It's dystopian. I think the concept is there.... creating a network of women who are OBSESSED with the brand, but something about mining college kids for content is dicey
its just the lowest hanging fruit too. youre (improperly) incentivizing someone else to make content for you to repost. youre gonna get submissions that are more and more dicey and gross because there will be an arms race for who gets chosen. it inevitably ends with someone getting hurt or damaging themselves in someway that isnt remotely worth it not to mention stains your brand.
we are pretty far removed from even the barstool of 5 years ago reposting "WVU sorority girl fall down hill drunk" kinda stuff. the ecosystem has changed considerably in terms of whats considered funny or acceptable. much like that unwell beverage im wondering "who is advising you and why are they *years* behind the times"
Who is Alex Cooper's legal counsel? I'm not a lawyer (I would love one to weigh in), but my first thought was that this reminds me of Jackass circa the early 00s. Cooper's brand encourages emulation. Jackass had a warning label discouraging the emulation of their stunts that protected MTV. Unwell is soliciting college kids to get hammered and blackout and....that's dangerous.
The wait for Babygirl… has been tough for me. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I think Nicole Kidman is the best actress working today. Nobody takes bigger swings and lands them as often as she does. Birth, Dogville, Moulin Rouge, The Others, Destroyer, To Die For… I could go on, but you get it. I read her interview in NYT and was so annoyed with all the comments about her face. I actually think she’s a better actress than Meryl, but because she is beautiful and has a different approach to her appearance, people downgrade in her. Not that Meryl isn’t also gorgeous, but they have obviously approached aging differently and play different types of characters. I don’t think Meryl has taken as big of risks artistically in long time… Nicole is still going.
It was her best performance in recent years and I loved seeing her directed by another woman. If they're mad about her face, wait until they see her body.
Also actors aren't normal, what they do to themselves can't be viewed through a normal lens in my OPINION. Can't wait for your thoughts.
I’ve appreciated how you acknowledge that Dear Media is a powerhouse. I agreed that someone from their team should have been include in the NY Mag media issue. Alex Cooper has this larger than life persona and high profile deals so I see why she is often acknowledged as the “young women whisperer” but Dear Media has been chugging along with very loyal fanbases and consistently strong advertising partners. I also think Dear Media has a wide age range of listeners from 20-somethings to 40-somethings, across their audio portfolio. I think many of these podcasts can give a strong window into what educated women who don’t know who bald ann dowd is care about. Khloe signing on shows that they’ve got juice.
I also heard an a24 ad for Babygirl on a Dear Media podcast this week!
billy bob carries it. the bad stuff is so bad its good (ali larter's character). it's definitely entertaining as hell. way better than late period Yellowstone
The fashion brand cafe stuff is so funny to me because Cafe Dior has been around for almost a decade Gucci’s restaurant etc were all super hyped in late 2010s and felt peak millennial influencer. I will say I appreciate seeing people drink wine while shopping around Nordstrom because the bar is right there, it’s nothing chic but all chaotic. Wonder if anyone remembers the SSENSE cafe that closed just as fast as it opened…
- people who pay $1k for IV ketamine are fools. Costs ~$600 at most places and it’s all the same ketamine (assuming they aren’t doing ketamine-assisted therapy, which I doubt in this example)
- T&C education articles are often exaggerated in a way that creates anxiety among the readers of T&C. It’s easy to get a nervous, well-meaning parent to give an extreme quote about admissions or other private school topics. And, billionaires have an advantage ofc but in reality, at the best places, the advantage is much less. Those schools are looking for the right family/child. They can and do reject billionaire kids because they don’t want the trouble that comes with entitled families and how that creates a negative atmosphere for the “merely rich” that makes up a bigger portion of the parent body.
NYC private school drama will forever be overhyped. I have kids at two top-20 schools and I’m WAY far from being a billionaire. I definitely have some anecdotes that could make it into a screenplay, but for the most part it’s been a great experience with caring, genuine educators at the helm.
"It appears that Nushama, one popular clinic, was founded by the husband of the medical director at the clinic inside of Goldman Sachs" — this sounds like a C plot from one of those Billions spin-offs Showtime claims exists
Unwell University should do what Barstool U did and create Smoke Smash and have it be dudes who submit themselves to the website to be voted on. Circle of life type stuff.
BABYGIRL is one of my favorite films of the year. It really is a modern fairytale, with Harris Dickinson’s character serving as a sort of dark sex angel. I thought it was even better on a rewatch, and I love how it speaks to EYES WIDE SHUT too.
I was also at the screening last night -- loved Nicole Kidman in the film, and thought she looked soo glam IRL. but I can't tell if Harris Dickinson has any it factor. I did like his little hotel room dance!
On Unwell University: feels like she's taking a direct page out of Barstool and Old Row's social media presences. There used to be a lot of Instagram pages (some of since have shut down) where you'd send in party videos or they'd just repost them. Not sure how well known it was, but some of them you had to pay the account to get it posted. Looks like Alex Cooper has put her own influencer x college ambassador spin on mining this kind of content.
Maybe I’m too old but I am deeply turned off by unwell university
It's dystopian. I think the concept is there.... creating a network of women who are OBSESSED with the brand, but something about mining college kids for content is dicey
Sounds like a PG-13 Girls Gone Wild based on the description
right
its just the lowest hanging fruit too. youre (improperly) incentivizing someone else to make content for you to repost. youre gonna get submissions that are more and more dicey and gross because there will be an arms race for who gets chosen. it inevitably ends with someone getting hurt or damaging themselves in someway that isnt remotely worth it not to mention stains your brand.
we are pretty far removed from even the barstool of 5 years ago reposting "WVU sorority girl fall down hill drunk" kinda stuff. the ecosystem has changed considerably in terms of whats considered funny or acceptable. much like that unwell beverage im wondering "who is advising you and why are they *years* behind the times"
Who is Alex Cooper's legal counsel? I'm not a lawyer (I would love one to weigh in), but my first thought was that this reminds me of Jackass circa the early 00s. Cooper's brand encourages emulation. Jackass had a warning label discouraging the emulation of their stunts that protected MTV. Unwell is soliciting college kids to get hammered and blackout and....that's dangerous.
i keep coming back to this... like are we doing a contest to find the next alix earle? i don't get it
The wait for Babygirl… has been tough for me. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. I think Nicole Kidman is the best actress working today. Nobody takes bigger swings and lands them as often as she does. Birth, Dogville, Moulin Rouge, The Others, Destroyer, To Die For… I could go on, but you get it. I read her interview in NYT and was so annoyed with all the comments about her face. I actually think she’s a better actress than Meryl, but because she is beautiful and has a different approach to her appearance, people downgrade in her. Not that Meryl isn’t also gorgeous, but they have obviously approached aging differently and play different types of characters. I don’t think Meryl has taken as big of risks artistically in long time… Nicole is still going.
It was her best performance in recent years and I loved seeing her directed by another woman. If they're mad about her face, wait until they see her body.
Also actors aren't normal, what they do to themselves can't be viewed through a normal lens in my OPINION. Can't wait for your thoughts.
Exactly re: actors aren’t normal. IDK why people expect them to be… how boring!!
and currently for Nicole: Lioness!
I’ve appreciated how you acknowledge that Dear Media is a powerhouse. I agreed that someone from their team should have been include in the NY Mag media issue. Alex Cooper has this larger than life persona and high profile deals so I see why she is often acknowledged as the “young women whisperer” but Dear Media has been chugging along with very loyal fanbases and consistently strong advertising partners. I also think Dear Media has a wide age range of listeners from 20-somethings to 40-somethings, across their audio portfolio. I think many of these podcasts can give a strong window into what educated women who don’t know who bald ann dowd is care about. Khloe signing on shows that they’ve got juice.
I also heard an a24 ad for Babygirl on a Dear Media podcast this week!
I am so impressed by Dear Media!!!
So they remade I'm Shmacked for the Barstool generation.
I see.
I came here to say exactly this. Or the female Friday beers lol
water is wet, "bankers" do amphetamines, and billionaires kids get "first look" at pre-school.
white lotus and euphoria only good tv left now that succession is over.
Industry....
ahh yes how could I forget. best season yet. it's not tv it's HBO (orgasm voice)!
Severance S2 is coming early Jan 🫡
So you haven't seen Landman?
i'll peep it. mountain west is long in the tooth though
billy bob carries it. the bad stuff is so bad its good (ali larter's character). it's definitely entertaining as hell. way better than late period Yellowstone
The fashion brand cafe stuff is so funny to me because Cafe Dior has been around for almost a decade Gucci’s restaurant etc were all super hyped in late 2010s and felt peak millennial influencer. I will say I appreciate seeing people drink wine while shopping around Nordstrom because the bar is right there, it’s nothing chic but all chaotic. Wonder if anyone remembers the SSENSE cafe that closed just as fast as it opened…
Where was the SSENSE cafe? I need to find out if there is still dark energy within that company
It opened late 2010s and was in Montreal —
https://cultmtl.com/2018/08/ssense-cafe/
👀
oof Unwell University feels like Alex Cooper is on the verge of being the next Joe Francis
I thought the same thing
keeping the unwell legal team in my prayers
and their social team
Couple thoughts.
- people who pay $1k for IV ketamine are fools. Costs ~$600 at most places and it’s all the same ketamine (assuming they aren’t doing ketamine-assisted therapy, which I doubt in this example)
- T&C education articles are often exaggerated in a way that creates anxiety among the readers of T&C. It’s easy to get a nervous, well-meaning parent to give an extreme quote about admissions or other private school topics. And, billionaires have an advantage ofc but in reality, at the best places, the advantage is much less. Those schools are looking for the right family/child. They can and do reject billionaire kids because they don’t want the trouble that comes with entitled families and how that creates a negative atmosphere for the “merely rich” that makes up a bigger portion of the parent body.
Agree 100% (about schools not ketamine).
NYC private school drama will forever be overhyped. I have kids at two top-20 schools and I’m WAY far from being a billionaire. I definitely have some anecdotes that could make it into a screenplay, but for the most part it’s been a great experience with caring, genuine educators at the helm.
"It appears that Nushama, one popular clinic, was founded by the husband of the medical director at the clinic inside of Goldman Sachs" — this sounds like a C plot from one of those Billions spin-offs Showtime claims exists
All that amphetamine use has got to be impacting the romance department for those guys.
Surprised aquavit martinis haven’t had their winter cocktail moment yet
what does aquavit taste like?
Caraway and dill forward version of an imported vodka…very Nordic
Need
Unwell University should do what Barstool U did and create Smoke Smash and have it be dudes who submit themselves to the website to be voted on. Circle of life type stuff.
Should we create a Feed Me media consultancy?
Adderall is on the mind! I just re-read this Molly Young n+1 piece last night
https://www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/online-only/kickstart-my-heart/
Is Dear Media a MAGA network or am I an evil imp?
What does that mean?
Going to see Babygirl on Christmas Day, which is the release date in Canada lol
Hellllll yeah
BABYGIRL is one of my favorite films of the year. It really is a modern fairytale, with Harris Dickinson’s character serving as a sort of dark sex angel. I thought it was even better on a rewatch, and I love how it speaks to EYES WIDE SHUT too.
I was also at the screening last night -- loved Nicole Kidman in the film, and thought she looked soo glam IRL. but I can't tell if Harris Dickinson has any it factor. I did like his little hotel room dance!
On Unwell University: feels like she's taking a direct page out of Barstool and Old Row's social media presences. There used to be a lot of Instagram pages (some of since have shut down) where you'd send in party videos or they'd just repost them. Not sure how well known it was, but some of them you had to pay the account to get it posted. Looks like Alex Cooper has put her own influencer x college ambassador spin on mining this kind of content.
Loved the dance, he was so sexy. Funny that All Fours also had a younger man dancing scene.
All Fours, The Substance, Babygirl. Feels like women are pushing to see menopause represented in a more modern, nuanced way