Dark Alleys of Media – Details, episodes & analysis

We are back!

This time we are looking at what could have been the 'greatest show on earth' a.k.a the US presidential election of 2024. 

It was definitely a show as it lacked any real substance. We will be looking specifically at image polities, online culture, the decline of legacy media & rise of new media. 

Links:

Exit polling

Abortion did not play a big role as expected in the US election

How female voters broke for Harris and Trump

Progressive measures won in conservative states and lost in liberal  states

It’s the economy stupid. Trump taps voter anger in red wave

Breaking Points - CNN: Trump COULD WIN Popular Vote

Election ads - 

Youtube channel with all the election ads

Top 5 Trump Ads of '24 Based On Views!

Harris opening ad

Trump Ad : They Will Never Silence Me

Harris Ad : Monster

Trump closing ad

Harris closing ad

Celebrity Endorsements - 

How 'damaging' celebrity endorsements could have made battleground voters turn against Kamala Harris

Why Celebrity Endorsements Don’t Always Deliver Votes, and Might Work Against Candidates

The rise of new media -

How Podcasts Emerged as Vehicles of Mass Reach, Niche Audiences and Cultural Influence

Joe Rogan and the Fifth Estate: How the Podcaster and a Group of Cable News Exiles Became More Powerful Than Traditional Media

Podcast giant Joe Rogan may have played key role in US elections

The legacy media in crisis -

Viewers flee MSNBC and flock to Fox News 

60 Minutes ADMITS It Edited Kamala Harris Interview, DEFENDS Choice Anyway

Bad News

Media’s Crisis Point: It’s Losing Relevance and Scorned in Trump Era. A Reboot May Be Next

Joe Biden's bad debate performance exposed legacy media

Legacy media faces identity crisis ahead of Trump’s term

Poor news judgment has shredded US legacy media’s influence. What about in Australia?

US Election ad spending -

Unpacking the Data Behind Trump and Harris’ Presidential Election Ad Spending

Lou Perlman became infamous for creating some of the bestselling Boy Bands in the world and running a ponzi scheme for over 40 years. What did this guy get up to? How did he make his money? 

More importantly, why were boy Bands such money makers for studios and what lies behind the extravagant facade?

We deep dive into Perlmans past, his scams, the exploitation of his artists and then look into how this is the norm in the music industry where music and the artists are commodities. 

In the end of the episode, we listen to the words of the very honest, Simon Cowell. 

The Boy Band Con: The Lou Perlman Story (WATCH) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcCRs0Ic3FI&t=1823s

Menudo: Forever Young looks at the Exploitative Nature of Boy Bands https://www.huffpost.com/entry/menudo-forever-young-exploitation-boy-bands_n_62b9cfc4e4b0cf43c86835f8

Dirty Pop: Boy Band Scam Awkwardly Curates the Facts

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dirty-pop-boy-band-scam-review-flawed-celebrity_n_669fe59ae4b08943f2a14923

The True Story Behind Dirty Pop: The boy Band Scam

https://time.com/7002523/dirty-pop-netflix-time-studios/

The Dark Questions Netflix’s Lou Perlman Doc Dirty Pop Doesn’t Answer

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/lou-pearlman-backstreet-boys-nsync-dirty-pop

Making the Band: Dark History of boy Bands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahxk3GTi5yc

Lou Perlman: The Evil Behind 90s Boy Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbOzY9pRxA0

All About the Disgraced Con Artist Who Discovered NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys

https://www.ranker.com/list/scary-lou-pearlman-stories/carly-silver

Record Breaking Revenues in the Music Business, But are Musicians Getting a Raw Deal

https://www.forbes.com/sites/oisinlunny/2019/05/15/record-breaking-revenues-in-the-music-business-but-are-musicians-getting-a-raw-deal/

Music Industry Monopolies: Are They Preventing Growth

https://www.gearnews.com/music-industry-monopolies-are-they-preventing-growth/

How Music Monopolies own your ears (and Everything that goes in Them)

https://challenge-magazine.org/2022/05/16/how-music-monopolies-own-your-ears-and-everything-that-goes-in-them/

Diary of a CEO: Simon Cowell Opens Up About His Heartbreaking Loss & His Regrets About One Direction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsbCdCG8gE

Today we will be looking at the documentary Theaters of War (2022).

All art is propaganda and no one pushes agendas like the media industry. But what if we told you that some of your favourite action films exist to shape a narrative, project power, recruit new blood and showoff their toys.

We will be looking at the how the US Military completely rewrites many beloved films to suit their agenda and try to snuff out films that go against them.

Theaters of War:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww1Ik2WlW1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJT1Wtt_CGc

Deep Dive: Hollywood, the US Army and the military entertainment complex

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCPYKEPC5CI&list=PLUW304lJeu3XJqCDB-ioKyXjn4VPIgWAa&index=9

Somalis cheer at Black Hawk Down screening:

https://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/africa/01/22/blackhawk.screening/index.html

Operation Paperclip:

https://www.history.com/news/what-was-operation-paperclip

https://coffeeordie.com/operation-paperclip#:~:text=The%20Soviet%20Union's%20Operation%20Paperclip&text=The%20Soviet%20version%20of%20Operation,equipment%2C%20and%20other%20work%20materials

Nazi to NATO pipeline:

https://www.historynet.com/these-nato-generals-had-unusual-backgrounds-they-served-in-the-third-reich/

Operation Osoaviakhim?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Osoaviakhim

Who beat the Nazis: 

https://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/5814270/the-successful-70-year-campaign-to-convince-people-the-usa-and-not

How the military uses video games for recruitment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=HAlGaqTItvU

Call of Duty:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/22/call-of-duty-gaming-role-military-entertainment-complex

Spyculture:

https://www.spyculture.com/

Reel Power: Hollywood Cinema and American Supremacy

https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745329826/reel-power/

In this episode we will be looking at the Diddy situation, who is involved and how far up it goes. Is this just about Diddy? How much of the industry knows about this and how far back does it go? 

Resources:

Deep Diving P. Diddy's Trafficking Investigation: It's Worse Than You Think...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w0i-oYWyyI

Hip-Hop and the FBI: A Little-Known History

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a22912/hip-hop-and-the-fbi/

Mintpress news: https://www.mintpressnews.com/p-diddy-pedo-party-lawsuit-snags-another-pro-israel-lobbyist-music-exec-lucian-grainge/287207/

Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--From Music to Hollywood: https://www.amazon.com.au/Hiding-Hip-Hop-Terrance-Dean/dp/1416553401

Dancing with the Devil, how Puff burned the bad boys of Hip-Hop: Dancing with the Devil: https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Devil-Puff-Burned-Hip-Hop/dp/0615276504

J. Edgar Hoover Was Homosexual, Blackmailed by Mob, Book Says: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-06-mn-1078-story.html

Diddy, Justin Combs Face Renewed Accusations of Attempted Murder in Latest Legal Filings — Pair Allegedly Gunned Down Associate in LA Studio Bathroom Following Heated Argument: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2024/06/03/diddy-justin-combs-attempted-murder-accusation/

Ice Cube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec6jeORp3GA

Gene Deal Clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5LfNsehxaQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfJUlsAz1Wc

Today we dissect the Quiet on Set documentary series and look at what it explores and what it leaves out. We go on to discuss Dan Schneider's response, some of the cast who feel exploited by the documentary and the original expose doco, An Open Secret (2014)

Resources:

'Quiet on Set' director Deny Marc Summers claims he left after feeling blindsided by doco: Nobody ever walked out

https://variety.com/2024/tv/awards/quiet-on-set-directors-marc-summers-walked-out-1235993191/?sub_action=logged_in

What Quiet on Set leaves out:

https://www.vulture.com/article/what-quiet-on-set-leaves-out.html

An Open Secret: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8uccDBgkpA

Scandy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOJL8aM1pI0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-uQb9yBb-s

https://variety.com/2016/film/news/elijah-wood-pedophilia-hollywood-problem-1201781021/

Dan Schneider's response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX9pLTuGX_M&pp=ygUTc2NhbmR5IHF1aWV0IG9uIHNldA%3D%3D

In this episode we look at the 2025 Oscars that just went by but decided to delve deeper into the Oscars history, structure and its real purpose. 

We will look at some of the most controversial Oscar campaigns, the forces behind them, if the Oscars favorite indie movies are really indie and if this whole thing is just an out of touch popularity contest. 

Also at the end, we hear what Ricky Gervais has to say about the Oscar nominees. 

History:

The House That Mr. Mayer Built: Inside the Union-Busting Birth of the Academy Awards

Corruption

The Oscars Are Corrupted and Dirty and Driven by Publicists, But Dammit We Still Need Them

The bitter truth about Hollywood’s Oscar obsession

Most corrupt Oscar campaign

Number of television viewers of the Academy Awards ceremonies from 2000 to 2025

Why THIS Is The Worst Best Picture Winner In Oscar History

Oscar voter admits meeting Robert Downey Jr ‘tipped the scales’ for his vote

Oscar voters speak:

2025 - Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot No. 1: ‘Conclave’ for Best Picture, ‘Emilia Pérez’ Star Lost His Vote with Tweets

2024 - Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot No. 1: ‘Zone of Interest’ Is Best Picture, but Nolan Is Best Director

Indie Cinema

Don’t be fooled by all the ‘indie’ nominations – Oscars are still dominated by the big players - 2015 Article

2025 Oscars 

Emilia Perez Nomination Explained

“Emilia Pérez” is Not Good Trans Representation

REVIEW: ‘Emilia Pérez’ Hates México

*This episode was recorded before the Tate's arrived in the US*

Who is Andrew Tate? We know of him as a social media influencer, misogynist, champion of men's rights and Pimp and more. But why is he famous and what are the forces that are driving his rise and continued relevance? 

Join us as we dive into the world of the Tates, hear from their own words and see how the traditional media forms are struggling to combat his or his contemporaries. 

Video references: 

The Incredibly Satisfying Downfall of Andrew Tate

Andrew Tate Exposed: Chats document manipulation of a trafficking victim!

BBC Interview with Tate

Andrew Tate's War Room exposed by Cobratate insider

Exposing Andrew Tate's Cult Full of Losers!

I Joined Andrew Tate's $5,000 War Room for 1 Year

Articles:

I’m Andrew Tate’s audience and I know why he appeals to young men

How the Tate Brothers Came to Romania and How They First Made Contact with Organized Crime

Swallowing the Red Pill: a journey to the heart of modern misogyny

The female Andrew Tate’: the new influencer dating doctrine is extreme – but I can see why it’s popular

Yes, Andrew Tate is a misogynist, but his real game is exploiting men’s vulnerabilities for cash

This is why young men are still listening to Andrew Tate

Colleges Have a Guy Problem

Women Likely to Continue Outpacing Men in Education

Gen Z does not dream of labor

Tradwives, stay-at-home girlfriends and the dream of feminine leisure

Report:

Algorithms as a Weapon Against Women: How YouTube Lures Boys and Young Men into the ‘Manosphere’

Social Media:

@CrayonMurders

@TheMilkBarTV

@ThePAXWAX

I Don't Dream of Labour TikTok trend

To day we are looking at the much talked about Netflix global hit 'Adolescence'. 

A lot has already been said so we wanted to look at it after the dust had settled. 

We will interrogate the technical brilliance of it, the narrative and its purpose. 

Resources:

Interviews

Creator Jack Thorne REVEALS The DEEP TRUTH Behind 'Adolescence'!

Adolescence writer calls for social media regulation for kids

'Adolescence' is a Moral Panic - William Costello | Maiden Mother Matriarch Episode 133

The Truth About Incels | Ash Sarkar meets William Costello

LIVE: 'Adolescence' Co-creator Jack Thorne, Addresses Parliament on Misogyny in Media | Screen

Research:

The Mating Psychology of Incels (Involuntary Celibates): Misfortunes, Misperceptions, and Misrepresentations

Groundbreaking study reveals the dating psychology of incels

“Incels” are not particularly right-wing or white, but they are extremely depressed, anxious, and lonely, according to new research

News Articles 

What incels think of Adolescence - They feel trivialised but amplified

Adolescence: drama schools hit out at ‘stars from nowhere’ narrative

What 'Adolescence' gets right about teen boys — according to a psychologist

The Adolescence alarm: ‘If there’s a problem with boys’ behaviour, it’s because of us’

Adolescence has sparked fears over teen slang – but emoji don’t cause radicalisation

Adolescence’s message has echoed around the world – but a social media ban is the wrong move

How ‘Adolescence’ Turned A Story Of Teen Violence Into A Political Call To Action

The cringeworthiness of showing Adolescence in schools

I’m a psychologist and this is why Adolescence shouldn’t be shown in schools

The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child?