Wilson Mizner and Hulu’s IPO
Posted on August 23, 2010
Last week The New York Times broke news that Hulu is considering an IPO. The first line of the story identifies Hulu as a “rapidly growing online hub for television and movies” that could be valued at “more than $2 billion.” Not only was the news surprising, but the favorable coverage in a normally reputable newspaper was perplexing. However, as I pondered the matter recollections of the wit and wisdom of Wilson Mizner proved to be insightful.
Download Audio Narration to iPod, iPad, and iPhone (six minutes).
Like Dorothy Parker, Mizner is remembered more for his witty repartee than specific works. He was born a month before the battle at the Little Big Horn in 1876 and died at the bottom of the Great Depression. During the intervening fifty-six years Mizner participated in the Klondike Gold Rush, befriended Wyatt Earp, married the Yerkes widow whose first husband was the inspiration for a Theodore Dreiser trilogy, managed the Rand Hotel in New York where he posted such notices as “Guests must carry out their own dead” and “No opium smoking in the elevators”, swindled Florida real estate investors in the 1920s, managed Hollywood’s Brown Derby restaurant, and wrote movie screenplays including 20,000 Years in Sing-Sing staring Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis.
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Madness at Fox and NBC
Posted on February 21, 2009
On Thursday www.hulu.com announced that they will not permit viewers who are using Boxee software to access Internet Video streams.
Background
Hulu is a website owned by NBC and Fox that provides high quality streaming of popular television shows and movies. Most of the shows are from NBC and Fox, but others are also available such as Comedy Central’s Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report. The website is entirely legal and supported with advertising. Additionally, there are over 100 movies. Read more…
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