Q4 Affiliate Must Dos
Vol. 167: Plus, tons of NewZ
HelloZ
Does anyone else watch something on TV and immediately have to do a deep dive on the characters, the actors, and the story in general? I’m full engrossed in the Kyle and Erik Menendez series on Netflix called “Monsters.” Last night, in the spare time that I had at around midnight, I started researching about each brother and about their marriages(!) from behind bars. I read about how one of the singers from Menudo recently admitted to being molested by the Jose Menendez, the boys’ father. I don’t want to spoil too much (although likely you already know), but he (along with their mother) was allegedly a big part of the brothers’ traumatic childhood. There are Instagram accounts dedicated to helping to free the Lyle and Erik, who have tried multiple times to appeal their sentence, which is currently 30 years without the possibility of parole. With the new information about this alleged Menudo abuse, supporters of the brothers offer it as additional “justification” to their actions.
Do you agree?
Turning the conversation to a topic that didn’t even exist during the Lyle and Erik Menendez Brothers case, let’s talk about affiliate marketing in Q4. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know and prepare for your brand/clients, as well as some trends that are important to know as you build out your marketing calendars. So read on and take notes. I’ll give you key dates, what to ask your clients, and things to prep in advance.
Let’s go people!
Oh! And if you’re not in my Slack Community, then where you at?!
NewZ and ShowZ
Anyone else obsessed with the Menendez case? Just days after slamming Ryan Murphy’s true-crime drama series – “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” – as “inaccurate,” the currently incarcerated Menendez boys will participate in a new Netflix documentary series about their crimes. According to reports, “The Menendez Brothers” will debut on the streamer on October 7. According to Netflix, both brothers will revisit the trial in their own words.
Meanwhile, Ryan Murphy defended his Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” saying that he found it “interesting” that Menendez issued a statement against the series without seeing the show, according to reports. Murphy said that it is “really, really hard if it’s your life, to see your life up on screen.” Still, Murphy defended the series depiction of the brothers, who were convicted in 1996 of the shotgun murders of their parents and are currently serving life sentences, adding that the bulk of the film centers around the abuse they claim they were subjected to by their parents.
National Geographic’s documentary special “The Devil’s Climb” will premiere October 17 at 9p on National Geographic and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. From Plimsoll Productions, “The Devil’s Climb” follows world-class rock climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell on an epic expedition to summit Devil’s Thumb, a legendary 9,000-foot peak in the Alaskan wilderness surrounded by old-growth rainforest and known as one of the most dangerous mountains in North America. This is HILARIOUS BECAUSE it was one of the hikes I was considering for the fam during out trip. Good thing we didn’t do it. Ha!
Investigation Discovery is in production on a docuseries exploring the rise and influence of the rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and the allegations of violent behavior and illegal activity that have trailed him. Maxine Productions (“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”) and IPC are producing the series in association with Rolling Stone films. Combs was arrested on September 17 in New York on federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty, was denied bail and is being detained as he awaits trial. The multipart docuseries is set to premiere in 2025 on ID and Max.
Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, Camino Partners and Builders Movement, is joining the panel of Sharks on the upcoming 16th season of “Shark Tank,” premiering October 18 at 8p on ABC. A guest Shark for the past five seasons, Lubetzky joins Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran; Lori Greiner; Robert Herjavec; Daymond John; and Kevin O’Leary.
“Saturday Night Live” will return for its 50th season on September 28, with host Jean Smart (“Hacks”) and musical guest Jelly Roll. On October 5, comedian Nate Bargatze will host with musical guest Coldplay, followed by Ariana Grande and Stevie Nicks on October 12 and Michael Keaton and Billie Eilish on October 19. John Mulaney will host on November 2 with musical guest Chappell Roan.
President Joe Biden is scheduled to join “The View” on Wednesday, the first time a sitting president has taped a live segment for the ABC talk show. The appearance also is the first television interview for Biden since he spoke during the first night of the Democratic National Convention in August.
Rapper and actor Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s docuseries about Sean “Diddy” Combs has landed at Netflix, and is currently in production, reports Variety. Jackson had announced plans for the docuseries in May. Combs has been indicted on counts of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Affiliate Marketing in Q4
To any brands or agencies still here (and not bingeing “Monsters,” consider this a bit of a cheat sheet and checklist in advance of Q4. Freebie pro-tip: most publishers do not accept new partners in Q4, so if you’re keen on growing your list of active affiliates, it’s best to have started the prospecting yesterday.