MIKE ON KCRW: Mayweather/Pacquiao, DC Entertainment Woes, Age of Ultron and More

On this Monday's edition of The Business, Kim Masters and I bantered about several topics including:

- Disney and Marvel score another huge hit, and possibly even break box office records with The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

- Warner Bros and DC Comics, on the other hand, are struggling to find the kind of leadership that will help them be masters of their universe.

- Hulu announces several big deals at the Newfronts, most notably that they've nabbed the exclusive streaming rights to Seinfeld. 

- NBC is borrowing a page from the Netflix playbook and will make all 13 episodes of their new show Aquarius available at once at the end of May.

Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked all about "The Avengers: Age of Ultron's" big weekend, and how DC is struggling to get its film act together:

There are estimates that The Avengers: Age of Ultron will rake in as much as $230 million at the box office this weekend, which would break the $207 million opening weekend record that was set by none other than the previous Avengers movie in 2012. This is a continuation of Marvel's domination at the box office, which is more good news for Disney, still on a high following the release of the new Star Wars trailer. In the world of DC Comics, Warner Bros is hoping to replicate the same kind of success, but finding it difficult, except in the world of television, where The Flash and Arrow continue to do well in the ratings. The real test will be how audiences respond to Batman v Superman, which opens next year.

Listen below:




On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Indiewire's Liz Shannon Miller and I discussed:

As you may have heard, there was a boxing match over the weekend. Floyd Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao in the so-called Fight of the Century, and more people tuned in than expected. HBO and Showtime had exclusive rights to the match. The cable channels charged customers $100 to watch it. But many viewers pirated the fight, which is bad news for TV rights holders and pay-per-view broadcasts. We discuss this and more in our weekly television roundup.

Listen below:

My First Fight: A Weekend at the Pacquiao/Mosley Bout

Fight fans were angry with Saturday night's rather lackluster Manny Pacquiao/Sugar Shane Mosley bout, but it was my first-ever opportunity to see a major fight in person, so I at least enjoyed the spectacle and getting to see it all up close.

I brought the family and we did our first drive out to Vegas in nearly six years. Of course, in that time we had forgotten how long that drive is. My favorite moments, of course, are the Zzyzx Rd. off ramp, the abandoned/spooky Rock-A-Hoola water park in the middle of the desert (who thought that was a good idea?) and the view of the desert floor as you're descending to Primm and the state border.

In Vegas, Evan and Nathan got a kick out of the MGM Grand lions and riding the Las Vegas Monorail, end-to-end. The MGM Grand was alive over the weekend, and you could feel the electricity of the fight. (Too bad the actual fight wasn't nearly as electric.)

I couldn't pass up a chance to see the legendary Manny Pacquiao in action, and it was still fun to see the Pac-Man live and in person, and in the ring, and the multitude of fans.

The main event opened with Charice singing the Philippine National Anthem (that brings me back to childhood and the morning sign-on of the Manila TV stations and Clark AB's Far East Network!). Tyrese (and did they do that rhyming-name-thing on purpose) then belted out the Star Spangled Banner. And then... Jamie Foxx stepped out, for some reason, to sing "God Bless America." (Memo to Jamie Foxx: You're not Ray Charles. You just played him in a film. Stop it.)

Mosley came out to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out." Literally -- LL Cool J came out rapping along side Mosley. And then the lead singer of Survivor did the same with Pacquaio, crooning "Eye of the Tiger." It was all so very Rocky III anyway.

And then... 12 rounds of boxing. Again, I know nothing about boxing, so I was entertained enough. But even I could tell that this was a lethargic match. And when the crowd started booing, I knew my instincts were at least correct. Pacquiao easily won, and once again the world wonders when -- or if -- he'll ever meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring.

More pics from the fight:


Waving the flag for Pacquiao


Pacquiao on the big screen


Pacquiao and Mosley in the ring


Pacquiao fans


Not an empty seat in the house at the MGM Grand


Team Pacquiao


Me at the fight


Round five

Why Manny Pacquiao's Win Makes Me Thirsty for a San Miguel

I'm guessing the San Miguel was flowing last night in Vegas after Manny Pacquiao dominated in his fight vs. Miguel Cotto. (I'm partial to San Mig Light -- available at Trader Joe's -- myself.) Above, Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach (along side one-time Pacquiao opponent, Erik Morales) promote the brew.