THE REBOOT SNOOZEFEST | How Hollywood's Fear to Stand Out is Pushing Viewers to YouTube.

Hollywood's creative engine seems to be running on a fear to stand out versus the ambition to entertain and activate an emotion. In recent years, the film and TV industry has increasingly relied on sequels, remakes, and reboots, often at the expense of original new content. I believe this trend reflects a deep-seated fear of financial failure and job security, leading studios to favor familiar properties over innovative ideas. Because when a reboot doesn't perform, executives can hide behind the "that is surprising.. there was a built-in audience and the original show did so well!" line. However, this strategy is proving to be a double-edged sword, because audiences are tired of recycled content and are moving to YouTube where they are entertained and surprised by new and fresh content. Originality over production value.

The Rise of Reboots and Remakes.

Sequels and prequels now account for almost a third of all top-grossing movies — twice the level of ten years ago. I believe this surge indicates a shift towards “playing it safe” — which never worked. But this is also a generational mindset shift. We see similar challenges when looking at Silicon Valley. The massive layoffs in recent years were officially attributed to financial struggles, but the true financial motivations were never fully disclosed. However, everybody knew that the overwhelming pressure on HR departments played a significant role. Tech companies soon recognized a shift in mindset among workers in their 20s and 30s  -  one that wants to work three or four days a week from home and asking for a raise at the same time. This environment does not boost creativity or bold decision-making. Fear limits a person’s ability of critical thinking. So that’s why often terrible decisions are made when experiencing fear.

Unfortunately in the television landscape, the same trend is also noticeable. In 2023, remakes and reboots constituted 3.4% of new American scripted shows, up from 2.4% in 2022. While this percentage may seem modest, it underscores a growing inclination to revisit familiar stories rather than invest in original programming. A very tangible side-effect of this is, is that often the reboots are terrible and destroy the legacy of the original series.

From Frasier to the countless celebrity-driven game shows. Was Travis Kelce seriously the best we could find to host a game show?! Don’t touch something that was already great, has a legacy, and turn it into absolute bird dirt. Just respect the legacy and leave it as is. FYI I still watch Cheers. I don't need a remake, it is still awesome. Another thing that destroys good projects is the need for a top-down approach of attaching a celebrity to a show to "package" it, due to ridiculous broadcaster mandates, rather than building original content, new stars and good stories from the ground up. Viewers want something fresh. Something bold. Look at the success of Squid Game. All the wrong markers to start a project with; foreign language, no built-in audience & no celebrity attachment but bold and original. Maybe take some notes people.

YouTube welcomes viewers with open arms.

By the way, you don't need to take my word for it. You can see viewers are getting tired of the constant stream of recycled content by simply looking at the numbers. A study analyzing 27 recently rebooted franchises found that; "in every category - adjusted domestic and worldwide gross revenue, critical response, and audience response - the originals outperformed the reboots across the board..."

This obvious case of viewers-fatigue is driving viewers towards YouTube which simply offers more original and diverse content. YouTube, not producing any content themselves (!), has become a global powerhouse for original content and a true force in the entertainment landscape. "As of June 2024, YouTube commanded around 25% of total streaming time and 10% of all TV screen time, surpassing traditional TV networks and other streaming services like Netflix". If that doesn't wake you up as a distributor I don't know what else would.

Execs: what drives them to YouTube?

Answer: your own slate.

Influencers are just a fancy word for hosts. Bringing Mr. Beast to Amazon is a bandaid and is still not addressing the source of the problem.

Original Content for the Win.

The success of original content on both traditional and streaming platforms highlights the audience's appetite for fresh stories. Shows like Squid Game, Yellowstone, and Drive to Survive have broken all viewership records, proving that viewers are looking for exactly that. Again, the thing with the note taking. Might be wise to bring out your notepad and pay attention to what the viewers are trying to tell you. These shows clearly state that audiences are willing to embrace new ideas en masse, and that originality can lead to both critical and commercial success.

In conclusion and this is my Jerry Springer moment; while reboots and remakes may offer short-term job security due to a studio accepted motives of "the original show did so well!", they attack the industry's creative spirit that turned it into a century old $100 billion a year powerhouse. To remain competitive in an evolving entertainment landscape, I believe Hollywood must prioritize originality and embrace the creative risks that have historically driven its greatest successes.

Dream big. Be bold. F*%$ you.

XOXO

🧸🎥🎬

DISCLAIMER: I loved Top Gun Maverick.