Advertise on podcast: Better Call Paul

This week, Paul previews the biggest night in sports and advertising, and now sports betting, the Super Bowl. Next, Paul and Jessica discuss (stalled) progress facing minorities who are seeking greater representation in Hollywood, in particular the Latino acting community's recent call for action. Finally, Paul discusses the upcoming discussions between SAG and the AMPTP and Jessica ponders whether AI can really replace actors and/or crew. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jess begin with a summary of the major 2026 Oscar nominations with a handful of their predictions thrown in. Next, they discuss a BBC YouTube-first deal and YouTube's broader plans for pay TV. Finally, Paul breaks down a recent government inflation report which indicated that SVOD services had, by far, the highest rate of inflation in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jessica start with a recap of the big winners at the 2026 Golden Globes. Next, Paul discusses the recently-announced exclusive Pay 1 SVOD license deal between Sony Pictures and Netflix, and Jessica ponders the pros and cons of Netflix's content-acquisition blitz. Finally, Paul breaks down the Supreme Court's decision to review the FCC's authority to levy large fines without the need for a jury trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul provides an update on the Netflix + WBD merger as well as an appeal of the House v NCAA settlement which could impact NIL rights and revenue sharing for college athletes. Finally, Paul and Jess discuss the celebrity mom group drama which erupted between Ashley Tisdale, Hillary Duff and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jess look back on 2025 and Season 4 of BCP with the Paulies, where they award: Best TV Show, Best Picture, TMT M&A Deal of the Year; Who had the Best Year; Pop Culture Moment; and Best BCP Episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jess recap many of the Golden Globes nominees where Neon and Netflix dominated and go through some of their picks to win. Next, they share their eager anticipation of Idris Elba's return as Sam Nelson in Apple TV's Hijack 2. Finally, with Avatar: Fire & Ash opening this week, they discuss how James Cameron's $400M installment in the epic franchise is likely to perform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jess begin with a quick update on some box office and streaming hits from December. Then they discuss one of the biggest potential mergers in entertainment, Netflix's tenative deal to buy WBD for $82B as well as some potential hurdles to closing, including Paramount's hostile bid. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Jess begin with a list of some of the TV shows that were awarded California's film tax credit, including Fallout, the Night Agent, and Baywatch. Next, they discuss some much anticipated spin off (prequel and sequel) news regarding their favorite show, Game of Thrones. Finally, Paul breaks down Dave Erickson's profit participation lawsuit arising out of Fear The Walking Dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul interviews Shashank who is the co-CEO of Nazranaa, the largest wholesaler and retailer of Indian garments in the U.S. In addition to running Nazranaa, Shashank is the executive producer of the YouTube series, Nazranaa Diaries, which highlights some of the store’s best customers and has taken on a life of its own. Shashank discusses the challenges of growing and managing this business amidst extreme tariff unpredictability as well as developing a show around his brand.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Mesh begin with Alls Fair, Ryan Murphy's star-studded, critically-panned over-the-top legal drama streaming on Hulu and a ranking of their top legal dramas. Next, they discuss England's recently-announced education reforms which were, in part, receptive to Ed Sheeran's call for educators to embrace teaching music in the classroom. Finally, Paul provides a high-level recap of Learning Resources v. Trump, a recent case argued before the Supreme Court in which the government justifies trade tariffs as a necessary exercise of emergency powers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul kicks things off with the NCAA's announcement that it will pause its proposed rule change which would have allowed student athletes to bet on professional sports. Next, Mesh recaps October's slow box office, which had the lowest ticket sales (excluding the pandemic) in nearly 3 decades. Finally, Paul and Mesh discuss Taylor Sheridan's $1B deal to move his TV and Film development and production banner to NBCU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Mesh discuss Skydance's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and the sales process that it ignited which includes many usual suspects, Comcast, Netflix, Apple, etc. Next, they reminisce about MTV's lasting cultural impact as Skydance Paramount announced that it will shutter the MTV Europe music video channels at the end of 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Mesh debate Spotify's agreement to distribute its popular Ringer video podcasts on Netflix starting in 2026. Next, Paul discusses SAG's decision to expand its jurisdiction to cover the burgeoning business of microdramas which are produced for consumption on mobile devices. Finally, Paul and Mesh discuss some of California's recently passed laws which attempt to apply guardrails to AI and social media, in particular as they pertain to use by minors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul begins with an explanation of California's SB 576, a new law which will require streamers to make sure their advertisements are not louder than the content of the video programming viewed by users. Next, they discuss Taylor Swift's Life of a Showgirl, which, despite mixed reviews from critics, continues to break records. Finally, Paul provides an update in Drake v. UMG, where UMG was able to dismiss Drake's defamation and harassment claims resulting from UMG's marketing and distribution of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" diss track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Paul and Mesh provide an update as AI-generated actress, Tilly Norwood, goes viral and California passes new AI-transparency legislation.  Next, they discuss the FCC’s review of its local media ownership rules for radio and broadcast television. Finally, Paul celebrates Bad Bunny being announced as the half-time performer of Super Bowl LX. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices