca Festival will be from June 3 to June 12 next spring.
☀️ Shakeup Day Across Hollywood Exec Ranks
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. Where I’ll start the day by sending some love back east from my week in L.A., as the NY LIBERTY keep the NYC hoops mojo going! The #8 seed LIBERTY beat the #1 seed MINNESOTA LYNX and rookie of the year Olivia Miles last night to take the opening-round series of the WNBA playoffs — the first time ever a #8 seed beat the #1 seed. Here’s to keeping the #HotHoopsSummer extending into fall in New York.
☀️ PSKY’s Pricey Debt Terms; NETFLIX Loves Lohan
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. Where it’s not just you, Hollywood liberals, who the Trump administration loves trolling on social media by using your music and images in posts in a totally unauthorized fashion. The DHS has now refused to take down a post featuring footage of PHILADELPHIA EAGLES player Brian Dawkins, despite the NFL’s request. Well, I’m sure the league will totally not have POTUS at any of its games this year to show its displeasure.
☀️ Pitt Tops Pattinson at Robust Box Office Weekend
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Sept. 27, 2026. Where should we start with #BigSports or #BigTech, in terms of who’s being the biggest jackass this weekend? Well, it is Sunday, so let’s go football first — and I’m not saying the NFL is getting old, but it’s definitely becoming a narc. Ya gotta love that the league is now fining multiple players for “fake drinking beers” in the end zone as part of their touchdown celebrations this season.
☀️ SONY’s New Box Office Bet: Gen Z Stars
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Where I wish you all a happy “9-to-5” day — aka 9/25. Nice to see Dolly Parton get her day on the musical calendar next to NSYNC’s May 1. As such, DISNEYFOX is celebrating by putting 9 to 5 back in theaters for a week starting Friday, Oct. 9 — with all ticket sales donated to The Dollywood Foundation to support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
☀️ Elon Enters the PAR-Verse; YOUTUBE Pushes More AI
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026. Where Ari’s Roll the Calls is getting some company on the Hollywood Executive Tome shelf at BARNES & NOBLE (it’s right next to the STARBUCKS stand, you can’t miss it) as Bob Chapek’s book excerpts for his Behind the Castle Walls memoir begin to drop before it hits shelves on Sept. 29.
☀️ NETFLIX Hits ’26 Film Low Point
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Where I dunno, it’s almost like all of the talk about people still clicking through to websites for source information from AI bots was complete BS, but . . . that can’t be true, right? Yes, add “Websites” alongside “FM radio,” “Newspapers,” “Cable TV” and “iPods” on the list of things that still technically exist . . . but aren’t exactly businesses you want to be driving your revenue as the 2020s come to a close.
☀️ PSKY Wins: Now Comes the Pain — Where It Hits First
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty, and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. Where a congrats goes out to the NY METS for winning at least one stat this season. Unfortunately, it’s for the biggest YoY decrease in stadium attendance, down from 3.18M last year to 2.7M this season, or -15%.
Paramount Settles: What Did Ellison Actually Give Up
This is a breaking news story. Click here for more updates. We have a deal! Of some sort, anyway. The 12 state attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, have reportedly settled their antitrust lawsuit against Paramount Skydance over its planned $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
☀️ Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’: The Scary Good Numbers
Evenin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, Sept. 20, 2026. Where I hope all of those observing Yom Kippur this evening have an easy fast. And, if you’re also a LAKERS fan — you may want to put away a little extra money in the year ahead, as you’re gonna join NYC in paying a lot more for tickets.
☀️ Zach Cregger's 'Resident Evil': The Scary Good Numbers - The Ankler
2 days ago Universal and Sony have filed a second lawsuit against Suno, asserting 60,202 sound recordings that were not part of the 2024 case. A judge refused to let them amend the original complaint last month and pointed them towards parallel proceedings. Warner, once a plaintiff, has since signed a …
☀️ DIS+ Exec Shakeup, Creator Push Continues
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Where look at that — the FCC is totally fine with Middle East nations owning a combined $24B / 38.5% financial position in a company with a broadcast TV network. What were the odds? Brendan Carr gave the FCC’s rubber stamp to the WARNAMOUNT deal yesterday regarding the foreign ownership component, as the Ellison family & REDBIRD hold 100% voting control of the company.
☀️ PSKY’s New CA Exodus Threat: Follow the Money
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Where POLYMARKET is paying current NBA player LeBron James $15M a year to endorse the sports gambling predictions app. He’ll be promoting football betting, not basketball betting (don’t you worry, NBA) — because if there’s one thing LeBron James is a trusted source on, it’s the NFL. My apologies, I stand corrected. Via Giphy That $15M is nearly 4x what he’s being paid to play in the NBA next year.
☀️ 60 Minutes Ratings: Not How It Looks
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. Where enjoy your likely final moments of 30-year mortgage rates still being under 7% at least somewhere this week! All due respect to theEmmys, but there’s nothing quite like the excitement of Fed meeting day. See you on the red carpet. The Wall Street viewing parties are gonna be sick. Via Giphy FIRST: NBC / PEACOCK got 6.7M viewers for the Emmys in early NIELSEN numbers. That’s -10% YoY, but above 2022’s 5.9M on NBC.
☀️ NETFLIX, SKYDANCE Break-Up; TIFF’s First Big Sale
Mornin! Here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. Where I may not have won an award last night — but I’d like to thank the BRONCOS for collapsing against the CHIEFS in the 2nd half of MNF so I could switch over to the Emmys for a bit. It was also considerate of Mariska Hargitay to TL;DR the most memorable moments from the show for us NFL fans right before the final award of the night with the . . .
☀️ ‘Practical Magic’ Further Curses WB
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, September 13, 2026. Where I’m back in NYC from Toronto today, and life is already 20% less polite.
☀️ Summer ’26 Box Office Winners, Losers & Lessons
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Where I’m off to TIFF this morning, so first . . . it’s time to practice my anthem for customs. SO: SNL set NY KNICKS star Jalen Brunson to host the season opener on Sept. 26, and here are your first 4 shows.
☀️ NETFLIX’s Next Big Theatrical Step
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Where we’ve got quite an array of things to celebrate today across the cliques of Hollywood: It’s the start of football for the jocks on NBC tonight. It’s $2,000+ APPLE iFold phone day for the nerds.
☀️ Box Office 🤏 To New Summer Record
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, September 6, 2026. Where I’ll keep you posted how long the ovation was in Venice tonight for the return of The Wakeup after a week off.
☀️ DIS ‘Dog Stars’ In Dog House As ‘Coyote’ Delivers
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, August 23, 2026. Where I’m gonna start off with some Wakeup housekeeping: I’ll largely be taking the week off. I may do a column Wednesday, but otherwise, I’ll see you again next Sunday . . . unless NETFLIX decides to try and buy another movie studio. I’ll be up at TIFF for a few days in September (Thu., Sept. 10 to Sun., Sept.
☀️ HULU 🫶 Ellen Pompeo, APPLE Joins #PriceHike Train
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, August 28, 2026. Where I hope you all enjoy your big Fed Chairman speech from Jackson Hole, Wyo., which began at 10 a.m. this morning! See? This is what happens when the sports and entertainment calendars bottom out at the end of August. I can only do so much. Sorry, Jackie D.
☀️ Wahlberg, Again! 10 Pics, 4 Years and Here’s Another
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Where the action at CITI FIELD in Queens, NY will finally be exciting for once tonight, and thankfully not reliant upon the NY METS to provide it (the 8-1 loss to the BREWERS last night was pretty much what it looked like).
☀️ WB Wants ‘Flintstones,’ META’s $17B State Settlement
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Where it was simply just a sad day yesterday, as we lost one of the singular greats not only in music — but in American pop culture. More importantly, by all accounts, she was also a tremendously generous and caring person — her IMAGINATION LIBRARY sent over 300M free books to kids since it was started.
☀️ PSKY’s Linear TV Options With Bonta
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Where you can say a lot of things about PARAMOUNT . . . but you can’t say it doesn’t act quickly. Well. At least on the film front. Less than 2 weeks after Matthew McConaughey revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days was the movie that still pays him the biggest residual checks .
☀️ SONY Rules Late Summer Box Office
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, August 23, 2026.
☀️ L.A. Mayor, WGA clash on WBD-PSKY
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, August 21, 2026.
☀️ PSKY Eyes Austin, PAR-WB L.A. Job Damage Numbers
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
☀️ PSKY Elephant in the Room Amid ‘Settle This!’ Chorus
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Where once again AI just seems to be copying the internet 1.0 era from 25 years ago. According to Bloomberg, some summer interns in the banking world have been spending their magical summer months essentially explaining AI to their parents.
☀️ PSKY & Bonta Trade Barbs; DISNEY Sues FCC
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
☀️ WB ’26 Woes Mount; PSKY Move Tax Savings Questioned
Evenin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on SUNDAY, August 16, 2026. Where ya just gotta love the CARDINALS vs. CUBS game in Chicago yesterday, where rookie Joshua Báez hit 3 home runs in his first 3 MLB at-bats (and yes, that’s a record). He also put each one in different parts of the field (left-center, down the left field line and then the right).
☀️ Biggest 2026 Streaming Movies Outside NETFLIX
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Friday, August 14, 2026. Where it’s time to pull the Gen X 🙄 card on a Friday morning — Gen Z, we need to talk.
☀️ DGA, IATSE Offer PSKY Deal Remedies; Iger’s LAKERS 💰 Questions
Mornin! This is Sean McNulty (connect with me on LINKEDIN here if ya like or email me at seanmcnultynyc@gmail.com), and here’s the Hollywood + Media news to know on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Where we can now add CLASS PASS to the list of businesses that AI is decimating, although not by making it obsolete — more through old-fashioned, ruthless undermining. Yes, it seems AI bots are at it again! Although in their defense — they’re just doing what you’re telling them to do.
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