Hollywood is at a breaking point—and audiences can feel it.
On In the Tank Podcast #522, Linnea Lueken, Jim Lakely, Chris Talgo, S.T. Karnick, and Donald Kendal dig into what’s reshaping movies and TV right now: DEI-era gatekeeping, studios quietly changing course, shrinking opportunities for creators, and the growing role of AI in entertainment.
They’re joined by Christian Toto, returning for his fifth annual appearance, to break down how Hollywood’s incentives filtered out creative voices—and why so many films now feel safe, preachy, and lifeless.
The panel also tackles Disney’s new AI deal involving OpenAI’s Sora platform and what it means for writers, actors, and storytelling itself. Plus: the crew runs through their “Unhinged” list of the worst movies and TV of 2025—and what might actually be worth watching next.
If Hollywood has lost its edge, this episode explores why—and what comes next.
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Chapters:
00:33 Intro
01:57 Special Guest Introduction
03:55 Support Our Sponsor!
05:50 Unhinged: Worst Movies of 2025
22:08 Film Affected By DEI
49:15 AI in Movies? Good or Bad?
1:19:25 The Future of Movies: Embracing The Experience
STORIES COVERED ON THE SHOW:
DEI To Blame? - Writers and other roles in movie companies are being filtered by DEI politics in Hollywood. Does this have an effect on the quality of films?
https://www.compactmag.com/article/the-lost-generation/
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/hollywood-drops-dei-programs-donald-trump-disney-paramount-amazon-1236327202/
AI in Movies - Where is it good, and Where does it suck?
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-openai-sora-agreement/
https://archive.ph/2xtns
Optimism for the Future: the best films of 2025, what to look forward to in 2026 and beyond.
https://x.com/vegasstarfish/status/1961588349799731453
https://www.imdb.com/calendar/
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