Russ: So, Olivia Rodrigo just dropped a song from the perspective of... Serena Joy? From The Handmaid's Tale?
Nadia: I'm Nadia.
Russ: And I'm Russ. It's Saturday, August 22nd.
Nadia: And here's what's making waves in media and entertainment today.
Nadia: Olivia Rodrigo has a controversial new single out, and she released it in a very old-school way.
Russ: A film I guarantee you've never heard of just won a major European festival, and we'll ask the big question: will you ever actually get to see it?
Nadia: And the fate of the massive Paramount merger could be decided as soon as Monday.
Nadia: Alright, let's start with Olivia Rodrigo. She's got her Daisy Chain Fields festival coming up, but that's not what has people talking.
Russ: By releasing a song on... a compact disc? Is that right? A CD?
Nadia: That's right. A tiny run of CDs for a new song called 'Serena Joy' — yes, inspired by the villain from 'The Handmaid's Tale.' A digital drop is coming, but the whole point is this physical-first scarcity play.
Russ: Wait, hold on. I have so many questions. First, who has a CD player anymore? Second, why name a song after one of the most hated characters in modern fiction? Is she... supposed to be the hero of the song?
Nadia: [laughs] I don't think she's trying to make her a hero. It's a provocation, a character study. And the CD thing? Brilliant marketing. It creates an event, gets superfans into a frenzy, and just guarantees headlines.
Russ: It feels like a gimmick for a gimmick's sake. Does the art justify the inconvenient delivery method? Is this just to sell a $15 piece of plastic to collectors who won't even listen to it?
Nadia: But that is the modern music economy. It's all about creating collectible artifacts. It separates casual streamers from the die-hard fans. This isn't meant for everyone, it's for her army.
Russ: Her army of people with 20-year-old cars or a dusty Discman in the attic. I just don't get it.
Nadia: Look, it shows that artists are fighting harder than ever to break through the noise, even if it means making you dig up a CD player. It turns a song release from a passive stream into an active hunt.
Russ: An annoying hunt. I'll just wait for it to hit Spotify, thank you very much.
Nadia: Okay, let's head to Europe. The Sarajevo Film Festival just wrapped up, and Austrian director Sandra Wollner's film 'Everytime' took the top prize, the Heart of Sarajevo.
Russ: Okay. And what is 'Everytime' about? And be honest, will I ever actually be able to watch this movie?
Nadia: [laughs] Fair question. It's a complex, sci-fi drama that also won a big prize at Cannes. This Sarajevo win basically guarantees it'll get distribution. It's a major contender for the international film awards now.
Russ: That's the part that always gets me. 'Guarantees distribution.' Does that mean it plays in one theater in New York and one in L.A.? Or does it show up on a streamer I actually subscribe to?
Nadia: Well, it means a service like Mubi or maybe A24's streamer will likely grab it. This isn't a blockbuster, Russ, it's prestigious cinema. The festival circuit is the marketing campaign.
Russ: So it's 'important.' Got it. But is it good? Is it a movie a normal person would enjoy, or is it just for critics?
Nadia: The reception has been incredible. It’s described as challenging, but rewarding. And that's the takeaway: if you're looking for something beyond the next superhero sequel, these festival winners are your roadmap. Keep an eye out for 'Everytime' later this year.
Russ: Alright, I'll add it to my list of 'important' movies I'll try to get to.
Nadia: Okay, let's talk about a deal that could reshape Hollywood. On Monday, reps for Paramount and Skydance are meeting with the California Attorney General's office.
Russ: Ugh, more merger talk. Why is the California AG involved?
Nadia: Because the AG's office filed an antitrust case to block the merger, arguing it hurts competition. This meeting is about a potential settlement. And according to Variety, this is the last big obstacle. If they make a deal here, the merger is probably a go.
Russ: Okay, so another legacy studio gets swallowed up. Why should I, a person who just wants to watch movies, care about which billionaire owns which studio?
Nadia: Because it determines what gets made! Skydance, the potential buyer, loves making massive, star-driven action films — think Top Gun, think Mission: Impossible. So this could mean Paramount doubles down on giant blockbusters and shelves smaller, mid-budget movies.
Russ: And it always means fewer choices and higher prices in the long run. Fewer studios competing means they can charge more for their streaming services and movie tickets. It's a bad deal for consumers, every single time.
Nadia: That's the heart of the antitrust argument, exactly. The big concern is a less competitive landscape.
Russ: It just feels like a rigged game. So the AG will get some minor concession and the whole thing will go through anyway.
Nadia: We'll see on Monday. But the bottom line is, the future of Paramount+, the CBS library, and franchises from SpongeBob to Mission: Impossible are all on the table. Who owns them will decide what they become.
Nadia: Alright, a quick recap. Olivia Rodrigo is making her fans hunt for CDs.
Russ: An Austrian film named 'Everytime' is the toast of the festival circuit... if you can even find it.
Nadia: And the Paramount-Skydance merger faces its final boss: the California Attorney General.
Nadia: Before we go, Russ, speaking of that Olivia Rodrigo CD... can you imagine if a podcast tried to do a physical-only release?
Russ: [laughs] What, like we release tomorrow's episode on a limited edition cassette tape? The sound quality would be terrible, and about twelve people would be able to listen.
Nadia: It's absurd! And it just shows the huge difference between the music and podcasting worlds. We live and die by open, instant access.
Nadia: And that's our show for Saturday, August 22nd. We'll be back on Monday with the latest.
Russ: In the meantime... what are you actually listening to, Nadia?
Nadia: I'm deep into 'City of Ghosts.' It's this beautifully sound-designed audio drama about the history of a fictional city. It’s the total opposite of a CD gimmick—just pure, amazing audio storytelling.
This show is made with AI: the hosts’ voices are synthetic and the scripts are AI-assisted. Every story links to its original source.