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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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Updated: 24 min 45 sec ago

The founder of E! says Hollywood is still making content for the wrong screen

Fri, 06/26/2026 - 03:07

When Larry Namer co-founded E! Entertainment Television in 1987, the future of entertainment looked a lot like cable. Nearly four decades later, he thinks it looks like a smartphone held upright.

Speaking at VidCon 2026, the television executive behind one of pop culture's most recognizable brands made a simple argument: the entertainment industry has a habit of clinging to old formats long after audiences have moved on. Whether it's cable, streaming, AI, or vertical video, Namer argues that entertainment has always rewarded companies willing to follow audience behavior rather than trying to change it.

SEE ALSO: VidCon 2026: Live updates from the internet's biggest weekend

"I think storytelling is storytelling," Namer said. "It's just the technology for delivering that story...is very different. Audience behavior is very different."

That philosophy has shaped much of his career. Today, it's leading him to make a prediction that still feels radical in much of Hollywood — by 2030, vertical, short-form video will become the primary way people consume entertainment.

His reasoning isn't based on trends or hype. It's based on habit.

Namer recalled producing a celebrity news show in China and discovering that nearly three-quarters of the audience watched it on a phone or tablet. The realization prompted a simple question for his production team. "Why are we shooting horizontal when everybody watches us vertical?"

The team rethought everything — from lighting to framing to how hosts moved on camera — to create a show designed for the screen audiences were already using. For Namer, it was common sense.

That mindset also explains why he says he wouldn't launch a traditional cable network today.

Asked whether he would build another E!, Namer said he still believes there's enormous demand for celebrity culture and entertainment news. He just wouldn't package it the same way.

"I would launch it in a non-linear fashion," he said, arguing that audiences expect to watch what they want, when they want, and on whatever device they happen to be holding.

It's a philosophy that extends well beyond vertical video.

AI and entertainment's future

When the conversation turned to artificial intelligence, Namer offered a familiar warning for legacy media companies: stop fighting it.

He compared today's AI skepticism to the music industry's resistance to digital distribution two decades ago. Labels spent years trying to stop the inevitable, he argued, only to surrender control of the business to platforms like Spotify and iTunes. He sees traditional media making a similar mistake by treating AI as something that can simply be ignored.

"Technology marches on whether you like it or not," he said. Yet, that doesn't mean he's advocating for unchecked innovation.

Throughout the conversation with Antony Gordon, the founder of Lighthouse Edutainment, Namer repeatedly returned to the responsibilities that come with building media. He spoke at length about AI guardrails, the mental health challenges facing young people, and the need for platforms to prioritize social good alongside profit. Governments, he argued, should establish rules for AI much like they regulate driving, with clear standards and real consequences for abuse.

His outlook on creators was similarly pragmatic.

Rather than chasing fame for its own sake, Namer encouraged attendees to focus on mastering a skill. "Follow your passion" may be common career advice, he joked, but landlords don't accept sweaters as rent. Success, he argued, comes from becoming exceptionally good at something and using that success to create the freedom to pursue what you love.

Namer's vision of the future of entertainment feels remarkably grounded. He isn't arguing that vertical video will replace great storytelling. He's arguing that storytelling has always adapted to the way audiences live. Television replaced radio. Streaming disrupted cable. Smartphones reshaped how people watch.

Vertical video, in his view, is simply the next evolution.

And if history is any indication, the companies that embrace that shift first will define entertainment's next chapter.

Mashable is reporting live from VidCon 2026 in Anaheim. Follow our coverage for creator interviews, panel highlights, and the biggest moments from the convention floor.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Do you need to watch The Bears special episode Gary before Season 5?

Fri, 06/26/2026 - 03:00

On May 5, The Bear dropped surprise episode "Gary," a standalone flashback installment all about Mikey (Jon Bernthal) and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach also co-wrote the episode.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' reheats 'The Pitt's nachos in a baffling Season 5: Review

Whether the existence of "Gary" is news to you or you just haven't gotten around to it yet, you may be wondering, "Do I absolutely need to check it out before binge-watching Season 5 of The Bear? Or can I hold off on watching it until later?"

Don't worry: I'm here to tell you that you can certainly skip "Gary" before jumping into Season 5 and seeing how Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and the rest of the Bear staff's story ends. While it teases a plot element in Season 5, it ultimately has little bearing on The Bear's final season.

The episode follows Mikey and Richie on a work trip to Gary, Indiana, and is mostly a character study of their turbulent relationship and inner pain. Its final scene cuts back to the present, with Richie recalling that trip on his drive to the Bear. The episode ends abruptly with (spoiler alert!) Richie getting in a car crash.

Flash forward to The Bear Season 5, episode 1, which reuses Richie's final car scene from "Gary," but peppers in some flashbacks to the Indiana trip to remind viewers of what Richie is thinking of. The car crash itself winds up being just a minor blip in Season 5. Richie escapes unscathed, and it's the least of his problems behind a flooding restaurant, an overbooked evening service, and a lack of food in the kitchen.

"Gary" does come back later in the season, when Richie tells Carmy about his and Mikey's trip. However, you don't need the context of the episode to understand the monologue. The emotion comes through anyway, and it might work even better without the overwrought build-up of "Gary."

Personally, I wasn't the biggest fan of the episode, believing it to be too indulgent and ultimately having no impact on Season 5. However, for The Bear super fans (or diehard completionists), I'd recommend checking it out if you desperately want more Mikey and Richie. Overall, though, don't put off your Season 5 watch plans for "Gary." Jump right in, and let it rip.

The Bear Season 5 is now streaming in its entirety on Hulu. Episodes also air Thursday nights at 9 p.m. ET on FX.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Prime Day ends soon: We found the 150+ best deals on Apple, Kindle, DJI, and Lego favorites

Fri, 06/26/2026 - 02:59
The best Prime Day deals at a glance: Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $279 at Amazon (save $120) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $198 at Amazon (save $201.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best Kindle Deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Eufy C28 $599.99 at Eufy (save $350) Get Deal Best power station deal Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station $199 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best DJI deal DJI Mini 3 $269 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV $1,197.99 at Amazon (save $500) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set $111.99 at Amazon (save $48) Get Deal Best Deal Under $25 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 with code FTVSELECT (save $30) Get Deal

Prime Day 2026 is more than halfway done, and on day three of the four-day mega sale, popular deals on DJI drones, Ninja appliances, and Yeti coolers have already come and gone. However, new deals are also going online, so you still have time to shop. If you're a Prime member, this is your opportunity to save on almost anything, from boring household essentials like dish soap to big-ticket splurges like a new 65-inch OLED TV. And if you're not sure where to start, we've vetted the best Prime Day deals for you, scouring thousands of offers to find the top discounts on the Apple Watch, Sony headphones, and Kindles.

Prime Day usually takes place in July, but this year, Amazon decided to shake things up and run the sale in June. So, don't forget: Amazon Prime Day 2026 runs through Friday, June 26, and until then, you can enjoy record-low prices on products from Apple, Bose, DJI, Dyson, Lego, Pokémon, and Samsung.

SEE ALSO: The 55+ best Prime Day tech deals, chosen by a tech editor on a tight budget

Mashable shopping experts are closely monitoring the latest discounts and collecting all of the top Amazon Prime Day deals into this one-stop shopping guide, so keep checking back for the latest price drops. We're also tracking prices at alternative Prime Day sales from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and beyond, so we'll be sure to point you toward the lowest possible price. And follow along with our live blog for the most up-to-date price drops, news, and stock alerts, or check out our Prime Day hub for all of our coverage.

Deals marked with a ✅ are Mashable editor favorites. Deals marked with a strikethrough are no longer available. Deals marked with a 🔥 are at an all-time low price.

Best Prime Day Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) ✅ 🔥 $279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120   Get Deal

We're obviously hunting for the best Apple deals during Prime Day, and right now, the entire Apple Watch lineup is at record-low prices. That means you can save over $100 on the Apple Watch Series 11, a Mashable Choice product. In his review, Mashable's Stan Schroeder said, "the Apple Watch Series 11 isn't all that different from last year's model, but it has a significantly longer battery life, and that's a huge deal."

AirPods dealsiPad dealsMacBook dealsBest Prime Day headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones ✅ 🔥 $198 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

The best deal on headphones goes to the Sony WH-1000XM5s, an older pair of flagship cans that we still love and recommend. "They [have] unbeatable ANC and sound for the money, and even in 2026, they sound shockingly good," writes Bethany Allard, our resident headphones expert. Normally $399.99, they're marked down to just $198 for Prime Day — a 50% savings and their lowest price ever.

More headphones dealsMore earbuds dealsBest Prime Day Amazon device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Amazon's latest Echo devices, the Echo Dot Max and Echo Studio, have both hit new, all-time low prices this Prime Day. But the biggest discount is going to the Echo Spot, its smart alarm clock. This tiny speaker sits compactly on nightstands but provides everything you need to start your morning, including a weather report and tunes to get you out of bed.

You can now get the Amazon Echo Spot for just $44.99. That saves you $35 off its $79.99 price tag for a 44% discount.

More Echo dealsMore Amazon device dealsBest Prime Day Kindle deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite ✅ 🔥 $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Our resident e-reader expert, Samantha Mangino, counts the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition as her daily driver, but for most shoppers, we have to recommend the excellent Kindle Paperwhite, which has proven to be one of the most popular Prime Day deals among Mashable readers this year. Compared to the regular Kindle, the Paperwhite has a larger display, better battery life, a waterproof rating, and an adjustable warm light.

More Kindle dealsBest Prime Day laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) ✅ $1,229.99 at Amazon
$2,099.99 Save $870.00   Get Deal

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel says, "We loved the Surface Laptop 7 back when it launched in 2024. While its CPU isn't the freshest anymore, it still impresses as a whole: It features a 23-hour battery life, a microSDXC card slot, and a 2.5K touchscreen that's brighter and smoother than a 15-inch MacBook Air's screen.

Amazon's amazing Prime Day deal on this 15-inch model comes just a week after Microsoft announced the very similar Surface Laptop 8 (which isn't on sale just yet). It's currently listed for just $1,229.99 — a whopping 44% off its regular retail price of $2,099.99. I wouldn't be surprised if it disappears long before Prime Day ends, considering the exact same model sold out at Best Buy after dropping to $1,699.99 there."

More Prime Day laptop, router, storage, and printer deals

For discounts on MacBooks, scroll back up to the Apple section in this story or check out our dedicated Prime Day MacBook deals guide.

Router dealsExternal hard drive dealsPrinter dealsBest Prime Day DJI deal Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 3 🔥 $269 at Amazon
$419 Save $150   Get Deal

DJI's entire fleet of gadgets is on sale this Prime Day, and this deal on its DJI Mini 3 is a standout. Amazon has it discounted to $269, or 36% off — its lowest price ever. (It was $30 more expensive during Amazon's Big Spring Sale in March.) This lightweight entry-level drone can shoot 4K video and fly for almost 40 minutes on a single charge.

Keep in mind that, thanks to the U.S. drone ban and DJI's problems with the FCC, the company's drones and new releases are sold through third-party sellers on Amazon. Not only that, but now that we're halfway through Prime Day, many DJI drones are already out of stock.

More DJI drone dealsDJI camera dealsDJI creator tools on saleBest Prime Day home and kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker $169.99 at Amazon
$219.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The Ninja Creami ice cream maker is a cult favorite, and also a personal favorite of our shopping team. Mashable reporter Samantha Mangino called this appliance a lot of fun in her review, and a sweltering hot summer is exactly the right time to try it. Grab one while it's on sale and discover why TikTok is still obsessed with this device.

We should note that the Creami's sibling, the Ninja Slushi, quickly sold out at Amazon during Prime Day, so don't procrastinate if you have your eye on this Ninja ice cream maker!

More kitchen dealsHome dealsBest Prime Day speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Soundlink Flex Bluetooth Speaker 🔥 $99 at Amazon
$149 Save $50   Get Deal

So far, Bose has some of the best Prime Day deals of 2026, with 50% off select headphones and 34% off Bluetooth speakers, like the Soundlink Flex. Mashable has reviewed the new Soundlink lineup, and the Flex is a highly portable and waterproof speaker with clear, loud sound that's ideal for summer get-togethers.

More speaker dealsBest Prime Day power station deals Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station, 600W ✅ $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal

Ready for summer adventures? If you're gearing up to pack the car and head into nature, don't forget to invest in a portable power station to keep your campsite powered. Plus, it can serve as an at-home power backup in an emergency.

Prime Day and Black Friday are the best times of year to buy these popular devices, and one of our favorite Bluetti power stations is at its lowest price of the year. The Bluetti Elite is a good entry point if you've never owned a power station before. Weighing less than 10 pounds, it's a lightweight device built for weekend excursions.

More portable power station dealsBest Prime Day TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K TV 🔥 $1,197.99 at Amazon
$1,697.99 Save $500   Get Deal

Enjoying the World Cup? If you want to watch every heart-racing moment in 4K and your TV isn't up to par, then look for Prime Day deals on award-winning OLED and Micro RGB TVs. Case in point: the Samsung 65-inch S90F OLED 4K Smart TV, on sale now. According to our tech editor, this is the best TV available right now, especially at this all-time low price.

More TV dealsSoundbar dealsProjector dealsBest Prime Day robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop 🔥 $449.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Mashable's resident vacuum guru, Leah Stodart, named the Eufy C28 Robot Vacuum and Mop the best affordable vacuum-and-mop combo. Despite its budget price, Stodart says it's the most heavy-duty robot mop you'll find, delivering spotless cleans. Get the Eufy C28 for just $449.99 during Prime Day. That's the vacuum's lowest price ever, offering $350 in savings.

More robot vacuum and mop combo dealsMore vacuum dealsUpholstery cleaner dealsBest Prime Day Lego deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer Set 🔥 $111.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $48.00   Get Deal

No guide to the best Prime Day deals would be complete without some great Lego offers. And according to our biggest Lego nerds, this is the top discount of the sale so far.

We love Star Wars Lego sets, and this epic Star Destroyer is down to its best-ever price at Amazon. If you're a Prime member and a Star Wars fan, you can pick up this 1,555-piece set for $111.99, a 30% discount. And if you're looking for more Lego sets, check out our complete guide to the best Prime Day Lego deals.

More Lego dealsBest Prime Day outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Hopper M Series Portable Soft Coolers ✅ $262.50 at Amazon
$350 Save $87.50   Get Deal

Amazon just dropped a bunch of new Prime Day camping deals, part of its daily deal drops. The standout is definitely this portable soft cooler from Yeti, which our tech editor Timothy Werth has tested on multiple beach days, even though it's not actually a tech product. Hey, sometimes you need to unplug. Yeti's coolers are famous for their durability, and they rarely go on sale outside of Prime Day and Black Friday.

More outdoor and camping dealsBest Prime Day fitness tracker deal Oura Ring 4 ✅ 🔥 $214.70 at Amazon
$349 Save $134.30   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Target

Multiple Mashable team members have tested (and loved) the Oura Ring 4. While it's recently been replaced by the slightly thinner Oura Ring 5, we're big fans of this smart ring. One of our reporters even wore this ring while training for and then running the New York City marathon. While prices vary based on the ring size, the Oura Ring 4 is starting at just $214 for Prime Day, a price we've never seen before and a big discount from the $349 list price.

More fitness tracker deals

Note: For Apple Watch deals, scroll back to the Apple section of this story.

Best free Prime Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible Standard free for 3 months + $20 credit Get Deal

Amazon almost always offers free limited-time subscriptions to its services, including Audible, Kindle Unlimited, and Amazon Music Unlimited. This year, its Audible deal is the best freebie you can get during the sale. New and returning subscribers get three free months of an Audible Standard subscription, plus a free $20 credit to spend on audiobooks.

More free (or almost free Prime Day deals)Best Prime Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: HBO HBO Max save 40% on annual subscriptions Get Deal

If you've been feeling left out of the House of the Dragon or Hacks hype, this is easily the best week of the year to sign up for HBO Max — it even beats Black Friday, in terms of how many tiers get the discount. The HBO Max Prime Day deal makes annual subscriptions 40% cheaper than usual. Pay $78.99 for a year of the Basic With Ads tier, $132.99 for a year of the Standard tier, or $164.99 for a year of the Premium tier.

More streaming dealsBest Prime Day gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Curved Gaming Monitor ✅ $265.04 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $134.95 New release Get Deal

If you procrastinated on your Prime Day shopping, then you missed out on the chance to score a 47% discount on the Samsung G8 OLED 4K Gaming Monitor, one of the best Prime Day deals of the sale so far. (It's now marked down to $799, which is still a good discount for a new release.) On day three of Prime Day, the best gaming deal of the moment is this 34% markdown on the Samsung 34-inch Odyssey G5 Ultra-Wide Curved Gaming Monitor. While it's not an OLED, it has a fast refresh rate, a 1-millisecond response time, and HDR10+ support.

More Prime Day gaming dealsBest Prime Day deals under $50Best Prime Day beauty and personal care dealsBest Prime Day smart glasses deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro $239.20 at Amazon
$299 Save $59.80   Get Deal Why we like it

RayNeo's latest glasses are like an OLED TV for your face — that's how Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth summed up the experience after trying the Air 4 Pro at CES 2026. He was already impressed by their humble $299 price tag back then, which has now dropped to $239.20 for Prime Day. If you're looking for smart glasses for movie watching or gaming purposes, the picture quality of the RayNeo Air 4 Pro glasses is really hard to beat.

Still haven't found what you're looking for? Check out our Prime Day 2026 live blog, where we're providing real-time updates on the latest deals, inventory changes, and competitor sales.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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