Inside the Amazon Upfront: There’s No Escaping Walton Goggins

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Amazon aimed to become the trendy advertising companion during their event at the Beacon Theater on Monday evening, following a high-decibel DJ performance by Steve Aoki.

Maybe the aspiring pizza business owner, after spending a tediously long day watching NBCUniversal and Fox, was told to ensure the incoming crowd stayed awake. Whether people were frustrated or charmed by Aoki, it seemed the audience was content with the spontaneous Lizzo performance that ensued. Accompanied by David Bautista and Jason Momoa (co-stars from Amazon MGM Studios’ The Wrecking Crew) on stage, the flutist confidently walked through the lobby, down the central aisle, and onto the stage while performing “About Damn Time.” It was the most impressive gathering of talent that week had to offer so far.

Amazon’s proposition is quite simple: Everyone already has it, so let’s skip the details and move straight to the dazzling array of options that await! Notable figures like Jason Kelce, Travis Kelce, Octavia Spencer, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Cena, and Elizabeth Banks graced the event. However, statistics were not entirely absent. Tanner Elton, Vice President of US Advertising Sales, pointed out that the U.S. audience on the ad-supported tier has grown to a staggering 130 million.

As I stood there, basking in the vibrant glow of the spotlight, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. This was my debut on the Amazon Upfront stage, and I was eager to showcase the exceptional talent we had amassed. Courtenay Valenti, the head of film, streaming, and theatrical at MGM Studios (Amazon or otherwise), had dubbed this gathering as a celebration of “the very best.”

Following in the footsteps of my esteemed predecessor, Jennifer Salke, I introduced the gathered crowd with pride. This was more than just a pep rally; it was a testament to our collective passion and dedication, ready to ignite the gaming world.

Instead of the Beacon possibly filling the vast room with air comparable to Delta Airlines’ oxygen supply, the crowd appeared genuinely excited by the parade of actors. The mere utterance of Michael B. Jordan, there to announce his upcoming series within the “Creed universe,” was enough to elicit a scream from one woman before the star of Sinners even emerged from behind the curtain. With only a few exceptions, the applause didn’t compare to what Walton Goggins received when he arrived accompanied by Ella Purnell and Aaron Moton from their series, Fallout. He seldom spoke, instead raising his arms to encourage more cheers. Despite being hidden under grotesque makeup and lacking a nose on the post-apocalyptic drama, Amazon is pleased to be collaborating with the rising star of The White Lotus. The event also brought word that a third season had already been commissioned — six months before the second one is slated to debut.

However, Goggins is still a typical human being, relatively speaking, next to Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor and former governor of California was in high spirits during an interview promoting his Christmas film “The Man With the Bag”, as he transformed the discussion into a comedic monologue about the movie’s release. “Jingle All the Way is the best Christmas movie ever made,” the ex-California governor commented, disregarding movies like Home Alone and Elf, which he referred to vaguely. “They play it every day in December. I know because my ex-wife reminds me about the royalties.

It seems that signing up to play Santa in the Amazon MGM Studios film was done by Schwarzenegger, perhaps out of consideration for Maria Shriver’s joy.

Discussing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wives, it was Jamie Lee Curtis who managed to coax him off the stage. Though she was primarily there to promote her upcoming series Scarpetta, alongside Nicole Kidman, an unexpected and partly planned/improvised moment with Schwarzenegger led to more laughter.

Schwarzenegger pointed out that he believes this situation amounts to elder abuse,” he later expressed, showing appreciation for a recent 60 Minutes piece featuring his old colleague and friend.

Initially, there was a hint that they might reveal a follow-up to True Lies. However, instead of disclosing that, Curtis shared an unexpected tale about how co-starring with Schwarzenegger on the first film significantly boosted her career, despite his contract specifying individual billing.

She warned that the people behind the scenes might get very anxious, then tugged on his sleeve and asked, “Are you prepared to conclude this part of the show?

Alan Moss, who holds the position of Vice President of Global Advertising Sales at Amazon, was unfortunate as he had to wrap up the event following the audition of Schwarzenegger and Curtis, which is known for hosting awards shows. He attempted to conclude the presentation with a focus on business discussions, but it seemed that the time for discussing ‘full funnel advertising’ had already passed.

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2025-05-13 04:24