In today’s episode, host Cynthia Littleton and Variety business editor Todd Spangler compare notes on Paramount Skydance and the vibes and vision shared by CEO David Ellison and his new regime at media Q&A sessions in New York and L.A. And Jenelle Riley, deputy awards and features editor, explains how Variety selected this year’s 10 Storytellers to Watch honorees.

In today&rsquo;s episode, host Cynthia Littleton and Variety business editor Todd Spangler compare notes on Paramount Skydance and the vibes and vision shared by CEO David Ellison and his new regime at media Q&amp;A sessions in New York and L.A. And Jenelle Riley, deputy awards and features editor, explains how Variety selected this year&rsquo;s 10 Storytellers to Watch honorees.

Industry leaders converse about business deals, strategy and the future of media and entertainment.

Strictly Business

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety journalists and industry leaders converse about news and trends in media and entertainment. "Daily Variety" episodes offer entertainment business headlines and news analysis, published Monday through Thursday. "Strictly Business" episodes, published on Friday, feature long-form interviews with the newsmakers, movers and shakers who drive the business of entertainment.

Variety's Strictly Business

Daily Variety – David Ellison and Paramount’s New Regime Meets the Media in L.A. and New York; The Backstory on Variety’s 10 Storytellers to Watch

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/52649e3d-c102-44b0-b7dd-b33901192e3f/transcript

On today’s episode, Variety’s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Variety&rsquo;s Corbin Bolies reports from Las Vegas where he is <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/inside-googles-efforts-creatives-hooked-on-ai-1236827944/">covering the AI4 conference with a slew of top leaders</a> and true believers. The excitement around generative AI is still as hot as the temperature in Sin City, but the polarizing effect of the technology is evident as well, Bolies reports.

Daily Variety -- Fear, Loathing and Endless Potential: AI4 Conference Takes Stock of Transformative Technologies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/81c40db9-a998-46ff-90ce-b49e0117f57e/transcript

On today’s episode,Variety's Todd Spangler offers an update on where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. “I think he feels like he’s been misunderstood,” Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.

On today&rsquo;s episode,Variety's Todd Spangler offers an update on <a href="https://variety.com/2026/film/news/david-ellison-breaking-point-paramount-wb-merger-trial-1236828418/">where things stand for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger process </a>now that a judge has set a March trial start date for the antitrust case brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America. &ldquo;I think he feels like he&rsquo;s been misunderstood,&rdquo; Spangler says of Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison.

Daily Variety – It’s Tick-Tock Time for Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger as Judge Sets March Trial Date

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f520821e-8a5f-436c-aff9-b49d014a8ee1/transcript

On today’s episode, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y. – Lucille Ball’s hometown -- explains why it’s important to have an institution devoted to the study of comedy. Jamestown will be abuzz with laughs as the center hosts the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 7-9 headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth Meyers.

On today&rsquo;s episode, Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, N.Y. &ndash; Lucille Ball&rsquo;s hometown -- explains <a href="https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/mel-brooks-archive-donate-national-comedy-center-jamestown-1236751304/">why it&rsquo;s important to have an institution devoted to the study of comedy.</a> Jamestown will be abuzz with laughs as the center hosts the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 7-9 headlined by Jerry Seinfeld, Bert Kreischer and Seth Meyers.

Daily Variety -- National Comedy Center's Journey Gunderson on Preserving Humor as History

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8f908a30-40f6-42b8-8374-b49c012ac41d/transcript

Daily Variety – David Ellison and Paramount’s New Regime Meets the Media in L.A. and New York; The Backstory on Variety’s 10 Storytellers to Watch

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