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Something funny is happening at Hulu.
(Indeed,Shrillhas already snagged a renewal.)
All three of the new comedies youve launched in 2019 have debuted to great reviews and buzz.
You want shows that are relevant.
You want shows that reflect the culture.
You want to hear people talking about them on line at Starbucks.
Entertainment first, right?
So those are ingredients that we look for.
Is it also about driving sign-ups?Yeah, you have to create something of value.
You have to create a reason for people to talk about it.
These shows all go toward building up Hulu as a brand that people have to have in their lives.
A lot of your other success had been with dramas.
So, thats No.
1: Theres a base of viewership that can launch success.
I assume, as with other streaming services, some of your choices are informed by data.
So one of the jobs of our originals is to provide a broad slate.
So I dont know how many people watchedDifficult PeopleorCasual, because you dont give out ratings.
Why do you think that is?Hulu has had massive growth over the last few years.
Last year, we were the fastest-growing streaming service.
You basically have converted and deputized more evangelists for Hulu and for the shows that were championing.
The other thing that weve learned is, each show has to be the best version of itself.
We just want them to be the most fully realized versions of themselves.
Thats where weve had the greatest programming success.
WithRamy,being a millennial was very specific to the theme of the show.
You said youre not looking to serve niche audiences with your shows.
We are looking to be entertainment first.
Look atThe Act,for instance.
That show has multiple audiences.
Generationally, its a mother-daughter story.
Genre-wise, its for true-crime fans.
And critics have really flocked to it.
Youve already ordered a second season ofShrill.
What can you say about renewals forPEN15andRamy?I would say the prospects ofPEN15are looking very promising.Ramyjust premiered.
You see us give second seasons to shows that have served the objectives of our originals.
Whats the backstory forShrill,PEN15, andRamylanding at Hulu?
That was a show we knew we had to have.
There is a tradition of some success here with female-driven comedies.
We were looking for the heir toThe Mindy Project,and that was one of them.
Its a very competitive marketplace.
But it has to be driven by our passion and our belief.
Were not competitive for the sake of winning something.
You dont just write checks.Well, were happy to write checks for the must-have talent and the must-have stories.
Im not trying to say money isnt always a big consideration.
You have to create an environment where people can do their best work.
When you talk about the success ofCasualandDifficult People, we made a good environment for those creators.
The other thing thats really important is that we market our shows.
Were out there telling the world, Hey, were really excited about this.
Im curious about the marketing strategy behind the launches of these three comedies.
The Handmaids Talewas an instant awards-season player after its first season.
How intense will your Emmy campaigns be for the half-hours?Were going to be aggressive where appropriate.
It is no secret its a very competitive game.
Emmys and nominations are definitely a validation.
What about a multi-camera comedy?
Your library includes a lot of really successful traditional half-hours such asThe Golden Girls.
Its really, Whats the show about?
And we have some of the great multi-camera sitcoms of all time on Hulu that new generations are discovering.
I dont think thats how people make viewing decisions.
So, yes: Right creator, right show?
We would happily do a multi-cam.
Anything in development on that front?We have some in development.
We havent greenlit any.
There are Hulu viewers who love comedy.
Thats what they want to watch most of the time.
And we need to check that that theyre happy.
One of your first original comedies wasThe Awesomes, which was an adult animation show.
There is a massive hunger and appreciation for that form.
It certainly creates opportunities to launch the next generation of hits.
And we will continue to be aggressive and selective about what we undertake.
How isAnimaniacscoming along?I saw the first animatic and I loved it.
You know,Animaniacswas originally a show that kids and their parents could watch together.
And I think this new incarnation of it is going to do exactly the same.
Its been massively successful.
Would you keep the name and producers?It really depends on the details.
Our focus right now is, Whats that story?
We could develop that story outside of that banner with other producers.
The title, the franchise, the organizing principle of the franchise is not going to drive the decision.
Youve announced theVeronica Marsrevival will debut this summer.
Weve ordered a limited run of it.
The Handmaids Taleis also returning this summer for season three.
Right now, I think theyre incredibly vibrant and vital.
There are things in season three that are going to astound people.
The franchise is at the top of its game.
What do you think this will mean for Hulu?It provides a tremendous opportunity for Hulu.
The Walt Disney Company has been tremendously supportive of both our strategy and of our momentum.
You dont become the fastest growing SVOD service last year without the support of and alignment with your owners.
So I dont think its an impediment towards creativity.
If there are advertisers who want to opt out of more mature content, we can facilitate that.
