Pandora's Box, page 43
67. “My whole life has been in search”: Sam Lansky, “How Ryan Murphy Became King of the Streaming Boom,” Time, September 3, 2019, https://time.com/5667752/ryan-murphy-netflix.
68. “The buck stops with Ted”: Lesley Goldberg, Natalie Jarvey, and Kim Masters, “Inside Netflix’s Surprising TV Chief Shake-Up,” Hollywood Reporter, September 10, 2020, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/inside-netflixs-surprising-tv-chief-shake-up-4058148.
69. “backend theft”: Nellie Andreeva, “Jeff Sagansky Says New Streaming Business Model ‘Has to Be Relegated to the Dust Bin’ Now,” Deadline, July 6, 2022, https://deadline.com/2022/07/jeff-sagansky-new-streaming-business-model-1235058955.
70. “We are in a golden age of content”: Anousha Sakoui, “A Golden Age of Content? How Producers Are Looking for Their Share,” Los Angeles Times, September 6, 2022, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/newsletter/2022-09-06/wide-shot-newsletter-the-wide-shot.
71. “Without syndication, you can’t monetize”: Steven Soderbergh, in discussion with the author, April 4, 2023.
72. “No one has ever made money selling”: Rob Long, “Pod: The Case for Broadcast TV,” Ankler, April 30, 2022, podcast, https://theankler.com/p/pod-the-case-for-broadcast-tv.
73. “It’s Harry Potter”: Nicole Sperling, “‘Harry Potter for Adults’: Netflix Lures Bridgerton Fans with Live Events,” New York Times, March 22, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/business/media/bridgerton-netflix-live-events.html.
74. “first-ever multi-title immersive”: Wendy Lee, “Vecna Comes to the Grove as Netflix Debuts Pop-up Store,” Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2022, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2022-10-11/lat-et-ct-netflix-the-grove-shopping.
75. “It’s now just commerce”: Nicole Laporte, “The Squeeze: Producers on ‘No Trust,’ Anger, Struggle,” Ankler, November 18, 2022, https://theankler.com/p/the-squeeze-producers-on-no-trust.
Chapter 10: Amazon’s Women in the High Castle
1. “the father of three adult children”: Joey Soloway, in discussion with the author, November 6, 2020.
2. “Roy wasn’t working creatively”: Joey Soloway, in discussion with the author, December 1, 2020.
3. “I’m not saying destroy the category”: Jackie Strause, “Blowing Up the Binary: How Transparent Season 4 Is Personal for Jill Soloway,” Hollywood Reporter, September 25, 2017, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/transparent-season-4-jill-soloway-gender-binary-1042629.
4. “That’s one of the things I got”: Aisha Harris, “The 20 Best TV Dramas Since The Sopranos,” New York Times, January 10, 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/arts/television/best-drama-series.html.
5. “the reason Amazon needs”: Sam Wollaston, “Transparent Review–The Best Thing on TV at the Moment,” Guardian, September 26, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/sep/26/transparent-review-the-best-thing-on-tv-at-the-moment.
6. “had had trouble getting Apple”: Shalini Ramachandran and Daisuke Wakabayashi, “Apple’s Hard-Charging Tactics Hurt TV Expansion,” Wall Street Journal, July 28, 2016, https://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-hard-charging-tactics-hurt-tv-expansion-1469721330.
7. Here is a partial list of further security directives: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
8. the TV experience “sucked”: Husain Sumra, “Eddy Cue: It’s ‘Complicated’ Solving Problems with TV,” MacRumors, May 28, 2014, https://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/29/cue-apple-tv-complicated.
9. “Zack and Jamie are terrific widget factory”: Vlad Wolynetz, in discussion with the author, January 21, 2020.
10. “Zack and Jamie have a good reputation”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
11. “Your job at a studio”: Joe Lewis, in discussion with the author, December 3, 2020.
12. “The guiding word is ‘humanity’”: Cynthia Littleton, “Apple TV Plus Chiefs on Building the Ambitious Video Venture From Scratch,” Variety, October 29, 2019, https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/apple-tv-plus-jamie-erlicht-zack-van-amburg-interview-1203386227.
13. “Zack and I knew how to create a premium”: Ben Travers, “Apple TV+ Makes Its Hollywood Debut with Lavish For All Mankind Premiere,” IndieWire, October 16, 2019, https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/apple-tv-for-all-mankind-premiere-photos.
14. “vaginal hygiene”: Lucas Shaw, “Apple’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Hollywood Is the Opposite of Edgy,” Bloomberg Businessweek, October 25, 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/apple-s-billion-dollar-bet-on-hollywood-is-the-opposite-of-edgy.
15. “Netflix is just soooo Android”: Entertainment Strategy Guy, “Worst-Case Scenario: Apple TV+,” Ankler, July 21, 2022, https://theankler.com/p/worst-case-scenario-apple-tv.
16. “Don’t be so mean”: Alexandra Steigrad and Nicolas Vega, “Apple’s Hollywood Venture Marred by ‘Intrusive’ Execs, Including Tim Cook,” New York Post, March 3, 2019, https://nypost.com/2019/03/03/appless-hollywood-venture-marred-by-intrusive-execs.
17. “There’s never been one note”: Stuart McGurk, “Can Apple Hack It in Hollywood? We Talk to the Man Behind Apple TV+,” GQ (UK), July 1, 2019, https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/apple-tv-eddy-cue-interview.
18. “Apple isn’t interested in the types of shows”: Lucas Shaw, “Apple’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Hollywood Is the Opposite of Edgy,” Bloomberg Businessweek, October 25, 2017, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/apple-s-billion-dollar-bet-on-hollywood-is-the-opposite-of-edgy.
19. “expensive NBC”: Tripp Mickle and Joe Flint, “No Sex Please, We’re Apple: iPhone Giant Seeks TV Success on Its Own Terms,” Wall Street Journal, September 22, 2018, https://www.wsj.com/articles/no-sex-please-were-apple-iphone-giant-seeks-tv-success-on-its-own-terms-1537588880.
20. “shares customer data with the Chinese”: Jack Nicas, “Apple’s Compromises in China: 5 Takeaways,” New York Times, May 17, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/technology/apple-china-privacy-censorship.html.
21. three years elapsed: Tyler Sonnemaker, “Apple knew a supplier was using child labor . . .” Business Insider, December 31, 2020.
22. “unrest” among its employees: Jack Nicas and Kellen Browning, “Tim Cook Faces Surprising Employee Unrest at Apple,” New York Times, September 17, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/technology/apple-employee-unrest.html.
23. “I think that what’s most chilling”: Shirley Li, “The Man in the High Castle Creator Frank Spotnitz Talks Series’ Themes, Plus Two Exclusive Photos,” Entertainment Weekly, August 22, 2015, https://ew.com/article/2015/08/22/man-high-castle-creator-frank-spotnitz-themes-photos.
24. “You will love my dick”: Kim Masters, “Amazon TV Producer Goes Public with Harassment Claim Against Top Exec Roy Price (Exclusive),” Hollywood Reporter, October 12, 2017, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/amazon-tv-producer-goes-public-harassment-claim-top-exec-roy-price-1048060.
25. “I never said that”: Roy Price, in discussion with the author, November 25, 2020.
26. “She came up to me and was jokingly”: Ibid.
27. “In the end, if you’re found guilty”: Ibid.
28. “was suspended”: John Koblin and Nick Wingfield, “Amazon Studios Chief Suspended After Sexual Harassment Claim,” New York Times, October 12, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/business/media/amazon-roy-price-isa-dick-hackett.html.
29. “It’s one thing if you’re a bank robber”: Roy Price, in discussion with the author, November 25, 2020.
30. “If Amazon was so sexist”: Lynda Obst, in discussion with the author, November 17, 2020.
31. “He was only as sexist and misogynist”: Joey Soloway, in discussion with the author, November 6, 2020.
32. “Your head’s down, working”: Graham Yost, in discussion with the author, October 26, 2022.
33. “everything [was] in chaos”: Jackie Strause and Kate Stanhope, “David E. Kelley Calls Amazon Studios ‘A Bit of a Gong Show,’” Hollywood Reporter, October 6, 2017, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/david-e-kelley-calls-amazon-studios-a-bit-a-gong-show-1046453.
34. “a puddle of mediocrity”: Hank Stuever, “In Apple TV+’s Initial Smattering of Shows, Only Dickinson Is a Delicious Surprise,” Washington Post, October 31, 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/in-apple-tvs-initial-smattering-of-shows-only-dickinson-is-a-delicious-surprise/2019/10/31/d0fba890-fb31-11e9-8906-ab6b60de9124_story.html.
35. “a swollen snoozefest”: Lucy Mangan, “Lisey’s Story Review–A Swollen Snoozefest from Stephen King,” Guardian, June 4, 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jun/04/liseys-story-review-stephen-king-julianne-moore.
36. “overstuffed epic”: James Poniewozik, “Review: The Math of Foundation Doesn’t Add Up,” New York Times, September 23, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/arts/television/review-foundation.html.
37. “It has a weak creative team”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
38. “If it disappeared tomorrow”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
39. “a sunshine enema”: Jeremy Egner, “‘Ted Lasso’ Is Back, but No Longer an Underdog,” New York Times, July 15, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/14/arts/television/ted-lasso-jason-sudeikis.html.
40. “If people could look at this show”: Patricia Puentes, “Ted Lasso: You don’t need to love soccer to love Jason Sudeikis’ new comedy,” CNET, August 15, 2020, https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/ted-lasso-you-dont-need-to-love-soccer-to-love-jason-sudeikis-new-comedy.
41. “engineered by Pixar”: Doreen St. Félix, “Ted Lasso Can’t Save Us,” New Yorker, August 9, 2021, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/16/ted-lasso-cant-save-us.
42. “sentimentality triumphing”: Manohla Dargis and A. O. Scott, “Does the Academy Hold Movies in Contempt? Our Critics Wonder,” New York Times, March 28, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/movies/academy-awards-oscars-critics.html.
43. “In a time of crisis, the Academy”: Nate Jones, “How CODA Won Best Picture,” Vulture, March 29, 2022, https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/how-coda-won-best-picture-at-the-2022-oscars.html.
44. “a slobbering puppy”: Manohla Dargis, “‘Cha Cha Real Smooth’ Review: The Boy in the Bubble,” New York Times, June 16, 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/16/movies/cha-cha-real-smooth-review.html.
45. “where heart wins out over cynicism”: Mike Fleming Jr., “Duffer Brothers Launch Netflix Shingle Upside Down Pictures,” Deadline, July 6, 2022, https://deadline.com/2022/07/stranger-things-duffer-brothers-netflix-upside-down-pictures-deal-spinoff-series-stephen-daldry-stage-play-manga-death-note-the-talisman-1235058665.
46. “a giant bowl of mac and cheese”: Lorraine Ali, “Last year, we turned to TV for comfort. Emmy voters followed suit,” Los Angeles Times, July 13, 2021, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-07-13/2021-emmy-nominations-the-crown-mandalorian-wandavision-ted-lasso.
47. “Plepler literally walked up”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
48. “the worst executive I have ever met”: Ibid.
49. Raeden Greer says he tried: Cheyenne Roundtree, “‘Bond’ Director Joji Fukunaga Pressured Me into Going Nude,” Daily Beast, October 13, 2021, https://www.thedailybeast.com/bond-director-cary-joji-fukunaga-pressured-me-into-going-nude.
50. According to a lengthy exposé in Rolling Stone: Cheyenne Roundtree, “‘He Needs to Be Stopped’: Source Say Cary Fukunaga ‘Abused His Power’ to Pursue Young Women on Set,” Rolling Stone, May 31, 2022, https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/cary-fukunaga-no-time-to-die-1359656.
51. “I want this to be Top Gun”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
52. “Who’s in charge here?”: Graham Yost, in discussion with the author, October 26, 2022.
53. “Cary wouldn’t do anything”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
54. “was very near and dear to my heart”: Graham Yost, in discussion with the author, October 26, 2022.
55. “at least $35 million”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
56. It used to be said that strengthening: Kara Swisher, “AT&T’s Sorry Retreat From Digital Media,” New York Times, May 21, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/21/opinion/att-discover-merger.html.
57. “until they drown”: Steven Soderbergh, in discussion with the author, April 4, 2023.
58. “My back was against the wall”: Maggie Astor, “Jeffrey Tambor Leaves Transparent After Sexual Misconduct Allegations,” New York Times, November 19, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/19/arts/television/jeffrey-tambor-transparent.html.
59. “I have never been a predator”: Seth Abramovitch, “‘Lines Got Blurred’: Jeffrey Tambor and an Up-Close Look at Harassment Claims on Transparent,” Hollywood Reporter, May 7, 2018, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/lines-got-blurred-jeffrey-tambor-an-up-close-look-at-harassment-claims-transparent-1108939.
60. “It was almost like, ‘Who on earth’”: Christina Binkley, “How Jennifer Salke Turned Amazon Studios into a Storytelling Powerhouse,” Elle, October 14, 2019, https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a29461367/jennifer-salke-amazon.
61. “Years ago, people would say”: Ibid.
62. “We’re not going for something”: Brooks Barnes and John Koblin, “Amazon Studios’ New Boss Is Reshaping Its Strategy. Step One: Lure New Talent.,” New York Times, June 11, 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/business/media/amazon-studios-jennifer-salke.html.
63. “Salke’s is the opposite”: Ted Hope, in discussion with the author, July 21, 2020.
64. “World-changing events”: Jeremy Egner, “‘House of the Dragon,’ Season 1, Episode 5 Recap: Wedding Crashers,” New York Times, September 18, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/18/arts/television/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-5-recap.html.
65. “global event . . . most expensive show”: Borys Kit, “Russo Bros.’ Amazon Series Citadel Creative Overhaul Balloons Budget to $200M-Plus (Exclusive),” Hollywood Reporter, September 1, 2022, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/russo-bros-amazon-series-citadel-1235210256.
66. “offensively dull”: Kyle Fowle, “Amazon’s Spy Thriller Is Offensively Dull,” TV Guide, April 28, 2023.
67. “In a world of many”: Kevin Beggs, in discussion with the author, June 14, 2021.
68. In 2019, the last prepandemic year: Jamie Lauren Keiles, “Avatar and the Mystery of the Vanishing Blockbuster,” New York Times, November 30, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/magazine/avatar-franchise.html.
69. “vast, deep catalogue”: Alex Weprin, “MGM’s Amazon Era Begins with Big, Unaswered Questions,” Hollywood Reporter, March 23, 2022, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/mgms-amazon-era-begins-with-big-unanswered-questions-1235116671.
70. “We thought there was a lane”: Aditya Talwar, “MGM President Pamela Abdy Preaches Virtues of Originality,” Animated Times, September 26, 2021, https://www.animatedtimes.com/mgm-president-pamela-abdy-preaches-virtues-of-originality.
71. “We still want to push the boundaries”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
72. “I would like to think it would”: Christina Sperling, in discussion with the author, October 15, 2020.
73. “Maybe not”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
74. “Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos and the team”: Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos), “.@ReedHastings and Ted Sarandos and the team at @Netflix . . . ,” Twitter, October 2, 2021, 6:39 p.m., https://twitter.com/jeffbezos/status/1444431829214248960.
75. “Amazon does not have an ethos”: Confidential source, in discussion with the author.
Chapter 11: Disney’s Empire Strikes Back
1. “occupies a sofa well”: Michael Wolff, “Executives at the Gate,” Vanity Fair, April 30, 2008, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2004/12/wolff200412.
2. “When he calls I don’t spend time thinking”: Brooks Barnes, “Is Disney’s Chief Having a Cinderella Moment?,” New York Times, April 10, 2010, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/business/11iger.html.
3. “We view them . . . as competitors”: Kara Swisher, “Disney’s Former C.E.O. Gave Me the Exit Interview I Asked For,” Sway, podcast, New York Times, December 27, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-bob-iger.html.
4. “Netflix-Loving Kids Are Killing Cable TV”: Lucas Shaw, “Netflix-Loving Kids Are Killing Cable TV,” Bloomberg, April 25, 2018, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-25/netflix-loving-tykes-tune-out-nickelodeon-in-kid-tv-s-worst-year.
5. According to Cord Cutters News: Michael Schneider, “Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2019’s Winners and Losers,” Variety, December 26, 2019, https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/network-ratings-top-channels-fox-news-espn-cnn-cbs-nbc-abc-1203440870/; Luke Bouma, “As Cord Cutting Grows the Disney Channel Has Lost 72% of Its Average Audience,” Cord Cutters News, April 11, 2019, https://cordcuttersnews.com/as-cord-cutting-grows-the-disney-channel-has-lost-72-of-its-average-audience.
