The Town with Matthew Belloni
Episodes
Why Are Movies Longer Than Ever?
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In 2010, the 10 movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars ran on average 1:52. By 2019, that average bloated to 2:20. And it’s not just the pr...
TikTok Killed the Pop Star
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Taylor Swift’s new album is taking the pop music world by storm—what’s new? But each year fewer and fewer new pop stars are cracking the top 10 ...
Ad-Supported Television Was the Past, and It Might Be the Future
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by president and CEO of streaming at Paramount Global and cofounder of Pluto TV Tom Ryan to talk about the free, ad-supported streaming...
Can James Gunn Deliver as New Head of the DC Universe?
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Boris Kit to discuss Warner Bros. naming director James Gunn and Peter Safran as the new leaders of the D...
The Riskiest Hollywood Bets for the Rest of 2022
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to preview the biggest bets in media and entertainment coming in the remainder of 2022 and rank which proje...
Netflix Is Back, Baby!
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by LightShed partner Rich Greenfield to discuss Netflix’s Q3 earnings report, in which the company announced it added 2.4 million net...
The Looming NBA Rights Bonanza
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by chief media analyst at Variety Intelligence Platform Andrew Wallenstein to discuss the upcoming expiration of Disney and WarnerMedia...
The Best and Worst Deals of the Past 10 Years in Entertainment
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to look back and make a case for the best and worst deals in entertainment over the past decade. They also ...
Endeavor President Mark Shapiro
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by president of Endeavor Mark Shapiro to discuss the future of streaming, the evolving relationship between talent and representation i...
The Unfunny Decline of Comedy Central
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In light of Trevor Noah’s recent announcement that he will be exiting 'The Daily Show,' Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw discuss what has happened ...
Tom Cruise and an Explosive Scientology Book
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Mike Rinder, former senior executive of the Church of Scientology. They discuss the moment he decided to leave Scientology, Tom Crui...
Angelina Jolie vs. Brad Pitt Goes Nuclear
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to discuss Angelina Jolie’s countersuit against Brad Pitt, which includes claims that Pitt was abusive to An...
‘House of the Dragon’ vs. ‘The Rings of Power,’ Who Is Winning?
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Parrot Analytics to break down who is winning the biggest TV matchup in years, HBO’s ‘The House of the Drag...
Can ‘SNL’ Get Back to Making Stars?
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bill Simmons to discuss the current state of 'SNL' ahead of the Season 48 premiere this Saturday night. Lorne Michaels recently desc...
Hollywood’s (Still) Embarrassing Gender Gap
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hollywood has a reputation for being a fairly progressive industry, but when it comes to gender equality, there is still plenty of work to do. Matt is...
Millions Are Watching the NFL on Amazon Prime. Is This the Future?
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before the ratings of the most recent ‘Thursday Night Football’ game on Amazon Prime between The Pittsburgh ...
Town Hall: Star Wars Missteps, Top Gun’s Oscar Potential, and Where Is James Bond?
22 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Town Hall! Matt and Craig answer listener questions on Disney’s handling of the 'Star Wars' franchise, the biggest movie set disasters, '...
‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and How Controversy Impacts the Box Office
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by David Herrin, founder of film research firm The Quorum, to discuss Olivia Wilde’s upcoming film, ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ and ...
Did a $200M Direct-to-Streaming Movie Ever Make Sense?
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how much money streaming services should spend on movies that skip a theatrical release and go d...
Is TV Saving or Killing College Football?
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis to discuss the recent conference realignment in college football—where television ratings reign suprem...
HBO’s Reassertion, Quinta Brunson’s Breakout, and More Emmy Takeaways
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Craig recap the 2022 Emmy Awards as well as Matt’s experience from inside the event and the after-parties. They give out their own awards f...
A Status Check on Disney and CEO Bob Chapek
12 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss the current standing of Bob Chapek after the latest D23 Expo, which featured several announcements...
The Summer Box Office Reckoning
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Forbes’ Scott Mendelson to judge their box office predictions for the most highly anticipated blockbusters of the summer. They dis...
The Biggest Threat to YouTube’s World Domination
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Mark Bergen to discuss his newest book on YouTube’s path to domination over the past 20 years. They discuss whether ...
Florence Pugh or Pete Davidson? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30, Part 2
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll for Part 2 of the Young Hollywood Stock Exchange, where they buy or sell on the biggest stars ...
Chalamet or Holland? Buying or Selling Hollywood’s Biggest Stars Under 30
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Deadline senior reporter Justin Kroll to decide whether they are buying or selling the movie-star potential of the biggest actors un...
The Troubled Coexistence of Movie Theaters and Streaming
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by John Fithian, the CEO and president of the National Association of Theater Owners, to discuss the current state of the theater busin...
Winners and Losers of NBC Axing an Hour of Prime-Time TV
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss NBC considering eliminating their 10 p.m. programming slot and giving it back to the affiliates....
MoviePass CEO Stacy Spikes On Reinventing Moviegoing (Again)
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by CEO and co-founder of MoviePass Stacy Spikes to talk about the upcoming relaunch of MoviePass—the disruptive movie subscription se...
David Zaslav Doesn’t Care About Your Favorite HBO Shows
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander from Parrot Analytics and Puck to discuss the vanishing of television shows on the HBO Max platform. They discuss Wa...
The 2022 Showrunner Draft
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In movies, the director is king. But in television, it's the showrunner. In the past 15 years we’ve seen the rise of the showrunner as perhaps the m...
The Wackiest CEO in Entertainment
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Felix Gillette to discuss his latest piece on the antics of Hollywood’s most interesting CEO, Adam Aron. Aron is the...
The Lawsuit Striking Fear Into Fox News (Plus 'LOTR' Predictions)
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Puck’s legal expert, Eriq Gardner, to discuss Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit against Fox news, which states that Fox aired false...
Should Disney Sell ESPN?
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss ESPN’s value to Disney and whether Disney should explore shopping the worldwide leader in spor...
Disney+ and the Streaming Price Hike
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Jessica Reif Ehrlich, an analyst at B of A Securities, to break down the state of the streaming world after Disney's announcement th...
TikTok’s Dominance and Hollywood’s Place in the Creator Economy
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Taylor Lorenz from The Washington Post to talk all things creator economy, including how influencers make money, Triller’s attempt...
Springsteen and the Scourge of Concert Ticket Pricing
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the demand-driven dynamic pricing system that recently set prices as high as $5,000 for Bruce Sp...
The Great TV Purge Is Coming
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by longtime media executive Tom Rogers to discuss the state of the streaming world, the future of the cable television ecosystem, who w...
Why Warner Bros. Just Made the $90M ‘Batgirl’ Movie Disappear
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit to find an explanation for Warner Bros. Discovery's confounding decision to completely kill the r...
Will Smith's Apology and Apple’s Predicament
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw and The Ringer’s Juliet Litman to discuss Will Smith’s latest apology, which came in the form of a five-m...
Town Hall: Writers vs. Hollywood, an 'E.T.' Legacy Sequel, and Apple’s Animation Bet
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second Town Hall! Matt and Craig field listener questions covering topics such as the likelihood of Steven Spielberg greenlighting lega...
The 2022 Intellectual Property Draft
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw for the first “IP draft.” Intellectual property rules Hollywood, so Matt and Lucas draft their way thro...
How the Metaverse Could Transform the Entertainment Industry
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by author Matthew Ball to discuss his new book on the Metaverse and how it will alter the future of the content and entertainment indus...
Release the Snyder Article
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Rolling Stone’s Tatiana Siegel to discuss her latest article, which outlines the bizarre story of online bots fueling the Zack Syn...
Is the Netflix Movie Model Broken?
18 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the release of Netflix's $200 million action movie ‘The Gray Man’ this past weekend, Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss Netf...
The Uncertain Futures of Netflix, Hulu, and Apple
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by LightShed’s Rich Greenfield to discuss the misperceptions of Netflix, Apple, and Hulu in the streaming ecosystem. They discuss the...
Snubs, Surprises, and Industry Takeaways From the 2022 Emmy Nominations
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by television critic Inkoo Kang from the Washington Post to break down this year's Emmy nominations, including the most notable shows a...
A New Look at Harvey Weinstein and Hollywood’s Enablers
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by New Yorker writer Ken Auletta to discuss his new book, ‘Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence,’ a biogra...
The 10 Nicest Stars in Hollywood
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are many rumors about who celebrities really are when the cameras are off. Tabloids, manicured interviews, and public appearances often shape th...
Predictions for Sun Valley’s Summer Camp for Billionaires
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the annual Sun Valley conference, dubbed a “summer camp for billionaires,” where chief execu...
CAA and the New Reality of Talent Agencies
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by author and journalist James Andrew Miller to discuss the ramifications of CAA's acquisition of ICM, including the consolidation of t...
Producer Jason Blum on Money vs. Creativity
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by producer, founder, and chief executive of Blumhouse Productions, Jason Blum, to discuss the evolution of economics in the entertainm...
The 2022 Half-Year Hollywood Awards
27 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we near the halfway point of 2022, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw host the first-ever Half-Year Hollywood Awards. They give out awards for the w...
You Will Pay More for Disney Parks and You Will Like It
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by theme park journalist and podcast host Carlye Wisel to talk about the Disney Parks ecosystem, what's new post-pandemic, how they are...
How the Pandemic Changed the Way You Consume Entertainment
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss how the pandemic has affected movies, live TV, streaming, and music. They break down the disappo...
Who Survives at the New CNN?
16 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
CNN is facing a major makeover at the hands of its new leaders David Zaslav and Chris Licht, but it could mean trouble for old correspondents. Matt br...
The ‘Stranger Things’ vs. ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Value War
13 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Julia Alexander of Parrot Analytics to discuss the record-breaking opening week for ‘Stranger Things,' the series' competition wit...
What the Heck Is Going On at Disney?
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by CNBC’s Alex Sherman to discuss the surprising firing of Disney entertainment executive Peter Rice. They discuss what Disney is say...
NBA Finals Ratings and ESPN's Future in Sports Television
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by John Ourand from Sports Business Journal to discuss the unexpectedly low ratings after the first two games of the NBA Finals as well...
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and A24’s Mystique
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by The Hollywood Reporter’s Rebecca Keegan to discuss the indie hit ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and why it resonated with...
Town Hall: Tom Cruise’s Pay Day, ‘LOTR’ Buzz, and HBO’s Secrets
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our first ever Town Hall, Matt and Craig field questions from the audience, covering topics about Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ movie struggles, Amazo...
Johnny Depp Wins: Inside the Verdict and the Fallout
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Puck’s Eriq Gardner to react to the verdict in the Amber Heard–Johnny Depp defamation trial, as well as what's next for Depp and...
‘Top Gun: Maverick’: Fluke or Future of the Summer Box Office?
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster, set the record for biggest opening over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Matt is joined ...
The Summer Blockbuster Confidence Scale
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means it is officially summer blockbuster season. Matt is joined by Forbes’ Scott Mendelson to run through each o...
Can Lorne Michaels Reinvent ‘SNL’ One Last Time?
25 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the Season 47 finale, ‘Saturday Night Live’ said goodbye to cast members Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Pete Davidson, and Kyle Mooney. Matt is jo...
The Hollywood Stock Market: Netflix, Star Wars, Harry Styles, Pete Davidson, and More!
23 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss which Hollywood-focused trends are theoretical buys or sells in the stock market of Hollywood. ...
What Happened to Comedy in Hollywood?
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Funny or Die CEO Mike Farah and chief creative officer Joe Farrell to talk about the state of comedy in Hollywood, why there are les...
Amber Heard Testifies: How Did It Go?
18 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Puck national correspondent Eriq Gardner to react to the conclusion of Amber Heard’s testimony in the Johnny Depp defamation trial...
You May Not Be Watching, but Broadcast TV Still Makes Billions
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Matt is in New York for the network upfronts, a gathering of the major players in television to present their programming plans for the upc...
Disney vs. Netflix: The Deathmatch of Streaming
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to streaming, is Disney the new Netflix? Matt is joined by analyst Michael Nathanson to discuss Disney’s recently released quarterly e...
Does Marvel Have a Quality Problem?
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are the quality of Marvel movies and television shows in decline? Matt is joined by The Ringer’s Sean Fennessey to discuss Marvel's recent dip in qu...
The 2022 Streaming Service Draft
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw conduct the first streaming service draft! They draft their way through each of the top streaming services (Netflix,...
A Scientology Star in the Spotlight
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Seth Abramovitch of The Hollywood Reporter to discuss the recent New Yorker profile on Elisabeth Moss, including its reference to Se...
Did Johnny Depp Really Lose ‘Pirates’ Because of Amber’s Op-Ed?
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by divorce attorney Brett Ward to discuss whether Johnny Depp has a case that he lost tens of millions of dollars of potential career e...
Have We Finally Reached the End of Peak TV?
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about the beginning of the end for peak TV. With 559 original scripted shows on television and stre...
Does Jerry West Have a Case Against HBO’s ‘Winning Time’?
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Puck News contributor Eriq Gardner to discuss former Lakers star Jerry West’s demand of a retraction over HBO’s ‘Winning Time’...
The Legal Loophole That Could Strip Marvel of Its Superheroes
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by lawyer Aaron Moss to discuss a legal loophole that is suddenly a big deal to legacy film and TV studios called “termination rights...
The New Netflix (With Ads!) and How to Get People Back In Theaters
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss what an ad-supported tier on Netflix would look like, as well as what the company would need to ...
Why the Late Night Talk Show Is Dead, and ‘SNL’ After Lorne
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by longtime media reporter Bill Carter to talk about Jon Stewart’s struggling talk show on Apple+, why the modern late night talk sho...
Netflix’s Crash and the Company's Future in Streaming
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by media analyst Rich Greenfield to discuss Netflix’s subscriber loss and subsequent stock plunge, the company's inability to make lo...
Coachella’s Dominance, and Why You Are Paying More Than Ever for Concert Tickets
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss why concert ticket prices have never been higher, as well as a historic stretch for live music s...
Is Rupert Murdoch the Most Dangerous Man in the World?
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by New York Times writer at large Jim Rutenberg to discuss CNN+’s ‘The Murdochs: Empire of Influence,' including Rupert Murdoch’s...
Film Producer Neal Moritz on Video Games as Movies, the 'Fast & Furious' Franchise, and Theaters vs. Streaming
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by long-time film producer Neal Moritz ('Fast and Furious', '21 Jump Street', 'I Am Legend') to talk about the success of his newest fi...
‘Ambulance’ and the Death of Original Action Movies, Plus Apple TV+’s MLB Debut
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to recap the weekend box office, including the promising success of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’ and the coll...
Why Was Bruce Willis Still Working?
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Amy Kaufman from the LA Times to talk about her article that highlights Bruce Willis’s surge in movie appearances in recent years ...
WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar on HBO Max, What’s Next for Streaming, and His Resignation
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Jason Kilar, who has recently announced his resignation as CEO of WarnerMedia. He discusses the choice to drop Warner’s 2021 slate...
Winners and Losers of the 2022 Grammys
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to talk about his experience at the Grammy Awards, including Trevor Noah’s performance, who stole the sho...
Will Smith Resigns From the Academy
02 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt reacts to Will Smith’s resignation from the Academy and explains the details of the decision. Host: Matt Belloni Producer: Craig Horlbeck Them...
The 2022 Grammy Awards and the State of the Music Industry
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Variety executive editor Shirley Halperin to look ahead to Sunday’s 2022 Grammy Awards. They forecast what we will see out of Kany...
WWE President Nick Khan
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by WWE president Nick Khan to chat about the WWE as a media entity, including its deal with Peacock and whether a potential acquisition...
The Oscars Aftermath
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the morning after, and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw joins Matt to give a report on the 2022 Academy Awards. They discuss the fallout after the Will...
Live From Inside the Oscars: The Will Smith-Chris Rock Slap
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Live from inside the Dolby Theater at the Academy Awards, Matt and The Hollywood Reporter’s Scott Feinberg react to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock i...
How to Gamble on the Oscars
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Oscar math expert Ben Zauzmer joins the show to outline his Oscars prediction model and to forecast who his model believes are mathematically the most...
Do the Oscars Need to Be Saved?
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by author Mark Harris to discuss the Academy’s decision to cut eight categories from the live Oscars broadcast, and to debate whether...
The NFL Sunday Ticket Bidding War and How Peyton and LeBron Went Hollywood
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by co-head and partner at WME Sports Josh Pyatt to discuss why broadcasters are seeing huge paydays, which streaming service needs NFL ...
Do Stars Still Need Agents? Plus, Iger vs. Chapek, and Oscar Drama Begins!
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are the middlemen who have dominated Hollywood for decades in trouble? Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the future for Hollywood ...
Amazon Closes Deal to Acquire MGM. Now What?
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by chief media analyst of Variety Intelligence Platform Andy Wallenstein to discuss Amazon’s $6.5 billion purchase of MGM Studios and...
Netflix’s Password Crackdown and Their Struggle to Make Movies People Care About
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt leads off with the bizarre news of movie theater chain AMC buying stock in a gold mine, as well as Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s 2021 pay packag...
'The Batman' Ticket Upcharge and the Future of Moviegoing
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In our first episode, Matt Belloni is joined by Puck colleague Ben Landy to run through the latest industry news from the weekend, including HBO Max a...
Introducing ‘The Town With Matthew Belloni’
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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