Save This Vol.3

Hi everyone, and welcome back to Please Don’t Make Me Focus!

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Entertainment

• ​I suppose the next step for a world where 60% of Gen Z adults wish they could return to a time before everyone was “plugged in” (which would be before most of us were born) is an influx of AI-generated videos set in the 90s and 80s. Josh Crowe, a 29-year-old from England who runs Purest Nostalgia while living in Bali, said he isn’t fazed by criticism that he and others are polluting the internet with ahistoric content. “I’m just trying to focus on bringing positive vibes,” he said.

• Cosmopolitan released an in-depth project on sex scenes in TV and film, drawing on a poll of more than 450 adult readers — 86% of whom said they’re in favor.

• Ego Nwodim is leaving SNL. Bowen Yang please stay in line.

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• “A Year Ago, He Was Making $800 YouTube Movies. Now He’s Sold a Horror Pic For Millions”

• The Ellison family won’t leave Hollywood alone: under their newly formed Paramount–Skydance entity, they’re reportedly preparing a cash bid to buy all of Warner Bros. Discovery — including its cable networks and movie studios.

• But, if you forced me to name one thing I like about David Ellison, it’s that he wants to bring back cable TV, particularly MTV. This will be really interesting to see, because everyone is investing in short-form episodic content, a bubble I think has a not-so-great future. However, I'll get into it in my next Substack!

• The 2025 VMAs had their largest viewership since 2019.

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• Jeremy O. Harris is launching a production company with Josh Godfrey.

• Overcompensating has been renewed for a second season. Now we just wait on Adults…

• Paramount said this week it has brought on Ken Weinstein — the former CEO of the conservative Hudson Institute — as an ombudsman, essentially an independent watchdog who reviews viewer complaints about bias and ethics in CBS News programming. #righttttttt

Music

• I loved this video about African girl groups.

• Kids are buying cassette tapes, iPods, CD players, and even Walkmans because schools have banned phones.

• Would you sign a record deal with A24?

• The soundtrack for HIM film features Bobby Krlic, Marlon Wayans, Gucci mane, Maxo Kream, Mobb Deep, Tierra Whack, MAVI, Guapdad 4000, Larry June, La RUSSEL, Mike * Keys, OG DAYB, Sampha the Great, Maglera Doe Boy, Onedelive, Ovrkast, Koran Streets, Carl Angelo, Jean Dawson and Denzel Curry.

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Sports

• Serena and Venus Williams are launching the Williams Family Excellence Program to provide support to under-resourced communities.

• Pablo Torre’s Kawhi Leonard story keeps growing.

• The funniest thing about Adam Silver calling the NBA a ‘highlights sport’ is that this response was probably prepped.

• Unrivaled is now valued at $340 million after a Series B investment round.

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• Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are launching a paid “supporters’ section” to boost energy at home games. Inspired by European soccer ultras, the group will feature chants, drums, and flags, with tryouts this Sunday and Wembanyama in attendance. Fans selected must attend at least 75% of home games, participate in team rituals, and pay a $999 membership fee that includes perks such as discounts and special guest appearances.

• New York Liberty fans say they’re being priced out.