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Stuck In Development

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Media strategy for obsessive entertainment watchers.

The gist

Stuck In Development is a conversational media-business show built around Carl and Eitan’s running obsessions: Hollywood calendars, streaming economics, Apple hardware, AI products, theme parks, and live events. The tone is analytical but loose, with friendly tangents that turn industry news into an ongoing argument among people who care too much.

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About Stuck In Development

Stuck In Development is a weekly conversation about entertainment as both culture and machinery. Carl and Eitan follow the places where Hollywood, technology, sports, theme parks, awards bodies, and fandom economics keep bumping into one another. The show is loose by design. A discussion of CinemaCon can open with jokes about Vegas, turn into trailer strategy, and still make room for how Coachella’s free livestream changes the value of being there in person. Recent episodes move through OpenAI’s media ambitions, Sora’s disappearance, WGA contract details, AI costs, Apple hardware, Super Mario movie speculation, Project Hail Mary, and the business fallout of a possible Paramount-Warner combination. Awards season gets special attention. Oscars fatigue, BAFTA process questions, Dune versus Avengers release timing, Adam Sandler speeches, and the practical effect of guild protections all become part of the same ongoing map. The show is at its best when the hosts are not simply reacting to headlines. They ask what incentives are pushing studios, platforms, guilds, creators, and audiences into odd arrangements. They also let personal taste stay visible. Moby at Coachella, Rings of Power frustration, World Cup ticket queues, Disney leadership takes, and theme-park YouTube habits all become evidence in a larger argument about what entertainment is turning into. Kevin adds another familiar voice in episodes centered on Oscars, sports, and live-event logistics. The pacing is friendly, occasionally exasperated, and dense with references. It suits listeners who enjoy trade talk, release-calendar chess, tech skepticism, and pop-culture obsession in the same hour. It is not a recap show. It is a standing meeting for people who want to know why the thing happened, who benefits, and what strange sequel, merger, livestream, contract, or theme-park-adjacent consequence comes next.

Made for: For listeners who follow Hollywood trades, tech platforms, awards season, theme parks, live events, and franchise strategy with equal curiosity. It especially suits people who enjoy informed banter more than polished punditry.

What sets it apart: The show connects boardroom logic to fan behavior without losing its conversational messiness. Studio deals, AI products, Oscars math, Apple launches, and World Cup logistics can all sit inside the same argument.

In their own words

Hosts Carl and Eitan constantly find themselves stuck in the details of what’s developing in media, technology and entertainment. Every week, the two self-described media strategy nerds contextualize what you need to know as the worlds of Hollywood, Orlando and Silicon Valley collide. From your couch to the seat of a 1950s theme park dark ride, Carl and Eitan love talking about the business of anything and everything that could entertain you.Follow us on Twitter @stuckindevpodFollow Carl on Twitter @szmanticsFollow Eitan on Twitter @tanchoco

Why you'd press play

This is the show that turns a Disney succession plan into your Super Bowl.

Press play if you want

  • movie-business arguments connecting Oscar strategy, release dates, and who is actually making money
  • a theme-park debrief attentive to hotel theming, ride reliability, and corporate network effects
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Hollywood studio strategystreaming and platform economicsOscars and awards seasonAI tools and media productsApple hardware and launchestheme parks and Disney strategyfranchise films and release calendarslive events and sports logistics

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Podcasts like Stuck In Development

Episodes

  1. 1

    199.c - Carl is back!

    ·42m
  2. 2

    175 - Meta is Wildin' Out

    ·36m
  3. 3

    173 - Más Casa Bonita

    ·36m
  4. 4

    186 - A.I. Artificial Indignation

    ·47m
  5. 5

    228 - Enter Sandman (w/ Kevin Sachs): Oscars, Dunesday, The Bachelorette and Noscars

    ·1h 50m
  6. 6

    227 - An Oscars Main With An Apple Appetizer: We Are Ready For the Oscars and Breaking Down Apple's New Mac

    ·49m
  7. 7

    226 - We're Tired: Paramount x Warner Bros. Discovery & Awards Season Fatigue

    ·35m
  8. 8

    225 - A Tale of Two Cities: NBC has an incredible Olympics, and the BAFTAs show how not to handle a crisis

    ·1h 3m
  9. 9

    224 - 2026 Bold Takes

    ·47m
  10. 10

    223 - The Iger Transition Strikes Back: Disney Has a New CEO, Sundance Farewell to Park City, and The Testament of Ann Lee

    ·51m
  11. 11

    222 - Back in the (Apple Creator) Studio: Oscar Noms and Apple's Subscription Pricing Strategy

    ·47m
  12. 12

    221 - Trouble in the Galaxy Far Far Away: Checking in on Star Wars and Recapping the Globes

    ·39m
  13. 13

    220 - Kevin Drags Us Out of the Holidays: Golden Globes Preview + December Releases Grab Bag

    ·1h 38m
  14. 14

    219 - Something Wicked Will Not Be Coming This Way: Oscars x YouTube, Branch Shortlists, and Warners' Letter to Shareholders

    ·38m
  15. 15

    218 - December Can't Stop Won't Stop: Recapping the Globe's nominations, Disney's OpenAI deal, and a quick WBD update

    ·43m
  16. 16

    217 - This Deal Won't Be A Qwikster - Netflix x Warner Bros. Acquisition

    ·46m
  17. 17

    216 - Thanksgiving Leftovers: LA Recap, Oscar Movie Season Heats Up, and The Latest on Warner Brothers

    ·43m
  18. 18

    215 - Netflix's Warner Dreams: The WBD Sweepstakes Heat Up, First Award Contender Reactions, and an Abysmal Box Office Weekend

    ·49m
  19. 19

    214 - The Ellison In The Room: Warner Bros. Acquisition Progress, Apple x F1, Kelce x Six Flags

    ·33m
  20. 20

    213 - Netflix's Fall (like, Autumn): Spotify Deal, KPop Demon Hunters in AMC, and Oscar Chances

    ·28m
  21. 21

    212 - The 2026 SID Awards Draft w/ Alex Terrazas & Kevin Sachs

    ·1h 29m
  22. 22

    211 - Lockjaw's Christmas Adventure: Reviewing One Battle After Another, Oscar Chances, Does Box Office Matter?

    ·45m
  23. 23

    210 - One Babble After Another: PTA Hype, Kimmel, The Mandalorian & Grogu, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey & the Diplomat

    ·37m
  24. 24

    209 - The ABCs of TV in 2025 : Jimmy Kimmel, Emmys Recap, and Ellison's Expansion Plans

    ·57m
  25. 25

    208 - A Fest in Venice: Fall 2025 Film Festival Recap (Venice, Telluride & Toronto)

    ·31m
  26. 26

    207 - Epic Demon Hunters: Netflix's Licensing Strikes Gold & Reviewing Universal's Newest Theme Park

    ·49m
  27. 27

    206 - Forced Decision to Leave: Park Chan-wook's WGA Drama, The Naked Gun & UFC Rights

    ·29m
  28. 28

    205 - Follow the Yellow Streaming Road: Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, and Disney's plans for ESPN and Hulu

    ·29m
  29. 29

    204 - Fantastic Fascism? (First Steps?): Eddington, Fantastic Four, Late Show & Colbert Cancellation Gossip, and Media M&A Updates

    ·28m
  30. 30

    201 - Box Office Receipts: Exploring a Weird Summer Blockbuster Slate

    ·39m
  31. 31

    201 - Box Office Receipts: Exploring a Weird Summer Blockbuster Slate

    ·51m
  32. 32

    200 - The Media Moments That Made Us: Celebrating our 200th Episode!

    ·51m
  33. 33

    199.f - Streaming 3.0

    ·36m
  34. 34

    EMERGENCY POD – Warner Bros. & WWDC

    ·40m
  35. 35

    199.e - Board Movies and Board Votes

    ·37m
  36. 36

    199.d - Stitch Breaks the Box Office

    ·32m
  37. 37

    229 - Blessing in Disguise: Saying Goodby to Sora, What It Means For Disney and Breaking Down Project Hail Mary

    ·43m
  38. 38

    199.b - More Sinners and Some Daily Movie(Pass) Fantasy

    ·36m
  39. 39

    199 - Sinners has no sins

    ·42m
  40. 40

    198 - Wonderous Warner & Masterchella

    ·36m
  41. 41

    197 - Epic Universes and Hunger Gameses

    ·52m
  42. 42

    196 - Cinenomicon

    ·40m
  43. 43

    195 - (Snow) White Bones to Pick

    ·40m
  44. 44

    194 - Where is Apple's Intelligence?

    ·42m
  45. 45

    193 - Disclaimer: Severed Mickey 17s

    ·46m
  46. 46

    192 - Reviewing the Oscars and 2024 SID Draft w/ Alex Terrazas and Kevin Sachs

    ·1h 3m
  47. 47

    191 - The Wilting of the Broccoli (Pre Oscars)

    ·27m
  48. 48

    190 - Awards Check-in and the Documentary Race w/ Kevin Sachs

    ·51m
  49. 49

    189 - Paramount...Hill? And Disney is...Expensive?

    ·37m
  50. 50

    188 - Little Bummers Everywhere

    ·39m
  51. 51

    187 - '25 Bold Takes + '24 Review

    ·45m
  52. 52

    174 - Meta's Vision (Pro)

    ·32m
  53. 53

    185 - Kicking Off 2025 With a Bang

    ·37m
  54. 54

    184 - The Lion, The Witch, and the Imax Release

    ·45m
  55. 55

    183 - The Oscar Seeker's Job Is to Catch the Golden Globe

    ·40m
  56. 56

    182 - No One Mourns the Second Gladiator

    ·31m
  57. 57

    181- It's Time to Gut The Muppets! It's Time to Divest Chrome!

    ·38m
  58. 58

    180 - No More Freevies + Awards Check-in

    ·56m
  59. 59

    179 - Casa Bonita LIVE from Denver w/ Nick Sparks

    ·34m
  60. 60

    178 - Mega, Epic, Premium, et al

    ·37m
  61. 61

    177 - The 2nd Annual SID Awards Draft w/ Kevin Sachs & Alex Terrazas

    ·1h 11m
  62. 62

    176 - Google Folie à deux

    ·42m
  63. 63

    172 - Applejuice Applejuice

    ·47m
  64. 64

    171 - Mi Casa Bonita Es Su Casa Bonita

    ·33m
  65. 65

    170 - Venu gets SID'd, and (un)remarkable Alexa

    ·28m
  66. 66

    169 - How to Lose Antitrust and Alienate People

    ·36m
  67. 67

    168 - Theme Park Olympics and Actual Olympics

    ·56m
  68. 68

    167 - A Miasma of Whatever

    ·46m
  69. 69

    166 - Paramount Unstuck!

    ·35m
  70. 70

    165 - The June Box Office Turned Inside Out

    ·39m
  71. 71

    164 - The Marvelous Inside Out and the Curious Netflix House

    ·38m
  72. 72

    163 – Stockpiling Arms in the Alamo Drafthouse

    ·40m
  73. 73

    162 - The Bankrupt Franchisee and the Sea

    ·30m
  74. 74

    161 – Are Theaters Dying Historic On the Fury Road?

    ·33m
  75. 75

    160 - Cannes 101 (with Kevin Sachs)

    ·1h 8m
  76. 76

    159 – Bundles of Joylessness

    ·51m
  77. 77

    158 - NBA Streaming Rights Challengers

    ·34m
  78. 78

    157 – The Shareholders' Civil War Over Paramount's Future

    ·51m
  79. 79

    156 - The Books Monkey War

    ·37m
  80. 80

    155 - We're Calling It, Disney's Making Exactly $3.75B At the 2024 Box Office

    ·30m
  81. 81

    154 - Lightning News Round

    ·24m
  82. 82

    153 - Remember the Alamo Acquisition?

    ·33m
  83. 83

    152 - Paramount Hill

    ·30m
  84. 84

    151 - Oscars Recap and Revisionism (w/ Kevin Sachs)

    ·1h 13m
  85. 85

    150 - Dune (Apple) Cars

    ·34m
  86. 86

    149 – Who's Still Backing the Silverback?

    ·29m
  87. 87

    148 - The One With the S Companies

    ·39m
  88. 88

    147 - Sports Bundle To Be Named Later

    ·32m
  89. 89

    146 - The 2024 Bold Takes Episode

    ·54m
  90. 90

    145 - The 2023 Bold Take Review

    ·1h 1m
  91. 91

    144 - Oscar Noms/Netflix's Iron Claw Over WWE RAW

    ·57m
  92. 92

    143 - Apple's Zone of Maestro

    ·34m
  93. 93

    142 - A Breakneck Breakdown of Netflix's Perpetually “Record-Breaking” Viewership Data

    ·40m
  94. 94

    141 - Hunger Games of Set Supervision

    ·41m
  95. 95

    140 - The Post-Wedding Pre-Wedding Catchup Episode

    ·55m
  96. 96

    139 - The Greatest Award Draft

    ·1h 6m
  97. 97

    138 - Marveling At the MCU's Troubles

    ·55m
  98. 98

    137 - The Rest of 2023

    ·44m
  99. 99

    202 - If You Ain't First at the Box Office, You're Last: F1, The Odyssey Teaser Talk & Apple Executive Shakeups

    Two media strategy nerds discuss F1, The Odyssey teaser, and Apple executive shakeups, with banter about 2000s comedies and queso.

    ·36m
  100. 100

    203 - Overrated Shows and Underrated Noodles: Emmys Nomination, Superman, and F1 rights

    The hosts discuss the latest Emmy nominations, the state of TV shows like Severance and Hacks, and touch on Superman and F1 rights.

    ·33m
  101. 101

    231 - The Con in CinemaCon: Studios and Theaters Hang Out in Vegas, Digger Excitement, Some Pitt Talk

    Eitan and Carl examine CinemaCon as a private trade show where studios pitch theatrical releases to theater owners, while actual screen bookings may depend more on tracking shortly before release.

    Apr 16, 2026·34m·2 clips
  102. 102

    230 - Super Media Bros Podcast Network: OpenAI x TBPN, WGA Contract, Super Mario Galaxy Movie

    Stuck in Development examines OpenAI’s reported purchase of TVPN, a daily show averaging 50,000 to 70,000 views, and questions whether the deal is a strategic investment or a distracting side quest.

    Apr 9, 2026·36m·2 clips
  103. 103

    229 - Blessing in Disguise: Saying Goodby to Sora, What It Means For Disney and Breaking Down Project Hail Mary

    Eitan and Carl examine OpenAI’s decision to discontinue both the Sora video app and its API, ending development of the model discussed in the episode.

    Apr 3, 2026·43m·2 clips
  104. 104

    228 - Enter Sandman (w/ Kevin Sachs): Oscars, Dunesday, The Bachelorette and Noscars

    Stuck in Development brings Carl, Eitan, and Kevin together to analyze the Oscars, including the preferential Best Picture ballot and Sinners' strength across seven of eight major precursors.

    Mar 26, 2026·1h 50m·5 clips
  105. 105

    227 - An Oscars Main With An Apple Appetizer: We Are Ready For the Oscars and Breaking Down Apple's New Mac

    Two media strategists discuss the upcoming Oscars and Apple's new MacBook Neo launch.

    Mar 12, 2026·49m
  106. 106

    226 - We're Tired: Paramount x Warner Bros. Discovery & Awards Season Fatigue

    Two media strategy nerds discuss the revived Paramount-Warner Bros.

    Mar 6, 2026·35m
  107. 107

    225 - A Tale of Two Cities: NBC has an incredible Olympics, and the BAFTAs show how not to handle a crisis

    Stuck In Development's Eitan and Kevin assess NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, which averaged around 23 million viewers, while Peacock recorded its best month ever.

    Feb 27, 2026·1h 3m·4 clips
  108. 108

    224 - 2026 Bold Takes

    Carl and Eitan revisit their 2025 entertainment predictions, including Universal’s Epic Universe operations, Meta’s reported AI-glasses sales, Apple’s film-budget reduction and Disney’s CEO succession.

    Feb 17, 2026·47m·3 clips
  109. 109

    223 - The Iger Transition Strikes Back: Disney Has a New CEO, Sundance Farewell to Park City, and The Testament of Ann Lee

    Hidden gem

    Stuck In Development examines Disney's succession plan, with Josh DeMauro moving from Disney Experiences toward CEO and Dana Walden becoming president and chief creative officer.

    Feb 7, 2026·51m·3 clips
  110. 110

    222 - Back in the (Apple Creator) Studio: Oscar Noms and Apple's Subscription Pricing Strategy

    Feb 3, 2026·47m
  111. 111

    221 - Trouble in the Galaxy Far Far Away: Checking in on Star Wars and Recapping the Globes

    Jan 23, 2026·39m
  112. 112

    220 - Kevin Drags Us Out of the Holidays: Golden Globes Preview + December Releases Grab Bag

    Jan 16, 2026·1h 38m
  113. 113

    219 - Something Wicked Will Not Be Coming This Way: Oscars x YouTube, Branch Shortlists, and Warners' Letter to Shareholders

    Dec 23, 2025·38m
  114. 114

    218 - December Can't Stop Won't Stop: Recapping the Globe's nominations, Disney's OpenAI deal, and a quick WBD update

    Dec 17, 2025·43m
  115. 115

    217 - This Deal Won't Be A Qwikster - Netflix x Warner Bros. Acquisition

    Dec 8, 2025·46m
  116. 116

    216 - Thanksgiving Leftovers: LA Recap, Oscar Movie Season Heats Up, and The Latest on Warner Brothers

    Nov 30, 2025·43m
  117. 117

    215 - Netflix's Warner Dreams: The WBD Sweepstakes Heat Up, First Award Contender Reactions, and an Abysmal Box Office Weekend

    Nov 5, 2025·49m
  118. 118

    214 - The Ellison In The Room: Warner Bros. Acquisition Progress, Apple x F1, Kelce x Six Flags

    Oct 29, 2025·33m
  119. 119

    213 - Netflix's Fall (like, Autumn): Spotify Deal, KPop Demon Hunters in AMC, and Oscar Chances

    Oct 22, 2025·28m
  120. 120

    212 - The 2026 SID Awards Draft w/ Alex Terrazas & Kevin Sachs

    Oct 18, 2025·1h 29m
  121. 121

    211 - Lockjaw's Christmas Adventure: Reviewing One Battle After Another, Oscar Chances, Does Box Office Matter?

    Two strategy nerds discuss the new PTA and Leo movie, its Oscar chances, and box office implications.

    Oct 9, 2025·45m
  122. 122

    210 - One Babble After Another: PTA Hype, Kimmel, The Mandalorian & Grogu, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey & the Diplomat

    Oct 2, 2025·37m
  123. 123

    209 - The ABCs of TV in 2025 : Jimmy Kimmel, Emmys Recap, and Ellison's Expansion Plans

    Sep 19, 2025·57m
  124. 124

    208 - A Fest in Venice: Fall 2025 Film Festival Recap (Venice, Telluride & Toronto)

    Sep 15, 2025·31m
  125. 125

    207 - Epic Demon Hunters: Netflix's Licensing Strikes Gold & Reviewing Universal's Newest Theme Park

    Hidden gem

    Two hosts discuss Netflix's theatrical strategy through the lens of K-pop Demon Hunters' success and one host's visit to Universal's new Epic Universe theme park.

    Sep 2, 2025·49m·2 clips
  126. 126

    206 - Forced Decision to Leave: Park Chan-wook's WGA Drama, The Naked Gun & UFC Rights

    Aug 19, 2025·29m
  127. 127

    205 - Follow the Yellow Streaming Road: Wizard of Oz at the Sphere, and Disney's plans for ESPN and Hulu

    Aug 12, 2025·29m
  128. 128

    204 - Fantastic Fascism? (First Steps?): Eddington, Fantastic Four, Late Show & Colbert Cancellation Gossip, and Media M&A Updates

    Aug 1, 2025·28m
  129. 129

    203 - Overrated Shows and Underrated Noodles: Emmys Nomination, Superman, and F1 rights

    Jul 24, 2025·33m
  130. 130

    202 - If You Ain't First at the Box Office, You're Last: F1, The Odyssey Teaser Talk & Apple Executive Shakeups

    Jul 21, 2025·36m
  131. 131

    201 - Box Office Receipts: Exploring a Weird Summer Blockbuster Slate

    Jul 9, 2025·39m
  132. 132

    201 - Box Office Receipts: Exploring a Weird Summer Blockbuster Slate

    Jul 8, 2025·51m
  133. 133

    200 - The Media Moments That Made Us: Celebrating our 200th Episode!

    Jul 3, 2025·51m
  134. 134

    199.f - Streaming 3.0

    Jun 22, 2025·36m
  135. 135

    EMERGENCY POD – Warner Bros. & WWDC

    Jun 15, 2025·40m
  136. 136

    199.e - Board Movies and Board Votes

    Jun 10, 2025·37m
  137. 137

    199.d - Stitch Breaks the Box Office

    Jun 4, 2025·32m
  138. 138

    199.c - Carl is back!

    May 22, 2025·42m
  139. 139

    199.b - More Sinners and Some Daily Movie(Pass) Fantasy

    May 9, 2025·36m
  140. 140

    199 - Sinners has no sins

    May 1, 2025·42m
  141. 141

    198 - Wonderous Warner & Masterchella

    Apr 23, 2025·36m
  142. 142

    197 - Epic Universes and Hunger Gameses

    Apr 16, 2025·52m
  143. 143

    196 - Cinenomicon

    Apr 7, 2025·40m
  144. 144

    195 - (Snow) White Bones to Pick

    Apr 2, 2025·40m
  145. 145

    194 - Where is Apple's Intelligence?

    Mar 25, 2025·42m
  146. 146

    193 - Disclaimer: Severed Mickey 17s

    Mar 17, 2025·46m
  147. 147

    192 - Reviewing the Oscars and 2024 SID Draft w/ Alex Terrazas and Kevin Sachs

    Mar 9, 2025·1h 3m
  148. 148

    191 - The Wilting of the Broccoli (Pre Oscars)

    Mar 3, 2025·27m
  149. 149

    190 - Awards Check-in and the Documentary Race w/ Kevin Sachs

    Feb 27, 2025·51m
  150. 150

    189 - Paramount...Hill? And Disney is...Expensive?

    Feb 16, 2025·37m