The Wakeup

By The Wakeup

Entertainment and Media industry analysis and conversations from The Wakeup columnist Sean McNulty with folks inside Hollywood and the many smart folks who write about them.

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FAQs about The Wakeup:

How many episodes does The Wakeup have?

The podcast currently has 294 episodes available.

The Wakeup episodes:

June 29, 2026 NBCU's Growth Potential Outside COMCAST and WB's ‘Supergirl’ Folly
Another Monday, another huge deal in Hollywood.
WSJ's Ben Fritz joins the pod as COMCAST announces it's fully exiting the entertainment business, spinning off another division, consisting of NBCU & SKY, as its own publicly traded company as of summer 2027 and joining VERSANT outside of the COMCAST gates.
Dive into the strategy afoot, how Wall Street is driving this, the challenge at COMCAST after the spin and the opportunities ahead for NBC UNIVERSAL on its own.
Then, take a look at DISNEY's digital future redux under Josh D'Amaro and a look at this weekend's box office with perhaps some strategy errors at WB on its new expensive bust with DC in 'Supergirl'.
Plus, PARAMOUNT goes back into the 'Jackass' well one too many times, and the curious Tom Cruise push afoot for his new original movie this fall.
You can read Ben's profile of Josh D'Amaro here:
https://www.wsj.com/business/media/disney-ceo-josh-damaro-100-days-0b98897f
And as always, subscribe to The Wakeup here, either via an Ankler subscription or on its own (just scroll to the bottom of the page for that option):
https://theankler.com/subscribe/
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34min
June 22, 2026 How 'Toy Story 5' Set Box Office Records In Its 4th Decade
Sonny Bunch, Culture Editor at the Bulwark joins pod host Sean McNulty to dive into how Toy Story reached new box office heights in the 5th edition of the franchise.
Plus, how audiences are reacting in weekend 2 of Disclosure Day seems to say a lot about its reception, Obsession's latest jaw-dropping accolades and more.
Also -- a look at how the World Cup is really scoring for PEACOCK at NBCU in the early rounds of the tournament.
You can find Sonny's great podcast and columns here https://www.thebulwark.com/s/screentime

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23min
June 15, 2026 FOX Buys ROKU, The Ramifications for Hollywood
Nothing like a $22B deal to start a week, as FOX was revealed as the mystery buyer for the ROKU business -- furthering its diversification from being heavily based in the linear TV ecosystem, to one with strong tentacles in the digital and streaming space.
Business Insider columnist and Channels podcast host Peter Kafka joins The Wakeup's Sean McNulty to dive into the strategy, what this means for Hollywood streamers and more.
Plus, The Ankler's Christopher Rosen joins Sean for a Monday Box Office conversation about the ... mixed opening for Spielberg's Disclosure Day and what lies ahead, as well as the big drops from opening weekend for Masters of the Universe and Scary Movie -- two pictures with vastly different fates at the box office.
And, why Universal will still likely win the summer despite the cloudy outlook for 'Disclosure Day' and more.
Subscribe to The Wakeup newsletter at https://theankler.com/subscribe/ either as part of an Ankler subscription, or scroll down on the page to find the link to subscribe to The Wakeup on its own.
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30min
March 26, 2021 The Rock's DC movie "Black Adam" adds cast / THE OC gets a podcast / SAW sequel release date / New TV + Movies this weekend
Get Links to all Stories, Trailers & Songs in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM newsletter preview

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12min
March 24, 2021 BLACK WIDOW moves to July /SHAZAM! sequel + Helen Mirren / THE CIRCLE going episodic at NETFLIX /JUSTICE LEAGUE goes B&W
Get Links to all Stories, Trailers & Songs in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM newsletter preview
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10min
March 22, 2021 MGM buying Gyllenhaal's next movie / LIZZO sets AMAZON dance show / Dan Radcliffe + Sandra Bullock/Channing Tatum movie
Get Links to all Stories, Trailers & Songs in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM newsletter preview

...more
6min
March 19, 2021 FRI 3.19.21: GOT spinoffs developing / VENOM sequel release delayed / Maya Rudolph + APPLE TV series / New TV & Movies this weekend
Get Links to all Stories, Trailers & Songs in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM newsletter preview
...more
10min
March 17, 2021 WED 3.17.21: TOM HIDDLESTON joins APPLE TV+ show / KILLING EVE sets end plan / Rian Johnson sets PEACOCK series / BACHELORETTE couple gets TBS show
Get Links to all Stories, Trailers & Songs in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM podcast preview

...more
8min
March 15, 2021 MON 3.15.21: Tiffany Haddish NETFLIX movie / Crudup out of THE FLASH / Trevor Noah + PARAMOUNT movie / Steph Curry + HBOMAX couples gameshow /
Get Links to all Stories, Trailer & Song in THE WAKEUP Newsletter:
Arrives every day by 830am EST.
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM podcast preview

...more
6min
March 12, 2021 FRI 3.12.21: THE BOYS spinoff adds leads / THE FLASH movie sets female lead / NETFLIX buys Dev Patel movie for $30 Mil / New TV & Movies this weekend
Get All Stories, Trailer & Song links in THE WAKEUP Newsletter, arrives every day by 830am EST:
https://thewakeup.substack.com
Email Sean at [email protected]
CONTACT + FOLLOW The Wakeup:
On Instagram Here and LinkedIn here for an early AM podcast preview

...more
10min

FAQs about The Wakeup:

How many episodes does The Wakeup have?

The podcast currently has 294 episodes available.