Ted Sarandos’ ‘Studio’ Appearance Is a Wink – And a Flex

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As a gamer, I’d say: Even though Rousseau advocated simplicity, he hadn’t experienced the high-pressure world of a corporate executive under constant camera scrutiny, like I do sometimes.

During this season, we discuss actors making special appearances on television shows – Kaitlyn Dever starring in The Last of Us, Jamie Lee Curtis playing a strong role as Donna on The Bear, and Melissa McCarthy embodying John Cena’s character opposite Meryl Streep in Only Murders in the Building.

At this time of year, we focus on television shows featuring guest roles by actors – Kaitlyn Dever appearing in The Last of Us, Jamie Lee Curtis taking on a significant part as Donna in The Bear, and Melissa McCarthy portraying John Cena’s character alongside Meryl Streep in Only Murders in the Building.

Topics of conversation often steer clear of TV executives making appearances on screen, as it’s typically understood that they should maintain a distance from the camera. Isn’t this the agreement – they hold the authority to dismiss anyone, and in return, we are spared their presence?

Or:

Discussions rarely involve TV executives coming on screen, for they are expected to keep their distance from the camera. It’s a trade-off – they can terminate people, but we don’t have to witness them. Is that the deal?

Currently, conversations in Hollywood and media circles are buzzing about a unique cameo that’s creating quite a stir – the one where Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos makes an appearance (at a urinal during the Golden Globes) on Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Apple TV+’s show, titled The Studio. This industry satire sees numerous Hollywood figures portraying exaggerated versions of themselves, starting with Martin Scorsese. However, among all these characters, only one high-profile executive – Sarandos – provides Rogen’s studio boss character with a lesson on how an exec can ensure contractually that they are thanked at award shows, something he himself is accustomed to.

Not only Sarandos, other members of the executive class are also making appearances on our screens this season, it seems, as this peculiar subgenre is in bloom. In Taylor Sheridan’s Landman , Jerry Jones, the owner of the Cowboys, materializes to deliver a heartfelt speech to Jon Hamm about how family has been his motivation throughout his journey.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT telecast of Knicks games has also highlighted the company’s CEO, David Zaslav. A recent first-round matchup between the Knicks and Pistons offered viewers a glimpse of Zaslav socializing with some well-known personalities. During the game at Madison Square Garden, broadcaster Ian Eagle announced, “Here at the Garden, we have John McEnroe, Paul Rudd, and David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.” These three men all seem to be influential figures in popular culture. Later in the playoffs, the camera cut to Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, and once more, Zaslav. It would have been amusing if Zaslav had imitated Sarandos and appeared on ESPN, but instead, it felt odd due to the fact that WBD has recently relinquished live basketball broadcasting rights.

Brandon Tartikoff initiated this trend, and we can credit his late memory for it. As an NBC trailblazer, he made numerous appearances in various shows, one of which was on “Saved by the Bell,” where he joined Screech and others to poke fun at the concept of a school sitcom and even mock the intuitions of TV executives.

The guest appearance in a show, known as a “cameo,” is an unusual character, intended to make characters more relatable but often achieving the opposite effect. This kind of role requires significant importance, as making fun of oneself is only possible for notable figures. For instance, Tartikoff approved that specific program, and it became successful, which suggests his involvement. Notably, when Bill Gates appeared on “The Big Bang Theory” or Mark Zuckerberg on “The Simpsons,” they maintained a straightforward portrayal, avoiding boastful comments.

Specifically, Sarandos is worth highlighting as he seems to be poking fun at himself. He’s giving us a peek behind the scenes (or allowing Rogen to give us a peek) into the apprehensions of high-earning executives in today’s world of Wall Street and social media scrutiny. Sarandos points out that an executive needs recognition because it’s the only way people will become aware of their involvement with a particular project.

However, similar to other guest appearances, what makes the executive’s cameo entertaining is also what makes it irritating, as it represents a strong display of self-deprecating arrogance. The humor lies in their ability to laugh at themselves, despite the fact that appearing on camera necessitates taking oneself seriously. And let me clarify, showing up on a rival’s program can be seen as a show of strength.

To add to this, it’s interesting to note that Rogen disclosed an intent by Apple to feature Tim Cook in the scene rather than Sarandos. While it’s reasonable for a company to seek self-promotion, one has to wonder if the CEO of one of the world’s major tech companies really needs the attention from a fictional Golden Globes bathroom? Or perhaps the issue was avoiding drawing attention to a rival executive within Apple’s viewership.

Always stirring up trouble, Rogen isn’t shy about sharing this idea but also boldly advocates that Apple should push for an Emmys campaign featuring Sarandos – “let him take a nomination from one of their own shows,” he told Mikey O’Connell at THR.

Unfortunately, at the moment, Netflix doesn’t seem to have any strong contenders for the Guest Actor in a Comedy category. Moreover, it appears that Ted Sarandos won’t be campaigning from Apple. Fortunately, many talented actors are making guest appearances this season without any hidden agendas, which is truly refreshing.

However, this scenario raises an intriguing query: Would Sarandos be legally bound to acknowledge Tim Cook if he happens to win, given any contractual agreements?

You can find this article in the June 4 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. If you’d like to receive future issues, consider subscribing by clicking here.

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2025-06-05 20:26