The Emmys Leave Broadcast, Skydance Enters the Chat, and “Digger” Goes Bust

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Rebecca Ford (1:36)

Hello and welcome to Little Gold Men, Vanity Fair's podcast for film, TV and awards lovers. I'm Rebecca Ford.

John Ross (1:42)

And I'm John Ross.

Rebecca Ford (1:44)

All right, John, it's been a busy week in the entertainment world with the Emmys leaving broadcast TV, major premieres at New York Film Fest and big changes, huge changes, underway at Warner Bros. By the time this episode airs, Warner Bros. will have officially merged with Paramount. So we have a lot to get into. Plus, we're going to talk about Digger and Tom Cruise's first non-action movie in 15 years.

John Ross (2:09)

Okay, so let's jump right in. Here to help us out is Vanity Fair Features Editor, Hillary Busis and our best friend.

Hillary Busis (2:18)

And you're my best friends too. Sometimes it's not entirely reciprocal, but in this case, both of you. Well, actually one of you, but I'm going to let you decide which.

Rebecca Ford (2:28)

All right. Well, on that note, let's start with the latest news that we just found out today, Tuesday, the day we're recording, is that the Emmys are moving to streaming. They will be exclusively broadcast on Amazon Prime as part of a six-year deal with the TV Academy. What was your initial reaction to this, guys?

Hillary Busis (2:52)

You can quote that.

Rebecca Ford (2:56)

John's been more pro streamer award shows.

John Ross (2:58)

Well, I understood YouTube and the Oscars more than this because YouTube is global and you just can't beat the numbers on YouTube. But I guess it allows the TV Academy a chance to breathe because I think jumping around from network to network in this day and age is incredibly hard.

So it will allow them freedom in terms of programming and also Amazon said that they're going to air it for everyone, right? Like for free.

Rebecca Ford (3:35)

Yeah, not just for Prime members.

Hillary Busis (3:37)

You don't get it when you also get like a delivery of shampoo. They don't also give you an Emmy Awards on Telecast.

John Ross (3:43)

The biggest thing is there are so many eyeballs on YouTube. So when they start advertising, watch the Oscars on YouTube, a lot of people are going to see those ads. How Amazon will advertise the Emmys to its audience?

Rebecca Ford (3:59)

I think Hillary solved it. The tape they use on your Amazon boxes will just say, Emmys 2027 with the date.

Hillary Busis (4:06)

Yeah, you'll go to Whole Foods and as you're looking for oat milk, there will be a sign that says, Do you remember television?

Yeah, I don't know, guys. Isn't this such a bummer?

The rotation among the broadcast networks, obviously television has not just been broadcast for many, many years. But it's so quaint that you would go to each one and they would get their own homegrown talent to host their show, that you get a little showcase on each one, especially in the years since streaming. First cable and then streaming took over the entire thing. It was nice that broadcast still had something. I don't know, I guess I'm just a dinosaur, but it just makes me sad. I feel like one conglomerate taking it over just spoils that veneer of cooperation. I know.