The P[w]rescription

SoW w/ BJ Bethel [Murder Trials, ParaBros Merger, Life and Death] 

This is our first episode of State of World. Where we talk current events and cover news in ways where people can feel informed. We will still be covering wrestling on this particular episode. However this is a new type of show for the channel.

Larry, Matt, and Arturo discuss the court-approved Warner Bros. settlement and the financial risks surrounding the merger. They also explain how this current-events episode fits alongside the show’s separate coverage of wrestling reporting.

When a murder trial becomes true-crime entertainment and a wrestler’s death becomes clickbait, real people pay the price. Journalist B.J. Bethel and host Larry examine what responsible coverage looks like, why the latest media mega-merger could reshape the industry, and how to honor a life without turning tragedy into content.

Bethel brings firsthand perspective from the Caleb Flynn murder trial, where texts, GPS data, and smartwatch evidence raised questions about both the case and the future of digital privacy. He also describes the impact of online speculation and “crime tourism” on grieving families—and why accuracy and restraint matter most when the stakes are life and death.

Then the conversation turns to the proposed Paramount–Warner Bros. merger: the debt behind the deal, the jobs and creative opportunities potentially at risk, and the growing concentration of power in entertainment. Larry and Bethel connect those industry stakes to a wider question: who benefits when media becomes more consolidated?

They also call out irresponsible wrestling coverage, including premature reports about deaths, and the engagement-driven incentives that can spread false information. Larry shares personal memories of PAC from their PWG days, while Bethel reflects on PAC’s rare versatility, influence on fellow wrestlers, and reputation as a generous colleague.

A candid conversation about journalism, media power, wrestling, and grief—and a reminder that behind every headline are people who have to live with its consequences.

Find them:

X.com/bjbetheltweets

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht

x.com/americannumbers

x.com/legionaod

Commentary Booth: It's All Out

“All Out was a celebration in its own right; full of tense moments and bits of joy. We break down our experiences in person and from home!

But before we delve into our unofficial awards ceremony, we take the time to celebrate the life of the Bastard PAC.”

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https://bsky.app/profile/thecommentarybooth.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/wooster182.bsky.social

https://daneshartis.carrd.co/

https://lwsalinas.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/onlinecangf.bsky.social

[W]roundball w/ James McCool [MLB Playoffs, NBA Predictions, NFL Predictions]

Welcome back to [W]roundball as we are here with our season opener! With any opener we welcome a new guest to the clubhouse as James McCool of Paydirtdata.com joins us to talk MLB playoffs and even more!

A 100-win season doesn’t guarantee a World Series title. Arturo and baseball modeling expert James McCool explain what can matter more in October: strikeouts, bullpen depth, power, and how quickly a manager is willing to change the plan.

Arturo lays out five indicators he uses to size up a playoff contender, from strikeout-to-walk rates and run differential to performance against strong teams. James adds the factor stats can’t fully capture: attrition. In a short series, injuries, cold bats, and aggressive bullpen decisions can flip a matchup fast.

Who looks built for a deep run? They debate the Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies, Braves, Rays, Guardians, and Yankees, then talk through playoff series bets and how hedging can change your risk. James McCool, owner of Pay Dirt Data, brings a decade of DFS and sports betting experience, award-winning baseball writing, and a model-maker’s perspective. Arturo brings the numbers and a five-factor playoff framework; co-host Larry adds the fan-and-gambler perspective and steers the conversation into NBA and NFL contenders.

The sports talk is lively, but the central lesson is serious: regular-season records don’t tell the whole story when a postseason series can turn on a few high-leverage innings. If you want a sharper way to evaluate October teams and understand the reasoning behind a wager, press play. Betting involves risk; the hosts’ picks and analysis aren’t guarantees.

Tind them at:

https://www.paydirtdata.com/

https://x.com/Paydirt_DFS?lang=en

X com/AmericanNumbers

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht

SOW w/ Jeff Hawkins [The Merger, Hollywood’s Collapse, Wrestling Sucks]

Larry hosts Arturo and returning guest Jeff Hawkins for a sprawling discussion about the proposed Warner Bros. and Paramount merger, California politics, Hollywood’s changing economics, streaming, media credibility, comedy, and professional wrestling. Jeff brings firsthand experience from Hollywood, comedy, software, and podcasting, while Larry and Arturo connect the industry shifts to wrestling promotion, audience behavior, and the value of being genuinely entertaining.

In this episode:

Why the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger may be driven as much by shaky financing, debt, and streaming survival as by creative strategy.

Jeff Hawkins explains why Netflix, Amazon, and Disney entered streaming with advantages that legacy Hollywood companies lacked.

How the collapse of DVD sales, syndication, cable, and other back-end revenue streams has made riskier films harder to finance.

Why combining Paramount Plus and HBO Max might create a stronger competitor to Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and Disney, but cannot automatically save Hollywood.

The decline of Los Angeles as a production center, with only 18% of production remaining in the city and many studio facilities sitting empty.

Why studios keep relying on existing intellectual property while audiences increasingly reject recycled franchises, excessive paywalls, and microtransactions.

How streaming fragmentation can reduce the value of an IP by making it harder for audiences to discover, enjoy, and develop nostalgia for it.

Jeff’s experiences in Hollywood, comedy clubs, writing rooms, production, and the brutal reality of trying to build a career outside the industry’s inner circle.

Why performers and creators must adapt to their audience instead of blaming audiences for failing to understand the act.

The hosts’ argument that wrestling should prioritize selling impact, building emotion, and telling coherent stories over endless strike exchanges and spectacular moves.

Why the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame and other entertainment institutions often use narrow metrics that overlook popularity, influence, charisma, and audience connection.

What made PWG special, including its local identity, recurring talent, unpredictable comedy, and feeling of community.

Jeff’s case for larger-than-life wrestlers, meaningful physical presentation, and the lost appeal of stars such as Vader, Terry Funk, The Barbarian, and chunky Walter.

Find them:

X.com/crapgame13

X.com/americannumbers

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht

SOW [Oracle Falls, #Blockthemerger, Political Theatre]

The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger may be running out of time, money, and legal cover. Larry and Numbers break down the last-minute settlement, the judge who could reject it, Oracle's shaky financing, and what the deal means for Hollywood workers, media power, and AEW's future.

A dozen state attorneys general have withdrawn their antitrust challenge, but the case is far from over. Advocacy groups, journalists, documentary filmmakers, and labor organizations are preparing an amicus brief arguing that Paramount's proposed consent decree does not address the merger's biggest problems. With an October 1 ticking fee approaching, every delay could cost millions and put even more pressure on Oracle, Paramount, and the Ellison-backed financing structure.

You'll discover:

- Why the consent decree may be too weak for the judge to approve

- How Oracle's debt, off-book leases, data-center spending, and reliance on foreign capital could threaten the merger

- Why a full trial and discovery could expose whether the deal's financing is real

- How the merger could affect actors, writers, SAG-AFTRA members, crews, and thousands of workers beyond Hollywood

- Why the upcoming midterms could radically change the political pressure surrounding the deal

- Why AEW may be in an unusually strong position for a renewal, regardless of whether the merger succeeds

- How private equity's focus on extracting value from WWE could damage the long-term strength of its intellectual property

Larry brings the perspective of a longtime wrestling and media observer, connecting the merger's potential impact to labor, creative control, data centers, and the future of wrestling television. Numbers provides the financial and legal analysis, examining the merger's funding, Oracle's market exposure, antitrust obligations, advertising data, and the contrasting business strategies behind AEW and WWE.

At stake is far more than a corporate acquisition. This deal could determine who controls major newsrooms, how original entertainment gets financed, whether creative workers lose more leverage, and which wrestling company benefits from the next wave of television and streaming negotiations.

The countdown is on, the judge's questions may reveal everything, and one ruling could turn a supposedly settled merger into a much larger fight. Listen now for a sharp, urgent analysis of the deal before the next move changes the entire story.

Find them:

X.com/AmericanNumbers

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht

Arturo and Larry examine how wrestling audiences are increasingly moving from cable to streaming, why AEW’s reported performance may be stronger than Nielsen’s television figures suggest, and how advertising reveals the real value of each show. They also discuss geopolitical risks to WWE’s Saudi Arabia business, doubts surrounding the Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger, WWE’s international streaming strategy, and growing questions about the Disney, ESPN, and WWE partnershi

We support BJ and his reporting and so should you! He is on assignment and you can follow what he is doing at bbethel.substack.com.

Find them:

X.com/AmericanNumbers

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht

Bbethel.substack.com

X.com/legionaod

Commentary Booth: Fanbooking

If All In is the season finale, is All Out the season premiere?" In this episode, we share our hopes, dreams and a little prognosticating about All Out and beyond. We talk about fan booking and being pre mad. Are there too many belts? How many bad bitches can Mercedes fight? How will Swerve ruin Hangman and/or Hangman ruin himself?

Additionally, we talk about Char clones, season 5 of Dexter, and our foremothers the Spirk shippers.

Find everybody:

https://bsky.app/profile/wooster182.bsky.social

https://daneshartis.carrd.co/

https://lwsalinas.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/onlinecangf.bsky.social

So this is my episode to gloat after doing this for a year. I got 2 people to thank for this hobby.

The first person is Juan for being the guy to step up and record with me. REally good dude who is doing some really big things.

The second guy you probably have to plame is Drew who ca helped me conceptualize the show and make it a thing.

So this is a thank you to them.

A year of yapping this obviously came out way later than intended..

Nerd Talkusatsu w/ Rachel and Matt

On this episode it is henshin a go go baby. Yup we are talking tokusatsu, the end of super Sentai, and our favorite costumed supers from Japan.

Joining me In this is award winning cosplayer from kickout! 2.99 Rachel and Matt Dawson of the harvest podcast network.

Find them at;

https://bsky.app/profile/milkystar.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/legionaod.bsky.social

The Commentary. Booth All In Awards Gala

Anyways for a summary something like (first draft) “this week the girlies are joined by special guest Hilary to do the All In awards show! Who’s got the “Dandy Fits for Fancy Folk” award locked down? Who’s got a shift at auto zone after hitchhiking on a boat to the UK? And most importantly, who are the prettiest princesses inspiring our comrades in the fanfiction mines?

Plus, we learn about long-running fantasy series that WILL conclude after decades (cough George RR Martin), whether you need to watch anime to appreciate Kenny Omega, and give a shout out to moms who watch wrestling and/or sex comedies!”

Also follow the girlies on bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/thecommentarybooth.bsky.social

Find everybody;

https://bsky.app/profile/novelworm26.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/wooster182.bsky.social

https://daneshartis.carrd.co/

https://lwsalinas.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/onlinecangf.bsky.social

https://linktr.ee/drlarryyacht