THIS WEEK’S BANTER

As Netflix’s winning streak in the “streaming wars” continues, Apple TV+ looks to reign in its pursuit of passion projects. The service has become known for extravagant projects and often appeared to be the exception to Hollywood’s larger trend toward tighter budgets. But now the company is changing its tune. Meanwhile, Netflix remains wary of budget increases and enters the bond market to stay on top. Kim Masters and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw compare approaches.

A smaller bite of the Apple? While other streaming services have been leaning into cost-cutting measures, Apple TV+ kept spending. The recent World War II period drama Masters of the Air alone boasted a $250 million budget. But with Apple’s smaller percentage of viewership compared to other services, it’s not surprising to see them rethinking their strategy. “It seems as though Apple finally want[s] to run its streaming service like a business,” says Shaw.

Severance pay? One particularly curious case is Apple TV+’s (relative) breakout hit, Severance. Season one of the buzzy show garnered rave reviews, 14 Emmy nominations, and perhaps most crucially, a community of online theorizers which seemed to grow organically week to week during the series’ initial run. Severance season two is set to begin airing on January 17th, 2025, and with a reported budget of $20 million per episode, the twisty workplace dramedy has become one of the most expensive shows on TV.  Ben Stiller remains one of the biggest names behind the series, serving as an executive producer and frequent director of individual episodes. The production also experienced significant delays due to last year’s actor and writer strikes. All of these factors likely contributed to the considerable price tag. “It's critically beloved and as you know, a contender for awards,” Shaw relays. “They're very proud of the show creatively, but the audience isn't there.”

Up next in the bond market, Netflix? Though Netflix consistently comes out on top in the “streaming wars,” the service is looking to raise money and remain vigilant with a low-budget model. A few years back, the service took on debt to fund its programming and secure its status as a leader in the streaming space. Now, the company is in the bond market ahead of debt coming due. “They are not immune to the pressures across the industry,” says Shaw.

But wait, there’s more! Get the full scoop on this week’s audio edition of The Banter.

The Lost Tapes: Elizabeth Taylor opens up about her life on and off-screen

Hollywood screen icon Elizabeth Taylor is as famous for the high drama that followed her throughout her life as she is for her indelible roles in classic films like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and National Velvet. Perhaps even more so, especially as it pertains to her highly publicized eight marriages — two of which were to the same man, actor Richard Burton. 

A new HBO documentary, Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes, tells the actress’ story in her own words, using 40 hours of recently discovered footage recorded for a memoir in the 1960s. It includes candid thoughts on her career, love life, and feelings of inadequacy and insecurity — all captured at the height of her fame. For years, the tapes sat in the attic of late journalist Richard Meryman (ghostwriter of Taylor’s 1964 autobiography), who never intended to make them public. But Lost Tapes director Nanette Burstein is here now to tell us how it all came together.

Dan Ackroyd is ready to unpack the legacy of The Blues Brothers

Actor and writer Dan Aykroyd found himself at the epicenter of popular culture in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s as a member of the original 1975 cast of Saturday Night Live. His latest project is the Audible audio documentary Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude, which finds him reflecting on one of his most iconic SNL co-creations. The show explores (among other topics) the origins of Akroyd’s collaboration with Blues Brothers co-creator John Belushi, the formation of the Blues Brothers band, and how the group was able to persevere after Belushi’s death in 1982. And he joins now to give us the scoop.

Jordan Klepper is improvising his way through election season

The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper has mined a lot of comedy from interviewing voters at Trump rallies. But given today’s political climate, that means putting himself in risky situations like reporting at the January 6th insurrection. Listen on as he regales Kim Masters and NPR’s Eric Deggans with stories of some of his diciest moments on the job and The Daily Show’s evolution over his decade spent working there.

Weekend film reviews: Harold and the Purple Crayon, Kneecap, The Instigators, Doctor Jekyll

This weekend is set to be scorching! Why not beat the heat inside an ice-cold movie theater? Harold and the Purple Crayon, adapted from Crockett Johnson's beloved 1955 children’s book, brings to life the story of a young boy whose magical purple crayon makes his drawings come true. The film stars Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, and Alfred Molina. In The Instigators, Matt Damon plays a desperate father embarking on his first heist, while Casey Affleck takes on the role of a seasoned criminal. Kneecap is a fictional biopic following a Belfast hip-hop trio rapping in Irish… only to become unexpected symbols of a civil rights movement to protect their native language. Finally, Eddie Izzard stars in Doctor Jekyll, a gothic horror reimagining of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Izzard portrays Dr. Nina Jekyll, a disgraced pharmaceutical mogul living in seclusion who hires a young ex-con to assist her.

The latest film releases are Harold and the Purple Crayon, The Instigators, Kneecap, and Doctor Jekyll. Weighing in are Amy Nicholson, host of the podcast Unspooled and film reviewer for The New York Times, and William Bibbiani, film critic for The Wrap and co-host of The Critically Acclaimed Network.