The Return of My Annual Fall TV Network Presidents Survey

It’s the return of my annual Fall TV Network Presidents survey! I asked 18 programmers — from Netflix, ABC/Hulu, NBC, CBS, Fox, The CW, TBS/TNT/TruTV, HBO/HBO Max, Showtime, FX, A+E, Freeform, AMC, Discovery, Paramount Plus, Epix all included — the think that irks them the most about the biz; what show they’d steal from a rival; their potential sleeper hit; their pandemic hobby and more. See all answers here.

And we got 13 of them on to this chart, which ran in the most recent issue of Variety. Click to make it larger:

'Stranger Things' Drive-Into Experience Immerses You Fully into the Show's Full 80s Mystery

We weren't sure what to expect when we signed up to attend the "Stranger Things" Drive-Into Experience, now taking place downtown at the Row DTLA. The parking lot and parking garage next to the building doubles as the lot for Starcourt Mall and the Hawkins High School 1985 reunion. If that means nothing to you, then you're not a "Stranger Things" fan. But if it does, the immersive experience will bring you back to the events of "Stranger Things" Season 3, including the opening of the Starcourt Mall, the falling out between Eleven and Mike, the transformation of Billy, "Neverending Story," Russians and more.

Per the press release: "The show, which runs just over an hour, provides an epic journey through key moments across the first three seasons of Stranger Things, including Starcourt Mall, Russian labs and the Upside Down, where you’ll drive from scene to scene as the story unfolds from all sides. Get ready for mind-blowing sensory surprises that blur the line between reality and fantasy, encounters with characters from the show, and new music from Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, the series’ composers, developed specifically for the experience."

In this COVID age, where every event now takes place via the car (think of all the drive-through Halloween attractions), this is what now passes for experiential events. In the case of the "Stranger Things" Drive-Into Experience, it works. Especially in the beginning, as the Hawkins High reunion party/Starcourt Mall opening allows for plenty of interaction between people in cars and the DJ on stage — and with the performers on site, dressed and playing the role of "Stranger Things" characters. (A tip: They recommend you dress in your 80s finest before showing up -- and there's a reason for that.) Secrets abound -- they request we don't post photos we take on site, and instead offered these shots. And there are certain things that happen that I can't tell you about -- including more backstory that will inform what you know about the fate of our favorite characters as we head into Season 4. A few more pics:

Go here for more information, and here for more information.

Scoops Ahoy! A Visit to the 'Stranger Things' Pop Up in Burbank

Steve "The Hair" Harrington and his fellow scooper Robin were nowhere to be seen, but I did see plenty of other "Scoops Ahoy" touches, inspired by "Stranger Things," as I stopped by the pop-up store last week. The wait was long — the line snaked down several blocks, and it appeared to be hours before fans got a chance at buying a U.S.S. Butterscotch — so I just took photos and peered in the windows. But in a way, that was enough to soak in the experience. (Plus, Scoops Ahoy quarts are available at Target — where you don't have to wait hours in line to experience it.)

I know this Baskin-Robbins location well, as it's close to the Blogger Kids' elementary school. But for two weeks, it transformed into Scoops Ahoy, a pivotal location in Season 3 of Netflix's "Stranger Things." Check out some pics below.

Unfortunately, the Scoops Ahoy pop up is now closed. But from what I understand, you can still order a "U.S.S. Butterscotch" (essentially a banana split, with waffle cone pieces shaped like boat sails) at most Baskin-Robbins locations for a limited time.

KCRW's Screengrab: This Year, Post-Super Bowl Viewing Came With a Twist

Every week, Joe Adalian and I talk TV on KCRW's "Screengrab," a weekly segment that airs on Tuesday mornings at 8:45 a.m. on KCRW during "Morning Edition."

On Tuesday's episode, we talked about Netflix's Super Bowl surprise:

When Netflix announced--via an ad on NBC--that the movie 'Cloverfield Paradox' would be available to watch right after the Super Bowl, the internet lost its mind. In a move borrowed from Beyonce, Netflix did no other marketing for the film (other than the $5 million ad). The moment felt like a confluence of a lot of disruptive events: a streamer capitalizing on all the captive eyeballs of the most popular linear TV event of the year, to send viewers to watch a movie in a fashion that's already disrupting the film industry. But, as Ted Sarandos is fond of pointing out, there's enough viewing for everybody. 'This is Us' still got great ratings, even if the numbers for the game itself were down.

Listen below!

KCRW's The Spin-Off: Netflix Domination, Emmys Overload, and Another Writers' Strike?

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, Joe and I were joined by CNN's Sandra Gonzalez, and we discussed the potential writers' strike, among other things:

It's not news anymore that Netflix is a huge player in the scripted drama space. But now they've also got movies, stand-up specials, children's shows, sitcoms and reality TV. In their quest to become the go-to for everything, what happens to the traditional networks left in their wake? The Spin-off crew talks about Netflix's growth, how they're paying for talent, and what other networks can do to keep up.

Plus, if you're noticing a lot of prestige dramas premiering right about now, it's not coincidence. Everyone is trying to get their show on the air in the time frame right before Emmy voting starts. With Game of Thrones out of the running for best drama this year because of timing, the field is wide open for the first time in years.

And finally, there's talk of another writers' strike, but what's the likelihood of actually happening? People who have been in the industry a while are still scarred from the last strike. In the event of a strike, the late night shows would be the first to suffer, and that would be a shame since they've been on such a roll lately.

Listen below!

KCRW's The Spin-Off: "Jessica Jones" Creator Melissa Rosenberg on Marvel, Netflix and the Strength Behind Her Lead Character

On the latest edition of KCRW's The Spin-Off, I chat with "Jessica Jones" creator Melissa Rosenberg -- who was also behind the "Twilight" movies -- about Marvel, Netflix and the social impact of her new show:

Melissa Rosenberg has written and produced for a lot of TV shows -- Dexter, The OC, and Party of Five, just to name a few. Then, she took on Twilight, writing the screenplay adaptations of all five vampire films.

Her newest project is Jessica Jones, a Netflix series based on a Marvel character who works as a private eye in Hell's Kitchen. Rosenberg started working on Jessica Jones more than five years ago, when the series was first in development for ABC. That version of the project fell through, but it may have ultimately been a blessing -- Rosenberg tells us she loves the creative freedom (and lacks of commercial breaks!) that comes with doing a Netflix series.

Rosenberg tells us why she long-envisioned Krysten Ritter for the title role and how she worked to make a show that is more about justice than anything else.

Listen below!

MIKE ON KCRW: Murdoch Drama, Game of Thrones Drama and Netflix Drama

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

- In a much-admired smooth plan of succession, Rupert Murdoch will pass control of his media empire on to his two sons.
- Netflix is paying $30 million for the new Brad Pitt movie War Machine. While the streaming outlet has invested in original movies before, this move represents their largest payment and serious move towards making prestigious, potentially award-worthy films.
- Disney is out about $140 million after director Brad Bird had a rare flop with Tomorrowland. It's a loss Disney can certainly afford, but some movie-lovers are worried this misstep will move them away from "original" movies and make them depend even more on reliable franchises.

Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked all about the Rupert Murdoch succession plan at 21st Century Fox:

The Murdochs are showing the world how to set up a succession plan. In what seems like a seamless transition, Rupert Murdoch has said he will hand the reins of 21st Century Fox to his son James. Both James and Murdoch's other son Lachlan have long worked in their father's businesses. And while James Murdoch's career may have been marred at one point by the phone hacking scandal in Britain, he's now become a seasoned and respected media executive. In other news with the reorganization, Chase Carey will step down from his role as CEO at Fox and work as an adviser to the company.

Listen below:





On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Slate's June Thomas and I discussed:

For those of you still smarting from the Game of Thrones finale last night, perhaps the new season of Orange Is the New Black will work as a salve? We talk about how HBO’s historical fiction/fantasy series ended its latest round of episodes, and more in our weekly television segment.

Listen below:

MIKE ON KCRW: Sony Exec Shuffle, Late Night Changes, "Last Man On Earth," More

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

- At Sony Pictures, Amy Pascal's out, Tom Rothman's in. That makes Wall Street analysts happy, but filmmakers? Not so much.
- Adam Goodman is officially out as the president of Paramount Film Group.
- The bad news at DreamWorks Animation only gets worse. The company took a major write-down on its most recent film.

PLUS, this episode features an excerpt from our episode of THE SPIN-OFF featuring our interview with former NBC late night executive Rick Ludwin. Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked all about the Tom Rothman era at Sony:

Amy Pascal was known for being one of the most talent-friendly studio heads in the industry because she was willing to spend so much money on projects she wanted. In terms of spending, Pascal replacement and new Sony Pictures chair Tom Rothman has the opposite reputation. His fondness for tight budgets has some in the industry worried that his management style will interfere with filmmakers and their work. Previously an executive at Fox for many years, Rothman joined Sony in 2013 to head the TriStar division. In the coming months, we'll see if Rothman's new role means a shift in the overall trajectory of the studio.

Listen below:





On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Grantland's Andy Greenwald and I discussed the Oscars and more:

There’s all kinds of new TV to pick apart today in our weekly television roundup. The release of House of Cards season three meant a nation full of shut-ins over the weekend. Does it live up to the hype? There’s also a new Fox comedy that envisions a world with one man left on Earth. Plus, Tina Fey makes a small screen comeback, this time behind the camera. We size it all up with our regular television analysts.

Listen below:

MIKE ON KCRW: Talking Bill Cosby, Sony Hack, "Sons of Anarchy" and More

Another busy week at KCRW. On this Monday's edition of The Business, Kim Masters and I bantered about several topics including:

- A malicious hack attack at Sony that leaked unreleased movies and personal employee information online has left the studio reeling. Could North Korea be behind the hack?
- The Bill Cosby saga continues to unfold, and one aspect people are starting to wonder about is how much NBC executives knew or didn’t know during the heyday of The Cosby Show.

Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked all about the Sony hack:

The size and scope of a recent hack at Sony Pictures has shaken the industry and left the company without an operating computer system. It's unknown who's behind the attack, which was carried out by someone or something called Guardians of Peace. There's speculation that the country of North Korea could be involved because of an upcoming Seth Rogen and James Franco movie The Interview, about an assassination attempt on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Listen below:





On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Grantland's Andy Greenwald and I discussed several topics, including the end of "Sons of Anarchy" and Netflix's new "Marco Polo":

The cable television series Sons of Anarchy on FX is known for its rabid fanbase — a fanbase that’s in mourning this week. The final episode airs tomorrow night after seven seasons. But there’s a spoiler out now that is causing all sorts of consternation. That and other small screen news in our weekly TV roundup.

Listen below:

MIKE ON KCRW: Bill Cosby, DreamWorks, Netflix, More

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

- Someone behind an anonymous letter is looking to sabotage any possible DreamWorks deal.
- Nielsen will finally start measuring Netflix viewership, but that still doesn’t mean we’ll know how many people are watching House of Cards.
- A settlement has been reached in the Midnight Rider case.

Listen by clicking below:





On last Thursday's Hollywood Breakdown, Kim Masters and I talked more about the Bill Cosby mess:

MIKE ON KCRW: Discussing Cable's New Streams on "The Business"

On this Monday's episode of KCRW's The Business, Kim Masters and I had a lot to talk about:

- Major changes in the TV landscape in the past week.

- HBO announces a forthcoming over-the-top subscription service that will allow viewers to access some amount of HBO content online without a cable subscription.

- CBS then says they’ll do the same thing, and their service is available now, for around $6 a month.

- Warner Bros. announces 10 DC superhero movies will debut between now and 2020.

Listen below!



Or here:

MIKE ON KCRW: The Return of "Twin Peaks" on Press Play, and Bantering on The Business

On Monday's Press Play with Madeleine Brand, Grantland's Andy Greenwald and I discussed the revival of "Twin Peaks," David Lynch’s surreal, cult hit TV show, which is coming back to the small screen (via Showtime) in 2016, just in time for the 25th anniversary of the original finale. Listen to that and more here:





And on Monday's edition of The Business, Kim Masters and I banter about:

- Netflix making more moves in the movie industry with new plans announced involving a sort-of sequel to “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and also a deal with Adam Sandler.

- More Asian money possibly coming into Hollywood. Japan’s SoftBank looked like they could have been a buyer for DreamWorks Animation, but talks have stopped for now.

Listen below!