RIP James Valentine. He was an inspiration. My inspiration.
We lost James Valentine to oesophageal cancer today. He died at the age of 64, just a few months after stepping down from his longtime on-air radio role on ABC in Sydney.
Many in Australian media will be devastated by the news, knowing him to be a very good, genuine man who was passionate about music and culture. Many who have listened to Valentine will be equally upset – he was beloved across multiple generations from the older listeners who knew him from the radio, through to younger (but now older) fans of his work on 90s TV shows like The Afternoon Show.
He impacted my life through hosting TVTV through the mid 90s. This was a TV show on the ABC focused on taking a critical eye to the business and content of television. It will be to the surprise of no one that I watched this show daily and absolutely loved it. James Valentine was a regular host on the show. He was my favourite host on the show.
TVTV is my origin story and few people have had an impact on my life as indirectly as James Valentine did.
I got to meet him once, interviewing him for…. I actually don’t know what. Was it the Televised Revolution podcast back in the day? A story for Mediaweek? I’m not entirely sure. But at one point I told him about what an impact he has had on my life and he was incredibly gracious and nice about it. Even if I, undoubtedly, came across as an oddball.
About a year or two ago he began subscribing to the Always Be Watching newsletter, which felt like a snake eating its own tail in a sense. Know that I was f**king thrilled to bits when I saw he had signed up.
I’m exceptionally sad today that he has passed away. I’m not alone. He impacted so many of us in so many varied ways.
You can read about him at the ABC.
News Desk
James Mangold is set to co-write, direct, and EP a show based on his (very good) 1997 film Cop Land. His co-writer is Robert Levine, the co-creator of The Old Man. Levine is expected to showrun. Read: Deadline
Mr Beast’s company has been sued by a former executive, claiming sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination. Read: THR
Titus Welliver (Bosch) is joining the season four cast of The Night Agent. Read: Deadline
25 minutes of Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, the big screen spin-off from the Disney+ streaming show, will be screened at fan events globally on IMAX May 4. Read: THR
For Earth Day, Netflix is talking up its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint on some original productions. Read: Variety
Parker Posey will host a new reality show for Hulu in which contestants engage in mob-related jobs. Read: THR
Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler will play Ricardo ‘Rico’ Tubbs and James ‘Sonny’ Crockett in the new film adaptation of Miami Vice. Titled Miami Vice ‘85, it’ll be set in the mid 80s and adapt elements of the first season of the TV show. I look forward to seeing a further 84 instalments, making the title of the first really confusing. Read: Variety
Eriq Gardner at Puck reports that Netflix may be quietly interfering with the Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Read: Puck
With SNL UK ratings dropping by a third on UK broadcaster Sky, I’m not convinced that touting social numbers actually addresses the reason the show was commissioned, which was to drive subscribers and viewers to the pay TV service. Read: Deadline
Trailer Park
The Vampire Lestat, a retitled third season of Interview With The Vampire, debuts on AMC June 7.
Send Help, seen in cinemas earlier this year, debuts on Hulu and Disney+ May 7.
We’ll Be Fine is streaming now on Hulu.
Some love stories don't just consume you... they undo you.
Clayface is a new DC Studios body horror film. It borrows a lot of elements not from the Batman comics it is based on, but from the version of Clayface seen in the iconic 90s Batman: The Animated Series. It’s out in cinemas Oct 23.
The trailer for the planned-to-be-vaulted-for-tax-reasons Coyote Vs ACME has just been released. It looks… eh… I think I see why Warner Bros didn’t think this had theatrical viability…
It’ll be released into cinemas August 28.
Broad Trip debuts May 8 on The Roku Channel.
When buttoned-up daughter Alice (Sophia Bush) plans a "bachelorette" road trip with her wild and impulsive mother Jeanie (Lauren Holly) to talk her out of marrying a guy she just met (Steve Guttenberg), they rediscover their unbreakable bond and confront old wounds and old flames, while learning the lesson that sometimes life doesn't follow a plan - and maybe that's okay.
My Dearest Senorita debuts on Netflix May 1
A young woman from a traditional family learns she's intersex, sparking a journey of self-discovery, gender identity and love found in unexpected places.
Shut Your Big Fat Mouth John Safran debuts on SBS May 24.
In an effort to explore how Australia navigates issues of offence in 2026, Safran seeks out a diverse range of Australians who have been accused of going too far, including sex worker, porn creator, and brand ambassador, Blue-Eyed Kayla Jade, a Nazi with political ambitions, and an exorcist in a tangle with the law.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
Consider becoming a paid supporter of Always Be Watching.
Connect with Dan on Bluesky. Connect with Dan on Letterboxd. Connect with Dan on Linkedin. Challenge him on the NYT word game Crossplay. Email Dan @ alwaysbewatching.com or just reply to this email.
