Too Much TV: Some Conversation About 'Shark Whisperer'
Don't let the provocative name keep you from watching this Netflix documentary
Here's everything you need to know about the world of television for Monday, June 30th 2025:
PRODUCTION NOTES
I wanted to give all of you the heads-up that this will be an abbreviated week of newsletters, due to the 4th of July holiday weekend. Not only will there be very little happening in Hollywood this week, a lot of people won't even be looking at their email - and that's a good thing!
I have a number of interviews to post tomorrow and Wednesday, which I'll also excerpt and highlight in the newsletters. But Wednesday will be last newsletter until next Monday, July 7th. And speaking of that week, I'll be at SRCCON on July 10th and 11th. It's in Minneapolis this year, and I don't often get the opportunity to attend a major journalism event in my hometown. So if you plan on attending, please reach out so we can connect in real life.
AN INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTORS OF 'SHARK WHISPERER'
The new Netflix documentary Shark Whisperer premiered today and while the name is provocative, it's also an accurate representation of what you'll see. The film tells the story of Ocean Ramsey, whose viral videos of swimming freely with sharks have sparked global fascination—and fierce debate. The documentary is a fascinating look at what drives her desire to change the way people see sharks.
I had the opportunity to speak with the films directors, James Reed, J.P. Stiles & Harrison Macks, and it was a great glimpse into how the documentary came together. Here's a brief sample of the conversation:
One of the things that surprised me about the film is that at the core of it, it's really a love story. Not just a love story of Ocean and the sharks, but with Juan and Ocean. And Juan, he's very circumspect about his relationship, it sounds like. There's a moment where he says, "I don't know why she doesn't talk to me." And he just sort of pauses and you'd love to be able to drill into his brain a little bit. But it's a unique, loving relationship. And that comes across really well in the documentary.
James Reed: It is kind of a love story. I think how we view it is not, certainly not just a love story involving Ocean and Juan.
It's a love story about them and their love for the sharks as well. And then how you deal with that when you sort of fall in love with something that is so demonized by the general public. What do you do about that?
What lengths are you prepared to go individually or as a couple? And definitely the fact that it's a story about both of them and they play such a critical role in what they're trying to do for sharks and changing the perceptions of sharks. But equally, that brings them into a little bit of conflict.
But if you're doing something that you both know has risks and is relatively dangerous, but you obviously care so much about each other, you have to watch each other in situations that carry more risk than your average job. So that was a very interesting element. And we were excited to weave that through.
There's a practical reason for it, like JP says, everything was recorded by Juan, like their roles. This is a little bit meta, but it's their archive, but their archive is their story as well. So they've recorded these things in order to use them. But we all found their relationship is very sweet, but it's very fascinating as well.
GREAT STORY ABOUT ICE RAIDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE EXAMPLES...
The Wrap's Sharon Waxman has a really good piece about the impact that random ICE raids are having on both Hollywood specifically, and Southern California in general. Although this example of the impact is almost laughably Hollywood:
The man swimming laps next to me in the public pool in Santa Monica paused at the edge of the limpid water and sighed. A fifth-generation Angeleno of Chinese descent, Colin said he’s been driving his two daughters to their activities all over town – today is swim team training — because their nanny won’t.
The nannies will not come out of the house. He said: “It’s like Anne Frank or something.”
The nannies in this town are mostly Hispanic and like so many other Latinos doing important jobs in our community, they’re now living in a state of terror. Because ICE agents will pick up anyone with brown skin, regardless of whether they are legal or not, and sometimes even if they are American. It doesn’t seem to matter.
Regardless, I don't think people outside of Southern California realize the impact these random raids are having on the area's businesses. It doesn't matter if you're here legally or even an American citizen. Looking Hispanic is enough of a reason to be grabbed and at best that means hours or days at an ICE facility before they can secure release. And with DHS admitting that 80 American citizens have already been illegally deported, there's no guarantee they won't end up in some unfamiliar country, trying to get back into the United States.
PHILADELPHIA CHEF SUES GUY FIERI OVER 'BROKEN PROMISES'
While you might not remember the Food Network 2021 series Guy's Chance Of A Lifetime, it was another one those "marketing for Guy Fieri disguised as entertainment programming" shows that continue to litter the network. In the series, Guy Fieri that pitted chefs against each other in tasks like frying chicken, operating a pop-up, and developing a new milkshake. The winner was supposed to receive a Chicken Guy franchise with franchise fees waived; assistance with the build-out of the space for the franchise; any operational expenses after the first year that exceeded the revenue of that first year; $10,000 to be applied to any necessary legal expenses; and a guaranteed minimum salary for the first year of $100,000.
But according to Philadelphia Magazine, winner Kevin Cooper is now suing Gut Fieri, claiming he never received most of the things he was promised:
Now, Cooper is taking Guy Fieri and associated companies to court. Cooper has filed a federal lawsuit in Philadelphia against Chicken Guy LLC and Earl Enterprises LLC. He alleges that the defendants never paid him the $100,000 minimum salary despite numerous requests for it and that they likewise failed to cover the operational expenses that exceeded revenue during the first year. According to the lawsuit, those expenses total close to $69,000 and include close to $39,000 in Pennsylvania sales tax alone.
The suit accuses the defendants of breach of contract and asks for a judgment totaling the minimum salary and expenses. A spokesperson for Fieri didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
As the magazine notes, one problem with the restaurant might have been that every other Chicken Guy franchise in Pennsylvania has shut down:
With the closures of Chicken Guy at KOP, Guy Fieri’s Restaurant & Bar at Harrah’s in Chester, and Guy’s Taco Joint at Live Casino in South Philadelphia, that leaves just one Guy Fieri operation in the region: the tiny Chicken Guy stand at Resorts in Atlantic City. Maybe Philly is trying to tell you something, Guy?
Maybe it's time for some documentary producer to do a Dark Side Of Competitive TV series. Whatever happened to the people who have won various competitive TV shows over the years? Everything from The Apprentice to The Voice to Next Level Chef. I am available as a consultant.
WHO ARE THE K-POP DEMON HUNTERS AND WHY IS THEIR MUSIC CHARTING THIS WEEK?
It might not be on your radar, but the animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters isn't just a success on Netflix (it's currently that streamer's #2 most-watched movie), but it also spawning a surge in sales from the movie's soundtrack:
The album debuts at No. 8 on the latest Billboard 200 chart with 31,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S., according to Luminate, marking the highest debut for a soundtrack of 2025. The only other soundtrack to spend any time in the top 10 this year is Wicked, which peaked at No. 2 in December and hung around into January.
Two songs from the 12-track soundtrack debut on the Hot 100 this week:
“Your Idol,” credited to Saja Boys, Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo and samUIL Lee (No. 77)
“Golden,” credited to HUNTR/X, EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami (No. 81)
The debuts mark the first-ever Hot 100 entries for all 10 credited artists, including the fictional groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys.
More songs from the soundtrack also reach our global charts. On the Global 200, “Golden” and “Your Idol” place at Nos. 52 and 73, respectively, followed by “How It’s Done” (No. 104), “Soda Pop” (No. 119), “What It Sounds Like” (No. 151) and “Free” (No. 155).
This is type of cross-promotion that used to be Disney's specialty. There is a market for this type of music and Netflix now has the reach of one of the old-school linear networks such as the Disney Channel. You are going to see a lot more of this in the future.
PAUL FEIG STEPS UP
The Ankler is reporting that director Paul Feig is donating $100,000 to the National Immigration Law Center:
The inhumane and cruel persecution of immigrants in our communities is unconscionable and unacceptable,” Feig said in a statement shared exclusively with The Ankler. “In Los Angeles and across the country, the hardworking people we interact with every day are sincere in their desire to build a rewarding life in the U.S. for themselves and their families. Their pursuit of the American Dream is precisely what our country was built on. After all, what’s more American than trying to make it in America? Instead of stoking fear and resentment, our country’s leaders should pursue immigration policies based on a fundamental truth: immigrants make us stronger.
ODDS AND SODS
* If you have trouble figuring out where you can stream your favorite recent theatrical film, this handy guide should help.
* The award-winning documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics is coming to Netflix on Monday, July 14th and while it centers on the story of the rise of religious-based politics in Brazil, it's difficult to watch it and not see echoes in what the United States is currently experiencing. Here is the official logline: "When does a democracy end, and theocracy begin? Apocalypse in the Tropics investigates the increasingly powerful grip that evangelical Christian leaders hold over politics in Brazil. Weaving together past and present, the film holds a mirror up to the rest of the world." And here is a first look at the trailer.
* The Norwegian-produced Netflix film Troll was a lot of fun, so I'm interested in seeing Troll 2, which is set to premiere Monday, December 1st. Here is the brief logline: "When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet." And here is a first look at the movie.
* Proving that Hulu Live TV's "TV For You" suggestions are just some weird combination of marketing priorities and random things, it's currently recommending I watch Andor, Classic Popeye The Sailor, Blackadder and Britain In Color.
* If you wondered what Jonathan LaPaglia has been up to recently, among other things he has been the host of Australian Survivor for the past nine seasons. Now he said in an Instagram post that he won't be hosting after the upcoming seasons, revealing he's been fired because of slumping ratings for the show.
* HBO Max has picked up Japanese drama Love Is For The Dogs for international streaming.
* Season two of The Chicken Sisters will premiere Sunday, August 10th on Hallmark.
* Miley Cyrus: Something Beautiful, the full-length visual companion to Miley Cyrus’ latest album, will launch July 16th on Disney+ and Hulu in the U.S. The film will also be available internationally on Disney+ - streaming July 16th in Canada and July 30th in EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.
* The Jason Bateman and Jude Law limited series Black Rabbit will premiere Thursday, September 18th on Netflix.
TWEET OF THE DAY
WHAT'S NEW TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
TUESDAY, JULY 1ST:
* Attack On London: Hunting The 7/7 Bombers (Netflix)
* Detectives These Days Are Crazy! Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Frontline: Syria After Assad (PBS)
* My Big Fat Fabulous Life Season Premiere (TLC)
* Necronomico And The Cosmic Horror Show Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Rent-A-Girlfriend (Crunchyroll)
* Squatters (A&E)
* The Lost Series Premiere (MHz Choice)
* The Secret Lives Of Mormon Wives Reunion Special (Hulu)
* Trainwreck: The Cult Of American Apparel (Netflix)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2ND:
* American Pickers Season Premiere (History)
* Clevatess Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Dora (Paramount+)
* Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues (Nickelodeon)
* Dora And The Search For Sol Dorado (Nickelodeon)
* Heads Of State (Prime Video)
* New State Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Nine Perfect Strangers Season Two Finale (Hulu)
* Onmyo Kaiten Re:Birth Verse Series Premiere (Crunchyroll)
* Reborn As A Vending Machine, I Now Wander The Dungeon (Crunchyroll)
* The Old Guard 2 (Netflix)
* Tour de France: Unchained (Netflix)
SEE YOU ON TUESDAY!