Welcome back to The Clubhouse!

This week, we’re talking about how great it can be just to free yourself from the new release treadmill in a world constantly vying for your attention.

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Getting off the new release treadmill is such a relief

by Liam Nolan

When you work in media, it’s really easy to get caught up on the new release treadmill. The industry essentially requires that you keep up with everything in your wheelhouse, because you might have to write about it. You’ve also got to watch and play things you might not have otherwise, just to see if maybe there’s some potential.

I know a lot of folks in the real world who are caught in the same sort of loop. It feels like there’s always something coming down the pipe that we’re supposed to be incredibly excited for and spend a ton of money on. The problem is, the new release treadmill is exhausting.

I’m in a bit of a special position in the industry at this point in that there’s a lot less I have to do in terms of day-to-day coverage. Instead, my job as an editor is much more about looking at the bigger picture and having people do some of the legwork for me. At the same time, I’ve generally tried to keep up on the biggest things, especially when they’re in my wheelhouse. It’s absolutely a special place to be in that not everyone is in.

In January, I decided to take the month off trying to keep up on things. I gave myself permission to just watch, read, and play what had been in my backlog for some time, and it was genuinely really relaxing.

Media is supposed to be able, among other things, help us unwind and relax. However, when it feels like we have to keep up with it in a way that’s almost competitive, it loses those qualities. Watching Marvel movies shouldn’t be work, watching Star Wars TV shows shouldn’t be work.

So I guess my advice for this week is make sure to take some time for yourself and pick up that thing you’ve been meaning to pick up. You won’t regret it.

Here are some recent posts over at TMS that you shouldn’t miss:

• Marvel’s AI controversy proves audiences actually hate AI, yet it won’t go away by Sarah Barrett

• ‘The DOGE Team is rebelling against this:’ DOGE fan gets dunked on for coming for a Laura Dern character by Rachel Leishman

• Netflix reportedly isn’t supporting Karla Sofía Gascón at the Oscars by Rachel Leishman

• ‘Be on the right side of history, coward’: ‘Terrifier’ creator just admitted the gory horror franchise has no ‘political’ meaning, and fans aren’t happy by Olivia Rolls

• ‘Not letting robots dream for us’: Nic Cage’s anti-AI stance is the alarm Hollywood needs 

INTERVIEW SPOTLIGHT

Have you seen these interviews? Make sure you’re caught up with the convos TMS is having with the folks behind our favorite stories!

Here are some other chats that aren’t to be missed:

• Will Forte and Brianne Howey on rom com moments and 'Kinda Pregnant'

• Julianne Nicholson and Sarah Shahi on mysteries, twists, and 'Paradise'

• Danny Pudi and Imani Hakim on where their characters are and season 4 of 'Mythic Quest'

• Nicole Brydon Bloom, Krys Marshall, and Jon Beavers on 'Paradise'

• Megan Ganz and Ashly Burch on making fans cry and 'Mythic Quest' season 4

Thoughts? Ideas? Reply to this email to tell us how we’re doing and what you’d like to see!