Better Call Paul
About
Available on
Community
191 episodes
This week, Paul and Jess begin with a quick update on some box office and streaming hits from December. Then they discuss one of the biggest potential mergers in entertainment, Netflix's tenative deal to buy WBD for $82B as well as some potential hurdles to closing, including Paramount's hostile bid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Jess begin with a list of some of the TV shows that were awarded California's film tax credit, including Fallout, the Night Agent, and Baywatch. Next, they discuss some much anticipated spin off (prequel and sequel) news regarding their favorite show, Game of Thrones. Finally, Paul breaks down Dave Erickson's profit participation lawsuit arising out of Fear The Walking Dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul interviews Shashank who is the co-CEO of Nazranaa, the largest wholesaler and retailer of Indian garments in the U.S. In addition to running Nazranaa, Shashank is the executive producer of the YouTube series, Nazranaa Diaries, which highlights some of the store’s best customers and has taken on a life of its own. Shashank discusses the challenges of growing and managing this business amidst extreme tariff unpredictability as well as developing a show around his brand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with Alls Fair, Ryan Murphy's star-studded, critically-panned over-the-top legal drama streaming on Hulu and a ranking of their top legal dramas. Next, they discuss England's recently-announced education reforms which were, in part, receptive to Ed Sheeran's call for educators to embrace teaching music in the classroom. Finally, Paul provides a high-level recap of Learning Resources v. Trump, a recent case argued before the Supreme Court in which the government justifies trade tariffs as a necessary exercise of emergency powers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul kicks things off with the NCAA's announcement that it will pause its proposed rule change which would have allowed student athletes to bet on professional sports. Next, Mesh recaps October's slow box office, which had the lowest ticket sales (excluding the pandemic) in nearly 3 decades. Finally, Paul and Mesh discuss Taylor Sheridan's $1B deal to move his TV and Film development and production banner to NBCU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh discuss Skydance's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and the sales process that it ignited which includes many usual suspects, Comcast, Netflix, Apple, etc. Next, they reminisce about MTV's lasting cultural impact as Skydance Paramount announced that it will shutter the MTV Europe music video channels at the end of 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh debate Spotify's agreement to distribute its popular Ringer video podcasts on Netflix starting in 2026. Next, Paul discusses SAG's decision to expand its jurisdiction to cover the burgeoning business of microdramas which are produced for consumption on mobile devices. Finally, Paul and Mesh discuss some of California's recently passed laws which attempt to apply guardrails to AI and social media, in particular as they pertain to use by minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul begins with an explanation of California's SB 576, a new law which will require streamers to make sure their advertisements are not louder than the content of the video programming viewed by users. Next, they discuss Taylor Swift's Life of a Showgirl, which, despite mixed reviews from critics, continues to break records. Finally, Paul provides an update in Drake v. UMG, where UMG was able to dismiss Drake's defamation and harassment claims resulting from UMG's marketing and distribution of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" diss track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh provide an update as AI-generated actress, Tilly Norwood, goes viral and California passes new AI-transparency legislation. Next, they discuss the FCC’s review of its local media ownership rules for radio and broadcast television. Finally, Paul celebrates Bad Bunny being announced as the half-time performer of Super Bowl LX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Mesh provides his One Battle After Another review and Paul recaps the initial signups for ESPN Unlimited and Fox One. Next, they discuss Marvel’s Wolverine, a PlayStation 5 game from Insomniac Studios that is scheduled for a Fall 2026 release, whose cinema-quality teaser trailer was dropped last week. Finally, Paul and Mesh debate RushTok, the phenomenon that has transformed Greek life at universities, created several viral stars and allowed brands to create authentic campaigns targeted to a younger audience, but is it all good? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with a quick recap of the biggest Emmys winners and a tribute to Robert Redford who passed away at the age of 89. Next, they discuss Luma AI's new video generator, Ray 3, which it describes as intelligent, iterative, and capable of producing HDR quality video. Finally, they ponder the impact of Telisha Jones, a poet whose an AI-assisted alter-ego, Xania Monet, leveraged Suno and image generators to climb the charts and secure a multi-million dollar record deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh recap New York Fashion Week which sets the trends for fashion in 2026. Next, they look forward to some of their most anticipated movies for the end of 2025. Finally, they discuss A24's reopening of the Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan's West Village where the hitmaker can fine tune its growth into live events and foster direct interaction among creators and fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with Nielsen’s new ratings methodology which will incorporate 75M devices to provide even more accurate measurements, just in time for the start of the NFL season. Next, Mesh teases 007 First Light, the next installment in the James Bond line of video games which has gotten great initial press. Finally, Paul and Mesh recap the rapid growth of Garage Beer, and its biggest shareholders, the Kelce brothers, and how they helped generate a $200M valuation for a light-beer brand with only two beers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul interviews Gaurav Gupta, the founder of Squanto. An app that creates a marketplace for live performers and allows its clients and venues to use AI tools to sort through the sea of options for the best fit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with a discussion of the launch of two new streamers, ESPN Unlimited and Fox One, as well as Nielsen's latest report on television consumption habits. Next, they look forward to WB Animation's relaunch with Cat In The Hat slated for November 2026 with an all-star cast. Finally, Paul provide a recap of a dispute between JV partners Trinity Broadcasting and Merit Street Media and where things went off the rails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Mesh provides a rave review for Weapons, the sophomore effort from Zach Cregger, that is generating massive box-office buzz. Next, Paul and Mesh discuss the introduction of Sling's day, weekend, and week passes which provide a low-cost entry point to linear TV, but may ruffle feathers with TV networks. Finally, they discuss Geoffrey Hinton's (AI forefather, Nobel-prize winner) cautionary statements regarding AI super intelligence and whether job losses are just the tip of the iceberg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with strong earnings announcements from several leading media companies. Next, they discuss the announced deal between NFL and ESPN where NFL is getting a stake in ESPN in exchange for granting ESPN additional games and media rights. Finally, they discuss Roku entering the pay-streaming game with its new budget-friendly product, Howdy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with a discussion of the home renovation TV genre amidst HGTV's decision to cancel several of its shows in response to declining viewership and cost over runs. On the other end of the TV spectrum, they recap Banijay Entertainment's strong first half of 2025 as the mega TV producer is hitting on all cylinders. Finally, Paul provides an update on a recent Ninth circuit case regarding the potential infringement of Bored Ape NFTs, and the potential of NFTs to qualify as trademarks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Jessica David is back and filling in for Mesh. Paul and Jessica begin with Marvel's Fantastic Four reboot and George Lucas' first appearance at San Diego Comic Con. Next, Paul provides an update on FCC's approval of Skydance's proposed acquisition of Paramount clearing the path for the deal to close. Finally, they ponder the unconfirmed rumors percolating that Jeff Bezos is considering a purchase of CNBC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh begin with a recap of the 77th Emmy nominations, where streamers dominated yet again. Next, the discuss the conclusion of the 2025 Upfront negotiations for several major players, including a record volume in sales for NBCU built on the strength of a major sports portfolio (World Cup, Olympics, Super Bowl and the return of the NBA). Finally, they discuss the 70th anniversary of Disney World and ponder what the next step might be for theme parks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh recap Superman's box office performance as the Gunn era of the DC film universe starts off. Next, they peer into the summer camp for Billionaires where CEOs and heads of entertainment and tech meet at the annual Sun Valley conference. Finally, Paul provides an update on the FTC's click to cancel rule which was struck down (at least temporarily) on procedural grounds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, after a short 4th of July break, Paul and Mesh kick things off with a movie update discussing how F1 and Jurassic World Rebirth excelled in theaters. Next, they discuss the Diddy trial verdict which saw Diddy acquitted of the most serious charges he was facing in a mixed decision that will spare him a lengthy prison sentence. Finally, they provide an update on the Skydance and Paramount merger and how the South Park creators feel about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with Mark Walter's purchase of a controlling interest in the Los Angeles Lakers for $10B, which is 40% higher than the next-highest NBA sale price (Celtics). Next, they discuss YouTube's CEO's comments regarding integrating generative AI video tool Veo3 into YouTube Shorts to further democratize content creation. Finally, they provide an update on the bankruptcy auction for Village Roadshow which Alcon has agreed to purchase for $417.5M. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with a quick update on the Nintendo Switch 2 which set sales records in its first week of launch. Next, they discuss Disney and Universals' copyright infringement complaint against Midjourney. Finally, with the announcement that Warner Bros. Discovery will be spinning off its legacy cable networks and Disney's statement that it plans to keep all of its media assets under the same umbrella, they ponder the pros and cons of spinoffs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul recaps a great Tribeca Film Festival event he attended and discusses its importance to the greater NY entertainment scene. Next, Paul and Mesh cover some recent layoffs affecting legacy media companies. Finally, Paul provides an update on the House v. NCAA settlement which was just approved and formally ushers in the era of colleges paying their student athletes directly for NIL rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Paul and Mesh start with a recap of the highest grossing Memorial Day Weekend for the U.S. movie business as Lilo and Stitch outperformed and MI:8 held its own. Next, they discuss the latest billion-dollar beauty sale as e.l.f has agreed to buy Hailey Beiber’s Rhode skin care and cosmetics brand for up to one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000). Finally, Paul and Mesh provide their take on Reed Hastings, the legendary founder and former CEO of Netflix, joining the board of leading AI company, Anthropic, the maker of Claude, an LLM that has the potential to re-shape our economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with WBD’s announced rebrand of Max back to HBO Max and a few Cannes film festival highlights. Next, they recap 5 primetime shows that NBC recently cancelled, in part to make room for its new NBA telecasts which will air on Tuesdays and Sundays (in addition to Peacock). Finally, they break down a recently announced 34.5B merger between Charter and Cox which, once completed, will create the largest cable/broadband provider in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with life imitating art as the real-life 2025 Conclave has a few striking similarities to the 2024 Best Picture nominee Conclave. Next, they discuss President Trump's intent to establish a College Sports Commission to be co-chaired by Nick Saban and Cody Campbell. Finally, Paul and Mesh breakdown the latest entertainment tariffs as the President has floated a 100% tariff on films made overseas and released in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with a recap of Marvel's Thunderbolts* box office performance which was solid but not a home run. Next, they discuss the start of Diddy's criminal trial in New York after Diddy rejected a plea deal on the eve of trial. Finally, Paul provides an update on the FCC and potential replacements for democratic commissioners, including former chair Jessica Rosenworcel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paul and Mesh begin with a discussion of Ryan Coogler's Sinners which continues his stellar trajectory and whether his bespoke deal with WB could become a trend. Next, they discuss Ted Sarandos' comments regarding the theatre experience and shifting consumer preferences. Finally, they celebrate YouTube which turned 20 in April and look back at how it revolutionized video distribution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
