All Episodes

August 19, 2025 • 98 mins

Frank and Squeaks cover Paramount's massive week of moves after the Skydance merger, including a new UFC deal, a bigger theatrical slate, a push for family adventure movies, and fresh Star Trek film plans. They react to Greta Gerwig's Narnia set photos, talk through the young Rambo prequel casting, and share practical steps for Roblox safety that parents can use right now. Reviews land for Alien Earth and King of the Hill. Plus, Frank chats with Alex Austin about building a social platform out of a podcast app and what moderation and growth look like in 2025. Convention plans and network updates round it out.

Timestamps and topics

  • 00:00 Introduction and announcements

  • 00:41 LA Comic Con plans September 26 to 28 and Crocker Con preview

  • 02:13 Paramount and Skydance overview and why it matters

  • 03:28 UFC rights to Paramount Plus with select cards on CBS and the TKO wrinkle

  • 06:19 Theatrical strategy shift to more movies per year and why mid range films matter

  • 07:24 Family adventure focus with Goonies vibes and what that could mean

  • 08:48 Duffer Brothers heading to Paramount and hopes for new franchises

  • 12:36 Two Star Trek films in development and creative teams

  • 15:29 Narnia first look from Greta Gerwig and why starting with The Magician's Nephew works

  • 19:23 Rambo prequel casting and the case for original action stories

  • 27:28 Roblox safety concerns and simple parent safeguards that actually help

  • 39:31 Reviews segment setup

  • 40:03 Alien Earth first impressions, tone craft, and that practical suit

  • 45:00 Why it feels like Fargo in space, pacing structure and synth lore

  • 54:53 Scores for Alien Earth

  • 55:05 King of the Hill revival thoughts and why it feels like a real continuation

  • 01:01:49 Interview with Alex Austin on building a social platform for podcasters

  • 01:02:24 Network news Challenge Accepted Outlast Distance Nerding Fandom Portals Anime Plus

  • 01:03:08 Frank joins the Sacramento Developer Collective board, and what that means

  • 01:03:58 Weekly recommendations: Red Sonja reading and Peacemaker podcast

  • 01:07:01 Ninja Turtles anniversary note and wrap up

Key takeaways

  • Paramount is shifting from eight theatrical releases this year to a target of 15 to 20 per year, which can revive mid-budget comedies and adventures and help theaters thrive.

  • Family adventure is a priority which fills a gap left by pure superhero focus and could broaden audience reach.

  • Two Star Trek films are on deck, one tied to the Kelvin crew and one new project from Toby Haynes.

  • Narnia starts with The Magician's Nephew, which makes the world feel fresh while connecting to classic imagery.

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