This week, Sonny Bunch (The Bulwark), Alyssa Rosenberg (The Washington Post), and Peter Suderman (Reason) look at Disney’s shaky economic and creative output and discuss how it serves as a sort of canary in the entertainment industry’s coal mine. Then they review Full Circle, the entertaining-but-convoluted new show on Max (formerly, HBO Max) from Steven Soderbergh and Ed Solomon. Make sure to swing by Friday for a bonus episode on the Barbie culture wars. And if you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend!
Funny hearing the three of you talking about how Disney doesn't seem to know how to make hits anymore. Welcome to the 1970s where we Disney fans endured the endless Herbie and Computer Wore Tennis Shoes sequels along with The $1,000,000 Duck and The World's Greatest Athlete and The Cat From Outer Space and all management operated under the mantra "What would Walt do?" Thank God Eisner came along. Only now Iger seems to be operating under the mantra "What would Michael do?"
As a middle aged dad, I fully endorse Alyssa's plan to make Peter watch Bluey. The show is excellent, easily the most enjoyable kids show I have seen.
I would actually be curious how much of it lands for someone who is our age but doesn't have kids. I think a lot of the grown-up humor is fairly specifically "parent humor." But I might be wrong!
Bluey is the best kids show I've seen as an adult. Its definitely more relatable to parents than non-parents but the best part I think of the show is that it captures simple (and funny) things that are actually pretty wonderous to kids.
Also there's something quant about a kids show today that has no bad language, violence, or bad guys.