Judd Apatow Says New Hollywood Model Is “If It Bleeds, It Leads,” Little Room Left For “Subtler, Human” Stories

deadline.com:

Judd Apatow lamented the state of the entertainment industry today, saying he’s witnessed a new Hollywood model that leaves little room for more grounded storylines.

Appearing on a new episode of Dana Carvey and David Spade‘s Superfly podcast, the three-time Emmy winner was asked about his thoughts on current streamer and studio approaches to the filmmaking business. “I have a new theory, which is, everything is like in the newspaper business: ‘If it bleeds, it leads,'” Apatow explained. “Everything is doomscrolling because they don’t want you to shut anything off, so they’re obsessed with it being really intense.

That’s why almost everything on the streamers is either about the biggest star in the world or a serial killer. Everything is a thriller, everything is intense.” Carvey chimed in, adding that projects nowadays are also “hypersexual,” mentioning Nicole Kidman’s penchant for constantly appearing in prestige psychosexual projects: “I love her shows ’cause they’re just sexy thrillers.

She’s in a lot, good for her.” (Kidman’s prolific on-screen appearances in recent years has prompted online commentary about her constantly working, specifically in television.) The Girls producer continued, saying that too much attention is paid to complete audience viewership, bringing to mind a scene from Barry, when Sally’s show is expeditiously canceled due to the “algorithm.” “It’s all completion rate,” he said. “‘We must have them complete it.