Really interesting article in the Times today entitled The Streaming Era Has Finally Arrived. Everything Is About to Change. Basically, it walks through the fact that Disney+ marked the acceptance of Streaming Media by the giant corporations. Yes, Netflix has been disrupting for awhile but Disney, NBC's Peacock, Apple's TV Plus and Quibi all wave the flag that established media is willing to take the risks associated with streaming destinations. The most fascinating aspects of the article have to do with Consumers and the Behind-the-Scenes deals that are changing due to this shift in thinking.

In terms of Consumers - you and me - there's actually a bit of discomfort around everything being so fragmented. Years ago there was a lot of industry talk about "The Great Unbundling" - no longer would you have to pay a cable company for 100 channels when you only wanted two, you could now directly subscribe to exactly what you want. While this has proven true, it also means a bit of inconvenience - you can't just quickly flip to another "channel" to see what you want, you have to search through your Apps to find it. Hopefully better search and voice companions can help alleviate on this front but I suspect we're going to start seeing more and more of "The Great Rebundling" - ala Amazon Channels - where everything is just packed in together.

The portion of the article that talks about the nitty gritty of film and TV making is especially interesting. I'd never considered the fact that with shorter seasons (10 episodes instead of 21), writers and directors and crews have to move around more often. It's obvious once you say it aloud but it had never struck me. It also means those folks are having more context switching; going from show to show instead of world building on one thing for a longer period of time. It's an interesting balance as I feel like shorter seasons have led to higher quality; tho I certainly understand how it could be hard to maintain.

There's also some nice insights on the financial deals being made with the acceptance of streaming - more upfront payments with no backend share rather than the historical inverse. This may allow for "distribution flexibility" as the article cites but it also means a slow burner like - like Lodge 49 - probably won't reap any rewards if people discover it later in life. Unfortunate.

The article also cites "There are 271 online video services available in the United States.." - this is massively incorrect. There are a whole lot more than that with plenty more being launch every single day. Trust me, I know.

Overall, a good read. Having been immersed in this world for many years now, it's interesting to see it shift into the mainstream. Things aren't that different overall but it's certainly going to put a strain on people's wallets when it comes down to figuring out what to subscribe to.

https://t.co/1VKLQLwfoN

This is a really good thread about journalism that is worth the time it takes to read it. I have a story similar to this. A lot of journalists do. https://t.co/paRdMU6deF

@yewknee @alexsteed always with the best gifs

When cats meet cat filters... https://t.co/BKC1OFzHQO

I spent an inordinate amount of time making this Chris Gaines Homer Simpson mashup. All I can see are the rough edges but, frankly, I think they make it a bit more charming. It's dumb but it's perfectly dumb.

As if you needed an excuse for more distractions...

• Christmas at Pirates Village - the true meaning of Christmas.. and pirates. via Forest.
• Andy Shauf - Try Again - another new track from the forthcoming album. Fun little animated video.
• Every Stefon Ever - this is a five part series of every appearance of Stefon SNL. I did not know he started off in a sketch (an awkward one). I suggest watching them all so that Part 4's parade of characters has maximum impact.
• Billy on the Street - 15th anniversary of the show? Insane. Now on Netflix.
• Facts - sometimes the best 6 second video is just a straightforward fact.
• Hey Blake! - what a great message to a nephew.

? https://t.co/ZthhoPKX39

just had a boomer lady at the vet’s office come up to me and say, “I like your ink! I got a few myself” and I shit you not show me a minion tattoo on her forearm

@yewknee @nbcsnl OR... you start prepping for the 25th anniversary

I’m now positive that people who claim to have seen aliens have actually just seen baby owls. https://t.co/CAr65NG9qR

WE DID IT https://t.co/8iM2lkSWAK

ICARUS PROUDBOTTOM'S TYPING PARTY releases at midnight, and we're announcing the Inferno Challenge! Can you beat the AI at "Typing Tennis" on Inferno difficulty? If so, take a video and send it to us to win an "amazing" prize! (Please note that this may literally be impossible) https://t.co/9qXhd6WTTh

I talk with Jacob Jones [@ElectricWestern], a realtor, a musician and the DJ behind Motown Monday. The later phenomenon—a dance night at the 5 Spot on Monday nights—has garnered international acclaim for just being a really fucking fun time. https://t.co/RodVsQQz43 https://t.co/gRgqxMan9m

@oamclean There’s an separate escape key now! Next to the Touch Bar, not a part of it like before

Your worthless trinkets do not please the Shrimp King https://t.co/WRzKxoOAFB

@yewknee @alexsteed @garthbrooks @CountryMusic I would consider it a personal favor from @garthbrooks, we could finally call it even

Happy 20-year anniversary to Chris Gaines on @nbcsnl! A bizarre and magical moment that should never be forgotten. https://t.co/tWSA8MGeY7

Twenty years ago today was a Saturday. As such, a new episode of Saturday Night Live was airing with Garth Brooks as the host. His musical guest? Chris Gaines; a musical persona that Brooks had adopted to release an album of pop songs called In The Life of Chris Gaines.

If you follow this blog at all, this is well tred territory for me. Along with writer Ashley Spurgeon I created Garth Brooks Chris Gaines Countdown, a website that commemorates the 20-year anniversary of this event in GIF form. I made hundreds of images from the famed SNL episode and shared them for everyone. If I ever get a DMCA takedown, they're also all on Giphy.

We even went as far as to make a podcast documenting the history of Chris Gaines, appropriately titled Chris Gaines: The Podcast. Over the course of seven episodes we did our best to exhaustively cover all the details of Brooks, Gaines and the world's reaction to it all. It was a blast to make.

And here we are on the 20-year anniversary. The next episode of SNL is this Saturday, November 16th and Garth will be playing a big show in Knoxville. The likelihood of him appearing on SNL is slim to none. We're still holding out a little hope that host Harry Styles will give it a nod or maybe when Will Ferrell hosts on the 23rd. It would be appropriate. Regardless of any official recognition of the event, I feel the whole thing has left its mark on pop culture; which I think is what Garth wanted all along.

another quality new single from the forthcoming record. surprisingly upbeat!

PTA headed back to California... exciting!