Ankler Agenda

Alec Berg, executive producer/director who shaped Silicon Valley's finale. Mike Judge, co-creator and satirist of tech culture. They reflect on the show becoming a warning about AI and ruthless startup life. They discuss research-driven realism, consulting with academics for believable tech jokes, and designing the mockumentary-style ending that underscored ethical blindspots.

Juliet Litman, The Ringer podcaster and Bachelor franchise reporter, and Lesley Goldberg, TV reporter focused on streaming strategy, unpack a casting crisis that sidelined a Bachelorette season and paused a related Mormon Wives project. They also dive into Netflix’s big spending and pursuit of prestige. Short takes on fandom fallout, production ripple effects, and where shelved shows might land.

They debate what to do with two dozen aging cable networks and why linear TV still drives big profits. A playful bracket pits CNN, HGTV, Nickelodeon, BET and more against each other. Tension between cultural value and pure revenue comes up as they crown a most valuable cable asset.

Ken Basin, former head of business affairs at Paramount TV and Amazon Studios and author on TV dealmaking, offers analysis of mergers, debt and the slowdowns they cause. Katey Rich, Prestige Junkie host and awards writer, discusses Oscar-week stakes, surprise acting races, campaigning timing and how prestige clashes with studio turmoil. Short, topical and sharply observant.

Talk about whiplash: A week ago, a Netflix–Warner Bros. deal looked likely. Turns out, the winning combo may be… Paramount Skydance Warner Bros. Discovery. (Rolls right off the tongue.) That is — if it survives regulatory scrutiny, with California Attorney General Rob Bonta warning that the merger is “not a done deal.” Still, a swirl of questions remains — all driven by a strategy executives aren’t quite saying out loud: cut billions in costs, merge the streaming platforms (creating clear winners and losers), squeeze what’s left of the cable business for cash and use the scale of a combined studio to survive a rapidly shrinking TV ecosystem. And all that Middle East money? Sure, nothing to see here. Elaine Low, Natalie Jarvey, Sean McNulty and Lesley Goldberg break it all down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lively breakdown of the Netflix vs. Paramount battle for Warner Bros. Discovery. They cover the $31-per-share bid, negotiation timing and whether the fight is dragging on. Expect talk of Sarandos’ press tour, theatrical window promises, DOJ and monopsony scrutiny, union appeals, shareholder timelines, and who might be funding each bid.

What are the odds of another Hollywood strike in 2026? The answer to who has more leverage — the guilds or the studios — may surprise you. With AI, healthcare and streaming again on the bargaining table just three short years after the writers and actors strikes shuttered the town — Elaine Low, Sean McNulty, Natalie Jarvey and Dealmakers columnist Ashley Cullins discuss the talks between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Plus, who might buy Casey Wasserman’s namesake agency after his tawdry email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell came to light and blew up his empire? The team has some ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Pratt, reality TV figure from MTV's The Hills turned mayoral candidate, makes a theatrical case for reform in Los Angeles. He rails about wildfire response, Olympic readiness, studio CEOs and unions. He promises accountability, tougher approaches to crime and NGOs, and vows to shake up city leadership while leaning into his fame-built playbook.

Allen Salkin, journalist and author who sifted the DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein document release, walks through the high-profile names and awkward connections uncovered. He discusses how emails reveal Hollywood’s closeness, PR maneuvers to manage reputations, and the ripple effects on talent, agencies, and industry invitations.

Sean Cohan, President of Bell Media who runs CTV and Crave, shares stories from creating the global hit Heated Rivalry and protecting its Canadian authenticity. He discusses why the show connects worldwide, Crave’s growth and product moves, and a contrarian take on industry consolidation that sees new opportunities for entrepreneurs and mid-sized players.